FIVES: THE BEST WONDER YEARS SONGSThis week Lansdale, Pennsylvania’s The Wonder Years released their fourth album - ‘The Greatest Generation,’ a record that sees the pop punk quintet reach their creative peak in a number of ways. With a wealth of material in their discography, Already Heard's Sean Reid and Tom Knott took on the tricky task of picking out the five best songs from The Wonder Years. Find out what we picked and let us know if you agree or disagree?
INTERVIEW: MALLORY KNOXFollowing the release of their superb 'Signals' album, Mallory Knox have certainly become ones to watch in recent months. We caught up with the band to discuss joining Search & Destroy Records, how vital the festival season and touring are, what it feels like to be a part
of the expanding British rock scene and much more.
ALREADY HEARD RECOMMENDS: OVER THE OCEANOver The Ocean have crafted a compelling, brooding record with their latest effort ‘Be Given To The Soil.’ With intense specific precision and delicate accuracy that echoes the likes of Explosions In The Sky and Sigur Ros. Jesse Hill from the band to discusses how the
album came together, the importance of precision, being compared to post-rock pioneers and more.
VERSUS: BRING ME THE HORIZON - 'THERE IS A HELL...' VS 'SEMPITERNAL'After a top ten UK album and an outstanding UK tour with festival dates on both sides of the Atlantic to follow, Bring Me The Horizon are having a fantastic 2013 and are now featured in the latest edition of "Versus." It's ‘There is a Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There is a Heaven, Let’s Keep it a Secret’ vs the bands latest release, 'Sempiternal.'
ALREADY HEARD TRACK GUIDE: ALEXANDER - SAY HELLOWe catch up with Newcastle Indie Rock quartet Alexander to find out more about their debut album 'Say Hello' for a “Already Heard Track Guide” feature.
INTERVIEW: TITLE FIGHTHaving briefly returned to the UK for the Hit The Deck Festival before starting a European
tour, we caught up with vocalist/bassist Ned Russin to discuss the bands progression in sound, differences between UK and US festivals, their recent split with Touché Amoré,
having friends on tour and more.
“If I…” With Jared Ryan Maldonado (Dresses)
Portland twosome Timothy Heller and Jared Ryan Maldonado go by the name Dresses, a indie dream pop duo whose music proves to be vibrant with hints of summery harmonies and quirky indie folk. Their latest single ‘Sun Shy’ is a sweet catchy number made for the summer months.
We recently caught up with one half of the duo Jared Ryan Maldonado to quiz him for our regular “If I…” feature. Jared discussed which US boyband he’d like to see reform, a certain 50 Cent song, his adoration for a hometown venue and much more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Jared Ryan Maldonado: One of my own? Probably a song we have called ‘Friends Are Dead’ I sing it on the recorded version, but live Timothy sings it and it sounds really cool with her voice.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Jared: A summer tour I did with the band I used to play for. We did a tour with The Ready Set in the early summer and they we’re some of the coolest shows in the nicest weather with the nicest people.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Jared: The Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR. Its one of the oldest ballrooms in the USA, built in like 1919. It has amazing sound and history. And the floor is bouncy.
If I could play with one band it would be…
Jared: Local Natives. They are one of the most captivating and amazing bands I’ve ever seen. I just saw them at Crystal Ballroom the other week and was completely blown away.
“If I…” With Zach Sebree (Adelaine)
With their latest release, ‘Currents,’ Magnolia, Texas’ Adelaine have produced an outstanding record which consists of roaring riffs and melodic, soaring vocals with harmonies some bands may never attempt.
After wowing us with ‘Currents,’ we caught up with drummer Zach Sebree to find out which movie star-fronted band he’d like to play with, who would play his dream festival and more as he takes part in our “If I…” questionnaire.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Zach Sebree/Adelaine: None of them. I am 100% happy with every song.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Zach: Sent By Ravens farewell tour. Good times.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Zach: Wembley Arena. Fah Sho!
