Off the Dial

Photos and Interview by: Tiffany Naugler (of Noisography)
June 4, 2010 @ Gus’ Pub ~ Halifax, NS

Last weekend, Tiffany checked out the Broad and Hard Orbit of Rock and Funkin Roll in Halifax, featuring the Johnny Dick Project, Pounding Sand, Chalkpit and Hugonaut. Not only did she get some excellent photos (as always, but she also did a pre-show interview with Heather Doran of the Johnny Dick Project. Make sure to visit Noisography.com to see more pics!

Tiffany Naugler: How do you spend the couple of hours before a show? Any pre-show rituals?

Heather Doran: Usually before the show the guys and I get together to put a set list together if we haven’t done so already. But for the most part we just have a beer or two and try to relax. That is my way of not getting too nervous before going on stage. If I don’t think about it too much I [can't] get nervous. I don’t really get nervous anymore just excited!

HD: We like to bring a lot of energy to the stage. I really feed off of my band mates and the crowd. So the more energy they have the better. I’d like to think we put on a pretty good rock show and have songs that people can stand up and rock out to.

HD: Gus’ Pub is one of my favorite pub in Halifax because it has such a large varity of music. It has a great atmosphere and people. It feels like a home away from Home for me since I go there so much.

HD: It makes me feel like I am going hunting! Love it!

HD: Well, I usually stick with Olands. I love my beer!

TN: What’s your favourite thing about performing live?

HD: I love to be on stage! It feels so natural to me and it is one of the things that I look forward [to] all week. I like the energy I get from the crowd and the opportunity to express myself. The free beer tickets are good too.

HD: We are currently recording our debut album and just finished the vocals and tweaking a couple things. Then we just need to get some more money to finish it. Touring is probably next on the schedule. Starting around the Maritimes and trying to build a fan base close to home before we travel far. Keep a look out for us!

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Rob Latham

Toronto-based Rebecca Stephens is ready to set the world alight with her unique brand of power rock/pop music.

The 20-year-old singer/songwriter, from Wasaga Beach, Ontario, will be wowing the Toronto music scene with the combination of her powerful voice, mature musicality and stunning good looks throughout the new year as she looks to build her musical stock and explore new and exciting sounds.

Rebecca said: “My musical style is very true to 80′s rock diva’s such as Pat Benatar, Blondie and Heart. I love the raw emotion that these artists all express in their music, it’s very real and timeless.

“However, music as a whole has really come such a long way since then and I think it’d be really exciting for me to take my influences from these women and build on it by utilizing modern technology and of course, my own creative expression.”

Rebecca‘s music has a funky, rocky edge to add to her fantastically powerful voice while also retaining a very poppy, upbeat feeling in her songs, as best portrayed in the lively ‘Not Your Girlfriend.’ Add to that her gorgeous, curvaceous good looks and we are well and truly onto a winner.

But her music also has a very delicate side resulting in a flexible creativity as shown off in the delightful, touching ‘Always.’

Her debut EP, released last year, was crafted with the help of veteran Toronto guitarist Peter Mueller to create a sound that effectively portrays Rebecca‘s powerful voice and early classical training and provide an interesting and refreshing sound.

Rebecca explains: “Working with Peter Mueller on the EP was a great experience because he helped me to take all of my musical influences and find my own sound amidst all of them. In the end, he really gave me a direction while doing this which is so important to have as an artist who wishes to achieve longevity in the business.

“It was something that I lacked entirely before I worked with Peter and now that I have a much better idea of where I’d like to go with my music, I’m confident I will be able to really dig into who I am as an artist when I start writing for my first album and, hopefully, people will like me.”

Her influences range from experienced performers like Blondie and Sheryl Crow to more modern day icons Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson, all of whom’s influence is very evident when listening to Rebecca’s music but the singer explains there is a lot more to her brand of music.

She said: “My goal as a performer is to really be able to rock it while still pulling my audience in on an emotional level like I feel more able to do when it’s just me and the piano. I plan on getting a band together once I’m in Toronto and then building on that idea.”

