Still The Sky; The Ground Between Your Feet

Still The Sky, the Hardcore band out of Rockford, IL was first introduced on the blog in May. Since then, the band has been busier than ever, working on new material and playing several shows. We recently caught up with band vocalist, Tarek.

What has the band been up to since I last spoke to you guys back in May?
: Shows, shows, and more shows. Ya know, just trying to get a more public fanbase rather than relying on online followers. We love playing, and we love our music. So we try to do it as much as we can to let people know what we're about! Besides that we've been spending a lot of time writing new material and going over pre-production for our new EP "The Ground Between Your Feet".

The band recently parted ways with their drummer. What was his reason for departing? Has the band found a replacement?
: Tyler, decided to leave the band because as we all knew he was a heavier type of drummer. So, he continued on to make a new band called "Exorcist" with a few of our buds from Ex-In The Year Of The Plague! We wish those awesome dads a great amount of luck! We've been talking to a couple people, but we're always down to try someone out if you think what you've got what it takes! But for now, we'll be playin' with the good ol' laptop.

How was the online reception of your last album, Something Devious Is Upon Us? How will the new EP differ from this album?
:Well we're actually glad you asked this! We decided not to release "Something Devious Is Upon Us EP" because our style changed for the better. But what we will be doing is re-recording all of our older material for a bonus "Old School EP".

Talk a bit about this new EP. It comes out December 15th, what can be expected from the release?
: Energy & Emotion. We really liked our older stuff, but just listening to it we've came to the conclusion that it just wasn't jumpy enough! We like to bang our heads and jam out and we're sure you do to. So it just had to change ya know?

Tell me about E-void and Remember What Fell. These are singles from the EP? What was the influence behind these songs? Any big influences behind the EP?
: Indeed they are! And they are only a SMALL taste of what's to come from the EP. E-Void was generally about feeling emotionally void, and figuring out that the reason you were like that is because you're still in love with that one person. Remember What Fell is for anyone that has been screwed over, and yet somehow was still to blame. Basically this EP has a lot of influences from common situations and is meant for anyone to connect to it on a personal level.

As always, the band is playing a ton of shows. What are a few upcoming shows for the band?
: We've actually decided to go on a show Hiatus for a small amount time until the EP drops. Because, we are putting a lot of time into the album. Also when we find a new drummer we'll be making sure that we come back solid, so you can hear our songs played like they sound on the EP.

Whats the next few months looking like for the band?
: Just hard work. Promoting, and getting ourselves out there more than we already are. But that's where the fans come in too! We need YOUR help! So anything the fans can do, sharing us on people's walls, etc. IT HELPS. So thank you! We love all of you very much!

Be sure to check out the band's Facebook, where you can get the latest news from the band and check out their songs.

The Handshake Affair

    German rock band, The Handshake Affair couldn't be happier with their local music scene. The band came together in early 2007 in Dessau located in eastern Germany. "Dessau is a small city in eastern Germany and we think we're really lucky to have such an amazing local music scene. There are lots of cool shows taking place all the time." Says the band.
    Originally, the band started as basement recordings started by the band vocalist, Eric. With many friends in the music scene playing in bands, he spent a great deal of time watching his friends rehearse and it wasn't long before he brought together some of his best friends to form the band. The band has been playing shows and shuffling around their line-up for the last few years and are ready to tour the UK in December.

(Photo: DoomDesign.com)

    Collectively, the band is a fan of all kinds of music in several genres from classical to electronica, but it's bands like Incubus, Deftones, and Blink-182 that inspired the band to create. "We try to play modern rock music that combines different elements of the genre, such as  metal riffs, melodic vocals, ambient vocals oand even choir vocals. I think one of the best things of writing your own music is the freedom to choose which elements to incorporate into your sound."
    One of the band's big breaks came in 2007, when the band played The Taste of Chaos in Munich and was invited back to play the tour the following year in Hamburg. "It was one of the best experiences we've ever had. It was crazy to be a part of such a huge tour, even though it was only for a short time. These shows blew our minds. The size of venues and the crowds were unreal, you couldn't identify a single face in the crowd. When we were done playing our sets we literally felt as if we were up on cloud nine."

(Photo: DoomDesign.com)

    Boldly, the band decided to fly across the ocean to record their debut album in the land of the free. "We decided to leave our country and fly over to the US to record it there. Personally, it was the best decision we could have made musically. We worked together with Drew Fulk, whose work everyone should check out. He made us sound the way we wanted to sound on the record. We can relate to the bands in the US music scene, and we wanted to find someone that could help us sound similar, and we're super happy how this record turned out. And it just was a great trip to a country we've never been to before."
    After playing huge shows in Europe alongside many famous bands and flying to the US to cut their record, what's next on the list for this German rockstars? "We're going to the UK in december for a tour with 2 other great bands and early next year we'll announce more tours in order to support our debut album. We just wanna play as much as we can to get our name out there."

