NYS Music 20​13

Author: NYS Music Staff

  • Meg and Laura Get Lost in Austin: Secret Shows, Cutout Couture and Mass Appeal

    Before taking on Day 4 of SxSW in Austin, Meg and Laura headed to the hotel cafe with the SxSW Bible and a highlighter. As they spent all the money they do not have on pancakes, they went over their plans for the day. They took their last sips of coffee and fought against time to make it to the Day Party at The Tap Room to interview David Wax Museum. To their annoyance , the venue turned out to be +21 and the band’s publicist did not put the eighteen year olds down for media passes.

    Heads down low, the two marched down Colorado Street in an attempt to shake off their collective disappointment. They hailed a bus to the Hampton Inn for their next appointment, an interview with the Estonian singer-songwriter, Kerli. As the two reached the hotel, they were ushered up to Kerli’s hotel room by her manager, Bruce. “Kerli’s getting ready for her show, so if you girls don’t mind coming up for the interview, that would be great”. Meg and Laura happily agreed, knowing it would be a great experience actually watching the performer prep for her show. “Watching Kerli get dressed is sort of like watching a cartoon explode”, explained Bruce. Intrigued, the duo, stepped inside expecting to find the synthetic made up Kerli who could easily pass off as one of Gwen Stefani’s harajuku girls in her videos but instead found a real person: a barely 5’1″ blond girl with her face clear of makeup and her wet hair in a messy bun. Baroque shaped styrofoam cutouts outlined with neon shoelaces were strewn all around the couch and coffee table. A pair of astounding 7″ platform shoes with the same pattern stood on top of the bureau. On the floor was the singer herself, putting the outfit together as she answered their questions. The Estonian native came across little and belittled as she talked about her childhood experiences and her transition to the U.S.. She discussed how young love was nearly was the death of her and how she used it as a motivator to strive harder for her dreams. “You know how hard it is being 18”, to which the duo chimed in in response, “Oh yes, do we know.” Kerli then stepped out of her role as an interviewee and bonded with the girls over well, being girls. She commended them on their perseverance, giving them props for sticking together in the midst of a catty jungle where women hide behind their oversized shades and fake smiles stuck in lipstick. “Just wait till you turn 25 and hit the quarter-life crisis. You start examining all your accomplishments and wonder if you’re successful enough,” joked the singer. The duo wished her luck on her preparations for the show and made an exit.

    As Meg and Laura watched the sun set on their bus ride back to the convention center, they agreed that this recent experience was one of the more interesting adventures they’ve had, and for those of you who don’t know, these two don’t embark on your average everyday adventures. Back on Chavez, the happening ladies were faced with the daily challenge: which show to go tonight? As they made their way across downtown Austin, en route to the venue walk-through before shows started, a distinctive synth-y noise surfaced in the air. They stopped and exchanged enchanted looks. Could it be? They crossed over to the Myspace Showcase and interrogated the bouncer; “Is that Sleigh Bells?” And of course, it was. There was no way these audiophiles could confuse the sound of Infinity Guitars for any other. The bouncer let them in on the fact that they were soundchecking and told them to be back at the venue to line up at 7pm if they wanted to get in. They took the tip but since it was still early they continued to venture around the wild Chavez until then.

    Dodging drunk  bullets and catching some talented street performers along the way, when the clock struck 6:30pm they headed back to the line outside the Myspace Showcase where they found that a swarm of Austin Sheriffs armed at the doors of the venue had replaced the friendly bouncer. Nervous that they wouldn’t be able to work their wits through this one and that they’d miss another great show in the process, the duo decided to resort to plan B: The Mass Appeal Ice Cream Official SXSW Social Showcase at the Austin Music Hall. Despite their doubts, this show was far less guarded and the two made it right in. In the day and age of incessant social media updates and overworked iPhones, the girls took some time to charge their cells while opening rappers Rockie Fresh and Roc Marciano took to the stage. With 100% battery they hit the floor and squeezed their way to the best spot in the house: The front of the stage near the VIP entrance where they caught glimpses of Hip Hop legend Pharrell while they waited for the one and only Kendrick Lamar to take the stage. When he finally appeared, the wild crowd he opened with “Hol’ Up” and followed with “ADHD” and kept up the energy with “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”. Just when everyone thought it couldn’t get better, he brought Ab-Soul onstage for the track “Terrorist Threats” and later blew minds when he brought out not only ScHoolboyQ but T.I. as well. The show ended with a performance by Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon and the duo walked home in a musical stupor. So out of their minds that Laura drew parallels between Destiny’s Child and Wu Tang.

