Odd Soul

I can't emphasize this enough. MUTEMATH is the band that everyone MUST see before they die!

The musicianship of the band tremendous and quite frankly, mind-blowing. For those that were fortunate enough to see the band live, they will understand what I'm talking about. On top of that, there is something the way they create music. Somehow, they are light years away from many of the bands that exists today. More importantly, it's the spirit daring adventurism that they bring on stage is what makes they truly remarkable. If you ask me, MUTEMATH is the band of the future (read my entry entitled The Future of Alternative Rock and my live review of the band)

For the past year, the band is hard at work on their their studio album, Odd Soul. I received the album a few days ago and I must say, it was quite a different listening experience. From what I noticed, the album is more driven by guitars rather than keyboards and synths. Although Greg Hill left the band early in 2010, Roy Mitchell-Cardenas really stepped up to the plate in playing both bass and guitars parts for the new record. The drumming by Darren King is superb like always as he continues to find new innovative ways to play the instrument. Finally, Paul Meany, the legendary keytarist and dynamic frontman outdid himself on Odd Soul and provided quality vocals once again.

The band has already started promoting the new record by releasing two music videos. The first one is for the title track while the other one is for "Blood Pressure". Their videos are amazing and I love their use of stop motion. It really shows their just as innovative visually as well as musically.

Yellowcard on Vinyl

This is very good news for Yellowcard and vinyl record fans alike!

According to Yellowcard's official site and Absolutpunk.net, the band has announced that they will release The Underdog EP, Ocean Avenue, Lights and Sounds and Paper Walls on vinyl records! The records will be released on September 18th, but people can can place pre-orders on August 2nd.

These will be great to add to my collection. I can't wait to hear the sounds of Mackin's violin on vinyl!

On a side note, their latest album When You Are Through Thinking, Say Yes is currently out on vinyl right now. Word is that they are in limited edition colors.

Visual Representation

I've been a fan of Explosions In The Sky for a long time, but it never occurred to me that they had never made a music video.

But now, after 12 years of being a band and with 6 albums under their belt, the Texas instrumental rock band have finally made their first music video. The video is for their single, "Last Known Surroundings" off their latest creation, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care. If looked closely, the animation is very similar to the Heavy Metal film back in 1981. I looked up the director behind the video and it turns out it's not just one person. The people who made the gorgeous music video are known as PTARMAK (pronounced "tar-mack"). They are a designery company that are involved in motion graphics and animation as well as many other things. To know more about PTARMAK, visit their website. All I can say is that they did an amazing job.

It's great to see Explosion In The Sky's music showcased in a whole new medium. Now our eyes and ears can be mesmerized by their glorious music.

New Found Glory Returns

My first concert experience was when my friends and I attended Surfest in 2004. It was a concert festival that featured popular bands such as Rise Against, Yellowcard and New Found Glory. New Found Glory was the last band to play their set. It would have been my first time seeing the band live. Just when the band was about to make their dramatic entrance on stage, one of my friends was not feeling well due to the weather (only in Hawaii that there is some degree of humity in December). Because of that, we had to exit Kualoa Ranch. Good news was that we beat the traffic heading out and my friend was feeling better once we left. The bad news, however, was that I, as well as my other friends missed out on seeing New Found Glory for the first time.

But on March 9, 2011, New Found Glory made their return back to the island of Oahu. It was another chance for me to experience something that I missed out on 7 years ago.

The lights dimmed and the first thing you hear coming out from the speakers is the epic theme from the movie, Chariots of Fire. Suddenly, the New Found Glory, donning their very own personalized basketball uniforms, stormed the stage and got the crowd jumping with their song “Understatement”. The energy did not stopped there as the band continued to play many favorites such as “All Downhill From Here”, “Head On Collision”, “My Friends Over You”, “Hit or Miss” and over course, their rendition of Sixpence None The Richer’s “Kiss Me”. One of the highlights of the night was hearing my favorite song “Dressed To Kill” live. It was a bittersweet moment for me because it was that particular song (and Rachael Leigh Cook) that made me a fan for the rest of my life.

The most well kept secret of the night (except for those who are active on Twitter) was located backstage. Hayley Williams, frontwoman of the band Paramore and girlfriend of NFG guitartist Chad Gilbert was present that night. She was there in honor of her boyfriend’s birthday. Jordan Pundnik and the rest of the crew took a moment to do a birthday sing-a-long with the crowd for their long time friend and bandmate. It was a very touching moment and it really shows that these guys are more than just a bunch of guys with a common interest in music, but best friends. It’s a testament of these guys’ longevity as a band. Don’t be surprised if you see these guys in their 60’s still rocking out and playing shows.

