Finger 11 Drummer Rich Beddoe Interview

Kacy Norman May 11-2011

So, give us a little background info for those who aren’t familiar with you guys.

Rich Beddoe: We’re a Canadian band, from just outside Toronto. And this is our fifth record, “Life Turns Electric.” Obviously on the last record, “Paralyzer” was sort of the big song, and the album before that was “One Thing.” So here we are now on our fifth record, we produced it ourselves, we recorded in NYC, right in Time Square. After all the years, we’re still out on the road doing our thing.

How’d you guys meet?

RB:I’m actually the last guy to join, that was about, jeez, 14 years ago. The band has all been together since high school. There are two brothers in the band, the singer and the bass player. The other guys, everyone knew each other in school. It was kind of like a cover band, a Red Hot Chili pepper kind of band. They started writing songs, and there was a contest in Canada that they had won, and they got some recording time, and ever since that really, the band has been able to exist.  No one’s really had to have day jobs since high school.

 It’s pretty incredible that we’ve been able to do this, this long, and be successful, maybe not a major level, but it’s certainly enough to tour around and have people know who the heck we are. It’s pretty humbling. You see how tough it is out there. Bands that were once huge, having trouble selling tickets. It’s nice to go out and see people who know the band, and we don’t take that for granted, ‘cause that doesn’t happen to everybody.

One thing was really the song that catapulted you into the mainstream, what’s the story behind that song?

RB: It was. That was our third record. We had a bunch of rock songs before, that was actually the first single off the record. So we were probably like, a year into the record, then all of the sudden that broke, and Boom, it was getting played on TV shows, and people were recognizing it all over the place. We were getting the tonight show calling us to play that song. Pretty crazy, after all these years, we were kind of struggling to get our name out there, then it just kind of happened for us. I think a lot of people maybe would have that of that as a one hit wonder, but we were lucky enough that paralyze and whatever is above that song. Everyone really, globally reacted so positively to that song. That was just amazing to just take what “one thing” was and really take that to the next level, so people really start seeing the different sides of the band. There are heavy songs, there are lighter songs, we try to do a lot of different music, whatever comes naturally, and people have reacted positive to it so far.

 And on this record, there’s definitely a positive reaction. We’re getting out there and fighting just like every other band is. It’s not the same. It seems to get harder and harder. Makes you want to work harder, and prove to everyone that you’re not going away. We’re here.

It gives you the drive to get stuff done, basically?

RB: Absolutely. You know, in the past it was a lot different. It just keeps changing. We’re out here with papa roach right now, on tour, you know, I think those guys are the same thing. It’s just a lot different, there first record sold 6 million copies. Those days are kind of over. It’s really kind of unifying, all the rock bands together just doing their thing. It makes you stronger, makes you a better band.

 “One thing” went so far beyond just radio play. What is like for you guys?

RB: It was unusual, because we were going for so long, and that song being kind of a ballad, it was interesting how people discovered that for the first time. A lot of older people liking that song, then coming to see us live, and are like,  oh my god, these guys are like a full on rock band, how crazy. So, it was great. It opened a lot of doors for us. At that time we had t let people know that was just one side of the band, you’re not gonna get a whole show of ballads. And with “paralyze,” something about that, the tempo on it, the kind of “danciness” of it, something just grabs people’s attention. We really like to make records full of different stuff; we really don’t like to repeat ourselves. Some bands do, and it works for them, and maybe some fans want that, but we like to always keep moving forward, and challenging ourselves as songwriters, and hopefully you succeed that way, you know… I guess we’ll find out, ha-ha.

“Paralyzer” is a playable song on rock band, is it stuff like that, and the versatility of use for “One Thing” that sort of mark your success?

RB: That’s huge these days with kids. Kids aren’t buying records, they’re buying video games. And it’s really pretty amazing. I mean, first of all, it’s fun as hell to play your own song on a video game at home, it’s such a surreal thing. I guess as far as getting awareness out there to kids, about who you are, that’s what it’s all about now. That’s what kids buy now is video games. We tried to get on those guitar heroes for years. We were on a couple snowboarding games, but I think the band hero that paralyzer is on has really exposed us. That stuff along with movies is always helpful. And again its just such a change from where we started. Video games are such an important part of the puzzle now.

Each song, each album has such a different sound, what do you attribute that to?

RB: Especially on this new album, “life Turns Electric,” being produced within the band, that was something new. The results, we were so proud of it. I think in the past, maybe it was just to rely on someone else’s opinions, or thought or approval… it was nice just the five of us to be in a room and after all these records we’ve made, and all this time and songs we’ve been putting together, to do it ourselves is pretty rewarding to have it, and listen to it, and it’s a solid rock album full of great songs. I don’t think that means were going to produce every record in the future, but I think it’s always neat to try different things. And of course recording it in NYC, we recorded the last two albums in Chicago, so when this opportunity came up to record in this little studio right in time square. I think this album, it’s probably the fastest tempo record we’ve ever made, and I think a lot of that is just the energy of time square. There’s something about Times Square, walking to the studio every day before you start work, you’re just sort of energized. And I think the album, to me, I can hear NYC.

So, is the different sound you guys exploring as artists, or just strictly not wanting to repeat previous works?

RB: I think yeah, any different sounds within this band just come from not making any rules about what we’re going to sound like. I think sitting in a room creating something, there are no borders, no walls. At the end of the song, sometimes you might listen back and go, “oh wow, that sounds kind of like a country song” which is really cool. We just really like to not have any rules. Every record keeps changing.  Then of course each guy in the band has gone though different things in his life since the last record, and I think that really shows in the albums.  We’re different guys than when we wrote Paralyzer, and different guys from when we wrote “One thing.” Each record is sort of where everyone sort of is at that time.