This year sees Rebecca launching an assault on the Toronto music scene, following a succesful tour through southern Ontario last year and the singer is already working on new material for an album.

To check out Rebecca’s music visit her MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Rob Latham

Too often metal bands are judged as being angry and hate the world because of their loud, thrashing sound but Vancouver-based Incura are hell bent on changing this false perception.

Incura‘s unique blend of heavy aggressive yet melodic rock makes for an intoxicating, refreshing sound fused with the intriguing influences of frontman Kyle Gruninger‘s theatrical and operatic upbringing.

The result of this is an interesting mix of hardcore emo meets punk rock meets metal, as seen best in the hugely enjoyable tracks ‘Here To Blame’ and ‘Between The Walls.’ Yet Gruninger himself recognizes their chosen style does not tick the boxes for bands who want to make it big on the current music scene, but in no way is he willing to conform to the pop-orientated mainstream.

“We know what everybody thinks of us for sure, it’s no secret that people say, ‘OK, you guys are a little too extreme,’” said Gruninger.

“I don’t want to change it but I’d really like to trick everybody. They say ‘Kyle, you can’t write a 7-minute epic to go on the radio’ but Metallica can and Freddie Mercury did it.

“Even Queen had their ‘We Will Rock You’ and I can do that, I can write that hit if I really need to but it’s not a focus at all. They’ll still say the new stuff we’ve written is too long and too heavy with too many screams and not enough melody.”

Gruninger‘s theory on music is also refreshing, he takes an interest in the history of music, harking back to classical composers like JS Bach and Mozart, whom he admires for their willingness to experiment.

But the proof of the pudding when it comes to Incura is in their live shows, which are more of an experience than just a gig thanks to Gruninger’s theatre background, something he believes is essential in order to convince people to dig into their pockets and see live bands.

Gruningen said: “The theatre background gave me a springboard to always make a live show out of everything instead of just standing there playing a guitar.

“It’s all about our stage presence in general, I’m not talking about props with all the fire and the skulls everywhere. I wish I could do that but it’s too 80′s and glam rock is dead apparently, plus my band would kick the shit out of me.

“You have to give people a reason to go: the music, the show, a video release or something that makes them think they’re going to miss something if they don’t go.”

Incura’s big break in the music world came last year when they won Seeds, the Vancouver battle of the bands competition entered by thousands of bands, a moment Gruninger picks out as the single best in his career thus far and hopes the band will be able to build on in the near future.

“It was that candy moment I really enjoyed,” he said. “It was a step of accomplishment that I worked really hard for as it was kind of like a pat on the back that I didn’t want to be the end, I’ve had to work twice as hard since then.”

While admitting being in a band is a great lifestyle Gruninger also alludes to the difficulties of being on tour, away from family and friends and with no social life for months on end.

“That’s how people get drug addictions, there’s nothing to do,” he explains. “You play late at night for an hour but get into town at 9am with nowhere to stay so you’re in the van for ten hours a day with no money – what do you do? Take drugs?

“That’s what happens to lots of people. You get bored and you can’t sleep and end up getting insomnia so you get sleeping pills, then you’re sore from the road so you take painkillers and then uppers to wake you up for the show and then drink and caffeine – it’s a dangerous chemical world when you think about it.”

The band is currently working on new material with an eye on heading out to Vancouver Island in January and a full-Canada tour in February culminating in performing at the Canadian Music Week, in Toronto, in March.

To check out Incura’s music and videos visit their website or MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Rob Latham

Photo by: Sai Sivanesen

The classic story of small-town girl looking to make it big in the bright lights of the city is a dream almost come true for pop singer/songwriter Sara Giguere.

Moving into a new decade sees the Toronto-based singer, who hails from the town of Iroquois Falls near Timmins, Ontario, going it alone in the music world and looking forward to the release of her debut single.

Having given up on the idea of trying to setup a band in Toronto, where she moved to fulfill her dream of being a musician, Giguere is now fully focused on a solo career with a new-found confidence in her undoubted singing talents.

