Well Dressed Thieves – Austin
Having grown up in small towns around Texas, Austin’s Well Dressed Thieves are the kind of authentic and pure sounding bands we here at the Texas Rock Blog love to discover. Led by the riff driven sounds of guitarist Troy Dry and accentuated by bassist Greg Baldwin and drummer Seth Massie, Well Dressed Thieves combines the classic sounds of bands like The Clash and Nirvana and mixes it in with their own brand of raw, energetic and well played distorted sound.
Brought together by a love for music at a young age, Troy and Greg have been playing together since before they could drive. “Troy and I have known each other and played music together since we were young teenagers, it’s been about 11 years,” Greg said of the band’s origins. “We went our separate ways for school, but started a new music project immediately when we were in the same city. Seth and I had worked in the same kitchen next to one another, so we’d stayed in loose contact until I started looking for a drummer. Voila!”
Troy and Greg split the vocals, as well as the writing and inspiration. “We both do the writing,” Greg says, referring to himself and Troy. “Whoever sings it, wrote it, basically.” When asked what inspires their writing style, Greg says “Anything indignant is inspiring.” Seth also gets a say in the writing. “We’ll play a song over and over one way,” Seth adds. “But if someone comes up with a change or addition, as long as it’s for the benefit of the song, we always use the better idea.”
With a diverse range of sounds, Greg said that’s what draws their fans to their music. “I think our live energy,” Greg says of what connects them to their fans. “Also our diversity of sound gives access to our music to people who enjoy different kinds of rock and roll.”
It’s that sound that Troy says he hopes surprises folks. “We hope our fans (or anyone hearing their music) come away with a feeling that it’s still possible to go out and see a good rock show that could catch you off guard.”
“We have a wide range of sounds we gather from and produce,” Greg said of their music. “But still deliver a cohesive performance with circumstantial energy and angst.” That’s one thing the guys feel sets them apart. “We don’t play the same sounding songs all the way through our set,” Seth added.
Dig into the band’s CD players and you’ll find some of that diversity they talk about. Greg said he’s currently listening to “The Blind Shake,” while Troy is jamming to the “Arctic Monkeys” and Seth enjoys “The Misfits”.
The guys of Well Dressed Thieves are working their tails off to put their music out there and broaden their fan base. Their normal set is a repertoire or original work, from the bluesy “A Blues Thing” to the more pop sounding “Corina, Cocaine,” mixed in with a few covers of bands like Nirvana. You can sample some of their original sounds on their website here.
If you get the chance, get out and get a taste of these guys!
~ James @ TRB
Well Dressed Thieves are:
Troy Dry – Guitar/Vocals
Greg Baldwin – Bass/Vocals
Seth Massie – Drums
Check out their website at:
www.sonicbids.com/welldressedthieves
Be sure to “Like” Well Dressed Thieves on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and tell them the Texas Rock Blog sent you!
Residual Kid – Austin
When my cousin Josh, TRB’s unofficial talent scout, first sent me a YouTube video of a band he found in Austin called Residual Kid, I was expecting a cute group of little kids banging on instruments and singing karaoke style songs that would make any grandmother proud.
Needless to say, I was blown away. This isn’t a kid band like any other you’ve ever heard. They’re not old enough to drink, they’re not even old enough to drive. But they are proving over and over they are plenty old enough to rock!
While most kids their age are skateboarding and playing Call of Duty on their PS3′s, these kids are paving new roads into a bright musical future. Dwarfed by the instruments they play, the skill and stage presence of Residual Kid is larger than life and more than fitting for any sized stage. They were recently ranked #4 by the Austin Chronicle in the “2010-2011 Best Performing Band – Best Under 18″ category and have been rocking stages all around Austin, even playing on-stage with Athen’s Dead Confederate during an encore.
Led by the amazing voice of vocalist Grace London, who is all of 11 years old and also plays guitar, Residual Kid has recorded original material for an upcoming EP release. The band is rounded out by drummer Ben Redman, his brother and bassist Max Redman and guitarist Deven Ivy.
I had the opportunity to get some insight into these kids and what makes music so special to them. “I have loved music as long as I can remember,” says 12 year old Deven. “When I was younger, I would watch extreme sports videos that had really awesome background music by bands like Megadeth and Papa Roach. I seemed to feed off of the energy of the music.”
“I guess I started playing music (drums) sitting on my dad’s lap at his drum kit in our garage at the age of 2 (I think),” added the 12 year old Ben. “Since then, I have listened to a lot of music and love playing and getting better every day!” Ben’s younger brother, 11 year old Max, also caught the fever. “I started playing music when I was about 6-7 years old,” Max shared. “My family loves music, which inspired me, and I just knew that it was what I wanted to do.”