A Tragedy At Hand

    Hardcore band, A Tragedy At Hand, comes from the small town of Irving, Texas, just outside of Dallas. The band's name embodies an interesting, yet dark view of life and how many people are forced to live a life of mediocrecy. According to the band, the tragedy at hand is the average person being convinced that a normal 9-to-5 job is the best they can do. "People get lost and caught up in things that blind them to what life can really hold. The world is at each and every one of our finger tips, but little think or go beyond their little glass box and are left staring at what they want and can’t have." Explains the band.
    Irving lacks a music scene, but luckily for the band, they are very near Dallas, which has a fairly healthy scene with many shows and music festivals all yearround. "Irving is the pimple to the face of Dallas, if you will. There is a GREAT music scene in Dallas and we do many big festivals throughout the year!"

    Many of the band members have known each other since high school, sharing the stage and even playing together in different bands since they were about 15 years old. In March of 2008, they formed the band together and the band would become A Tragedy At Hand.
    The band has many musical influences like bands such as Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, and As I Lay Dying. Like many other metal/hardcore bands, the band incorporates many of the trademark elements of the genre, such as screaming and hardcore breakdowns. But unlike other bands, the band feels that although they have similar elements to these bands, they assure everyone that they write actual music.

    In the last few years, the band has played lucky enough to play several big music festivals in the Dallas area such as SouthBySoWhat 2010 with over 3,000 in attendance as well as Firefest 2011 with over 1,500 people.
    Playing these big festivals have given the band an opportunity to play along big bands and even major influences like with big signed bands like A Day To Remember, Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, and Senses Fail. "It's cool being able to see what these bands are really like as people. It's also very cool to be able to say you've played with your favorite bands!"
    The band will be releasing a new single in early November and hopes to release a full-length album early on in 2012. They hope to get the attention of booking agents and record labels. Be sure to check them out on Facebook!

Pushed Aside

      Hardcore band, Pushed Aside formed in 2008 and has since been playing shows in the Cincinnati area. The band's name is a representation of how the band feels seperated from the "norm" of society. "We think differently from other people. We have different ideas about things, and we hate a lot of things."
      Brother's Aaron and Dillon Arnett started the band because they just wanted to create music. The current line-up consists of Dillon Arnett (guitar), Aaron Arnett (vocals), Keanon Montgomery (bass) and Joe Oakley (drums).

      For a brief period, the band broke up. The band's former drummer stopped caring about the band and the Arnett brothers were caught up in school and work. When they started missing playing shows, they contacted Joe Oakley about playing drums and the band reformed in May 2011.
      The band is influenced by bands like No Warning and Terror. "We basically just play hard music. We mostly just talk about our personal feelings which are usually about things we don't like."
      Check out Pushed Aside and be sure to like their Facebook!

I Solemnly Swear

      Not very many bands will tell you that their band name was inspired by Harry Potter movies, but not very many bands are hardcore/nu-metal band, I Solemnly Swear. "We are huge fans of the film and were inspired by the cleverness of the Marauder's Map, as well as its ability to show you everything and anything. As a band we wanted to put all of our emotions out there for the world to see while still being "up to no good" and making people mosh it up as we do for our favorite bands."
      The Rockford band came together in March of 2011 after many line-up changes. "I believe we went through about 11 different people up until our first show. Then almost immediately after, we replaced virtually everyone again and found the lineup we have today. We actually had a member from Bloom practice with us and a member from 2KL both classic punk bands so it was an awkward couple of lineups."

      The band has a wide range of influences, as each member of the band comes from a different musical background. Garret Deporter (dirty vocals), Jon Frisk (bass), and Drew Dippel (guitar) were the only members to originally listen to the hardcore genre. AJ Maddrell (drums) listened to a lot of metalcore like Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet For My Valentine while Matt Anderson (guitar/clean vocals) listened to a lot of punk and emo bands like The Used and Four Year Strong.
      With all the different influences flying around, the band found a place between the hardcore genre and metal. "We incorporate thick heavy breakdowns with fast paced metal-style riffs and drumming. I think we sound very similar to our influences and there's nothing wrong with that. We love playing the stuff we love hearing." Says the band.

