LMP Interview w/ Josh Miller (Drums) by Nathaniel Lay
Have you heard of THOSE WHO FEAR yet? They’re the latest addition to the Facedown Records roster, and they will will hit your speakers this February with Unholy Anger, the full length follow up to their self-released Legacy EP. During an in depth interview with Josh Miller (drums) for another magazine, we had so much left over content that we could not just let go to waste! Here are the words that will not appear in print anywhere else…
How did the band form? From where are you guys hailing?
We come from Pennsylvania. We all come from Pittsburgh, except our guitar player, Trevor, who is from Orlando. The band actually formed during 2006/2007. They started off more so as a regional, tri-state act, weekend warrior kind of thing, playing just the neighboring states. Not doing too much touring until 2009. That’s when they became more of a national touring band. Maybe not quite that level, but branching out and trying to get too many states as possible.
How is the scene in PA? How did it affect the making of your band and your music?
It’s sort of a tough city to come up in as a metal band. It’s not like the Hollywood of the West Coast, where you can play a show at any venue and have some guy that owns a label there. It’s not really a music industry, based city. Kids like what they like. If you’re not right there, you’re not going to get played there. It’s a harsh city. It’s hard to become a popular band of the city. So our music is really aggressive and really heavy, after the kids of where we’re from. Most of the city is a hard, blue collar, working city, and that’s how we try to put out our music.
What bands inspire Those Who Fear?
All kinds of bands, even the kinds we may not even sound like. We listen to a lot of Bury Your Dead, Emmure, Acacia Strain…any thing that is really heavy could fall into the category. There are some of our other favorite bands that aren’t quite that style, like Trivium and Distburbed, that still may do something on their records to inspire something we later try in our style.
With your genre, having the Christian element there especially, there are a lot of fans that will go to bands and tell them how a specific album or song may have helped them in life, maybe even kept them from doing something drastic. It gave them hope, understanding, compassion, or something else along those lines. Have you guys experienced anything like that yet?
For sure. Even back during the earlier years, we would have people come to us and tell us how they waited all week to hear us play, and we talk to them, they’d tell us how some lyrics helped them. Or if not that, at least how they can relate to the songs and connect. And that means a lot to us. It’s very flattering to have the kids care about the music so much.
When reading up on you guys, it was noted that you’re a band with a message. Being with Facedown Records, that is to be expected. But I wanted to hear your specific view on it, and how you would define your presence.
We are a Christian band. We all have that common ground, where we base our lives on that, Christianity, and Jesus Christ. We try to show that through our music without watering down. We want it raw and straight forward. There’s an option to the kids where this may not be for them, but that’s OK. I’m free to listen to a band that says they hate God, but I want to know why. So we do the same thing in our music. We tell them why we believe in what we do, which can expose the kids to something they’ve never heard. It can give them hope, and we want them to know Jesus loves them.
How does your message maybe affect your touring, such as how you act as a band in public, or present yourselves on stage, et cetera?
We like to pray off stage, but not because we’re embarrassed to do so. We prayed on stage for three years. But like tours we’re doing now, you only have so much time allotted for you to play. So we like to do it before we go on stage, so if anything does go wrong, we have those extra minutes to fix our show. Because that’s our ticket to show people who we are and what believe. It’s really hard to get that all out while you’re on tour. But at our merch table, we do have a ton of bibles that we give out free to kids who are interested. So we do things like that at our shows.
If you haven’t heard The Classic Crime’s latest release, Phoenix, then stop what you are doing and go listen to the album now. Our very own Nicholas Senior was in love with the album (http://lmpmagazine.com/2012/08/31/music-review-the-classic-crime-phoenix/) , and he was lucky enough to ask the band’s vocalist, Matt MacDonald, some questions. Matt was gracious enough to offer his opinion on being an independent band, the Kickstarter process, life and food in Seattle, and what lies ahead for the band.
First, can you identify yourself for our readers?
I’m Matt, I sing and play guitar and make songs.
Now that Phoenix was released earlier this month, has everyone in The Classic Crime camp just taken one big sigh of relief? What was that experience like for you all, writing, recording, and producing the record all on your own?
It feels like a huge weight has been lifted. I’ve been carrying a lot of the burden for this record, in every aspect, and it’s wonderfully to set it free. The experiencing of recording and producing the record myself was extremely taxing and stressful, but it’s one that I wouldn’t change if I could. It was extremely hard but extremely gratifying as well. Overall, it was an incredible experience.
How do you feel about the album now that it has been out for a few weeks? Do you have a favorite song from the album?
We couldn’t be happier with the how the album turned out. My favorite songs are always the ones that aren’t typical for us. I think maybe The Precipice and Dead Rose are my favorites on this record, because sonically they’re so much different than any songs on our previous records.
I would liken it to a more natural progression from The Silver Cord. I have to say it is easily my favorite album from your band, although it was a bit of a grower. Was that a conscious decision, to write more subtle melodies and mature arrangements?
Every record for us is a stepping stone on a path. If Albatross had “blown up,” we would not have written The Silver Cord (we would have attempted to write another collection of 3:30 songs for rock radio). If The Silver Cord had blown up, we would not have made Vagabonds. Vagabonds was painted with a completely different brush than any other record we’d done. It was perfect for what it was, but we didn’t let it define us. We HAD to go there in order to get to “Phoenix.” The way I see it, “Phoenix” is just a natural progression. It’s not us purposefully trying to sound like anything but ourselves… we’ve dabbled and strayed and compromised and joked around, but I think “Phoenix” is a record that front to back represents our bands current sound best, and we couldn’t have arrived at it without passing through all of our previous records.
How was the process of working with Kickstarter to fund the album? Do you feel like Phoenix’s success serves a bit as validation of the process? Also, would you go back to this route for your next album, or is that way too far in advance?
We’re not sure if we’ll use Kickstarter again. We’ll see how the environment is when the time comes. We don’t necessarily want to have to require pledges every time we make a new record, but every backer we’ve talked to said they were happy with the rewards and would do it again in a heartbeat, so we don’t know. We’ll have to just wait and see.
