Band: Mild Davis

I'm rather stoked to introduce to you an act that many of you may never heard of, but probably will in the future. Mild Davis.

Don't copy+paste this feature! Direct link to it! Give us credit for our work!

:INTERVIEW:

Did you grow up in Hampton Roads? If so, what cities?

1. yup. i grew up in Newport News . When I graduated from Warwick in 98, I moved to Chapel Hill to go to school at UNC and have been down here for ten years, working for an indie record label for past five years. I loved it there and I've still got lots of friends and family in the area. I still get back up that way a few times a year to get my fix of VA.

Describe your music to someone who has never heard it.

2. my music is meant to be fun and to mesh together bits and pieces of all the different kinds of music i love. I listen to lots of indie rock, dance musc, downtempo and hip hop and i like to include elements from all of those into my songs. i think the mixing of textures gives my music a unique feel. putting together elements of live production andsequenced tracks is my attempt to push the boundaries of what can be called hip hop. i'm also lucky enough to have a wealth of talented musicians as friends and working with them offers me a chance to dabble in new genres and new soundscapes.

But there is always that undercurrent of Mild Davis in all the tracks. I like my drums crisp, my samples well chopped, my bass slow and low and my keys light and fluffy.

What's the writing process for your music? Do the lyrics come first? Does the music come first? Who does what?

3.the writing process differs with every track. I do lots of remixes for bands and mc's and i always try to strip out what i think are the best parts of the song and build the rest from scratch. When it comes to original songs, i tend to find a sample or a melody that works as a foundation and then i build the drums to suit the feel of the track. In collaborations with other artists, I like to work in tandum to build a song that reflects both of our personalities. i think you can tell when artists are into each other's music and are able to come together to build something new and vibrant.

Do you have an albums / demos / merch / releases available to purchase? Where can you buy them?

4. i'm in the finishing stages of wrapping up my first proper LP that will be titled, COTTON CANDY CLOUDS AND LEMONDROP LIGHTNING. it will be 12 original tracks and will feature guest appearances from Astronautalis, Josh Nowlan of the band Cities, Juan Huevos, Gut Lightning, MC Gouki from Tokyo and a handful of other guest musicians. the record will be a co-release between my crew, Extensive Enterprise , and Brooklyn-based label, Black Box Mixtapes. There are a handful of Mild Davis remixes on iTunes, including tracks i've done for The Aples in Stereo, North Elementary, The Holy Sons and Cities. Also i have one release available on iTunes called SQUARE WON. it's a mixtape that i made in 2005 and features original remixes of tracks by pharoah monche, little brother, the pharcyde, aesop rock and several others.

What is your most crazy show story? (Any naked women running around? Drunk bar fights?)

5. as a studio producer, i've just recently decided to take the mild davis show on the road. i'm in the works of putting together a live set of all new, original material. it will feature me doing my thing with an akai mpd32, a keyboard, at technic 1200 and a mixer, a few loop pedals and a laptop. if all goes well, it should end up being an experience like seeing a bastard mix of dj shadow and girl talk. i'll be banging out drums and stabs on the mpd, scratching on the 1200 and looping sounds to build tracks. you can expect lots of layers, dope beats and samples that will get the crowd shaking their ass.

How much do you think hype affects the public perception of what good music is?

6. lets face it, hype is the name of the game. people look to blogs, radio stations and magazines as trendsetters. the right image and degree of hype can be the difference in a project that goes national or never leaves home. honestly, i think the artists that achieve that degree of fame so quickly miss out on the experience of building their name in an organic way through hard work and making contacts. it's been my experience that artists who are conscious of their image and work to craft it in a specific way are the ones who tend to last the longest and have the most promising careers. we would all love to have a great review in pitchfork or get spun on KEXP, but i don't think that is the key to success.

getting caught up in the hype machine may help you get noticed, but if you don't have an original sound and a style that fans can relate to, it won't matter a bit. music fans are smart and they can smell a phony a mile away. i can name a thousand bands and artists that have enjoyed the full glow of indie hype but ended up as flashes in the pan. your 15 minutes don't last as long as they used to. i think that the rise of mixtapes and eps have helped artists bridge the gap between albums and, in some cases, even boosted their profile in the interim. think lil wayne or clipse. those cats are masters of hype.

How would you like to see the local music scene change? (venues, fans, other bands)

7. i'm pretty spoiled to live in Chapel Hill which has a long thriving music scene. we're lucky enought to have a handful of great venues that cater to all levels of artists. the cat's cradle is about an 800 cap and brings big name acts to town. in addition, we have the Local 506, which brings in great mid-level bands and the nightlight which showcases small, but great shows in a used book/record store. so, despite if you are into popular artists or obscure bands, you can always find a show to suit your fancy. we also have a great local music scene. you can't throw a rock in chapel hill and not hit someone who is in a band. we have everything from indie rock to hip hop and all stops in between. what makes it even better is that the bands mix and match for live shows.

it's not uncommon to see an mc opening for a metal band or some other quirky mix of sounds. the local scene is a big part of why i live here. i'm lucky, and i know it.

