Outlier - Eken is Dead

“Outlier”, EKEN IS DEAD's latest EP release which features five brand new songs and a bonus re-imagining of their anthem, “At Any Cost”. The EP was recorded at Fletcher Dragge’s Screaming Leopard Studios, Hermosa Beach CA, engineered and mixed by Prick Reuben (like the sandwich) aka Gagg Green and mastered by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering, Burbank CA. This is EID's third release on Blacksound Records, preceded by 2008's "Amendment" and 2011's "What Lies In The Mirror". The boys are gearing up right now to support the EP with tours across the Western United States now.

1. Outlier
2. Embrace
3. Fractured
4. Trained to Hate
5. As Soon As Tomorrow
6. At Any Cost (Acoustic) 

Eken's first official review. A lot has happened in the year and a half since I was first introduced to Vic, Chris, Gagg, and Jake, and in that time I have seen Eken a handful of times. Each time more impressed than the next. Like a ball of pure electricity Chris bounces around the stage, this sets the mood for a truly epic show. 

Having listened to this EP several times over now, I can see and feel the energy pulse through my head phones. As I write this I am enjoying the acoustic version of 'At Any Cost'. Tomorrow night, May 16th, 2014 Eken will come together in an EPIC night mixed with friends, music and celebration of Outlier. 

Highly impressed by the lyrics, vocals and clarity of the sound, this EP is definitely worth the time. EID has always had a unique sound, with lyrics and a sound so pure it tugs at your soul. Gagg mastering the 6 string bass, you can feel each note as it pumps through your veins, the sound of Vic's guitar serenading and hypnotizing you, you suddenly feel as though you were the only one in a dark room as Chris mesmerizes you with his voice. 
Eken is Dead is not just a band, it's an experience. 

Its always an honor to be a part of something bigger than my every day life, and this was the finalization that will make me an EID fan for life. 

My favorite tracks: 

As Soon As Tomorrow
Embrace 
Fractured

Join us tomorrow as we celebrate this most amazing EP, enjoy the presence of EID on stage and make sure you let go and enjoy the experience. 

Jason Devore - Conviction and the life after

Not many people can say that they've had the chance to hang with Jason DeVore and his wonderful family. I am lucky enough to be a part of this whole family. Today, March 19th, 2013 at 2 pm I sat down with Jason and talked about life, motivation, and how his songs make him feel. 

I have been able to to see JDV a handful of times, and each time it's a new experience, nothing in the world could compare to each show. No matter how many times you hear his songs, sprinkled with some A0 songs and some Bollox songs, JDV brings a certain vibe to the room. With his followers young and old, we all sit and watch in utter amazement as he belts out song after song, hardly taking breaks. Where does he get the strength? Where does this powerful amazing voice come from? This is all a secret I suppose, but where ever it comes from it has emotion, soul. It has a vibrato all its own and makes you want to be on stage with him. 
A few devoted JDV fans (you shall remain nameless chris ;-) DAMN! ) like to hop up on tables, show their love and dedication to this amazing story teller, this bard of sorts. 
With Tipping Point soon to be released on April 2nd, the East European tour that he leaves for on April 4th Jason took the time to sit with me and my nervousness and answer some questions about life, his music and his wife. I was joined by his best friend of 19 years, Saddy Combs owner of LaDep Custom Cruisers and probably one of Authority Zero and JDV's biggest fans. 
Growing up he was inspired by his mom, she knew all the words to the songs on the radio, and he was in awe at how she could do this. Coming from a musical family, J would travel to Mesa, AZ to visit his dad during the summer, and eventually one thing led to the other and they were playing the Nile Basement in MTAZ. This is the wonderful start to Authority Zero. Arizona's original punk band. While many other bands had come before A0, little did these skater punk kids know that they would make something out of virtually nothing. 
JDV wanted to be a professional Skater/Snowboarder and along with that career comes the music. We all know that good tunes on the street or slopes motivates us to shred that triple black diamond or master that rail slide.
He writes the songs that relate to us, he sings the songs we want to hear and he loves his fans and family. At one of the very first JDV shows I met a young man, who explained that One More Minute was what kept his head in the game in Afghanistan. Deployed as a naval Corpsman and stationed in the middle east, this was the song that reminded him of coming home safe. When I am at a JDV show, I watch people; I watch their reaction to how J sings, moves and the how he pumps the crowd up. To be a witness to the A0 mosh pit is exciting, invigorating. 
Talking to J today, I was able to see a different side of him. I was able to see the gleam in his eye, the passion in his voice and his nervousness as he preps for another tour. I can see that he is mentally prepping himself for whatever may come and you can see that, while a seasoned musician he gets on stage every night and plays as though its his first show. This is not a bout of nervousness, this is the feeling of adrenaline, the amped feeling you get when your faced with such an overwhelming task, but you complete it and at the end of the show, the end of the day your shaking, because it was one helluva ride. 
I can't wait to see what JDV and Authority Zero have in store. All I know is that after almost 16 years of being a fan and hearing their music I will always and forever remain a loyal and faithful A0 fan. 

