As if that weren’t enough, the group is also producers for the upcoming feature-length film Girltrash: All Night Long, written by The L Word’s Angela Robinson. Along with writing music for the film’s narrative, Killola front woman Lisa Rieffel is starring in the film alongside Gabrielle Christian (South of Nowhere), Michelle Lombardo(Entourage, Quarterlife), Mandy Musgrave (South of Nowhere), Rose Rollins (The L Word), Kate French (One Tree Hill), and Clementine Ford (The L Word).

A heady dose of rock n’ roll serves as the backbone to Killola’s gritty sound, touting an in your face attitude from Lisa Rieffel’s vocals and shredding guitars, while occasionally delving into a more poppy track to keep their crowds dancing. Let’s Get Associated is about having the kind of fun your mother warned you about, with songs abut partying hard and such exclamatory statements as “I Wanna See Your Dick” and “She’s a Bitch” in its track listing. While the slight crudeness found within Killola’s bawdy brand of rock might not suit all listeners, its impossible to deny the fact that this band is ready for a good time- and isn’t that what rock n’ roll is all about?

Let’s Get Associated is made available on iTunes and through the Killola Merch Store

Johnny, one of the four singularly named members of Killola, took some time to answer a few questions for us. Catch up on your Killola band history, learn more about Girltrash: All Night Long, and hear Johnny’s tour story of a boy, a barn, and a dead body.

Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what the band has been up to as of late?

Johnny: Basically just touring for the last few weeks. All the details/events/days eventually kinda melt together on tour, like pocket M&Ms… or weird dreams. Every day is a bastardized version of the day before… but its often hotter or cooler, that’s the most discernible difference.

Reviewsic: What is the back-story on how the band came to be what it is today?

Johnny: The band started in 2003. At first, it was like, “hey lets hang out together and write songs and drink beer and have fun”…. and that happened a bunch, rather impromptu. But once you say “hey lets hang out together and write songs and drink beer and have fun…… tomorrow at 2:30… don’t be late”…. I guess that’s when you’ve got a band. Seven years later, you’ve done that routine enough times to make a few albums.  If you can keep it all together on tours, you’ve pretty much done it right, in my opinion.

Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?

Johnny: Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr, and Evan Williams.

Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?

Johnny: I think the accordion is a great instrument. I have no clue how it works, but it sounds great thrown on stage with a rock band. Not enough people know that. I have this imaginary historical scenario wherein the world’s primary accordion supply factory explodes (like in one of those ‘Lethal Weapon’ type explosions)…. and all the accordions blast WAY out, all landing in Mexico. But then I think I’m just being too ethnocentric… like, why would the factory have to explode in America? Why couldn’t the factory be IN Mexico to begin with? Then I get self-conscious and re-dream the scenario with a Mexico-based factory… but since ‘Lethal Weapon’ never happens in Mexico, I now have a hard time imagining an explosion… so my brain just ends up creating a very LUCRATIVE accordion factory, with a top-notch P.R. team, selling tons of product to the locals, thereby infusing their native-music with a shit-load of accordions. Want some sick accordion? Check out a song called “Montreal”, its on the new Joey Cape record. And it’s not Mexican-style music.

Reviewsic: Tell us about “Girltrash: All Night Long”- how did you get involved in the film? What can people expect from it?

Johnny: Lisa did ‘Girltrash’ the web-series back in ’07, and it was a great story…. the creator (Angela Robinson) rolled it into a movie and kept the same cast.  Angela had been listening to Killola songs, and she ended up writing several of the songs INTO the movie’s plot-line, so it became a musical.  Characters singing our songs and everything, its totally crazy.  People should expect it to rule, and expect to go see it. Then expect to go see it again, and then expect to buy it on DVD.

Reviewsic: What are some of the songs/bands/albums on your summer playlist this year?

Johnny: Every summer, my playlists usually consist of weird reggae from the 1970s, and punk rock from 2 years ago that I’m just getting around to.  So, I’m in no way “up” on new releases. I literally just discovered DFA1979 for example. I’m about as hip to new releases as Jaycee Dugard.

Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?

Johnny: Dead or alive?… I’ll choose DEAD. Ok, The Colonel, from the Elvis Presley camp/empire. That dude was a straight-up G, and he could hustle circles around the most hustleriest rap-dudes (that is, if he were alive today… or if rap-dudes were hustling in the 60′s). Anyways, he had Elvis shooting like 3 movies at a time… concurrent with world tours… AND ON TOP OF THAT, he enrolled Elvis Presley into the FUCKING ARMY. How crazy is THAT? I could totally use some training right now. Also, he called himself “The Colonel”…. who does that???  Badasses, that’s who…

Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?