As she explains: “When I moved to Toronto I wanted to get out there so bad and so I tried looking for band mates and people I could write with. I just wanted to perform but at the end of the day I don’t think I was on the same page as everyone else and it became harder to forge that relationship.

“Six months ago I realized I could do this on my own and with the help of some amazing people I was able to get my voice out there and write again, I believe I’m still meant to do this.”

Giguere‘s style is intriguing, with a strong focus and passion for the meanings of lyrics and keeping her songs from the heart and honest.

“I find writing lyrics is so hard, I want what I sing to be honest and I want to believe in all the words,” she said.

“And because of that I write from experience. I write what is true to me. But at the end of the day my inspiration comes from the world around me, it comes from past relationships, losing someone close, finding love.”

Giguere‘s influences are wide-ranging and as a result so is her music, which from song to song can switch from fast-paced tracks to a slow ballad depending on the theme, but the main focus of what drives her to write music are artists whose lyrics appeal to her.

Giguere said: “Most importantly I adored a few artists, like Jason Mraz and Martina Sorbara of Dragonette, for their writing styles, it may not be similar to mine but the way they capture words is amazing.

“But what I listen to is always changing. I listen to what moves me, what makes me feel good or what makes me feel sad, not necessarily what’s big right now.”

Giguere has always had a strong musical background from her upbringing and inherits her writing skills from her mother and performing abilities from her father, who used to play shows on the guitar and harmonica when she was a child.

Giguere explains: “Music was always a big part of my life growing up and my parents did the best they could at involving me in anything musical.

“My family had no idea I could really sing until one year my dad bought a karaoke machine before Christmas when I was 12 and my mom asked me to try it. I remember I sang a Christmas song and that’s when my parents realized: ‘Hey, she can sing.’”

Giguere certainly has a knack for writing a catchy pop song and when you throw her unique sounding voice and good looks into the picture she is certainly onto a winning combination.

To check out Sara Giguere’s music visit her MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Rob Latham

Popular Vancouver rockers Venice Queen will be headlining a major Winter Olympics 2010 launch party, a mark of their progression to becoming one of the most exciting bands in the city.

The Richmond four-piece, who started life as a covers band in high school, are enjoying a growing reputation on the Vancouver music scene evolving into one of the city’s best loved bands and ultimately culminating in them landing the headline spot for the Olympics opening night at The O Zone, in Richmond, on Friday, February 12.

Part of the attraction of Venice Queen is their unique blend of music, which sees their style and sound switch abruptly from song to song.

Lead singer Ryan Bloom explains: “The way we do it keeps things interesting, we have a lot of different influences and none of our songs sound the same as the others.

“We try to keep that diversity to keep it interesting and keep us on our toes, to stop us getting bored of doing the same thing over and over.

I also think it makes it more interesting for people listening to us for the first or second time or more – when I go to a show the biggest problem is if they become monotonous.”

The band’s style is certainly difficult to pin down, which makes them intriguing to listen to as you never know what is coming next. From the simple ballad “Best Friends” to the happy-go-lucky “Summertime No Show” contrasted by the darker, heavier “The Fury Within” and the deliciously catchy, rocky “Rehab” Venice Queen is an exciting mix of Alice In Chains meets Red Hot Chili Peppers meets Avenged Sevenfold.

Bloom is adamant this is the way the band will continue to operate, as that is the way their music naturally evolves.

He said: “It may hurt us in the long run because we’re not hitting the same target demograph every time but I figure at the same time people will appreciate it – good songs are good songs right?”

Having grown up in Richmond, Bloom bemoans what he believes is a poorly organized music scene that blunts the progress of up and coming bands in Vancouver.

“It’s fluctuating and ever changing, constantly closing one club and moving the equipment to another,” he said.

“I just think there are some really good bands around here and maybe the promoters should be putting on better bills with a few clubs playing all the best bands.”