Do you have a favorite lyric from the album that you would like to talk about?
“A stem in water never lasts as long as roots planted in dirt” comes to mind. It’s from “Dead Rose” which is a metaphor for the death of our band. The band being a rose that grows naturally in soil, but then in snipped and placed in water, and dies. It’s also a metaphor for a lot of other things… it’s based on the principle that truly good things in life come natural and are not forced.
What music have you been listening to lately? Do you have any guilty pleasures, especially during the Summer? Lastly, if you had to make a “best-of” list for 2012, what are a few albums that would make the cut?
I honestly have been so emerged in our own music’s production and promotion that I haven’t listened to a lot of new records. I really like the new Beach Boys record, though.
Which song(s) posed to be the easiest and hardest to write/record?
The easiest was probably “Painted Dreams” because it is a straight ahead pop/punk tune. The hardest was “Let Me Die.” We almost cut it from the record, but once Elvis (Michael Baskette) got a hold of it during mixing, he became dead set on saving it. It’s a bluesy song and really different from most of the things we’ve done, so it felt unnatural and took some time and thought to finish it.
Do you have any tour plans lined up for the Fall and Winter?
Yes. But they are top secret. Maybe east coast USA… maybe.
What was your favorite tour so far? Do you have a favorite place to play live (outside of hometown shows)?
Favorite tour was probably Tooth and Nail tour 2006. We were a brand new band on our second tour ever, and most of the shows were sold out (Emery and Anberlin headlining). We were immature and green, but it was a really exciting time for us. We love playing Dallas, Des Moines, Denver… mostly cities starting with “D” I guess.
If you could tour with three other bands (active or inactive), whom would you choose?
Thrice, Foo Fighters, U2. Thrice because I’m a fan, Foo Fighters to hang with Dave Grohl, and U2 for exposure.
Where do you see The Classic Crime in another five years? How long would you like to keep doing music?
I hope we can make music for as long as we live. We have to wait and see how things turn out.
What would you be doing if it weren’t for The Classic Crime? Did you grow up wanting to be something else?
I grew up wanting to be a comic book artist. I filled dozens of sketchbooks. I stopped when I was around 12. I then thought I wanted to be a computer programmer. I was accepted to UW’s computer science program. I ended up bailing on that and going to audio school. I dropped out of audio school to be in a band. It’s crazy to think where I’d be if music didn’t get ahold of me. If I had to guess, I’d be wealthy and unfulfilled. I’m lucky to be poor and happy.
What is the best part about being from Seattle? Do you have a favorite place to eat there?
The food is a really good part, I think it has the best Sushi in the country, Umi, Momiji, or Rain sushi are really good places to get it. Other than the variety and quality of the food in Seattle, the best thing is a cool, sea breeze, rich with oxygen on a sunny day. It’s the best drug, and worth the six months straight of misty rain.
Are you much of a sports fan? Do you have an opinion on the Seahawks upcoming season and QB change?
I think Russel Wilson is a great choice. The scouts are getting it wrong by discounting him because he is 1 inch shorter than the acceptable hight for a QB. I think he’s got a lot to prove and a boatload of talent. I think the Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
Do you have anything else you would like our readers to know?
First, tell us about this Property of Zack Tour you’re about to start
We’re really excited to get to spend a month with Forever Came Calling and State Champs, both bands kill it live and have rad new records out or coming out soon. We’ve know State Champs for a while and they rule, and have a lot of friends in common with FCC, we’re gonna have a lot of fun.
Seams & Stitches is your debut full length. How do you feel about it? How would you describe it?
We’ve never been as proud of anything as we are these songs, everything came together very naturally and the writing and recording processes were super comfortable. As for describing it, it’s a record of songs that are literally chronicles of the lives of the five people in this band. If you like honest music, check it out
Why the title Seams & Stitches?
Jesse (vocals) came up with the title, with all these songs being so intensely personal to each of us we wanted a title that reflected that it’s these experiences that make us and hold us together like the Seams And Stitches of your favorite shirt
Where did you guys record and with whom?
Barbershop Studios in Hopatcong, NJ with Kevin Kumetz
How was the recording process? Any difficulties? What did you do on your down time?
Recording was incredible, the staff at Barbershop are awesome and made us really comfortable while we were there, if you weren’t tracking there were couches you could nap on, there was an Xbox360 which is where I spent a bunch of my time playing Burnout, and the studio is right on a lake and has a really nice balcony where you could just go out and enjoy the weather. I don’t remember there being any difficulties
After the Property of Zack Tour, what plans for the road do you have in the coming months?
We have a few different tour in the works, we’re working on a run with our friends in I Call Fives and hopefully we’re going to get over to the UK in the near-ish future
How do you feel about your album being available on cassette? Not too many bands do that anymore. What led you guys to go for it?
We all grew up with cassettes so when the opportunity came up to release the new record that way, we jumped on it.
How does this full length compare to your past two EP releases?
This is the first time we all really had the chance to take as much time as we wanted and write every song collaboratively, there aren’t any songs where one person showed up with a completed part and everyone followed that, which makes this a true group effort. We were able to write in some different directions than we have in the past and try different things.
How did you come to joining Doghouse Records?
Doghouse approached us after we released “It’s Not The End Of The World” and they’ve put out some of our favorite records, so we were immediately interested. After talking to them about what we were looking to do and how they thought they could help us achieve that, it just felt like a good fit. The team there kills it and is always looking out for us
Are there any specific themes or stories on this record?
I guess you could say the theme of the record is just being honest with yourself and the people around you about how you feel and what is going on with you, that it’s OK to not be happy and pumped on every single day of life because there are going to be rough days, things are going to get hard, but you have to address those things otherwise it will build up on you and then you’ll be in a really bad spot
Where do you see the remainder of 2012 taking you guys? What would you like to see happen?