What’s the writing process like?

RB: Kind of a few different ways; sitting in a room in a circle banging things out. We’ve also sent ideas back and forth without being in the same room, kind of a fun way to use the new technology. You don’t even have to all be there.  Which is incredible. But we also like to go off to Canada, we’ll rent a cottage and go up there for a couple of weeks, do the writing process. It is nice to change it up and not make it too sort of, stale. You want to keep the creative juices flowing.

Do you guys head into the studio with specific singles on your minds? Or is it just a free flow of laying tracks down and whatever happens with them, happens?

RB: You never know. There’s definitely songs you hear that you think, ‘wow that could be a single” when I heard paralyzer, I felt like I just knew, this song is going to work. But at the same time, you can think that and be totally wrong. We’ve done that with a few songs, we were so sure were going to work, and they didn’t. There are so many factors into what’s going to be a hit. It’s the timing and some of the climate of the music at the time, and what some of the stations are playing at the time. We try to make every song good enough to be a potential single.  Of course there are some songs that stand out. 

As a band, what are you influenced by, and who are you in particular influenced by?

RB: Growing up for me in my house, I’m like Welch kid that moved to Canada. There was always Beetle’s playing in my house. Michael Jackson, as a little kid, was a big thing. As I got older I got into more rock music. It was a pretty musical family. And I think the Red Hot Chili peppers were a big influence for the band. We’re all just music fans, were always checking out new artists and stuff, getting inspired. So it’s great that it never ends, you’re sort of always being inspired. Even going back and listening to stuff that you forgot that you liked. You’re sort of always rediscovering things you used to love, and falling in love with them all over again, and then always discovering new stuff as well.

I end all my interviews in the same way… do you have any final words, or any messages for the fans?

RB: I guess, this new record, “Life Turns Electric,” if you haven’t heard it, just check it out. And if you hear about us coming to town, come out and see us. We’re an exciting time. It’s just a good time. We’re hoping we can see as many people as we can, and that as many people can listen to the songs we’re writing. And I would just say, check out “Life turns electric.”

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I was able to attend the Finger Eleven, Papa Roach show at the Summit Music Hall in Denver shortly after this interview. Rich spoke so passionately about his band; I thought I would definitely be seeing the most epic of rock shows. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. While Rich was enthusiastic and energetic, Lead singer, Scott Anderson, left much to be desired. His lack luster performance was actually kind of shocking to me. I’ve been to many a rock show in my day, and have never once seen any member of a band, let alone the lead singer, stay so completely static on stage. It was as if Scott had a red “X” marked on stage, that would cause his demise if strayed from. The crowd did however enjoy their set list, especially their oldies, but goodies, “Paralyzer” and “One Thing.” But it wasn’t until Papa Roach hit the stage that the crowd really livened up and started to rock.

Lead singer, Jacoby Shaddix, was on point to the fullest extent. His intense, rap-rock vocals and undying energy had the crowd pumped. Queue moshing! Their set was long, and flowed flawlessly, mixing fan favorites from early recordings, with new, instant classics, that seemed to have more of an edge than previous works. Papa Roach is such an entity on stage, their love for their music and fans shines through without a doubt.

~Kacy Norman

Theconcertscene.com

Good Charlotte Drummer Deano Interview

It’s a rare occasion when a band transcends a single generation. With songs on my three year old daughter’s IPod, my Mother’s IPod, and of course on my own, the pop-punk band, Good Charlotte, has done just that.  This East coast band has had much success with Singles like; "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and "Anthem”, along with countless others. With numerous tours and 5 spectacularly successful albums, the band’s fan base is astronomical, and I’m sure that has plenty to do with the fact that, behind all the tattoos and crazy hair… these guys are real sweet hearts. I spoke with Drummer, Dean Butterworth, and got to know a little bit more about these five awesome men

So, you’re the newest edition to the band, not new… but newest. How did you joining the band come about? How did you mesh?
Dean Butterworth: I met Benji and Joel and worked with them I was a producer; I do a lot of studio work and live in Los Angeles. At the time I was working with the singer from the Smiths, I was in that band and I was working with John, the singer of Goldfinger, who produces a lot of records…  we did a lot of records together over the past 10 years. He was good friends with Benji and Joel, and they worked on a lot of pop stuff, writing for different people, and I was just called in to produce some records. So that’s how I initially met Joel and Benji. It turned out that one of Joel’s favorite bands was the smiths, so he was super stoked on working with me, and obviously I like working with anyone and everyone, so it was a good vibe off the bat. They were making “chronicles” and they were doing a lot of work with John, writing and demoing, so they had me do some work, so I probably demoed on like half of that record, even though I didn’t play on the record, they ended up using the old drummer, but we have that kind of studio relationship. I invited Joel to come see me at the Universal Amphitheatre with Morrissey, and he came back stage and hung out. Then, I was rehearsing to go out on a world tour, and Good Charlotte was rehearsing to go out to tour with the Chronicles of life and death. Joel came over and sang a song with Swayhead, and I loved it. We had a working relationship probably 3 years before I actually started drumming with them. I ended up getting a call from Europe at the end of 2004, and then started working with them in March of 2005. … That’s the short winded version anyway. ::laughs::

I can imagine it would be intimidating to join a band that has already established themselves, but on top of that, you joined a band with twin brothers… was it intimidating for you at all?