The feeling of finally seeing one of my favorite bands play live and being able to sing every single song is something that I will never forget. It was bittersweet and I hope that it doesn’t take me another 7 years to see these guys again.

All photos were taken by Melissa Kumano of Bamp Project. You can follow her Twitter and look up more of her work here.

We Are The Kill Joys

What’s surprising about Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Kill Joys was not the band’s sudden change in musical style, but the fact that some people have said that this was My Chemical Romance’s most disappointing record. I highly disagree.

It’s encouraging that My Chemical Romance was daring enough to take hold of a new direction in their music. Gone is the goth-inspired classic rock they were known from their previous albums. On Danger Days, the band channeled their inner Flaming Lips as they infused the dynamics of power pop and proto-punk. As a result, they produced a sound that bombards the listener with fun, excitement and edge as they are taken into an imaginative world filled with outlaws and impending doom.

The great thing about this record is that the new direction feels like a natural progression for the band. It is as though that they are not only comfortable with their brand new sound, but they are also confident in their music capabilities. For fans of their previous work, it may take some getting used to the new record. But trust me, after a few listens, you will realize what an extraordinary record this truly is.

If only I heard the record sooner. Danger Days would have certain have a spot on my Cream of the Crop list for 2010.

The Bedlam In Goliath

For a fan of The Mars Volta, I barely write anything about the band. So far, I have not come across any news of a new album, but I'm pretty sure something is in the works. Usually they are 2 or 3 albums ahead of their current release. Still, it would be nice to post something about them. Then I remembered when they were promoting their album, The Bedlam In Goliath, they released 5 music videos for the songs, "Wax Simulacra", "Aberinkula", "Goliath", "Askepios" and "Ilyena". Aside from "Wax Simulacra", which only contains live footage from their previous tours, all the videos have strange and interesting concepts. It's nice to take a look back on their bizarre and outrageous creations.

New Found Glory & Silverstein

BAMP Project has also announced other big name band coming down to the Hawaii. Pop punk heavyweights New Found Glory will be playing a show at the Aloha Water Front Tower on March 18th! The Florida natives made their debut in the alternative rock scene in 1999 with their own fusion of pop punk and hardcore with their debut record, Nothing Gold Can Stay. Since then, they have toured all over the world and released 5 albums. I was fortunate enough to see them at Surfest 2004, along with Yellowcard, Over It, Rise Against and many more bands and I'm very glad to hear they will be making pit stop to our humble island once again. I'm also happy to tell you that Silverstein, another popular band in the alternative scene will be joining them. Two big bands all in one night! Go to BAMP Project for more info this as well other upcoming concerts!

Breath of Fresh Air

This past week Florida metalcore outfit, Underoath has released their long-awaited album, Ø (Disambiguation). This will mark the first album without drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillepie, the last remaining original member of the band. With Gillepie's departure, this meant big changes and new musical opportunities for the band. First, they enlisted an old friend of theirs, Daniel Davidson, formerly of the metalcore powerhouse Norma Jean to man the kits. Second and perhaps the band's biggest challenge is Spencer Chamberlain taking complete control of all songwriting and vocal responsibilities. With these changes, creates a whole new dynamic to their music.


In listening to Ø (Disambiguation), their sound is sounds more refined and much cleaner than their previous works. The pop dynamic (very slight) that Gillispie normally brings to their music was immediately replaced with electronic sounds and ambient touches. The combination of heavy and atmospheric creates a whole new dyanamic to their sound that be describled as both strong and beautiful. As for Spencer Chamberlain, he has truly shined on this record. In being able to carry out the duties of both songwriting and singing all on his own, he has more control and more freedom to express himself. This makes Chamberlain a force to be reckon with. His melodic and screaming vocals are extremely superb and his songwriting is much more focused. This is truly Spencer Chamberlain's record.

"Paper Lung" by Underoath by Future Phonograph

Overall, this album is a breath of fresh air for Underoath and marks the next stage in their evolution as a band. I highly recommend giving this album a listen. You can really appreciate how far Underoath has come as a band. On a closing note, I give you my favorite track on the record, "Paper Lung" for your listening pleasure. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Welcome Back, Boys!