Wanna hear the interview? Check it out here! 
https://soundcloud.com/ladepcustomcruisers/jason-devore


http://youtu.be/3aqi23-BBLA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tonovKKYyxY&feature=share&list=AL94UKMTqg-9BEjg7PGgsk59GIZdxERswI

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorityZero?fref=ts

EKEN IS DEAD - PHONE INTERVIEW

I had the chance to talk with Chris from EKEN IS DEAD. And I am definitely impressed with the band, the music and how humble and dedicated they are to their fans and their music.

Let me start by saying that I had never listened to EKEN before Tuesday, I had the chance, but I decided I would let the music speak for itself. And on my ride down to the LaDep house, I did just that. I listened to what the music had to tell me. And I never would have expected it to tell me the story it did.

I usually like to compare bands to each other, its the easier way to identify their sounds, their behaviors, their personas and their vibe. I also like to hear the bands live before I interview them or even think about writing a review. So I'm sitting here listening to their reverb nation account listening to them. I think one of the reasons I am writing the review without listening them to live is because of how last night's phone convo went with Saddy, Chris and myself.

If you like Sepultura, Soulfly, Megadeath, White chapel or H20 you will enjoy EKEN.

Me: Where did the name EKEN IS DEAD come from?
Chris: haha That is the million dollar question. EKEN IS DEAD....Vic was in a band, Called EKEN and he is actually the sole survivor of that band, hence EKEN is semi dead...so that's what is stood for at the time. But was we toured and grew with our music, EKEN IS DEAD became what you think is dead, or what has moved on. Its about overcoming hardships, your beliefs and values. EKEN IS DEAD can be personal.

Me: Who has influenced you personally?
Chris: Nirvana, and a lot of the 90’s style rock bands, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, punk is where my roots are. Sound wise, I would say Tool, Deftones and Rage Against the Machine. Vocally, I would say more like Rise Against and Pantera. Its not just a scream, its something more.

Me:What are you long term goals?
Chris: Bigger tours. Touring with Authority Zero has been amazing. The entire band is amazing. Extremely down to earth and definitely a great experience. We really want to continue to tour and definitely continue to work with Authority Zero and LaDep. We want to go all the way. As far as we can possibly go. We practice 3 times a week, perform at 60-70 shows, dedicate ourselves and our lives and put up with angry girlfriends while we are on the road. Taking turns driving 5 hour legs from Vancouver to get to a show in Cali the next night. That's dedication to our band to our fans.

I didn't ask him directly what the inspiration for the lyrics were, we kind of stepped into it haphazardly, but I could tell that the words and lyrics to each of their original songs was personal. It came from experiences, life, and personalities.  One of the biggest things with EKEN IS DEAD is that there isn't just one person who writes the songs, the entire band has input and collectively they write the songs as one.


Saddy: Do you have any advice for bands looking to make it?
Chris: Show up. Dedicate yourself to the band, but more so to the fans. Always find a way to not cancel. Show commitment and dedication.

Saddy: What drives you the most to keep going from one show to the next?
Chris: Finding out what you're made of. Pushing your limits, knowing your boundaries. We drove in 5 hour shifts on a Friday night after a show in Vancouver to make a show in Cali. It took us 16 hours to get home, but we kept going. We refused to cancel. I think in 5 years we have cancelled once. That says a lot, not only about our dedication, but our love for the music and our fans.

I have to say it was an honor to talk with him and while I regret that I didn't get the entire interview recorded, I will have the honor of talking to the entire band on Friday. Something about EKEN moves me. So until I see you in the mosh pit Friday, keep it real. 

If you want to hear more from EKEN IS DEAD you can check out their Reverb nation page at
www.revernation.com/ekenisdead

Their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ekenisdead?fref=ts

and you can watch some of their videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/ekenisdead

Tune in Friday from 6-7 while we interview EKEN IS DEAD at KUKQ.com you can also download the app to your phone (available for iPhone and Droid) if you have something you want to ask the band email Alle at undergroundalle@gmail.com  

Thanks for reading and stay posted for more events and band interviews and reviews!

Inept Hero - Untitled

If ever there were a CD I listened to many times over that my CD player finally called me a filthy pirate hooker it was this time. I have spent nearly a year trying to put words to the sounds of Inept Hero and each time I sit down to write I come up with a blank page. The moment I was able to write something I tossed it because I realized that I didn't want to write a bad review on a good band, but rather a good review on a band that could use some live sound work but isn't close to be classified as bad.

That band is Inept Hero.

Listening to this band is like laying on your back in a field and letting the crisp and pure sounds of nature molest your body over and over. Aarin, Beau, Rusty and Uzziel come together to build the perfect house of punk rock sounds.

I would list them as my 3rd favorite punk rock band. They are melodious, with rock star drumming, musical guitar riffs, lyrics and vocals that you feel are slowly pulling your soul from your body, maybe speaking directly about the situation you might currently be in.

Inept Hero will clearly be amongst the giants to rise form the ashes of AZ Punk history. Following Authority Zero (cira 1995), Phish, Gin Blossoms, Meat Puppets, Phunk Junkeez, Opiate for the Masses and Carolines Spine (youtube that shit you newb!!)