And what inspired Grace to sing? “I’ve been singing pretty much ever since I was 2, when I saw The Wizard of Oz,” she says, referring to the magical singing of the late Judy Garland. “After watching it about 10 times, I knew all the words to every song.”
The Redman brothers first started out in a band called The Redboys. “I’ve been playing drums for about 10 years,” Ben said of his instrument. “Then I started taking lessons from a jazz drummer, where I leaned a lot, including timing and reading music. I taught myself to play guitar with my brother when I was around 8 years old.” Max started out on guitar, but later moved to bass when they added Deven, who they met at a music camp in 2009. “I started taking guitar lessons when I was around 7 years old,” Max said. “I played in a band with my brother, called The Redboys. When we met Deven, I moved to bass because we needed a bassist and I enjoyed it.”
“I play guitar, bass, drums, trombone, and I sing,” Deven said of his musical talents. “I started taking guitar lessons when I was 7, and I’m currently working with Jonas Wilson at the Austin School of Music. Over the years, I have also taken bass and guitar lessons. I play trombone in my school band.”
Grace is multi-talented as well. “I play guitar, piano, and sing,” Grace said when asked what instruments she plays and how she learned them. “I suppose you don’t really learn singing, but I still have a vocal teacher who I work with, and I have a piano teacher and a guitar teacher who are both wonderful.”
I asked the kids who they would open for if they could pick any band, and their different answers gave a hint of their different inspirations. “I would love to open for Radiohead,” Ben says. “The layers of sounds are so intricate yet balanced, and Johnny Greenwood is incredible!”
“I would open up for Muse, because they are an amazing band,” adds Max.
“It would probably be a band called The Kills, who I respect and admire SO much as artists and people,” Grace said. “I’m so obsessed with them, it would be a dream come true if I were ever to open for them.” Deven said for him it would be exciting to play for a large crowd. “Rage Against the Machine. They draw such a large following that it would be a thrill to play in front of that many people. Plus, they seem like pretty cool guys. It would be fun to get a chance to hang out with them!”
When asked about their friends and how their friends feel about the band, all of them were quick to point out that their friends are supportive of the band, even if some don’t know what to think. “Most of my friends from school could care less about music,” Deven said. “My school friends that are musicians don’t exactly understand the concept of stage presence. When they see our band, I’m not sure they know what to think.”
With the growing popularity the kids are experiencing, they are finding themselves playing more and more live shows in front of larger crowds. But despite their young ages, the music tends to take over and alleviate any nervousness they may feel. “We used to get nervous before and during shows,” Ben said. “But as we have played more it has gotten easier. I love playing in front of crowds and we have really gotten comfortable playing together and feeding off of each others energy.”
“I still get a little nervous before a big show, but it goes away when I get on the stage,” Max said. “It’s fun to watch people’s reactions when they first hear us play, which washes any nervousness away.”
“Depends on who is in the audience,” Deven says about his own nervousness. “I might get a little nervous if there are some really important people from the music industry in the audience. Any nervousness goes away as soon as I start playing.”
With a bright future ahead and an upcoming EP due to be released soon, I wondered where the kids see themselves going in the future. “Our number one goal has always been to have fun, and see where it takes us,” Max said. “This is all so new to us, but it’s a blast.”
“As an artist and as a band, I would like to be as independent as possible,” Deven added, pointing out that for him it’s about the art. “As an artist I want to stay true to myself and not conform to someone else’s idea of what my music should be like.”
But even as serious as these kids are about making music, they still just want to have fun. “We want to be bigger than Oasis,” Ben jokes. “We’re just having fun, and writing songs that we really like playing. We hope that people like us and want to see us and hear us play. I guess it feels a little challenging to get gigs when we’re so young, but we hope that people will keep giving us a chance.”
For Grace, her future is music. “I know I want to be a musician when I get older, and I love music so much, so I would love to be successful and support myself doing music, whether it’s with the band or not, but as long as I’m doing music that I love, I’m happy.”
Residual Kid, like any band, wants their music to make a lasting impression on anyone who hears it. “It’s great to watch people’s faces when we get on stage, probably thinking that it must be some kind of cute little joke,” Ben said. “Then when we start playing, it’s fun to watch those faces change to amazement. That is the best!” “I just hope that people like what they see and what they hear from Residual Kid,” Max added.
Grace hopes to bring smiles to peoples faces. “I hope they [listeners] feel energized or happy or whatever, I don’t really know, I guess people can take away what they feel personally.”
“We’re just releasing our first EP, ‘Box’,” Ben said. “We hope that people will want to buy it, and that our fan base just keeps growing and growing.”
