Cans - Blood, Sweat, and Beers Review

      I dig this album. A lot. That's the easiest way to put it. It's very tight pop punk with super aggressive vocals. Though the sound itself is much harsher, the melodic style reminds me a lot of Crucial Dudes. I genuinely wish this was longer than four songs. I haven't gotten too many submissions from Austria, so I'm glad they were the first. Plus, the album artwork is super cool. Definitely check these guys out, I give it a solid 4/5.

Alex The Kid / Columbus - Split Review

           Fun fact: This split rules. The five piece Alex The Kid and trio Columbus put out a beauty of a split. This album contains most everything good about today's neo-punk rock. The guitars crunch, the vocals are dirty, but on point, and the whole thing stays true to punks roots. I genuinely wish the tag teams weren't from Australia, so I had a decent shot at seeing them live.
          ATK's two song side is tight as tight can be. The tracks are up beat, catchy, and generally punk. On the flip side, Columbus' three track side is rad as rad can be. "Nothing" is a genuinely great song. This is one of the album's I've reviewed that will be kept on my iPod for my listening pleasure. Album is a full 5/5, I just wish it was longer.

Alicewell - "Wounds" review.

      

                     I'm still behind on these, and to be honest I'm a month behind on this one, so my apologies to Alicewell. That being said, their album entitled "Wounds" is not too shabby. I think it may be a bit of a stretch to fall into any sort of pop punk categorization, but I think it may overlap a lot of fans. There's seven tracks of pop-rock goodness on this release, and I haven't found a standout-poor song on it. These fine, young, Swedish gentlemen have done a quality job of creating music that can cross genres and draw in fans from many different groups.
                   The album maintains a steady energy throughout, with no lulls. Take it as you will, but the tone and attitude is almost identical across every song front to back. Some people may prefer the consistency, but I would have liked to see them change some things up a bit. It's definitely not breakdown music, but a little something would have gone a long way.

Tl;dr

• Alicewell (Eskilstuna, Sweden)
• For fans of: Taking Back Sunday, This Providence 
• Wounds Album
• Favorite Track: Wounds
• 3/5

Thieves - Colorchange EP Review

                  I'd never heard of Thieves until they contacted me regarding their latest EP, but after asking around it turns out they actually have quite a few fans in my town. I also once had a teacher who spent a moderate amount of time talking shit on the state of Texas, but these guys could definitely take her. Thieves most recent release is a thirteen minute spin of pleasure and grace. The Colorchange EP was released on 90 Five Records and production-wise, came out flawlessly. Music wise, I can't find anything to complain about. There is enough variety throughout the five tracks to keep you involved, but the band is very definitely planted in their genre. Genre hopping/stretching works for some bands (Brand New) and not for others (most everyone else), but Thieves know who they are, and are confident in it. This is a band I would actually like to see live, and maybe have them sing me to sleep.

Tl;dr

• Thieves (Austin, Texas)
• For fans of: With The Punches, Stickup Kid, Hawthorne Heights
• Colorchange EP
• Favorite Track: Colorchange
• 4.5/5

facebook.com/thievestx

http://thievestx.bandcamp.com/album/colorchange

Infinite Singal - "Nox Opus" Album Review

       Today I come to you with a review of Infinite Signal’s full length “Nox Opus”. “Why?” you ask. Well, because it’s my job, and with great music comes great responsibility. But I digress, this trio out of Minneapolis not only came to me for a review, but they ended up playing in my town as well on tour supporting this new album. Everything about this band screams “I grew up to [2004 pop punk band].” And while the band may not necessarily be doing anything progressively mind-blowing, what they are doing – they are doing well. The album has a smooth sense of alternating between lyrically packed fast songs (Z-word) to slower ones that get you in the feelings (The Sounding Line). Altogether, I don’t have anything negative to say about the album, but it’s nothing ground breaking either. It’s good, and very well written and performed, but it might not amaze you.

Tl;dr

• Infinite Signal (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 
• For fans of: New Found Glory
• Full Length Release
• Favorite Track: The Sounding Line
• 2.5/5.