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DB: It’s not intimidating to do anything. I mean I’m down to do anything. I’ve been playing music my whole life. You want to be put into situations to make you better, so I just show up and deliver. So no, I wasn’t intimidated at all. Now we’ve become friends and really tight over the duration.

You guys are about to start touring again, right?

DB: We start on the 10^th in San Diego. We’re doing a double headline tour with yellow card and a band called Runner Runner, who are label mates with us on Capitol Records. We do that for a bout to weeks and end in Florida, then we come home, and we’re going to go in studio and do a little recording, just for fun. Then we’re going to go back out again in August and do some festivals and shows in Europe.

Just for fun or are you guys going to put out another album?

DB: We don’t really know yet. We’re just going to work on some songs. Our goal is to always have time to be in the studio and work on stuff that’ll be ready to be released. The last couple records we’ve had two years breaks between records, and we don’t really want to do that anymore, especially with the change of the music industry. You have to be ready with another single. You can’t take a year off, you can’t take 6 months off. You have to constantly be outing material out into the marketplace. So we’re just getting ahead of ourselves really. We don’t know really when or what, but our plan is to just always be ready and in the studio recording and working on new stuff.

Do you guys write all your own stuff?

DB: yeah, those guys, Benji and Joel do most of the writing. A lot of the time, I go in with Benji, and he likes to write off of my drum beats, like a hip-hop writer writes off of drum machines. So a lot of times, I’ll go in with just him, or I’ll go in by myself and just lay down a whole bunch of stuff, and sometimes he’ll get inspired by different things, so there’s really a whole bunch of formulas.

Who are you, specifically, influenced by?

DB: My favorite band is the Beatles. I love the Beatles, I love Bob Marley and the Whalers,  Steel pulse, I love the Police, I love Muse, I Jeff Buckley, Stevie Wonder is probably my favorite singer, I love more old school punk rock. I like everything. I like classical music, I like Beethoven, Mozart, I like the Beach Boys, I like everything across the board. ::pauses:: I love Michael Buble ::laughs::

Are there any up and coming artists that you’re really into?

DB: One of my favorite new artists, he’s been making music for a long time, is Bruno Mars. I think he’s an amazing song-writer, and I think he’s an amazing singer. I haven’t seen him live yet, but I’ve checked him out live on YouTube, and he just delivers, he sings like he sings on his records. And that doesn’t happen a lot these days in the music business, you know, because people fix things with computers and all that crazy stuff. That guy is a bad ass, and I’m just a huge fan, I really, really dig what he’s doing. Oh! And there’s a new band, called The Cab. I’m working on their album right now. They are like a hybrid of like, their band, Maroon 5, Robin Thicke meets Bruno Mars. We’re about 6 songs into that record and we’re going to finish it up in a couple of weeks. They’re a young band from Las Vegas, and they shred, and I have the pleasure of working on their album with the guy I was telling you about, that I met Joel through. So I’m a fan of them! They’re really good, and they deserve to be huge. They write great songs, and the singer is sick.

Well, we’ll have to get in touch with them and let them know you sent us their way.

DB: Yes. Definitely do. They’re a great band you’ll love them!

My mom, my 3 yr old daughter, and I, all have at least one of your songs on our IPods… how do you manage to appeal to multiple generations?

DB: Well, that’s really sweet of you, that’s awesome. All our records are different. I’m a big practicing fiend. Before we go on tour I practice like 6 days a week, and I focus on what we’re doing, so I’m ready to go out and play our music. It’s sort of a refresher for my mind. I play to all the records. There are similarities, and there are a lot of differences. On “Good Morning Revival” the song, “I don’t want to be in love” is more of a ‘poppy’ kind of a song, compared to, say, “Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous.” There’s a song called, “we Believe” it was the first thing I ever did with the band, we shot a video for that down in LA, that’s more of like, an adult contemporary song.  Somewhere, along the lines of like a Cold Play. So I think Benji and Joel, their writing sensibility is across the board, and no matter if it’s a more aggressive song, or a more mellow song, it’s always a good chorus. I think that’s one of the reasons that diversity is there. You know, like you said, we can reach out to such a wide demographic. I think that we’ve taken chances. Some people don’t like the chances. Everyone’s got an opinion, but no matter what we show up and put our hearts into the records. Being in a band is a different thing, we believe in what we do. Everybody has got their opinion. You can’t make the same record over and over. Look at any band that’s been around for years, they’re always changing. You have to take chances. So I think that that’s it. We try different things, so that’s why we’re able to reach a wider audience.

You guys are kind of known for involving your friends, and keeping them updated, especially through Twitter, how important is that to you to do something like that?

DB: It’s the way people communicate. It’s not just the music business. It’s the world in general. People want to be engaged with the bands they’re fans of. And in return, the band needs to engage with the fans. Twitter is an amazing format. Our website too, we have this thing called GCTV, when we’re on tour we usually do 3 of those a week. It’s all about engaging. It’s kind of like a reality TV show. It’s a day in the life of our world, in the studio, on tour, it’s our life. We have a guy that travels with us, and that’s all he does. It’s something we really started focusing on about a year ago. It’s amazing. The numbers have jumped just because of engaging. Benji and Joel have a lot of friends on twitter, me, to be totally honest with you, I’d rather go surfing. Or write music or practice. But I do go on there every once in a while, and talk about how good the waves were. When were on the road I’m more about it, but when I’m home, personally, I’m not as involved in it. I’m not like, “hey I just woke up and had some cheerios” I’m not  that guy.