Ideally, a lot more touring we just want to be out playing these songs for anyone who will listen for as much of the year as possible. I know everyone is starting to write again, just little things here and there, so at some point I assume we’ll start working on more new songs, but right now we’re all just really excited on the reaction “Seams And Stitches” has been getting.
If you were not able to catch our rave review of the Wolves at the Gate’s debut release, Captors, then here is what you need to know: these guys are primed to lead the charge for melodic metalcore for years to come. Solid State has labeled the band part of its “New Breed”, and it is easy to see why. Soaring melodies are interspersed among technical aggression to create a sound that is almost equally catchy and heavy. Our very own Nicholas Senior was able to speak with Steve Cobucci, the clean vocalist and guitarist for the band to get his take on music, touring, and pulling teeth.
With all that has transpired this year (signing to Solid State and your debut full-length), have you had any time to really let everything sink in?
Yes and no. At times things really seem to move in slow motion while at other times I can’t keep track of everything as it just flies by. Either way, it has been incredibly clear how God has continually provided for all of our needs and beyond. We have been blessed beyond measure with the ministry of this band and all of the glory goes to God for our music, success, and if our music has blessed anyone along the way.
Are you pleased with how Captors has been received thus far? Do you think this is the album that accurately represents who you are as a band, or is there more to come?
Definitely, we have been pleasantly surprised to see the outpouring of support from old and new fans. I would say that Captors best represents who we were as a band when we wrote the record. Our tastes in music always change and never want to be content with writing the same record twice. We are very proud of Captors yet are nervous, anxious, and excited to see where we go creatively in the future. Hopefully this is just the beginning of what we will create, but there are no guarantees in the music world and will do our best to be good stewards of the opportunity we have now.
I also want to congratulate you guys for writing a modern metal album in 2012 without an over-abundance of breakdowns. Was that a conscious decision, or just something that happened organically?
I would say that it was a combination of both. While we don’t listen to “breakdown metal”, we also want to pave our own way into the heavy music genre. We really just write what we want to hear and so naturally we want to write heavy music that is a little more outside the box. We have breakdowns in our music, our goal is simply to write and play breakdowns that challenge the normal tradition of what you would hear.
The last time we spoke you mentioned that you wanted to be “wordy” as a band. Do you think Captors has met that goal? What are your favorite “wordy” moments on the album?
Saying that a record is ‘wordy’ is not quite how I would describe it. I feel that a better description would be detailed. While I want to write lyrics that are artistic and interesting, I also want them to have detailed and accurate content. Lyrically, my favorite song on the record is “Man Of Sorrows”, as it is my best attempt at painting a picture of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
How was the album release show in Columbus? Was that the moment that you realized your band had finally “arrived”, or more of a checkpoint along the way?
The release show was a great success. It was such a blessing to have great friends there, excellent bands, and at an awesome venue. We have always loved going to shows at the Newport in Columbus and this was the second we have ever been able to play there. The last time we played there was about two years ago when we opened up for the PacTour with Saosin and Innerpartysystem. So naturally this time around it was really weird to be the headliner. We had an incredible turnout of fans supporting the release of our record and were really thankful that God was able to use that show to be such a blessing to so many of the hearts there at the show that night. Our band has not “made it”, we still have a long way to go as we are a little fish in a big pond. Humility and hard work is were our heads and hearts need to remain.
What are you guys listening to this summer? Do you have any unexpected guilty pleasures you care to share?
I have been enjoying My Epic’s record Yet, Major/Minor by Thrice, and Daybreaker by Architects. As for guilty pleasures, I still love jamming “Big Willie Style” by Will Smith and “Jesus Freak” by DC Talk.
What are the band’s touring plans this summer and fall in support of Captors?
We currently are starting a tour with Becoming The Archetype which will be about three weeks long heading out to Creation West festival, doing dates on the west coast and then in the south. This summer mostly consists of routing to get us to the various festivals we are booked for, which you can find listed in our tour dates on our facebook. We also have plenty of plans for touring this fall that we simply are not able to announce yet.
Being a New Jersey native, you must have some knowledge of the restructuring of your hometown team the (former) New Jersey Nets. What is your take on Superman (Dwight Howard) potentially coming to town?
Well my friend, while it is awesome that big Dwight Howard could be coming to the Nets, I myself am and have been a Knick fan since I was a little tyke. So I am indifferent. However, I am excited that Jason Kidd will be putting on a Knick jersey this season.
What is your favorite non-Ohio place to tour? Do you have a favorite restaurant to hit while on the road?
While I feel like we haven’t yet found the “it” place for us, we thoroughly enjoyed being in Germany last December for Christmas Rock Night and look forward to heading back there this year. The food was awesome, the fans were crazy, and the culture was so interesting.
Are there any particularly interesting or funny tour stories?
There were a couple funny stories from Nick’s first tour with us in November of 2011 but I will just share one. We were in Connecticut at a local pizza shop and Nick took a bit out of the pizza and somehow cracked his molar in half. So he played that night and then the next morning we decided that we needed to pull this tooth. So I grabbed some needle nose pliers, sterilized the pliers with some Vitamin Water, had him lie down in the grass, I put my foot on his chest, and then pulled that bad boy out. It took me two tries, but we got that sucker. We have the whole event recorded, we just need to post it for fans to see the essence of Nick Detty.
You are a self-professed fan of Thrice. What is your take on the band’s potential final run and Dustin now leading worship at Mars Hill Church?
I am happy for the guys in Thrice. Sure, I was sad watching their farewell tour, but they are people with lives and families. I have really blessed to follow their career and to have been inspired by their music and performances. I feel very confident that they will put out another record, they are musicians and songwriters. It’s in their blood. As for Dustin moving into the position at Mars Hill, I am excited to see how the Lord will use his talents, ability, and heart for the church at Mars Hill and how his transition into writing corporate worship music will affect the body of Christ. He has always been an excellent lyricist as his lyrics have only gotten better and better on each record. From reading some interviews, I am excited to hear that he has a passion for serving the church with theologically sound songs. All in all, I was glad to be blessed by their music and support their pursuit of other endeavors.
