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The Will to Survive: Interview Session
Jersey Muse had the chance to interview the up and coming indie rock band The Will to Survive. Formed in 2010, the Virginia based group includes the talents of Adam Blacburn (guitar/vocals), Nic Carchietta (percussion), Austin Claywell (lead guitar), and Ben Stivers (bass/alternate vocal). These amazing guys have recently released their E.P titled, “The Chattering Teeth Demos” in late September and are excited to go back into the studio this November to record their first full-length album! So, take a listen, become captivated by their sound, and read what they have to say for themselves:
Where are you from?
The band currently resides in Harrisonburg, Va. If you don’t know where that is you may have heard of James Madison University —we have riots. The members however, are not originally from Harrisonburg. Adam is from somewhere in Indiana, Austin and Ben are from Winchester, VA and Nic is from Front Royal, VA.
When did you guys form the band and how did you meet?
The band was formed around two years ago in Harrisonburg VA. Adam moved there from Jacksonville (originally from Fort Wayne, IN) and started going to local shows and networking himself in the music scene. He then hunted down each individual member and convinced them to play in this band, which was only a concept accompanied by a few acoustic songs. Nic and Ben had known each other prior to TWTS, and Austin (who joined the band a year in) played guitar in another band that Ben had been in. Basically, no one knew that they were all being courted for this project but everyone was familar with each other, which has really helped the band’s personal dynamic.
Describe your sound.
So guys, tell us a little about your debut EP. What can people expect to hear?
We’re very proud of the E.P. but as a band and musicians we feel like we are capable of a lot more at this point. It was a great first release and every song on there is truly heartfelt. We feel we conveyed the message we were trying to get across at the time. There is a lot of singer/songwriter feel to the songs but the listener won’t lose the feeling of a full band. We strove to weave strong structures with a little bit of finesse on guitar from time to time.
What are some of the influences behind this EP. Were you guys inspired by anything, aiming for a certain sound, or just playing from the heart and all that good stuff?
Adam: *laughs* I don’t really have a “cool” answer for this one, but I’m going to give you an honest one anyways. All of the songs on the EP, except for Race Car, I had written as acoustic songs before the band was even formed, and everyone just sort of wrote around them. The songs are about specific times and tones in my life. They’re real occurrences, not fictional stories or extreme exaggerations which is actually kind of embarrassing and stressful when I think about how much of myself I’m giving to people without them even knowing it. The songs are also all about girls I’ve dated, which I hope to move away from in the future. There’s only so many songs you can write about heartbreak before it just starts to get lame.
What are you most excited about in this new record —a favorite song, some sick beats or maybe there’s something new or different about it?
Tell us a little about how you guys created this EP, like the songwriting and recording process.
If someone listened and loved your EP, when and where could they see you guys play? Maybe you’ve got some shows lined up in the near future?
Well, if we have our way we’ll be touring as much as possible, but for awhile it will probably be limited to the East Coast.
What can we expect from you guys next?
Have you ever seen the Lion King? Remember the song, “Be Prepared”? That. We’re also excited to announce we are going into the studio at the beginning of November to start recording our first full length.
brookdalestudentradio.com every Wednesday from 2:30-3:30.
We’ll be back soon stronger than ever, promise.
As always though if you’d like to join the team you can drop an ask here or email us at jerseymuse@gmail.com.
-Julie
This is an up close and personal look at Neon Trees performing “In the Next Room” live in New York at Webster Hall on July 10th, 2012.
Last Saturday night I got to experience part of music’s history. Roger Waters, the vocalist of Pink Floyd, came to Yankee stadium to perform Pink Floyd’s 1979 double album The Wall. This concept album tells the story of Roger Waters’ life and how all of the abuse, abandonment, and isolation he experienced throughout his life represented metaphorical bricks that built up his wall.
Before the show even began, the audience was allowed to see the partially built wall. It extended from one side of the stands just beyond the outfield all the way across to other side of the stadium – with a height of at least twenty feet where it was fully built.