Absolutely. There’s definitely a line between doing it for promotional reasons for the band, and then being on there 24/7 with your personal stuff.

DB: That’s the deal exactly. I think it’s a great business format. I think it’s wonderful.

You have been linked with quite a few activism groups and charities and such. Where does that compassion come from?

DB: We do a lot of make a wish foundation stuff. We went to a hospital and visited a bunch of kids. It kind of goes back to the end of the last question. It’s amazing that their one wish is to meet us. That’s an honor in itself. You go to give back. It can be anything across the board just to be of service, in any way we can be is just amazing. You walk out of places like that, and you’re just feeling a million times more grateful, and you see the strength in these children, and they just have fight, and life, and you walk out thinking God, how blessed are we. Even if it’s helping animals. It just puts you anchored on the ground; you realize just how good we have it. So anytime we can show up for any cause like that, we are just ready. We love doing that stuff.

So, to wrap it up, any messages to fans? Final words?

DB: First of all, I want to thank you for calling us and doing an interview for Good Charlotte, and lastly, I’d just like to thank anyone who reads this, Good Charlotte fan or not, just thank you guys. Go out and check out our music. W e are hitting the road, go to our website, GoodCharlotte.com. There’s going to be a lot of touring this year, and more touring in the US later this year. A lot of fun stuff. On behalf of the other four guys, I just want to say thank you for always standing by us. And we love you guys.

~Kacy Norman

Theconcertscene.com

Slightly Stoopid Drummer Rymo Interview

After well over a decade of creating music together, Slightly Stoopid is still hitting the road playing for their millions of fans. With 8 albums and a sound different from anything else in the music world today, it’s not hard to see why these guys have such a loyal fan base. I spoke with Drummer, Ryan Moran, and got a little more insight into why this band is as unique as they are.

You guys have been together for over 10 years, let’s go way back, how did you get started?

Ryan RymoMoran: The band started in the early nineties, so it’s more like, the band’s been functioning for 15, 16 years. Basically the two co-founders of the band, Miles Doughty and Kevin McDonald, were childhood friends, and they grew up together, went to high school together, loved music and surfing and skating and stuff. They started playing music together, like punk rock, and ska and reggae and stuff, and ended up meeting Brad Nowell from Sublime, and have pretty much been a tight unit ever since that. SO that’s how things started. When Brad signed the band, they recorded an album, and shortly after, he passed away unfortunately, and the band continued on with a few member changes, but has never really stopped touring since then.

You’re last album came out in 2008, what have you been up to since then?

RM: We tour so much that recording, I wouldn’t say its secondary, I’d say recording is a way to keep us on the road. You record a record then you tour and you tour and you tour, then you record a record and you tour. Basically, we recorded and released 5 albums in a row, after that we just decided we were going to take a couple years, tour, and focus on recording a record. In that time we built a studio here in San Diego, and we’ve been working down there a good part of the last 6-8 months, and were looking to get something completed and out by the end of this year. It’s been a purposely delayed approach at recording. You go into the studio and its $1000 dollars a day, whether you get something done or not, it’s expensive. Now that we have our own place, it’s much more affordable. We go in and write, hang out, do some work if we’re motivated or just kind of hang out and have a couple beers if we’re not feeling that motivated. So it’s kind of a nice luxury to have now. We do work quite a bit when we’re off the road, but we tour a good amount of the  year, every year, so it’s definitely a different focus when you’re in the studio vs. being on the road.

And you’re touring right now, right?

RM: Pretty much. I’m home right now, but tomorrow I’m grabbing a flight and we’re going out to Columbus to do the “Hookah Fest,” and then we’re doing “Summer Camp” in Illinois. After this weekend we’re basically home for a month.

You spoke about the studio, is it one member specifically who created the label, or did you guys as a group create the label, “Stoopid Records?”

RM: Basically as a group, with our management, we created “Stoopid Records.” We have a couple bands as well as ourselves on that label. SO we’ve been able to release acts that we like, and help them with their records. When we started doing that, we were still sort of without our own place. About a year and a half ago, we started looking around for places, and we found a perfect place. Now that place houses all of our touring gear, and there’s an office front for our manager to take calls and make travel arrangements, then the recording studio. And there’s actually a skate ramp in there, a  big screen TV with an Xbox, you know, the whole 9. So it’s pretty fun. Pretty fun little club house.

Was the idea for creating the label more so to help out other artists, or was it so you guys had full control over your own music?

RM: It’s kind of for both really. We definitely were helped out in the early years by Brad, when he was just forming Skunk records. That was on e of the things that the band needed, and now that we have, I guess, pretty well-established touring regimen, and a pretty solid fan base, we’re able to sort  of expand that to bands we like, that we can help along. It’s definitely come full circle for us, and we feel, any bands that we like, we definitely try to help them out in any way we can. SO it’s been a lot of fun.

You guys by no means fit into one genre of music. You mesh so many different types of music, where does your inspiration come from?

RM: All the guys in the band listen to a really broad variety of music, I mean obviously reggae and punk and rock, those would kind of be the most consistent elements you’d find on a Stoopid album, but we also listen to a lot of hip-hop, and also classical and jazz, and everything in between. Were getting a little older we’re all pretty much in our mid thirties now, we’ve basically have listened to all kinds of different stuff, so when we sit down to write some music we can g in all different directions. We could say, okay lets kind of go in a hip-hop direction with this one, or let’s keep this one more straight reggae, or let’s try this one like an upbeat ska rhythm. Everyone knows sort of what it should sound like, I guess, so we try to play right in a way that’s, I guess respectful of that style.