When it comes to connecting with their fans, Deven said it best. “It’s the love of music that bonds us together man,” Deven said. When asked if he loved being in a band, he again pointed to the art. “Yes, because you get a chance to express yourself through your music.”
“We love playing live shows, and it’s an amazing feeling to play in front of people for the first time,” Max said of being in a band. “It’s even better when they come back with their friends. I love the energy and excitement of being on stage and playing music!”
“I really enjoy it,” Grace added. “The guys are all really talented and I have a lot of fun with it.”
Residual Kid is working with A Glimmer of Hope to aid the emergency relief effort in East Africa, and are hosting a show this Saturday (8/27) at Skinny’s Ballroom in Austin. Support can be given online via their support page @ http://www.aglimmerofhope.org/campaign/residual-kid-east-africa-crisis-relief.
Check out the videos below and see for yourself the promise and talent of this young band. They have several upcoming shows and are hoping to expand their fan base and play shows in Houston and other major cities around Texas.
I’d like to thank Josh first for introducing me to these kids. I’d also like to thank Residual Dad Dan Redman and the amazing talented kids for letting us share their music!
~ James @ TRB
Grace London – Vocals/Guitar
Ben Redman – Drums
Max Redman – Bass
Deven Ivy – Guitar
Check out their website at:
For booking info, contact Michael Maly of Above The Radar PR at abovetheradarpr@gmail.com or (512) 775-4426.
and tell them the Texas Rock Blog sent you!
You can also follow us on Twitter!
Weds 8/24: Harris Radio’s 9th Anniversary Party at MOMO’s (Austin, TX) 10pm
Sat 8/27: East Africa Relief Effort Concert at Skinny’s Ballroom (Austin, TX) 6-8pm
Weds 8/31: Balcony TV Broadcast at Maggie Maes (Austin, TX) 8:30pm
Sat 9/17: Ditch the Fest (Austin, TX) TBD
Sat 9/24: Pecan Street Festival Trinity Stage (Austin, TX) noon
Fri-Sun 10/7-9: Art Outside Festval (Rockdale, TX) TBD
Sounds Under Radio – Austin
Described by Entertainment Weekly as a “big-time rock ‘n’ roll band masquerading as some unsigned indie-emo whatsits,” Austin’s Sounds Under Radio are making a splash with their second album, “Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind”. Forming in 2005, the foursome of Lang Freeman, Bradley Oliver, Sonny Sanchez and Doug Wilson have already had a taste of success. Since 2007, the band has found themselves in film and radio with spots in films such as Spiderman 3, The Wolfman, War Games: The Dead Code and CW’s “The Vampire Diaries”. They’ve also found themselves on primetime television with Fox’s “American Idol”. So what’s the next best thing? More success.
Sometimes when you know, you just, well, know. When asked how the band came together, Freeman, the band’s vocalist, described it as an “organic” thing. ” Bradley Oliver and I met while in school at the University of Texas at Austin… we were both playing in random projects and with numerous artists around town as side musicians, and at a certain point we decided to chase down our own creative musings and began writing our own material,” Freeman said. “Sonny [Sanchez] and Doug [Wilson] were good friends of ours and two of our absolute favorite musicians in Austin. At that point we were all relatively unattached to any other musical projects, so one summer day we convinced everyone to slug their gear in to a run down rehearsal space, set up shop and just get creative. From then on we have been musically inseparable. When you know you know.”
With a self proclaimed “brit rock” sound, Freeman also points out that their sound is derived from a plethora of inspriations. “Musical inspiration is wonderfully vast and varied in our group…” says Freeman. “We are music lovers and consumers just as much as we are makers, so really anything that we digest in some way influences us.”
But their sound is definitely influenced by the great songwriting of many British rock bands such as The Beatles, Led Zepplin and lot’s of others. ” I would have to say that the prominent thread in our musical consumption that one finds reflected in our own writing… is brit rock,” Freeman points out. “From the beginning of this band to this day we have found musical community in bands like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Muse, Elbow, Travis… lots of stuff from the UK. We at the core are lovers of well crafted songs, and these bands just really know how to write great songs.”
With a self-examining approach to songwriting, Freeman said that much of the inspiration for his song-writing style comes from within. “Speaking for myself… much of my writing comes from looking inward… examining the person that I am, the person who I once was and the person who I in the future could become.” But he’s quick to point out that the songs aren’t all his creation. “We are inspired not only by the music we consume, but the life that we consume as well,” Freeman says of their inspiration. “We are all songwriters in this band, all with vast and varied inspirations and influences.”
Such can be found on their most recent creation, “Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind.” They’re not talking about communist vs. capitalist where it relates to countries and international politics, but more of the politics in oneself. ” It’s an investigation into the politics of the self…” Freeman says of the album. “It’s a discussion of the head versus the heart. How often times their ideals align, and how often times they do not… and really, what happens to you and those around you when their ideals disconnect.”