      The band has played several local Rockford venues such as the Bethesda Church and The ELB, as well as some venues in the surrounding area like The House Cafe and Spurgeon's Bay. The band hopes to play shows at Mojoe's and The Metro, and anywhere else in Chicago. They also have interest in playing shows up north in Kenosha.
      Performances for the band are very in-your-face with many of their fans claiming the band's performances are better live than the recordings. "We just love the energy of playing a live show and just letting it all be seen. We have a face that our guitarist has perfected called the mean mug and he basically does it the entire show because our riffs are just so mean and he loves just getting angry and energetic when he plays them."

      The band released their EP, Believe What You Hear, in the summer of 2011. The EP was recorded with Josh Wheeler, who produced their previous EP and the full-length of fellow Rockford band, A Journey To Fall. "We really wanted to get ahead of the wave of EPs coming this fall so we got into the studio and basically recorded every song we played live and got it all in there and ready to show off to our fans. There was such a big jump between our stuff from the demo to now so we wanted to get in and show it off as soon as we could get the money together."
      The EP takes it's name from a lyric in the song "Rumors" because the band thought it was a fitting title. "We want people to literally like us, not simply click a like button. We made our title a blatant message saying we have what you want to hear and you better believe it." The EP is available from the band for $5 and includes 5 new songs and 2 rerecorded songs from the demo with intricate artwork by Johnnie Grey.

Barrier

      The hardcore band, Barrier, formed recently in July. After writing a few songs, the band decided on the name based on the fact that their material focused on overcoming obstacles or barriers.
      Based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, the band is surrounded by many hardcore/metal bands. "There are definitely a lot of new metal/hardcore bands starting up around here which is always great to have bands to play with and listen to and everything. It's the most common genre for bands around here it seems like. Some of our best friends are in a metal band called Sworn In, although they aren't from Buffalo Grove, they're from right around here in Grayslake. There aren't a ton of venues to play at right around here, but it's cool to play in front of people who otherwise wouldn't hear your music when you're farther away from home."

      The members had been playing in other bands together and wanted to start something new and heavy. "It's definitely fun to be in a band with good friends AND good musicians." Says the band.
      The band is influenced by bands like The Contortionist, Legion and other metal/hardcore bands. They describe their sound as heavy, a bit melodic, and "bouncy". They feel that the vocals help give their music a "flow" and a sort of percussion role, as well as bringing emotion. The band has been compared to bands like Volumes and The Acacia Strain.

      The band is in the process of writing their EP. "Although we don't have a date set yet, we're thinking maybe a fall or early winter release is likely. The music will be hard hitting and we think it will go over well. The lyrics are about bettering yourself and resolving internal conflicts and obstacles. In the meantime though, look out for new songs we'll be posting along the way."
      The band is going to continue focusing on recording music, and giving it their all. They hope to play a few shows and try to better themselves as musicians as well as get the word spread about the new band from Buffalo Grove. "Hopefully people like our music and we'll just keep doing what we're doing to improve."

A Sound Heart

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      A Sound Heart, the hardcore band from Johnsburg, IL is one of the few remaining bands who still strongly believes in morality. " It seems a lot of the structures people model themselves after take away from the heart of any action: happinness. It's just ethics. The soul purpose for anyone to do anything is to be rewarded with some sort of positive emotion. Unfortunately, things like addiction, vanity, and greed can distort your definition of happiness. But, to truly grasp the concept of contentment and live a healthy, fulfilling life, you have to be the best person you can be. It can be difficult. Sometimes, you're forced to choose between that often strenuous path of doing what's right, or taking the easy way out and doing whatever you like, even if it harms others."
      The band also believes than in order to make a real, positive impact, one must use their head and their heart. "You need to be of sound heart. As we've grown up, we've had to face things we've only ever seen in movies. We've watched old friends become monsters and people we know ruin each other without giving it a second thought. It's scary and it's had a huge impact on all of us in one way or another. It's a bit dramatic, but that's the general idea of the name and the meaning behind our songs."

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      Since the band's formation just a few months ago in mid-May 2011, they have recieved great support from the local scene in Johnsburg. "We've been lucky enough to have played with and for some really amazing people early in our time together."
      When the band first came together, they were only interested in playing shows casually. Once the band realized that they really enjoyed what they were doing, they decided to takes things a bit more serious.
      Over the years, the different members had played in different bands together. After a conversation last year between Josh Blackburn (drums), Jeff Leber (vocals) and Reid Bright (guitar) which consisted of a lot of nostalgia and reminiscing that quickly turned into a jam session once Reid moved back into town. "We kept the songs simple and just wrote the kind of music we all love without over thinking anything and something clicked. It seemed so organic." Says Josh.
      Colton Smiricky joined the band a few weeks later as the bassist. As an old friend and former bandmate, the band felt it was only right to bring him on.