What is the writing process like? Is it totally collaborative?

RM: Yeah, I would say so. It’s definitely different with each song. Some songs it’s kind of one guy. Other times, just an idea will pop up, and someone will join in and sort of play on that idea, and then someone else, and so on, and it’ll just start to take shape in a way. So there are a lot of different processes. Some are sort of collaborative in their own way.

So, I know you’re really busy today, we can start finishing up, is there anything else you’d like to add? Any messages to fans?

RM: To the fans, we appreciate the fans, without the fans we wouldn’t be able to sustain, we wouldn’t be able to do this the way we’re able to do this now, so a big thank you to fans. And hopefully future fans, we just want to keep touring and making music that people enjoy, so just come to the show, leave your worries at the door and have a good time. That’s sort of the vibe we try to bring to each show. Let’s just all have a good time together, have a drink, maybe have a smoke, it’s just whatever, have fun. Just kind of enjoy the moment.

-Kacy Norman

Theconcertscene.com

Krista

With just over two decades on earth, Krista has accomplished more than most 40 year olds. A debut album that was released last summer to rave reviews, a national tour with Kelly Clarkson, and a rough childhood that would have you imagine her to be a cold, cynical young woman. Speaking with her I learned that that is far from the truth. Being raised by her father and grandmother in Brooklyn NY, along side of two siblings, with no mother present, may not have been ideal, but she overcame it and followed her dreams straight to the top with such an appreciative attitude for everything she has been able to do in life, and a strong faith in God. In all the interviews I have been a part of, I have to say, this was the most heartwarming and fulfilling conversation I have had with an artist.

For those who may not have had the pleasure of hearing your music yet, give us a little background info, tell us who you are.

Krista: I was born and raised in Brooklyn NY, music has just always been a part of my life since the day I realized, and knew who I was, and was actually able to understand what music really was. I sang in church, and it’s pretty funny, although I don’t speak Spanish, and I am Spanish, I started singing in Spanish in church first. It’s pretty funny, if you try to hold a conversation with me, my Spanish is very basic. I was raised by my father and I had dreamed about music as something I wanted to do with my life since I was about 6 or 7 years old. The first time I ever wrote a song I was about 10 years old, and the first time I recorded, I was about 13 or 14 years old. My uncle Franky, who plays guitar and is also a musician, I walked up to him and pulled out the sheet and said, “uncle Franky I think I’m ready  to record this song” and he called it great, he helped me, basically, start my music career. A couple of years of ‘hustling’ as a I like to call it, in the music world, trying to make a name for myself, then I met Camus Celli, my partner, and current music producer, and he gave me the tools that I needed to be the best artist that I can be, and get to the next level, which was, developing a record, and then shopping the record, which ultimately landed me my first record deal, with J Records, and we put out my first album, titled, “Taking Back Brooklyn” with that album I toured the country with Shwayze, and I toured the country with Kelly Clarkson, I actually performed in the Bahamas with Kelly Clarkson. Music has just brought me so many opportunities that I’m very grateful for. Right now, I’m currently working on my second album, and it’s definitely different from the first record. The first record was a part of my teenage angst, but all real and valid feelings, that I feel spoke for a group of real kids and adults out there that are going through things.

 How does the record you’re working on differ from the first?

Krista: This record is more of me just exploring my adulthood and letting loose a little bit and just being happy and living life and having fun. But there are also those ballad songs that have to do with break-ups and love.

You’re so young, but you’ve already experienced so much in your life, how have your experiences influenced your writing and music?

Krista: Oh well, for a minute when I first started going through the professional music world, it kind of scared me al little bit and stopped me from writing music in the very beginning, because I like to use a lot of personal things that go on with me as material. There were a lot of issues I was going through with people that I was working with, and people that I had to co-exist with that kind of scared me into not writing how I felt. But I hit a bottom, and it inspired me, and reintroduced the hunger that I have for the music and I just started writing all over again without really caring what anybody thought about it, because in the end, it’s beautiful music, and I need it to live. But you know, being on the road it definitely inspired me to write about more things than just break ups and love. Meeting thousands and thousands of amazing fans has definitely inspired me and has definitely help me grow as an artist and appreciate music.

What was the writing process like for “Taking Back Brooklyn”? Is that when you were going through the fear of writing and all of that?

Krista: Definitely. I was at a point in my life where I was becoming an adult, I was still a teenager, and I was very gullible, very trusting, and it kind of backfired on me. It taught me life lessons and its really helping me now in my life. I wrote a lot of songs on that record about an ex-boyfriend that I spent 7 years with in total, being so young to be in a relationship that long is very hard. I have a lot of songs about that, because for a while in that relationship I felt trapped. The only way I was able to cry out was through my music. Also I wrote quite a few songs about breaking through all of the bad crap and all the stuff that’s unnecessary, to focus on just believing in yourself and being the best you can be and being strong.

So your music is pretty cathartic then. It’s basically a journal?

Krista:  It is. It definitely is. If you want to know what’s going on with me buy a record and listen to it. I write most of my songs off of personal experiences.

You recorded in your hometown of Brooklyn, NY, did that make the whole process even that much more special?

Krista:  Definitely. It was very much a comfortable situation. It was just great to be able to record it in my hometown. It’s very much a part of me and the fact that I got to record it in Brooklyn meant a lot to me. I am a very proud Brooklynite!

By the end of last year, you had your first national tour and your debut album under your belt, pretty much back-to-back, was it an overwhelming feeling, or were you just stoked beyond belief?

