Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

Name: God Made Me Funky
Album: Enter the Beat
Released: 2008
Members:
Kaybe - Sangin’
Lynzie Kent - More Sangin’
PHATT al - MC
Cam Dougall - Bass
Rich Grossman - Guitar
Arthur Kerekes - Sax
Benji Perosin - Trumpet
Al Witz - Drums
Danny Argyle - Keys

Website: www.godmademefunky.com
Favourite Song: We All Fall Down

This band is huge. Seriously. God Made Me Funky is huge. Not only in a musical sense, but in a general… physical sense. Not each individual, but the sheer amount of individuals. Causes for an interesting sound because there’s such a blend of different things going on that could be pulled off in studio as well as on stage. If I am to use the album art as an indication, there’s eight different people in the band. Possibly nine, I’m not sure if the sillouette of a person is supposed to represent a band member. After writing that last line I thought it’d be a great idea and check the “members” bit I just wrote, which states there’s nine people in this band. NINE!

Juding soley from the NAME of the band, I’m going to say… Funk. Myspace fills in the Hip-Hop and R&B tags. I can’t disagree. The bass reminds me of “funk” like no other. I forget now where I heard it from, but someone somewhere at some point (…) says the bass line is what makes funk funk. So… yes. And you don’t hear brass instruments a lot in my “line of work” seeing as not a lot of people I can think of really play them outside of the school marching band.

I like that the songs have enough of the same elements, in that you know it’s the same band. The diversity of the band is what makes each individual song great, because there is so much you can add and take away with this amount of members, that isn’t possible when it’s a three piece band. I don’t hear a lot of vocals that are shared by a male/female lead. Also makes for interesting music, since it’s not just someone singing background vocals, or being used as just an extra filler, but a big part of each song.

Get out on the dance floor. Whether through someone’s mp3 player or live on stage, I can’t imagine any club playing God Made Me Funky is going to have an empty dance floor. It’s impossible. Sitting in my seat, and extremely rhythmically challenged, even I’m trying to dance.

Name: Len’s Haulage
Album: The Hope Museum
Released: 2006
Members:
Michael Sbrocchi - vocals
Mike Novalski - guitar
Even Chochrane - bass
Pete Diculescu - drums

Website: www.myspace.com/lenshaulagemusic
Favourite Song: Underrated (Track 5)

Len’s Haulage is (another) rock band. With some very interesting graphic design for their album art. They don’t sound like an overly religious band, granted religion is hard to pin into one particular genere of music these days, but also the lyrics don’t strike me as particularly deep in religious overtones either. Yet looking at the artwork on the front & back covers and inside the liner notes, I see angels and Virgin Mary’s. Granted, I also see broken hearts, and pick-up trucks, so maybe I’m just pulling what I naturally gravitate towards. (I’m not a religious person!)

Len’s Haulage is a rock band. A pop-rock band perhaps. The first song definitely reminds me of the pop-rock genre, if only it’s peppy and up-beat and sounds a little happy. In the “glass is half full, not half empty” sort of way. I’m letting my imagination run wild here, and just picture that when the band is playing a show, there will be screaming girls in the audience. They sound like a band with screaming girls as fans. (the photo of the band under the CD also leads me to this belief by the way.) Even the slower songs (later in the album) make me think screaming girls would enjoy them. I have a lot of experience in what screaming girls would like to see on stage, seeing as how I spent much of my music-enjoying career being one of them!

Other then my diagnosis of a peppy band, even when the lyrics sound just a bit like it should be a slower song, they’re peppy. The second song, Hang On, reminds me of this the most. My interpretation is someone giving another person some advice. But… still peppy. Granted, I spoke too soon as I’m listening to the third (Limits) and fourth (Small Town Girl) songs, way to make me think something then throwing me a curve ball.

I would definitely want to see Len’s Haulage on stage, on tour, performing. A band that would sound great live needs to be heard live. I can’t figure out at this moment where to see them next is the only downer!

Name: Distorsis
Album: Distorsis (self titled)
Released: 2007
Members: Eric Bridenbaker, Jeremy Elliott and Tim Melton

Website: www.distorsis.com
Favourite Song: No Love Lost (Track 4)

Of all the very simple albums I’ve received through the mail (a CD shipped in a plain slim-line case was my copy) the artwork is amazing. They definitely used every square inch of the available space to their advantage, and if they meant to or not, it looks great with how the circle in the middle now looks like an eye due to the graphic design. It’s hard to tell from the image that’s been uploaded since that’s stolen from the band’s myspace page, but really, it looks cool. The font for the band name however, is really difficult to read and until I popped the disk into my iTunes, I didn’t really know how to spell the name.