Like the true artists that they are, Sounds Under Radio works hard at connecting with their fans from a truthful, honest and transparent approach to their music. “People seem to identify with the internal strife and struggle that much of what we write and create discusses…” Freeman says of their connection to their fans. “It’s all just part of living a life, part of being a human being and part of growing. So I think the fans identify with the core themes of our band, and can find parts of themselves in the music. To us this is the truest form of connection and communication… letting the art speak for itself and letting people do with it and internalize it as they please.” But that’s not all the band hopes people get out of their music. “I hope our music motivates and challenges people… whether they love it or hate it, we want to generate a response, thats part of what art truly is… challenging the consumer,” says Freeman. “We obviously want people to love what we do, but at the core we are seeking a response, even if that response is just internal inside a listener… we want them to feel something, whatever that may be. Art to fight apathy!”
Having shared stages with many of the great bands from Texas, Freeman points out that they all have varied approaches to what they do. For these guys though, it’s about the live show. “For us… our live show is something that we strive to be very unique,” Freeman said. “When we approach our shows we approach them somewhat like theater… we are putting on a show. We are not on stage just playing a handful of songs… but like our records (which are themed and have strong and highly crafted ebb and flow) our live show is designed to be a larger than life experience… beyond the normal rock band. And no I’m not talking about scissor kicks or pyro, I more mean that when you come and see Sounds Under Radio live you get a sensory experience akin to watching a play or seeing a film rather than just seeing us play some of our tunes on a stage. We take great pride in creating an experience for an audience that goes well beyond some guitars, drums and some rock songs.”
And when he’s not writing, recording, or playing great music, Freeman enjoys listening to great music as well. “Manchester Orchestras ‘Simple Math’ is playing on my ipod and The Civil Wars ‘Barton Hollow’ is on deck and I’m thinking ‘Fleet Foxes’ new album will come after that…some truly amazing albums,” Freeman shares. He also pointed out that he’s not just a musician and an artist, but also a fan of some of the bands he gets to play with. “We played with a band from Nashville while on tour a few months ago called ‘Eastern Block,’ their record is in constant rotation while on the road.”
Sounds Under Radio released “Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind” in May of this year and can be found showcasing their craft here in Texas as well as far away as Arizona and New Mexico. You can check out their playlist below as well as get your tickets for one of their upcoming shows. Once you do, you’ll quickly find that these guys put their heart and souls into everything they do, and hopefully, it touches yours.
I want to thank Sounds Under Radio manager Will Hoffman of Humongous Management, as well as Lang and the guys for letting us share their music!
~ James @ TRB
Lang Freeman (voice.guitar)
Bradley Oliver (bass.keys.voice)
Sonny Sanchez (drums.percussion)
Doug Wilson (guitar.effects)
Check out their website at:
Find them on Facebook and tell them the Texas Rock Blog sent you!
For more information about Sounds Under Radio, contact Will Hoffman at:
humongousmanagement@gmail.com
8.17.11
STUBB’S AMPHITHEATER
Austin TX
Opening for BUSH!!!
Tickets: http://stubbsaustin.com/bush/
8.25.11
JAKE’S
Lubbock TX
w/Roger Box
8.26.11
TBD
Albuquerque NM
Stay tuned for more info soon!
8.27.11
X103.9 MILLER HIGH LIFE IN THE PINES!
Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park
FLAGSTAFF AZ
w/ Lit, Carolina Liar, Redlight King
TICKETS! http://www.x1039phoenix.com/MillerHighLifeinthePines.aspx
Courrier – Austin
I discovered Courrier by accident. I was at SXSW in Austin checking out Language Room at the 512 when I asked Matt Noveskey, who produced both band’s albums, how I could get their CD. Matt reached in his bag and handed me a CD, which I didn’t even look at until after I’d popped it into my CD player and realized it wasn’t Language Room I was listening to. I pulled the CD case out and found it was Courrier’s “A Violent Flame,” and I’ve been a fan ever since.
Led by singer Austin Jones, Courrier is hard at work promoting their latest work on Facebook, Twitter, and on stages around the nation. And it seems to be working. Jones’ possesses a mellifluous, yet vibrant voice, which is impressively smooth from low to high, that gives listeners a long look into the window of the soul of his music. Backed by guitarist Phillip Edsel, bassist Taylor Bartholemew and drummer Nathan Drake, Jones drives his lyrics right into the heart of his fans. The songs are all well written, inspired not only by life itself but also by something deeper. “Our songs are inspired by a whole lot of things,” Jones said. “Not just surface level relationship drama or where we are in our lives, more so from deeper things, we pull a lot of things out of literature. We like to write in metaphors, and imagery, so that the listener kind of gets their own sense of what’s going on in the song and what it means to them.”