Krista: I didn’t. I welcomed it. I loved it. This is exactly what I want. I am doing exactly what I want to do with my life. I couldn’t be happier. The only thing is that, having a boyfriend is kind of hard. Although I’m a very faithful and loyal girl, it’s just very hard to earn a person’s trust who doesn’t understand the music world. I’m the kind of girl that doesn’t like to be single and on the road. I kind of need that other half for stability.

You seem so strong, and so down to earth. You’ve achieved so much success, what do you attribute that to?

Krista: I think growing up very hard, being raised by my father and grandmother. We really depended on each other, and belief in God to just make it through. My family, they have amazing stories. They’re amazing testimonies of how they made it through their lives. Growing up, hearing all their stories, gave me a sense of pride. I am a strong person, I come from a strong family, at the end of the day my last name in Spanish, means, “all the noble blood” and I feel like I have to live that through, every day.

You mentioned that you’re currently writing for another album, so what’s next for you?

Krista: I have so many things on my mind at this point. I want to go all around the world. I want to tour. I would love to reach my ultimate goal of creating music with Bono, that’s something I so dream about. Him and Dave Grohl. Those are my guys. Just keeping it going, keeping myself strong, and trying to do as much as I can. I’d love to be in stadiums all over the world. I’d love to be in Europe this summer. I have such a great following in Europe. They’ve shown me a lot of love, so I’d love to be over their ad show them the love back.

So we can start wrapping it up, is there anything else you’d like to put out there? Messages to our readers who have yet to discover you, or messages to fans who already love you?

Krista: For the people who haven’t discovered me yet, listen to my music with an open heart and open mind. Not every song is going to be so sad, but it’s definitely an honest place. And my fans that are always supporting me, there is so much more music to come. There is so much stuff happening right now. And don’t stop believing in me, because you believing in me is what keeps me going. It’s what makes my blood pump, so I love you guys.

Kristaofficial.com has recently been completely re-vamped. It’s a definite must-check-out. Her new single, “Hypnotize” is a fun song all about breaking up with a boyfriend, and going out to the club and letting the music take control. Expect big things from this young woman, I know I do!

~Kacy Norman

Theconcertscene.com

Mark Chesnutt Interview 5-10-11

           

Mark Chesnutt has been on the music scene for over 20 years. He has won multiple awards including the prestigious Horizon Award in 1993. Currently on tour with his new album “Outlaw”, I had the opportunity to interview the journeyman while he was at home in Texas.

The Concert Scene: So, Mark, in this day and age of over producing and louder is better, why make a traditional country album? Why make Outlaw?

Mark Chesnutt: Well you can blame Pete Anderson for that, (Pete Anderson is a Grammy award winning producer and guitarist), and he came to me with this classic country project he was working on for a Time Life label, they had asked him about remaking some old outlaw classics, and he thought of me. I thought it would be a lot of fun. It was the first time I ever recorded anywhere other than Nashville since the eighties. And the chance to work with Pete Anderson was pretty cool. I grew up singing a lot of those songs from my heroes like Waylon and Willie. Some of the songs I had always sang but never recorded before like Sunday Morning Coming Down. And to do it in a way that isn’t over produced with pro tools, the way that things are usually done now days, we just wanted to go back to basics.

TCS: What do you think about the way country music is heading? It’s more pop than anything anymore.

MC: Some of it’s really good. I’m a fan of some of it. I’m a fan of Miranda Lambert’s. I like her style. She doesn’t sound like we did in the early nineties cause, like you said they changed the sound, it’s different, but I like where her heads at. She’s doing music that means something. She’s an individual, she writes her own music, has her own unique sound that is not like anybody else. I like Jimmy Johnson; he’s not new but just getting the notoriety he deserves. I like The Band Perry. There is some good stuff and there’s also some stuff I can’t stand to hear. I really like people who write their own songs. I’ve never really been known as a writer. I’ve co-written some great stuff with Roger Springer, but on my own I’m doing good to write my own name.

TCS: Do you feel you have to change to meet the revolving trends of today’s standard?

MC: No. Absolutely not. I came along in the eighties and nineties and I had some big traditional country hits. And when things started shifting in country music and Nashville, I just didn’t feel the need to shift with it. I was with AMC at the time and they tried everyway in the world to get me to be more contemporary country sound. They are out to sell records. They were not interested in having individual sounds, or taking a special talent and focusing on that like they used to do in the fifties thru the eighties. In the nineties we all had to what radio research projections told us people wanted to hear. I thought that was bull. That’s not what I got into country music for. Instead of nurturing some ones voice and style they said, hey you got a nice voice lets remake a pop song. And that’s where they wanted to carry me when I had success with I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing, wanting me to stay with that formula. I said no. My fans don’t want to hear that from me, covering U2, and pop singers. I’m sure it cost me some record sales. But in the long run I’m still playing 100 dates a year and I still have my same fans and I picked up some new ones along the way.

TCS: How is touring now different, from when you first started?