Is that something you could see yourselves doing when (and if) Wolves at the Gate is nearing its end stages?
It’s always hard to say. I have a passion for leading worship and for preaching. Right now, Wolves At The Gate is how God is using my passions. My desire is that Christ be exalted with my life, the Gospel be clear in who I am and what I do, and that I be willing to go and do whatever the Lord calls me to.
What would you be doing if it weren’t for music?
As I stated earlier, my passions rest in preaching the Gospel and leading people to worship a holy God. However God wants to use that in my life will be my joy and honor. Given the opportunity to choose, I would love to travel and preach the Gospel whether on my own, with a missions organization, or in a church that I may serve at. I got my degree in Secondary Education: Social Studies/Biblical Studies and would also love to get back into a school and teach again.
What are your five favorite albums of all time (or at least that influenced you the most)?
Here is a quick rundown of the first ones that come to mind: Son I Loved You At Your Darkest – As Cities Burn, Vhessiu – Thrice, Where You Want To Be – Taking Back Sunday, Absolution – Muse, Bleed American – Jimmy Eat World, Viva La Vida – Coldplay, and Deja Entendu – Brand New. I decided to stop because there are just so many but I think these will give you the right idea.
Solid State has labeled you part of “The New Breed”. Does that have any significance to you other than just a PR slogan?
Well, our music is quite different than what they have traditionally signed to the label so I think that partially has something to do with it. It also has been a while since they signed some new bands so they just want to couple us and the Overseer as the “freshman” per say on the label to work together to start a new generation of music. I think it’s rad and both bands love it. Be sure to check out the Overseer’s new record We Search, We Dig as it is an awesome release from those guys.
Interview w/ Kyle Gamblin (Guitars) by Nathaniel Lay
Your new record is being tagged a “concept album”. Why is that? What makes Life Apocalypse a concept piece? Why the title, and how does it tie into the theme(s)?
It’s a loosely based concept album on a complete Life Apocalypse and pulling out of it. its not a strict story but it is the theme of all the songs.
Could you go into detail on some of the stories/themes explored in these tracks?
We have songs of feeling hopeless, lost, and beaten down. We also have songs about rising above it and accepting the damage done.
This summer, you’re touring across Canada, correct? Who with? What are the tours and how long do they run?
W’eve booked a 2 week tour with anvil, starting at the end of July and playing western Canada. Directly after that we head out with Kill Devil Hill to Quebec, then we play back home.
What touring is planned after Canada? Will you be going to a different country, like the U.S or Europe?
We’re looking into some overseas tours for the fall. But right now its too early to say anything, we are looking into it though.
Life Apocalypse is your sophomore release. A lot of people face the fear of the “sophomore slump”. What did you guys do to make sure that didn’t happen with this record?
With this album we knew it had to be better, we also knew what to improve on in our overall song writing. It was really pretty easy, we just went for bigger and better songs. Big Hooks and tight band dynamics.
The cover art for this album is pretty cool. Can you tell us about it? How does it tie into the lyrics? Who came up with the concept, and who brought it to life?
BJorn Goosses is a genius! He did the art. Brian and I came up with the concept for the artwork and BJorn added the coffins and the position of the Character and it just came out great! The cover art is the visual for a life gone to hell which is the whole theme of the Album and what the lyrics are all about. Brian came up with the name Life Apocalypse and the concept then he and I worked to bring it to life.
Where did you guys record and with whom? How was the process?
We recorded in Calgary with Sacha Laskow (Divinity Guitarist) for the month of March in his studio Perfect Fifth. The process was intense but we’re very happy with the result.
How was this studio experience different from the last album?
The last album we could take our time, mainly because we recorded in our area of Vancouver. We could take our time to get everything just right. This time there was tons of pressure to pull of a successful album.
Which song was the hardest to record and why? Which was easiest?
The hardest song to track was Destined to Die. We had timing problems on that and we couldn’t figure out how to get it right. Obviously we pulled through that one. The easiest song to record was Divided We Fall because its under 3 minutes, and there’s no guitar solo.
Considering your background and lyrical themes, how do you feel about the end of the world theory? Do you think we’re on our final days?
The world will never end. Mankind is too smart and we will survive everything except maybe alien invasion or an asteroid.
How do you plan on living past the end of days?
If it does happen I plan to start brewing beer in the mountains.
How has the label switch been? How did you come to joining Rise Records?
It has been great so far Rise is a diverse label so we are excited to be a part of it. It was just time to move on to something new after 2 releases on Eulogy and Rise happened to be interested worked out well for everyone. (RG)
How does the new record compare to your last two? Did the three years in between releases affect the writing of this record?
We had a few members changes since our last release which is why it took so much time to be able to write a good album so the writing process was affected due to the member changes not the time but in the end we wrote the songs on Living Proof which we feel is our best material and shows that we have matured as a band. (RG)
Where did you record and with whom? What was the experience like?
We recorded with our good friend Nick Jett who plays drums in Terror. The tracking to place at Sunset Lodge studios in Silverlake,CA and at Nicks home studio in Granada Hills,CA. Recording with Nick was great it was a laid back environment but we still got some badass songs put together.(RG)
What are your summer and fall touring plans? Any time overseas coming up?
We are always doing overseas stuff now we love it THICK AS BLOOD Worldwide! We are playing a big fest in Puerto Rico in Sept then Europe later on. (RG)
Why the title Living Proof?
The title track of the album has a line that states We’re Living Proof that the diehards still exist. We have been through so many ups and downs as a band and as people and we are still here stronger than ever. We are all Living Proof.(RG)
I spoke to several of your longtime fans and they didn’t seem sure you’d be returning strong. Then they heard your new record and now they say it’s your best work yet. What would you like to comment about this?
Honestly, don’t blame them. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs like Randy said. But now we’re back in full force. We’re really glad everyone is into Living Proof, we’re definitely really proud of it. (GV)
Which songs on Living Proof do you think will become the live favorites for you and your fans? Which songs do you find the most fun to play?