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      The first month as a band was difficult for the group. "Being in a band when we were sixteen was a whole different experience than playing now when we're three years graduated living in a tiny town where most of our support has moved out of state. We had to fight for our first slight bit of recognition. We had to scream in the faces of potential fans in those first few weeks to get their attention because they weren't all friends or people we knew."
      The band describes themselves as an accumulation of all the agressive music and goofy trends that have influenced them in the past five years. "Whether it was when our older friends introduced us to 'Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest' by As Cities Burn, we first heard Misery Signals in high school, when Defeater released 'Travels' or Have Heart passed through Chicago on their last tour, some moments have taken us through different phases of listening and songwriting. But now, we have finally reached a point where we've stopped trying to over complicate things. We've started writing organically and letting those moments that have influenced us and the music we love to present itself naturally in our songs." Says the band.

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      When it comes to playing shows, the band enjoys playing anywhere. From youth centers to clubs, bar to festivals, and even basements. "When we play, we try our hardest to engage the crowd and make them feel so incredibly uncomfortable that they can't help but drop their guard and become a part of the band."
      Since the band's decision to take things more seriously, they've come to an agreement which states that when classes start back up in the coming weeks, they're going to start booking about 1 show a month, but continue staying busy with writing and recording. When the band has time off from school, they hope to try and book as many venues as possible. "We hope to keep this band together and maintain momentum so that one day we can tour and grow uncomfortably close with people miles from home."

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      The band's friend, Logan, who dabbles in graphic design and photography, is filming many of the band's sets in HD and hopes to piece it all together into a live music video for the band. So look forward to that.
      Also, the band hopes to continue releasing new music within the coming months. "We will still sound like emotionally distressed suburban kids, but we've certainly developed a better understanding of our place in the music scene and the message we would like to convey. That being said, our newer material maintains the same intensity as previous songs but has a new less generic edge."

Eminence

(Photo Credit: Taylor Leigh Photography)

      Joliet, IL isn't exactly the most welcoming city for musical talent. Illinois fourth largest city has very few affordable options for young up-and-coming music acts, charging upwards of $1000 to rent out a venue. This doesn't stop hardcore/thrash band Eminence from putting on a show.


      The word eminence means a position of great distinction, superiority, or of a higher power. This thrash band believes in the word of God, but don't consider themselves to be a christian band.  "(The) band fully believes in God and his power. We use him in our daily life". The name has somewhat of a double meaning, as well. "Eminence is also a word that symbolizes how big something in one's life can be"

(Photo Credit: Taylor Leigh Photography)

      The band came together last year. Mark Daniel (guitar) and Mike Negus (vocals) had both played shows in their respective projects and actually weren't too fond of each other. Somehow, they ended up in Mike's garage in Joliet with a drummer who would go on to play with them once in the band's first show. The two hit it off, Mark helped Mike form a closer bond with God and they continued to jam several more times. Pretty soon, they had recruited a full band, adding Conrad Allsworth (drums) and Romel Pinnix (bass) to the line-up. "The four of us have a really good connection with music and our friendship. I couldn’t ask for more than that. At times, when I'm down they pick me right back up. That’s something you don’t find in most bands now." Says Mike.


       Eminence describes their sound as the Love child of Metallica and Terror. The band is a fan of "heavy" music, whether it be death metal, hardcore, or thrash. They incorporate slams, two-steps, fast thrash and punk beats, and basically anything else that feels right. They prefer to use positive messages over hate-filled ones, and attribute their positive vibe to the people who are actively involved and care about the music scene.

(Photo Credit: Taylor Leigh Photography)

      In the beginning, the band had a slow start as far as performing goes. "The writing process took awhile, and we put most of our effort into that. As a result, we didn't play our first show until after 5 or 6 months of jamming and preparing. We have played 4 shows since the beginning of the year and we have 3 shows booked now. We are good friends with a few booking agents and promoters, so now we're focused on playing." A few of the band's current priorities include merchandise, playing, and recording.


      The EP has been in talks for about a month now and the band hopes to set some time out for the writing process this summer. The band says to expect new things from them by the end of the year, hoping for late summer at the earliest.      

As Dawn Dies

      In August of 2010, Collin Sulcer (guitar) and Evan Clifford (bass) were attempting to form a new hardcore band after the break-up of their previous music venture. Around the same time, Nate McGurdy's band had also fallen apart and they quickly recruited him as the band vocalist. The three teamed up and found Danny Roach while searching around their high school looking for a drummer. As Dawn Dies had been born.

