With a mix sensible pop harmonies and driving feelgood guitars, Baltimore alt-rockers Diamond have quietly been building a strong following online with two free digital releases; ‘DMND’ EP and ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’.
Having written songs by sending material back and forth between Baltimore, Chicago, and Richmond and with the bands sunny upbeat style, Diamond is somewhat of a departure for some of its members; drummer Brendan Yates and guitarist Sam Trapkin are part of Hardcore band Trapped Under Ice, and bassist David Wood is the vocalist for Down to Nothing.
Nevertheless the 90’s-influenced band are heavily involved in the day-to-day business of the band having strong DIY beliefs. From marketing the free releases to the all design aspects of the band, Diamond are taking full control, a trait which is becoming more common place in today’s music industry.
Last week the quartet announced plans to release ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’ through Black Numbers.
We recently caught up with guitarist Sam Trapkin to discuss ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’, releasing material for free Bandcamp, the importance of DIY, their influences and more.
Already Heard: Hi Sam You’ve recently announced plans to release ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’ on vinyl. What can you tell us about it?
Sam Trapkin: We released it ourselves as a free digital download last winter and are just now releasing on vinyl. It has roughly 6 and a half songs, It was recorded by Paul Leavitt in Baltimore, and there’s a dog wearing sunglasses on the cover of it.
AH: In comparison to your first release, how has the band grown on the new record?
Sam: ‘Don’t Lose Your Cool’ has a lot more going on than our first EP. I think it’s a little more multi-dimensional. We thought more about how we played it and sang it too, rather than just perform some songs we wrote.
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Hailing from Buffalo, New York I Can See Mountains have quietly been making a name for themselves in their short time together. Their latest release ‘Hope You Never Get It’is a bold, thriving collection of indie punk rock that quickly leaves an impression.
With a sound that resembles early Taking Back Sunday and Brand New, the quintet take that rawness and combine it with their influences; Algernon Cadwallader, The Get Up Kids, and Saves The Day. The final result comes from a band who are self-assured with instant hooks and emotive lyrics.
Already Heard caught up with I Can See Mountains to find out about their origins, the new record, being compared to Taking Back Sunday and Brand New, and more.
Already Heard: First of all can you state your name and role in I Can See Mountains?
I Can See Mountains: Robbie Grabowski: Drums
Justin Tartick: Guitar / Vocals
Kevin Hoffman: Vocals
Kyle Kwiatkowski: Bass / Vocals
Matt Cox: Guitar / Vocals
AH: For those have yet to hear, how would you describe your sound?
ICSM: Punk rock with a flare of the emotional side that makes our favorite bands worth listening to. We try to be real and raw in our songs that hopefully carries over into our live performance.
AH: Could you tell us a brief history of the band?
ICSM: The band formed over the summer of 2011, after previous frustrations with other projects and people became too much of a hassle to deal with. We wanted a place where we could bring fresh ideas free from any certain style or sound stipulations and simply jam.
AH: Are there any bands in particular you are influenced by?
ICSM: Bands like Algernon Cadwallader, The Get Up Kids, and Saves The Day have been the major influences for the most part. Algernon Cadwallader showed us that everything does not have to fit to a specific script to strike a chord with an audience.
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Posted on Play Crack The Sky Music on Thursday, December 1st, 2011.
With their “Definitive Guide to Pop-Punk 2011” compilation being released today, Play Crack The Sky Music recently spoke to Sebastian Simone of UK-based Pop-Punk label, Lazy Bear Records.
“Definitive Guide to Pop-Punk 2011” is Lazy Bear’s first release and will feature tracks from familiar and unknown UK bands such as Paige, Fine Young Firecrackers, Who’s Driving? Bear’s Driving!, Next Stop Atlanta, A Day Overdue, Maycomb and more.
Simone spoke to PCTS Music about how Lazy Bear Records started, how the compilation came together, the label’s clothing line and involvement with the Hauser Bears charity, why Pop-Punk has made a comeback and more.
How did Lazy Bear Records start?
We founded Lazy Bear Records for a final year university project in Spring 2011 on a music management course. Following the founders graduating in June (with 1st class honours just to add!) we decided to carry on the label, which has been functioning as a real venture for almost 4 months now.
You’ve recently announced plans to release a compilation entitled “Lazy Bear’s.” First of all, where did the idea come from?
We wanted our first release as a label to be something that would get some good, great exposure and in order to do that, apart from the resources and capabilities we have, we wanted to get some really enthusiastic bands involved who would not only help expose the label, but also get some well deserved recognition themselves.
We’re really passionate about pop-punk music here at Lazy Bear HQ and we know there’s some awesome talent, particularly here in the UK, so we took this opportunity to basically help push the UK pop-punk scene.
How did the compilation come together?