I’ll say “The Outsiders” is quickly going to be a live favorite and although we haven’t played I live yet “Diente Por Diente” will most likely be the most fun to play in my opinion. (GV)
If all Hell breaks loose at the end of this year, how will you guys be surviving the end of the world?
Solid State Records has identified The Overseer as part of its “New Breed”, and one listen to the band’s debut, We Search, We Dig, is all that is needed to see that there is something special about the band. The album is a great example of a band “getting it” on its debut release. The Overseer exudes a confidence about what it as a band wants to do, both musically and lyrically. The band will certainly appeal to fans of Define the Great Line-era Underoath, but there are also elements of what made Thrice and As Cities Burn so enjoyable. — by Nicholas Senior
Could you identify yourself for our readers?
Hey guys! This is Abishai and I play drums in The Overseer.
Can you describe what it has been like this past year? It must have been a whirlwind from being unsigned to releasing your debut on Solid State?
Everything happened so fast. It seemed like in a couple months we were signed to a label and recording our very first full-length. This is by far the best year for this band’s existence. We currently have management, a booking agent, and are getting on tours we never dreamed of. God is good and definitely has blessed us.
What has the reception of We Search, We Dig been like to you?
I think it has gone over really well! A lot of people have given positive feedback and seem to like it a lot.
While the album is not a concept album, do you think there are overarching themes or lyrical motifs that stretch through the album?
Absolutely. The title is “We Search, We Dig” which is taken from the second track, “Dredge.” It challenges people to search for hope in this broken world.
Is there a song in particular that has a meaning or story behind it that you would like to share?
The song we did the music video for, “Amend,” is a very passionate, emotional song that comes from our vocalist that came from a home with divorced parents. The song is saying that true love can mend a marriage. I feel this generation takes marriage lightly when it is a bond that shouldn’t be broken by man.
How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard of The Overseer before?
I would say we’re an aggressive rock band with some metal influences.
There are moments in the album that showcase a sludgy side to the band. Is that something you went for, or was it something that just happened during the production of the album? Is it a side you would like to explore more in your next record?
We like really raw and heavy parts so this was definitely intentional. We wanted these parts to stick out from the rest of the record.
In most reviews that I have heard, the only common complaint I see is the short length of the record. Is that a sign that there is more to come soon from The Overseer camp, or were these just the ten songs that fit within the framework of the album?
We honestly don’t try and write short songs. We just cut the songs where we feel we need to. We don’t want to put a bunch of filler into a song to make it longer.
I know we touched on it a little bit before, but what does signing to Solid State mean to you? Have you been pleased with everything so far on the label front?
It means we have reached one of our goals. We all grew up listening to Solid State bands so we’re stoked to be a part of the roster now. They have worked super hard for us so far and we don’t have one complaint yet.
Do you have any touring plans lined up for the rest of the summer and into the fall?
We are opening for August Burns Red North American Headlining tour! Dates are on our Facebook. Aug. 31st-Oct. 6th.
If you could tour with any three bands (active or inactive), who would they be?
Thrice, As I Lay Dying, Children 18:3.
Outside of hometown shows, what are some of your favorite venues to play? Is there any particular restaurants you enjoy frequenting while on the road?
The Gear in Franklin, IN. The 86 Club in Cinncinatti, OH. The Door in Dallas, TX. We really like Cook Out. Mainly found in North Carolina but starting to branch out on the easy coast.
What would you say is The Overseer’s mission statement as a band?
To inspire and encourage through our lyrics and actions. To challenge people to search for hope.
Where do you want to see the band fitting in with today’s music scene?
We don’t really want to blend in with the scene. We want to stick out and have a refreshing sound.
What music are you listening to now? Do you have any particular “guilty pleasures” you care to share?
Ascend the Hill. Foo Fighters. The Civil Wars. Taylor Swift. Thrice. The Gaslight Anthem. Manchester Orchestra. Linkin Park. Needtobreathe.
As a drummer, who has influenced you the most as a player?
My favorite drummer for the longest time was Matt Greiner (August Burns Red). He challenged me to step out of the cliche metal drumming and actually write interesting, tasteful drum parts that would accent the song.
If you could have a drum solo duel with any one drummer, who would it be?
That’s a tough one because all the drummers I’m thinking of would absolutely destroy me and make me look like a child. I would probably have to say Dave Grohl or Aaron Spears though. Super solid drummers with separate styles.
What would you be doing if it weren’t for music? Did you have an interest that you would have pursued?
For the longest time, I thought I was going to be a professional soccer player. Ha! My dad started me when I was 5 and I played up until high school. Everything I did was related to soccer. My dad was my soccer coach for most of my life and I was actually a referee for a couple years. I played on a traveling, competitive team for a little over a year and decided it wasn’t what I wanted. The day came for me to try out for my High School team but I didn’t get a physical in time. That day pretty much changed my whole life.
On your Facebook, you state, “Religion is dead. Christ is risen.” Would you care to elaborate on that mantra?
There’s a quote that says, “Religion is what’s left when the spirit leaves the room.” I believe that without the Holy Spirit, religion and church are just tradition. Waking up every Sunday, going to a building, raising your hands and reading the words off the screen. Don’t get me wrong, Church is necessary for you to strengthen your relationship but I just think we have missed the point. To see the behind the scenes of some churches (not all churches) is heartbreaking. They do it for a paycheck.
Is there anything else you would like to share to our readers?
Keep up with us on Twitter and Facebook. Check out our tour dates!
Your first record kind of passed under the radar. How do you think Black Mass will do? It’s been put on the horizon much more than your debut.
Jake: We think Black Mass will reach a much larger audience. Now that we are with Superball Music, there are a lot more people working to get this record out and a lot more resources to let people know about it. We’re excited.
Why the title Black Mass? Are there any themes to be found on this record?
Jake: A black mass is a form of mock religious ceremony, with dark and sexual practices. We feel that pretty much summed it up.