Distorsis is a rock band. Plain and simple. Good steady beats and a strong melody. Catchy tunes and lyrics to make you beleive… whatever the band wants you to believe. (That one’s always a bit tricky to describe. How does someone intrepret someone else’s lyrics?) This is obviously a band of very passionate musicians that work well together to put together some music they really are into.

The individual songs are really awesome in a unique way. The songs are ordered in a way that you can definitely tell one from another, as they all have a different vibe, tempo, and all that other musical technical jargon I don’t always understand. But I do know that Distorsis has very catchy songs that are unique in their own way. Which is always fun, because it shows they are capable of being much more than a one-trick pony, even on one album. Also it’s refreshing when compared to commericial radio, where everyone’s songs sound the same, and everyone sounds like everyone else.

Driving tunes. Long drives need interesting music to keep the driver (me about 99% of the bloody time) from falling asleep. While I don’t yet have the lyrics memorized, I can always nod my head to whatever the tune is on the album. I could also probably listen to this many times before getting tired of it, seeing as how the songs are so different. I could probably learn the lyrics and still not be tired of listening to the same seven songs. Unfortunately I don’t know when Distorsis be playing next, but if I can check them out, I will!

Name: Unknown Component
Album: In Direct Communication
Released: September 16, 2008
Members:
All songs written & recorded by Keith Lynch

Website: www.unknowncomponent.com
Favourite Song: Between Guilt and Relief (Track 4)

From what I can tell so far, Unknown Component is a one-man band. Very admirable to say the least. Even more impressive is if you visit their website, you’ll find that Mr. Keith Lynch has released multiple albums, all with rave reviews and fan favourites.

Once again Myspace is my friend. Unknown Component list themselves as Rock, Indie and Pop. Thirty seconds into the first song on the album and I can’t disagree. This sounds a lot like what I grew up listening to. (Some would argue I haven’t really grown up, and I have a hard time disagreeing with that as well!) Listening to the songs, especially the lyrics, it’s a little hard to hear, maybe due to my headphones not working properly, but I also believe the music may be a bit louder than I had anticipated. And Mr. Lynch sounds like a pretty soft-spoken vocalist, if such a term exists…. interesting.

The songs on the lbum? They all have really long titles. Well, they seem to anyways. Perhaps it’s the font chosen, but all the titles seem pretty intellectual, like some clever play on words where you’ll have to really listen to the album to even understand where the song name came from. I know that song names are a very personal thing for most artists, and I can see Unknown Component putting in much thought into the naming of their songs.

I’d be interested in seeing Unknown Component on stage. For what’s seemingly a solo artist, there’s a lot of components… (not a pun, seriously) to the music that I would just love to see live. I can tell already that Mr. Lynch is a talented musician, and I think live is probably my best bet! So if you’re in Iowa, check out the second CD release party at the Basement of Jefferson Building on September 20th!

August 2, 2008.

LONG WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing better than spending your long weekend away from your significant other. What? You mean normal people don’t spend 3 day weekends away from their boyfriend/girlfriend and would rather go camping at a rock festival?? Insanity!

So, Awaking State was invited to the Cutting Edge music festival. Something I’d never heard of before until about a week prior to the event. Alright, so it’s in some place called Grand Bend. What?! It’s three to four hours away (depending on who’s driving) and it’s a 4 day long event?? Do you think you’re crazy? I’m a seasoned couch potato (now THAT’s funny) and am not into the whole idea of camping.

Alas, the idea of media passes and all-access was just too thrilling, and I ended up finding myself in a car full of computer and drum equipment (and beer, lets not forget the beer) Friday night heading towards this mythical “Grand Bend” location. All other posting aside, seeing as how I wrote an entry about the event in general, let’s get to the show.

Awaking State was the exact first band to be playing. Good and bad. Good because once the band (and their entourage) is done, they have the entire rest of the festival to enjoy the sights/sounds and overall relax and have a good time. Bad, because they’re the first band playing, there really isn’t a lot of “walk-through” traffic to enjoy the sights and sounds of Awaking State, rather just their hardcore fans, and other bands were likely the ones to take in the music. Which is still good in my opinion.

I liked the set. The stage was MASSIVE. Biggest I’d seen in a while, especially for an independent band. Beer company sponsorship. Go figure. A generally new lineup included previously known Kent on guitar & lead vocals, and Brandon kickin’ it behind… the kicks. Danny was a great comedic lead guitarist, Andrew was one of the most chill bassists I’d ever seen, and all bassists seem really chill, and for the first time, Adam on keys.

Daytime stages are always so different for me personally, seeing as how most of my photography is done in the dark of a dingy back end bar. So it took me a little bit to get used to the idea of sunlight and the great outdoors, including having something burning in my eye for half the set. But my favourites are always the large vein in Kent’s neck that looks like it will burst at any moment. And I think he’s been working out, at least Awaking State-wise, because that vein gets bigger every time I see it.