Variants - The Concept Of Color album review

              This album kicks ass. There's no way around that. Variants' full length, "The Concept Of Color" comes out tomorrow, and you do not want to miss it. The album strays from anything you would expect out of a pop punk album today. The 11 track album comes on heavy, and lays it on thick. If you're expecting the upbeat rhythm and nasally vocals of today's pop punk world, forget it. The voice alone is enough to put this band on a path of it's own. His voice reminds me of some metal band I heard one time that I can't remember, but used in a much more melodic and audibly pleasing way. Between the distinguished vocals and flawless harmonies, the words are a true pleasure to take in. The music is no doubt heavier than what you're probably expecting, but I assure you that this is worth venturing outside your comfort zone. All 11 tracks are flawless, I'm off to see if they have some shirts or something. 

Tl;dr

• Variants (New Orleans, Louisiana)
• For fans of: A Loss For Words, Lakota De Kai
• Full Length Release
• Favorite Track: All of them. But mostly "Sentences"
• 5/5. Entirely flawless. 

The Black Sox Scandal - Forward Progress EP Review

          prog·ress [n.] - a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage; growth or development, continuous improvement

            The Forward Progress EP embraces just that. A three song release by The Black Sox Scandal focuses on getting over and moving on. The pop punk trio may still be relatively knew, but they have the distinct advantage of residing in the pop punk breeding ground that is the Philly/Jersey area. The vocals on the release are reminiscent of Mayday Parade before we graduated high school, with a distinct melodic style. The EP is good, there's no arguing that. Even if the style isn't your thing, there's no denying the talent put into this music. My biggest complaint is that it's only three songs, but I'm genuinely interested to see what else they come out with. 

Tl;dr

• The Black Sox Scandal (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
• For fans of: Mayday Parade, Head North, Bayside, Anberlin
• Debut Release: Forward Progress
• Favorite Track: Anchors
• 4/5

facebook.com/theblacksoxscandal

http://theblacksoxscandal.bandcamp.com

88 To Yesterday - Choose Your Own Adventure Review

           Shout out to Australia for making love with itself and producing these fine young gentlemen and their reflection of textbook pop punk. The 5 quintet from down under is working their way up with their debut EP "Choose Your Own Adventure." The five song release is everything you thought had worked its way out of the scene. Lucky for you though, here it is. "Choose Your Own Adventure" starts off right with a mellow few seconds and then a power crunch riff that will drag in anyone who was once a Sum 41 fan. The album starts off fast and and the songs slow down towards the end of the EP, but never loses it's ability to captivate. As the latter half mellows out, the aggression is lost, but never the passion. You can hear in the slightly nasally vocals, that these guys care about what they're doing, and that's what's important, right?

Tl;dr

• 88 To Yesterday (Perth, Australia) 
• For fans of: Sum 41, New Found Glory, Blink 182, Yellowcard
• Debut Release: Choose Your Own Adventure
• Favorite Track: Sarah Says
• 4/5

facebook.com/88ToYesterday

88toyesterday.bandcamp.com/

Dugout - Where There Used To Be Meaning Album Review

        Super classic pop punk. Pennsylvania natives Dugout are the band that those 2004 pop punk elitists that hangout next to the venue would actually approve of. If you had to explain the genre to your grandmother, you could probably skip the $70 vintage New Found Glory album and just play her this. As corny as that sounds, this is good stuff. 

        The Lansdale four-piece is holding nothing back and taking no prisoners on this one. Where There Used To Be Meaning is the title needed to describe the "move on and forget you" attitude throughout the album. 8 tracks of mid-song tempo changes, upbeat drums, and one song with some guy named Ziggy changing the vocals up. I couldn't find a bad song on this album, and I would 100% recommend this band to anybody missing the good old days or whatever. 

Tl;dr

• Dugout (Lansdale, Pennsylvania)
• For fans of: New Found Glory, Blink 182, Bowling For Soup, Yellowcard
• Third Release,  Where There Used To Be Meaning
• Favorite Track: Distance
• 3.8/5

www.facebook.com/dugoutpa

http://dugoutpa.bandcamp.com/

http://www.twitter.com/dugoutpa
http://www.reverbnation.com/dugoutpa
http://www.dugoutpa.stereokiller.com
http://www.paintedoxrecords.com

Second-Hand Hero - "Pictures" Album Review

          I recently got my hands on the new release "Pictures" by Berlin pop-core band Second-Hand Hero. And if pop-core wasn't a term before, it is now. The German quartet's 15 track full length packs a serious punch. I'll be honest and say this isn't normally what I'm in too, and after the first few songs I wasn't expecting to really get into it. But about halfway through, it struck a chord with me. It's like the old ADTR we all grew up on that still holds a place in our hearts.
           And boy, do these guys kill it. Unlike a lot of similar music in the scene today, the album has notable variety. No two songs are too alike, and as the cool jazz riff at the end of "Evacuation" establishes, there are no boundaries here. I dig this album a lot, it's actually one of my favorites I've reviewed so far, though if you initially described it to me I probably would not have been too stoked. Funny how that works.