What do you say to those who say JLV is a Fall of Troy rebirth? Does it bother you at all?
Jake: We would encourage those people to listen again. TFoT was and is an incredible band that inspired a lot of fans. We’re lucky to have Thomas and his experience as part of our band, but it is a different band. As far as being bothered… nah. We know who we are and what we’re doing.
Tell us about the story where you chose your band name
Jake: Thomas and I were at a bar arguing over band names. We stepped outside to have a cigarette (continuing to argue) when a bum came out of a nearby bus stop and asked us for a smoke. We gave him one and he went back to the bus stop as we resumed our conversation. After a minute, the bum leaned out and said, “You wanna know a good band name? Just Like Vinyl. ‘Cause when music was on vinyl, it was better. People had to really play.” We looked at each other and were like, “Damn… that’s pretty good.” When we turned to thank the guy for solving our argument and to give him our whole pack of smokes as gratitude, he was just gone – vanished into the night. It’s popular folklore in our village that he was actually an angel sent by the rock n’ roll gods…
How would you describe JLV to new listeners? What influences do you have?
Jake: Personally, I just tell people it’s a weird heavy rock band with a lot of guitars. I think the description is best left to outside listeners, so feel free to tell people what YOU think it sounds like
You guys produced this record yourself, correct? What was that like? Why did you decide to do it that way?
Jake: We produced this record ourselves because we finally felt like we had found our sound as a band. These songs are much more cohesive and focused than the material on our first record. We went old school and just sat in a tiny jam room all summer and wrote the whole thing together. When it came time to record, we wanted to preserve the rawness and comradery that created the songs. So, that’s what we did.
Erak has publicly said that your live experience is a whole new adventure from Fall of Troy. Care to elaborate?
Jake: Come see and find out…
Black Mass is a really cool album with a lot of variation. How did you make sure that this album had a life of its own, rather than just blend together?
Jake: Again, we just sat in the jam room and wrote until we had enough songs to make a record. We just found our sound and went with it. What you hear on Black Mass is what came out of us naturally and collectively.
What songs were your favorite to write and record? Why? Which songs are your favorite to play live? Why?
Jake: I think “Dick” and “Sucks To Be You” were pretty exciting for everyone. Those are just both balls out, weird, aggressive songs. We dig that. “Hours and Whiskey Sours” is another one. Thomas’ vocals turned out amazing, and the song just flowed in the studio. Those are all highlights live for us as well.
If the world ends at the end of December, what will you guys do?
In a scene awash with every new band sounding almost exactly like the last “it band”, Icarus the Owl are ready to break down your perceptions of punk music. They’re not quite progressive, but the band’s dexterity with time signature shifts and technical guitar lines is a welcome addition to the melodic punk genre. This is head nodding music, but be warned: you can’t nod your head to the beat very easily. The band released Love Always, Leviathan at the end of June, which is the perfect time for these thinking man’s summer anthems
Could you give a brief history of the band?
Icarus The Owl was started in 2009 when I lived in a 24/7 rehearsal space in Portland,OR. I wanted to completely immerse myself in what I was doing. I woke up, rolled over, and starting making songs 12 hours a day until it was time to record them. After the album was released, we followed the 2009 Warped Tour to get our name out there as much as we could. We wanted to hit the road full time. We have been touring ever since.
How would you describe your band’s sound to someone who has never heard of ICARUS THE OWL?
People have called us a pop/punk Protest The Hero. People call us Math Rock. But I am pretty clueless on genres these days. People take them way too seriously. if you inaccurately describe your band, then people argue about the way you described your band instead of taking in the content of your music. I would say mathy pop-rock is pretty accurate.
Your album Love Always, Leviathan was just recently released. I’ll admit that it was quite a pleasant surprise, as I hadn’t heard of you until last month. Great job on the album! What are your thoughts on the finished product and its reception so far?
Thank You! I am super proud of how it came out. Stephan Hawkes at Interlace Audio did an amazing job with the production. I really think we pushed what we are all about as a band to the extreme in each direction. I love catchy pop music and I also love technical music. However, you can’t just listen to super technical music all day and sing-along to it because most of it isn’t very catchy, nor is it meant to be. We wanted to bridge that gap. Hopefully pop listeners appreciate the musicianship and hopefully musicians appreciate the digestibility. So far the reception and the reviews indicate that we succeeded. But at the end of the day they are just songs we wrote and enjoy playing, and if people like them then that rules.
Where did you get the idea for the album title? How about for the album cover?
This is going to sound silly. As band mates we always are emailing each other back and forth to keep one another current on what is going in with the band. I was emailing our guitarist, AJ, and I signed the email “Love Always, Leviathan”. I always sign my emails with something silly. I happen to write about the sea a lot. When we were coming up with the art concept we wanted it sea themed. Leviathan is a mythical sea monster and it completely fit with the album art and a lot of the themes on the CD. The child holding the umbrella under a tidal wave represents a child’s imagination and naivety. Obviously the tidal wave is going to crush him, but he believes that the umbrella he is holding will actually keep him safe. There is something profoundly beautiful about not knowing about the harm that awaits you.
What is your favorite song from the album to play live? Is there one in particular that has a special meaning to you?
Right now it is “Nuclear Towns”. It is super energetic and fun to play live. I think it translates into a live setting the best so far. They all have a lot of meaning to me, but I really love the way my voice was captured at the end of “Love Always, Leviathan”.
Speaking of touring, what are your road plans for the summer? Do you have something lined up for this Fall?
Right now we are on tour for 2 months in support of “Love Always, Leviathan” . The tour started on June 21st and will end on August 17th. This fall we are going to film a music video and probably write an EP. We have 3 songs already recorded for it.
How do you keep yourself entertained on the road?
Words With Friends, TV shows, and Xbox! AJ has this awesome Xbox case with a screen in it. It’s amazing for touring. We also harmonize weird statements when we get delirious. I may have made us sound boring. I meant to say that we party super hard.