  • Last Shot (short story) by a.g. devitt

    I kissed Emily in the hallway outside her apartment. The fluorescent tube above was about to die, and it blinked and hummed as it clung to life.

    “Come inside,” she said, giving me a look that hit below the belt.

    “I can’t,” I said. The light above grew brighter then died, leaving us in shadows. An old woman from across the way stuck her head out as if sensing the darkness, the odor of Marlboro Reds spilling out into the hall before she went back in.

    “You don’t have to do this.”

    “I do.”

    “Why?”

    “I’m the only one who can.”

    “No,” she said, resting her head against my chest. “You’re just the only one who will.”

    I had met Emily three months ago. She was a bartender and a good one. At the end of the night my tab would only count one drink. I’d tip her for each one I’d actually had. One night I closed down the bar. She’d said it was her turn.

    “What’s this guy done?” she said, leaning her weight against the wall. She hung on to my jacket, pulling me gently into her. I wanted her to open the door. I wanted to follow her in. I wanted to take off her clothes and lose myself. I have an addict’s brain. I need constant stimulation or I start to get bored. And when I get bored I get dangerous.

    “He’s hurt a lot of people.” My voice shakes. Nerves? Anxiousness? Fear? I almost wanted it to be fear. It had been so long since I’d felt it.

    “You can beat him?”

    “I have to try.”

    “You won’t come back. Even if you win.”

    “There is no win,” I said. “There’s only lose.”

    “You don’t have to lose me.”

    But I did. She was changing me. Healing me. I was starting to feel happiness, and that in turn brought my guard down more and more. The walls I built were not to keep other people out.

    They were there to keep me in.

    “The words. I can’t say the words.” I kissed the top of her head. Tilted her face towards mine.

    “You don’t have to. I love you, too.”

    She was making me weak. And I needed to be strong.

    “I can’t say goodbye, either.”

    “So don’t.”

    Even in leaving her, she was perfect. I wanted to kiss her one last time, but that would be too dramatic. I loathed theatrics. I just looked at her, making a mental photograph. One I would remember for the rest of my life.

    Like pulling off a Band-Aid, I turned and left her. She didn’t call after me. My ears strained to hear any final words. All I heard was her key in the lock. The door opening and closing.

    Outside was February. A winter storm had dumped two feet of snow over everything. All the dirt. All the filth. Covered over in virgin white that glowed beneath the streetlamps. Even at this late hour snow blowers were blowing. Cars passed by slowly, tires crunching the tightly packed snow in the streets. My own feet crunched along. The wind blew fresh powder from the tops of the high banks between the road and me.

    I looked up, hoping for stars.

    I would have liked there to be stars.

    Instead there was a pale pink canvas stretched above. Light pollution and cloud cover. The reds of taillights and traffic stops. The streetlamps hummed.

    I felt alone.

    I looked at my mental picture of Emily. I adjusted it so the lighting was better. Made her eyes look less sad.

    I gave myself two blocks alone with her before dissolving the photograph. To do what I was about to do, I needed to be cold. My enemy was ruthless. I needed to be just as bad.

    I turned the corner at State Street. The diner was open. I thought about getting coffee. I looked at my watch. There was time.

    A bell rang as I pushed through the door. I stomped the snow off my shoes. A middle-aged waitress with dark red hair was sitting at the counter reading something on her cell phone. She looked up at the sound of the bell.

    “Just one?” she said. She smiled when she said it, as if to offer comfort for the fact I was alone.

    “Counter is good,” I said, choosing a seat that let me see all the angles.

    “What can I start you with?” I was glad she didn’t comment on the weather. People always comment on the weather because it’s the one thing we all have in common.

    “Just coffee. Black.”

    She came back with little buckets of creamer and an assortment of sweeteners. No one ever believes you when you want it black.

    My fingers twitched for a cigarette. Coffee was often just as much something to occupy my hands as it was about caffeine. I needed my hands to be steady. I had one shot and could not miss.

    The bell above the door rang. I looked up. I mentally kicked myself for hoping it was Emily. That she had followed me from her place. That she didn’t want to lose me and would stay with me so I couldn’t confront the monster I was about to face. “I won’t let you,” she’d say. Then she’d give me that look. The look that made me want to pick up the chains and gladly shackle myself to her. The chains I had to escape before they ever had a chance to bind me.

    But it was just an old couple. He in a fur hat and mackinaw. She in a beige coat and bonnet. They went straight to the second booth, right by the window, as if it was theirs. The waitress brought them their coffees without taking an order.

    They were regulars.

    This was their spot. Their warm, bright place in the world.

    I was just a stranger passing through. Neither unwelcome nor noticed. They were all ignorant of my fate. Of the service I was about to perform.

    Would I have wanted it any other way?