So the first band at a festival probably isn’t the best spot in the world, but I do know that with their performance this year, they’ve already nailed a slot in next year’s Cutting Edge music festival. So here’s hoping that next year my photos will be more like the photos I always take, shielded from the sun!

July 26, 2008.

Have any of my readers noticed yet that there was an extremely busy weekend that I had at the end of July? I had a birthday/christmas in july party, two bands that same night, then two bands the night after. Neither day did I get home before 4am, and by Sunday I swear I was among the walking dead. Alas, that’s not the point of this entry.

I went to go see BROOMFILLER at James Ratch’s birthday party extravaganza. Because it’s only exciting when it’s fueled by alcoholic sponsorships. In this case Jack Daniels. Equally exciting is the fact that I am now considered “Media” by many of the bands I frequent due to my inability to not show up with a camera.

Anyone who’s not “in the know” will be thinking the same thing I always think of. “Who the bloody hell is James Ratch, and why does Jack Daniels sponsor his birthday party?” Well to answer your first question, this man happens to be the collections person at Long & McQuaide, a popular music store chain. Secondly… I have no clue. I wish someone would sponsor my birthday parties though. But seeing as how he’s connected into music, it makes sense to throw himself a rock show every year on the year of his birth.

BROOMFILLER was scheduled to play at 12:30am, technically they were playing Sunday, but I’ll not be nit-picky. Gave me enough time to go from The Central when I was watching The Dropjoys to the Kathedral a few blocks away. Of course getting to the venue on time meant some well timed public transport. And when I get there I notice the band on stage, is not only not BROOMFILLER, but they’re also taking a lot longer than they should be. Frustrating to say the least.

But onto the show. Now, in my knowledge, the last band of the night, if playing after midnight, usually is a bad time slot, and in some ways it was. It sucked huge that BROOMFILLER was supposed to be playing a 45 minute set, but it was cut short to 30 minutes. And it sucks that this seemed due in large part to the previous band not only being on stage for longer than they should have been, but also, according to other patrons, started later than they should have. I should think that musicians should have enough respect and common courtesy to do things by the book to make sure everyone gets a fair chance.

Anyways, you expect a rocking good show, and with BROOMFILLER you’ll get a rocking good show. High energy as always, a really tight 3-piece where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, if anything else, they all have the same train of thought sexually while on stage. Not often do you have a drummer who is just as much of a showoff as the lead singer, but I think we’ve found it. A bass player who’s constantly pulling funny faces when he notices a camera is on him, and a guitarist who is daring enough to play a guitar by holding it solely by the neck, after the strap disconnects from the body.

It was more than awesome to see people enjoying the set and hanging out in front of the stage, and while not everyone was someone I would really picture at a rock show, apparently there were a lot of “industry people” out who liked what they saw. I wouldn’t consider myself industry people, seeing as how I’m not, but I liked what I saw. So they must have good taste.

I think BROOMFILLER is taking the rest of the summer off to demo and record, but make sure you stay tuned because I think this winter will be a big one.

July 26, 2008

Alright, first band of the night to actually go see. The last time I saw the members of The Dropjoys, Kevin and Naoko were getting married, and I was one of their photographers. (Congratulations by the way!) They were beautiful, the weather was perfect, and dinner was absolutely divine! Yet… I digress. Well, one more comment. Due to scheduling conflicts and not being able to see them any earlier, I was finally able to get a small wedding gift to the happy couple at this show, which thankfully they loved.

Onto the show. I’ve never been to The Central before. With good reason. It’s tiny. I was expecting something much bigger and grander, but as I’m twisting and winding my way through some narrow passageways, I’m finding myself staring at a stage that is the exact width of one of the “wings” of this establishment. It was interesting to see The Dropjoys, a 5 person band, fit. Dan on drums & Nao on keys in the background, then Steve, Kevin and Carey all standing, for once, very proper and straight, because lord knows if anyone swung the wrong way someone else would have a guitar neck in the eye.

The sound was pretty good in my opinion, seeing as how I know Kevin is a pretty big stickler, he might say otherwise, but I really liked the overall. It was definitely comical to see everyone on such a small stage but everything I think worked quite well. The set list was a bit confusing seeing as how songs jumped from sad to happy to tragic to happy, and by the time I left I could tell everyone who was in the building really loved what they were hearing.

Of course I had to leave early with a secondary engagement, so I’ll leave you all to it!

I think next time The Dropjoys are playing (They played a show August 11th at the Horseshoe) is the Newmarket Ribfest on August 16th. Yet another Rib fest. I’m SO there.