A few weeks ago, Absolutepunk has informed that Yellowcard has returned from their two-year hiatus. The band has also announced that they currently working on a new record, their first since 2007's Paper Walls. I was pleased to hear the good news especially since Yellowcard was one of my favorite bands during my college years. I first saw them back in 2004 during Surfest where they were one of the featured bands along with New Found Glory, Rise Against and many others. What made me interested in the band was their use of the violin in their sound. I understand that many bands have utilized the classical instrument in their respective music, but not many punk bands are able to do this. Yellowcard was the main exception. Sean Mackin, the violinist of the band, has truly demonstrated the instrument's versatility and dexterity. Combining the grace of the violin along with rich punk melodies and catchy hooks, Yellowcard has truly established themselves as one of the leading forerunners in pop punk.

 
Recently , the guys had an acoustic performance at a Hot Topic store (location unknown). They did not play any new songs, but it was so great to see them playing again. Check out the performances below especially their acoustic rendition of "Rough Landing, Holly".

So dust off your violins, folks. Yellowcard is back!

MUTEMATH Rocks Pipeline

A few years ago, I was reading an issue of Alternative Press (Issue #228 with The Used on the cover). It was a commemorative issue celebrating their 22 years of existence. One of the lists in the magazine featured the "22 Bands You Need To See Before You Die". Claiming the top spot on that list was New Orleans' future rockers, MUTEMATH. Besides making phenomenal music, the band was also known for their elaborate and outrageous live shows. I've always wondered how cool it would be see one of their shows, but at the time, I was skeptical that a band of that caliber would come down to the islands. What was thought to be impossible turned into a stroke of faith. A few months ago, BAMP Project made an announcement that they have landed MUTEMATH into coming down to Hawaii. I was filled with excitement and joy and immediately called up my girlfriend about the news.

The months flew by and the day of the show finally came. My girlfriend and I arrived to Pipeline Cafe two hours early. When the doors opened, we rushed to the front stage. We saw the wide array of instruments on stage and we could feel our anticipation and excitement building up. We waited a good hour and a half until the doors until the host of the night introduced the opening act, Kings of Spade. They were a pretty decent band. Vocalist Kasi Nunes was quite a feat on stage and I love the mix of jazz, reggae and rock all blended together. Overall, they played a great set.

When Kings of Spade finished their set, we could feel the people behind us drawing closer to the stage. Everyone was waiting anxiously as the stage crew was arranging the band's gear. When one of the crew members brought out Paul Meany's infamous keytar, our excitement has reached maximum level and we couldn't wait any longer. Finally, the host of the night returned on stage to perform his one final task. After months of waiting, the host introduced that the band that we have all been waiting for, MUTEMATH!


Now before I begin, I just want to point out that I will not be describing play by play of what happened during the concert. There would be too many details and it would be very exhausting. However, I will be describing some of the memorable moments of that night

Although, my girlfriend and I knew beforehand that MUTEMATH was known to have great live shows, we had no idea what to expect. That is the beauty of MUTEMATH shows and we witnessed it first hand. The thing that we love most about their performance was that they don't just go on stage and play a few songs. They go up there and give the audience a show. From the moment that Darren King duct taped his headphones to his head, we knew we were in for a wild ride. MUTEMATH played a variety of songs from their self titled debut and their sophomore effort, Armistice. I was fortunate to hear some of my favorite songs such as "Clipping", “Armistice", “Control” and of course the fan favorite, “Typical. Throughout their entire set, the band members displayed their ingenuity and talent by not only played their own respective instruments, but dabbling with many other instruments such as the tambourine and the keyboard. What made the show so memorable were the little “antics” that the band members did on stage. One of them, which my girlfriend and I called “drum orgies” was when all the band members huddled around King’s drum kit and bang the hell out of it. It sounds weird and strangely erotic, but when you see it live, it looks amazing. Another one was when King poured water all over his drum kit. This created a stellar splash effects as he played the drums. The third one that totally blew my mind was when Greg Hill, the guitarist, pulled the pedal station (the apparatus that contains all the guitarist’s pedals; it is usually located on the floor) and began toggling the switches creating a wide array of distortion and noise. It was as though he was playing it like an actual instrument. There were so many other "antics", but these were ones that we remembered.