The band has plans to tour Eastern Canada and into America, particularly California, through 2010 in order to build their reputation outside of Vancouver and Bloom explains he believes the current music scene requires bands to harness a business-minded approach.

He said: “If you want to do your art form for a living you’ve got to look at it from a business point of view. You’re selling yourself, your music, your image, your t-shirts – not that I want to steal everybody’s money.

“Everyone talks about selling out but its got to the point where you could dress me like a NASCAR and put sponsors all over me if that’s what it’s going to take  to stop me from doing a regular job and allow me to do what I love doing for a living.”

A second album is also in the pipeline as the band has some tracks already on the back burner and they are constantly writing new music for their fans, of whom Bloom is much appreciative.

“A lot of people are looking forward to the new album,” he said. “We have a solid fan base and the best fans in Vancouver and we can sell out any club in Vancouver on that basis.

“On the last album we took our time and we feel we’ve got a product because of that. Many bands’ second album is forced upon them and it’s more rushed but we want to deliver stuff we feel strongly of.”

Venice Queen is constantly improving as a band and their landing the Olympics gig in February is testament to the their evolution as one of the most exciting up and coming bands in Western Canada.

To check out their music and upcoming tour dates, including a gig at the Commodore Ballroom on Tuesday, December 8, visit their MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Rob Latham

Vancouver-based alternative rockers TV Heart Attack are one of the leading bands sparking a musical revolution on the Canadian west coast.

The four-piece’s edgy rock sound has won them rave reviews and live shows on bills alongside major bands such as The Killers, at the Virgin music festival, and The Von Bondies and singer Jason Corbett admits he is excited about the band’s future.

Corbett said: “Playing with The Killers made me realize that they were at the top of their game and none of the other bands even came close to being as good as them, that gave me something to aspire to in terms of where we would like to be. The Von Bondies, no offence to them they were great, but it was like we were as good as these guys so we could be out there touring.

“I wish the good reviews equated to album sales and draw across Canada but it feels really good to be recognized as an artist, to know the hard work you put into writing lyrics and the blood, sweat and tears  you put into it gets recognized on a certain level by your peers.”

But as Corbett explains the band, which formed in 2005, may never have kicked off had it not been for the acts of his girlfriend during the band’s previous incarnation as Speed To Kill.

“I got a raise on my VISA limit so we went to the studio, then my girlfriend smashed up my car and the insurance money allowed us to record the first TV Heart Attack record.

“We had to put distance between us and Speed To Kill, and slowly but surely the members changed and the girl who smashed up my car actually her brother became the keyboard player, then the guitar player and now my partner in crime and business partner of the band. It was a catalyst for a lot of different things happening.”

TV Heart Attack‘s music is very much a musical tale of Corbett’s life, he is responsible for writing 95 per cent of the music and all his inspiration is taken from things that have happened to him.

Corbett said: “Pretty much every song is a different page of my life. I use metaphors and stuff but not fantasy stories, they are stories about me.

“You listen to the record and you get a pretty good idea of who I am and the women in my life, my experiences.”

The band’s latest big break is the long-awaited release of their new music video for the catchy “AO” on December 17th, following the recent launch of their website.

Corbett said: “It’s exciting because we’ve been working on the video for a long time, the budget for the video and the type of energy and services people have put into it would easily make it over a $100,000 video so it’s going to be something we can be proud of for years to come in terms of a representation of where we are at.

“We’ve really been focusing on our internet presence, the new website, Twitter, all that kind of stuff. I wasn’t a really big fan of doing it but seeing how that works, even just our YouTube channel, it’s been fantastic with all the hits coming in. We’re not into 100,000s of hits but we’re definitely excited about every little step we take.”

The band plan to release a second EP, a follow-up to their debut release Lost In The Sway, in the new year as Corbett believes releasing fairly regular EPs is the best way forward for the band.

“We’re trying to do as much as we can to make sure people hear us, I like songwriting and getting into that aspect of the business and I really like performing so we just want to get out and perform as much as possible.