What's up for the band in 2008? ( a tour, album?)

8. like i said, i have COTTON CANDY CLOUDS & LEMONDROP LIGHTNING coming out early next year and i'm getting ready to start playing live. other than that, i'm really excited to be in the opening phases of getting our crew up and running. we're called extensive enterprises (www.extensiveent.net) and the group consists of juan huevos (www.myspace.com/juanhuevos) and production duo gut lightning (www.myspace.com/gutlightning). we're almost done with the website and we'll be providing the fans with tons of free music and mixtapes. the idea is to help each other get the word out about our music and help build the local hip hop scene in chapel hill.

What local bands and artists do you recommend?

9. local music! we are super lucky to have a wealth of great bands in the area. right now, here are my current faves.

JUAN HUEVOS - this guys is a fucking rock star. he's an mc whose has been at it for over a decade and just keeps getting better. he rides that line between the worlds of indie hip hop and indie rock. his shows are a who's who of the local music scene and he always packs it out. he's got the flow and the swagger of a big name rapper, but balances that with songs that everyone can relate to about girl problems, hangovers, mondays and all the trappings of daily life. but he makes it sound fresh.

COLOSSUS - if you're a fan of having your face melted, check these dudes out. they play metal, remniscent of iron maiden, and come correct with three guitars up front. most bands are lucky to have one guitar player that can shred. these guys have three. plus, they couldn't be nicer guys. in a perfect world, these guys would play every night. thankfully for my hearing, they don't.

KERBLOKI - these guys are a staple of the chapel hill music scene, and for good reason. they feature two mc's, mike and jb, and live bass and guitar. it's like these guys invented the party. every show is a damn barnstormer. i dare you not to have a good time when these guys play live. i've known them for years and the first remix i ever did was for their song, "paradise." on top of that, they just finished their new lp which was produced by local legend brian paulson who has done records with beck and slint. i can't name another band that sounds like these guys, and that is hard to say these days. so fresh!

GUT LIGHTNING - ok, i know two of these are part of the EE crew, but there is a reason i work with these guys. because they're dope. gut lightning is a duo of t.jerk and fader. they mix vintage samples and scratching and make instrumental hip hop that makes me so jealous i can't stand it. every time these guys do a new track, it stays in my cd player for at least a week. as solo artists, they both could stand strong on their own, but when the get together and activate like the wonder twins, you better watch out because they're about as good as it gets. plus, fader may be the only person i've ever met that has as much affinity for the movie 'the goonies' as i do. classic shit!

What are your favorite venues to play at? How would you like to see the available venues to change when booking shows? (better sound / lights/ pay/ promotions)

10. i hate to pick favorites, but the local 506 would have to be my choice. thank god for that place. so many bands i love would pass right by chapel hill if it weren't for the 506. glenn that runs the place is an amazing wealth of music knowledge and does a great job of booking all kinds of acts to come play. plus shows are relatively cheap there and they always have ice cold pbr! they just revamped the soundsystem and it sounds great. overall, it's just a classic rock club. unfortunately, those are getting harder and harder to come by lately. like i said earlier, we really do have a venue for everyone in this town. they all have their pros and cons, but i'd be proud to frequent any of them.

How do you market your music to the public? What seems to work best for you for letting people know about your shows? (Myspace/ the paper / word of mouth)

11. marketing in the digital age is a whole new ballgame. the internet has opened a whole new realm of ways for bands to spread their music and reach fans all around the world.

i know people shit on myspace, but it's been an amazingly useful resource and it's free. building email lists, via fanbase.com, is also a great way to keep your fans in the loop with live show updates, new music and news. radio and local press are also a great, if traditional, ways to spread the word too. instead of focusing on the stuffy daily paper, it's a great idea to seek out smaller zines, college papers and other media outlets. also, even most big radio stations will have an hour a week dedicated to live music. people do tune in there to check out what's going on around town and to find out about new artists. plus, getting in good with a handful of dedicated and motivated bloggers is a great way to get out there too. offer them exclusive tracks for download or tour announcements and it becomes a win/win situation. i just always aim to be creative and try to remember that it's all about the fans. treat them right and they do the same for you.

What is your current favorite song?

12. 'these are the best days of your life' by astronautalis. if you don't know this dude, crawl out of the cave, shave your beard, and buy his new record. it may change your life. this song is off an ep that he put out a couple of years back and i just rediscovered this track and can't stop listening. and, he'll be at the local 506 on 10/29 with kerbloki and juan huevos. i told you that place is awesome. but, seriously, go make astrounautalis your friend (www.myspace.com/astronautalis). you can thank me later.

Last CD bought, downloaded or stole?

13. i'm not going to lie. i download like blackbeard. but, if i give it more than a few spins, i'll pony up the cash and go buy it. i actually just picked up 'tha carter iii' from weezy. i figure i'm helping him buy another bentley or just contributing to the 'make it rain' fund.