What have been your best and worst moments while on tour? Are there any particularly funny or embarrassing stories from the ICARUS THE OWL camp?
The best moments are when we play somewhere we have never played before and people are singing the words to our songs. There is no better feeling. Even if there are only 5 kids there to see you and are singing along, then all is well in the Icarus camp. The worst moments are when the tour is over or when we have to drive through the snow. We definitely miss our girlfriends, family, and friends. I suppose waking up sweating in the van is pretty uncomfortable. Nothing too embarrassing so far. Just a lot of farting, peeing in bottles, and silliness.
What is the best part about being from Portland? What do recommend people do when they visit?
I LOVE Portland. Clean air, trees galore, hoodie weather most of the time, and a lot of culture. There is a surplus of hipsters, thus the show “Portlandia” isn’t far off from the truth, but I love it and all it’s weirdness. I recommend people check out waterfront, eat at the food carts, walk across the Hawthorne bridge(awesome view), eat at Portland City Grill (even better view), and eat Voodoo Donuts(you have to do at least one generic touristy thing)
How is the music scene in Portland?
It is weird and super hit or miss. There are so many bars with live music and delicious food. You can find live music any night of the week at so many places. This makes the scene a bit oversaturated. I think there needs to be a big change in the all ages scene. We tour to places with awesome all ages scenes where kids throw their own shows at VFW halls. Portland doesn’t really have that. We have awesome venues to play at, but they are also competing with a dozen other awesome venues. Don’t get me wrong, we love our Portland shows and our hometown fans.
What bands or artists are you listening to right now? Do you have any guilty pleasure summer songs?
I am listening to a lot of Edison Glass, Park, Thrice, Paper Rival, Cave In, and Tegan And Sara. I love big girls don’t cry by Fergie- that’s my guilty pleasure. Whenever it’s Rob’s turn to drive you will definitely be hearing Animals As Leaders.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Were there any particular albums or bands that served as a catalyst to your love of music?
Blink 182’s The Urethra Chronicles VHS tape sparked something for me. Their sense of humor hit home for me and the fact that they got to do what they loved for a living inspired me. I have always been a fan of music. As a child I was exposed to bands like Queen and Rush. I got hooked on fast music really early on in life. Weather it was fast death metal or NOFX, I just wanted to hear that fast punk beat everyone does. I started getting very passionate with my music listening with bands like NOFX, Pennywise, Blink 182, and Bad Religion. From there it snowballed into me wanting to play music like those bands. As I grew older my taste in music evolved, but I still love those bands.
Back to touring for a second: what would be your ideal touring line-up? Who has been your favorite group you’ve toured with so far?
We played some shows with our friends from North Dakota called “It Came From The Sea”. They are really fun guys to be around. We’d love to tour with them. But my dream tour of bands who are still alive would be Blink 182, Thrice, Death Cab For Cutie, and Icarus The Owl.
Do you have anything else that you would like to tell our readers?
Thanks so much for reading this interview and checking out our band. We really appreciate it! Talk to us on our Facebook, as we love chatting with people about music!
Originally, this was the cover feature of the LMP #11. However, that issue never released due to time restraints and a low staff (it was three of us working full time jobs with no graphic designer trying to handle like 40 some interviews, 200 some reviews, AND creating a digital magazine)…it just couldn’t happen unfortunately.
Well, I found the audio track to my interview with P.O.D. and have decided to post it here without transcribing it to words (because it would never happen with my current schedule). It was either this or it would never be heard, which would be a shame since this was a great interview.
Thank you Sonny for talking with me!
** Please ignore the first minute. That is the conference call being set up.
Cardboard Empire has been great. We started it a year ago and have 5 releases which include: 3 HH EPs (one is a tour only acoustic release), 1 album from the UK band Failsafe (it’s AMAZING…check it out) and a 100+ page book which was included in one of the pre-sale packages for our album “Hope”.
You’re nearing the end of your Summer of Hope tour. How was it?
The summer tour was a lot of fun. As with any tour, certain shows were better than others. Overall we had an amazing time, played some new songs (as well as plenty of old favorites), made some new friends and got to spend time with old friends. Oh yeah, we also got to go to Japan for the first time in six years. It was incredible. Great shows and awesome food!
Next, you have the Autumn of Hope tour. What can you tell us about that?
Autumn of Hope is a full European headlining tour. We’re hitting some familiar places and some new ones like Poland! We’re very excited about this!
At the end of “New Winter”, you have some children do some sad vocals. How did that come to be? Who are the kids?
Its actually just one kid, Avery, JT’s daughter. JT wanted to try to have her sing it to add a new element. It was pretty funny trying to get her to sing it right. It required several takes and different methods to have her repeat the words and melody the way we wanted, but the end result is pretty cool.
You recently set up a full album stream for your new EP. What has been the feedback so far from your fans?
Feedback for Hope has been overwhelmingly positive, probably the best response we’ve ever had from fans and press alike.
Hope feels more like your older material, which I definitely was glad to hear. What can you tell us about the writing of these songs?
When writing Hate and Hope, we tried to write from the heart. We didn’t try to write “radio” hits, just honest music that we would have fun playing live. That was the intention with our first two albums.
For “Running In Place”, you have “NIKI AM” in parenthesis. This calls back to your first and famous full length. What is the connection?
It is intended to be a lyrical squeal of sorts.
What song is your personal favorite and why?
My personal favorite is “Stranded” however we haven’t played it live yet. That song exudes emotion. Micah wrote a killer Soundgarden style riff (which I love) and the chorus hits like a ton of bricks! Its the odd song out on the album as far as tones and style goes, which makes me love it even more.
What is coming next from Hawthorne Heights ? Hope was the second EP of this trilogy you guys are doing. What can you tell us about the third in the series? When can it be expected?
We’re not releasing any information on the 3rd EP just yet. We’re firm believers in keeping details under wraps as much as possible and don’t buy into the whole notion of continuously updating people with studio updates, etc. The only thing I will say is that you can expect more passionate songs from the heart in the vein of Hate and Hope.