    The old woman hung up her handbag and coat on the hook beside the booth. The old man set his hat on the table. He unbuttoned the mackinaw with arthritic fingers. His face tinged in pain, softening when he looked at his wife. Their hands met across the Formica countertop, and for a moment they looked as young as they must have been when they first met.

    I looked at my photo of Emily. Tried aging her. Tried to see myself as that old man.

    I couldn’t.

    I left a ten on the counter for coffee and rent. The old couple paid me no mind as I walked past. The cold February wind punched my face as I hit the sidewalk, slowly building up a momentum as I crunched down the street. Towards my fate. Towards the moment when I would learn if I was tough enough.

    “Got a light, mister?” The girl could have been no more than fifteen. She was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, skinny jeans and Chuck Taylors. No gloves. I don’t know how she wasn’t frozen to death.

    I pulled the Zippo from my pocket and did a trick for her.

    “Nice,” she said, leaning into the flame and taking a drag.

    “You need gloves,” I said, snapping the lighter shut.

    “I left home in a hurry,” the girl said. “My mom’s boyfriend. They’re fucking.”

    There was nothing to say to that. So I didn’t.

    “Here,” I said, pulling the leather gloves from my hands. “They’ll be a little big for you.”

    “I can’t take your gloves, man. The light was plenty.”

    She had a ring through her nose. I wondered if the cold made it stick.

    “I don’t need them,” I said. “I need to keep my hands free.” I needed my trigger finger free.

    “Thanks,” she said, slipping them on. She held her hands in front of her. They looked oddly disproportionate to the rest of her. Like Mickey Mouse.

    “You got any money?”

    “Why?” she said. “You robbing me?”

    I pulled some bills from my pocket. Handed her a twenty.

    “Go sit in the diner up the street. It’s warm in there. They have pie.”

    “Pie goes straight to my hips,” she said.

    “Coffee’s good,” I said.

    “Why you doin’ this?” she said.

    “I never got to have a kid,” I said. “So tonight, you’re it.”

    I turned and continued my walk. She hollered “thank you” to my back but I kept walking. I put my hands in my coat pockets. The alley was close by. That’s where I needed to go.

    I passed a bar. Thought about getting a drink. Decided that was a bad idea. I heard music, though. Shine a Light by the Stones. I’d always liked that one.

    I kept on walking. Past a closed up jewelry store. Past a twenty-four hour Laundromat. Empty. Past a consignment shop and a tattoo parlor and an antiques store. I couldn’t hear Shine a Light anymore but I kept it playing in my head. It had been playing the night I first had Emily. It reminded me of her. I looked at the photograph one last time.

    Then I tore it to shreds.

    I stood in the mouth of the alley. In the cold. In the snow.

    I made my heart a thing of winter itself.

    I crossed from light into dark, swallowed by the shadows of the brick buildings on either side of me. I jumped up and caught the fire escape with both hands. The cold metal stung my gloveless fingers.

    It slowly came down from my weight.

    I climbed.

    No more Emily. No more Stones. No more old people in diners. No more light. No more hope. No more coffee.

    No more.

    Each rung I climbed brought me closer. I felt it. Inside of me. The blackness that had been there since birth. The raven whose dark wings beat against my brain.

    Inside me was madness and hatred and violence. With each rung of the ladder I remembered the faces of all the people I had hurt. All the lives I had destroyed.

    I could not back down now.

    I had to be stronger than my enemy.

    Reaching the top, I swung my legs over and onto the flat roof, snow covered roof. I looked for fresh prints.

    I was alone.

    Stepping to the edge, I looked to the street below. I hoped the cigarette girl was warm. I hoped the old couple made it home safely.

    I hoped Emily could love someone again.

    I took the old Colt Python from inside my coat. Thought of each life I’d taken with it. And of the first one I had taken. Here. At this very spot.

    “One more,” I said to no one.

    I put the muzzle under my chin and looked up. Inhaled.

    No stars.

    Only gray.

    Exhale.

    © 2013 by A.G. Devitt
    All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of A.G. Devitt

  • Interview with Chris Wyse from The Cult, Owl and more

    When you hear Chris Wyse’s story it sounds almost like a movie script. Born in New York City to Irish immigrants, moved to the country in Upstate New York, picked up a guitar with his buddy Dan Dinsmore, went off to California to be a rock star, and is now coming back home to play a show with his old friend in his old stomping grounds. It’s a lot more complicated than that but it does make for a great movie, or perhaps a song. NYS Music was lucky enough to talk to Chris Wyse last week to find out what the New York native has been up to and what the future holds for the talented bassist.