Leaning towards a British-rock sound and inspired by the sounds of bands such as Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie and even a hint of Nine Inch Nails, combined with their thoughtful lyricism, Jones hopes their fans don’t just view Courrier as “cheap entertainment.” “My hope is that our fans see something greater,” Jones shares, “in what we’re doing and what we’re singing and in our message, and that is what latches them onto us and makes them want to come see us again and watch us perform because they know that something greater is going on than just an exchange of entertainment, that we’re not just a commodity.”
Jones cites “Paper Ghost” as the song the band enjoys playing live the most. “We first started playing ‘Paper Ghost’ live about two and a half years ago,” Jones said. “It’s been fun to see that song evolve, from it’s infancy to where it is now, and also to see how people respond when they see it live. We’re getting a totally different response now than we were getting from people, and that generally ends the set too so it’s kind of a high note of our set.”
What’s in Austin’s CD player? “I do have the new “Death Cab for Cutie” CD in my car right now, I’ve been spinning that one since it came out 3-4 weeks ago so that’s been my number one listen right now.”
The band hopes that people hearing Courrier for the first time come away wanting to share their music with everyone. “I hope it sparks a fire in the listener,” Jones said. “That doesn’t happen with everybody, and we confidently know that as a band, but we know that the more and more people we get in front of the more and more people that’s happening to.”
With a fall tour expected to span from New York to the west coast, Courrier has big plans to continue spreading their craft to audiences well beyond Texas. As hard as these guys are working to spread their music there’s no doubt they’ll be drawing bigger crowds and gracing bigger stages in the very near future! But one thing the band wants people to know about them, is that they’re just like you and me. “We’re just normal people,” Jones said, “we just like to joke around and write songs.” So when you get out to see Courrier play live, be sure to go up and shake their hands and introduce yourself!
Be sure to check out the photos, video, playlist and links below for more Courrier!
Thanks to Austin and the guys for doing what you do, and giving us the chance to share it here!
~ James @ TRB
Austin Jones ~Lead Vocals,Keys,Guitar
Philip Edsel ~ Lead Guitar,Vocals
Nathan Drake ~ Drums
Taylor Bartholemew ~ Bass,Vocals
Check out their website at:
Contact Courrier at:
the Texas Rock Blog sent you!
We Are Courrier from Courrier on Vimeo.
The Soldier Thread – Austin
Feeling down in the dumps? Had your heart broken lately? Luckily for you, I’ve got just what you need. The Soldier Thread is just what the doctor ordered to get you out of any funk and hit the dance floor, with a mix of up-tempo indie-pop beats and a solid, twin guitar rock sound that’s sure to rattle the windows and satisfy any true rock fan’s appetite for loud music. Guitarists Todd Abels and Justin McHugh provide a smooth harmonizing sound that perfectly compliments the strong, energetic voice of lead vocalist Patricia Lynn. Rounding out the quintet is bassist Chance Gilmore and drummer Drew Vandiver, and together you get music you can dance to, drive fast to, or just rock out to.
The Soldier Thread was recently selected by Toby Ryan of Austin’s alternative radio station 101.5 as the 101X Staff Pick and opened for the platinum selling Blue October on their East Coast “Ugly Side” Acoustic tour.
After hearing the first few songs, I knew these guys (and gal!) belonged on national radio stations. With a great sound and a solid female vocalist, they have a unique opportunity to stand out in the local crowd. Their video of “Matador” is superb, both exciting visually and well executed.
I had the opportunity to ask Patricia and the guys a few questions, so here’s the Q&A:
TRB: How did the band come together?
Patricia: The band came together in 2007. Justin McHugh moved from Oklahoma to be in a different band with Todd Abels and others. The band failed shortly after the move, but Todd and Justin continued making music together. They were writing and recording mostly instrumental music and a couple songs called for a female vocalist. They found me through a good friend at Texas State University and asked me to join the band, which was called ‘The Tourist’ at the time. Drew Vandiver, a childhood friend of Todd’s joined the band, at which time the band name changed to ‘The Soldier Thread.’ We didn’t find Chance Gilmore until 2009, a gem! And that’s the five of us, who we are today.
TRB: What style/bands inspire your sound?
Patricia: It’s tough to nail down one style that inspires us. We love and listen to a lot of instrumental and alternative rock like Radiohead, Sigur Ros and M83. I will always love and be inspired by the lyrics of Death Cab For Cutie and Metric, Emily Haines being a heavy influence for me personally. Justin, writing the majority of the music, can easily be inspired by film too.
