After a long day of interviewing, it was refreshing to meet The Expendables and see they still saved some energy for me.

It was the eighth stop of the 2011 Van’s Warped Tour in Ventura, CA, and shit got real.  We ventured into discussions about third nipples and dirty tattoos.  You better watch this.

Raul and Geoff

PWV and The Expendables

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The Expendables @ Warped 2011 (Ventura)

The Expendables @ Warped 2011 (Ventura)

The Expendables @ Warped 2011 (Ventura)

free mustache rides for EVERYONE!

Official Site

MySpace

Facebook

Warped Tour might be dominated by the metalcore scene, but there are still glimmers of hope with bands like Boston punk rockers, The Street Dogs on the bill. I’ve wanted to talk to them for years now, and I finally got to sit down with vocalist Mike McColgan at the sixth stop of the 2011 Van’s Warped Tour in Pomona, CA. Check it out!

Mike and PWV

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Street Dogs @ Warped Tour, Pomona

Street Dogs @ Warped Tour, Pomona

Official Site
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter

In Ventura, CA at the eighth stop of the 2011 Van’s Warped Tour, I talked with vocalist Dan “Soupy” Campbell about the tour, the new album and the goddamn bird! Check it out!

score!

Dan "Soupy" Campbell

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The Wonder Years @ Warped Ventura

The Wonder Years @ Warped Ventura

The Wonder Years @ Warped Ventura

 Hopeless Records

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Official Site

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Facebook

PWV and Ben of Lucero

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I have seen them live a few times, and they are yet to disappoint me. Believe me… I am a tough crowd. While Lucero doesn’t seem like my cup of tea, I can at least appreciate good musicians and I am not hating on these guys, they are definitely fucking great at what they do.

Lucero live @ Warped Tour, Pomona

Lucero live @ Warped Tour, Pomona

Lucero live @ Warped Tour, Pomona

Official Site

Facebook

MySpace 

August Burns Red @ Warped 2011, Pomona

A band has to have a little something extra for me to interview them a second time around. I don’t know if it’s their live energy, iTunes chart spots or overall general humbleness, but the dudes of August Burns Red were worth talking to again!

In what felt like 138 degree weather, I talked to Dustin Davison, resident bass slapper, of ABR. In true PWV fashion, the interview gets REAL classy about ten seconds in. The rest is.. well.. still worth watching. Just sayin.

we're so photogenic and happy.

Dustin Davison, bass for August Burns Red

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Check out some of my photos of ABR from the Pomona and Ventura Warped Tour stops!

August Burns Red @ Warped 2011

August Burns Red @ Warped 2011

August Burns Red @ Warped 2011

August Burns Red @ Warped 2011

Official Site

Facebook

Twitter

MySpace

The Devil Wears Prada live @ Warped 2011 (Ventura)

The Devil Wears Prada has had more than reasonable success since they’ve been in the scene. This Rise Records band has been featured on MTV, Fuse and in Alternative Press Magazine just to name a few of their accomplishments.

A little heavier than the majority of the other Warped Tour bands, TDWP captivates an audience unlike most other bands on the tour.  With an energy that doesn’t stop from the pluck of the first chord to the last death growl from Mike Hranica, there are crowd surfers, fans screaming the lyrics and heads banging. The music might not always be my cup of tea, but you have to give it up to a band that puts on a show like these guys.

TWDP @ Warped 2011 (Pomona)

In Pomona on the sixth stop of Warped, I talked to vocalist Mike Hranica and guitar player Jeremy DePoyster. First thing I learned? Don’t mention the dumb Meryl Streep movie.  Other than that, we discussed Mike’s teeth, the new album and what’s to come.  Check it out!

Mike, PWV and Jeremy of TDWP

Mike and Jeremy of TDWP

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TWDP @ Warped 2011 (Pomona)

TWDP @ Warped 2011 (Ventura)

TWDP @ Warped 2011 (Ventura)

Official Site

LAHF performing at a Warped BB! in Pomona

While Warped Tour is crawling with boys that wear more makeup than me, there is still hope because bands like Larry and his Flask are still baking in the sun to play to the swarms of Warped fans.  With southern roots and cool beards, these dude’s jams will make you wanna drink whiskey and slap your sister (in a good way).

PWV and Jesse of Larry and his Flask

I talked to Jesse Marshall, one of the brothers of Larry and his Flask, on day six of Warped in Pomona, CA.  We not only both have Descendents tattoos, but he was really fucking rad so check it out!

Jesse Marshall, Larry and his Flask

MILO GOES TO WARPED TOUR

To learn more about Larry and his Flask, check out:

Facebook

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The Wonder Years

Dan “Soupy” Campbell – Vocals
Josh martin – Bass/Vocals
Matthew Brasch – Guitar/Vocals
Casey Cavaliere – Guitar
Nick Steinborn – Keys/Guitar
Mike Kennedy – Drums

*review by Daryl BK

Coming off of the recent success of their 2010 release “The Upsides,” The Wonder Years are poised for today’s release of the long awaited follow up, “Suburbia: I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing.” Due yourself a favor, by the time you read this, Hopeless Records will have already released this gem, PICK IT UP!