“If I…” with Chris Aylett (Scholars)
Hemel Hempstead rockers Scholars release their long awaited debut album, ‘Always Lead, Never Follow’ today via Banquet Records.
Since their formation, the five piece have supported the likes of Twin Atlantic, Pure Love, Hell Is For Heroes and Hundred Reasons. Now after six years together, the bands debut takes their post-hardcore influences (At The Drive-In and Refused) mix it a hint of skate punk and ends up delivering an energetic, sharp and riff-heavy record that borders on the math-rock spectrum. In other words, expect to hear a lot more about Scholars in the coming months.
Bassist Chirs Ayleet recently took some time out to answer our “If I…” questionnaire. Chris tells us why he’d like to play in the early years of Warped Tour, which Tears for Fears song he wish he’d written, as well as some vital van-related advice for aspiring bands and more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Chris: Yatta by The Green Leaves. YouTube it!
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Chris: One of ours? I prefer to think that the best is yet to come….otherwise, I’d have loved to have experienced the Warped Tours of 10-15 years ago when you basically had every single amazing punk and ska band of the time on the bill. It’s probably because it was the first musical scene I got into but I remember it being incredible.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Chris: Probably the Astoria (RIP) in London. I went to my first gigs there.
Feature: “If I…” with Benny Santoro (The Venetia Fair)
With the recent release of their latest album, ‘Every Sick, Disgusting Thought We’ve Got In Our Brain,’ Boston-based rockers The Venetia Fair present a hybrid of jazzed-up, grandiose brand of pop rock with a subtle hardcore influence thrown in for good measure. Think early Panic! At The Disco with the occasional heavy riff.
Vocalist Benny Santoro recently took some time out to take part in our regular “If I…” questionnaire where he discussed The Blood Brothers, Tom Hanks, why he’d like to relive the bands first tour and more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Benny: There are a few songs on our first album that I don’t feel ever really had a chance to be heard the way they were intended to sound so that kinda bums me out but I truthfully don’t do a lot of looking back. I feel like our best work is still ahead of us and our current offering, both from a production standpoint and in terms of songwriting and performance, blows away any of our previous releases.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Benny: Wow, I could easily make a list of tours and shows that I WOULDN’T want to relive… Our first tour was really fun and really weird because we were all so filled with excitement and optimism and everything was so new that we kept finding ourselves in really bizarre situations that we’re probably smart enough to avoid now. But, I mean, those are still our favorite stories to tell. So I guess I’d pick that tour not because I’d want to relive the situations but because of who we were to find ourselves in those situations. Its fun to be young and stupid.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Benny: I’ll answer this for Chris: “CHAIN REACTION WOOOOO HELL YEAH!”. He always yells that when people ask this. We’ve played Chain Reaction, by the way, but he did this both before and after that happened. I’ve never understood why, I mean, it’s an awesome venue for sure, but most people say like… I dunno, madison square garden or their favorite venue from when they used to go to shows as kids or something and Chris just keeps yelling about a 300 cap room across the country.
Feature: “If I…” with Adam Smart (IRIS)
With their new single, ‘Lights at Ten’ set to be released at the end of the month, Kent rockers IRIS are the latest emerging UK rock band aiming for bigger things in 2013.
Having played shows alongside Arcane Roots, Mallory Knox, I Divide and many others, the quartet have took that experience and applied to their sound, one that consists of strong harmonies, soaring choruses and slick guitar hooks thus making IRIS a band to keep an eye on.
Vocalist/guitarist Adam Smart recently took part in our “If I…” questionnaire where he told us which grunge band he’d like to see reform, which Youtube viral hit he wish he’d written, and more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Adam: ‘Poker Face’ by Lady Gaga.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Adam: The tour we did with I Divide at the end of last year. We all got on really well and had a lot of laughs along the way, played some great shows and just will always be a memorable one for all of us.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Adam: Brixton Academy, that’s where I’ve seen most of my heroes play.