“With the climate of how people listen to music now I don’t think the concept of a 11 or 12 song album works for us anymore, I know Radiohead are only going to release singles and that might be a little excessive, but I think we are going to stick to releasing an EP per year rather than an album every 2 years.

“If you can write a song or two that resonates with people and they consistently say ‘I love that song’ and they’re singing the lyrics then that’s the most rewarding thing, knowing you’ve crafted something that resonates with people.”

The band is currently involved in the Peak Performance Project talent show in Vancouver and will be performing at the Peak Xmas Show, at The Venue, on December 17th as well as a small tour early next month.

To check out their music and see tour dates visit their MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Rob Latham

After 12 years of touring and recording music you could forgive Flogging Molly for wanting to take their foot off the gas but that simply isn’t the case as the Los Angeles-based Irish rockers passion for music is still very much alive and kicking.

I meet up with the band’s multi-talented instrumentalist Matt Hensley at the Commodore Ballroom on the day of their second show at the Vancouver venue on Friday (October 30) to discuss life in Flogging Molly, the change in the music scene in the last decade and life on the road.

Hensley is fresh from performing the night before when the band put on an impressive, energetic set which was much appreciated by a lively Vancouver crowd.

As we discuss the highs and lows of being on tour for long periods of time it is blindingly obvious that this is what Hensley lives for – music, and Flogging Molly in particular, is his life.

“It can be a lonely road and there’s no health insurance program in a rock’n'roll band it’s all or nothing, but we get paid to play music and it doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.

“I’m so used to it (touring) that it seems like a normal way to live, like a fucking nomad.

“It can be difficult like any job can, we’re all married and have kids and stuff which is kind of a drag, but to play music to people every night and have people smile and dance and sing your songs makes it so worth it.”

Hensley explains one thing that keeps his passion for the music going is seeing first hand how music can be a positive factor in peoples’ lives. In particular he picks out a gig in Croatia where a crippled boy wearing a beat-up Flogging Molly t-shirt told him the band’s music had given him a new perspective on life.

Hensley said: “He was at the side of the stage rocking out and he just looked really short to me but after the show I saw his condition, how fucked up he was, and he was basically in tears. In broken English he told me ‘I’ve got nothing to live for, I pretty much want to kill myself but eight months ago I found your band and it’s given me a reason.’

“All he wanted from me was a cigarette and a pint of Guinness so I got him them and then he hobbled away as happy as can be – that show will always stay with me as it proved music can make a difference.”

Flogging Molly’s latest album, Float, differs from their previous three studio albums, as it was recorded in frontman Dave King’s homeland of Ireland allowing the band to get away from city life and focus fully on the music.

Hensley explains: “It probably affected how we sound a little but it was more the isolation of being in Ireland, the fact that we were away from any major cities or distractions to take away from our 100 per cent concentration on making the best record possible.”

Despite now being a huge global name on the music scene in their early days Flogging Molly were told they would never make it as a band, which spurred them on to prove the industry wrong.

Hensley said: “A lot of people will tell you you can’t make it. People told us, and every major record label told us, that we would never be more than a little, tiny bar band in Los Angeles.

“These were people who supposedly knew what music was all about, I would tell any kids starting out to just keep it real, play from your heart and people will receive it from the heart and it will feel real.”

Hensley accepts that the music industry has changed significantly since Flogging Molly started out, with the rise of social networking sites allowing bands to easily get their music across to fans all over the world. But he believes this is a good thing as it puts more emphasis on musicians honing their skills.

“It’s a great thing,” he explains. “It’s not so driven by record sales anymore, they’re not what they used to be. I think it’s more about who you are, what the band is and what you do in life that is more tangible than just making a record.

“Right now it’s weird because it seems there’s a lot of one-hit wonder guys who’ll be huge today and fucked tomorrow because it’s so internet based.

“I think the best way is the way this band and our predecessors have done it, where they’ve kept it real and street-worthy an haven’t sold themselves to the devil.”