Let me paint you a picture of how I review music. First, I will not hide the fact that I am an audiophile. Fidelity is not a lost art to me. I want, I need, I have to have the CD soI can blast it in my expensive stereo, to become sonically buried in my subject. This allows you complete understanding of what the band intended you to hear, it’s why they played shitty shows, slept on floors and ate 99 cent fast food for months at a time. It is this labor of love which affords them the luxury of spending hours in a cramped studio plying their craft creating what will hopefully allow them to repeat the process. I am not afraid to say that I hate MP3’s while at the same time I have a conflicting love affair with my iPod.

What does this have to do with anything? The bane of my existence is born from receiving an album of MP3’s to review, which is exactly what happened for this album.If you are sitting there mumbling under your breath “what the hell is the big deal?” then I am 100% positive you were born in the mid 90’s, who not surprisingly is the target demographic of this album. I’ll explain, ever wonder why you can fit 600 of your favorite stolen tracks on one CD in MP3 format, but only around 20 on the same CD in standard Hi Fidelity format? Well that’s because MP3’s cut out the high and low end of the sonic table to compress the file, thus losing the original sound that was meant to be heard by everyone involved in the production. Those of you that were not able to experience the jump in quality from tape cassette to digital audio will never understand what is missing from the MP3. But I must digress, that being said, on with the review.

Available NOW!!

Track Listing:

1. Came Out Swinging

2. Woke Up Older

3. Local Man Ruins Everything

4. Suburbia

5. My Life as a Pigeon

6. Summers in PA

7. I Won’t Say the Lord’s Prayer

8. Coffee Eyes

9. I’ve Given You All

10. Don’t Let Me Cave In

11. You Made Me Want to be a Saint

12. Hoodie Weather

13. And Now I’m Nothing

I bring the rant into this review because Steve Evetts is a genius. Who the hell is Steve Evetts? Let me tell you, Steve Evetts is a Producer, Engineer and Mixer whois responsible for billboard charting records from bands ranging from Every Time I Die to Saves the Day to Hatebreed to Sick of it All as well as the Underworld Original Soundtrack. Steve Evetts is also responsible for The Wonder Years’ newest album.
Why am I talking about the producer/engineer/mixer more than the band? Jeez you ask a lot of questions. Because he has taken this dime a dozen, run of the mill pop punk band and turned out a record that this jaded old idiot cannot get out of constant rotation. I don’t have a recent memory of any band doing this, and at time of writing this review, I can honestly say I have listened to the whole album about 5 times in a row.

I will not go as far as offering this as proof that you can polish a turd, because The Wonder Years are not turds. They definitely have talent and were most likely going to put out a solid release. Mr. Evetts was just able to bring every intricate little idea out into full sonic view. (Even in MP3 format).

Suburbia: I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing, was placed in my ipod, my headphones graced my ears, I pushed play and the first thing I thought was “Jesus, I’m 30 years old now and this little pop-punk band from Philly flooded my tiny brain with teenage angst.” The album kicks off with the obligatory we are going to make it on the road song “Came out Swinging” and that’s exactly what the boys do. From the opening bars to the final cut, Suburbia comes screaming out of the gates. The songs are all layered very well, married perfectly with backing gang vocals and subtle hints of a keyboard in all the right places. The Wonder Years seemed to stick with the theme mentioned in the album title, as much of the lyrical content is dedicated to home and the memories of time gone by in the place where they are obviously deeply rooted. Personal favorites included “I Won’t Say the Lord’s Prayer,” “Hoodie Weather,” “I’veGiven You All” and “Came out Swinging”. What am I saying? The whole album is very good. I would suggest this is an immediate purchase for your next RECORD store visit. Yes they still exist. Fuck Apple!

Be sure to catch The Wonder Years on Warped Tour!

To learn more about The Wonder Years, check out:

www.thewonderyearsband.com
www.myspace.com/thewonderyears
www.hopelessrecords.com

Bobby Alt
Adam Alt
Frank Zummo

Street Drum Corps (photo: Erin Broadley)

In a sea of crap that all sounds the same, you have to appreciate the originality behind the Street Drum Corps. For fans of STOMP! and other street-noise related acts, you will definitely dig SDC. Â However, even if you’re not into that sort of thing normally, you might be surprised at how they can reel you in with their intense sound. Â And thanks to an international tour with 30 Seconds to Mars, Street Drum Corps is now global! Â The tribal, almost evil beats are intoxicating in any language.

I got to speak with Bobby Alt, an original and full time member of SDC. Â Check it out!!

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Street Drum Corps

You started playing drums when you were 10 years old; yet this group only formed four years ago. Were you in a lot of other bands in between?

