Video Interview With Happy Body Slow Brain

It's not easy to break into the music world. With the accessibility fans have to getting your music, often time for little to no money, the outrageous cost of touring and trying to hold down a solid lineup of band members, the industry can often feel like a daunting career. But inevitably, there will be some who refuse to give up trying- building their band one fan at a time.

Happy Body Slow Brain are one of those bands. The do-it-yourself outfit comprised of ex-Taking Back Sunday guitarist/vocalist Matt Fazzi, guitarist/keyboardist Isaac Bolivar and a rotating group of drummers and bassists have spent the better part of the last year and a half writing, recording and touring the entire United States in hopes of gaining a concrete fan base nationwide.

The band released their debut album, Dreams Of Water, last fall. Taking a step away from the alternative sounds of Taking Back Sunday, Fazzi and crew opted for a more synthetic mix of guitars, keyboards and experimental drum beats.

Ultimately, the decision to shy away from the norm has left the band off the beaten path, but they seem happier than ever. In a recent interview with the band, Fazzi told Backstage Press, "It's a refreshing experience to have a DIY thing and really play music that gets me excited. To have a support system like I do with my fiancée, and with my friends and being in a band with other like-minded musicians just makes the whole thing a lot easier."

"It's such a contrast going from Taking Back Sunday to kind of starting over," continued Fazzi, "but it's like the most rewarding contrast ever because I really get to forge my own path and do it the way I really want to do it."

And the hard work and determination seem to be paying off. At the end of the month, HBSB will be hitting the road with the Rx Bandits - a group that has played a vital role in influencing Fazzi along his musical career. After wrapping up that tour, Fazzi mentioned he will continue writing and hopes to get into the studio by the end of the year to begin work on the band's sophomore effort.

For more on HBSB, visit http://happybodyslowbrain.com

Exclusive Late Nite Wars Interview

Late Nite Wars have certainly had enough practice leading up to their first full-length release, Who's Going To Miss You If You Go?. They've been together since 2008, played countless shows nationwide and have three EPs to their name thus far.

And with that experience comes the pressure to live up to expectations from both fans and themselves. So when the band entered the studio, they set a goal of completing a full-length album this time around.

"We wanted to write something complete," LNW lead singer Kevin

Quinn told Backstage Press. "From the start we were thinking about a record in its entirety, not a song by song basis. I think that's what brought out some creativity."

The record certainly sounds like one solid piece. There are highs and lows, it's fast in spots and slow in others, but perhaps best of all, it sounds like LNW. The Merrimack Valley, MA outfit didn't pull any tricks on WGTMYIYG. Fans of the band's earlier releases will find comfort in this record knowing the band have stuck to their pop-punk roots.

"None of us wanted 13 songs that had the same sound and structure," said Quinn, "however, we wanted to stay consistent to what makes us LNW."

One listen through WGTMYIYG and it's easy to hear that the band are addressing a number of issues lyrically. What's it like to be a 20-something trying to find yourself? From working jobs you can't stand (which the band still do to support themselves), to failed relationships, the open road, touring and living in New England - the record is certainly eclectic in its message.

"It's difficult to say exactly what the influence is for the record because all five of us bring something different," explained Quinn. "But lyrically, the setting is all New England. Many of the songs refer to the weather, and others refer to the landscape. The feel of the season can have such an impact that it's natural that it comes across in the lyrics."

Perhaps that's most evident on the album's fourth track, "Rock, Paper, Bitters". The song opens with, "It's not hard to see that seasons change your mood/Just not as frequent as the weather/But it's cold and bitter, like these New England winters/It's coming on, and coming strong."

Throwing their surroundings into their music is nothing new for LNW, who have, through all their releases, made an effort to pay homage to the life around them. Whether that's Boston, a local venue, an old college dorm or their favorite karaoke joint, LNW are a band that survive off their locality.

And that sense of locality may be the driving factor in what keeps this band so connected to their past. Though WGTMYIYG may be the band's first full-length record, they made the decision to rework three of their previously released songs to fit onto the new album - an unmistakable shout out to their beginnings.

With their last EP set as a precursor to the full-length, it was a no-brainer for the band to add "Work Isn't Working" and "Death By Routine" to the updated track listing. And as for "Dragon The Anchor", Quinn said, "we wanted to record it and see what it would sound like three years later. It's one of our favorite songs to play [live]."

Who's Going To Miss You If You Go? has certainly solidified LNW as a pop-punk band that's here to stay. They've challenged themselves musically and lyrically, without losing sense of why they're making music in the first place. The band have certainly moved forward in their approach to leads, rhythms and vocals, but have left enough room to grow in the coming years.

So what's the bottom line? Get to know LNW... now.

To pick up the full-length album, released on Panic Records, click HERE. Also, make sure to grab the 7" vinyl containing two bonus tracks that weren't quite finished in time to make the May release. You can also stream the entire album HERE.