MC: Awe man you know it hasn’t changed that much for me, the touring part, the music business has changed tremendously. But you know I’m actually seeing Nashville letting individuals be individuals now, which is great, I think it’s because there are new people in the power position in Nashville and that’s great. They are all doing and saying thing I was told I couldn’t say fifteen years ago, so I’m glad to see that. But the touring part, you know, it’s pretty much the same. I’m still doing a lot of the same venues that I did. Even with 14 number one records and platinum albums I was still doing fairs and festivals in the nineties. I never got to that level of Kenny Chesney or Jason Aldean, you know these guys go out and have a huge production and play huge arenas. I never got to that and I think it’s because my type of music is more country and there’s really no rock and roll in it at all. You know our stuff is little, and still, and its traditional country. We play Billy Bob’s there in Fort Worth Texas two or three times a year. We play the grizzly Rose in Denver every year a couple times. We play all the big honky tonks that are still there that cater to our type of music, and they’re full every time we play them. Now days there is a lot more flying then there used to be because running a bus is just not very economical in some situations. I used to own buses and I was spending more money keeping the buses running then I was bringing home from the tours. Now we are down to one bus and we lease a bus as we need it. Most of the time we fly. It just makes more sense. Cause you know this is a business. I like to keep it simple, and basic, and its working for me. I’ll tell you what else has changed, there is a lot more casinos then there used to be, all over the country, and they book a lot of country shows. It’s nice. And people can hear music on the internet and satellite now that radio and the mainstream don’t play. And people can hear what they want to hear and buy what they want to buy without going to a record store in the mall and be intimidated.

TCS: That’s true. Do you have a favorite venue in particular that you like to play?

MC: Oh yeah, like I said Billy Bob’s and the Grizzly Rose we love to play. We been playing those places since the beginning of my career, for 21 years now, they’ve been there and they are still going strong. Cowboys in San Antonio, we were just there. We do that every year. There is several big places. I love a lot of the big casinos; we play South point in Vegas every year. There’s some small, and some big honky tonks we play every year, but basically it doesn’t really matter to me. A lot of times we go out and play acoustic shows. Just me and three of my guys and we just sit on stools.

TCS: You just play to play?

MC: We just love playing music. It doesn’t matter it is a honky tonk, or a big casino, or a theater, or a parking lot, or a garage, or an airplane hanger. If there’s people that wanna hear us play and sing, we’ll do that. Like the rest of the guys in my band, we cut our teeth in the honky tonk scene. Playing the dance halls. So they hold a special place in my heart, you know, that’s my atmosphere. I love a lot of people sitting around at tables watching you, seeing a lot of people dancing. It’s just a fun atmosphere; it’s just something that’s in my blood. It the same all over the world. I seen honky tonks in Europe. And for me I guess that where I’m more at ease cause that’s where I started out at.

TCS: You like it more intimate, more interaction with the fans. I understand. What’s next? With all you’ve already accomplished, is there anything else you want to do?

What’s the next rung in the ladder?

MC: Well right now we are looking for songs to record. As soon as I finish finding the right tunes, I’m gonna go do some writing in Nashville next week, hopefully we will get enough tunes together and go in to the studio sometime this summer and record some brand new songs, you know, some brand new country songs, no more covers, and put em out for digital download only.

TCS: Exclusivity is the way to go anymore.

MC: Yeah we are planning on doing that, and making a limited number of CD’s to take out on the road to sell cause there are still a lot of people who like to buy a cd and look at the art work and read the album credits. We carry a number of CD’s on the road for them. I sit around all day before a show and sign CD’s. There’s a lot of people, including me, that like looking at all the pictures.

TCS: I am one of those people too. I frame the ones I get signed.

MC: Well good. Everywhere we go we have a lot of them for sale, they are not something that is available in record stores and some people can’t get anywhere else. It’s a pretty unique deal.

TCS: That’s great. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment, or what are you most proud of professionally?

MC: I’m proud that I’m still recording, and touring, you know. After 21 years in this business, I haven’t slowed down a bit, and I’m really proud mainly of that. Mostly because that’s very unusual for a career to last as long as mine has, and I’m really thankful for that.

TCS: Happy to be in the game. What was the first concert you ever attended?

MC: The first concert I ever went to? Well the first show I can remember was the Grand Ole Opry in 1968, I was 5 years old. We still have pictures of that. I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember everyone and everything I saw. Driving with my family into Nashville. And it’s real interesting to see in black in white, what I remember seeing in color. I remember standing in the pew in my cowboy boots with my momma and my daddy. Now all these years later every time I get the opportunity to play the Ryman, they move the opry to the Ryman every year for a few weeks and I always try to play when they ask me. I have a standing invitation to play the opry whenever I’m in town, and when I can, I go over there and play it. Especially when it’s at the Ryman for the fact that I was there when I was a kid.

TCS: So much personal history, sure. Well with your busy schedule, do you attend any concerts? What was the last concert you attended?

MC: Believe it or not most of the concerts I attend, when I can, are rock concerts.

TCS: Really?

MC: As much as I grew up listening to hard country, I listened to hard rock. I’m a big fan of Aerosmith. and ZZ Top, Van Halen and Kiss. I’m a kid of the 70’s. I’ve been to see Aerosmith several times. I had the chance to meet Steven Tyler in Nashville at one of his shows. I guess the last concert I saw was , ZZ Top in Beaumont. I try to catch them every chance I get. I still love that those guys are originals. They are one of the original rock and roll bands of the 70’s and they are still doing it. Any chance I get to see those icons, country or rock, I’ll be there.

TCS: Absolutely. Have you ever gotten the chance to meet the outlaws, whose songs you covered?

MC: I have met Kris Kristofferson several times. I been around Willie Nelson, I got to sing with him on stage a couple times. Waylon and I were good friends. I named my first son after him. George Jones and I have been friends since the 80’s. Yeah I’ve been real lucky in my career. I got to hang out with a lot of my hero’s, before some of them passed away. I partied with Hank Williams Jr. a few times. I met Johnny Cash, I toured with Conway Twitty, and Tammy Wynette. I was real lucky to get in when I did when all these people were alive. And that’s been the best thing about my career. I have won awards yes, but I went to Merle Haggard’s house. I got invited over there while he was rehearsing with the band and I got a private concert in his house. I got to play with my hero’s and that’s probably been my biggest accomplishment.