The show opened with powerful guitar chords, lights, fire, and men dressed as soldiers walking out across the top of the wall. Roger let the audience know what they were in for right from the start. His voice sounded exactly the same as it did on the album, and he didn’t miss one note. The production was fantastic and beyond anything that I have ever seen. He used enormous cameras to project images and videos all along the wall that correlated with the part of the story he was telling. As the show progressed, more and more bricks were added to the wall. Eventually, there was only one left until Roger’s symbolic wall was fully built. Roger would project phrases like “Fear Builds Walls” on the wall, and then during his anti-war rant, Roger put up pictures and short biographies of fallen troops. This was perhaps the most emotional part of the show. It came just before intermission, and moved much of the audience to tears. There were men, women, and young children who were victims of the various wars this country and others have fought in. During intermission, Roger displayed not only soldiers, but peace activists, reporters, and people who were unjustly killed as a result of war and corrupt government systems.
The second half of the show was all about the breakdown of the wall. The production for this segment surpassed that of the first segment. During “Bring the Boys Back Home” Roger re-donned his military trench coat and paraded around the stage as the entire audience chanted “Bring the boys back home!” along with him. The stage as well as the crowd was huge, but the show did not feel disconnected. Roger interacted with the audience like you would expect a front man to do at a small club. We watched the show, but we were also part of it.
Although Roger Waters has performed this album countless times since its release, this tour is a pivotal one. When he was first touring in support of the album, the performance was incredibly real for him. His walls were still built high and he depended on the audience’s encouragement during tracks like “Is there Anybody Out There?” and “The Show Must Go On” otherwise he wouldn’t be able to finish the show. Back in the eighties, Roger advised fans to keep the walls built high. Now, he urges everyone to break them down and be free. This show is unlike anything I have ever been a part of. If you have the chance to see the show, you must experience it for yourself. His tour has not ended yet so there’s still time.
Performance Rating: 10/10
-Dani
With Warped Tour fast approaching (Friday for Holmdel and the 20th for Camden) Warped newbies may ask themselves what to expect. As festival veterans, we here at Jersey Muse would like to present some tips and tricks we’ve learned throughout the years.
One of the most important things to remember is that YOU should be your number one priority. Your well-being is of utmost importance and without you being “okay,” then your Warped tour experience will suffer. This means being aware of your surroundings. Crowds move quickly, mosh pits get rowdy, and crowdsurfers will be flying overhead. Know your limits and don’t be afraid to get out if you have to. It’s better to see a band from the back than miss them while you’re stuck in a medical tent.
With your safety being a top priority, your health should be on your mind also. Be sure to put plenty of money aside to buy water, sports drinks, and snacks. It’s easy to forget to eat or drink when there are stages and merch tents everywhere you look so you need to stay aware of your hunger and thirst. Along with this, it’s a good idea to keep sunscreen on hand and apply regularly. A small first aid kit may also prove helpful for tiny cuts and scrapes that can happen throughout the day.
Now with your overall well-being in check feel free to just let loose and enjoy yourself. When you enter the doors find out the set times (it’s usually shown on a giant blow-up sign) and get to know where stages are. Usually people will be by the gates waiting to sell you a copy of all the set times along with a map.
In the morning be sure to wear sensible clothing (shorts, a tank top, and Converses are a good base unisex outfit), have hair ties handy if you have longer hair, and eat a good breakfast.
Of course expect the unexpected and let it be known that this “mini-guide” is not the end all be all. Just have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the show!
-Julie
Jersey Muse’s special acoustic session with local band, Batten Down the Hatches.
Check out their new EP “Beginnings” at http://battendownthehatches.bandcamp.com/album/beginnings
And like them on facebook!
The Artwork Of EP Review
New Jersey proves itself to be the homebase of even the most hardcore of bands. The Artwork Of, a harcore/punk/mathcore band from Plainsboro, NJ, illustrates the hard-hitting side of this state through its harsh, yet complex compilation of eclectic riffs, beats, and disharmonious “melodies”. Recently, this group of artists released an EP that stayed true to its genre.
Not going to lie, I am not generally a listener attuned to this genus, but after a few run-throughs of the EP’s seven tracks, I was able gain an affinity for the album’s finer points. The vocals aren’t much more than strained screams with the occasional intelligible utterance. There are definitely some good breaks where one or two instruments take center stage and introduce a good melody. The drums are incredibly varied, as well as the other instruments that have harsh starts and stops. All together the production may not be provide the crispest sound, but if anything, that lends itself towards the abrasiveness of the songs. I couldn’t really spot much structure or form during the entirety of the EP, but it seemed as if the lack of form was something that created a structure all its own. All of these instruments that go outside the boundaries of the basics give the music a lot of dimension and gives the listener a lot to pay attention for and concentrate on. The consistent raw, quick-paced beat that is almost necessary to this genre is most definitely on cue in this EP.
