Handguns - Don't Bite Your Tongue Review

It's usually a band's sophomore release that makes or breaks them. And while Handguns may only be releasing their second EP of seven songs, it's these tracks that will prove sink or swim for the Pennsylvania quartet.

What fans of Handguns will be looking for is consistency. The band's first release, Anywhere But Home, was a quick, but memorable slice of pop-punk that meant something. This was a record that reflected the do-it-yourself spirit of pop-punk. It was the self-released, living out of a van, type of music that was missing from the scene.

So, can Handguns' new EP, Don't Bite Your Tongue, live up to everything off their first release - without being a mirror image of the record? You bet it can.

One listen through the EP and it's clearly Handguns. Forget the frills and producer tricks. This is straight pop-punk courtesy of a guitar, bass and drum kit. It's a snare happy, palm muted ride reminiscent of early 2000s pop-punk. Fast, fun and catchy - what more could you want?

Pop-punk has always had a certain nostalgic effect to it. Songs about lost love and better times, old friends and wasted youth - these are the concepts that defined the movement at its roots. Handguns know this, and show it with ease on Don't Bite Your Tongue.

The song "I Hope He Kills You" starts with lead singer Taylor Eby exclaiming, "I'll pretend my heart's not breaking / It's taken everything I have not to call you back / And I hope he breaks you down / The next time you call, I won't be around."

Couple these heart crunching lyrics with Eby's matured vocal approach and an instrumental take that relies as much on bass as it does on guitar and drums, and what you have is one of the most well rounded songs on the EP.

The message of the record is clear. Where playing shows and the open road defined Anywhere But Home, raw energy and emotion define Don't Bite Your Tongue. This essentially makes for the most relatable and solid grouping of tracks Handguns have ever put out.

So sink or swim? Despite track three's title ("Sink Like Lead"), this release should please the masses. It's consistent with what fans are already accustomed to, but catchy and relatable enough to reach a whole new pop-punk fan base. This EP definitely does more than tread water. Swim, swim, swim.

What To See At SXSW 2011

With South By Southwest just a month away, musicians, filmmakers, press and fans from across the world are gearing up for the yearly pilgrimage to Austin, Texas. The week-long festival, which started in the late 80s, has grown to incorporate the best of the global art scene.

From writing seminars to live music, trade shows to a film conference, this year's SXSW has got it all. There are set to be "can't miss" performances by Neon Trees, Dance Gavin Dance, Automatic Loveletter, Panic! At The Disco and more.

A music lover's dream, no doubt. And while fans can have their choice of what events they want to attend, not all the musical buzz will be held at the some 80 stages this year.

For those of you music purists with an affinity for vinyl and the long-lost record store, you're going to want to check out the film portion of SXSW this year. That's because you'll get to see the world premiere of the Official Film of Record Store Day, entitled, Sound It Out.

Sound It Out is a 75-minute documentary that chronicles life in the last surviving record store in Teesside, North East England.

TRAILER: SOUND IT OUT - A documentary by Jeanie Finlay from Jeanie Finlay on Vimeo.

In an all but too-rare phenomenon of the past decade, record stores have become virtually extinct. The availability of music on the internet has led to a serious decline in the sales and marketability of both vinyl and CDs. But, it seems that no matter where you live, there's still just one shop that has stayed open, despite all these setbacks.

And that's exactly what this documentary is looking at (and exactly why you should check it out). Sound It Out may take place over in the UK, but its fundamental meaning is something that rings true from country to country, wherever music is sold.

What does it mean to own a record? Why is it important to have a record shop around? Who even shops for these things anymore? This is what it's all about.

The filmmakers are also asking for a little bit of help from all you audiophiles out there. They've raised enough money to finish the film, but still need quite a bit to make it down to SXSW in Austin from the Northern UK. You can help 'em out by donating, and in return you'll score some sweet stuff. Depending on your donation, you'll receive stickers, a signed poster, a DVD of the film or even a few tickets to a screening in London this spring. To donate, click HERE.

So if you're headed to Texas next month, be sure to catch a screening of Sound It Out. And if you're not, but remain righteous to the cause, hit up the donation page and help the filmmakers out. Only you can keep rock 'n' roll alive.

GIVEAWAY - Punk-Rock Prize Pack

It's been two years since Backstage Press got started! And in celebration of our anniversary, we're giving away an awesome Punk-Rock Prize Pack. After all, you're the reason we're still here, still writing, still interviewing and still rocking out. So, we want to say thank you for all the good times with this sweet little giveaway. Check it out.

