grunge rock

Interview: Clay Soldiers

May 31, 2023 — Leave a comment

Clay Soldiers hail from the UK and blend elements of alternative, grunge, and stoner rock in their music. Formed in 2020, the band consists of vocalist/guitarist Leon, bassist Stu, and drummer Pablo. They have already seen a few notable achievements, including 16,000+ all-time streams across the various services and listeners in forty different countries.

I recently chatted with Clay Soldiers about their backgrounds in music, influences, playing live, and their debut EP, Life After Death.

**

First and foremost, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Let’s start with the story behind the band’s name. I always find those interesting.

Stu: Initially, we were talking about Greek mythology and we were looking for names along the lines of mythological beasts and history. However, Leon states that “Clay Soldiers” came from the idea that people are molded in terms of their way of thinking, their resilience – they are not as strong as they think they are and are made to believe they are invincible.

Clay Soldiers’ sound encompasses multiple styles. Who are the band’s influences?

Stu: Our biggest influences are the bands and sounds of the 90s, such as Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Queens of the Stone Age, and Faith No More. We also take inspiration from classic rock, like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, and lately we’ve drawn from some newer bands on the scene, particularly our friends in Dunes, The Grudge, and High Desert Queen, in terms of their performance and style.

So, if you don’t mind, can you tell me how you got started in music? What made you decide this is what you wanted to do?

Stu: We have always been interested in music in a big way. However, truly thinking about it, we lived through the 80s and 90s, where the music was an inspirational element in our lives. So, seeing bands that had grown considerably from the late 80s to the mid-90s and beyond, it was something that we had always felt that it wasn’t out of reach to do. It was a case of finding the instrument that we could share the rocking vibes with and over time, learning what it means to write songs, what it means to write from the heart through our own lived experiences that listeners can relate to.

And now, y’all have released your debut EP, Life After Death, and have garnered some well-deserved attention with it. Can you tell me a little about the writing and recording process? From where did y’all draw inspiration?

Stu: We tried to make music to reflect life experiences and take to heart how the lyrics can resonate to a wider audience. We wanted to write in a more thoughtful way and build connections with people as they find they can relate to it.

In terms of the recording, we often lay down all our demo stems on an app called Bandlab. It is a piece of software that really helped us to lay out and structure our ideas for the EP. The artwork was an awesome piece hand-painted by UK tattoo artist Jeep Bluezone (who is originally from Thailand). Initially, it was painted on canvas, then she offered to let us use it for the EP cover. We felt the image reflected every song on the EP, which is all about death and recovery – hence the name ‘Life After Death’. In other words, the day the world halts and then we start again.

On a personal level, what’s your favorite song on the EP?

Leon: All songs are very meaningful. If there was one overall song, I would choose “Ghost,” as that is the most epic sounding song.

Stu: I would choose “Ghost,” as it was one of the first tracks we actually wrote by accident and became one of our most evolved tracks. It has quite a cinematic, epic sound to it.

Pablo: “Ghost” for me.

I saw that you guys just played a show with Elkapath, Doomicidal, and At War With the Sun. What is your favorite thing about playing live?

Stu: That was a great show. Our favourite thing about playing live is seeing people enjoying and sharing the moments with us where the music is creating a positive atmosphere like no other. In that moment, we are family! 

And on the topic of playing live, how is playing live and writing music in the studio connected? When you write, do you think about how it will translate in a live performance? 

Stu: Everything we do in the studio is connected to live shows because  everything we work for in the studio, it all comes to a conclusion in live shows.  We want everyone to get a first glance of our music. For new fans who are seeing us for the first time, it is about how we can connect to those people and make new friends. For existing fans, it is showing how our music evolves and the fans grow with us. 

What is next for Clay Soldiers? I saw y’all hinting at new music on Facebook (I say hopefully).

Stu: Social media is a massive tool, definitely, and it is helping us to reach more people and all around the world. New music is constantly coming, new songs and new forms of composition are there, and we are taking all different styles to create our own way to make music.