    Back in the mid-80s, Chris and Dan met while attending Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, New York. Both were budding musicians and they quickly became good friends, Chris on bass and Dan on drums. “It was awesome [starting out in Upstate New York] because there was nothing else to do. So music ended up being our everything. We’d play the Koda Theater and do battle of the bands, and that became our learning ground.” There was a lot of support from friends and family. Things were simpler, but getting noticed was still a lot of hard work. They used tape to record demos, and they used to run around the area flyering cars for upcoming shows (a lost art that has been replaced by the non-personal events calendar on Facebook). At least less trees were harmed in the process. One of the places they used to flyer was the well-known club, Saratoga Winners. Chris and Dan would play there when they were seniors in high school and their first couple years after graduation, to adults packing the place with fans many years older.

    Chris got national attention for his innovative bass playing and was featured in Guitar Player Magazine when he was only 17. A few years after graduating from Shen, Chris moved to Los Angeles. In the 90’s, Chris played for various bands and projects with notable musicians including Tal Bachman (son of Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive), Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Paul D’Amour (original bassist for Tool) and more. It was for Paul D’Amour’s band Lusk that Chris “bought the upright bass, but that project froze due to troubles with the record company.” Chris went on from there and auditioned for Tal Bachman, playing a sort of John Paul Jones style of bass. After getting his passport straightened out, he found himself on a plane to Maui to produce the record. It was there that he met Bob Rock, “…a “real stand-up guy. Bob was one of those people that I had a great time working with, and I tried to rock his tracks. That got me into The Cult, the audition with Metallica and more. It is paramount to have someone like that [in your corner].”

    The Cult just finished seven years of touring, brought back producer Bob Rock (who also produced their albums Sonic Temple, The Cult, and Beyond Good and Evil), and released their ninth album, Choice of Weapon in 2012. Chris “loves this record, it’s a super strong record. It’s a very ‘now’ kind of record and they did a lot of work promoting it last year.” Later in 2012 The Cult also released a “prequel” album called Weapon of Choice, showing the stretches and energy that the band took in the studio. There is a raw feel to the new songs and it was evident that, as a whole, The Cult went back to their original UK roots. Chris’s unique style is evident throughout the album and it’s worth checking it out, on iTunes here.

    Now that The Cult is taking a break from touring and recording, Wyse can concentrate on his project, Owl. Owl includes his childhood friend, drummer Dan Dinsmore, and Jason Mezilis, who Chris met in Hollywood in the early 2000’s. “I met Jason in a club through a mutual friend. We hit it off and followed each other’s careers. I would join bands, be on the road, and Jason was aware of my old Owl shows. Jason is incredibly talented, competent and hit it off with Dan.” Together they are Owl and they recorded a few of their recent tracks at Overit Studios just outside of Albany.  Dinsmore built the studio in an old Catholic Church. Chris added, “…The feeling and acoustics [in the church] are amazing. It gets you really inspired.”

    Chris and Dan will be back in Clifton Park playing with Jason as Owl, on March 30th with other hometown artist, Maria Brink and her band, In This Moment. “Dan and I are excited to be there. It’s not just 2013 and promoting The Right Thing album.  We played at that there as teens, when it was called Tigers. That’s the interesting thing. Playing Manhattan and LA feels like playing at home, but still nothing like playing down the road from where you first started playing music. I was just a teenager and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to play to my roots.”

    Well, the honor is Upstate New York’s when local-gone-rock-star, Chris Wyse, comes back home to Upstate Concert Hall on March 30th. will be there to witness the warm homecoming performance.

  • Interview: Chris Wyse from Upstate NY Roots to Roll ‘n Roll’s World Stage

    When you hear Chris Wyse’s story it sounds almost like a movie script. Born in New York City to Irish immigrants, moved to the country in Upstate New York, picked up a guitar with his buddy Dan Dinsmore, went off to California to be a rock star, and is now coming back home to play a show with his old friend in his old stomping grounds. It’s a lot more complicated than that but it does make for a great movie, or perhaps a song. Unfortunately, I think Bad Company beat me to it. Upstate Metal was lucky enough to talk to Chris Wyse last week to find out what the New York native has been up to and what the future holds for the talented bassist.

    Back in the mid-80s, Chris and Dan met while attending Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, New York. Both were budding musicians and they quickly became good friends, Chris on bass and Dan on drums. “It was awesome [starting out in Upstate New York] because there was nothing else to do. So music ended up being our everything. We’d play the Koda Theater and do battle of the bands, and that became our learning ground.” There was a lot of support from friends and family. Things were simpler, but getting noticed was still a lot of hard work. They used tape to record demos, and they used to run around the area flyering cars for upcoming shows. (a lost art that has been replaced by the non-personal events calendar on Facebook). At lease less trees are harmed in the process. One of the places they used to flyer was the well-0known club, Saratoga Winners. Chris and Dan would play there when they were seniors in high school and their first couple years after graduation, to adults packing the place with fans many years older.