Float is available now on SideOneDummy Records, to hear more of Flogging Molly’s music and see their upcoming tour dates visit their MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Photo by Laurie Januska

Written by: Rob Latham

If you thought good old classic rock’n'roll died with the disappearance of epic bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who then think again, because promising young Canadian rockers Dean Lickyer fit the mold exactly.

The four-piece hailing from Hamilton, ON, are an energetic, exuberant blast of, in their words, ‘authentic rock’n'roll’ which sounds like an impressive fusion of Led Zeppelin and Guns’n'Roses.

I met up with front man Joshua Alvernia, 20, and guitarist Sean Royle, 19, at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom the day after the first of their two gigs supporting Irish rockers Flogging Molly at the venue. Speaking to them it is clear the inspiration that drives their music comes predominantly from all the great bands of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

As Alvernia explains: “Music back then seemed a lot more thought out and dedicated to the craft. There are some bands who are still dedicated to their craft like Dr. Dog (Philadelphia rock band) and Kings of Leon and those are bands now we really look up to.

“When we first started out we sounded a lot more like Guns’n'Roses and we were a five-piece but now we’ve moved into a more retro, psychedelic style.”

The band is on its first ever tour with other bands having previously toured Canada by themselves and they are now enjoying life on the road with a major band. But they explain that their sole focus in their lives is the music, which comes across dominantly in their dynamic on-stage presence.

Alvernia said: “We gave up everything just so we could focus on he band, to give it a go while we’re young and at our prime. Right now everything is just about music or the band.

“I guess what we’re trying to do is write as much as we possibly can, so anything that sparks our interest we’re trying to make into a song.

“Especially at our age, apparently the peak of our creative edge where you have the most development is between 19 and 22, so it’s a case of writing as much as we can to develop our craft and do our best work.”

Dean Lickyer got a great reception form the Vancouver audience and explain they enjoy playing to a crows who have come solely to see the main event, in this case Flogging Molly.

Alvernia said: “It’s always a really good vibe here, it’s kind of exciting to be a new band and the reception is positive.

“A lot of the time some of the Flogging Molly crowd are very rough and tumble kind of people but they always warm up to us by the end, usually at least by the second song they’re like ‘okay, these guys aren’t imitators.’”

And imitators they certainly are not, Dean Lickyer is a band with bags of talent, an awesome live act and likable, down to earth characters, all of which means this is a name to look out for in the very near future. The band plan to release a new EP next year, following the completion of their current tour.

To check out Dean Lickyer’s music and tour dates visit their MySpace or Facebook pages.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Robert Latham
Photo by: Branden Dunbar

Kelowna-based rock trio We Are The City believe exciting times are just around the corner for the emerging Vancouver and British Columbia music scene and judging by their fledgling musical offerings they could be one of the bands to help lead the charge.

The young rockers, all just 19-years-old, are impressively down to earth and excited about their music when I meet them in a busy Vancouver bar the day before they performed a stunning set at The Cellar Nightclub, on Granville Street, on Thursday night (October 22) as part of the Peak Performance Project showcase.

The trio, who released their debut album In A Quiet World earlier this year, accept there is a lack of music making it big out of Vancouver but explain they are excited about a wealth of young musical talent ready to explode into the big time.

Drummer Andy Huculiak said, “I’d say there’s some pretty exciting bands coming out of Vancouver, especially now with the Peak Performance we’re in, so in like five or six years I think Vancouver will be seen as a very thriving place.

“At the moment Vancouver isn’t seen as a big place in the grand scheme of things but I think it’s pretty big, when you add in the rest of British Columbia, and I’m really excited about lots of emerging bands coming out of the area right now – and it’s awesome to be friends with some of them.”

The band has come from extremely varied musical backgrounds to form their intoxicating rock-indie based alternative sound. Andy’s drumming life began playing along to Christian rockers P.O.D, before getting into a jazz band at school and then joining a screamo band during a black hair, tight pants-wearing period during his teen years in the Okanagan.

Meanwhile, vocals/keyboard player Cayne McKenzie and guitarist David Menzel have been friends since the age of eight, began jamming at school and formed a band that fused the sounds of P.O.D and U2, an interesting sound no doubt.