      The band, based in Portage, IN, has since departed from Nate McGurdy. Hunter Barbian joined the band as the new vocalist and the band added an additional guitarist, Nolan Clifford. "The support in Portage is very good. There is a big hardcore music scene out here and everyone in the bands are like family with each other. Everyone know everyone, so your name gets out there easily. The scene is run by Ed Roseberry, he books all the bands and likes to bring in big touring acts a lot. He puts on every show around here and does a heck of a good job at it, too. So the scene is very active." Says the band.

      The band tends to play hardcore/deathcore shows and try to put on a high energy performance. They have played over a dozen shows and counting since their formation less than a year ago and have play with such bands as Molotov Solution, Burning The Masses, Murder Death Kill and Destruction of a Rose.The band has been compared to some bands like Her Demise My Rise and Attila. They say they would consider their "brutal" sound as a mix between Demolisher, White Chapel and The Acacia Strain.

      The band has an EP that was released in March called From Ashes We Rose, a title that refers to the fact that all the members arose from disbanded music projects. The band is hoping to release their full-length album by the end of the year. "We have a lot in store for this album, we have put a lot of hardwork into the songs that we have so far for the album. We will be recording at The Alley Recording Company in Valparaiso, Indiana." Says the band. "The full-length will be drastically heavier from the EP."

      As Dawn Dies will be playing 219 Fest in South Haven, IN. Like the band on Facebook and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for information on the full-length album.

Tall Tales

      The hardcore band, Tall Tales, despite the name, is a pretty honest group of guys. Once the interview was under way, they quickly admitted several funny facts. Some facts included the original plan to use a girl vocalist, in hopes of sounding a bit like Paramore. Another, they admit that the band name is really just that, a name. No double meaning or secret messages, just Tall Tales.

      "The name actually came from lyrics from a band called Burden Of A Day.  The song title is "Battle Of Hoth".  To us, it's just a name.  Usually in the hardcore/punk/metal world, most bands have "The ______" names, or some other name that makes them appear as if they are heavy or tough.  When we started writing all our songs, being heavy just wasn't a factor." Says the band.

      The young band, only about half a year old, comes from Grand Rapids, MI. Funny enough, they've been compared to the band that inspired the name, Burden of a Day as well as The Ghost Inside. "Even though we are a young band, all our members have been playing in bands for years.  Some longer than others, but all in all this is something that we still strive to do."

      The band started as a three-piece outfit. They didn't have a vocalist or a lead guitarist. "The mindset that we had at the time was that we we're going to do something completely different than everyone else at the time.  A lot of the bands right now are going for that real heavy sound" It was at this stage in the band's life that a lot of the basic groundwork was done. "We started writing and got the blue prints down for all the songs that we play right now, including the songs we have on our new demo"

      After several conversations about joining a band, Bryan Neterer AKA Brian #2 who was known to play deathcore, grind and other heavy genres joined the band, after he proved he could bring talent (and an incredibly ridiculous laugh) to the band.

      The band consists of  Bryan Stadick (vocals), Jake McCaffrey (bass), Nick Whittle (drums), Bryan Neterer (lead guitar), and David Cygan (rhythm gutiar).

      The band admits that they wouldn't consider themselves to be too unique, but are pretty confident they're bring something different to the Midwest music scene. "We aren't trying to be something that we aren't.  (We) admit that all of us are metal heads, plain and simple.  But we do like other kinds of music.  Everything from punk to indie and rock n' roll.  So we took all our influences and mashed them into one, and with the help of a great producer and recording engineer (Brian "Bone" Thorburn from Threshold Studios in Indianapolis, Indiana) we have the sound that we have."

      The band has very few shows to their name, but that have had the privelige to play with Hawthorne Heights in Michigan and played for a decent 100+ show in Chicago. The band openly talked about their wants and the work they put into shows. They had this to say:

 "We want to tour, 10 months out of the year if possible. Never being home, always on the road.  The shows we have managed to get or that are upcoming we booked ourselves.  No agents, or management, just a true DIY attitude. 

      We promote all our shows as much as we can.  Handing out filers, putting them on cars, up at gas stations, etc.  We even are throwing our own shows now too.  West Michigan used to have a great scene but a lot of venues and promoters have died out.  And most the venues that are still around expect pre sales and sometimes even money up front just to play. 

      To us, that just isn't going fly.  So we have somewhat assembled a team of people and plan to bring back real shows.  House shows, basement shows, community centers, vfw halls, etc.  Those are real shows to us"

      The band is currently in the process of writing songs for the new EP, after the self-proclaimed success of their free single, "We Are The World". "To be honest, we had no idea what the response was going to be to "We are the world".  Seeing as all of us have always been in metal bands, we didn't even know what to make of it.  But we are more than overwhelmed by the outcome as of late. "

      The band hopes to have 12 written and ready. Then, they want to pick the best ones to put on the EP and get over to indianapolis to record. "The new record is going to take our sound to a whole new place." Says the band. "We might be adding a few new elements such as clean vocals, synth/keys, or possibly even a new member.  Everything is up in the air right now.  I wouldn't say that we are going to changing completely, but it will be different from 'We are the world'."