    Chris got national attention for his innovative bass playing and was featured in Guitar Player Magazine when he was only 17. A few years after graduating from Shen, Chris moved to Los Angeles. In the 90’s, Chris played for various bands and projects with notable musicians including Tal Bachman (son of Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive), Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Paul D’Amour (original bassist for Tool) and more. It was for Paul D’Amour’s band Lusk that Chris “bought the upright bass, but that project froze due to troubles with the record company.” Chris went on from there and auditioned for Tal Bachman, playing a sort of John Paul Jones style bass. After getting his passport straightened out, he found himself on a plane to Maui to produce the record. It was there that he met Bob Rock, “…a “real stand-up guy. Bob was one of those people that I had a great time working with, and I tried to rock his tracks. That got me into The Cult, the audition with Metallica and more. It is paramount to have someone like that [in your corner].”

    The Cult just finished seven years of touring, brought back producer Bob Rock (who also produced their albums Sonic Temple, The Cult, and Beyond Good and Evil), and released their ninth album, Choice of Weapon in 2012. Chris “loves this record, it’s a super strong record. It’s a very ‘now’ kind of record and they did a lot of work promoting it last year.” Later in 2012 The Cult also released a “prequel” album called Weapon of Choice, showing the stretches and energy that the band took in the studio. There is a raw feel to the new songs and it was evident that, as a whole, The Cult went back to their original UK roots. Chris’s unique style is evident throughout the album and it’s worth checking it out, on iTunes [here].

    Now that The Cult is taking a break from touring and recording, Wyse can concentrate on his project, Owl. Owl includes his childhood friend, drummer Dan Dinsmore, and Jason Mezilis, who Chris met in Hollywood in the early 2000’s. “I met Jason in a club through a mutual friend. We hit it off and followed each other’s careers. I would join bands, be on the road, and Jason was aware of my old Owl shows. Jason is incredibly talented, competent and hit it off with Dan.” Together they are Owl and they recorded a few of their recent tracks at Overit Studios just outside of Albany.  Dinsmore built the studio in an old Catholic Church. Chris added, “…The feeling and acoustics [in the church] are amazing. It gets you really inspired.”

    Chris and Dan will be back in Clifton Park playing with Jason as Owl, on March 30th with other hometown artist, Maria Brink and her band, In This Moment. “Dan and I are excited to be there. It’s not just 2013 and promoting The Right Thing album.  We played at that there as teens, when it was called Tigers. That’s the interesting thing. Playing Manhattan and LA feels like playing at home, but still nothing like playing down the road from where you first started playing music. I was just a teenager and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to play to my roots.”

    Well, the honor is Upstate New York’s when local-gone-rock-star, Chris Wyse, comes back home to Upstate Concert Hall on March 30th. Upstate Metal will be there to witness the warm homecoming performance.  

  • Sevendust: Live at Upstate Concert Hall on Feb 6th

    From the first chords of “Decay” the sold out crowd of Upstate Concert Hall went crazy.  There was something in the air on February 6th.  Sevendust always packs the house in Upstate New York, and they should.  Their brand of alternative metal has withstood the test of time and their newest releases, like “Decay” show that the band isn’t going anywhere.

    “Decay” highlights everything great about Sevendust: the dueling guitars of Clint Lowery and John Connolly, hard hitting rhythms of Morgan Rose and the soulful energy of Vinnie Hornsby, along with Lajon Witherspoon’s unmistakable melodic howl.

    sevendustThe tour is supporting the  new album Black Out the Sun and tried to do that with just two songs. The opening number “Decay” and the only other song they played from the new release, “Till Death”.  With a catalog as large as theirs, fans appreciated the mix from over the years, but any emphasis on the new release might have been overshadowed by past hits.

    The second song of the the set was “Praise” from Sevendust’s third album Animosity.  The crowd went crazy as front man Lajon Witherspoon belted out powerful vocals at the top of his lungs and the crowd fired back knowing most the words to this and every song after it.  The sun was blacked out and the night was still young.  Lajon and company went on to play “Denial” (Home/1999), “Ugly” (Next/2005) and “Bitch” from Sevendust’s debut gold album nearly 16 years ago.  Before the band took a little breather and talked about how great it was to be back in Upstate NY.  It’s home to some of their best shows and biggest fans.  The next two songs were thoughtful and well placed.  A calm before the storm that resulted in harder, edgier work.  “Trust” and “Angel Son” are both from Sevendust’s Animosity album, however “Angel Son” was originally written for a compilation album Strait Up, dedicated to the life of Snot‘s former lead singer Lynn Strait who tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 30.  This is as close as Sevendust will ever come to a ballad and it highlights the range and talents of the band.