The result of this mixture is an engaging, progressive sound which switches between beautiful melodic passages and good old head-banging, foot-tapping rock, with an interesting lack of a bass guitar that the band explains was never an intentional omission.

David said, “We didn’t start out thinking ‘let’s not have bass.’ In the beginning we wanted to be like Coldplay but now to add another member just to add the bass would be like uncharted territory, it’s not all about the music it’s more about he brotherhood and now we really love our music.”

The trio remains unsigned out of their own choice, rather than going out shopping for a major label, and the are keen to stay that way for the time being as it gives them the freedom to own their music, choose their own management team and, most importantly, know exactly where their money is.

As Andy puts it, “Signing onto a big label is sometimes almost the kiss of death rather than the jump-start to your career.”

Upon forming three years ago perhaps the band’s biggest challenge was coming up with a name. Originally beginning life as The City, as reference to the bible verse “a city on a hill cannot be hidden,” they soon discovered a surge of bands on MySpace under the same name, hence the switch to We Are the City. And the switch seems to have been a success, much to the band’s relief.

Andy explains, “Names are tough – it’s the worst thing as it can be the make and break because if people can say they don’t like the name and won’t listen to you.”

We Are the City are currently touring throughout British Columbia until mid-December and plan to be out on tour for at least the next two years. Speaking to them it is obvious that they live for life on the road and the thrill of being away from home, playing gigs and enjoying spending time together.

Andy says, “We were home for one day recently and I woke up the next morning really ready to go, I was almost bored. It’s nice to always be on the road, it is kind of trying for relationships but we were already good friends before the band so we already knew what pushes each others’ buttons and being together every hour of the day is also a good lesson in what not to do.”

To check out We Are The City and see their upcoming tour dates visit their MySpace page.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Written by: Robert Latham

Many bands have tried and failed to fuse the genres of rock and hip-hop but New York-based quartet Kongcrete look set to smash down the barriers and succeed in their goal to combine the two.

The band define their music as ‘Ghetto Rock,’ a combination of hip-hop, hard rock, funk and reggae and the results are impressive with big, dominating tunes like “Bulldozer” and “Greyhound Bus” an excellent example of the band’s energy and blow your head off aggressive musical style.

The band is working hard to get their name known but the promise they hold is evidenced by the fact that their independently produced 2008 debut album Kongcrete was created alongside the legendary sound engineer Vlado Meller, who has helped master albums for (to name but a few) Public Enemy, Rage Against The Machine and System of a Down who all act as massive influences to Kongcrete‘s musical style.

Bassist Jeff To explains; “Our influences aren’t confined to any particular genre. What matters is the attitude and energy these guys put into their work, that raw live energy that is authentic and honest. That’s what we try to convey through our music.”

The band’s sound is unmistakable with MC Taiwo D’Aguilar alternating between rap and growling and snarling sounds and low-tuned, bouncing overdrive guitar riffs that help drive the energetic rhythm to headier heights.

Yet their music is outrageously diverse, with funk rock track “RadioActive” an example of the band’s ability to mix up their style as they flicker between down and dirty funk and heavy rock, sounding unmistakably similar to Rage Against The Machine.

And the band believe they have what it takes to convince the masses that real music is still alive and kicking, without the need for the modern day obsession with technology.

“The technical skill of playing a real instrument, its nuances and imperfections, the epic journey that music is supposed to take you on and the long struggle and thought that musicians must put into their art – these things are rare,” said To.

“There will be a return to these fundamentals and a backlash against fillers and empty music, we think our form of ghetto rock will be a major force and we work our asses off on every song to make it perfect.”

Kongcrete‘s trademark rule-breaking sound deserves checking out and their unique brand of ghetto rock, fusing roll off the tongue rap lyrics with in your face guitar riffs and bouncing rhythms combine to make this a band to look out for in 2010.

To check out Kongcrete visit http://www.myspace.com/kongcrete

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