If I could play with one band it would be…
Adam: It would probably be Foo Fighters.
Feature: “If I…” with Mike Cicero (Tantrum To Blind)
Having relocated to the UK, Swedish rockers Tantrum To Blind have been a roll since settling on these shores and are currently on tour with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Rat Attack. The female fronted four-piece blend electronic elements, soaring melodies and crushing melodies which has seen the band succeed in their homeland.
Now with a new EP in the works and touring relentlessly in the UK, expect to hear plenty more about Tantrum To Blind in the coming months.
Drummer Mike Cicero recently spoke to Already Heard for our regular “If I…” feature. Cicero told us about his love for Sum 41 and Rufio, headlining a festival in Vietnam and more.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Mike Cicero: ‘Big City Silence’ from our debut album, the recording of this song included a lot of technical difficulties and there was no time for preparation.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Mike: When we headlined Tiger Translate Festival in Vietnam in Spring 2011. That was pretty surreal. We went from playing 250 cap. venues in Sweden to headlining a festival in Vietnam in front of 4000 people. A feeling I won’t forget.
Feature: “If I…” with Drew Masters (Light You Up)
This week Birmingham pop punk band Light You Up head out on the Atticus Beer UK tour alongside Decade. With two of the UK’s best up and coming pop punk bands sharing the stage, the tour is a must-see. Having played shows alongside A Loss For Words, Set Your Goals, Save Your Breath and more in the past, Light You Up have steadily built up a strong following, and with their latest release, ‘Broke Jaw’ receiving praise for its energetic melodies and bold riffs, the quintet are certainly ones to look out for.
Before hitting the road guitarist Drew Masters took some time out to answer our regular “If I…” questionnaire. Drew told us which Beatle he’d like to play with, which he’d like to see reunite, what other genre of music he would be playing if he wasn’t playing pop punk, and more.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Drew: I don’t actually think I would re-record anything that we have done as a band. I definitely think we could have improved many of our old recordings, but we are proud of where we were at when we recorded them.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Drew: New Found Glory/Fenix TX/Rx Bandits (Birmingham Academy 2001).
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Drew: Wembley Stadium.
If I could play with one band it would be…
Drew: Foo Fighters.
Feature: “If I…” with Coastline
With the recent release of their debut mini-album (‘Taken Under’) Kent quartet Coastline received a wave of praise for their mix of bold choruses, introspective lyrics and overall tightly-crafted songs. Formed in 2011, Coastline are one of the latest British rock hopefuls and with ‘Taken Under’ they’re certainly a band to look out for in the coming months.
Vocalist/guitarist Simon Gearing recently took some time out to answer our “If I…” questionnaire and told us which legendary classic rock frontman he’d like to perform with, which Blink-182 album he wish he had wrote, who would be part of his dream festival line-up and more.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Simon Gearing: Fall Out Boy - ‘Sugar We’re Going Down.’
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
SG: Our tour with Hildamay last December. Now that was a party.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
SG: It would have to be Wembley Stadium. It’s epic.
If I could play with one band it would be…
SG: Jimmy Eat World.
Feature: “If I…” with Nai Harvest
With their much anticipated debut full-length ‘Whatever’ set to be released next month, Sheffield emo duo Nai Harvest are the latest band to be featured as part of “If I…” feature.
Being self-proclaimed “Pizza eatin, kitty pettin, tea drinkin emo rock whores” guitarist/vocalist Ben Thompson and drummer Lew Currie don’t take themselves to serious and are out to simply have fun, yet as the duo show in this feature, they have a passion for music and having a strong DIY ethic.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Nai Harvest: Our track ‘Tim Helped Me Get Over It’, we could do it a lot better now.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
NH: Wurzburg, Germany on our European tour with Hindsights. So many stage dives.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
NH: The biggest venue in the world… so long as it was packed out.