    Morgan Rose was able to set the pace throughout the night adding mesmerizing drum solos.  Their were times that the waves of sound threatened to blow the crowd back through the front doors.  But as the set moved on and the music got faster, the drums got louder and the crowd spread out and the pit finally opened up to a circle were only the strong survive.  “Waffle” (Home/1999) led the charge and went into “Strong Arm Broken” (Cold Day Memory/2010) and then “Till Death” from the new release.  The Set ended with “Pieces” (Next/2005) and the appropriately names “The End Is Coming”  (Cold Day Memory/2010).

    sevendustThe variety of songs over Sevendust’s long career is a testament to their staying power and influence in the industry.  After 16 years of pushing the envelope and bringing hard-nose, in your face music to the masses they are still experiencing incredible success.  Their most recent single “Decay” has been getting a ton of airtime on FM stations all over the country and SiriusXM’s Octane channel.

    The encore was extra special for the audience and the band.  The first song was “Splinter” from Sevendust’s 2010 release Cold Day Memory.  And then, Upstate New York’s own Joey Belladonna was pulled onto the stage to help sing “Face to Face”.  It took a lot of coaxing to get the shy lead singer from the legendary metal band, Anthrax, to the stage but when he finally came out from hiding behind the speakers to the crowd, people in Joey’s hometown of Oswego could have heard the roar.

    Overall the night was a huge success, opening band Avatar from Sweden is definitely a rising star to keep an eye on and support act, Lacuna Coil is always a crowd favorite.  Look for an upcoming interview with Lacuna Coil’s Andrea Ferro.

  • AURA Music and Arts Festival kicks off ‘s 2013 Festival Season

    For most festival goers to AURA Music and Arts Festival, the event is a three day affair.  For , it was more like a five day adventure.  A 21-hour straight car ride down to Northern Florida got us there a couple hours before New York’s own Consider the Source took the Porch Stage to kick off this incredible festival in an even more amazing setting.

    As you enter the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park it becomes hard not to notice the beautiful surroundings.  Trees covered in Spanish moss, ponds, horse barns, canoe rentals, well-kept cabins, all leading you down a road to the white sandy beach nestled next to the dark water of the Suwanee River.  The giant oaks left you feeling humble and the open field left you feeling free.  The sun beating on this snowbird’s face in the middle of February was a welcome reminder of the festival season ahead.  Yes, 2013 was going to be a great year for music and it was starting here and now, in Live Oak, Florida.

    There could not be a better way to kick off a musical event than hearing Gabriel Marin jam away on his double-necked custom fretless guitar, known as a chaturangui.  Consider the Source is typically found later in the night on a Friday or Saturday evening, but as a newcomer to the AURA line-up they were placed as the festival opener.  For the dedicated fans that got their early enough to see them, the band put on a great show and it was no coincidence that the sun shone brighter and the air was warmer than the rest of the weekend.  The positive vibes from CTS were also found midday Saturday in the middle of the campgrounds.

    After CTS melted face on the Porch Stage, the southeast’s own Stokeswood dusted off the Amphitheater and got things warmed up on the main stage.  The band seemingly switched instruments after every songs, but the combination of who was playing what did not seem to matter.  Vocalist Adam Patterson kept the growing crowd enticed as the campers were setting up just beyond the fence and vendors were beginning to peddle their wares.

    As Friday went on and the shadows got longer, festival goers heard the funk stylings of Chicago-based The Main Squeeze, before heading back to the main stage for the return of RAQ, back together for the first time live since July 2011 at The Big Up Festival in Upstate New York.  The jam band that were on the forefront of a new sound brought their fans back when they started the set with “Shirley Be a Drooler” and then over a 10-minute version of “Botz”.  The set went on to include “BFAM”, “Comin’ Home”, a 13 minute “Walking In Circles” followed by an incredible jam of “Late Night” > “Sweet Cream Butter” > “Late Night”.  The festival crowd loved to see the band back together and pleaded for an encore.  When Todd Stoops, Jay Burwick, Chris Michetti and new (and permanent) drummer Adrian Tramontano came out to play “Tumblin’ Down” things at the Porch Stage with Break Science just had to wait a little while longer, because RAQ was back and the fans were enjoying their return.   also got to sit down briefly with Stoops on Saturday and we can expect more from RAQ this year.  With confirmed dates to play in Boston, NYC and Philly you can also expect RAQ at 2013 festivals whenever Conspirator and Kung Fu are in the line-up.