What do you feel is the ultimate goal for the band?

Stu: The goal is to keep growing, musically and as a band. To be able to perform regularly. It is not about being famous but is about being original and offering something to people where they can identify. We are now at a stage where we are building a brand and we invite everyone to the opportunity to get involved and be a part of that process.

Is there any message you’d like to give your fans, old and new? 

Stu: We would wholeheartedly like to say a massive thanks with much love and respect for all the love and support everyone has shown us. Absolutely everyone is welcome to come and see us, no-one should be left out, regardless of pronoun, gender, sex, where you are from, etc. We just want everyone to be united in the moment, take care of each other and enjoy good times again! All we ask is just come and support local artists, local music! Keep the dream alive! 

And a fun question I always ask, just to wrap this up: what would your dream concert lineup be? Clay Soldiers and…?

Stu: Dream lineup… to play an international open air festival, with bands who would love to play
with Clay Soldiers! We would also absolutely love to be on the same lineup as the bands which have inspired us
from the start of our musical inception, such as Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters. Would be nice!

**

Clay Soldiers are on a steady upward trajectory, earning new fans and followers with every released single and live show. They bring the best of rock in everything they do. From what I’ve seen, the band will be giving us a taste of their darker, heavier side with their new music. Be sure to find them on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, etc., and check them out! Here is the track that the trio voted as their favorite from Life After Death.

Clutch Announces 2023 Summer Dates For The No Stars Above Tour

April 29, 2023 — Leave a comment

Clutch has announced summer dates with Dinosaur Jr. and Red Fang. Grab your tickets at clutchmerch.com.

  • 7/21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
  • 7/22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors
  • 7/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
  • 7/25 – Toronto, ON – Rebel
  • 7/27 – Louisville, KY – Iroquois Amphitheater
  • 7/28 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
  • 7/29 – Chicago, IL – Radius
  • 7/30 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
  • 7/31 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
  • 8/2 – Minneapolis, MN – Palace Theatre
  • 8/3 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre (New date!)
  • 8/4 – Wichita, KS – WAVE
  • 8/5 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
  • 8/6 – Sturgis, SD – Iron Horse Saloon, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally*

* No Dinosaur Jr. or Red Fang

Interview: Stickman

April 22, 2023 — Leave a comment

Stickman is a Canadian rock band that consists of guitarist/vocalist Kim Whitford, bassist and backing vocalist Randall Taylor, and drummer Des Vegas. While their sound is heavily influenced by 90s/00s alternative rock and grunge, there is definitely an element of modern day hard rock, as well as nods to classic rock & roll.

I had fun interviewing the band. We discussed everything from influences to their songwriting process, what they love about playing live to their dream tour lineup. As you’ll see, the trio don’t always take themselves too seriously. Their talent and obvious enjoyment for what they do is what makes it work.

**

Okay, first and foremost, how would you describe Stickman’s sound? If you had to actually use a genre label, what would it be?

Kim: Our sound is a blend of grunge, post-grunge and hard rock, with hints of 70s and 80s classic rock. Post-grunge is the label we identify with most.

Randall: Hard rock/Dad rock

How did the band form, and what’s the story behind the name?

Kim: Stickman was formed in 2017 by Randall and myself. Des joined in late 2017. All three members are long time school friends, who had either played in the same bands or bands that were associated with each other. The name Stickman came from a list of band names we were considering at the time and that was the one we liked best. Turns out the name is very marketable and well used, lol.

Randall: Kim and I have been in many bands together since the 90s. We had a new bunch of songs we wanted to record but didn’t have a drummer. Luckily, an old friend of ours from high school was jamming in the same rehearsal space and the space owners brought them together. Des Vegas joined and the “project” became a band. Stickman was on a long list of potential names. I just thought it looked cool to have a stickman as the “T” in the word, haha!

Who are the band’s main influences? I know late 90s/early 2000s, but who specifically?