Johnny: Hm. I assume you mean local to LA… because I’m currently typing this in a van, driving through rural Arkansas (literally not a town in site)… I imagine the local bands around here consist of zit jocks who stab cats and draw lopsided pentagrams on everything. Three of favorite LA bands are Tsar, The Dollyrots, and Brother Reade.

Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Johnny: Andrew WK (duh, party hard), We Are Scientists (great music + hilarious), and Queen (I’d want the venues/catering to be top-notch).

Reviewsic: Tell us about the Let’s Get Associated – is there a particular concept or creative direction behind it? Where did the idea to bundle and release everything on a USB come from?

Johnny: The USBs were a ‘pre-release’… it was made so fans could get the album first before the CDs/iTunes came out.  It was a higher-price item because it was pretty much an accessory type piece of jewelry … The USB contained all our albums (2 previous + 1 new), a buncha vids, and a portal/gateway where we send the owners new shit, free live tracks… and occasionally perform live for you. We’ve worked with Aderra (the tech company) for years, so we decided to really push the capability of USB albums to the max.  We were the first band to ever perform LIVE and stream that performance TO an album, real-time. It wasn’t accessible over the standard-web, just over the Dog Tags.

Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?

Johnny: Personally, I feel stronger as a songwriter. I don’t practice bass a whole lot. Its not something I’m pumped-on like that dude from Metallica who poses on magazines with his fingers cocked across the fretboard….all firm and complex like he’s throwing a gang-sign for wizards. We’ve grown as a unit (read:boner), and its easier to play/learn things together now. I think a band grows better (over the years) in communication with each other, more-so than in instrument skills. Experienced bands can communicate an entire idea to one another in just a couple words, or a glance. That secret language takes a long time to cultivate.

Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities and/or venues to play?

Johnny: San Diego is fun, we always hang out at our buddy Ryan Green’s house, and we all have a good time there. Chicago is great too (Schubas & Reggie’s)

Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?

Johnny: BEST: I liked seeing/playing England with my band. Arriving (at UK venues) to people who knew our songs was delightful.

WORST: I don’t really have any “career low” moments cataloged, per se, so I’ll just tell a fucked up story. It’s a little long, sorry in advance.

One time we played a show in Iowa, and there was like 8 people there. Most of these kids were there to see the opening (metal) band… who I guess were local, because well, the story would be 100 times fuckeder if they weren’t local…. anyways, the show sucked and we were really hot to get outta there and get this one behind us. One of the non-band kids came up to us and said they had a bunch of beer and that his buddy could get some weed. Oddly enough the smokers on tour had depleted their stash earlier that day… so needless to say we thought it might be worth it (an investment in tomorrow?) to roll with these kids and at the very least get some beer, and maybe meet up with their ‘buddy’. Mind you, this entire town/area has a complete ‘Children of the Corn’ vibe, with crapped out houses, dark expanses and looong stretches of pastures between each farm(?), so we were driving for a while before the kids who we were following finally pull over to the side of absolutely nowhere.

We get out, and roll up to this wooden building-thing…. side-note: I was stoked because for YEARS we’ve toured and I’ve seen exactly 230,000 of these dilapidated wood buildings in fields all across America, but I’ve never A) had a good reason to go into one B) had the balls to go into one, and C) actually been TAKEN INTO one by people who I (somewhat) have a reason to trust and believe that they aren’t going to eat my face in front of me while some catatonic old guy gets a hick-boner because I’m screaming like a girl.

OK, so we’re in the shack (there’s light in here somehow- it looks like people have had beers here before, maybe in 1974), and everything is mellow (everything is usually mellow as long as there’s beer), and we’re waiting on a guy to show up with some green, when one of the kids asks if we “want to see something messed up”. Now, I’ve seen people who have gotten our logo tattooed onto them THAT SAME DAY by what appears to be their blind, Parkinsons-ridden grandma… and our fan-base isn’t the kind of lot that gets TOO weird, so I’m thinking maybe dude has a bad tattoo or possibly (at the VERY weirdest) has a prehensile tail or some shit. We say to him “absolutely”, and he pulls out a stack of Polaroids and hands them to me.

I casually flip through them, and I’m expecting some hillbilly DIY-porn, or an Iowan do-it-yourself boob-job or something (I guess I’m pre-disposed to think everything in Iowa is DIY)… and nothing jumps out at me. Each photo depicts a few kids hanging out, acting like idiots, posing with beers, making fun of their drunk buddy, goofing around, being lame, hamming it up, etc.