I had to make a separate paragraph for Paul Meany. I’m not trying to say that he was more important than the rest of the band, but he is truly something on stage. I had never seen a singer so dynamic and charismatic in my life. Throughout the entire set except during slower songs like “You Are Mine” and “Clipping”, he was not stationary. Switching off from piano to keytar, he “dances” on stage and really shows that he is quite the performer. To add to the list of memorable “antics”, one of the highlights of the night was when Meany did a handstand off his piano. I have seen it in my pictures, but to see it up close is truly astonishing. Along with his dynamic stage presence, his voice was compelling and brings life to the songs they played. He even paid tribute to the late great Israel Kamakawiwo'ole by playing "Peculiar People” from the Reset EP
. It was a nice dedication to honor the famous Hawaiian singer.

Overall, the show was monumental in every way possible. From start to finish, MUTEMATH took us on a wild ride that we prayed that would not end. The band had not only exceeded our expectations, but everyone else’s in the crowd that night. Alternative Press and many other publications were right on the mark about these guys. MUTEMATH is THE band you have to see before you die. For those that made it out that night, I hoped you enjoyed the ride as much as we did. For those that didn’t, sad to say, you truly missed out.

P.S. One final note, the stunning pictures were taken by Melissa Kumano. Follow her on Twitter @bzmoonbeams

Destroy Restore Until God Shows

For the past few months, there was been plenty of speculation over Craig Owens' new band. Slowly, there had been announcements made about recording sessions and new band members (Matt Good, formerly of From First To Last was the most recent and more likely last addition to the band). But despite all these, the one thing that I was absolutely curious about was what the band name will be. I was imagining that it would be something cool or something outrageous. Turns out it happens to be a little both. On August 17th, Craig Owens and his new crew finally announced the name of their band.

 Destroy Restore Until God Shows

My first thought was that it was about time that the band officially announced their name, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but be a little confused. For one, I thought the name was rather strange, but rather cool at the same time. Plus, I was a little curious about the meaning behind it and what was their inspiration. Still, I have to admit it. The acronym D.R.U.G.S. does roll off the tongue very nicely. In any case, I’m excited about Craig Owen’s and his new venture with D.R.U.G.S. With the band lineup complete, the band are hard at work on recording their debut record. Who knows what announcement will come from D.R.U.G.S. camp, but I think Craig Owens’ has something up his sleeve.

Thermacare

A few months ago, I found out on Absolutepunk.net of the departure of Craig Owens from post hardcore outfit, Chiodos. The news saddened me because Chiodos was one of my favorite band and Craig Owen was one of my favorite vocalists. I was fortunate enough to see the band live when they came down to Hawaii to perform at Pipeline Cafe (there is more to this story; will be told later). Besides Anthony Green, I never seen a more charasmatic and energetic singer in the music scene. The way he can switch off vocals from his melodic almost-falsetto-like voice to his harsh screaming. He is also very dynamic on stage and has a way to connect with his audience to the point where the crowd will carry him by his legs as he performs. I've witnessed that when they came down here and it was pretty amazing.

No news of a singer's departure from a band surprised more people since Anthony Green's departure from Saosin a few years ago. It was news that baffled everyone and for a longest time, people have wondered what went down with between Craig Owens and the band. But like anything that happens in our lives, whether it be good or bad, eventually people move on with their lives. Chiodos moved on by bringing in Brandon Bolmer formerly from Yesterday's Rising, to be the new lead vocalist (along with Tanner Wayne who replaced Derrick Frost a few months earlier) and Craig Owens is working on some new material with his new, soon-to-be named band. Things were starting to look up for both parties, but something that happened that prevented old wounds from healing.

A song entitled "Thermacare", which was a demo that Chiodos was working on before the departure of Craig Owens, was leaked into the internet a few weeks ago. The leak not only surprised both Owens and Chiodos, but also many other people as well. There was talk that Chiodos was in the process of recording a follow-up to Bone Palace Ballet, but many were surprised that the vocalist they were listening to on the track was Craig Owens and not Brandon Bolmer. It made people wonder if he really did leave the group or if this was some sort of cruel joke someone's playing. Both parties were disappointed, but no one was more disappointed about the leak than Craig Owens. According to the statement he made through Alternative Press, he stated that his intention was to have that demo rerecorded with his new band. The press conference also mentioned that there was an agreement made to split the song into two with Chiodos keeping the music while Craig Owens kept the melodies/lyrics. Unfortunately that did not go as planned and somehow the song was leaked.