Kim: Failure, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Nirvana, Tool, AIC, Pink Floyd, Ocean Machine, Metallica, The Beatles

Randall: KISS, Alice In Chains, Failure, Black Sabbath

Des: Deftones, Mötley Crüe, Crosses, AIC

So, for you personally, what inspired you to get involved in music? 

Des: I was around 10 years old and my brother Aaron was playing drums. I idolized him and I wanted to do what he did. He was really the reason I picked up a pair of sticks.

Kim: I’ve had a love of music since my earliest memories. Listening to KISS albums and studying the artwork. As I got older, exploring and discovering all the greats from all genres.

Randall: Two words – KISS Alive.

What is your favorite thing about playing music? 

Des: My favorite thing about playing music is that moment when you’re on stage with your boys doing what you love and the audience responds. It’s another level.

Kim: Getting to put “my take” on music and putting it out to the universe. If someone else likes it, that’s great! If not, that’s great too!

Randall:  Interaction with the crowd and being onstage. I have a strong desire to be performing in front of people.

Tell me a little bit about the latest single, “Sacrifice.” What was the inspiration for the song? (And side note: how do y’all decide which songs to release as singles?)

Kim: Inspiration comes in many forms and from many different sources. Musically, most ideas just come out when I pick up the guitar and play. I try to keep the lyrics ambiguous so they’re open to interpretation. This song is loosely based on my feelings towards social media and the obsessiveness of it. How some people will go to great lengths to get likes and followers. We decide to release songs that “work” and we all like them. By “work”, I mean it all makes sense, musically and lyrically.

And, still on the subject of your songs, what is the song writing and recording process like for Stickman? 

Kim: I will typically record every idea I come up with. If it moves me in some way, I will flesh it out a bit before showing it to the guys. I will record a rough draft, with multiple parts and typically with drums and bass and whatever else added. We will then tear it apart and build it back up from there. There is usually a melody in mind early on, but lyrics tend to take a while in most instances.

Randall: Kim comes up with the bones of the song and then we flesh it out together in practice until we’re comfortable with all the parts. We’ve recorded in professional studios, but for the time being, Kim is acting as engineer and we’re recording all our new music ourselves.

All of you mentioned the live element as part of what you love most about music. Can you describe what a Stickman performance is like? 

Des: For me, each performance is an event. I play like I’m at a giant stadium playing the last show of my career.  

Kim: Our shows are more about the entertainment side of things. We have songs “run” into one another and add bits of other songs in between. We try to entertain instead of just going on stage and playing each song.

Randall: Surprisingly energetic for a bunch of old guys! Also, we like to keep a tight set. One song will lead to another, and even things like the tuning breaks and crowd “raps” are choreographed. We try to minimize the dead air. Quick and exciting!

When you’re writing/recording, do you think about how the songs will translate live? 

Des: Yes, I always try to think about how I’ll play live. I usually try to play more solid beats while we record, so by the time we play live, I can really ramp it up with that live energy.

Randall: I do for sure! I’m always thinking about how the songs will be played live and how they will translate to each other in the set.

Kim: Definitely. Especially the singing aspect of it. I don’t want to complicate the performance by having the singing interfere with the guitar playing I do.

What are the band’s plans for 2023? 

Des: I’m very excited to say we are in the early stages of writing the next record, and a big part of the next year will be working on that.

Kim: Get back to playing live shows and writing and starting to record our next record.

Randall: To play shows whenever possible and record a new full-length album.

What do you feel is the ultimate goal for Stickman?

Des: I really love that I get to be with my brothers, writing kick ass music. We play shows where and when we can. People show up and dig it. Man, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I guess I’ve reached my goal, haha.

Kim: To continue doing what we do and help keep rock alive!

Randall: A band with a reasonable following that can be trusted to play any show and entertain – and to continue to release interesting and fun new original music.

Facebook

Is there any band/artist you listen to that you think would surprise people?

Des: I listen to everything from Deftones to SADE, so ya, there’s probably a ton of stuff people would be surprised I listen to, lol.

Randall: I still like Nickelback. There, I said it.