As I flick through, I’m not really reacting… and one of the guys says, “that’s fucked up ain’t it”. Now, I am DEFINITELY in the UPPER percentile for educations amongst strangers in this abandoned, burnt-out Iowan shack, so I immediately sense that I’m missing something. Upon closer inspection of the photo, I notice one guy who I originally thought to be the drunken/passed-out buddy amongst these dudes… is actually, non-other than (I shit you not) a total fucking CORPSE

Each photo, is a different composition of dudes, laughing, just like normal-dudes do when drawing on the face of a passed-out comrade…. except this passed-out dude, has very little skin, definitely no eyes, a decidedly dead-guy posture, and well, pretty much a skull for a face.  The exact ‘eureka’ moment, the moment I utter “OH MY GOD DUDE!”, every single one of the guys in this barn who are not in my band erupt in laughter. We pass the pics around, each person feeling compounded-ly creeped out, where the last person left off…  like a creeped-out relay race… except our ‘baton’ is a stack of photos where drunk metal-dudes are taking turns pretending to get BJs from some dug-up dead body.

Just like I was saying before, many years in a band totally hones that bands’ collective sense of non-verbal communication, so with just a few glances, we knew that it would serve us best to just roll with this shit, and not geek the fuck out like we just realized we were in an abandoned barn with dudes who have no qualms laughing and drinking Busch next to a dead body.

So long story totally long… these dudes had dug up a dead body, and basically partied with it for a weekend… dressing it up and shit to look like an asshole (with hats, with their band’s t-shirt, putting cigars in its mouth, taking “check-this-dude-out,-he’s-totally-gay-sucking-my-dick” pictures with the guy’s skull and what not).   Basically your typical Weekend at Bernie’s action, mixed with a frat-boy humor spin, but peppered with the full-on Columbine recklessness that you can only get in the age of the internet and Grand Theft Auto, topped off with the sheer mind-numbing boredom of the mid-west metal scene.

Turns out one of the kids had even got busted for this… he took the wrap for everybody, and it was all in the papers and shit.  The photos never made it to trial. Its the totally fucked up metal-version of Anthony Michael Hall stealing that girl’s panties in “Sixteen Candles”…. so he can share it, like a demented relic, with his rock and roll brethren, out in a barn in the middle of nowhere.

Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?

Johnny: Ear plugs, coffee from home, and clean socks. And patience.

Reviewsic: What are your plans for music in the next year?

Johnny: We want to tour with the movie… show the film at festivals, then play the party afterwards. That would be badass.  Another album maybe? Our own record label?  Babies?  Perhaps an Iowan barn tour.

Formed around 2007 with Karl Seltzer on banjo, Will Dueease on stand up bass and a drummer, an eventual lineup change brought in Shaun Pereira on acoustic guitar, and added suitcase drums from Dueease, making for the non fuss arrangement the band plays with today. With a 7” split due out on Paper + Plastick Records this fall, the band has been touring the new songs and preparing to record demos for a second full-length. Until the new material rears its head, curious new listeners can satiate themselves with a free download of Our Hearts Are Gold, Our Grass is Blue through bandcamp.

The charm of Greenland is Melting lies in the earnest modesty of their sound. Part of that may be because the banjo is the most unassuming instrument around (resisting that stringy drawl is like saying you don’t like Matthew McConaughey- you can make your point all you want, but we know you’re lying to yourself.) but more so it falls on the fact that these three give off an astute sense of camaraderie. With all three members contributing vocals, the sense of harmony found on this record goes farther than the steely twang in every chorus. From the rambling lifestyle of “From City to Town” to the raucous build of “Blood on the Banjo” as they threesome belts, “I know/ If there’s blood on the banjo tonight/ then I really must have been/ Doing something right” Greenland is Melting feels like a band that truly means every note.

Now, comparisons to The Avett Brothers are both abundant and inevitable, though these Floridians are slightly less polished than thenewly booming band. While in some instances that similarity tiptoes the line between being akin to and totally appropriated from, by and large Greenland is Melting seem to be a little less love sick than the brothers Avett.  Lines like, “I’m sick of singing all these songs for me/ So I think that I’ll sing this one for you” in “No More Apologies” might be of the serenade persuasion, but tracks like “Everyone Wants to Go to Heaven but…” and “No One Wants to Die” take their storylines elsewhere.