Feature: “If I…” with Eric Fairchild (Marine Electric)
Late last year Brooklyn, NY’s Marine Electric finally released their debut record ‘Restrained Joy.’ With comparisons to Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike, and The Casket Lottery, ‘Restrained Joy’ sees the quartet dealing with life’s obstacles and overcoming them in a moment of clarity.
Marine Electric recently followed up ‘Restrained Joy’ with a split 7” alongside Long Island punks and recent European tour buddies Fellow Project and are set tour the US in the spring.
Bassist Eric Fairchild recently took part in our “If I…” questionnaire and tells us which disbanded Michigan post-hardcore band are under appreciated, why he’d like to tour with KISS, and more.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Eric Fairchild: We would probably choose ‘Coyote’ from the ‘Head West’ 7”. Its one of the only songs from our old repertoire that we still play, and we’ve changed our own parts over the years. It would be interesting to hear it re-recorded considering how much we’ve grown as musicians.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
EF: Oh shit the Europe tour obviously. We just got back from a month long stint with Fellow Project, and needless to say it was fucking awesome. The people were great, and they had a tight knit punk community which they opened up to us. We drank to much, but looking back we should have drank a little more.
Feature: “If I…” with Mike Cockayne (Fenrir)
This week Suffolk alt-rock quintet Fenrir head out on tour with emerging Searching Alaska and with their debut EP, ‘Live Like Royalty’ set to be released later this month Fenrir are already being labelled as “ones to watch.”
Their sound has been compared to the likes of Deaf Havana and Young Guns; effective passionate rock with bold hooks.
Fenrir guitarist Mike Cockayne recently spoke to Already Heard for our regular “If I…” feature. Despite the bands melodic rock sound, Cockayne told us about his love for Maroon 5 and Busted however he also proudly discusses his love for the British independent music scene. Read on to find out more.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Mike Cockayne: Of our own songs I would re-record ‘Puppeteer.’ There’s alot we could improve on it. It was just too difficult a song to record in such a short space of time.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
MC: Well our first gig was with Housefires and they were incredible and the atmosphere was great, most likely due to me being so intoxicated, there was probably no one there! That or our Ipswich show supporting Under the Influence. The place was packed and it was the first time we had a full room of people we didn’t know, and they seemed to really enjoy our set.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
MC: Would Wembley be a bit obvious? Other than that I’m a big fan of Brixton Academy. I’ve been there twice now and I just think it looks beautiful and the sound is incredible.
Feature: “If I…” with Damien Mole (Searching Alaska)
Hailing from the Surrey/Essex area Searching Alaska boasts big choruses, catchy sing alongs and atmospheric numbers in their arsenal, and this week they head out on their first tour alongside alt-rockers Fenrir.
Combining the powerful vocals of Christina Rotondo with stiff guitar riffs and strong, catchy choruses, Searching Alaska have a lot going for themselves.
Bassist Damien Mole recently took some time out to take part in our “If I…” questionnaire. Damien spoke about his admiration forJohn Frusciante and La Dispute, which London venue he’d like to play and more.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Damien Mole: ‘A Glass Case of Emotion’ off of our ‘Summits’ EP, spice it up and make it more our own sound.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
DM: Either our first Headline show or our first London show at the Garage.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
DM: It was the Astoria but thats been knocked down now, so I’d have to say The Electric Ballroom in Camden.
If I could play with one band it would be…
DM: La Dispute, the amount of passion they put into their shows would be tough to beat but inspiring.
Feature: “If I…” with Kevin Fletcher (Uh-Huh Baby Yeah!)
Their upcoming full length is called ‘Trash Talk,’ they’ve just released their new single ‘Dancing With Wolves’ and they’re from Louisville. Uh Huh Baby Yeah! That’s the band in question and also a delightfully enthusiastic name to say out loud!