What is your dream tour lineup that includes Stickman? 

Des: Wow! Not sure what that would look like, but I would have loved to have had the opportunity to talk with Chris Cornell and Layne Staley, among many others.

Kim: A touring festival. Take a look at our influences and put them on the bill with us!

Randall: I don’t even need to say some big market arena tour. I think I’d be just as happy with a club tour through western Canada and the Pacific Northwest with a couple of other local bands that we’ve befriended over the years.

And lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, both new and old? 

Des: I honestly love that you dig what we do. I could never thank those who support us enough.

Kim: Thank you for taking the time to listen to our music and giving us the chance to connect with you through our music.

Randall: Thanks for listening! We really do it for us in that we’re not trying to write to a trend or consumer group, but it’s nice when other people dig it, too.

**

I highly suggest following Stickman on Facebook, etc., as well as your favorite streaming platform; from all that I’ve heard, this band is getting better with each song they release! I can only imagine what is coming in the future.

Check out their latest single, “Sacrifice,” and two of my personal favorites! (I couldn’t narrow it down to one.)

Interview: Viktor Vetika

April 15, 2023 — Leave a comment

Viktor Vetika is an artist who enjoys several creative outlets. Starting in thrash/metal bands, he has since ventured into writing a comic book, making music videos, and fronting a more rock-oriented ensemble that bears his surname. It seems he can do it all!

I had the fun of chatting with Vetika about music (mostly), though we did touch on the subject of his other endeavors. Read on to learn more.

**

Thank you so much for talking with me! Let’s start with my standard opening question: what made you want to pursue a career in music?

VV: I was at the end of a relationship after college and I was really depressed, this was 1992. I was listening to a college radio station and heard a song that was very powerful called “Inner Conflict” by Carnivore, and it hit me differently than any other song I’d ever heard. I made a decision right after that song that I would start singing for a band. I knew I couldn’t sing to save my life, but I knew I could shout and scream like Peter Steele in Carnivore.  

How did Vetika get its start?

VV: I’ve been in many bands since the early 90s. Each band I’ve been in has been a headache. I got divorced and stopped playing in bands in 2010 to get my life back on track. I enrolled in a masters in fine art degree and achieved it in 2015. Then I was slowly feeling the music bug again in 2017. I decided this time I would be the boss and enlist musicians and play in the direction I want to go rather than letting the fate of a democracy make the decisions. I’m drawing a comic book called “United Forces” and one of the main characters in the book is me. So to push my comic, I named the band Vetika, my last name. 

I’ve had 7 guitarists for this band so far, starting with Tom Wills with a thrash song. Then Angel Lee, the singer/guitarist of Devils Envy, wrote a few of the songs off the Skull with Magic EP. Then there was Brian Ballas and Jeff Fernandez. They wrote songs for the EPs She is Magic and Power of the Pit. My old bandmate, Jason Parke, shot me over some songs, and I’m still working with him. I worked on one cover song with Ben Johnson. I have a new guy, Neid, who’s been writing songs for this newest EP.

You’ve been doing this a really long time, then. How do you stay inspired? What keeps you excited about what you do?

VV: The creating aspect of making a song, and making a music video. Every band you make music in is going to be different. I knew this would be the case for this band. I’ve worked with different guitarists in this band and each time there’s a new sound, it inspires me. 

I’m also an artist, and the new thing about my musical career is the technology I haven’t had in the past to create music videos affordably. Since making music videos during Covid, I wasn’t able to bring my band mates together to film, but I did have myself. I painted a wall in my living room green for a green screen and started filming myself as different Vetikas. In the music video “One Regret,” there are multiple Vetikas, and this started an idea that has even crossed over to my comic book “United Forces.” Using this idea of the multiple Vetikas, I incorporated the idea into the music videos “Power of the Pit” and “The Sunrise of Nothingness.” There’s a good Vetika, a bad Vetika, a scared Vetika, you get the point. Some are in this dimension, some are in other dimensions. 