I moved to LA when I was 19 years old and immediately wanted to get out into the music scene. I took a look at the Percussion Institute of Technology and realized maybe sitting in a classroom wasn’t for me.. and I said, ya know what, I wanna get a job and get out there, meet some people.. so I met some guys when I was picking up a drum set to borrow, and from there I got introduced to LA clubs.  I met Matt Londe, who was working for Matt Hyde (produced Porno for Pyros), heard a group name Crumb was seeking a new drummer. So I auditioned, moved to San Francisco, did Lollapalooza, opened for Bush, Jewel and tons of great bands! From there, I moved back to LA and started my own group, The Devil Roosevelt, with my high school band mates from New Jersey. There, I met my manager who was managing System of a Down at the time, and he’s been my mentor and from then on! I got my first record deal with Warner Bro. with S.T.U.N., and we shortly  got dropped and signed by Jordan Schur at Geffen…. had a five year run and then I started the Street Drum Corp as sort of a side project to S.T.U.N., but it’s a side project gone wild. And now… six years later, this is my life!

Did you ever think you’d go from banging on pots and pans as a kid to playing the Warped Tour, Coachella, Projekt Revolution, and other famous festivals?

I absolutely believed 100 %! I’d dance around to Michael Jackson and all the oldies that my mom and dad listened to. I knew it was what I was going to do. I think music chose me, I didn’t choose music. A lot of hard work and dedication, believing in myself and surrounding myself with good people and passionate people. I was at the first Lollapalooza ever (Jane’s Addiction was one of my favorite bands).  Now, six years later I’m ON Lollapalooza. It shows if you believe and you build it, you will get what you want. Now I’m seeing younger kids that have come to S.T.U.N. shows, SCD shows, and writers I’ve done interviews with, like yourself! And now they’re working for big time magazines and companies,  so I’m getting to see it through them and these kids.

Is there anyone you haven’t played with that you’re just dying to get on stage with you?

Off the top of my head.. three that come to mind are Perry Farril from JA, Jay Z and Pharrell. Jack White is also one of my favorites, I’d love to have him come make some noise. Â I could seriously go on and on!

Pharrell

Has Bert McCracken ever puked on you?

He’s never puked on me but I just got off the phone with him! I talked to him then I talked to you. Never puked on me though…. I’ve actually never seen him puke and I’ve  known him for ten years.

How does your latest album differ the most from your debut album and earlier matieral?

Our first debut was just buckets, pots and pans… we’ve come a long way! It’s been a natural progression.  We kind of exhausted all the garbage cans. Being on tour with Linkin Park, The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars… our music has grown.

Do you think it’s easier or harder to be in a band with your brother?

It’s great! I’m glad I get to share these moments with my family, I wish everyone in my family could be in the group! There’s so many people involved with us, it makes it really special that I get to share the stage and create music with him. Even Frank now feels like a brother. One reason I wanted to be in a band when I was younger… wasn’t the style, wasn’t the sound of it, but it was the people that I’d do it with. It’s been one of my favorite things.

Frank Zummo oF SDC

Do you have any other music projects going on the side?

This is it. Full time Street Drum Corps. I live, breath and bleed SDC 24 hours day. It’s focus. I have been known to do a lot of different things at the same time, and I tend to. I look at my girlfriend who writes songs, has a bathing suit line, DJ’s and does movies, and she’s really successful. People do a lot of things, and I mean I do little things here and there cos I have a lot of energy, but my number one focus right now is SDC.

What was it like performing on American Idol?

It was a real honor. It was great to see how that big machine works and our label, Interscope, is involved in it; helping pick the talent that competes and so on. I loved being a part of it! We got to catch up with the people on the show, like Kara DioGuardi. We actually wrote a song with her in the beginning of our career. Plus, I really like a lot of the singers that come out of the show. I only started watching it last year. My girlfriend and I… that’s our show. We cuddle up with the dogs and watch American Idol! Toward the end of the season, I had seen every episode and then we got asked to do it second to last episode. So awesome.

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There are still THREE shows left in Los Angeles! So head over to THE ROXY THEATRE Â to catch Street Drum Corps with these special guests:

NOVEMBER 23: Â STEPHEN PERKINS (JANES ADDICTION), TONY HAJJAR (AT THE DRIVE-IN, SPARTA), JOHN SAWICKI & MORE. OPENERS INCLUDE CAROLINE D'AMORE

NOVEMBER 30:Â JACK IRONS (PEARL JAM, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), TONY HAJJAR (AT THE DRIVE-IN, SPARTA) & MORE. OPENERS INCLUDE STAB CITY

DECEMBER 7:Â BERT McCRACKEN (THE USED), IIAN RUBIN (NINE INCH NAILS), ZOE BONHAM & MORE.OPENERS INCLUDE ELECTRIC VALENTINE

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To learn more about the Street Drum Corps, check out:

Official Site

Facebook

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PureVolume

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I first met some of the members of The Fab Rudies at the 2010 Van’s Warped Tour pre-party (slash press conference) a month or so before this summer’s tour began. Â Months later, we crossed paths once again at the Warped Tour in Pomona, CA. Â Check out what they’ve been up to since then and what they have coming up in the future!

with The Fab Rudies

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The Fab Rudies @ Warped 2010, Pomona

To learn more about The Fab Rudies, check out:

Official Site

MySpace

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