TRB: What inspires your, or your bands writing style? Who does most of the writing?
Patricia: Justin and I are the main writers in the band. Justin will usually come to me with a musical idea, we will solidify a vocal melody and song structure together, and then I am able to finish out the idea lyrically. The process sounds so easy in this context, but sometimes it can be very time consuming and frustrating. Something so simply as a few syllables can have me trumped up for hours. Completing an idea, though, one that you’re truly proud of, is the best feeling. More recently, the two of us have been doing a majority of our writing with producer Dwight Baker. It’s not hard for Justin and I to disagree on something creatively, so having another perspective in the room really does push the process along.
TRB: What connects you to your fans?
Patricia: I would say that the real connection lies in the music. How else do we communicate? Music is extremely powerful, and I say that as a music fan myself. When I find something lyrically that says what I didn’t know how to say on my own, that song sort of becomes a personal anthem for me, at least for the time being.
TRB: What do you hope your fans (or anyone hearing your music) comes away with?
Patricia: Well, naturally, we would hope that anyone would walk away liking what they’ve heard, but everyone is different. I have no desire to try to convince anyone of The Soldier Thread. Either they like us or they don’t, to each his own. With a lot of my more recent lyrics, I hope that someone would walk away with a new-found confidence.
TRB: What makes The Soldier Thread different from any of the 100′s of Texas rock bands? What sets you apart in your eyes?
Justin: First off there are lots of great bands in Texas, especially in Austin. I think every one of those bands has their own sound, as do we. I don’t think there are too many other female-fronted indie rock bands playing here often, either.
TRB: What’s in your CD player right now?
Patricia: Right now, I’m really into a bunch of different female artists including Ellie Goulding, The Joy Formidable, Lissie, Marina & the Diamonds, and Sleigh Bells. I’m getting into The Scanners and Digitalism. I love the new Bon Iver album, too!
Justin: The latest Adele record, “21″ is what I have been listening to mostly. Her voice is simply incredible and the record has so many great songs on it. Give her another Grammy. I’m really looking forward to the new M83 record, too.
Drew: In my truck, at present, is The Papercuts’ most recent album ‘Fading Parade.’ It’s a good summer album, I think. Also, Carl Dawkins’s ‘Mr. Satisfaction!’
Todd: I finally picked up the new Death Cab For Cutie record and have mostly been spinning that lately. Patricia also just gave me The Joy Formidable and the new Bon Iver record. Love them both!
Chance: Does anyone still have CD players? Haha! Aside from the new Bon Iver album (which I think the majority of us have been listening to a lot recently), I don’t have an album that im currently obsessed with. I kinda just like to see where the shuffle takes me.
I want to thank Patricia and the guys for giving us a chance to feature them here on the Texas Rock Blog! Be sure to check out the links below for more of The Soldier Thread!
~ James @ TRB
Todd Abels ~ Guitar-Keyboard-Vocals
Chance Gilmore ~ Bass Guitar
Patricia Lynn ~ Lead Vocals-Keyboard
Justin McHugh ~ Guitar-Keyboard-Vocals
Drew Vandiver ~ Drums
Contact:
thesoldierthread@gmail.com
Official Website:
www.thesoldierthread.com
“Like” The Soldier Thread on Facebook and tell them the Texas Rock Blog sent you!
To sample all of their songs, click here!
The Soldier Thread will be performing at Stubb’s in Austin with Saints of Valory and The Reynolds Number on August 5th! Get your tickets today!
Language Room – Austin
Only Todd was born here in Texas, but all of them ended up in Austin in search of an opportunity to make music. And one opportunity led to another, and another, and four years later, Language Room is still going strong.
Old friends Todd Sapio and Scott Graham both moved to Austin from Los Angeles after getting fed up with the music scene there. Neither knew that the other had moved, that is, until they bumped into each other, literally, on Austin’s Sixth street one night. The two got together and started writing music. Scott brought in his brother, Matt, to play the bass. Recently added to the band was drummer Sean Hill from Omaha.
Their first EP landed them on the map with songs like Don’t Cover Your Eyes, which was featured in the movie The Beacon, and “Make Me Choose”, which became the intro song for livestrong.com.
The band hit the studio again with bassist Matt Noveskey of Blue October, who produced their self titled album, Language Room, which was released in August of 2010.
Keeping the momentum, the band is currently in studio again, working on their next EP which they hope to release soon. With an undeniable passion and electricity that can be felt in their music and their ability to catch everyday life in their lyrics that fans young and old can connect with, Language Room is sure to continue winning over hearts. I caught up with vocalist Todd Sapio and asked him my favorite Q&A questions:
TRB: What style/bands inspire your sound?
Todd: We all love different musical styles but we do agree on a few like the Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Muse and Radiohead.