The Prize Pack includes:

An AUTOGRAPHED CD booklet from The Almost (Monster Monster)

Six (6) sampler CDs including songs from:

- Dashboard Confessional (alternate version of "Even Now")

- Close Your Eyes

- A Day To Remember

- The Audition

- Amber Pacific

- Sugarcult

- Mumford & Sons

- Passion Pit

- Cage The Elephant

- and more!

Limited Edition +44 stickers

Limited Edition Mark Hoppus Octopus stickers

The Dillinger Escape Plan stickers

Three (3) Envy On The Coast stickers - One from each record release (EP, Lucy Gray, Lowcountry)

Other stickers from This Providence, Reeve Oliver, Action Reaction and more

She & Him luggage tag/keychain

Newbury Comics brand earplugs

Newbury Comics balloons

Guitar picks

Pins/buttons

The whole Prize Pack!

Autographed CD booklet from The Almost (Monster Monster)

Limited Edition +44 & Mark Hoppus Octopus stickers

She & Him luggage tag/keychain, Newbury Comics earplugs, pins

Enter your name, email address and mailing address (in case you win). Your information is confidential, and will not be sold, used or given out.

Deadline to enter the giveaway is Friday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. (EST)

*We will ship internationally

The State Of The Scene

It's no surprise that the digital-age, coupled with a down economy, has drastically altered almost every facet of the music business. From touring to recording, to purchasing and listening to music, it seems that the only constant in the industry over the past decade has been change.

But what exactly does this mean for both musicians and fans? How can we combat this constant change? And perhaps more importantly, what steps can we take to keep the integrity of the scene alive?

Buying & Selling Music

Music is more accessible today than ever. With the popularity of iTunes, as well as free file sharing sites, picking up a song or album you're interested in is as easy as clicking the download button. But does this convenience come at a price to the musicians who create the music you're after? Absolutely.

Whether purchasing your music online or from a chain like Best Buy, you can be assured that the retailer is most likely keeping half of what you're paying. The remainder will probably go straight to the record label to cover recording costs, producer fees, distribution and any other financial offsets the label took care of. Realistically, the band you think you're supporting is making only a sliver off the royalties they're legally obligated to make.

So what can be done? The answer is simple - buy direct. That doesn't mean ordering a CD off the band's website. Instead, pick up an album directly from the band at one of their shows. Chances are they bought those CDs in bulk from their label, and are selling them to you without any added taxes, shipping or fees that go straight back to label executives.

Think of it as saving the scene by putting your hard earned money directly into the hands of the artists, instead of the pockets of corporate bigwigs.

Touring

Going on tour is the best way for bands to make quick cash and gain invaluable exposure. But, as we mentioned earlier, with the sluggish economy slowing everyone's spending down, it's getting harder for bands to bring the big crowds to their shows.

But, as touring is a form of marketing, many bands have opted for new and exciting ways to bring the fans out. It might not always warrant the greatest cash flow initially, but these innovative ideas are helping hook fans for the long haul.

Just before Motion City Soundtrack's latest album My Dinosaur Life was released in early 2010, lead singer Justin Pierre hit the road with only an acoustic guitar, some stickers and a few close friends. His goal was to play free impromptu performances nationwide, in the oddest assortment of places, to anyone willing to listen.

And it worked. By the end of the tour, which generated insane amounts of coverage online, hoards of people were showing up in parks, on sidewalks and on college campuses to see Pierre perform. Those crowds eventually followed MCS on tour after the release - including Warped Tour and a slew of club dates.

Other bands such as Hawthorne Heights have also decided to shed the amps and pedalboards for strictly acoustic tours. The "Stripped To The Bone Tour" that HH are currently on, stands as a great way for the band to get exposure and make some money, all while keeping costs down.

Think about it, no giant trailer filled with cables, amps and mics to lug around. That saves on everything from gas to tolls, and in turn provides fans with a real intimate setting to see one of their favorite bands. Just another way bands are finding ways to fight the changing face of the music industry.

Record Labels

Let's face it, making music is expensive and musicians seem to never have any cash. And this is where record labels come into play. Labels are there to take care of all the expensive stuff up front - studio time, producer fees, CD distribution and promotion. And in return, most of what the band make off of sales goes back to the label.