In its entirety, Our Hearts Are Gold, Our Grass is Blue is easily one of the most charismatic records to come up on Reviewsic’s radar. The infectious allure of mandolin and the utter enthusiasm displayed in the trio’s vocals makes it impossible not to nod along to, and we’ll put our money on first time listeners feeling a sudden urge to take up playing the spoons or jug blowing. Don’t worry, this is perfectly natural- just put on your ten gallon hat, chew some straw, and go with it.

Banjo extraordinaire Karl Seltzer recently spoke with Reviewsic about the band’s plans, the most memorable concert he’s ever seen, and how he feels the band has grown over the years.

Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?

Karl Seltzer: Hmm, for me probably Ryan Adams, The Avett Brothers and Wilco.

Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?

Karl Seltzer: I wish I was able to play the piano.

Reviewsic: What are some of the songs/bands/albums on your summer playlist this year?

Karl Seltzer: There have been some awesome albums come out this year! I’d say the new Against Me!, Blacklist Royals, Coffee Project, the new Gaslight Anthem, new Delta Spirit, a local band called Douglas Shields and the X-Factors, Frank Turner, Chuck Ragan’s newest and basically anything that has come out recently on P+P.

Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?

Karl Seltzer: I would love to work/tour with the Avett Brothers. I think our band is somewhat similar to theirs and they have the ability to play to thousands of people each night and that would be some incredible exposure for GIM.

Reviewsic: What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?

Karl Seltzer: I’d have to say The Flaming Lips at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL a few years back. I’ve seen them a few times and each has been insane but, seeing them in an indoor setting and in such a small room (by small I mean not at a huge outdoor music festival) was awesome. Probably the best show I’ve ever been to.

Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?

Karl Seltzer: Coffee Project, Douglas Shields and the X Factors, Michael Claytor, Lindsey Mills, Eight Ghosts…Gainesville’s music scene is really starting to pick up steam.

Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Karl Seltzer: The Avett Brothers cause seeing them every night would never get old and we are pretty similar to them.

Frank Turner cause he is as talented as he is nice. Seriously, the dude is a grade A gentleman.

And I’ll say The White Stripes for Shaun cause he’s been a huge fan of theirs forever and Jack White seems like a cool dude.

Reviewsic: Tell us about the Our Hearts Are Gold, Our Grass Is Blue - is there a particular concept or creative direction behind it? What was the process of making the album like?

Karl Seltzer: Well, some of the songs were nearly a year old when it was finally recorded. And most of the songs on the album were written about experiences we had as a band over that year so, it’s very personal. Up until that point, all of our recordings were done byme in my bedroom and bathroom and we knew that we wanted to make it sound bigger and better than what we had until that time. So, we enlisted the help of Rob McGregor and made the album over the course of about a week. Brought in some close friends (David and Jon) and it all sorta just fell into place…and we were really happy with how it turned out. Still are happy with how it turned out but, at this point, we all know that we can do a lot better and are gonna make sure the next full length goes over and above everything we have done.

Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?

Karl Seltzer: Completely different. If you saw our first show and our most recent one, you’d laugh. Let me leave it at that.

Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities and/or venues to play?

Karl Seltzer: Gainesville house shows. Tallahassee, FL. And any city in North Carolina are probably are most favorite.

Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?

Karl Seltzer: An essential tour must is not eating fast food all the time. It makes you feel like shit and everyone gets grumpy. I like to bring a bag of apples to snack on and Will likes to bring his “bird food.” (Bird food is a mixture of peanut butter and honey with sunflower seeds…then that mixture on crackers)

Reviewsic: What are your plans for music in the next year?

Karl Seltzer: Well, we will definitely have another full length and a split within the next year…and I wouldn’t be surprised if we have another release of some sort in there as well. And touring. Lots of touring.

Formed in the early 2000’s, the band went on to grow from their initial pop sound in Cemetery Trails to a moodier lo-fi approach in Crooked Lake before arriving at the point of The Goodnight Loving. Getting caught in an British invasion of their own, The Goodnight Loving channels the charm of mid century pop along with the trippy style of psychedlia to create a sound that bridges the gap between their previous work, confirming suspicions that The Goodnight Loving has hit its stride as a band. The Beatles-esque “Doesn’t Shake Me” and “Ain’t It Weird” are quick to burrow into your brain, proving to be instant pop addictions, while many other tracks on The Goodnight Loving seem to favor a more folksy quality. “It’s a Long Way in a Bad Way” has a throaty backbeat to its guitar and drums that wouldn’t be misplaced as riding music in the old west, while songs like “Addicted to Debt” and “Ramble Jamble” find the perfect middle ground between those aforementioned styles.