Quote us your favorite song lyrics. (please include who it is by)

14. 'spit yo game, talk yo shit, grab yo gat, call yo clique' by biggie. need i say more? i didn't think so.

What came first, the music or the misery? Explain

15. misery? no way. i love music. always have. i don't create from a sad place. the last thing i want to do when i'm in a bad mood is make music. i go in the studio to make songs that i like and hope other people would like. i take pride in how far i've come from my early work and hearing that progression just makes me want to make more music.

music makes me happy, makes me think about the world and makes me excited to hear what's next. it's almost an addiciton. add to that the fact that some of my favorite musicians are my best friends and that makes my attachment to music that much stronger. misery? nah. i'll leave that for the mopey folk singers. it's kind of their thing any way, right?

What do you think of what MC7C does? How would you make it better? Have you been to any of our events?

16. i think you guys do a great job of helping to expose new music to fans. we all love a site where you can go and find out about some new sounds that you would otherwise never have heard about. i just wish there were more sites like this, honestly. thanks for taking your time to help musicians like myself get a little shine.

:WEBLINKS:

Mild Davis @ myspace

Extensive Enterprises

Band: The Sort

The following feature on The Sort was conducted by the MC7C crew for this page. Don't be a prick and copy+paste it elsewhere. Direct-link to it!

Now. Onward!



:BIO:

Richmond, Va rock band The Sort formed early in 2006, starting as an intimate musical exchange of ideas between guitarist Clark Fraley and vocalist Lauralam Thomas, both formerly of Richmond's lovable "Atari-rock" band, Rockbot (project of Jack's Mannequin bassist, Jon Sullivan). Songs began to fall together as effortlessly as teenagers in love, and the two created a string of demo tracks in Clark's home studio. It wasn't long before the itch to share these songs with every smoky bar in the world struck the pair, and the search for an eager rhythm section began. It didn't take long to recruit bassist Jon Bone (ex Lazycain), and drummer Briant Murphy (ex Sau, The Tori). By late spring, the foursome had begun to play shows in and around the area. The group completed its lineup in Fall 2006 with the addition of second guitarist Steve Burner, also formerly of Rockbot.

The Sort's sound is both melodic and brutal. Razor sharp guitars take turns with urgent, exacting lyrics to keep the songs just intense enough to raise your blood pressure a bit without sending you into a full on rock seizure. Vocally, Lauralam's grasp of the joys of both control and abandon sail the rock ship home. She can employ Belinda Carlisle-meets-a-Theramin-like vibrato or play it straight ala Anna Waronker of That Dog.

The Sort's live show demonstrates the height of the band's energy, without jeopardizing the subtle idiosycrasies of their songcraft. Crushing drums make love to driving bass while guitars squeal merrily and Lauralam shakes her head around as if she is the only one in the room. "Being on stage singing these songs that we wrote is really a life-affirming experience for me", Lauralam says, "I don't like to speak much between songs because public speaking is really a terrifying thing, but the songs kind of have little lives of their own, and the energy from them really takes over any fear I might have of performing them. When the music starts, I kind of become it, and am no longer thinking about what the audience might be thinking of me." The band is excited to play just about anywhere and are happily making their local rounds, playing at almost every allowable venue in Richmond, including Alleykatz and The Canal Club, and venturing up I-95 to play at old favorites such as popular DC rock dive, The Velvet Lounge. A tour is planned for late April/early May which will take them as far north as NYC and as far West as Dayton, Ohio.

In the Summer of 2006, The Sort was approached and asked to be the subject of a HDTV show episode in a series featuring local bands. This series was sponsored by and released through Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in December 2006. It has aired several times each month on PBS since its premiere. The episode includes live show footage, practice footage, and studio footage, as well as group and individual interviews.

The Sort self-released their debut full length album, "Resentment, Despair, and Other Amusements", in April of 2008. "We did most of the recording and all of the production ourselves", Lauralam states, "It was no easy task, so when I tore open the box to see the final product, I nearly cried with joy."

:INTERVIEW:

Did you grow up in Hampton Roads? If so, what cities?

JON: I was born and raised on the banks of the Lafayette in Norfolk. Laura and Steve are both Richmond natives and Clark is from Lynchburg. Briant grew up in the northeast outside of a little town called Boston. We all met and currently reside in Richmond.

Describe your music to someone who has never heard it.

JON:Hmm, never an easy one so I will break it down into components.

Vocals with a strong pop sensibility, lots of hooks. Words and melodies that stick with you. The guitars range from metallic and riffy to textural and saturated, setting each other up andharmonizing effortlessly. Two words for you, son: guitar solos. A heavy handed rhythm section anchors it all while maintaining the groove and delivering the goods. I think we have a pretty big sound overall.

What's the writing process for your music? Do the lyrics come first? Does the music come first? Who does what?

JON: Clark will demo some ideas on the Mac with guitar and these over the top sounding programmed drums. He lays down the basic idea and filters it through Laura. Laura gives a nod to the tunes that strike her and we take them and start to flesh them out. Sometimes there are vocal lines written when the music is starting take shape, sometimes they come later. Once the process is complete we usually have to play a song live a few times before it really unfolds like it should.