TRB: What inspires your, or your bands writing style? Who does most of the writing?
Todd: I’ve done a lot of the initial writing in the past but nothing is untouched by the entire band. The more music we write, the more we actually write together and we actually prefer it that way. As for inspiration, from a lyrical standpoint, we like to address important life aspects that effect us the heaviest like love, death and health. Also, being that we don’t understand a lot about why the world is the way it is today, questions are a big part of our musical message.
TRB: What connects you to your fans?
Todd: Emotion. We are all emotional guys and use music as an outlet for it. Our fans enjoy experiencing emotion through music and can feel it in ours. Or at least we hope so. Some music is there to escape emotions but we like to bring them out. To the surface.
TRB: What do you hope your fans (or anyone hearing your music) comes away with?
Todd: If nothing else, that they can feel we have a message that we care about and we aren’t just singing to hear ourselves on tape. We make music for ourselves, yes, but if others can’t relate to it, it falls on deaf ears. So we hope to help heal people by letting them know they aren’t alone. Others have lost people to cancer too, lost loves, found loves, broken hearts and had theirs broken. That’s what we loved about the music we grew up with and we want to give the same.
TRB: What makes Language Room different from any of the 100′s of Texas rock bands? What sets you apart in your eyes?
Todd: We don’t focus on how we’re different. We just make our music and it is what it is. If we worried about how we were different all the time we’d probably be just like the 100s of other bands. Music is all we know how to do and we do it with everything we have.
TRB: What’s in your CD player right now?
Todd: I’m listening to the new Arcade Fire album, “The Suburbs”, “Icky Thump” by the White Stripes and the Hullabaloo DVD soundtrack by Muse.
~ James @ TRB
Todd Sapio: vocals, guitar
Scott Graham: guitar, vocals, keys
Matt Graham: bass, vocals, keys
Sean Hill: drums, vocals
Check them out at:
www.languageroom.net
Contact Language Room:
gcappellini.jr@gmail.com
Find them on Facebook!
(Be sure to tell them we sent you!)
Jet Lounge in Houston
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 @ 11:00pm
Check out the Event page on Facebook!
Threadgill’s in Austin
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 @ 10:00pm
The Prophet Bar in Dallas
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 @ 11:00pm
Jet Lounge in Houston
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 @ 10:00pm
Ryan Holley – Austin
“When people listen to my music, I would like them to come away with a clear understanding of who I am as an artist while also finding a place for themselves within… I want people to listen to my music, I want them to listen to my message… The world is a dark place and I tend to write my music there.. It is good to know that we are not alone in this mess…”
~ Ryan Holley
Meet “Captain Furious”, arguably one of the best guitarists in the state of Texas! Ryan hails from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a town of just under 100,000 folks, and let me tell you, Oklahoma’s loss is Texas’ gain!
I’m not only a fan, I’m also honored to call Ryan a friend. If you ever really need a shirt off someone’s back, Ryan’s your guy. He’s literally one of the nicest and hardest working people I’ve ever met. And damn happy all the time too. This past SXSW festival in Austin, Ryan broke one of his toes in a cupcake accident. Never to disappoint, he hobbled around downtown Austin from show to show (despite his solo act, he’s also in two other bands!) and put on some great performances.
Ryan and James
Holley’s latest release, “Scenes of Devastation at the Heart of the Disaster”, is an acoustic masterpiece. It’s a mix of Ryan’s mastery of the acoustic guitar coupled with his soulful voice. There are some instrumental pieces, as well as some well written, and well sung songs in there that are great for those moments when you just want some good, slow, relaxing music. You can check out and purchase all of the songs here.
I took an opportunity to pick Ryan’s brain not long ago and get a look inside of what drives him to keep plugging away and putting out the music we love. Here’s our Q&A:
TRB: What inspires your writing style?
Ryan: I am generally inspired by emotion.. Day to day thoughts mold ideas but, emotionally challenging situations tend to open doors for me to explore new ideas… Although, something as simple as the weather can be a factor.
TRB: What styles/bands would you compare your style to?
Ryan: I would compare my writing style to that of of Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, Chris Cornell, etc… Instrumentally, I would have to say Chopin.. I love many artists from every genre and draw from a large group of diverse and colorful musicians.
TRB: What drives your passion for music?
Ryan: My need for speaking my mind to those that may never listen is a major driving force. In a vast ocean of names and faces it very hard to get ideas, or anything for that matter, out there for everyone to see.. Music is a vehicle for me reach a larger audience of diverse and intelligent human beings.
TRB: What’s your “connection” to your fans? Being a fan, I had to know 
Ryan: I would like to think that I am very connected to my fans because I interact with them online, at shows, while I am out, etc… I think a lot of artists have lost that direct link to the people that love and support them… My fans keep me in the game, I love them, it works for both sides.
