Mainland - "Leave The Lights On"

The video for "Leave The Lights On" has New York City transplants Mainland breezily zipping around the city proper on skateboards with the languid ease of adolescents everywhere.  There is something captivating about the grainy home movie quality of the video set against a summery cityscape with the quartet hitting Eight Avenue, hanging out by the Hudson River and meeting up with some unintentional costars along the way.  The song itself has a certain retro quality with the angst of the 80's alt bands that defined my youth (think the Pixies) and the rock out energy of a punk band, a genre that Mainland has appropriately coined as "puke-up punk."

Mainland came to be through an eclectic music collection, a rehearsal space under the Manhattan Bridge and a spontaneous recording session with Jim Eno of Spoon.  The NYC by way of California band consists of enigmatic frontman Jordan Topf, who also plays guitar and synths, Corey Mullee on lead guitar and synths, Alex Pitta on bass and Dylan Longstreet on drums.  "Leave the Lights On" is a track from their second EP, Shiner, which debuted with the title track "Shiner."  As a follow up to their first EP, Girls Unknown, Mainland has secured a name for themselves in the local music scene, and the word is starting to spread. Two more video installments chronicling life in the city will be released this summer.  Can't wait to see what else the boys have in store!

Mainland on Facebook

Q&A with Resistor's Steve Goldberg

It isn't every day that you come across an album that successfully combines pop music and parody as social commentary.  Like Devo with their satirical humor or Talking Heads with their deadpan Delphian lyrics. Then along comes Resistor with First World Problems.  The first single from the album, "Narcissist," was immediately on my playlist because of its irresistibly catchy refrain.  It's equally irresistible to picture the narcissist in your life while the song plays.  Doesn't everyone have one?  The video for the track has all the elements of a Saturday Night Live skit set to music.  Funny and with cultural references that you will surely appreciate.  Note the nod to the iconic Say Anything boombox scene but with a twist.  Brilliant!  Steve does the Star Wars sleeveless t-shirt and red jogging shorts justice, I must say.  The rest of the album is equally cheeky. You'll have to give it a listen to know what I mean.

Resistor, the nom de synth of Philadelphian Steve Golderg, arose from the ashes of a previous band, Goldberg's financial and emotional resources were low, and he needed a way to make music quickly and cheaply without depending on anyone.  He began writing songs with only his computer and his voice, and Resistor was born.
Resistor's debut full-length album, First World Problems, was released on May 20th.  With a synthpop sounds reminiscent of The Human League and OMD, the record was recorded and mixed by Jeff Zeigler (The War on Drugs with Kurt Vile) in Philadelphia.  While songs like "Narcissist" and "Choose Your Parents Well" are tongue in cheek, the core of the record is genuine.  Over a bed of New Wave synths, energetic drum machines and multilayered vocal harmonies, Resistor parodies the pursuit of fame and questions the meaning of artistic success.  He wonders "Why do I crave the spotlight?  Do I deserve it?  And why should anyone care about what I have to say?"