The compilation took a while to get rolling. As a start-up label our credibility was pretty low and we were getting a lot of ‘maybes’ and ‘who else is involved’ responses, which ultimately slowed down the process a lot. After we got a a few of the bigger bands confirmed, the rest sort of fell into place. Now we’re stoked about the line-up. We’re working with some amazing bands!
Is there any reason the compilation only has UK bands?
We wanted the 2011 compilation, our first release, to be focused on promoting UK bands. Like we said before, we know there’s so many amazing UK artists and we just want to give them some of the recognition they deserved.
The compilation has both familiar and unknown bands, what bands are you especially excited about?
We’re big fans of the pop-punk music scene and had done some extensive research into who we wanted on the compilation. Admittedly, we wanted to keep it to around 13 tracks, but once we had the credibility factor from a few of those familiar bands confirming, the rest flooded in. We’re very excited about Sell Your Sky, these boys are incredibly talented and are going to be doing some awesome things in 2012.
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Posted on Play Crack The Sky Music on Tuesday, November 1st 2011.
Detroit, Michigan’s Squid The Whale are slowly making a name for themselves as their brand progressive pop rock. Having recently release their first music video for The Greatest Way, and completing a US tour with Bright and Early, the quartet have been gathering momentum, something than begun with the release of their debut EP; New War, a four-song onslaught of passionate and adrenaline-fueled rock that has been compared to the likes of The Audition and Gatsby’s American Dream.
With a sensible blend of logical structures and highly-favourable hooks, New War sets the benchmark high for Squid The Whale. However with a strong DIY approach, it is reassuring to know they are more than likely to keep their feet on the ground, as it is evident that the Detroit group have the potential to go far.
PCTS Music Editor, Sean Reid recently spoke to guitarist Brandon Kubiac about the reaction to New War, the Detroit music scene, being DIY and more.
How has the feedback been to ‘New War’?
It’s been good. So far it seems people are enjoying it and there isn’t an age barrier at the same time. Pretty excited about that since I don’t want us to be drawn by a certain group of people.
For those who are unfamiliar with the band and the EP. How would describe ‘New War’ to new listeners?
It’s a raw, passionate, and full of angst.
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(Source: pctsmusic)
Posted on Play Crack The Sky Music on October 17th, 2011.
With the release of their new EP (Getting Through It) imminent, Play Crack The Sky Music recently caught up with Bright and Early vocalist and guitarist John Browne (JB) to discuss the EP, joining up with Pacific Ridge Records, their cover of an Alkaline Trio classic and how they’re not accepted in the Pop-Punk scene.
To begin with can you introduce yourself and your role in Bright and Early?
My name is JB. I write the bulk of the songs, and I sing and play guitar.
Your new EP, Getting Through It is the follow up to last year’s Louder Than Words EP. How has the band changed and developed with this new release?
That’s a tough question to answer. We’ve been through a lot of life changes and learned a lot in the past year. The band has changed in mindset, sound, goals, lineup, and just the entire overall direction. We still and will always keep our recordings as real and true to our natural sound as we can get them. We plan on going more of a rock and roll direction. We just want to riff out and be catchy. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the new cool thing is to be anti-pop-punk.
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Posted on Play Crack The Sky Music on Thursday, October 6th 2011.
Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Time Spent are five-piece pop-punk band featuring members of Starters, Home Star Runner, Young Wolves and Anderson Mesa.
Formed together by a love for the pop-punk genre and inspired by more recent bands such as The Wonder Years, The Story So Far, and Turnover, Time Spent recently released a free four-track demo that greatly showcases the bands tight, upbeat and fun sound. Tracks like Open Books and Absent Friends have urgency and are easy to relate to lyrically.
PCTS Music recently caught up with bassist and vocalist Seán Reid to discuss how the band formed, how their other bands have influenced Time Spent, the new demo, the Dublin music scene and more.
How did Time Spent get together? I understand you have played in other Irish/Dublin-based (cancel where appropriate) bands before.
Yeah, we all grew up playing gigs around Dublin in different bands, so we all knew each other pretty well before Time Spent came together. I’ve know Iano (Kelly - singer) since I was like 16, he sent me a text saying he wanted to start a band and if I wanted to play bass. Then me and Anthony (Kelly - drummer) are in another band (We’re Wolves) together already. So it was pretty cool we where all good friends, or at least knew of each other, before the band even came together.
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(Source: pctsmusic)
Posted on Play Crack The Sky Music on Friday, September 30th 2011.
Recently Pacific Ridge Records have released two new compilations. First of all the Ramona-based label released A Tribute To Alkaline Trio, a two-disc tribute to the Chicago punk group, which featured contributions from Into It. Over It., The Wonder Years, Punchline and Jonah Matranga, as well as several other up and coming bands.
The second compilation, The Scene: You Just Need To Know Where To Look, is made up of emerging bands that label founder, Wayne Stadler strongly believes in and have potential to reach further heights.