Tl;dr

• Second-Hand Hero
• Debut Full Length: Pictures
• For Fans Of: City A Day To Remember, Four Year Strong
• Favorite Track: Evacuation
• 4.5/5 Stars

facebook.com/secondhandheroband

http://www.reverbnation.com/secondhandheroband

Drop The Act - When The Going Gets Tough Review

       Drop The Acts debut EP, When The Going Gets Tough is not what you expect it to be. Weird, right? Well it is, but in an entirely positive way. I'm not completely sure what I expected going in, but this wasn't it. Hailing from my home state, Pennsylvania, this New Castle five piece is just different enough to really capture your attention. 

       I think it's the voice. Right from the beginning, it's what you'll notice. This cherubic melody of a voice is way off base for what you've come to expect from a pop punk band, but it's rad. The six track release flows very nicely and is soft, but upbeat. I can imagine the album being perfect to play at a pool party, or driving to the beach, or something fun and in need of some catchy music. The track "Sunsets In Silhouettes" can also work well for your summer romance. The acoustic-into-electric ballad is a heartfelt message to some lucky lady out there. All in all, this is a quality release, and definitely mixes up the stream of pop punk consistency. You're either going to love it or hate it, but at least give it the chance. 

Tl;dr

• Drop The Act (New Castle, PA)
• Debut EP, When The Going Gets Tough
• For Fans Of: City Lights, Handguns, State Champs, Mayday Parade
• Favorite Track: Tattoos Gauges, and Ripped Jeans
• 4/5 Stars

droptheact.com

facebook.com/pages/Drop-The-Act

http://droptheact1.bandcamp.com/

Almighty Chicks From The Atlantic - Debut Album

          Back to Europe. I recently got my hands on the debut album of Almighty Chicks From The Atlantic. The group of 5 hails from Bordeaux, France and it pushing this album all over the world. I'll be the first to admit the music isn't exactly my forte, but there is no denying its ability to stick. The eleven song release combines the European trance phenomenon with traditional American pop punk. The first thing I thought of was playing and hanging out with Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! a few months back. The music is by no means bad, it just isn't something I'm in to, and I try to be as unbiased as possible in these write ups. 

        After seeing the turnout for that Chunk! show, I know there is a market for these guys. I'd fully recommend at least giving it a listen, maybe you're into it and you  never even knew. 

Tl;dr

• Almighty Chicks From The Atlantic (Bordeaux, France)
• For fans of: Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, City Lights, Handguns, Hit The Lights
• Debut Album
• Favorite Track: Waiting Room
• 3 Stars

Review: On Call Heroes - "I'm An Adult"

     

       First off, I just want to start this review by saying that this release is banging. Really though, this is tight. On Call Heroes are releasing "I'm An Adult" on April 18, and if I didn't already have it, I'd be pretty damn excited. The Canadian five-piece have a handful of prior releases, but they really stepped up the game with this.
   
       Hindsight is 20/20, and it seems like OCH have figured that out. The EP is a look back on should-haves and would-haves, but also a step in finding closure. The band touches on some familiar topics; friends, family, relationships, and the parts of life that force you to make choices. It may be the same subjects you've heard before, but the presentation is something you can't help but appreciate. With a wide variety of parts, from gang chants to heart felt melodies, there's a song for most whatever you're feeling.

     "I'm An Adult" can be pre-ordered for only $5 on the groups bandcamp, and comes out April 18.