Any special talents?  Immense physical strength.  My best squat, bench and deadlift to date are 405 lbs., 290 lbs., and 525 lbs., respectively.  By powerlifting standards those aren't elite or anything, but I think by like synthpop or hipster standards they are.  There are probably a lot of guys in metal bands who lift a lot more though.  Also I'm good at JavaScript; check out my 100% hand-crafted artisanal website http://resistorsings.com/.
Favorite movie?  Is it still okay if I say Annie Hall?  Woody seems like he's probably messed up IRL, but it's still a great film.
What did you plan to be when you grew up?  I really wanted to be an actor when I was in high school. Making the music video for "Narcissist" was a great opportunity to show off my acting chops, just really get into character and do some method acting like back in the day.  Plus it was my debut as a serious filmmaker. Look for my entry next year at Cannes.
Favorite funny story about you?  So a little while back I took part in this "fitness transformation" contest on the Internet where you had to post 12 week before and after photos.  I had taken my "after" photos flexing in a pair of Star Wars tighty whities and put them online for the contest.  Some months later, a friend told me that they'd seen my Star Wars undies photos on the Tumblr of Wil Wheaton, the actor from Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory.  It turned out that a random Internet person had posted them on his gay beefcake Tumblr, then they got reblogged on a satirical Tumblr called "Fake Geek Guys," then Wil Wheaton reblogged them, and then tons of other people did.  I just checked and the post has 11,176 notes, mostly from gay porn Tumblrs.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  That's probably been the peak of my fame to date.  Also, I didn't win that round of the transformation contest, but I entered it again the next time and took first place.  (Way to go, Steve!)
If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?  "Probably a shark riding on an elephant's back, just trampling and eating everything I see. Because it's sink or swim out there."
What three words would best describe you?  Curious / Sensual / ECMAScript compliant
What makes you laugh?  I like the Mel Brooks saying, "Tragedy is when I stub my toe. Comedy is when you fall down a manhole."
Favorite food?  Gonna go with the Shooter Sandwich. Check this shit out!
Do you have a nickname?  Some people call me "The Space Cowboy." Just kidding.  Nobody has ever called me that, but I probably wouldn't mind.
What was the first band you saw in concert?  I think it was Blink 182 at The Electric Factory in Philly.  I was really into Enema of the State.

Q&A with Danny Van of sMALLTIME

I'm excited to unveil a new profile feature you'll be seeing regularly on The Knix Mix blog where readers get to learn a little bit about their favorite artists in the artist's own words!  Danny Van, front man for the rock outfit sMALLTIME, has graciously accepted the challenge of answering my inaugural artist profile Q&A.  sMALLTIME is a unique rock outfit from Orange County, CA consisting of Danny on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, Kenny Goorabian on lead guitar, Steve Clayton on bass guitar and Dusty Slaybaugh on drums.  Their music is a mix of rock, blues, country and soul with an inspiring message of grace, recovery and redemption.  It's clear this band of musical veterans knows how to use their God given talents.  Danny explains, "We try to write songs that stand the test of time.  A good rock song, in my humble opinion, is honest and simple and sometimes 'simple' is very allusive, but that's what we aim for."  The sMALLTIME EP was released May 20th and is available everywhere.  sMALLTIME has just finished their video for "Ya Never Know," which you can see on YouTube.  Planning for a summer tour is underway and details will be announced on their website.

Ten Questions and Answers with Danny Van!

1. Favorite band?  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. Favorite genre of music?  Straight ahead honest ROCK!
3. What was the first band you saw in concert?  Jethro Tull @ the Fabulous Forum in LA
4. Do you have a nickname?  Our drummer, Dusty, does.  His given name is Daniel.
5. If you could hang out with anyone who would you pick and why?  Jesus, He has all the answers.
6. Favorite food?  Most everything, look at me! (We think you look great, Danny!)
7. Favorite book?  Green Eggs and Ham.  There's a moral in there somewhere.
8. Favorite movie?  It's a Wonderful Life
9. Favorite holiday and why?  Christmas 'cause we get to watch It's a Wonderful Life.
10. Are there any issues you feel passionate about?   sMALLTIME is all about the message.  God's BIGTIME we're sMALLTIME.  We're just trying to be as honest as we can. That's where good rock music comes from.  We want to write songs that are good today and still good twenty years from now. I love any rock performed with passion.  Like if AC/DC's “Highway to Hell” comes on the radio, I gotta listen.  That rock cord progression is one of the best ever written, and when Bon Scott sings “I'm on the highway to Hell,” I believe him.  I don't agree with the message but I love the song.  I'm hoping I sing our songs with that same passion.