Do you have an albums / demos / merch / releases available to purchase? Where can you buy them?

LAURALAM: Our new full length album is called "Resentment, Despair, and Other Amusements" and you can buy it at cdbaby.com, itunes, or amazon.com. T- shirts are coming very soon!

What is your most crazy show story? (Any naked women running around? Drunk bar fights?)

LAURALAM: Luckily, we haven't anything too terribly trashy transpire, although we did play a local redneck bar at the request of some friends and a couple of rather large redneck men kept harassing me and the other band members' girlfriends while we were playing. I can take it all it stride, but it must have been a sight to see us playing with the rest of the band looking like they were ready to kill someone.

JON:Aw man, we're all lovers not fighters. I would much rather have the naked women running around than dudes trying to kill each other. I probably saw enough violence in the parkinglot of the Kings Head after hardcore shows as a kid to last me a lifetime.

How much do you think hype affects the public perception of what good music is?

LAURALAM: It is both fortunate and unfortunate that "hype" affects the listener's perception. On one hand, it's nice to see many deserving bands who went unrecognized for long period of time finally get the recognition they deserve. On the flipside, many major labels are selling the same cookie cutter crap, and music becomes nothing more than a product and a trend. It's depressing.

JON:The digital age has brought so many new forms of marketing, we are being force fed media from everywhere. Thankfully there are always smart kids who are sharp enough to cut through all of the BS. You have to hope that people will see past the 700^th Panic at the Disco ad or whatever and seek out sites like yours or Pitchfork or something.

How would you like to see the local music scene change? (venues, fans, other bands)

JON: More sites and labels that support local music is absolutely the key. Oh, and more people need to come see our band.

What's up for the band in 2008? ( a tour, album?)

LAURALAM: Well, we've already toured some this year following the release of our album, so we'll probably just be playing many out-of-town weekend shows. We're shooting a video in a few days, and writing a lot of new material.

JON: New material!

What local bands and artists do you recommend?

LAURALAM: My personal favorites are Ki:Theory, One Friend, and Eons.

JON: Keep in mind these are all RVA bands. Dead Goats, Mermaid Skeletons, RPG and anything with our friend Mikey Bryant in it. Denali is back (sort of), keep an eye out for them as well.

What are your favorite venues to play at? How would you like to see the available venues to change when booking shows? (better sound / lights/ pay/ promotions)

JON: We play downtown alot at a place called Wonderland. Its a great room, cool staff and good crowds, but the location kills us. Shockoe Bottom is worse than the VB Oceanfront in the summer. It's literally a police state every weekend. I can't wait to play the National here, its run by the NorVa people and is the best looking room in the area. Better pay is always good, and maybe revision of our state laws in regards to alcohol and licensing. There are clubs thriving in DC that couldn't survive Virginia's archaic laws and regulations.

How do you market your music to the public? What seems to work best for you for letting people know about your shows? (Myspace/ the paper / word of mouth)

LAURALAM: I do use myspace to market and get the word out about shows; however, with the overload of (mostly bad) bands on myspace, the great majority of people won't take the time to listen. I try to keep our page attractive, professional, and up-to-date. I offer free downloads and little contests for free cds. People love free stuff! Still, if you only market on myspace, you're isolating a huge portion of the music-loving population. We are currently played on several radio stations around town and up and down the east coast, have had write ups in local and regional magazines, have played acoustic radio sets, and were even featured in our very own documentary put out by VCU and shown on PBS every few weeks.

What is your current favorite song?

LAURALAM: According to my itunes, the song I play the most is Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek.

JON: Blood and Thunder by Mastodon. Writing a concept record about a whale is awesome, and its so well mixed.

Last CD bought, downloaded or stole?

LAURALAM: Portishead –"Third"

JON: Beach House – "Devotion" TwoBaltimore kids with a definite 4AD vibe.

Quote us your favorite song lyrics. (please include who it is by)

JON:"Now I stand here waiting" from Blue Monday by New Order. The line by itself doesn't make much sense but in context it's clever. Bernard Sumner sings it and then does exactly that, he waits.

What came first, the music or the misery? Explain.

LAURALAM: The sex?

JON: All the musicians I know are a little off, if you know what I mean. I know that playing live definitely helps me exercise a few demons, but is music the chicken or the egg?

What do you think of what MC7C does? How would you make it better? Have you been to any of our events?

JON: Its imperative that we have sites like yours as part of local communities. Keep spreading the word and getting links out there, the more readers the better the arts will do. We haven caught an event yet because of that 90 mile stretch of I-64but we would love to be part of something in the near future. Cheers!

:LINKS:

The Sort @ Myspace

Band: Stairwell Collapse

The following interview was conducted by the MC7C duo and posted for this page. Do not copy+paste this; direct link to it, instead!





INTERVIEW


Did you grow up in Hampton Roads? If so, what cities? ah yes, the days of little us running the streets of hampton roads haha. I (Rick) grew up in virginia beach and Mike in chesapeake. We have spent a lot of time in Richmond VA which is considered a second home to us.