Tl;dr

• On Call Heroes (British Columbia, Canada)
• For fans of: Mayday Parade, Neck Deep, Blink182, The Starting Line, Say Anything
• Latest EP, "I'm An Adult"
• Favorite Track: It's Because I Got Fat, Isn't It?
• 4.5 Stars

facebook.com/oncallheroes

http://oncallheroes.bandcamp.com/ http://www.myspace.com/oncallheroes http://oncallheroes.bigcartel.com/

More Than This (Single) - Layby Review

Nottingham England's pop punk band Layby, is currently in the process of recording their first EP and I was able to get my hands on their debut single, More Than This. The track is four minutes of hard hitting vocals, spaced out between building instrumentals broken up with an dance-able break down. The vocals are on point, riffs are upbeat and catchy, and the song will hook you in hard. Check it here

http://laybyuk.bandcamp.com/track/more-than-this

Tl;dr

• Layby (Nottingham, England)
• For fans of: Chunk! No Captain Chunk!, The Story So Far, Yellowcard
• Debut Single, More Than This
• 3.5 Stars

Daisyhead Interview

This Is Pop Punk Promotions with an exclusive interview with Michael and Zach of Daisyhead. Daisyhead is a three piece from Nashville, TN. Check them out at

https://www.facebook.com/daisyheadtn

http://daisyhead.bandcamp.com

Who is Daisyhead? (names, instruments)

Michael Roe - Vocals/Guitar

Zach Chiarizzio - Bass/Vocals

Curtis Durard - Guitar

Chad Burroughs - Drums

How long have you been a band?

We have been a band since August of 2012

How was the band formed?

The original drummer and Curtis wanted to start a rock side project from their hardcore band.  They asked me if I wanted to sing, and I was down as hell.

Then I got Zach in the band because he's pretty much my brother, and we had played in bands together before.

Where are you from?

I am from Memphis, TN, but I have lived in Nashville since 2007, so Nashville is my home now.

Everyone else is also from the Nashville area.

How is the scene in your area? How has it helped you grow as band?

It's really cool, but because it is Music City, it can sometimes seem over-saturated.  It's been great being surrounded by so many great musicians of all different genres and backgrounds.  We have each made so many friends in the industry because of how many people here are involved in the music scene.

How would you describe your band and the kind of music you play?

We are just four guys trying to write music that reflects how we feel and what sounds good to us.  I write about things that piss me off or make me sad, and luckily the other guys write stuff that compliments those feelings.

Who are your musical influences?

My personal influences involve Yellowcard, Balance & Composure, Taking Back Sunday, and some other goodies.

Tell us about your upcoming tour with Cove and Nest

This is our first full tour, and we are all SO excited.  We are very proud to be able to hit some of the coolest spots in the country to represent where we are from.

Even before this tour, Cove and Nest had been two of my favorite bands, and not just locally.  They both bring so much to the table, and it's truly an honor to share the road with them.

You recently put out a split with Have Mercy, tell us about it!

We have gotten such a great response from it!  When Chris(No Sleep Records Founder) asked us if we wanted to do a split with them, we were immediately down, due to how awesome their previous material is.  Those guys rule, and their songs kick ass!

How excited are you to play Bled Fest this year?

Excited is definitely an understatement!  The lineup is crazy, and it's definitely overwhelming to have been asked to be a part of it.

Bounds Of Modesty EP Review

         Why do you feel all alone tonight? I have no idea, but there are some guys in Amsterdam who have your back. The Netherlands may not be the pop punk hot bed that Jersey and SoCal have become, but Bounds of Modesty are looking to put their hometown, and maybe country, on the map.

          

        Their sophomore EP is a tightly composed example of everything you miss about what this scene used to be, and the 5 track release will find you catching yourself day dreaming about the music you wish you still listened to. A follow up to their 2013 release, The Great Overture, the EP offers a variety different from many releases of the past few years. The opening track, Concrete, is an upbeat anthem to loneliness. With some heavy snare action, the palm muted verses draw you in until you reach the emphatic four-count pauses that precede a chorus built for dancing. Concrete is followed up with Ghosts Of A Bad Dream, which throws a shot of indie into the mix. The song starts with a fade into a punching vocal intro, and swaps between bass-lined verses and a short but sweet synth melody. Our Dancing Days is the post-love ballad we all needed at one point, and also happens to be my personal favorite. The song is notably faster than many breakup ballads, but keeps the emotion flowing throughout.  Sunset Serenade is coincidently reminiscent of your favorite Secondhand Serenade song, and completes the main track listing perfectly, on a soft and memorable note. The fifth and final track included, appropriately titled In Closing, is a vocal-less, piano driven compilation of the four previous tracks. BofM brilliantly fit the most notable parts of each track into one smooth flowing song that while considered a “bonus track,” really completes the EP.

         Altogether, the release is great. Its pop punk/indie cross even dips its feet in one end of the emo revival pool, where it’s still cool to be sad. The EP is completely worth the twenty minute listen, and an add to your “Sad Music” iTunes folder.