In the “The Sunrise of Nothingness” video, Vetika is walking through this foreign land. The foreign land is photos of ripped foam laying on a styrofoam sheet I bought from Joanne fabric, lol. The video making really gets me off. I’m not too fond of the filming and acting out parts of the story, but I love editing and seeing the story come to life. My barometer for if the music video is working or not is when I laugh out loud at how silly a part of the video is, when I do that I know I’m on the right track. After shooting this video, I took a photo of myself in the foreign land to create the album art. 

Another area that keeps me inspired is that I’ve been inviting musicians from the central Florida area to collaborate with us. I’ve had Bobby Koelbe (Death), Ken Andrews (Obituary), and Adam Phillips (Indorphone, Pro-Pain) play solos on songs; Meka (Meka Nism) sing a duet with me in a song, and Angelo “Crisco” Miceli (Seven Nations) and Kevin Collado (In This Day) play drums on a few songs. Currently working on a few songs with Russel Ray (Reddstar), who is a drummer/producer. The Vetika camp keeps growing.

In your own words, how would you describe your music? If you had to categorize it, what genre would you be?

VV: The first few EPs started off as thrash/metal, but I’ve recently been slowing down and trying to sing a bit and go in a hard rock & classic rock direction. 

What bands/artists inspire you?

VV: I listened to unsigned bands from the 90s when I was starting, which inspired me because those bands were coming up with their own thing and learning how to be a band. Their music is unorthodox. Bands like Dissolve, Implode, Shaman Mary, Sheldon, Nothing Face, and Stuck Mojo. These were bands I saw live when they were just starting.  

I’m also inspired by top 40 ’80s music because it sounds nothing like what’s being made today. The funny thing is, I grew up in the 80s and hated top 40 then, but have a huge appreciation for it now.  

That happens. I like alternative rock from the 90s much more now than I did when living through it. Still on the subject of what you like, is there anyone you’re a fan of that you think would surprise people?

VV: My newest song “The Sunrise of Nothingness” was inspired by David Gilmour’s guitar playing. I love how he plays guitar. Go have a listen to his album About Face. It’s amazing.

What is the story behind that track?

VV: It’s about contradictions and hypocrites.

Tell me a little about your songwriting process. From where do you draw your inspiration? 

VV: My process is I hear a song that I like, and it inspires me to write one that is similar. Now that I’ve put out a good supply of songs, I’m leaning more on the mix/master part of the song production, which I hadn’t really focused on before. I’ve been inspired by the mixing of these newest songs and listening to the richness of the production quality. 

That leads directly into my next question. What has been your writing/recording process for the tracks on this new EP?

VV: My process is always hearing a song and telling my guitarist this is what I want to do next. He’ll take the idea and make it his own. He sends me a sample and I’ll tell him if he’s hit the mark or not. If he hits the mark, I tell him to keep going. If he misses the mark, I’ll give him directions on what to do next. When we’re done, the songs sound nothing like the songs I got the inspiration from. 

This has been the most rewarding band for me because of what I mentioned already and technology. Every band I was in up until Vetika we could never record easily, it took a lot of money. But with technology now I can get my guitarist to put together a few riffs and plug in some electric drums, get my bassist to record his tracks and then I sing over it at my house on my computer. Send it off to get mixed and mastered. I come up with the music video ideas, film them, and edit them in Adobe Premiere Pro.  

What is coming next for Vetika, and what is the ultimate goal?

VV: I’ll be putting out the next music video “Overturned” and wrapping up a few other songs for the The Sunrise of Nothingness EP. My ultimate goal is to play some shows and get word out about the band to more people. We were about to play live, and then Covid happened. I currently have a drummer and bassist from a previous band I was in, but the guitar part is hard. The guys I’ve been using are not able to play live, so I’m trying to recruit some guitarists. 

What would be your dream tour lineup?

VV: Play with Metallica. Why not play with the best to get the word out. 

Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, new and old?