TCS: I can only imagine what that was like. Well we are pretty much done, is there anything you’d like to add? Last words to close it out?

MC: I’m still out there touring, and I hope everybody can keep up with me cause I’ll be touring till I drop. Hahahaha! Come see me, I’ll be there.

Thanks Mark Chesnutt,

The Concert Scene

Theconcertscene.com

The Drowning Men Concert Review

DROWNING MEN

Colorado Springs City Auditorium, May 4,2011

John C. Drew

The Drowning Men, a five man band from Oceanside, CA., opened the concert

show, Wednesday night, at the City Auditorium in Colorado Springs. This very interesting musical combination merges a punkish rock n' roll touch with an Irish folk flavor to produce a very unique, intriguing and captivating electric and acoustic sound, accented with powerful song lyrics and, sometimes, melodically haunting vocals. Drowning Men belted out songs from both of their discs, Kill the Matador (2007) and Beheading of the Songbird (2009), to a very enthusiastic and "highly charged" audience at the City Auditorium. These musicians very successfully combine a variety of some rather unusual instruments, such as a bouzouki and synthesizer, with more traditional electric guitar, keyboards, mandolin and drums for a very impressive musical sound and fantastic stage performance. Drowning Men are Nato Bardeen, Vocals/Guitar/Keyboardsi Mandolin/Synthesizer/ Bouzouki, James Smith, Acoustic and Electric Lead Guitar, Gabelani Messner, Keyboards, Todd Eisenkerch, Bass Guitar/keyboards, and Rory Dolan, Drums/Percussions.

I thoroughly enjoyed Drowning Men, and found their sound quite enchanting,

particularly with the keyboard instrumentals of Bardeen and Messner. The singing was

both delicate melodious, as well as powerful hard rock n' roll! As Drowning Men is

relatively new to me and I have not seen them before, I am surprised that they have not to my knowledge, as yet, received more notoriety in the public and musical world.

However, the Drowning Men in concert do not present to me as overly impressed by, so

called "fame" or public image, and probably just prefer to say it all with their music. This

they do extremely well! Drowning Men certainly provided me and the audience with a

premiere performance of an unusual dynamic mix of song and sound.

In summary, the Drowning Men are a very rich celtic/electric musical entity, neatly

opening the road for headliners, Flogging Molly, at the City Auditorium last Wednesday

night. In future, I would be content with attending a special evening ofjust Drowning

Men in concert, as their opening performance on Wednesday simply left me only wanting much, much more of the same.


Theconcertscene.com

Flogging Molly Concert Review

Colorado Springs City Auditorium, May 4,201I

John C. Drew

In the world of contemporary punk rock n' roll, Flogging Molly, is already widely

known, and stands at the forefront of this form of the musical art. Although I am very

amiliar with their longstanding reputation as a premier Celtic rock band, I was finally

fortunate enough to attend Flogging Molly in concert at The Colorado Springs City

Auditorium last night. The band members, their history and biography in music, since

founded in Los Angeles in 1997, is already legendary, through their multitude of live

performances and now nine albums over the years. Therefore, I will get right to the heart

of their performance last night:

Flogging Molly is a seven member powerhouse of traditional celtic instruments (violin,

accordion, fiddle, mandolin, etc.), successfully merging with electric rock guitars and

drums, plus full vocals. The band delivered a very intense, full force energy, last night,

and instantly bonded with the ecstatic crowd of, obviously, very dedicated fans. This is a band "for the people", as evident by their non-stop musical charge and loaded lyrical messages. Their contagious steady rhythm pulses through your veins, driving like a freight train deep in to the soul, resonating into the very core of what we believe to be truth. Flogging Molly sings of social and political injustices, going directly to the hearts of us "ordinary everyday" folks, also forming their very tight unity with their fans. Their ability to connect with their fans is what draws people to them. They have managed to not only maintained their original following but, without wavering from their traditional Celtic punk roots, they have reached a new younger fan base.

Flogging Molly delivered a set of their songs, last night, covering the full range of their

vast musical career. We were given a very healthy taste of vintage FM songs, such as

"Salty Dog", "Drunken Lullabies", "Likes of You Again" and "Swagger", to only name a

few. The crowd was at a high frenzy when the band culminated their show and belted out ,at full tilt, the title cut to their newest LP "Speed of Darkness”. The album of the same title, will be released in late May.

This is Flogging Molly at both their most refined and their most raw peak! Their very best! Each member of Flogging Molly is a unique individual artistic genius in themselves, as well as a cohesive vital part of a very tight rock n' roll band.

Flogging Molly band members include: Frontman, Dave King, vocals, electric and

acoustic guitar; Dennis Casey, vocals, electric and acoustic guitar; Matthew Hensley,

accordion, concertina, piano and vocals; Nathan Maxwell, bass guitar and vocals; Bridget Regan, violin, tin whistle, classical guitar, uilleann pipes and vocals; Robert Schmidt, mandolin, mandola, banjo and vocals; George Schwindt, drums and percussions. Quite the array of many instruments, and singing, in these very versatile and talented musicians!

Flogging Molly is a band that does what they want, for their listeners and fans. I recommend this band in live performance to any music lovers who desire a truly spectacular cutting edge of contemporary punk rock n' roll with an Old World Celtic and blues flavor!

Theconcertscene.com