As simplistic as some of these songs seem at first listen, there is a very specific sound behind every track marking The Goodnight Loving as an album that was thoughtfully written and arranged. With no inconsistency to be found, the transition between each and every one of these fifteen tracks is smoothly executed. A delightful combination of old and new, this latest release from the heartland band wonderfully encompasses the qualities once heard and loved from across the pond.

The Goodnight Loving drummer Ryan Adams took some time to talk with Reviewsic about the new album, his biggest influences, and what bands he’d take along with him on his “dream tour”.

Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?

Ryan Adams: Thats tough to nail down.  I love Roger Miller and I know the other guys do to, probably also CCR and the Beatles, although realistically there are many others.

Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?

Ryan Adams: I would like to play bass one day.

Reviewsic: What are some of the songs/albums/artists on your Summer playlist this year?

Ryan Adams: Personally, in no particular order:  King Tuff/Happy Birthday, Reigning Sound, always Roger Miller, Beach Boys

Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Ryan Adams: Brian Wilson?  Haha, I really dont know…

Reviewsic: What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?

Ryan Adams: Saw Devo recently, that was great.

Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?

Ryan Adams: Sticks and Stones, The Midwest Beat, and The Sugar Stems.  Catholic Boys forever.

Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Ryan Adams: The Beatles–because I love John Lennon.  Johnny Cash—isn’t it obvious!?  Vancougar, they rule!

Reviewsic: Tell us about the The Goodnight Loving Supper Club - is there a particular concept or creative intent behind it? What was the process of making the album like?

Ryan Adams: We thought about it being kind of a science fiction meets folk music thing in the beginning.  We just wanted to be as creative as possible and use simple recording techniques to the best of our ability.  The process was somewhat on the fly–in fact, when we recorded “Ramble Jamble” it was the first time we had played that song all the way through.  There are even a couple of songs that were worked out almost entirely in the studio.

Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?

Ryan Adams: I haven’t been around since the beginning so I cant speak for the others.  I just want play as well as I can and continue to improve.  I filled in for the previous drummer Austin Dutmer, and those were some big shoes to fill–he is a fantastic drummer and I learned a lot from seeing him play and listening to the records.

Reviewsic: are some of your favorite cities and/or venues to play?

Ryan Adams: New York is always fun, also I would say Huntsville AL and Asheville NC.

Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?

Ryan Adams: Best: Getting into Canada.  Worst:  Getting denied entry to Canada.

Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?

Ryan Adams: Water.  Crosswords.  NPR.  Mad Libs.  Fud (thats crappy restaurant food)  Spirit Animals.  Ball.

Reviewsic: What are your plans for music in the next year?
Ryan Adams: Its always a mystery!

Friday, September 3rd

Gapers Block & Chirp Radio Present:
The Hudson Branch
Camera
Reds and Blue
My My My
Metro
Show at 9pm 18+ $6 adv/$9 at the door

Redmoon presents…
J.O.E. (Joyous Outdoor Event)
EZRA FURMAN & THE HARPOONS
South Belmont Harbor (Belmont at Lakeshore)
Show at 6pm All Ages $25 Adults/$10 Kids under 10/Free Kids Under 3

California Wives (Record Release)
Color Radio
Panda Riot
plus Gemini Club (DJ Set)
Schubas
Show at 10pm 18+ $5

Teenage Rage
Merryweather
Ronny’s
Show at 8pm 21+

The Rosedales
The Mission Creeps
Outburst On The 66
Reggie’s
Show at 8pm 17+

Begin By Gathering Supplies
Trophy Wives
The Pear Traps
Odd Obsession
Subterranean
Show at 9pm 21+ $8

Jookabox
Truman & His Trophy
Beat Kitchen
Show at 9:30 17+ $8

Shoeshine Boy Presents:
Murley Shertz
Train Company (EP Release)
Markit 8
Peter Terry
Lincoln Hall
Show at 9pm 18+ $10 adv/$12 at the door

Saturday, September 4th
Stay Smooth XIV:
Nowhere Left to Rum
The Stay Smooth DJs: Bald E. & STV SLV
PLUS a Live Set from Quadraphonica (Members of Haulin’ Boats)
Columbia Yacht Club
Show at 7pm 21+ $40 adv/$50 at the door

Redmoon presents…
J.O.E. (Joyous Outdoor Event)
SCOTLAND YARD GOSPEL CHOIR
South Belmont Harbor (Belmont at Lakeshore)
Show at 6pm All Ages $25 Adults/$10 Kids under 10/Free Kids Under 3

