Carl Burke

Carl Burke

Thursday, 12 August 2010 12:31

Warped Tours appeals to the Masses

This year’s Warped Tour brought variety, fandemonium and all of the teen-age angst that one could shake a stick at.  This year’s festival brought a variety of acts such as Andrew W.K., Reel Big Fish and pop sensation Michael Posner.  All of the acts held meet n’ greets and did whatever it took to get your money, and for good reason: most of the bands don’t get paid much money.  In fact, most of the bands on the Warped Tour literally only make money from selling merchandise and CD’s. The tour started June 25th in California and will end August 15 at the Washington Fairgrounds in Hillsboro Oregon.  With the bands almost practically playing a new show in a new city just about every day, this tour is known for being grueling and rewarding.  Along with playing their shows and holding their meet n’ greets, all of the bands are more than willing to hold interviews with the press to expose who they are and what their music is about.  I was able to get a few minutes with Andrew W.K. and Adam (formerly of Lucky Boy’s Confusion) from AM Taxi to discuss their comfortability and inspirations of creating music.


While I was waiting for my interview with AM Taxi, Andrew W.K. walked into the pressroom read my name off of the sheet of interviews and sat down for a quick interview about the blending of musical styles and his preference of playing the piano over other instruments.



Andrew W.K. walks into the pressroom wearing black Adidas pants, his own tank top that reads “party hard”, a black trucker hat and a pair of black sunglasses.  He is extremely proud of who he is and wants everyone in the
world to feel as good about themselves as he feels about himself.  He talks to everyone with extreme enthusiasm and makes you feel that you are most important person on the Earth.



Buzz:  You’ve been known for blending lots of music styles together.



Andrew W.K.:  Not jazz yet.  I haven’t gone into that realm as much.  There’s a lot of World Music that I haven’t been as familiar with.  There’s certain genres of rock, such as rock-a-billy or psycho-billy that are areas that I haven’t ventured.  But as straightforward rock n’ roll goes, I try to make it as exciting as I can and use whatever I can to get to that place.



Buzz:  What makes you want to use as much music knowledge as possible in each song of yours?



Andrew W.K.:  I never really thought of it that way.  I sit down at a piano and just start playing chords until they sound exciting and then I try to use whatever instrument I can to amplify that excitement on the recording.  I admire people who listen to different songs or different styles and want to make it a combination of those.  I always just thought, “What’s the most exciting guitar sound to me?”  For me, it’s just a very loud and over-distorted guitar.  What’s the most exciting keyboard sound?  Just a very loud piano/organ combination.  What other instrument combinations add the excitement?  For example, if you are watching a movie and you hear that orchestra kick, there’s power in those sounds.  That’s why I want to use them, because they work.  Whatever sound works is what I am interested in.




Buzz:  What is it about the sound of a piano that specifically interests you and why does the piano seem to calm you down the most out of any instrument?



Andrew W.K.:  It’s simply because that was the first instrument I ever learned.  So similar to your mom and being the first woman you ever see and you have that special bond with her.  Your dad is most likely the first man you see and the first man you ever likely got to be friends with, so you have this feeling for him.  Piano was the first instrument I ever learned.  Four and a half years old, I started taking lessons with my parents’ help and support.  It’s similar to that first book you remember hearing, like *Good Night Moon.  * You’ll always have a soft spot for the first thing that turned you onto that new venture.



Buzz: When do you hit that new venture with a song and say to yourself: “I want to place this song on my next album?”



Andre W.K.:  I am not sure I look at it that way, I think the song more or less tells you that it’s ready to heard by other people.  Most of my recording experience has been relatively solitary.  Of course you try to trust their judgment, as well as your own as to whether or not other people around the world should have the chance to listen to it or not.  At some point, I think the song tells you and it’s just a no-brainer.  It’s really not up to you.  It’s really clear that the song is meant to be heard.



The interview with Andrew W.K. closes as we are politely interrupted about time being finished from his touring manager.  Andrew W.K. is in high demand and is more than willing to take the time to talk to anybody and everybody. As Andrew W.K. starts another interview, I am aimed towards a quiet gentleman who is standing in the corner texting on his phone.  One can tell that Adam from AM Taxi is tired and exhausted.  He is a musician who has great passion and allows his music to do the talking for him.  He can easily be missed if you don’t know who he is or what he looks like.  I was able to interview Adam with five minutes left of AM Taxi’s interviewing time.



Buzz:  How has the tour been for you guys?



Adam:  It’s been great man.  We’re about two thirds of the way done with this thing.  About three quarters actually.  It’s been long and well worth it, a lot of fun.



Buzz:  What’s it like coming to your home city?

Adam:  It’s a little overwhelming to do the hometown stop.  It’s a lot of fun and always good to run into familiar faces.



Buzz:  On your band’s website, you say: “if it’s not broken, break it.”  What made you guys want to break your style of songwriting for the album “*We Don’t Stand a Choice”?*



Adam:  The method behind that is there are a lot of different ways of doing something.  Sometimes the first initial way of doing it isn’t always the best. I think it’s good for people to be open-minded and try things from different angles before making a decision. We could do it one way and that would be the obvious choice. We try different methods to find the smartest way of doing things.



Buzz:  So then do you guys always write collaboratively?