VV: If you’d like to know more about me, pick up the comic book titled “United Forces” at www.monarchcomics.com. The main character is myself and Phil Foulder. Also watch my music videos on viktorvetika.com. They tell my story as well. For the foreseeable future, all of the music videos will be about me in an insane asylum, making music videos in my head. 

And by all means, send me fan mail. It’s lonely in the asylum. My email is victor.vetika@gmail.com

Last, but certainly not least, where can my readers get their hands on your music?

VV: All streaming services.

**

It seems that Viktor has his proverbial plate full, his excess of creativity finding its outlet on multiple fronts. Be sure to check out the comic book, stream his music, and follow his socials for news on all his endeavors!

Candlebox Summer 2023 Tour Dates

April 14, 2023 — Leave a comment

Candlebox is going to be very busy this summer! They are headlining The Long Goodbye Tour and celebrating 30 years as a band. Those shows will be interspersed among dates for the Away From the Sun Anniversary Tour, during which Candlebox will be supporting 3 Doors Down. Tickets for all dates can be found at candleboxrocks.com.

The Long Goodbye Tour

  • 5/5 – Panama City, FL – Frank Brown Park**
  • 6/10 – Evansville, IN – Victory Theatre
  • 6/11 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
  • 6/13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theater
  • 6/18 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Sweetwater Outdoors
  • 6/22 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
  • 6/25 – Clear Lake, IA – Surf Ballroom
  • 6/29 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
  • 7/6 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts
  • 7/9 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
  • 7/14 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
  • 8/2 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
  • 8/3 – Ashland, KY – Paramount Arts Center
  • 8/6 – Roanoke, VA – Dr. Pepper Park
  • 8/13 – St. Louis, MO – Del Mar Hall
  • 8/29 – Richmond, VA – The National
  • 9/7 – Tulsa, OK – River Spirit Casino

** Supporting Lynyrd Skynyrd

Away From the Sun Anniversary Tour

  • 6/14 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion
  • 6/16 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
  • 6/17 – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
  • 6/21 – Detroit, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
  • 6/23 – Dubuque, IA – Q Casino (Outdoors)
  • 6/24 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
  • 6/28 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
  • 6/30 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
  • 7/1 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
  • 7/5 – Traverse City, MI – National Cherry Festival 2023
  • 7/7 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights
  • 7/8 – Grantville, PA – Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
  • 7/13 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live Sacramento
  • 7/15 – Costa Mesa, CA – OC Fair & Event Center (The Pacific Amphitheatre)
  • 7/16 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
  • 7/18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
  • 7/20 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
  • 7/21 – Fort Hall, ID – Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel
  • 7/23 – Great Falls, MT – Voyagers Stadium
  • 7/25 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
  • 7/27 – Spokane, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
  • 7/28 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
  • 8/4 – Corbin, KY – The Corbin Arena
  • 8/5 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
  • 8/9 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
  • 8/11 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
  • 8/12 – Sedalia, MO – Missouri State Fairgrounds Grandstand
  • 8/16 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
  • 8/18 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
  • 8/19 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
  • 8/23 – New Orleans, LA – Champions Square
  • 8/25 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
  • 8/26 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
  • 8/30 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
  • 9/1 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
  • 9/2 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheater
  • 9/6 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
  • 9/8 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
  • 9/9 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
  • 9/13 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
  • 9/15 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
  • 9/16 – Boca Raton, FL – Mizner Park Amphitheater
  • 9/20 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater
  • 9/22 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
  • 9/23 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
  • 10/21 – Cherokee, NC – The Better Life Foundation

Ugly Kid Joe: Rad Wings of Destiny Tour 2023

March 29, 2023 — Leave a comment

Ugly Kid Joe is touring with Fozzy and Pistols at Dawn this spring! You can get tickets at uglykidjoe.net.