      With work schedules and such, the band is limited to play Saturdays, but once the cooler seasons come around, they plan to travel a lot more. As far as long term goals go, the band hopes to have the EP out by early 2012 and hope to start a small tour called the "We're In It For The Money Tour". The tour will be composed of house shows and DIY venues booked exclusively through DIYUSA. The band hopes to continue writing and play the "What would you rather do?" game.

      What would you rather do?
A. Let a girl take a dump in your mouth?
B. Toss a guys salad?

      I'd have to go with A and hope it comes out clean. What?

Cain & Abel's Secret To a Better Family/Band

Cain & Abel

      Cain & Abel, the Hardcore band from Menomonee, WI, has been around longer than a lot of the bands currently in the scene. Not only that, but the band has had the same line-up since their formation in '08. If your jaw isn't hanging open right now, you must not be aware of how often bands are forming, breaking up, and switching members.

      "The secret to our story is that we didn't really set out to form a band. We were just good friends, who had some musical talent and liked to jam." Says the band. Five of the six band members have known each other since grade school, having attended the same catholic school. They met up with lead singer, Tyler Trokan, their first or second year of high school and he was soon considered a good friend. From backyard shows and school projects to full-length albums and headlining shows, the band still maintains a strong friendship among each other and it seems to be working just fine!

Are they a band, or a happy family? Both?

      Cain & Abel consists of friends, Tyler Trokan (vocals), Jake Noggle (vocals), Jared Block (guitar), Ike Weins (guitar), Jeff Jalenchick (bass) and Josh Fox (drums). "Our stage presence is unmatched," says the band. "We also have the music to back it up. We put on our best performance whether its in front of 30 people or 300 people. Our music is also very hard hitting between the unique dual-vocals and melodic instrumentation."

      On December 28th, 2010, the band was ready to play their CD release show at the Miramar Theater in Milwaukee, WI. They had no idea how many people would show up, but to their surprise, people were lining up outside waiting to get into the show. "We didn't expect it to sell out, but with the help of the bands (Sleep Serapis Sleep, The Color Morale [Rise Records], Hail Archer, and Blank Image) and the hype of our first full-length CD it did indeed sell out." The crowd was very energetic and participated well. The band is very proud of this moment in their career and were happy to have sold over 60 albums that night.

Cain & Abel's CD Release Show Flyer

      They are doing pretty well for themselves, having racked up anywhere between 75 and 100 shows, selling out their album release show with over 350 people in attending last December, being one of five bands chosen to play Milwaukee's stop at the 2010 Warped Tour, and being featured as one of Alternative Press's Hometown Heroes in February of 2011. Cain & Abel has a resume that many bands would kill for, figuratively speaking.

      You can catch them this summer! They will be touring for ten days in Mid-June. They are also in the running to play both the Cornerstone Music Festival near Bushnell, IL and this year's Warped Tour in Milwaukee, which they played last year. So help them reclaim their spot and vote until Mid-July!

      The band has lots of neat things going on this summer, and to top it all off, keep your eyes peeled for new summer merch and even some new music! Follow the band on Facebook!

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

Pajama Jam 2011; Jam in your jammies May 13th!

The Pajama Jam Flyer!

      Get ready to sport your favorite (appropriate) nightwear and listen to some of the best local bands! Pajama Jam, which was originally set to be at The Palace in Freeport, will now be held on May 13th at Apple River Middle School in Apple River from 5:30PM to 11PM, just 50 minutes northwest of Freeport. There will be performances from Disgust For Your Kind, An Hero, Still The Sky, Witness The Burning, In The Year of The Plague, and A Journey To Fall! The show costs $5($4 with pajamas).

      Event planner, TJ Davis, lead singer of An Hero, and Travis Lou Bauscher, guitarist for Still The Sky, were thinking of show ideas and it was originally set to be a regular show, but during school, TJ received a text from Travis with the idea.

      For a few weeks, the event did not have a venue, and there was a scramble to find a new venue. TJ Davis explains the situation, “Well, we hit some trouble when the owner of The Palace called me and

told me that they had accidentally scheduled 2 shows for the same night. since the other one was more solid ours got the boot. Travis and I had been looking everywhere and nobody returned our calls. One of the members in my band told me that one of his friends owned the school in Apple River and told me to ask her. I called her up and she talked to her dad and he said the show was a go. That's how we ended up with it (at the school).”