Tl;dr

• Bounds Of Modesty (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
• For fans of: Taking Back Sunday, Blink 182, Halifax, Real Friends, Boys Liked Girls, Dashboard Confessional, Angels & Airwaves
• Favorite Track: Our Dancing Days
• 3.5 Stars

www.boundsofmodesty.com

facebook.com/BoundsOfModesty

Interview with Fairmount

This Is Pop Punk Promotions with an exclusive interview featuring Fairmount. Fairmount is a four piece Pop Punk band from Philadelphia, PA. Check out the single “Walls” at http://fairmountpa.bandcamp.com 

https://www.facebook.com/FairmountPA 

(TIPPP): Who is Fairmount?

Alex Mola - Vocals

Danny Lapetina - Guitars

Giovanni  Vera - Bass

(TIPPP): Where are you from?

(D): We are actually all from different areas. This band started to take shape in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but Giovanni and I both live in Philadelphia now and Alex lives in Maryland.

(TIPPP): How long has Fairmount been a band?

(G): Danny and myself wrote two singles, one including Walls, back in late summer 2013 and then took a few months off. We were having trouble finding a drummer and vocalist, but after picking up Alex in almost January, yet still unable to find a drummer. We decided at the music video to go on as a 3-piece, picking up a show/tour drummer and second guitarist as they come along. So, we’ve been a serious band for a little over a month now.

(TIPPP): Where did the name Fairmount come from?

(G): I’m usually the one that comes up with the band names, at least in our previous projects, and I was coming up with good names but not future headliners, name in the big lights type of names. After awhile, I was just getting so frustrated that I said out loud “Whatever, I’m just heading to Fairmount to get some damn chinese food” then it hit me.

(D): It’s a neighborhood in Philadelphia and it ultimately doesn’t mean anything more than that. Our main priority was that it would sound good, and we feel like it doesn’t need to be meaningful or purposeful. 

(TIPPP): How did Fairmount become a band?

(G): Danny is originally from hardcore/metal hybrid In Alcatraz 1962, Alex is from An Obsecure Signal, From Atlantis and Texas In July. Myself, I’m just a tour goon who tends to go out on tour every once in a while, doing Vans Warped Tour. We really wanted to break free from the heavier stuff and focus on something different. Danny and I have been best friends since 2005 so that was a piece of cake, the real problem was finding a vocalist that we enjoyed having. We searched and Danny remembered Alex from touring and how he was working on a solo project, the first time us 3 hung out together as a group (besides one show up in New England back in 2012) was just a few short weeks ago to shoot the “Walls” music video.

(TIPPP): How would you describe yourselves as a band?

(G): Weird, we’re just really weird but in a good way. We’ve worked with people in the past and it always seemed like high school, certain people talked to certain people, just cliques forming. Not in this band. From the get go it was literally brotherhood. If you saw all of us together the first time we met, you wouldn’t think that most of us were complete strangers.

(D): We definitely aren’t a band that will claim to be the most unique or creative band out there in our genre. I think the best way to describe this band is that we are literally just writing songs that we like without reservation and without worrying about what anyone else is doing. 

(TIPPP): How do you feel the scene in your area has helped your band grow?

(G): To be honest, none of us know much about the Philadelphia scene, Danny moved here less than 5 days ago. I’ve only been here since January, Alex is from an entirely different state. The areas that we do know have been a huge factor and reacting so well to our new sound, we can’t thank them enough. As for the Philadelphia market, we still have to break into that.

(TIPPP): Who are your influences/favorite bands growing up and currently?

(D): When Giovanni and I started this project, our biggest influence or incentive was actually not so much a band, but more of getting away from metalcore as a genre and doing something that would be fun and less stressful for us. At the very start of this project, I was really into what The Story so Far was doing, but throughout writing I found that looking back to cornerstone bands that I grew up with like Blink-182 were really helpful in the process. 

(TIPPP): Tell us about your single “Walls”

(A): It’s about maybe things don’t happen for a reason and that I have to do everything for myself, not expect life to just unfold as it is but make it so everything that I want to happen, happy myself.

(TIPPP): What was it like making the music video for “Walls” 

(G): It was definitely an fun experience, nerve wracking because most of us has never been in or on the set of a video before so it was more “You go first, no you go first!”

The video was directed by our good friend Travis Fatchaline and unfortunately we had to cut it short because I kicked one of the lights on accident and we lost power to the entire place, we still had a lot of footage to do and only one day to do it.