A Wilhelm Scream
Counterpunch
The Sky We Scrape
Thrillage
Reggie’s
Show at 5pm All Ages

Bass Line Bums
Tracer Bullet
On The Attack
Ronny’s
Show at 8pm 21+

New Generation Dudes
Weekend FM
Too Close To Perfect
The Orwells
Subterranean
Show at 6pm All Ages $10

Wes Restless
Virtual Vertigo
Scheme
Subterranean
Show at 10:15 21+ $7

Dormlife
Nick Miller and the Neighbors
The Outbreaks
And After
Beat Kitchen
Show at 6pm All Ages $10

Come On Come On
Pal
The Sleights
Beat Kitchen
Show at 10:30 21+ $8

Dominique Young Unique
BBU
Moneypenny (DJ Set)
Team Bayside High
Midnight Rockers
Lincoln Hall
Show at 10:30 18+ $10

Bumpus
Rita J
DJRC
Schubas
Show at 10pm 18+ $10

Sunday, September 5th

(The Return Of) The Gear
With Special Guests:
Phil Angotti
Eric Howell
Frank Canino
Reluctant Aquanauts
DJ’S East of Edens Express
Beat Kitchen
Show at 8:30 21+ $10

Redmoon presents…
J.O.E. (Joyous Outdoor Event)
SSION
MY GOLD MASK
South Belmont Harbor (Belmont at Lakeshore)
Show at 6pm All Ages $25 Adults/$10 Kids under 10/Free Kids Under 3

House of Normandie (CD RELEASE)
Rabble Rabble
People Sometimes
The Hudson Landing
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 17+ $8

For Your Consideration was kicked off with the release of the band’s single, “The Compromise”, a track the five piece hopes exemplifies a sound that is just what its titles states. Not quite heavy rock but also not too cemented in pop, Evolett combines poppy runs and belts from front woman Haden Brightwell while accompanying guitarists Tyler Gates and Jonathan Flurry hit on a heavier style. Chugging bass and cymbal heavy percussion from Russ Daly and Stephen Taunton give Evolett’s sound enough bite to appease fans of bands like Underoath while still maintaining enough pop influence to follow the same middle ground as Emery and Anberlin.

Though we appreciate the attempt at being open ended the band seems to be going for, leaving definition of their schtick up for interpretation by the listener, we did find some of the songs on For Your Consideration to be a little generic. Lyrically this album doesn’t seem to have any stand out one-liners or a chorus whose basic make up we haven’t heard on a dozen other albums. Songs about losing touch, falling out, and insecurity are kind of a staple in ballad driven music, but Evolett has failed to take an original viewpoint on thesecommon human experiences.  For now we’ll say that Evolett’s strength lies in Brightwell’s belt, the band’s tight guitars, and the fact that as a new band there is only room to grow from here.

As they prepared for the released of their album, the southerners took some time to talk to us via email about the bands formation, the story behind writing For Your Consideration, and what supplies keep them going when they hit the road.

Reviewsic: What is the back-story on how the band came to be what it is today?

Tyler: John and Stephen met at a Bible study in Montgomery, which is where they decided to start a music project. Stephen and I had been in a number of bands and he decided to bring me in to the mix, which is when I met John. Haden was added next when John had heard her sing a solo at church and thought she would be a good fit. A few months later Russ joined the band to complete the line-up, which is now known as Evolett.

Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?

Tyler: Emery, Anberlin, and Norma Jean

Haden: They’re constantly changing for me, but a few are: Muse, Underoath, Rihanna, and Nine Inch Nails.

Jonathan: Armor for Sleep. Underoath, and Spitalfield.

Russ: The Beatles, Armor for Sleep, and Blink 182.

Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?

Stephen: Guitar

Haden, Jonathan and Russ: Piano

Tyler: Viola

Reviewsic: What are some of the songs/bands/albums on your summer playlist this year?

Tyler: Relient K, Queens Club, Carpark North, Janelle Monae, The Beatles, Bayside, Ben Folds, Tegan and Sarah, The Avett Brothers, Circa Survive, Lovedrug, and Mumm-Ra.

Haden: Queens Club, Passion Pit, La Roux, Usher, The Promise Rings, and Paper Route.

Jonathan: Umbrellas, Queens Club, Temper Trap, Carpark North, Teitur, Lovedrug, Norma Jean, Relient K and Minus the Bear.

