Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

This is touted as Strap-On Tools (www.myspace.com/strapontools) biggest show to date. And I would definitely agree. There really is no denying that these guys are my friends, and I’d been following them for a little over a year by this point. I was there when they got the news of playing the festival and I was there for many of their rehearsals, as well as their practice show the week before.

The lineup consisted of the ever-ending members, Brandon (Brando) on Lead vocals and Guitar, Duncan (Dunk) on Lead guitar/Backing Vocals and Chad (Chaddy) on Drums. Relatively new to the SOT clan is their bassist, Mikey (Mikey S.)

This was my first time at Warped Tour, and it seems to be run like a chaotic military machine. Bands sign in early in the morning to find out what time they are playing. They are limited to an exact 10 minute set-up/sound check, 20 minute set, and 10 minute tear down. (For the stage Strap-On Tools were playing for anyways) Fans arrive not knowing when their favourite bands would play, and therefore begin to line up at the gates the night before to ensure the best spot in front of the proper stages.

Onto the set. Strap-On Tools were the lucky/unlucky recipient of the last spot of the day. Good because they can forever claim they headlined the Kevin Says/Hot Topic stage, which was surprisingly 100% powered by solar panels, bad because they were playing up against I believe Billy Talent and NO/FX on the two main stages at the exact same time.

20 minutes. The guys played an amazing 20 minutes. Timing themselves to the near second in which songs were to be played for interest, popularity, and length of the tracks. I would say they made good choices. Unveiling their newest song along with songs that have always been crowd favourites. Everything sounded fantastic.

The only strange part was, while I stood, took pictures, and pseudo-danced to the music, a group of two decided it would be a good idea to start a mosh pit in front of the stage, by running, full force, directly into me as my back was turned. I think my only reaction was to push one guy as he started running back towards his buddy and they continued to body-slam each other for the remainder of the chorus before leaving.

Definitely a great show, I just wish it were longer!

Name: Use as Directed
Album: Use as Directed
Released: 2007
Members:
keegan powell - guitar/vocals
luke macleod - guitar
kevin lacialle - bass
nick ross - drums
james welsmar - keyboards
Website: myspace.com/useasdirected105
Favourite Song: Definitely… Maybe

These guys hail from… not far away from me. Makes me sometimes wish I was still in high school, life was much easier back then, it was only about what classes were necessary to go to, and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It also made me feel exceedingly old when I found out Use as Directed is a band with an average age of 15 years old. The fact that there are people who were born in the 1990’s that make music I would listen to… kind of weirds me out.

Pop punk. Simple enough. I’ll admit, Use as Directed isn’t the most ground-breaking band I’ve ever heard, but at least they’re really good at what they know. Their myspace boasts they grew up listening to Blink 182 and New Found Glory. I definitely see influence, considering this is one of the first times I also say I grew up listening to these bands.

The songs on this EP are all songs I have no problem listening to on a car ride, or just listening to for this review. Actually I think during writing this, I’ve heard all the songs at least twice. My iTunes says they’ve had 3-4 plays each but I’ve gone to grab stuff every once in a while. I feel bad for saying I feel like I’ve heard this style of music before, but like I said earlier, it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s catchy, and it’s pleasant to listen to. And as long as I understand what I’m listening to, that’s what Use as Directed is looking for.

Where else do you listen to pop punk type of music? The radio. At their shows. They’ve got a show at the Aurora High School (hey, I played rugby there when I was 15!) tomorrow on the 21st. They are also playing the Opera House on January 25th. I would say go check them out. I’m definitely going to try and make it out.

Name: Clock Strikes Album: Lost and Found EP Released: 2004 Members: Angus Cruikshank - drums, percussion, vocals Drew Dinsmore - bass, vocals Ben Harris - guitar, lead vocals Dave Snider - guitar, harmonica, vocals Website: www.clockstrikesmusic.com Favourite Song: Freedom (track 1)

I don’t know how I got this CD. I think my friend gave it to me, and he got it from a friend who lives in Ottawa. I think the origins of this CD lie in a music festival that happened 3 years ago.

iTunes recognizes this as Reggae. I’ll agree. I won’t disagree. It’s nice to listen to and easy on the eardrums. The relaxing-have-a-good-time music. I don’t know a whole lot about reggae so I really can’t comment on how true to this style Clock Strikes really is… but I doubt it’s off track.

There’s something about reggae music that always feels like there’s a message behind they lyrics. Not that I know WHAT that message is, but I feel like there’s something I’m not quite 100% getting. I mean, with pop love songs, it’s easy. Boy loves girl. Boy wants girl. Boy will end up with girl. With these ones… there’s talk about the future, and premonitions, and some sort of biblical sense of fighting… always music to make me think.