Make no bones about it, it definitely works for both sides. Whether he’s playing solo or with one of his bands, Ryan Holley is an act you’ll be glad you didn’t miss!
~ James @ TRB
Check out Ryan on Facebook and tell him the Texas Rock Blog sent you!!
Aperture – Austin/San Antonio
ap·er·ture (noun) \ˈap-ə(r)-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r\
Definition of APERTURE:
1: an opening or open space : hole
2: the opening in a photographic lens that admits the light
3: a kick-ass Texas rock band
A few weeks before we officially launched the blog, I received an email from Nathan Alvarado, the lead vocalist for the Austin/San Antonio band Aperture. I asked him how he heard about the blog (especially since we hadn’t launched it yet) and he said he googled “Houston rock blog” and up popped our blog. I thought that was very cool.
When I checked the band’s website (which is very impressively designed I thought) and started listening to their sounds, I knew right then the Texas Rock Blog had already served it’s primary purpose; introducing bands to potential new fans. I was an instant fan. It was clear from the first verse of their title track “Now That You’re Awake” that Alvarado’s voice was unique and powerful. Even more powerful in their music is the resounding twin guitars, played by guitarists Jared Mears and Michael Proctor, which gives Aperture a smooth, modern, but genuine hard rock sound. Rounding out the quintet is drummer Justin Frary and bassist John Thevenot, and all together you have a true progressive rock band with all the right pieces in the right places.
I had a chance to ask Nathan my usual questions about the band:
TRB: What style/bands inspire your sound?
Nathan: We all have lots of different influences so there is a broad range. Some of the main ones would be Karnivool, Dredg, The Apex Theory, The Mars Volta, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, and a handful of the regional bands we’ve shared the stage with. Basically, melody is super important to us, but it’s got to be rockin! We think of ourselves as hard-rock, and some have called us prog-metal which I can understand, in pieces.
TRB: What inspires you, or your band’s writing style? Who does most of the writing?
Nathan: The writing process is definitely cohesive. What usually happens is that someone will have an idea that can be just a few parts or one main idea to build off of. That idea gets emailed out to the group, (which is super helpful, given the fact that our homes span good distances across the region.) Then the idea comes to a practice night, and gets more fully formed through a process of jamming, and having constructive discussion about where we all want the song to go. Songs could start from just a guitar riff, bass line, drum part, or vocal melody, but it would be rare to have the finished product be something that came from just one individual. As vocalist, so far I have written most of the lyrics and vocal melodies, but I rely heavily on the music to inspire my particular contribution.
TRB: What connects you to your fans?
Nathan: One of the most rewarding moments as a band happens after a live show when people come up to us with a genuine respect and admiration for our music. That’s really the best way to connect with people and make new fans…through hand shakes and conversation. We have people that email us directly with questions and insights that we really find valuable.
TRB: What do you hope your fans (or anyone hearing your music) comes away with?
Nathan: We hope that people enjoy our music of course, but also that people realize that there is a lot of hard work and sacrifice that goes into being in a band. We see what we do as musical artistry which has the power to inspire people to do something positive and constructive in their own endeavors. We also hope that people hear us and realize that not all rock music has to be defined by specific and limited characteristics.
TRB: What makes Aperture different from any of the 100′s of other Texas rock bands? What sets you apart in your eyes?
Nathan: That’s a tough question, and one that I imagine most bands dread to answer, because inevitably there’s a risk of saying something that could easily apply to any group, and with Aperture being a relatively new group I think we’re still defining and figuring out what makes us, us. However, we still have our own unique perspective, and one element of our music that I think stands out is our underlying optimism that comes out lyrically and emotionally. Some of our sounds are dark and moody, but there is always a unifying message…something that is bigger than ourselves which we try to tap into. Beyond that, it seems that we keep getting thrown into the “prog” category, but at the same time we make music that’s radio friendly and accessible to most rock listeners. So in terms of being set apart, we can attract listeners that really dig the technical side of our playing, and also those that want to just sing along to something that feels good.
TRB: What’s in your CD player right now?
Nathan: Literally, right now in my car is a CD from an Austin based jazz band called Torch, but as I write this I’m in my office listening to Fair to Midland on iTunes.
I want to thank Nathan for contacting us and letting us showcase Aperture. I hope you’ll enjoy their music as much as I did, and become their next fan!!
~ James @ TRB
Aperture is:
John Thevenot – Bass
Jared Mears – Guitar
Michael Proctor – Guitar
Nathan Alvarado- Vocals
Justin Frary – Drums
July 10th in Houston at Scout Bar
July 23rd in Tyler at Click’s