(TIPPP): Any big plans for 2014?

(D): ..... ; )

Interview with Stay Strong

     This Is Pop Punk Promotions, with an exclusive interview featuring Stay Strong. Stay Strong is 4 piece Pop punk band from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. You can pick up their new Ep tomorrow on their bandcamp!

http://defendstaystrong.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/defendstaystrong

Josh (J), Zach (Z), Rad (R), Sam (S)

TIPPP- How long has Stay Strong been a band?

R: A little over a year, since December of 2012.

TIPPP- How’d you guys get the name Stay Strong ?

J: I had a (now former) best friend who was going through a lot of the same struggles I was and when we’d end a conversation or say goodbye for a period of time we’d always tell each other to “Stay Strong.” I brought it up to the other guys and they seemed to dig it so that’s what we went with.

R: It basically just symbolizes staying positive.

Z: STAY POSI (haha)

TIPPP- Where are you guys from?

J: Well I’m originally from Madison, Wisconsin, but I moved up to Eau Claire for school.

Z: I’m from Chippewa Falls just outside of Eau Claire.

R: I’m originally from Duluth, MN but moved here 3 years ago. All of us besides Zach currently live in Eau Claire, which is also where we practice.

TIPPP- How did Stay Strong come about as a band?

J: I met our original rhythm guitarist Chris Korman in the summer of 2012 and we hit it off right away. We were frustrated with the music coming out of Eau Claire at the time and we were really into bands like The Wonder Years, The Story So Far, Turnover etc. and wanted to start writing some more aggressive pop-punk. We started recruiting members shortly thereafter. I knew Zach from a previous band we were in together (he joined as our lead guitarist) and he enlisted the help of our former bass player Paul Rieck. Chris brought Rad in on drums and we kicked out 3 songs in the first 3 weeks of being a band. Rad approached us about two months after he started saying he had to leave the band.

R: I left the band for a few reasons, one was to take over more of a booking and managing aspect and the others were a number of personal reasons.

J: Shortly after that Adam Kirby joined us on drums and we kicked out 5 more songs and started playing shows.

TIPPP- How is the scene in your area?

Z: Eau Claire is a scene oversaturated with every genre of metal known to man, we kind of feel like the odd band out. Other than us, there really aren’t many other bands with a similar sound. The closest would be our good buds in Arms Aloft. There are quite a few venues in the area, unfortunately, not many are all ages venues, but we take what we can get. I’m just glad to see venues popping up willing to host shows and bring in outside touring acts.  If you took a look at Eau Claire 5 years ago, there really was nothing going on. Bands came and went, but nothing was coming out of this area.

R: The scene here, truth be told, I feel is lacking. But like what Zach mentioned, we don’t have any other bands close to our genre or style. Its all death metal, which don’t get me wrong I love, but I wish we had more to work with here. But since we are kind of the odd band out, it makes us work 10 times harder. We all just have high hopes f0r this band and this scene.

J: The only other music than metal that really comes out of Eau Claire is indie or pop music and that’s not really our thing.

TIPPP- What would you guys say that makes your band different from every other band?

J: Pizza and Sparks (alcohol)! Just kidding haha I think we have a wider range of influences that shine through in our music. We’re definitely a band who is all about the music. We like to have fun, but for us, it’s not about excessive partying, popularity or impressing women. We just love to write songs.

TIPPP- How long have you guys been together?

J: With this current lineup (who recorded the EP)? Since October 2013.

TIPPP- So you guys are releasing a new Ep on February 28th, tell us about that!

R: The EP really puts how we all feel about life into music.

S: For me, this is my first experience recording in a professional environment so I’m pretty excited. Very fun, much wow. It was a good experience getting to travel with my good friends to Madison, Wi to write and record music we love.

Z: …and getting a honeymoon suite together…in a sketchy ass hotel!

J: This is really the first band, the first recordings, I’ve been truly proud of putting out as a musician. With all my other bands, my heart was never truly in the music. But this is everything to me, it’s all I had for so long.

TIPPP- Explain the writing/recording process of the new ep?

J: We went into the studio with all the songs basically written, so it was just sitting down and tracking out our individual parts. Working with our producer Jared Norton of Norton Studios was really a great experience. He did a fantastic job on the recordings.

S: I was nervous because it was my first experience, but Jared made it really easy.