    The very popular electronic music explorers, Conspirator, were the next up on the main stage playing the only back-to-back sets of the festival.  As temperatures were beginning to drop in Northern Florida, the crowd became thankful that Conspirator was there to warm things up.  It’s impossible to sit still when the band takes the stage and spreads their energetic sounds over the masses.  AURA festival goers got to hear a lot of the new tracks from the recently released EP, Unleashed.  Their AURA version of “Retrograde” was amazing and the lit hula hoops, lit umbrellas, lit signs and lit anything else you can add an LED light to, added to an amazing performance.  Conspirator is offering up a much more refined sound that has been developing over the past couple years with a earth-shaking dupstep rhythms and a light show that left many picking their jaws up off the ground.

    After Conspirator’s two sets the crowd literally ran over to the Porch Stage so they did not miss a beat of Kung Fu‘s Friday night performance.  Dressed in their traditional ‘Gi’ outfits, the band could see their breath as the cold air overtook the Suwannee Music Park.  Many of the southern festies hadn’t seen the northeast-based band before and their reactions were nothing but positive.  It there was funk stage at the festival Kung Fu would have been the headliner, because if it was funk you were after they were sure to deliver it.  Guitarist Tim Palmieri went off on solos that you weren’t quite sure would ever stop and to be honest nobody cared if they did.  After talking to him the next day, you would never had known that his fingers were a little numb because on stage they seemed to be on fire.  Dressed in layers and wearing gloves between the sound check and the performance helped the band who played their coldest outdoor set ever.  Temperatures were now below freezing.

    After Kung Fu’s mind altering set it was back to the amphitheater for a bittersweet performance from Perpetual Groove.  P Groove’s front man Brock Butler is reportedly leaving the band to pursue other music interests, and for P Groove fans this festival set was a must see, for those that weren’t fans before, they are now and felt the impact of knowing the band will soon no longer be around.  Fans got to hear some great extended jams like “Great Tea” > “Out Here” > “Green Tea”.  That led into a masterful “Macumba” > “Walking in Place” and back to “Green Tea”.  The set closed out with “Two Shores” > “Speed Queen”.  Friday night’s encore was “Mr. Transistor” > “Echo” > “Mr. Transistor”. The band will be playing consistently in March until their final performance on April 5th at the Georgia Theatre.

    When the night seemed over and music stopped blaring from the speakers a subculture of festival goers were just getting ready to play.  Silent discos popped up as ragers took over. found ourselves up at Club Bujak with Jeff Bujak and Jen Dulong.  Jeff is originally from the Syracuse area and now resides in Boston.  Bujak is known in the northeast for his IDM (intelligent dance music) and light show that includes Jen on the LED hula hoop.  As listeners approached Club Bujak on Friday and Saturday night they didn’t hear a sound but instead were greeted by dozens of dancers with headphones on.  Combine electonic music, a wireless signal and expensive headphones and the Silent Disco is born.

    Waking up on Saturday morning was a catch-22.  The good side was AURA Music and Arts Festival was filled with great musicians, talented artists and the most wonderful staff you could ask for in a festival.  The down side was that it was still in the 30’s and raining.  The dreary weather did not stop the crowd from waking up and getting their coffee from Fair Shot Coffee.  While we shouldn’t pick favorites it’s hard not to when you need hot cups of coffee in the morning, iced Cuban coffee during the day and espressos at night to provide that last bit of energy to get through the night.  AURA offered great food vendors, too with the Free Lovin’ Foodery and Thai BBQ serving up more substantial offerings and Swift Concessions for those with a sweet tooth.  The merch vendors were great as well.  The Cigar Box Music was a popular stop for most AURA festies and the art offered by Sally Can’t Dance was breathtaking.  The Eden’s Rose Foundation was there and they are based out of Albany, NY.  The Foundation work does everything from helping indigenous tribes in the deepest part of the Amazon Rainforest to Tibetan refuge communities in the Himalayas.  It’s namesake, Eden Joseph Roe passed away at 24 years old in 2005, he was a devoted Phish fan who traveled extensively to hear his favorite jam band.

    The first act to perform Saturday was Newton Crosby and he did so in the rain.  People braved the cold temps and rain to hear him and his incredible guitar work.  His spirited, funky set started out with “Wonderful” and went into a long jam of “The Telli Jig” > “Saturday People” > “Return to Asbury Park” > “Saturday People”.  Many smiles were brought to the crowd during an vigorous cover of “Sowing the Seeds of Love”.  Just when everyone was feeling the good vibe from Newton, Brock Butler sat in on “Faceless” and the combined energy of these two incredible musicians parted the clouds.  The set couldn’t have ended better as the skies started to clear and the band played “Crispy Friggin Chicken” > “Worst Day Ever”.  Luckily for us it was far from the worst day ever, the music was just starting and The McLovins were about to take the main stage.