Lost and Found is a pretty short CD with only 4 songs on it. For that it doesn’t make for a good road-trip CD because I would go crazy listening to the same 4 songs over and over. Sometimes, sometimes I can listen to a song on repeat for hours, go figure. I like the music though. I would definitely recommend some bar play it just over the radio while people are getting their drink on. That would be nifty in and of itself.

Name: BROOMFILLER Album: Enter the Storm Released: 2006 Members: Music & Words by Richard D. Leko Website: www.broomfiller.com Record Label: Back 2 Forward Records Favourite Song: Turn (Track 6)

I caution myself whenever I write a review on a band if I had a schoolgirl crush on one or more of the band members. However, reviews must be written if this blog is to stay in business. So write I will do.

Punk. Alternative. Rock. Oh myspace, how I love the fact that you do my job for me most of the time. BROOMFILLER are definitely a rocking alternative band. I don’t know how much anyone is punk anymore since I was always under the impression that punk was anti-establishment and I have yet to hear any antiestablishmentarianism’s in the music but a lot of what is considered punk is not anti-establishment, so punk it is! Heh. I just used one of the longest words in the English language for this review. That tickled me pink.

To me a song is all about tempo. And all of the songs BROOMFILLER does has good tempo. Dare I say slightly repetitive. The writing style definitely lends itself to having a lot of repetition. Then again, I do remember from marketing 101 that if something is good and it works, keep doing it. So they’re obviously doing something right.

Where would I listen to BROOMFILLER? In the car. Seriously. For long road trips singing along is about the only way I can stay awake. It’s never exciting to do a 5 hour road trip alone. Not only does the music keep me awake, it keeps me driving at a relatively quick clip just to make it to my destination that much faster. Thank god for cruise control, or I’m sure I would have been pulled over 5 times before I hit the ground.

Now… a show review. It’s always hard reviewing a band you’ve listened to for a long time. Surprisingly enough I enjoy reviewing bands I’d never heard of before at all. It works better in my opinion. But for a band that I really do enjoy, it’s just fun going to the show. Not to mention, shows that are dedicated to good causes are always just awesome in general.

BROOMFILLER’s set kicked off, hard. I’ve never been much for foreplay but no introduction, no hey how are you, just jumping right into the first few songs (sorry, it’s been a few weeks since the show by now and my memory grows fuzzy) before even saying hello is something that would actually grab my attention if I weren’t already “in the know” about who was on stage.

If I were ever to convince myself a band was on caffeine pills, or possibly speed, this might be it. I highly doubt I’d ever seen a band jump up down and all around on a stage before in my life. The amount of head-banging gave me sympathy headaches. And for the times that the lead singer/guitarist Richard jumps off the stage to play in the crowd, I highly suggest investing in a wireless system.

I’m pretty sure I got to hear all of my favourite songs from all 3 albums at the show, which shows that my predictability on what songs are awesome and what songs the band think are awesome are pretty on cue. Sweet. Running around taking pictures does not bode well for singing along though. Alas, I enjoy taking pictures more than singing I suppose.

I’ve heard rumours from reliable sources that BROOMFILLER are going on tour again soon. So wherever it is on earth that you’re reading this, go look them up. If anything, it will be educational.

Name: Jen Militia Album: Berlin Boot Camp Released: 2006 Members: Michael Dainjah - vocals and blackness J.Double - Guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion and booze Gord Pesst - synths, samples and beat jacking Christion - drums and hating Kyle Nova - Bass and dreadlocks Holla - Back up vocals and the finest of hooks. Website: www.jenmilitia.com Favourite Song: This is not a test (track 1)

Punk. Soul. Hip Hop. Is political a genre of music? Because I really urgently want to write political. Screw it. I’m adding it as a genre of music. It doesn’t even really take a politic major, or a political comedian like my friend Erik, to know that. If the cover art doesn’t totally give it away, I’m sure the song titles would have. It’s an interesting mix of music styles though I must admit. The cover art on the CD really doesn’t give away who’s in the band, so I was definitely surprised when I read that the creator of the band, or the lead of the band, or… well SOMEONE in the band, was originally from Trinidad. Just because I don’t meet a whole lot of people from Trinidad.

I…… really……. like the songs. Seriously, because I’m such a non-political person I had some reservations to reviewing this, thinking I wouldn’t understand any of it and would just end up not wanting to listen because it would have all been about how “the man” is keeping us down or whatever. But it’s not. It’s catchy, it’s got a hook. (I keep thinking about suspension when I write stuff like that) It’s got… it’s got a lot that makes me want to keep listening. Do you know how hard it is to try and look cool in front of your webcam while you dance in your chair listening to music through a set of headphones? Well that’s what I’m doing right now. Thank god the webcam isn’t turned on right now.