PCTS Music editor, Sean Reid, recently caught up with Wayne to discuss how the label started, how the Alkaline Trio tribute album came together, how Atticus Clothing and Vagrant Records compilations influenced ‘The Scene…,’ his future plans for the label, and more.
To begin with can you introduce yourself and your role with Pacific Ridge Records?
My role with Pac Ridge is as the owner, operator and everything else that doesn’t require musical skill. This label is a one man operation, so I do everything from sending out mailers to scouting for bands, and of course everything in between.
I understand the label started 9 years ago in 2002. What inspired you to start PRR and how it began?
Pac Ridge got it’s start when my best friend and I came to the conclusion that we had no musical talent what-so-ever, but what we did have was a knack for finding bands years before they were popular, or even relevant.
Basically we fantasized about being involved in music and starting a label from about the time we were sixteen until day one of operation which was a little after my eighteenth birthday.
If I were to pick a reason or inspiration behind the creation of the label, I would have to give credit to Drive Thru and Vagrant Records. They had, by far, the greatest combination of musical talent on their roster, and they were pretty much responsible for every major album in the scene in the late 90’s early 2000’s, so I would definitely call them inspirational.
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(Source: pctsmusic)
Posted on AlterThePress.com on July 30th 2011.
Note: The original source does not state that I am the writer, however I set up and put together the questions for the e-mail interview before I departed AlterThePress.com.
Alter The Press was lucky enough to speak to Buddy Nielsen of Bayonet about the origin of the band, signing to Mightier Than Sword Records and more.
Alter The Press: All the members in Bayonet come from other bands. How did you come together?
Buddy Nielsen (vocals): I met with Jeremy through a mutual friend named Ben who used to sing for Armor For Sleep and then Jeremy had prior relationships with everyone else.
ATP: When you came together, what was the sound you aiming for?
Buddy: Raw, fast aggressive and fun. We just wanted to play music without thinking to much about it.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Posted on AlterThePress.com on July 18th 2011.
Over the past 20 years, Greg Attonito has been best known as the vocalist for New Brunswick, New Jersey punk rock band, Bouncing Souls. Nevertheless earlier this month, Attonito released his debut solo album, ‘Natural Disaster.’ A laid back, acoustic record that sees Attonito taking a honest and heartfelt approach.
Despite this solo release, Attonito continues to part of Bouncing Souls with the band currently playing four night residencies throughout the US. Next month, the four-piece will return to the UK for a four-night stand at London’s Islington Academy, along with appearances at Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival and the Hevy Festival in Kent.
Alter The Press! spoke to Attonito about how the solo album came together, Bouncing Souls’ forthcoming UK shows and more.
Alter The Press: ‘Natural Disaster’ is your first solo release. How did it come together and why did you decide to make a solo record?
Greg Attonito: The idea of doing a solo record has been hanging around with me for at least ten years now. To put it simply: “I had to express something that I haven’t expressed yet.” I have made up a lot of excuses not to make the effort, so it was time to really do it. It was time for me to record and release some music that I was completely responsible for alone. Although I have had help with the instrumentation, recording and mixing, it is ultimately just me taking the responsibility for everything. I knew going into it, that getting honest in this process was not going to be easy but I finally faced what I had to face. I feel the satisfaction of tackling some of my and some good music has been created in the process.
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(Source: alterthepress.com)
Posted on AlterThePress.com on Monday July 11th 2011.
On August 2nd, Las Vegas-based pop-punk band Last Call will release their new EP, ‘Stay on the Outside’ through Mightier Than Sword Records. The EP is the follow up to last year’s ‘12:57’ EP and sees the quartet working with producer Paul Miner (New Found Glory, H2O and Fireworks) again. With comparisons to Saves The Day, The Swellers and Dillenger Four, Last Call’s style is one that is tight and thrives on the bands DIY punk rock ethics.
Alter The Press! recently spoke to drummer Adam Blasco and vocalist Austin Jeffers about the new EP, joining MTS Records, where they stand as a pop-punk band and more.
Alter The Press: Could you tell us your name and role in Last Call?
Last Call: My name is Adam Blasco. I play drums. Pacing ceaselessly next to me is Austin Jeffers, who sings in Last Call.
ATP: To begin with tell us what the new EP is about and what fans can expect?
Last Call: The whole idea behind ‘Stay On The Outside’ came from the concept of our song ‘Disconnected’. It was one of the first songs we wrote after releasing 12:57, and like everyone, we each had our shit that we were dealing with at the time. Basically, the idea is that no matter who’s surrounding you, what you’re doing, or what you’re going through physically, mentally or emotionally, sometimes you just feel alone. On the other hand, sometimes you’re completely overwhelmed with everything and need to be alone for a while, which is pretty hard with how the world is these days. Sometimes you need to disconnect from everything, and get yourself right before anything else.
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