sMALLTIME website

sMALLTIME E-mail

sMALLTIME Facebook page

sMALLTIME on Twitter

sMALLTIME on YouTube

Lawrence Preston

Eclectic Soul may be Lawrence Preston's first widely released album, but he is no newcomer to the music scene. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay area, Preston comes from a musically gifted family. His parents once had a gospel band called The Sensational Travelers.  As a child, he joined his family in a group dubbed The Gospel Jackson Five. The multifaceted Preston is not only a talented singer, he is also a musician with a particular affinity for the bass guitar.  He began by the trombone in a jazz ensemble as a teen and by learning lead guitar at home from his dad.  As he progressed, he began to play the bass guitar, even playing bass for Dorothy Morrison's gospel band.  With Eclectic Soul, Preston tries his hand as a solo artist.  The album, says Preston, "comes from the heart."  Eclectic Soul has an R&B sound with a side of funk, but Preston's early exposure to gospel is an influence that can be heard throughout.
Preston says "What is close to me about the CD is it's a collection of some of the first songs that I wrote that I had an opportunity to evolve to this level."  Preston feels the album authentically represents him as an artist. He also was able to develop his hand as a songwriter.  "As a songwriter you want to be a story teller. I'm proud of that, that I got to tell my story and tell other stories too.  Some tracks on the album are derived from his own experiences and some are based on the experiences of others. Preston says "Driving Me Away" is autobiographical while the inspiration for "Stood Up" came from observation and talking to people. Preston likens it to hanging out at the local barber shop and hearing the stories, which he describes as a "collage of experiences."  Preston's experience of creating Eclectic Soul was a positive one.  "At this point, for me, it's becoming easier because I'm understanding more of who I am as an artist.  Musically, in that context, it helped me with the direction I want to go."
Preston says that Eclectic Soul is doing well nationally.  He's looking to start a tour and response to the album will determine where dates will be set up.  Preston can be found online at his website as well as iTunes and YouTube.  If you want to give him a shout out, he'd love to hear from you on Twitter!  You can find links below as well as the audio from the on air interview.

Live Interview on Soundcloud
Lawrence Preston Music
iTunes
YouTube Live Performance

The Knix Pick for Best New Album: Liars Mess

Mess is dance-punk veterans Liars seventh full length album since the release of They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top in 2001. The Los Angeles based trio, consisting of Angus Andrew, Aaron Hemphill and Julian Gross, has undergone a number of paradigm shifts since their early years as an art punk band. Mess is a synthesizer album to be sure, but unlike the 2012 WIXIW, Liars first foray into heavy electronic instrumentation, they know what they're doing. Recording WIXIW (pronounced 'wish you') involved a steep learning curve and the prolonged reading of manuals, but the pay off of their prior labor was that the recording of Mess was a more spontaneous and immediate process. And most of all, the band wanted to get back to the place where making music was just plain fun.

Mess focuses on the theme of duality:  a mess as beauty to some, disaster to others; choice as possibility or consequence; look to the past or toss it out, art as a cerebral exercise or a fun pursuit. And, as Angus unambiguously declares in the track "Mess on a Mission," the concrete paradox that 'fact is fact and fiction's fiction.' The concept for the album cover art makes this duality stylistically clear with simple yarn in bold colors forming a pseudo wig. The yarn makes appearances in other images such as stuffed down a pair of tighty whities and as accessory to the band's white suits. In a well played move, Liars carries the concept to physical form by producing vinyl with string embedded into it, as well as a limited edition run of 500 vacuum-sealed 2xLP's with string stuck on them by hand. The artistry, or alternatively the mess, is in the perception of the beholder.

The album starts off with the up tempo intensity of the track 'Mask Maker." Angus Andrew's voice, masked through a voice manipulator, implores the listener to "take my pants off," "smell my socks," and "eat my face." The ploy is both innocuous and vaguely disturbing but gives the listener an early clue that Liars are as eccentric as ever. The second track is the danceable "Vox Tuned D.E.D." that has more of a darkly moody electro industrial sound. "Mess On A Mission," the album's frenetic lead single, is all quirky synths and catchy lyrics. (The official video for "Mess on a Mission" is done on a green screen and ridiculously watchable for all its simplicity.) "Pro Anti Anti" (See, even the song titles are ripe with dualism.) is Liars at their most dance worthy.

Though as much as the beginning of the album is intently up tempo, it can't really be called a dance album. The sequence of songs, according to frontman Angus Andrew, was chosen to pound the listener through the first half of the record and move to more ambient, abstract songs on the second half. Songs like "Dress Walker" and the 9 minute "Perpetual Village" have a decidedly more minimalist vibe, but there are still plenty of the experimental electronic elements that define the earlier tracks. Everything slows way down for the surprisingly beautiful "Left Speakers Blown" that concludes the album.