Terrible Things Interview

Is rock 'n' roll still alive? It's a question Terrible Things have been asking every night on tour to crowds across the country.

It seems fitting, too, as the "supergroup" trio comprised of Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday, The Color Fred), Josh Eppard (Coheed & Cambria) and Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit) put out what's probably the scene's most honest rock 'n' roll record of the year in late August.

Backstage Press caught up with lead singer Fred Mascherino last Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut to see just what life is like in the infant stages of Terrible Things.

"This is like my dream band," said Mascherino. "And it's turned into this thing that kind of gets us away from writing about boyfriends, and girlfriends and broken hearts and more about something that means something to me, and ultimately to all of us."

Terrible Things is certainly a step toward a more mature direction for all three members. With the scene that Mascherino, Eppard and Jackson helped develop in their previous bands all but dead and moved out of their parents' house, it was time to recreate themselves musically. Terrible Things was their answer.

The self-titled, 11-track record is a call to arms of sorts. While it's main theme deals mostly with a series of fires in Mascherino's hometown of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, he explained that parts of the record also address the will to get up and make a change in the world around you.

"Jason Elgin, who produced the record, was really good at keeping us not so specific to Coatesville, but to make it something that could still be relatable to everyone," said Mascherino. "For example, 'Revolution', to me, is the anthem for Coatesville, but it's also got a message to it that anyone can jump into."

"It's about making a change when you see something you don't like about your life or the world," he continued "Don't just sit there and watch more TV, you know? Go out and make those changes you've always wanted to do."

Making a change is certainly something Mascherino and his bandmates know well. All three left behind the bands that helped them peak their musical careers for something a little more meaningful. And though the battle to win those fans over to Terrible Things might be a steep uphill, don't count these guys out.

With a powerful rock album already under their belt, a slew of tour dates set and the drive to build an empire from the ashes, it seems that rock 'n' roll is still alive and well.

Dreams of Water Review/HBSB Interview

Back in June, Backstage Press brought you an exclusive interview with Matt Fazzi's new band, Happy Body Slow Brain. He, along with bandmates Isaac Bolivar and Eduardo Torres, had just wrapped up recording Dreams of Water, which was released earlier this month.

Though many fans might know Fazzi from his stint in Taking Back Sunday, Dreams of Water proves that he is capable of much more than just fast alternative rock. Each song on Dreams has a different feel - from R&B bass-driven tunes to your standard rock song, it's all there.

One thing is for sure, this is a musical departure from Taking Back Sunday. But, that's not exactly a bad thing. What we have with Dreams is a record that grabs at many different genres to make one cohesive record.

"HBSB is limitless to us," said Fazzi via e-mail. "We don't feel confined to any one genre or style. Mixing it up is just too much fun. With TBS, there was an expectation sonically so you couldn't really mess with the formula all that much."

Happy Body Slow Brain: Making the Record from happybodyslowbrain on Vimeo.

If mixing it up is what HBSB are going after, they certainly accomplished their goal. "Never Loved," the third track on Dreams, switches at the breakdown from a smooth, lightly distorted guitar track to a crunchier, rhythmic tune that will surprise you mid-song.

Listeners should be ready to hear more than your standard guitar, bass and drums lineup, too. There's plenty of synth and piano melodies in the mix. You even get an instrumental piece mid-record ("The Flight"), which Fazzi took the time to explain to us.

"Most of the guitar/bass/synth tones we just kinda figured out along the way," said Fazzi. "We are so pumped and proud of how it turned out. It also rained heavily while we were there which had a big influence on the vibe."

The band are currently streaming Dreams here, as well as selling digital download packages loaded with tons of freebies. If you order, you'll receive the 13-track record download, the official cover art, individual artwork for every song, a documentary of the making of Dreams, an album cover poster, lyrics sheet, a band portrait and a video for "The Flight."

And if you like what you hear, and live on the East Coast, check HBSB out live. They're touring now through mid-October.

Anberlin Interview/CD Review

This coming Tuesday is a big day for Florida alt-rockers, Anberlin. It marks the release of their fifth studio album, Dark Is The Way, Light Is a Place.

Probably one of the most up and coming bands from the scene, Anberlin are starting to make waves in pop radio markets. This no doubt started with the re-release of "Feel Good Drag" off their 2008 album, New Surrender. And coming into this record, it's clear the boys haven't slowed down.

The 10-song album explodes on the first track, "We Owe This To Ourselves." In classic Anberlin fashion, the guys have melded melody with extremely technical guitar playing straight through the song's breakdown. Post breakdown is met with Nathan Young's signature tight drumming which leads into a lone piano playing the track out.

Though "Owe This" might sound reminiscent of Anberlin's earlier work on Cities, guitarist Christian McAlhaney told Backstage Press that the band didn't want to put out more of the same thing.