Stephen: Relient K, Jonezetta, and Taking Back Sunday.

Russ: Good Old War, Circa Survive, Relient K, A Rocket to the Moon, and The Starting Line.

Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?

Haden: Nine Inch Nails frontman, Trent Reznor. I love everything about NIN and all the different sounds he creates. I would like to incorporate something like that into our music one day.

Jonathan: I would love to work with producer Aaron Sprinkle.  He records many of my favorite bands, and he seems like a genuine dude who actually cares about the people he works with. He definitely protects his reputation by making amazing albums.

Tyler: Matt Carter from Emery. I just think he did such a wonderful job with the new The Almost album, and he’s such a creative musician.

Reviewsic: What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?

Haden: My very first concert is probably my most memorable and that was The Backstreet Boys. haha!

Tyler: It was Armor For Sleep, Underoath, and Taking Back Sunday in Birmingham Alabama.

Jonathan: The 05′ Warped Tour is my most memorable musical event I’ve ever attended. This festival changed my perspective on life, and opened my eyes to the music scene.

Russ: I went to a Muse/U2 concert in October in Atlanta and it was pretty epic and the next day I got to see Blink 182′s reunion tour, which was pretty much the most memorable experience ever for me.

Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?

The whole band can agree our favorites are Peace Be Still, Aim For The Day, and This City Morning. All great dudes!

Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be?

Jonathan: Armor For Sleep and Underoath

Tyler: Emery and Muse

Haden: Glassjaw

Russ: The Beatles

Reviewsic: Tell us about For Your Consideration - is there a particular concept or creative direction behind it? What was the process of making the album like?

Haden: I’m not sure if we really went in with a particular creative direction, but it all kind of evolved into itself. Now that the album is finished, I think the final product For Your Consideration is just that, it’s for “your consideration”, what your take on us is. Looking at the title and the funky artwork, which is a collage of cartoon like monsters that have little thinking bubbles above their heads, created by Charlavail Effron, which to me ties in with the title of curiosity and judgment in a way.

Tyler: I think the album is just an eclectic compilation of our favorite parts of music from our genre, but at the same time turning it into something that’s our own and different. In a way we’re presenting a new product to the world like a mix-tape you would give to a girl you like for their consideration, or in this case for your consideration. The album was written throughout the first year Evolett was born. It was just doing what we loved doing most, playing music, and the structure for the songs came natural like walking, which something that should happen when your doing something that your passionate about.

Jonathan: The process was very organic, everything seemed to flow so well while writing our songs. Its really not a conceptual album, just one that is a collection of our first songs that we accumulated while jamming at practice or writing in the studio. I feel that For Your Consideration is just that, its up for “your consideration.” What do you get from it? Do you view the lyrics from a secular standpoint or do they hit home spiritually? It’s just a collection of songs that we think represent us as musicians and as people. We wanted the name to bring curiosity to people, we want them to examine the album from every angle and hopefully grow to love it.

Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?

Jonathan: I’d say we as musicians have matured dramatically. We could probably hit the studio now and add more dynamics, and definitely bring more to the table. We have all gotten better at playing our instruments and have matured to the point of knowing that you can’t stay in this business without selling records. Your music must be catchy and clever without selling out. I think we know just how to do that, maybe a little better now.

Tyler: In all honesty I don’t think any of us we’re musicians when we began. I think we were just people who played instruments. It took the time that led up to recording with Mike Poorman, who is amazing, and that whole experience for us to understand what we were capable of. We left Rhode Island feeling like we were musicians.

Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities and/or venues to play?

Haden: I think so far, Austin, TX has been my favorite. When we played the 2010 SXSW Festival it was the farthest we’ve gotten away from AL to play. It’s a rewarding feeling to play for new people!

Tyler: New York City, Providence, Austin’s Red 7,  Birmingham’s Workplay Theater,  and Orange Beach.

Jonathan: One of my favorite venues is the Red 7 venue in Austin, Texas. I love that city and the venue. I also loved playing Workplay Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.

Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?

Haden: Probably when we were playing a Battle of the Bands set and a stage monitor fell on top of a toddler in the middle of our set! That was pretty bad!

Tyler: The best moment for me was walking out of Strangeways Studio knowing my guitar parts were finished. The worst was playing at The Furnished in Montgomery…it was the worst show we ever had and blew up at each other afterwards!…it was bad.

Stephen: The worst, would be when I busted my finger wide open in the middle of a show.

Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?

Haden: My computer, eyeliner, boots, and coffee!