It can be a vicious cycle. As seen in the past, when disagreements between labels and their artists arise, it can lead to lawsuits and, in some cases, bands breaking up. So, in the label-heavy music world of today, is there anywhere a band can turn to still cover their costs without having to go 100 percent do-it-yourself?

You bet your skinny jeans there is. The newest wave of record labels to hit the digital-age bridges the gap between band, label and even the fan-base. Take for instance the new company called, Crowdbands. They're a label that let fans donate money to help cover recording costs, and in turn give fans a say in what songs make the album.

What could be better? Bands make the music they want, fans choose what they want to hear, your money doesn't get pumped to the top of the corporate ladder and artists can finally have a career in music rather than retail. It's about time.

Age

Believe it or not, age discrimination is part of the music business today. Let's face it, who's going to sell more records to a hungry, neon obsessed, teen fan-base -- a group of beard sporting, PBR drinking dudes in their late 20s to early 30s, or some fresh faced hipsters with wild hair and hand tattoos?

The latter, obviously. Labels know this, and it's exactly why you've got Never Shout Never gracing the cover of Alternative Press almost every other month, while veteran bands like Bayside have yet to nab a cover shoot.

So where's the scene you fell in love with? Well, like you, it's getting older... fast. But that doesn't mean it's dead. Terrible Things lead singer Fred Mascherino sat down with Backstage Press last year to discuss this very topic.

"You know, our fans that were 17 when we were in our big bands - now they're 23, 22. But I really believe in what we're doing, and we think it's worth it."

Mascherino, who recently turned 36, is well aware of the "dying" scene. But that's not stopping him, or other older and established bands like MXPX, New Found Glory and blink-182 from making new music. If anything, it's these dedicated lifers that are helping keep the integrity of the music industry alive.

Lessons Learned

The fact of the matter is that today's music industry is as broken as Capitol Hill. And the only thing that's going to save it are grassroots movements such as the ones listed above. The industry needs more innovative ideas like these - ideas that challenge the boundary between artist and fan, label and band, and consumer and retailer.

What the past decade has lost sight of is the music itself, the artist and the connection with the fans. Music isn't just meant to be about convenience and money. Get that notion across the radio waves and consider the industry saved.

American Idiot Film

It's hard to believe that Green Day's American Idiot was released over six years ago. But perhaps what's more amazing is the impact it's still having on not only the punk scene, but American pop-culture in general.

The Grammy winning album that burned classics like "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" into the heads of millions worldwide is now a musical on Broadway. In fact, in the coming weeks, the show will star Melissa Etheridge as the record's protagonist, St. Jimmy (a spot currently being played by Green Day vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong).

But the band, along with the musical's producers, are looking to take the phenomenon that is American Idiot beyond the stage. That's right, straight to the big screen.

While all this still remains in talks, both Armstrong and musical director Michael Mayer said the album is suited perfectly for film. Think about it. American Idiot is a rock-opera built around the lives of American youth trying to make sense of their lives, their dreams and the decay of suburbia in a post-9/11 world. The story is as visually appealing as the record is musically riveting.

Mayer recently told the New York Times that, "There are people who have the ability to make it [a film version] happen, who have expressed genuine interest in it, and we want to do it, so I think it could happen."

So what about characters? Who would play that coveted spot of St. Jimmy? When the Times asked both Armstrong and Mayer that question, Armstrong simply smiled and shrugged - to which Mayer responded, "I think it's a no-brainer."

The impact that a film version of the musical/rock-opera could have on pop-culture is massive. The musical alone has grown exponentially. Starting off in the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California in September of 2009, the production has since moved to the St. James Theater on Broadway where it's been playing non-stop since March 2010.

A movie, nationwide, could essentially connect the masses to the message once again, as it was in '04 and '05 when Green Day toured relentlessly in support of the album.

And beyond all that American Idiot has become, Armstrong says he's got his sights set on some new types of writing.

"I think I'd be interested in the future of really getting into writing specifically for a [theater] show," Armstrong told the Times. "The kind of music that I like is very immediate and very catchy, and you identify with it quickly, and I try to write that way. And in musical theater it's the same thing: you identify with the songs immediately, the good ones anyway."

So there you have it, Green Day enthusiasts. You might not have to make the pilgrimage to NYC to catch American Idiot live after all. You lucky punks.

**We'd like to thank our correspondent K.C. for the research for this post**