"We just tried a lot of different stuff, a lot of different instrumentation," said McAlhaney. "I mean there's one song that has almost a Latin beat, which is totally bizarre. We've never done that. We're just trying new things, really."

That idea of trying new things can best be heard on tracks like "Closer and "Art of War." The latter even opens with a mixture of electronic beats and an organ.

Lyrically, Dark is well, darker. It seems that lead singer Stephen Christian took an extremely personal approach in writing this album as evidenced in "Pray Tell." Are you hiding secrets from me?/ Is there more to this life than I can see?/ What will I find out over time?/ waiting for the moment to arrive.

Avid Anberlin fans should be happy with the record. All your classic Anberlin elements are there. Dark is a fast-paced, catchy album that's just as radio ready as it is stage ready. Simply put, it's a must have.

Songs to Download: We Owe This To Ourselves, Pray Tell, Art of War

Happy Body Slow Brain Interview

Life's been a whirlwind for musician Matt Fazzi over the past year. From releasing New Again with Taking Back Sunday (which debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200), to touring the world alongside some of the biggest names in music and then suddenly finding himself without a band this past March, it's safe to say the fresh-faced San Jose native has been chewed up and spit out by the music industry.

But will any of that stop him from giving it another try? Don't count on it.

With his new found freedom, Fazzi and fellow musicians Isaac Bolivar and Eduardo Torres have turned their sites on their newest project, Happy Body Slow Brain. In fact, the trio recently finished recording a new record in Michigan with producer Marc Hudson (Saves The Day).

"It was the most fun I've ever had making an album," said Fazzi via email, "because it was incredibly relaxed, productive and super efficient."

The band spent two and a half weeks with Hudson working a variety of sounds that they refer to as "Prog-R&B." Trying out an incredible number of guitar, bass and keyboard effects, HBSB created an incredibly complex and layered record.

"It was such a blast experimenting with pedals/tones/different guitars while making the record," said Fazzi. "I think we got some really beautiful tones and some really gnarly alien sounding guitars on the record as well."

While this might be a step away from the power-chord rock 'n' roll of TBS, Fazzi said this is exactly where he wants to be.

"Happy Body Slow Brain is just a more pure reflection of the broader overall tastes of Isaac and I," he said. "We prefer to make more challenging music with lots of mixed elements. With TBS, there was an expectation sonically so you couldn't really mess with the formula all that much."

So what can the fans expect to hear? Well, that might be a little of everything explained Fazzi. "We had ideas going all over the place," he said. "It also rained heavily while we were there which had a big influence on the vibe of the record."

HBSB are currently label-less, yet they hope to put out their new record as soon as possible. The band said to keep a close eye on their websites as some new music should be uploaded in the coming weeks. Also, if things can come together, look for HBSB to be doing some West Coast touring by August.

Technicalities aside though, Fazzi said he loves what he's doing.

"We made EXACTLY [the record] we wanted to make, and I can easily say it's the best music I've ever been a part of to date. We can't wait to share it with everyone."

East To Providence

A few blocks down Richmond Street in Providence, Rhode Island is Jerky's - a dimly lit dive bar with cheap beer, cheaper food and one of the smallest stages you'll find in New England. I had the pleasure of spending last Friday night there for "The Real Eve of Skatefest," aka the pre-show for Skatefest the next day in Worcester.

The lineup was dope. Boston band Lions Lions were first, followed by All The Day Holiday (who are awesome, check them out!) and then my personal favorites, Envy On The Coast. And as a surprise, if the acronym for the show didn't set you off, The Receiving End Of Sirens (TREOS) rounded off the night with a reunion performance.

The sets were all really good, though Envy ran into a bit of a snag during soundcheck. There was a whole lot of nothing going on, but the guys busted out an impromptu tune with just guitar and some wicked hard hitting drums.

Once things finally got going, they killed it. Most of their set was comprised of songs off their latest release, Lowcountry. They did throw in a few crowd favorites off Lucy Gray, too. The pit of maybe 15 people got pretty wild. Trust me. Envy's lead singer, Ryan Hunter, even crowd surfed at one point.

I had yet to see Envy perform much of anything off Lowcountry, so this show was great. Hearing all new material is definitely a plus. It's easy to see their growth as musicians now. Compare anything off their EP to what they're doing now, and you'll be blown away. Good job, boys.

Other than the music, we hung around a drank plenty of cheap Sam Adam's Cherry Wheat on tap. Ryan even came to have a brew with us. It was great. We chilled, watched the Bruins/Flyers game and talked hockey for a while. Nothing like meeting up with friends from city to city.

Check out an interview I did with Hunter about Lowcountry:

*All video/photography courtesy of Backstage Press

Live shots from Jerky's - May 7th, 2010