Some sort of rally, protest, or march. I remember being all opinionated when I was in high school because it got me out of afternoon math class. And in university because we somehow were convinced that marching up to some government house and chanting outside in the cold would make a difference in our tuition costs. If I recall… it didn’t. But this is really uplifting music, that would really suit these types of protests. Because while it never lowered tuition, those rallys always uplifted spirits. And it’s in the act of getting people together whether it be to protest the government or to listen to good music, it’s a good thing. Mind as well put the two together.

Name: Out of Options (now Bombing Neverland) Album: Scattered Released: 2004 Members: John Fielding (lead vocals/guitar) Davey Knight (bass/vocals) Mike Lawson (lead guitar/vocals) Jesse King (drums) Website: www.myspace.com/bombingneverland Favourite Song: Her Song (track 9)

Nothing is as exciting as discovering a band in a strange way. And after you hear this story I’m sure you’ll think me to be quite the strange person. I was at Value Village. To those who don’t know, Value Village is similar to a charity shop where items of no use to one person but are still in working order, will be donated, and sold off for low low prices, with the money generally going to charity. Except I do believe Value Village is a for-profit venture with the monies collected going into pockets of investors whilst being run by people who are too materialistic and throw away too much.

I digress. I was in the CD section seeing if I could relive any of my teenage teenybopperisms, when I passed 3 or 4 copies of new never been opened CD’s. Curious, I pulled one out to be met with a band name I’d never heard of, “Out of Options” The back cover said they were from Burlington, and the picture showed 4 pretty cute lads with a good amount of well done and well placed piercings stretched to various sizes. I figured for 5 bucks how much could it hurt, and took the guess that it was a band that had since broken up hence why the CD’s were in the bin.

I was quite thankful I fell in love with the music. Moreso thankful for the fact I found out the band had NOT disbanded. (Although some months after my discovery, they have since changed their name to “Bombing Neverland”)

Well since the band changed their name from Out of Options to Burning Neverland, I can’t find exactly what their myspace said. So back to the guessing. My iTunes says they fall under Alternative & Punk. I will say they are both rock, and pop. Such generic terms I use. It’s good rock music.

People who listen to the album with me agree that Out of Options sounds/sounded like their influences. I don’t listen to commercial music much so I really don’t know what their influences sound like. It’s clean and simple, just everything you expect in a rock-sounding band. Drums, electric guitar, bass, and some singing. Beautiful in it’s simplicity really.

Of all the times Out of Options played in Toronto I’ve never been able to see them live even though I’ve really really wanted to. Now I’ll never get the chance since the band no longer really exists. And even though Bombing Neverland I believe is all the same members, the music is shifting in it’s style (no really, it’s true) but I wouldn’t mind seeing them either. As for this album? I play it in my car often.

Bombing Neverland will be playing at The Ford Plant in Burlington on July 12, 2007, and at The Bovine in Toronto on July 14, 2007.

Name: Strap-On Tools Album: Phase ThirtyNine Released: Warped Tour 2006 Members: Brando - Vocals/Guitar Chaddy - Drums Dunk - Lead Guitar/Vocals Mikey S. - Bass Guitar Website: www.strapontools.org Label: Label Records Favourite Song: I Wish My Lawn Were Emo (So it Would Cut Itself)

The long-fabled EP released by Strap-On Tools for their debut performance at Warped Tour. Got to love the Clerks the Cartoon reference. Phase Thirty Nine is in reference to the first (real) episode of Clerks the Cartoon only available on DVD. In it, there was a diabolical plan to take over the town, with which Phase Thirty Nine of the plan was Robot chickens. (Quick, turn your CD over right now. Notice a robotic glint in the chick’s eye?)

I would classify Strap-On Tools as 98% pop and 2% punk. The right amount of punk in which they play their own instruments, write their own songs, wear their own clothes, and only jump when they’re in the mood for it. Their songs are similar but they’re original. Does that make sense? They use some of the same elements in different songs, but in different ways I suppose. The lyrics are always catchy, and insightful while many times being really funny.

Personally, I don’t get a lot of the deeper meaning behind some of the songs since the band has a tendency to go heavy on metaphors and smilies. I generally take things at their face value, and not look deeper. I have yet to figure out how “Rugburn” is a true story, but I haven’t asked. I’m a big supporter in the song titles not being a lyric from the song, and an album title not being one of the song titles, it makes it confusing for me to remember what song I’m listening to.

This is definitely a CD I keep in my car on a regular basis, and it’s something I’ll listen to while chilling at the computer, or in my room. And they would make a great kegger-party album. Some songs are high enough energy to bring to the gym, but not all of them, leaving me to rip/mix/burn to an available mp3 player first.