      TJ has previous event experience, having planned the show, Headbanging For Hunger. The show forwarded all profits and donations to the food pantry in Lena, IL. The show raised lots of many and over 100 people attended.

      “Travis has a very creative mind and you never know what he will come up with next,” says TJ when asked about future themed shows that were mentioned on his Facebook, including a toga themed show. “I'm not entirely certain how the theme ideas started, they just sort of happened. Pajama Jam will be our first themed show.”

      It's important to mention that Pajama Jam will not have refreshments available at the show, so bring a water bottle or two! Keep the drugs and alcohol far away from the show or you may be escorted out without a refund! Also, encourage attending bands to bring merch if you're interested in buying some goodies! Make sure to let TJ and Travis know you're going to be there by RSVP-ing to the show on the Facebook event page! Again, the show will be on May 13th at Apple River Middle School, 50 minutes northwest of Freeport, IL.

      “I would like to thank Kirk Wedig, from I the Creator, for helping make the amazing flier!” ~ TJ Davis

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

P.S. The event has one available slot for a band, if interested, shoot them a wall post on the Event Page!

Prepare for Prepare For Glory!

Prepare for Glory playing a live set

      November, 2010, Prepare For Glory was formed. The hardcore band, from Davis, IL, won the Highland Community College Battle of the Bands a few months ago in January. The band has about 15 shows to their name, but when they performed at Mediocre Saturday with From The Mire on the 23^rd of April, there was a turnout of between 100 and 150 people. The band is off to a great start!

      A statement on the band's Facebook page reads,

“After being in and out of different bands, the four of us came together to do what we love. We want to show that there is hope and everyone has a purpose. Through our music, we hope to demonstrate the love and passion we have for what we do and who we are. We want to show the right way to have fun and set an example for more people to follow. Prepare to witness something good, Prepare for Glory. “

      The band consists of Luke Franzen on vocals, Tyler Townsend on guitar, Evan Russell on bass, and Brandon Holliday on drums. The band is set to play a show with Patience Pending in Freeport, IL. They have no recordings available, but the band is currently working on an EP!

Prepare For Glory

      Like the band on Facebook! And don't forget to show them support at the free upcoming Friday the 13th Show at the Park Hills Youthroom in Freeport, IL with Patience Pending! 

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

Witness The Burning: A New Chapter EP debut today

originally posted 4/22

Witness The Burning
Photo: Courtesy of Witness The Burning

      Witness The Burning, a 5-piece Hardcore/Metalcore band from Rockford is just about ready to burst at the seams with the debut of their EP, A New Chapter, tomorrow.

      The band members range in age from 18-26 and the name came from Josh Cofield (guitar). The band, unable to come up with a band name that really stuck, agreed on the name after having come up with and disliking previous name.

      Scottie Snow, the band screamer, joined Cofield, Brandon Worley(bass), and Josh Creviston(drums) who had been in the band, Aftermath. "When (Aftermath) seperated, we brought in Scott on vocals and started writing music.

      "Scott likes to focus about us being guys trying to find a better life though our music, being a better person, staying positve and not giving up on life even when your in the darkest corners of your life." Says Creviston. "We like to think that even our music tells a story, theres many changes and ups and downs in our music and we feel we try to blend all of our very different influences and make it one polished product."

Scottie Snow
Photo: Courtesy of Witness The Burning

      The band's first show went a lot better than expected. "Everyone nailed the songs and the crowd reaction was very good." Says Creviston.

      Prior to joining the band, the members had fairly good music experience. "Crevy was a drummer for about 2 years with a recent Rockford band called 'Drop Faith' and around that time Brando was playing bass for a band called 'Reamer', this is how Crevy and Brando met. Cofield has played for years and dabbled in many projects and Scottie Snow use to be the vocalist for 'Reckless Redemption' with whom are good friends with WTB and still share the stage with." Says the band.

      With only 3 shows as Witness The Burning. the plan hopes to get many more shows done and with the release of the EP tomorrow, they hope to garner some attention and get their name out. They would Love to see WTB go as far as possible.

Scottie Snow
Photo: Courtesy of Witness The Burning

      "We love our music and all the work that comes along with it, we are willing to put in the hard work and dedication it takes, all we ask, is that you listen." Says Creviston.

      Find the band on Facebook, and don't forget to see them tomorrow, April 23rd (Today!) with SOIL at Bar 3 in Rockford! The band will also be playing Feckbawlz Fest '11 and Knockout Mayhem 5.