J: What generally happens is, I’ll record a rough version of the full song, take it to the guys, and they’ll write their parts and make changes. Some songs, like “Worst Intentions,” Zach and Rad wrote live and I came in and finished it off with a few lead guitar suggestions and vocals.

Z: The sky is blue.

R: I went down there looking for one of the best experiences of my life; time to get away and play the music that I love.

TIPPP- If you don’t mind what are the lyrics about in the new Ep?

J: The lyrics are about where I’ve been for the past 4 years of my life. I’ve suffered from severe depression since I was 16 years old and once I moved to Eau Claire, away from my family and old friends, and with the added pressures of school, it got a whole lot worse. That’s what “Oh, Claire” deals with directly, the poor choices I made in regards to my drinking habits and addictions, the decline of a 4 year relationship and going completely broke. “Nothing to Come Home to,” even though it’s the first track, is dealing with the aftermath of the content in “Oh, Claire.” I basically took an inventory of my life and realized I was broke, relationship-less, and drinking way too much. I felt like I had nothing to come home to, literally, and also felt like I myself was nothing special for someone else to come home to either. That track is extremely honest, comprised of real conversations between my ex-girlfriend and myself, conversations with myself, and real life situations I found myself in. “Worst Intentions” is just me personifying my depression. I wrote it to sound like I was talking about a person, but it’s really just about how depression can creep up at any moment and put you in a vice grip, squeezing the life out of you.

TIPPP- Do you have any plans for the Ep? (Release show, Release tour, Music video?)

S: On the day of our release we’re having a listening party with some close friends.

R: We’re just really stoked to show all of our friends and family what we’ve been working on.

TIPPP- How have the shows you guys have played gone?

J: We haven’t played shows in almost 6 months because of some rebranding and restructuring we’ve been doing. But the shows we did play went extremely well and we got really positive responses.

TIPPP- What are your current favorite bands?

J: BAYSIDE BAYSIDE BAYSIDE. They’re definitely always first for me. Others include Motion City Soundtrack, Van Halen (odd one out I know), Alexisonfire, I Am the Avalanche and Glassjaw.

Z: Blink 182, Alkaline Trio, Sum 41, The Ghost Inside, Hundreth, The Wonder Years and The Story So Far

R: Comeback Kid, Story of the Year, The Wonder Years and A Day To Remember.

S: Into It. Over It., There/Their/They’re, The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die, Tiny Moving Parts.

TIPPP- What would your perfect show lineup be?

All: Bayside, Blink 182, Sunny Day Real Estate and The Wonder Years

TIPPP- What has Stay Strong  been up to in the last couple of months? (Shows,tour,recording,ect.)

Z: writing, writing, writing.

S: also maybe some writing

J: and practicing what we write!

TIPPP- What does Stay Strong  have planned for 2014? (Shows,tour,recording,ect.)

Z: Shows, and record a full length towards the end of the year.

J: and obviously releasing this EP “What the Hell Are We Doing?”

S: Work on moving to China, no for real, that’s my long term plan.

J: Any bassists out there wanna join?

TIPPP- What has been the craziest experience you’ve had on the road together?

All: “WE’RE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT HOME!”

J: Our old drummer Adam Kirby had some great quotable moments on the road, including that one from when we were driving in a severe storm on the highway.

TIPPP- What are your hobbies when you aren’t playing music?

J: Writing music

S: Studying international financial reporting standards!

R: I enjoy promoting a lot of shows and being a collector of KISS merchandise and horror films.

Z: Working on vehicles

TIPPP- What are your favorite movies?

J: The Godfather series or the Hannibal Lector series

S: A Clockwork Orange

R: SLC Punk, Evil Dead Trilogy

Z: Dragonball Z

TIPPP- How would you describe each member of the band personality wise? (weird, funny, awkward, nice, mean, grouchy,ect.)

Z: oh shit. Josh is extremely depressing to be around but we all love him. Rad is the old crazy drunk guy you see screaming at birds in the park, and Sam is the highly sophisticated scholar.

J: He’s not wrong.

R: I do hate birds…

S: Zach is the token fat kid. (We died when he said that hahaha)

TIPPP- What are our favoirte fast foods or any type of foods you guys like to eat?

All: Taco Bell, Kwik Trip (gas station food), Pizza Hut or Little Ceasars.

TIPPP- Anything else you would like to add or mention?

Z: I’m not that fat.