Thermacare by Chiodos by Future Phonograph

I'm not sure what will become of "Thermacare", whether it be recorded for Chiodos or Craig Owen's new band, but whatever the case may be I understand the disappointment felt from both parties. When there is a breakup like this within a band, it's not easy for everyone especially when they all been together since the beginning. I may not know much about the departure of Craig Owens, but at this time I believe that both parties want to simply move from this incident and start fresh with their new ventures. In any case, I look forward to hearing Brandon Bolmer being the new frontman for Chiodos and to hear their new album. As for Craig Owens, I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve. I know that with his talent and charisma, it's going to be excited to hear what he has in store in the near future.

Oh, and for the record I just want to say that "Thermacare" would have been one hell of a single if Craig Owens stayed with Chiodos...

Like Driving A Classic Car

About two years ago, I remember that the crew of Absolutepunk.net was praising about rock & roll outfit The Gaslight Anthem and their album, The ’59 Sound. Ads for the album were all over the website and an impressive review was written by Chris Fallon (of Absolutepunk.net) which can be found HERE. In addition to that, there was an article written where the band stated that they described themselves like "Bruce Springsteen fronting The Cure". When I heard that, it immediately sparked my curiosity and I decided to see (or should I say hear) what the fuss was all about. I took a chance and bought The '59 Sound the following day. What I heard absolutely impressed me. For one, I love the vintage feel of their sound. It was definitely punk rock, but with classic rock n' roll vibe to it. When I listened to them it feels as though that I'm driving a classic muscle car and cruising down the streets of New Jersey, which is where the band hails from. Second, Brian Fallon has one of the most unique voices in music today. You can tell his voice has strong influences from blues and soul, which adds something special to their already impressive sound. Bottom line, The '59 Sound was the album that made me fall in love with The Gaslight Anthem.

Two years later, The Gaslight Anthem began recording the follow up to '59 Sound. For the new record, the band did not do anything different to their sound. There was no experimentation or change in the direction of their music. Instead, what Brian Fallon and Co. did was polish their unique sound and make it better. What came out of months of recording and writing is American Slang, which has that same classic rock and roll feel, but with more energy and more finesse than their previous efforts. Also, Brian Fallon, sounds incredible on this record as he continues to bear his heart and soul in every song as though he is a modern day raconteur. Overall, American Slang is an fantastic record and it considered to be one of the best releases of 2010. Whether you are a longtime fan or a first time listener, don't let this record escape your music radar.

All Time Low Returns

Two years ago, The Starting Line came to Hawaii for the first time and played a show at Pipeline Cafe. I was there that night and it was one of the most extraordinary concert experiences I ever had in my life. But I'm not going to talk about The Starting Line. In fact, I going to talk about the band that opened up for them that night. The opening act was All Time Low. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland and inspired by pop punk acts like New Found Glory (their name was derived from the NFG song "Head On Collision") and Blink 182, Alex (Vocals/Guitar), Rian (Drums), Jack (Guitar) and Zach (Bass) have started their band before they reached high school. Upon their senior year in high school, the band was signed to Hopeless Records and have released their albums Put Up or Shut Up and So Wrong, It's Right, which garnered mainstream success. I was unfamiliar with the pop punk outfit at the time and that night was the first time I got a taste of their music. At first listen, I was not surprised at the type of music they played. It was obviously pop punk, but their music as well as the band had a lot of character and that's what won me over. By the end of set, their songs were already ingrained into my brain and I immediately bought So Wrong, It's Right, which I was able to get it signed by three of the four members of the band (Rian was no where to be found). After the release of their latest album, Nothing Personal, the band returned to Hawaii to play another show except this time they were the main act. Unfortunately though, I was not able to make it to the show on the night they returned.

However, Bamp Project has announced that the pop punk jokers are coming back to Hawaii for the third time on August 1, 2010. Word has it that they will be playing some new material for their new album coming out sometime this year. For those of you who are interested in going to the show, but have not heard any of their music, you can watch this video (posted by Jason Tate of Absolutepunk.net), which is from their live DVD, Straight to DVD. It's a small taste of what you can experience at their live show, but nothing beats the real thing. If you are available that August 1st, come down to Pipeline Cafe and check out their show. You might even get a chance to meet the guys after the show and trust me, they are a great group of guys.

All Time Low - Dear Maria: Live Premiere from Jason Tate on Vimeo.