Adam:  Well, I write all of the lyrics, melodies and chords.  When it’s time to arrange them, the whole band comes in and puts in their two cents.



Buzz: Who were your influences behind this record and how did the writing process for this record differ than that of writing a song with Lucky Boys of Confusion?



Adam:  Not much has changed from the influence side.  I have always loved The Clash and The Replacements.  I wasn’t collaboratively working with anybody else, so it was 100% of what I was bringing.  We specifically try not to latch to any trends.  The influences are older, everything from Little Richard, to The Ramones or Weezer; bands that we would consider to be classics.



Buzz:  What was your main decision to make classic record rather than a current record or a record that uses trends?



Adam:  We look at it as though we are trying to do this for a while.  Anytime you try to jump on something that happens immediately, seems to go away.   What you are doing seems to be irrelevant.  Doing something like this, seems to be that people can pick it up five years from now and still get into and not sound like a record that came out in 2010.



Buzz:  That’s a smart and interesting way of looking at it.  What makes you decide that a record should be classic?

*photos from top (by Carl Burke)

The crowd at Warped Chicago

Andrew W.K.

Adam of AM Taxi

Monday, 12 July 2010 19:48

311 Heats up Northerly Island

The night is cool and the crowd at Northerly Island is ready to heat up. The crowd’s anticipation starts quickly and the press gets ready. Devoted fans and enthusiasts start yelling as 311 appears and opens the show with “Down.” The crowd is pumped. For everyone who became a fan of the band when they released their self-titled album, they’re brought back to 1995 as 311 performs.


The crowd follows the rush that is set by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum. They jump and wave their hands in the air as if they just don’t
care—moving like a sea of humans that even a BP oil spill couldn’t calm.


311 allows each member to shine as they make the crowd feel as though they’re the most important fans on the planet. They show appreciation and
loyalty by talking with the audience and playing songs from their whole repertoire. Covering basics from their first album to their latest releases, 311 isn’t afraid to play anything because they know their fans will support
them with every song they play. 311 performed well at Northerly Island on
June 29th and will always play a great concert that leaves you with a smile
on your face.

 

 

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 18:10

Bamboozle Roadshow Shines

Despite inclement weather and the confusion of trying to find the actual concert, the Bamboozle Roadshow at Soldier Field was a good time, even if it was only had by few people. This concert had a lot going for it. Big-name acts like LMFAO, Third Eye Blind and All Time Low were all on the bill. How many other festivals out there can see such a diverse line-up for a decent price of $50 (including all of the bullshit Ticketmaster charges)? Here’s what they did right: 1.  Provided a great line-up that offered something for all ages. 2. Had lesser-known bands signing autographs and allowed fans to take pictures with them. And, 3. They booked a great venue.



The Bamboozle Roadshow offered a lot of different acts for all ages. They showcased bands like Forever the Sickest Kids, All Time Low and Boys like Girls to appeal toward the younger female crowd. I honestly can’t remember the last time I was the oldest person at a concert by at least 10 years. Bamboozle broadcasted bands from different generations to the masses, but, the order of performances left something to be desired. For example, why would you have Good Charlotte play before All Time Low? While it may have been a ploy to keep the kids out longer, but those there to see All Time Low don’t even know most of Good Charlotte’s songs. When Joel Madden of Good Charlotte comes on the stage and says, “We wrote this song 10 years ago!” I couldn’t help but think if he knew that the average person in the crowd was in first grade at that time. With that being said, the band did a great job of motivating the crowd and getting them psyched for the other performers in the line-up.



Aside from the lack of not preparing a proper performance order, each band gave one hell of a fun show. All Time Low was completely honest about their technical difficulties, shouting to the crowd, “Our shit doesn’t work and it totally fucking sucks! So who’s ready for snack time?” and proceeded to throw popcorn, Twinkies and other snacks out to fans who stuck around despite the rain. Ten minutes later the band was able to get all of their stuff to work and the crowd lit up like a light switch. Was the day a waste? Nope. People were still able to enjoy great music for the money, and the bands definitely got to see fans that appreciated them.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 18:08

Grupo Fantasma Bring Hear to H.O.B

The crowd surrounding the back porch stage at the House of Blues is sweaty and ready.  They have been warmed up from Chico Trujillo and they want to keep dancing.  The Chicago House of Blues has transformed into a Latin American music bar from the heart of downtown Miami.  The stage lights match the feeling of Grupo Fantasma with infatuation and love.  Grupo Fantasma approaches the stage cool and confident.  They aren’t the kind of guys that feel the need to project their voice when they’re able to have their instruments do the talking for them.



This band consists of 10 different members.  The one thing, among many, that set this band far above other multi-member bands is that every member does more than just play their chosen instrument. Vocalists Kino Rodriguez and Jose Galeano are able to play every percussion instrument while singing with a voice that will attract the attention of any woman.  They are able to sing while keeping a rhythm that matches their hands and hips perfectly. Rodriguez and Galeano are able to keep the crowd entertained and happy. Along with Rodriguez and Galeano, guitarists Beto Martinez and Adrian Quesada play to the way of how a couple dances the tango, flowing and filled with natural beauty.


Grupo Fantasma’s performance brings enthusiasm and passion.  Their show will make you dance, even if you don’t know how.  Grupo Fantasma clearly enjoys their music and has the best advertisement money can buy—a great product.
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