Describe your music to someone who has never heard it. imagine the sounds of water buffalo in mating season ;) honestly its just rock music, there are a ton of different labels out there for genres these days, some would say we are indie because we do have a more melodic sound. If you havn't heard us, you should check it out and let us know how you would describe it! We do have parts that feel intense but we bring it back with familiar hooks and layered vocals that sound like "the voice of a thousand angels" or so we have been told haha.

What's the writing process for your music? Do the lyrics come first? Does the music come first? Who does what? Well, we usually write a guitar riff and record it, not sure what part it is going to be in a song yet. Since we have previously written all of our songs with just the two of us, we don't have access to live drums so we use a drum sequencer on the computer to write a beat to said guitar riff. We usually play with a few ideas musically, mike will come up with a melody for the part and hums it out over the recording, lyrics usually come later. That is when we decide where the part will go in a song, because we get a good idea of the feel it has. From there we start building around it and months later, a song is born! haha.



Do you have an albums / demos / merch / releases available to purchase? Where can you buy them? Shirts! We do have shirts.. but our self-titled E.P will be added to that list of merch very soon! We have spent the last few months recording our debut E.P and cannot wait to share it with the world :) There isn't a confirmed release date but, we are hoping for the end of this month or the beginning of september. Our merch site is http://www.scmerch.bigcartel.com/ and a little known fact about the elephant shirt..there is a hidden animal on it!

What is your most crazy show story? (Any naked women running around? Drunk bar fights?)

Hmm.. we have yet to see any show nudity or UFC re-enactments but we did have a pretty funny encounter with a drunk guy. Back before we had live members to play full band shows, we used to tour playing an acoustic set of our music. On with the story, we were playing a show at the Norva in Norfolk, VA. Our friend/photographer for the night (who we will refer to as The Dark Knight) had a few too many drinks. So we were playing the last song in our set, and i started to hear an off time tambourine coming from behind us. Then out of the corner of my eye i see The Dark Knight on stage with us wielding a tambourine (we have no idea where he got it from). It was a great moment in our band history, i think the crowd was actually cheering for him at the end of our set haha. He actually hung out with us at the merch table that night and probably signed more shirts than we did ;)



How much do you think hype affects the public perception of what good music is?

I think hype affects people in different ways. Some people blindly follow the trends of popular music while others dislike something just because it is hyped up and there are the people who are indifferent. I think the words hype, mainstream, etc. are bad for the industry because they have an auto-shut off effect on some people. Instead, i suggest we use the word Disney. Example: "Hey that song is Disney!". meaning, the kids will like it. Have I lost you yet? haha, it was a studio thing, a whole different story :)

How would you like to see the local music scene change? (venues, fans, other bands)

Locally the music scene has been ruled by metal/hardcore shows for the past few years, but we have been seeing more and more non-metal bands forming in the area which could lead to less fights and more hugs ;) I guess something we would like to see is more people going to shows, we love meeting new friends!

What's up for the band in 2008? ( a tour, album?) First priority is to release our cd that we have been working on, it is in it's final stages so it shouldn't be long! Then we plan on getting a live band together again so we can tour extensively to promote the new cd :) But we will be writing new material this year as well, so who knows!



What local bands and artists do you recommend? We would have to recommend our friends in Conditions, they put on an amazing show, plus they are super cool dudes. Definitely have to recommend Yearling as well, we recorded our cd with Sid (the singer), and Mike (the drummer) played the live drums on our recordings.

What are your favorite venues to play at? How would you like to see the available venues to change when booking shows? (better sound / lights/ pay/ promotions) The Norva definitely holds a special place in our hearts, the atmosphere is amazing and it even has a hot tub backstage! I feel that the local venues are doing a good job, tons of promotion is definitely key to making a sucessful venue.

How do you market your music to the public? What seems to work best for you for letting people know about your shows? (Myspace/ the paper / word of mouth) As of now we just promote via myspace and word of mouth. Myspace has been a huge help to our band by enabling us to share our music with people around the world. It is also a great tool for booking out of town shows on your own, before it was very difficult unless you had a manager.

What is your current favorite song? I guess i would have to say Oubiette by The Receiving End of Sirens, and i'm going to say the entire Death Cab for Cutie discography for Mike haha.



Last CD bought, downloaded or stole? It's been a while but the last one was Number One Gun, the north pole project. And that was bought... with stolen money! (only kidding)

Quote us your favorite song lyrics. (please include who it is by) "p-p-p-pull up to the bumper babayyy" by Grace Jones vs. Funkstar Deluxe

What came first, the music or the misery? Explain. I actually thought about this for a second and had an answer. Then I decided to google the phrase, so i'll go with "what is We're high fashion, we're last chances" for 500.