Tyler: Some deodorant, my Macbook Pro, iPod, headphones, some sunflower-seeds, Sweet Leaf Tea, and Snyders Hot Wings Pretzles.

Jonathan: Baby Wipes, Snacks, Red Bull, cell phone, and my GPS system.

Russ: A pillow, shorts, video games, my iPhone maps, and a bag of sunflower seeds.

Reviewsic: What are your plans for music in the next year?

Russ: Get on some good tours and play some big shows.

Haden: Hopefully we’ll be touring full time. Who knows…maybe a side solo project!

Stephen: I hope to be touring full time with Evolett.

Tyler: To be on a national tour, and hopefully working on a new album.

Jonathan: Hopefully when our album drops we will be offered a full US tour. I believe our music will sell itself, it just needs to be heard by the masses.

Blood Red Shoes

“Light it up”

Working For A Nuclear Free City
“Silent Times”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. started out in a Michigan basement, using drum machines and samplers to add a danceable backbone to the folksy quality of the songwriting Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott wanted to make the project’s main focus.

With their debut release, Horse Power EP, the twosome manages to combine somewhat sleepy vocals with bouncy yet understated samples, making their original tracks such as “Vocal Chords” and “Simple  Girl” feel breezy and uncomplicated, despite the thick layer of sounds taking place. “Nothing But Our Love”, which the duo recently debuted an official video for, is of a much slower caliber, bloop-ing and beeping in a dreamy way that is soothing, but all together unimpressionable. Despite being a pretty medley of digital sounds, this opening track seemed to be missing that little extra needed to cement its melody in our head. A cover of “God Only Knows” proves to be a good choice for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., closing out the EP with their muted and spacey version of the Beach Boys track.

As a whole Horse Power EP shows off the boys ability to interweave samples and program drums into a heavy quilt of quirky patches and crooked stitching while maintaining a surprisingly symmetrical balance to their sound. The duo will be kicking off a string of tour dates this week, making a stop at Chicago’s own Subterranean with Wolf in a Spacesuit, The Single Helix, and Earth Program on Thursday, September 2^nd. Show starts at 8:30, 17+ $10.

Hurtin’ You- Ben Kweller (Daytrotter version)

Would You Be Impressed?- Streelight Manifesto

Weaker Science- Eagle Scout

You Cried Me-Jookabox

Nothing But Our Love- Dale Earndhardt Jr. Jr.

5 New Albums Out This Week

(Click any of the album covers to check out more information.)

Monday, August 30th

Almanac
Cody Copeland
Pat Hull
Zikr
Ronny’s
Show at 8pm 21+

Sixdollarsuit
Michael Miller Crusade
Rhona Kelly
No Hay Banda
Elbo Room
Show at 8pm $8

Tuesday, August 31st

Silver Wrapper
Orgone
The Right Now
The Right Now
The Dirty Diamonds DJs
Lincoln Hall
Show at 8pm 18+ $10

OnYourMarx
Drew Matia Band
Lee
Jason Baker
Elbo Room
Show at 8pm 21+ $7

Sarah Jaffe
REGO
Schubas
Show at 9pm 21+ $8 adv/$10 at the door

Wednesday, September 1st

Elizabeth Cook
Ernie Hendrickson
Schubas
Show at 7pm 21+ $12 adv/$14 at the door

Community College
Seafarer
House Sounds
Richardson Richardson
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 21+ $8

CAT or Mouse
David Hayes
Marcus J. Austin (8:00pm)
Elbo Room
Show at 8:30 21+ $8

Thursday, September 2nd

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Telekinesis
The Kickback
Lincoln Hall
Show at  9pm 18+ $12 adv/$14 at the door

Girl360 welcomes…
Sarah VonderHaar (Record Release)
Martha Berner
Schubas
Show at 7pm All Ages $10

Wolf in a Spacesuit
Dale Earndhardt T JR. JR.
The Single Helix
Earth Program
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 17+ $10

Swingin’ Utters
The Mezingers
The Stranger
The Please & Thank You’s
Reggie’s
Show at  6pm All Ages

Plague
Sons of Mary
Trigger Fish
Beyond Words
Souldub
Elbo Room
Show at 8:30 21+ $9

redmoon presents…
J.O.E. (Joyous Outdoor Event)
JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND
South Belmont Harbor (Belmont at Lakeshore)
Show at 6pm All Ages $25 Adults/$10 Kids under 10/Free Kids Under 3

X is for Eyes
Lowtalker
The Snips
Belmont Transfer
Beat Kitchen
Show at 8:30 21+  $8