The band sit somewhere between The Audition, Head Automatica and Panic! At The Disco with their sugary coated vocal melodies, laced over pop rock hooks and licks; Big vocals, big choruses and bigger hearts on their sleeves.
As part of our “If I…” feature vocalist Kevin Fletcher answered the same set of questions that many have faced before. In the answers below you’ll stumble across Wembley Stadium, Glassjaw and Elvis Presley. Intrigued? Of course you are!
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Kevin: It would totally be “Hold On Me” from our first album Till Death Do Us Party. We play all the songs from that album a little different, but that one sounds so much better now than when we recorded it. If you’re asking about an artist other than ourselves, I’d say Michael Jackson’s “Bad”. We’re putting together a pretty sweet cover of it right now.
Feature: “If I…” with Phil Cox (Fights and Fires)
Next month Worcester self-proclaimed “geekcore” band Fights and Fires release their second album, ‘We Could All Be Dead Tomorrow.’ The Rock and Roll inspired hardcore quartet take their classic rock influences, and mix it up with contemporary hardcore. The end result is a record that is bound to win over fans of the likes of The Bronx and The Ghost Of A Thousand.
We recently caught up with vocalist and former Pro Wrestler trainee Phil Cox for our latest edition of “If I…” Phil told us why he’d want to play with Andrew WK, which legendary metal bassist he’d like to play with and much more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Phil: We recorded a song ages ago called ‘Coming Of Age.’ I always really liked the song in a live setting but on record it sounded too polished, so sadly it went to the way side and only ever got released on our Bandcamp page, as a free single.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
Phil: Last summer we got to play Biubstock Festival in Switzerland, sharing a stage with two of our favorite bands, Every Time I Die and The Bouncing Souls. The stage was really busy when we played and it was an amazing atmosphere. Afterwards, we drank and played baseball with fruit with our good friends from France, Uncommon Men From Mars, so a perfect day all round.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
Phil: In our home town of Worcester, growing up, we used to have this little sweat pit of a room at an old mans pub that we called ‘The Void.’ Some of the best shows I have attended happened in that little room. I would love to bring it back for one night only and play that place again with Fights And Fires.
Feature: “If I…” with Adam Lewis (Colt 45)
This week Cumbria punk band Colt 45 begin a UK tour alongside Electric River and The Hostiles, and they just so happen to be the band in question for this edition of “If I…”.
Their latest single, ‘Happiness Is a Dying Art’ and recent EP, ‘Inside The Triangle’ mix the bands punk angst with melancholy lyrics that has led the band to be praised in many circles and been labelled as one to watch by many.
We caught up with drummer Adam Lewis to take part in our “If I…” feature. Adam told us which Philadelphia punk band he’d like to tour with, which Stereophonics song he wish he had wrote, and much more.
If your band would like to be featured as part of “If I…” full details can be found here.
If I could re-record one song it would be…
Adam Lewis: ’Shit Happens’ from our first EP. I’d only been with the lads a few weeks when we went and tracked it with Romesh, we do it much better nowadays.
If I could re-live one tour/show it would be…
AL: Our EP launch night for ‘Inside The Triangle’ back in October, it was just amazing to pick a bill of our friends and fill our local venue with people there supporting local bands. It was easily my proudest moment so far in Colt 45.
If I had the chance to play one venue it would be…
AL: Royal Albert Hall, London - my Dad used to take me there when I was younger to see all sorts of stuff. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to perform just because it was one of the first places I remember seeing live music.
If I could play with one band it would be…
AL: Shit, that’s hard. If Colt 45 could support anyone right now I’d have to say The Menzingers, just because we all absolutely love their albums and always rock out to them in the van. If I could have been in any other band it would have been Led Zeppelin, I’d have enjoyed that.
If I could play with any person living or dead it would be…
AL: Probably Justin Chancellor, bassist in Tool. We’d have some sick drum n bass jams.