What do you think of what MC7C does? How would you make it better? Have you been to any of our events? We have not been to any of your events yet, but maybe this interview will bring us together :D Great job guys, helping keep the music scene alive! We love you all


Links


Stairwell Collapse @ myspace

Band: The Pawnshoplifters

The following feature was conducted by k@t and compiled by Gabe. Please do not copy+paste this; direct link to this feature! Give us credit for our work!

Now...it's cowboy hat time, with the Pawnshoplifters.



.Bio.

The Pawnshoplifters arrived on the scene in 2006. Roots Rock, Country, Americana, call it what you will. We just play what comes natural, and what most of us were brought up on as kids (wether we wanted to or not!) Having a great appreciation of real country and honkeytonk, the PSL's take from those genres the art of story telling. A hard edged approach to country, and a blue collar mentality, the PSL's deliver passionate, colorful tunes that go hand in hand with the stereo in your f-150.

.INTERVIEW.

(Questions answered by Wendell Johnson)

Did you grow up in Hampton Roads? If so, what cities? What high schools?

We all 3 grew up in Tidewater. Jeff and I went to Great Bridge. Alan went to Booker T washington

Describe your music to someone who has never heard it.

Hard edged Hillbilly Hoedowns!

What is your most crazy show story? (Any naked women running around? Drunk bar fights?)

Wow, crazy story.....we're all vets of the scene. We try to rock as hard as we can, and have a few beers and go home to our wives.



How would you like to see the local music scene change? (venues, fans, other bands)How do you think we can solve the problems we are having with venues doing little to NO promoting of shows, not paying the bands much, lack of good sound systems, and other issues?

Well, i've battled this since i was 16. I think it starts with the bands. Good, quality bands doing shows together and creating a cool place to see a show. There are a couple of places that have great shows regularly. And attendance is quite good. So, I think it starts there. We don't have real venues that just concentrate on having music. VA law requires a venue to sell a certain amount of food with alcohol, so they have that to worry about. So in that case, the Venue really has no time or money to promote shows. I think myspace has done a tremendous amount for getting the word out on bands. And having accurate websites that give updates is also crucial. It's space age baby!

What's up for the band in 2008? ( a tour, album?)

Our record comes out in JAn, with a release show @ the Taphouse on Feb 9th. Touring will be as far as we want to drive..

What local bands and artists do you recommend?

Recommend? thats a strange choice of words...like a dr. recommending pennicilin for vd. LOL I recommend the PSL's for your rash ma'm. All kidding aside, locally we like 1888 a lot. Brad recorded our record at his Clay garden Studio. They are doing some interesting stuff as a band. Rylo, Action Habit, Jason Manfreddi..the list goes on. I think when we can sense passion in a bands set, it always gets attention. Well, passion and songwriting ability...



What are your favorite venues to play at? How would you like to see the available venues to change when booking shows?
(better sound / lights/ pay/ promotions)

Any place that people come to see original music. The Taphouse, Hells Kitchen, Jew Mo's.

Who primarily writes the songs? Is there a certain process or does it come out during practice?

I write the songs, and I make demos to give the guys, and we get together and hash em out!

How do you market your music to the public? What seems to work best for you for letting people know about your shows?
(Myspace/ the paper / word of mouth)

All three are very practical in getting your music out. Myspace, like I said is a huge tool in getting music out there.



Finish these statements:

"You know you've made it when..."

cows fly out of my arse. we get to play our songs that we write in front of alot of people, and they have a great time, and sing them back to us.. I think that's "making it" in the music industry.

"It'll be time to pack up the gear for good when..."

never. We all enjoy it too much . You can always play music on some level, as long as yer standing.

"I'll never forget the first time I..."

heard some of the music genre descriptions these days... they get more and more ridiculous. It's freakin rock baby!



Let's have some fun with word association. Give me your immediate feelings on the following
(if you've got no discernable feelings, make something up that won't embarrass you in the morning)

Pembroke Area aka Downtown Virginia Beach-Downtown Virginia Beach?

No such thing.

The Oceanfront-

No such thing. Used to be a Haven for music...now it's just sad.

Granby Street- (in Cajun man tone)

Solution....revitalization!

Portfolio Weekly-

sure, what 's the alternative...

Independent Music Stores / Businesses / Restaurants-

Persistant

Mount Trashmore-

Tidewater's hillside.

Best Venue-

The Taphouse, it gets rawkus!

Worst Venue-

street corner

Best Kept Secret-

fluffer nutter. marshmellow creme and peanut butter.

Pungo-

backwoods. love it.

Favorite Dive Bar-

I don't have the time..used to be the ghent inn.

What's the most played song on your iPod (or an equivalent music playing device) in the past week?

our new record, listening to different mixes and mastering.



Who would be in your ultimate music supergroup, your all-star Olympic team of rock?

oh god....all the dead ones.

What came first, the music or the misery? Explain.

Well music changed after the misery, so music. But music that's miserable just because it's trendy, is just miserable.




.Links.