What else would you like to tell your fans about this summer and the new album?
Look for us on tour. We’re traversing the world for the remainder of the year. If you would like us to come to your town, please let us know on Facebook (we’re the ones that update and check it). If you want to hear our old stuff, you have to support our new stuff! Please help us spread the word about our new music and tour dates!
Thanks!
My name is Robby Tucker, and I make my own music called Feel Good. I’m most known for playing in the Indianola Records Hardcore act This Day Will Tell for a few years, and some acoustic songs I don’t remember at all, but for everyone who has no idea who I am, I am mostly just pleased to make your acquaintance.
So the big question: what triggered the move to hip hop?
Well seeing as how I was touring in a hardcore band, every show ever had hardcore and metal bands, so naturally I didn’t listen to it that much on my own time. Before even joining the band I was playing folk. I’ve had so many projects throughout the years experimenting with different genres, so I’ve always been heavily influenced by music in general. But after discovering Mod Sun, Cudi, Wiz, and Gym Class I started getting into the laid back style of Hip Hop. “Still Fly” still inspires me so much to love and write music that is just very laid back. I didn’t like how so much music is so emotionally driven, that when you listen to sad music, you kind of mold to that, and etc. With hip hop, I could just listen to it and feel good. There was never a time when it didn’t fit with what I was doing. That’s what started it. Also, I liked that I could still go crazy at shows, and have lights and all kinds of stuff that is tougher to pull off when you’re just a guy with an acoustic. I like hanging over the crowd from ceiling pipes and all that stuff. That wouldn’t work with an acoustic as well ha
Who are some major artists who have inspired you?
Brandon Boyd, The Weeknd, Taking Back Sunday, mewithoutYou, Mod Sun, Michael Jackson, Wiz Khalifa, and so many more. They are the top though (in no particular order of course)
What are your five favorite hip hop records?
Wiz Khalifa’s ” Kush and Orange Juice” Mod Sun’s “Health, Wealth, Success and Happiness”, G-Eazy’s ” The Endless Summer ” Shwayze’s self titled, and The Weeknd’s “House of Balloons” Not exactly Hip Hop, but still on the list.
Between your name (Feel Good), the beats, and your lyrics, there is a strongly positive vibe that radiates through your music. What was it that triggered the positivity?
I started noticing life was way cooler haha. No, but I noticed a significant change in everything when you started taking every bad thing as something misunderstood but necessary for good, so you realize there’s a reason for everything that happens. Then I was introduced to “The Secret” which talks about the Law Of Attraction, which I reference to all throughout Weekend Life. It’s pretty life changing so look it up! I just feel the need to feel good to achieve goals, dreams, and get the kind of energy in my life that will continue to make me feel good. Good or bad things that happen to you are a result of your thinking
Is this positivity something you want to continue, or will you explore different themes in later releases?
Oh it’s a way of life for sure, so I am continuing it. The name itself is just a statement to feel good. I would perform acoustic songs about feelings I hadn’t felt in a year, so I figured I should write about feeling a way I should always feel. So the name almost holds me accountable to achieve my ideal me, and to stay on track with what I’m doing. I am going to be experimenting though, and some writing might share the same content, but be presented in a different sound and style. Very stoked for the new material already dude
What are some of your fondest memories of your time with This Day Will Tell?
Definitely the “storage unit” era. We practiced in this really nice unit ( all of our promos for Too True To Be Good were shot there ) and always just had a good time. That was when we officially signed as well. We all signed the contract in there, and that’s where we wrote some of the best material. Besides that, I’d say the Keep It King Tour with Everyone Dies In Utah and Eyes Like Diamonds. At the last show in Roswell, I got hit in the head by Jacob’s guitar, bled ALL over the floor, had to leave in the middle of the first song, and then come back all bandaged up right before the guitar solo in “Seattle” so it was just a really crazy moment. Totally felt like I was going to die from loss of blood on the drive from Roswell to Pensacola. Which was two days long haha
What is currently in your summer playlist?
Oh every summer I’m rocking this kind of stuff: The Weeknd’s ” House Of Balloons ” Wiz Khalifa’s ” Kush and Orange Juice ” and ” Taylor Allerdice ” Mod Sun’s ” Happy As Fuck ” and Taking Back Sunday as always.
If you could tour with any three artists or bands, who would those be?
Wiz Khalifa, Mod Sun, and haha. (and TBS, and Shwayze, and The Chariot)
Do you have any touring plans lined up for the future?
Well I just got back from a mini tour with a band from here called “Why We Fight” I filled in on bass every night, and would do a solo set before or after the band, so that was a first. Perfect combination for a fun tour. Might be doing that again here in the next few months in a similar way with different bands
Is there a song on the album that has a particularly strong meaning or compelling story to you?
The song ” Shiny and New ” for sure. The whole song is about being on a cruise with my friends and basically describes the whole week in detail. It just covers the emotions of it very well I think. Feeling like you are exactly where you belong. Mentality meeting reality can make you feel real good
Is there anything else you would like to mention to our readers?
Yeah! I’d like to say that I have so much more to come, and Weekend Life is totally just the beginning. I’m already working on new material to put out asap, and it’s all getting better and better. So be on the look out. Also, I want to thank EVERYONE who has liked me on facebook, followed me on twitter, come to a show, or even just say that they like my music. I appreciate literally everything when it comes to people and my music. Also, check out Adora, Dwayne Tucker. JCW, and Louis Fader. They are all awesome artists. Also check out these awesome companies: Air 5 Longboards, Summa Everyday, On The Come Up Clothing, Thank YOU for giving me any bit of attention or interest in my music and interviewing me. http://www.facebook.com/feelgoodofficial @therobbytucker Keep your socks white and your hearts pure. I’m so sorry for my ranting. Go to the Facebook page and download the Weekend Life mixtape!
LMP Interview w/ Josh Miller (Drums) by Nathaniel Lay