I think that one of the reasons I like Liars so much is that, despite their American homeland, they have the keenly idiosyncratic and detached demeanor of the Euro electro bands that I love so much. Maybe this has something to do with the art school beginnings of Andrew and Gross, or the fact that the band spent time in Berlin, having recorded their third album Drum's Not Dead there in 2004.  Germany produced the iconic Kraftwerk after all.

Anna Rose at Port City Music Hall

I had a chance to speak with rock songstress Anna Rose on The Knix Mix prior to her opening for former Live lead singer, Ed Kowalczyk, at Port City Music Hall on March 23rd.  Anna is touring in support of her sophomore album Behold a Pale Horse.  Anna's name may be sweet, but the New York based performer is a self described "old soul," and she channels the edgier blues tinged rock sound of a Janis Joplin or Stevie Nicks.  Anna worked with producer Kevin Salem on the album, and she credits him with helping her to grow as a songwriter.  Of the eleven songs she wrote or co-wrote for the album, her 5 year stint in Los Angeles and subsequent return to New York influenced a number of them' including "Los Angeles" and "Beautiful World."  Anna likens the title track, "Behold a Pale Horse," to the legacy one leaves behind.  And Anna hopes that Behold a Pale Horse is a real and authentic representation of the kind of rock music she wants to leave as her musical legacy.
Listen to the entire interview on SoundCloud. Anna Rose Interview with DJ Knix

Meghan Clark on The Wicked Good Music Hour

Meghan

Meghan Clark is a thirteen year old songstress from Calais, Maine, a small community in Washington County that borders Canada.  Meghan is the kind of homegrown talent that we love showcasing on The Wicked Good Music Hour.  Accompanied by her mom, Dorie, dad, Matt, and bestie, Priscilla, for her appearance; she also has a supportive fan base in her extended family and hometown.  I happen to know Meghan's mom from high school, but Meghan's spot on The Wicked Good Music Hour was earned purely by her own extraordinary ability. Listening to her sing, you would never guess that she's so young.
Meghan began singing at the tender age of 7 and taught herself to play acoustic guitar.   She has written and arranged a number of original songs and has an impressive array of song covers in her back pocket.  I was busy in the music stacks before the show and had to stop and listen when I heard her singing an arresting rendition of  "Royals" by Lorde in the break room.  On The Wicked Good Music Hour, Meghan sang her own songs and tracks as varied as "Pumped Up Kicks" by indie rock darlings Foster the People to an a capella version of "(Paris) Ooh, La La" by American rockers Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.
Meghan has done a number of local appearances including a benefit concert for the Eastport Art's Center and as a guest at Bordertown Coffee House in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.  She recently pulled off singing The National Anthem at the State House in Augusta, which is a song that has been known to trip up seasoned professionals.  In 2013 Meghan competed in and won the teen division of the Machias Savings Bank's Downeast Idol contest.  On the immediate horizon is an exciting trip to Nashville, Tennessee to work with producer and songwriter Beau Fuller to collaborate on writing songs and recording a demo.  Beau launched Next Big Thing Entertainment in 2011 to help talented artists like Meghan to reach their dream.
Meghan cites age appropriate influences such as former Disney gone teen dance-pop artist, Demi Lovato and country to pop crossover star, Taylor Swift.  She enjoys listening to artists like Ed Sheeran and the bands One Direction and The Maine.  Meghan has the vocal chops and songwriting skills to tackle the country or rock/pop markets if she chooses.  The future is wide open.  Listeners to The Wicked Good Music Hour were impressed with how genuinely gracious Meghan is, and I was really happy for Meghan that one listener took the time to call as soon as the show ended to congratulate her on a job well done.
If you're interested in learning more about Meghan Clark and her music, you can contact her via her Facebook page or via her father at mattclark@consultant.com.  Check out the podcast of her March 15th performance on The Wicked Good Music Hour.

Meghan Sings

Dorie, Matt & Priscilla