Official myspace page
Official web home

Band: The Tripps

Featured Local Rockstars of The Week:

The Tripps formed in 2005 and infused a New Orlean's inspired Blues sound into the Hampton Road's music scene. A versatile blend of dixieland music and rhythms derived from Caribbean music, it's an upbeat evolution of traditional Blues. The Tripps recently entered the studio to record their first full length album, tentatively titled "A Sidereal Day," to be released in the near future. The current line-up includes David Cuffee III, Greg Meekins, Sam Barrett, and Cameron King.

Interview:

What is your music background? Did you play instruments growing up?

Greg: We all began playing back in grade school, and our parents were always supportive of our musical pursuits, as well as big music fans themselves: funk, blues, gospel, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, etc. We all were given a good foundation to build upon creatively, and are very grateful for that.



Where did the name of the band come from? How did the band get together?

Greg: I would like to say the band formed by accident, but we've all known each other for years, and just happened to get together a few times to jam, and we started to mold those improv sessions into more structured compositions that we were pleased with, so we pursued it. This started in January of 2005. The name "The Tripps" comes from Tripp McNeeley from the film "Can't Hardly Wait", the gentlemen with only wisdom to pass along to his fellow man.

What other activities / things do you enjoy doing when not playing music?

Cameron: pilliaging villages, knitting, video games, wax sculpting.



Who are your favorite musicians?

Cameron: I really just respect talent. It doesn't matter all too much what type of music it is.

How did the band start? Who had the idea and why?

Cameron & Greg: We honestly came from the future to protect John Connor, and to get sun tans on our days off. We failed at both.



How would you describe your music to people?

Greg: One of those Moonwalk carnival inflatable jammies.



Please finish the following statements...

"You know you've made it when..." You have others to carry your equipment.

"It'll be time to pack up the gear for good when..." Catering forgets to de-shell the M&M's before our performance

"I'll never forget the first time I..." Had to wear headgear.

Let's have some fun with word association. Give me your immediate feelings on the following (if you've got no discernable feelings, make something up that won't embarrass you in the morning)

Military Ships: AMERICA! FREEDOM! George Bush! MISSILES!

Constant Road Construction: The view from my apartment.

Virginia Beach Oceanfront: crack heads and taxes, and my home

Blogs: day-time waster

The Norva: wooden

The Boathouse: ahh man!

Ghent: rich, white people

Festivals: What kind of festivals?

The Block: money and hookers

Granby Street: No Parking, fun weekends

What's the most played song on your iPod (or an equivalent music playing device) in the past week?

"Blue Hotel" Ryan Adams and the Cardinals

Who would be in your ultimate music supergroup, your all-star Olympic team of rock?

Cameron: Hendrix, Flea, John Theodore.



What was the first/last album you bought on the day it was released? (What did you think of it?)

Greg: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals : "Follow The Lights E.P." and it's sonically and lyrically perfect.

And finally...What came first, the music or the misery?(explain)

Cameron: Watch High Fidelity and John Cusack will divulge the answer.

Are you happy with the direction the band is going right now? What is the current goal of the band?

Greg: I couldn't be happier. The current "goal" if you will, would be to play music that makes us sincerely happy, thus making the audience happy, and having the opportunity to perform at a variety of different places around the world; to meet people from different walks of life, religions, and planets.


How do you balance your music with your other parts of life (job, family)?

Cameron: I'm a loner Dottie: a rebel. - Pee Wee Herman.
(sidenote: ha! I love Pee Wee's Big Adventure.-k@t)



What causes artistic blocks? What do you do to solve them?

Greg: Everyday life causes mental blocks, but that same life is also the solution to the block. That is why life will always be a vicious circle that, if you live it right, you will be able to provide immediate solutions to those occasional mental blocks, if there are any significant ones at all.

Where do you see the band in the next few years?

Cameron: NOT dead from cocaine overdoses.



How would you like to see the local music scene change? Do we need to have better venues? Better ways of booking shows? Which way do you find best to get fans to come out to shows?

Greg: I would like to see the entire thing change. Actually, to be perfectly honest, if you want the whole scoop on how to book, promote, and set-up a concert right, see Granby North. And use word of mouth to promote shows. The internet is the devil.

Links to These FOOLS:

www.myspace.com/thetripps

Band: Action Habit

(the following feature was written by MC7C. Please give us the proper credit we deserve and copy the link location and not copy and paste.
THANKS!)
BACKGROUND

Norfolk based, Action Habit, is a combination of garage rock and punk. They are by no means a typical "garage rock" band. If you're a fan of the Rolling Stones, The Pixies, The Who, or The Stooges, then you will be a fan of Action Habit. Anthony Torres, fronts the band with his tasty lyrics and mesmerizing guitar riffs. Dave Voightritter and Dany Magee round out the trio with their solid drum and bass lines, which create a unique sound. Playing at almost every venue in the Hampton Roads area, they have pounded out their influence in the local music scene. If you see their shows listed on a calendar, it's in your best interest to write a huge reminder on your fridge and attend!

INTERVIEW

What is your music background? Did you play instruments growing up?

All three members of the band are self taught. I myself have been obsessed with music since my occupancy in the womb. It is the only thing that has always been there for me, and quite frankly the only thing I trust. I picked up the guitar in the 80's and have been sleeping with it ever since.