J: We also have tshirt preorders up at https://www.booster.com/staystrong and our EP will be up on our bandcamp for FREE on February 28^th.

S: Check us out and follow us on twitter!

Storyteller Interview

This Is Pop Punk Promotions with an exclusive interview with Storyteller. Storyteller is a pop punk band from South Wales UK, Listen to them here! https://www.facebook.com/StorytellerUK

How long has Storyteller been a band?

Me, our Guitarist (Mason) and our Bassist (Nathan) have been in previous versions of this band since 2010, under different names. We kicked Nathan out at one point and we didn't have any other members so it was just me and Mason looking for a lineup and then we met Alex and he joined the band as our second guitarist and we had these other two dudes on Bass and Drums and that's when we changed the name to Storyteller. That started around august 2012. We let Nathan back in and Kyle joined the band to shred drums early 2013. We've only really been taking things seriously since we've had this current lineup, which came early 2013.

How’d you guys get the name Storyteller?

It's after a Such Gold song. Such Gold rules.

Where are you guys from?

We all live in the Swansea area of South Wales but me and the bassist are from England and our Guitarist was born in Australia so we're not really a Welsh band.

How is the scene in your area?

For our kind of music, pretty much non-existent.

What would you guys say that makes your band different from every other band?

I'd like to think we have our own sound. I couldn't tell you exactly what that sound is, but a lot of bands out there seem like they're trying their hardest to be just like their favourite band and I'd like to think that wasn't the case with us. 

How did Storyteller come about as a band?

Well the majority of the local scene is just Hardcore and Metalcore, which is fine if you're into that, but we were all bored of the local shows only consisting of that, I think. We all wanted to play music, and we didn't like what the current local scene had to offer. (Don't get me wrong, there are a few really sic bands in South Wales)

What are your influences?

Slayer.

How have the shows you guys have played gone?

We did a couple self run house shows that I'd say were probably the most enjoyable we've played. It was mostly just our friends at those. We played a show with Me vs Hero. That was cool. Otherwise they've been fairly bad, high hopes for the new year.

What are your current favorite bands?

We all like new the Balance and Composure record a lot. My favourite artist is Into it. Over it. and Mason basically just listens to Gnarwolves. Me and Alex listen to Mac Miller a lot when when we smoke. Turnstile rule. None of us really listen to Pop Punk all that much anymore, we mostly jam stuff like Title Fight, Touche Amore, B&C, American Football etc.

What has the response been like for your single Commonplace?

It's been pretty sick so far. Releasing our first bit of proper content has been exciting for all of us. We get a lot of people hearing our single and asking where they can hear more, which is awesome, even though we gotta tell them they can't, haha. It's cool because I think people who maybe might not have taken us seriously as a band before have a different perspective on us now.

What would your perfect show lineup be?

Slayer and us.

What has Storyteller been up to in the last couple of months? (Shows,tour,recording,ect.)

We released our Music Video/single (obviously)! We played a sweet halloween show. Otherwise we've been mostly just writing and writing and recording Demos.

What does Storyteller have planned for 2014? (Shows,tour,recording,ect.)

7" and Weekender tours.

When can we expect new songs?

April/May seems fairly likely.

What has been the craziest experience you’ve had on the road together?

Technically we haven't been on tour, because we've only played one off shows since we've been a band. But talking about the road LITERALLY, me and Alex have tons of breakdown stories. Look up the severn bridge.  We broke down on that one time and spent 3 hours there until Police rescued us.

What are your hobbies when you aren’t playing music?

Skate and bake. Well, Mason skates and the rest of us try to. Sometimes we like to scout out abandoned mental asylums.

What are your favorite movies?

I'm gonna get an answer from each member of the band.

Nathan: "Shaun of the dead, bro"
Mason: "Scary Movie"
Alex: "Disturbia"
Kyle: "I'm a boring fuck and I'm too cool to like things" (actual quote)

I'd say Spirited Away or Into The Wild.

How would you describe each member of the band personality wise? (weird, funny, awkward, nice, mean, grouchy,ect.)

We're all chill as hell except for Kyle, that guy sucks.

What are our favorite fast foods or any type of foods you guys like to eat?

I don't fuck with fast food all that much because I'm all about healthy eating an that but if I had to pick one, does Dominos count? Pretty sure the rest of the guys would say Dominos.

Anything else you would like to add or mention?
Listen to Slayer.