Personally, I felt that some songs tended to be a clashing of coarse noises and rhythms –almost like an attempt to combine multiple song ideas in one. Some allowed a standalone feedback noise with vocals, which did create a nice ambience for the rest of the track. However, the unconnected feedback noises also halted the well laid out tempo of certain tracks at unpronounced times, maybe even too often. There is definitely a lot happening to fill in interest, though at times it may come off as overdone.
My favorite song off the EP seems to be “Helicopters”. In that one I song I feel like they have perfectly executed every creative technique that is prevalent within their other tracks. They have successfully reached the type of sound that was being aimed for (not to say they haven’t reached a certain goal sound in their other songs). To put it simply, I feel that “Helicopters” exemplifies the best of The Artwork Of.
Rating: 8/10
So, if you’re looking for a new band to rock out to definitely check out The Artwork Of’s new EP at: http://theartworkof.bandcamp.com/album/hipster-couch
-Izzi Fathy
Batten Down the Hatches EP Review
Reigning in from Central Jersey, pop punk band Batten Down the Hatches (commonly abbreviated to BDTH or nicknamed “Batten”) have been steadily rising up within the current music scene. Including the talents of John McManus (vocals), Joey DiCamillo (guitar), Adam Lotfi (guitar), Bryan Little (bass), and Kevin Sardy (drums) the group brings together a brand of pop punk that includes just the right levels of Four Year Strong and A Day to Remember. Putting together a brand of music that blends together breakdowns, memorable lyrics, melodies, and overall fun isn’t an easy task but Batten can certainly make it seem so.
With the release of their second EP “Beginnings,” Batten Down the Hatches makes it clear that they’re making no plans of losing momentum. Starting the EP off, “Draw The Line” gives a direct punch from the very first note. Two-stepping and violent finger pointing were made for songs of this aggressive nature. With lyrics stating that enough is enough and putting your foot down on complete nonsense is not only easily relatable but it also provides the perfect words to scream along to. It’s just such an aggressively fun song overall and simply begs to be heard live.
Showing off a bit of their versatility, “Rich Mahogany” gives a more fun, almost boppy feel musically. If “Draw the Line” gave a view of their more heavy influences, then “Rich Mahogany” definitely plays on their lighter roots. Describing the ever-going battle between priorities and pretty girls, “Rich Mahogany” is a must-have for the roadtrip playlist.
Giving listeners a breather, “On My Time” gives listeners a little more diversity for their musical indulgences. Sometimes acoustic tracks are attacked for being cliché, generic, and overall boring but this particular song deters from these stereotypes. The guitars start off pretty steady and predictable, but then pick up and bring a certain flair that brings another dimension to the typical acoustic song. More-so, the vocals fit and flow well with the instrumentals AND with the lyric’s emotional ups and downs. “On My Time” may require some time to grow on some listeners but when it does it sticks.
Ending their EP with “Beginnings” may seem a bit backwards from a purely literal standpoint but it’s appropriate. It’s quintessentially the perfect song to close with. With gang vocals shouting “we don’t know what the future holds, can we rise above and break the mold to this life that’s expected of me and you. We can conqueror the world if we see this through” behind Johnny’s voice, it creates a wonderful feeling of community and understanding. Instrumentally, “Beginnings” is pretty much the buffer between the first two tracks showing aggression, breakdowns, and softer melodies. Batten blends their elements well to give a memorable end to their Beginnings EP.
Overall, Batten Down the Hatches gives an EP that will satisfy any sort of pop-punk fan. Whether you prefer the hard punches or the simple fun moods of the genre, Batten has a track for you. From personal experience, I can say that the boys of BDTH put on a great show and I certainly look forward to seeing them perform this particularly fun and lively EP, well…live.
Rating: 9/10
Check ‘em out at http://www.facebook.com/battendownthehatches
- Julie Schwartz
Transitioning from male to female, she will be taking on her new name with her current wife at her side.
To learn more check out:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-gabel-of-against-me-comes-out-as-transgender-20120508
or to get the full story, pick up the newest copy of Rolling Stone magazine out this Friday (May 11th).
To find out more, check out their tumblr post
http://themenzingers.tumblr.com/post/22317202684/so-we-were-robbed-in-manchester-last-night
They have included a link within the post for donations through their paypal and their label.