Where did the name The Action Habit come from? How did the band get together?

The name came from a 1950's flyer about being a successful salesman using the "Action Habit" method. The flyer was found in the storage room of an old downtown business in Norfolk. It still hangs in my living room. I think people need to take more action in this world and stop being so content and complacent.
All of us had been in other bands, but were seeking new avenues to travel down. I am the only original member left, but Dany and Dave have been the Action Habit rhythm section for six years now.

Growing up, how did music play a role in your childhood/adolescence?

I could always depend on music my whole life. I could always put the needle on any number of records and that magic would always be there. I always had music by my side but never dreamed of actually playing it until punk/post punk happened in my world.

What other activities / things do you enjoy doing when not playing music?

I like reading and photography and seeking out great bands. Dave and Dany are both married. Yes, I am the single one. Dave handles IT duties for a local media station, and Dany is a teacher.



Who are your favorite musicians?

I can't bear the thought of leaving anyone out by answering this. There are too many important artists for me to pick a handful. I love great songwriters.the Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Pj Harvey, the Who, Guided by Voices, Echo and the Bunnymen, Neil Young, Velvet Underground, Big Star and so on…



How would you describe your music to people?

I always say it's kind of noisy pop mixed with a hint of prog rock.

Are you happy with the direction the band is going right now? What is the current goal of the band?

We are all pretty happy with the band. The current goal is to just finish mixing the record we have been working on and hopefully have it out by the end of the year. Then we can do more East Coast touring.



How do you balance your music with your other parts of life (job, family)?

It gets real hard sometimes. Lucky for me, I am playing with two of the most dedicated people I have ever been in a band with. If it's in your soul, you make time for the band.

What is the greatest compliment anyone has ever paid to you regarding your art work? What about the greatest insult? How should an artist respond to such compliments and insults? Is it easier to talk about the compliment or the insult?

The greatest compliment I can think of is the people who come to almost every show. The repeat supporters really make it worthwhile. I can think of no certain insults. Most people keep that to themselves anyway. Music is so subjective. You are always going to have people that are at a club and are not digging your sound. That kind of makes you want to play harder and put it in their face.
I can't tell other people how to handle opinions. Everyone has them, and everyone thinks they have the right one. Instinct is still best.



What causes artistic blocks? What do you do to solve them?

Life. I think any stress causes writers block. Relationships, jobs, health. The thing to do is to take that energy and make a song out of it. Don't let the negative emotion get the best of you. Use your art as a reflection of yourself.

If you could play a show with any band, past or present, who would it be? What music would you want them to perform?

The Who with Keith Moon on drums. I would want them to play the whole catalog.

What are trying to do to people with your art? Inspire them? Move them? Educate them?

I do this for me. If people want to come along for the ride, that's great. If I somehow inspire someone to start something positive and creative, then that's way more than I ever could have imagined when I picked up that guitar the first time. There is no secret message to this. I believe you should do your art with intensity. I don't mean volume, but with real emotion. If you are in it for other reasons, you need to question your validity.

Where do you see the band in the next few years?

All I could ask for is that we are constantly moving forward with new ideas and thoughts. I want to always be pushing the envelope of our capabilities.



How would you like to see the local music scene change? (venues, fans, other bands) Do we need to have better venues? Better ways of booking shows? Which way do you find best to get fans to come out to shows? (word of mouth / internet / flyers)

The problem that this area has always had is support of local music. The clubs don't want to pay the bands well. The clubs rarely do promotion. No flyers or radio spots. Local radio needs to support this more as well. We need more local music shows on radio. We need local record stores to push the regional bands more. Go to any major city and they will have and spotlight regional talent. Clubs should invest in a PA system. That is a great incentive for bands to play in their clubs. Once a band has to pay a PA rental, and a support band, they are left with very little money. When a band plays for the door money, that's all they get. They are totally at the mercy of the consumer. It really makes me angry when fellow musicians ask to be on the guest list. They should know that the only income we get comes from the cover charge. It's hard work maintaining
a band and loading in equipment, and giving it your all for 2 hours, only to have to break down everything , pack it up and hopefully be in bed by 3am. No matter how broke I am I will always pay to see a local band. If I can't afford it, I stay home.
We need to have more clubs booking original music. It's real pathetic that clubs pay a cover band so much more than an original band. I understand that most consumers just want to go out and get drunk and dance to the latest sounds, but the clubs have a responsibility to the local art community as well. Give the people some variety. Make something happen.
Sorry for the rant.
I cannot say enough great things about the MC7C organization. This is a major step in this area. I would love for more people to get involved with you to really bring positive results to this area. Artists need to protect their rights. They need someone like you to help them form a community. This area has always worked against each other instead of everyone taking it to the streets for the good of all. With the MC7C, we now have a forum to bring ideas and change to this area. I find that exciting. Get involved people! Every little bit helps.

LINKS:
Action Habit Myspace
Action Habit Dot Com

Check out this video: Deal With It



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