  • 5/3 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick*
  • 5/4 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent
  • 5/5 – Ventura, CA – Majestic Theater
  • 5/7 – Las Vegas, NV – Hard Rock Cafe
  • 5/8 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
  • 5/11 – Houston, TX – Rise
  • 5/12 – Dallas, TX – Echo
  • 5/13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
  • 5/15 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
  • 5/16 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theater*
  • 5/18 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Theater
  • 5/19 – Green Bay, WI – Epic Events Center
  • 5/20 – Turtle Lake, WI – St. Croix Casino
  • 5/21 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi Fi Annex
  • 5/22 – Moline, IL – Rust Belt
  • 5/24 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop*
  • 5/25 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater*
  • 5/26 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedrafts*
  • 5/27 – Pittsburgh, PA – Jergels*
  • 5/28 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater*
  • 5/30 – Winston-Salem, NC – The Ramkat*
  • 6/1 – Atlanta, GA – Centerstage
  • 6/2 – Cottonwood, AL – Yellow Rose Theater
  • 6/3 – Fort Myers, FL – The Ranch
  • 6/4 – Tampa, FL – Jannus Live
  • 6/5 – Destin, FL – Club LA
  • 6/7 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues*
  • 6/9 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live*
  • 6/10 – San Antonio, TX – Rockbox*

* No Fozzy

Breaking Benjamin + Bush Announce Tour With Another Day Dawns

March 21, 2023 — Leave a comment

I am so excited!!!! I am finally going to see Bush! Eeek! You can snag tickets at breakingbenjamin.com or bushofficial.com. Breaking Benjamin also offers VIP experiences.

  • 4/26 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues*
  • 4/28 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center**
  • 4/29 – Worcester, MA – DCU Center**
  • 5/2 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
  • 5/3 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
  • 5/5 – Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center
  • 5/6 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
  • 5/8 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
  • 5/10 – Park City, KS – Hartman Arena
  • 5/11 – Camdenton, MO – Lake Ozarks Amphitheater
  • 5/13 – Dubuque, IA – Five Flags Center
  • 5/14 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club (Eagles Ballroom)
  • 5/16 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Van Andel Arena
  • 5/18 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
  • 5/20 – Lexington, KY – Lexington Center (Rupp Arena)
  • 5/21 – Pikeville, KY – Appalachian Center Arena
  • 5/23 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena

Interview: Jake Oneal of Midnight For Now

March 18, 2023 — 1 Comment

Hailing from northern Colorado, Midnight For Now is a band that plays with all the extremes that rock music encompasses, creating a sound that is often moody and cathartic. Comprised of vocalist Andy Moore, guitarist/vocalist Ben Voss, bassist Nik Szejna, and drummer Jake Oneal, Midnight For Now hopes to offer their listeners an escape through music. They released their self-titled debut EP last year and are working on new music for 2023.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jake, during which we discussed playing live, the band’s formation and influences, and what’s in store for the rest of 2023.

**

Let’s start with a really standard question. How did Midnight For Now form, and what’s the story behind the band’s name? 

JO: So we actually met on Craigslist. Andy and Ben were already making music together as a singer and guitar player, and they put out an ad looking to form a full band. Meanwhile, Nik and I had been playing together as a rhythm section for quite some time and were thinking about starting a band of our own. I came across their ad one day, and everything just sort of worked out from there.

As for the name, it relates to the transient nature of life.  We were in a spot of mutual dark bullshit but knew that at some point it would all pass. Midnight For Now is a reference to that dark hour of our lives. 

That may be my favorite story behind a band’s name that I’ve heard in a while. Did y’all have a mutual direction at the beginning, or was everyone working with different musical backgrounds/influences? And who are some of the band’s major influences? 

JO: We were pretty fortunate to all come in on the same page about the musical direction of the band. From my experience, that’s not always the case. Our backgrounds are all a little different, but we do have pretty similar influences. I’d say the band’s major influences are mainly older rock groups like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Doors, The Smashing Pumpkins, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. There’s a lot more that I’m probably forgetting right now, but I think that covers our bases pretty well. 

On a related note, is there anyone you listen to that might surprise people? Just based on the style you typically like.