~joeEFFINGmayo

Joemayo91@gmail.com

(Originally posted on Examiner)

A Journey To Fall

A Journey To Fall
Photo: Courtesy of AJTF

      A great deal of the local hardcore enthusiasts already know a bit about A Journey To Fall, The 5-piece band of friends have been doing quite a bit since their their first EP. Their sound is a combination of emo, screamo, metal and some hardcore elements. 

      "Our music tends to be about life experiences." Says the band vocalist, Nate Gustafson. "(Our) goal as musicians has always been to write lyrics that the listener really relates to and connects with. If you can take something from our lyrics that means alot to you then we've accomplished our goal." In January of 2010, the band recorded their first EP titled, We Watched It End. And in the early summer of '10 They started recording their full length album, Remember What Got Us Here.

Nate Gustafson performing at a show
Photo: Brianna L. Hooker

      The band has played more shows than they can even remember. But do they get sick of it? Apparently not, when asked about long term goals, the band responded, "Just to keep playing shows, reaching as many ears as we can, and hopefully touching some lives as well! Every kid in a band dreams of getting big. Of course that's always in the back of (our) minds, but ultimately, (We're) just happy to be doing what (we) love with the best friends we've ever had."

      The friends came together in late fall of '09. Nate had been friends with Morgan. And after moving back to town from Madison, Wis. Morgan talked him into coming to jam some stuff out with Ryan and they clicked musically. Shortly after, they parted ways with original frontman, Bobby, and brought Tarek into the mix. They brought Bobby back to play bass, but the relationship dissolved again by April. He was replaced with Gage almost immediately after, They finally had a solid line up that worked increasingly well together.

A peek at the band's intense performance
Photo: Brianna L. Hooker

      So what does the name A Journey to Fall mean? "The name is a metaphor for life. Negative? Maybe. But realistic? Yes, especially with our lyrical content. Our music really focuses on the negative side of life, and I think it's good that our name reflects that." Says Nate. 

      The band is currently writing and recording their next full-length album titled, Rebirth. If things go as planned, you can see AJTF play Pajama Jam 2011, Also, you can find them playing Feckbawlz Fest next month!

In The Year of The Plague

In The Year of The Plague
Photo:  Anna Maria Photography

      What happens when you take the deathcore genre, give it heavy hardcore tendencies and top it off with just a hint of black metal? Something that 4 out of 5 dentist would describe as brutal, unhealthy and possibly contagious. You also get In The Year of The Plague, a band that formed in February over a year ago. 

      "Zac Glawe (Guitar) met Cory Gantenbein (Drums) through a friend. Zac brought both Cory and Greg Larson (Bass) back to his place and we all basically agreed that he was what we were looking for." Says Andrew Owens (Guitar),"In October, we replaced our original vocalist with Jake Yattone (Vocals)." Both Andrew and Preston Blythe (vocals) were in previous projects with Zac and Greg.

      When it comes to lyrics, In The Year of The Plague knows no limits. According to Andrew, the two vocalists write a great deal of the lyrics, sometimes asking the rest of the band for help. Some previous topics include standing up for oneself, never giving up and even a song that really has no meaning beyond what you hear. "Pretty much whatever they want the song to be about."

In The Year of The Plague @ The House Cafe
Photo: Anna Maria Photography

      Apart from their unique take on deathcore, what seperates the band from other bands in the genre? "Watching videos of deathcore shows, you see bands being rather stagnant. The kids in the crowd stand and text. We're not like that. We all love what we're doing and put everything we have into our shows. We're all moving, every second of the set. Most, if not all, of the crowd is moving and everyone has a good time." says Andrew confidently. "Everyone of us is sore for a few days after and we can't stop talking about how much fun it was. That's what sets us apart, definitely."

      When the band started playing shows for the first time, Andrew Owens was 'out' of the band. "Well, I live in Skokie, a suburb of Chicago, so I'm 2 hours away from the rest of the band." Says Andrew."They played some shows without me while they were looking for a new guitarist. (The Band) eventually decided that they didn't want anybody else for the spot." He rejoined the line-up last June. When asked about his first show after rejoining the group, Andrew jokes,."It wasn't our best show."

      Since his return, Andrew says the band has played between 20-25 shows. The have 2 independently recorded demos. Both of which were recorded several months apart and sound very different. "They're both very different in so many ways because our sound is always growing and developing."

      Download In The Year of The Plague's most recent demo for free here. They have merch up on Facebook or you can buy one at a show. In The Year of The Plague will be playing at The Lodge on the 23rd with Rooks, MICAWBER, and other great bands. Also, you can find the band at Feckbawlz Fest next month!