I will gladly accept listening to Aarin serenade my soul as I board down the AZ slopes, ride my motorcycle across the desert or on a road trip. This is a necessary must have on your play list.

There is a downside. Yep here it is guys, Inept Hero is amazing, good sound, solid vocals and no one instrument drowns out the other....BUT...the live sound is not the best. I have had the chance to listen to them in several different settings but still their sound mutilates my ears. I want to blame the sound guy (you all know there is that one 'sound guy' who sucks a bag of dicks) and so for now I will continue to place blame there.

Here are a couple of goals I have set for Inept Hero:
1) Get your asses on the Warped Tour bill for AZ
2) We need to get you more radio play
3) You need to be on the 2014 bill for the Punk Bowl in Vegas.

I want Inept to be the band you notice when you walk into the room....and surely they will remember you when you're around. They love their fan base and are always welcoming and giving of hugs and smiles.

Check out their sounds at
www.ineptheromusic.com
www.facebook.com/inepthero
www.myspace.com/inepthero

Throb Zombie - Nameless

Sitting in the passenger seat on my way to Flagstaff for a mini vacation I decide I was tired of listening to the hip hop I had been listening to. I pull out the Throb Zombie Cd and giggle....."Insert Here" Is the only wording on the CD label.....with cute heart shaped buttons and a hole for the zombies belly button. 

OK, I think I can handle this I mutter to my roommate who is driving. "They better not let me down....."

My first impression was that of intrigue.....the opening riff resonating in my inner cortex. Making my medulla oblongata shiver with excitement. I could tell that this was going to be a good LP, something worth listening to on my way to work, something I would play over and over until I knew every inch of that CD. 

I pick up the small envelope like case the CD came in....flipping it back and forth in my hands. Trying to remember how I came across their CD in the first place.....and then it hits me like the man boobs the night I discovered Throb Zombie. I was with a friend at a local dive called Hollywood Alley, there was a drag show and we had just come from watching my favorite band Stitch Hopeless and the Sealegs. There were men everywhere dressed in drag. It was spectacular yet scary. but I liked it. I wanted more. 

Doctor Bones gets on stage....and like always I find a nice out of the way spot to watch the "show" from the sidelines.....and I look over there is this greenish eery light creepily displaying this CD wrapped in plastic, glimmering like Edward from Twilight. I look for others similar to it, wondering if it belongs to someone. It didn't. At this point I'm mumbling to myself.....getting interesting looks from the other drunks and drag kings and queens around me....but I don't care, my precious....

I quietly and discretely tuck it away in my back pocket. I can feel the CD calling me. Throbbing in my pocket. I get home that night, toss is on my stack of backlogged CD's for review and fall face first into my bed. Little did I know months later I would Consider Throb Zombie one of my FAVORITE punk bands to date. 

The CD has songs like: 

War on Religion

The Cage

First in Line

Bring it Back

Peace of Mind

Harold

Let Go

Neverwalk

Occupy

Throb Zombie

Body of Lies

God Loves Everyone

Down

Better than the Skankin Pickle, Mustard Plug and San Diego punk bands I grew up with. This is the epitome of what punk/ska punk/steam punk should be. This is the type of punk I know my son would listen to, the kind he would secretly put on his iPod. This is what Punk should be. I feel like I'm in Punk heaven. 

Throb Zombie......don't let me down. I need more of you. Please. Like a junkie that needs her fix, I need your music to soothe the savage beast laying in the dark. 

Make it so.....

The Creepshow- They All Fall Down-2010

The Creepshow
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Current 3 Albums:
Sell your soul (2006)
Run for your life (2008)
They all fall down (2010)

With
Sarah “Sin” Blackwood on vocals
Sean “Sickboy” McNabb on upright Bass/backup vocals
The Reverend McGinty on keys
Sandro Sanchioni on drums

 If you could mix Creepsville 666, a little Stitch Hopeless, maybe some Devil Doll with the voice of Joan Jett you would get The Creepshow. Sarah Blackwood is an amazing female vocalist and adds a certain artistic flair to this breed of psychobilly/punkabilly sound. It’s not often you run into women who can compete with the agro sounds of some of the hardest psychobilly out there, however when you hear Sarah’s voice you get thrown into the harmonic values her voice holds. Sarah took over lead vocals when her older sister Hellcat became pregnant. Giving new meaning to the term good girl gone bad, Sarah has also performed with “Walk off the Earth” a Canadian Indie band, whose eclectic use of instruments has given them a unique and identifiable sound. You can view any one of their amazing and talented songs on YouTube. The Creepshow has a set of unique lyrics, mirrored after horror films which are written by the band. So here’s the good the bad and the ugly of their latest album? The Good? They hold true to their psychobilly roots, with the amazing sounds of the upright bass, guitar and backup vocals. The Bad? While Sarah is musically amazing and extremely talented, her vocals don’t quite follow through causing you to strain to hear her over the rest of the bad, I would blame it on bad audio production (I’m partial to her vocals myself!) The Ugly? Well, the only ugly were the actors in the video from “They All Fall Down” With a great sound, a beautiful woman to sing you to sleep with dreams of horror and undead eyes you can’t go wrong with The Creepshow.