JO: I’d say we all listen to music outside our genre, but some of the country I listen to might surprise some people. I’ve been really into Tyler Childers and the turnpike troubadours recently. 

I’ve heard of Tyler Childers and the Turnpike Troubadours, but have yet to check them out. I should probably do that, haha! What is the writing and recording process for the band? From where do y’all draw most of your inspiration?

JO: The inspiration for our music comes from just about any kind of experience that fueled an extreme feeling or emotion. For example, we have a new song called “Misunderstanding (Doom)” that came from a combination of listening to dark heavy music and watching horror films, while our recoded song “Truth” was inspired by overcoming a life altering personal situation that fueled a spiritual calling. 

A lot of our lyrical content comes from interactions with humanity and a curiosity on why we act the way we do. At times it’s beautiful, and other times it’s absolutely frustrating, but at its core, it’s usually quite simple. 

Our writing process usually starts with our guitar player, Ben, who will record an idea on his acoustic and send it over to Andy to take some time and develop lyrics. Once they have guitar and vocals figured out, they’ll bring it to a full band practice and we’ll start working on some ideas for the rhythm section. There are times when everything clicks right away, and other times where we go through a bunch of different variations before we settle on a final song. I’d say recording and listening back at every stage is immensely helpful, especially when we’re trying to work out the final details. 

You guys just released the self-titled EP last year. What is your favorite track from the record and why? 

JO: Oh man, that seems to change for me every week. Right now, I’d say “Beautiful Sun.” It has a unique drum part to it, which is a lot of fun to play, but I also like that it expresses a full range of emotion and has that really cathartic ending. 

On the subject of playing live, how is playing live and writing music in the studio connected? When you write, do you think about how it will translate in a live performance? 

JO: Oh, good question! I haven’t really thought about that too much yet. I will say, when we’re in the studio, writing and practicing, we’re doing it for ourselves. That’s our time to make music that we enjoy, have fun, and escape the world for a little while. When we play live…it’s still mostly for ourselves, but we’re also sharing that experience with the crowd, the venue, and the other bands. A lot of these people are taking time out of busy schedules and spending their hard earned money to have a good time, so we want to make sure we do our best to deliver a kickass show. 

So, we’re not thinking about a live performance when we’re writing and practicing, but we do consider the venue, the other bands, and the crowd when we develop our setlist for a given show.

Still on that topic, how would you describe a Midnight For Now show? 

JO: Overall, our shows are still a direct reflection of our music: dark, moody, and cathartic.

What would your dream lineup (that includes MFN) be? 

JO: Dang, that’s a tough one! I think I’d have to go with The Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. 

That’s an interesting combination, and I can totally see it. What are the band’s plans for 2023? And what do you feel is the ultimate goal for MFN, long-term? 

JO: We are currently getting ready to release our new single “For a While” at the end of this month, which is really exciting! We also have a few other songs we plan on releasing later this year. 

Last year was our first full year as a band and we managed to play a handful of shows in our hometown of Fort Collins. This year we’re looking at branching out a bit and playing in surrounding cities like Greeley, Boulder, and Denver. 

I think our overall goal is just to keep playing more shows and releasing more music, meeting cool people and having fun along the way. Hopefully the shows keep getting bigger and the music keeps getting better. 

What kind of interviewer would I be if I didn’t ask you to tell me a little about “For a While”? 

JO: Midnight For Now was started as a way for us to escape the pressures and responsibilities of our daily lives and just have some fun for a little while. Our song “For a While” is our way of capturing that sentiment and sharing it with others. Our hope is that our music and our shows can provide that same escape to anyone else who listens. 

For any of my readers who are interested, where can they find Midnight For Now’s music?

JO: You can find our music on Spotify, YouTube, Bandcamp, and anywhere else you stream your music. All of our affiliated links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/midnightfornow

**

Midnight For Now is definitely a band to watch! Keep your eyes on their socials – and on this blog – for all things MFN! And while you’re waiting on the release of “For a While,” be sure to check out the self-titled EP on your favorite streaming service!!!