    The McLovins played their funky, uptempo mix on the main stage to many new listeners and fans as the sun continuously fought to shine it’s light on AURA.  The McLovins were able to play AURA by winning a contest on the festivals Facebook page.  In order to pay for the trip down they ended up having a successful Kickstarter campaign.  It was a long road for the young band from Connecticut but well worth it as they are set on reaching new heights.

    Next up was the most funkalious, down home blend of rhythm, harmony and attitude that could be found east of New Orleans.  Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band started the set with “True Battle” and “WTF” (With True Feeling) and did not let up until their last two numbers, “Lovin’” and “Trunk Fallin’ Off”.  Things got really funky when Adam Smirnoff from Lettuce joined YMBFBB in the middle of the set for “Lucky”.  Everyone in the audience (and on stage) was shakin’ what their mama gave them.  There was a point that Mama Funk herself (Mary Frances Newcomb) turned her backside to the crowd and shook her badonkadonk.  The crowd went wild and Saturday’s party officially started and nothing could turn it back.

    Over at the Amphitheater the crowd was beginning to gather to see Kung Fu with Nigel Hall performing a tribute to the legendary Stevie Wonder.  Nigel came out on the stage being lead with dark glasses working hard to find his inner Stevie.  Nigel explained “this is an educational set with a lot of songs Stevie Wonder probably wouldn’t perform anymore…the great thing about Stevie is that he has written every song that matters in the world. Whatever songs we choose to do will be fine.”  The set was full of life starting with “Confusion” and “Black Man”, and went on to include crowd favorites like “Higher Ground”, “Do I Do” and closed with a great version of  “I Wish”.  Besides the incredibly talented guys from Kung Fu, Nigel Hall was also joined by Adam Smirnoff, Jim Wuest, Aly Newitt & John Provenzano.  The Stevie Wonder Tribute will be what people at AURA will be talking about for years and we can all thank Daryl Wolff for coming up with the idea and Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) and Nigel Hall for connecting and making it happen.

    Off on the side stage DrFameus, or as he is better known as, Allen Aucoin of the Disco Biscuits, became a one-man beat machine.  While the winter storm seemed to bypass Suwannee Music Park, a whirlwind of arms, feets, sticks were hitting everything in sight on the Porch Stage in the early evening on Saturday.  While DrFameus is perhaps Allens’ alterego, in this side project you can see the full range of his diversity.  Whether it is electronica, dubstep, techno/house to breakbeats – he delivers.

    Back on the main stage was Dopapod, a favorite among the Upstate New York scene and a band that will be on many festival line-ups this summer.  Their Saturday night set at AURA was intense and the highlight could have been “Present Ghosts” or “French Bowling”.  There job was to bring that notorious Saturday night party vibe, and bring it hard enough to get everyone out of their tents, away from the food and into the music.  Dopapod did just that and in the midst of energizing the crowd they were able to get in some tunes like “Trapper Keeper” into their set from the newest Dopapod release, Redivider, that was released just this past December.

    The Florida-based electronic trio Greenhouse Lounge did a great job of tying things together and keeping the party going over on the Porch Stage.  P Groove was prepping for their final festival set, perhaps forever.  Brock Butler poured his soul out to the crowd Saturday night in an emotional evening.  After playing for so many years together, personalities and musical goals begin to diverge.  However on Saturday night things came together, whether they were pouring their hearts out with the Talking Heads cover “This Must Be the Place” or they were breaking the hearts of their fans with the set closing, “It Starts Where It Ends”.

    As the The Heavy Pets did their sound check, you could begin to tell how cold everyone was at AURA.  Blankets, knitted hats and the crazy outfits were infused with warmer items, like leggings or tights, mittens, scarves.  Even the hula hoopers were trying to get by with the thickest coast they could get away with while still dancing the night away.  Luckily the Saturday party was going strong and sub-freezing temperatures were not going to deter this crowd of very thick-skinned southerners.  The Heavy Pets did their job of getting people moving and grooving and shaking and twirling very well. The Heavy Pets are a yearly favorite at AURA and why not, with a great sound, incredible vocals and songs that seem to span multiple genres.  The side stage was rockin’ Saturday night and the AURA fans still had one more incredible band to go before it was Silent Disco time again, or hangout by the campfire with your friends time.

    Papadosio took the main stage and it seemed like all 3000 AURA Festival goers were there to see it.  The band has been touring extensively around the country and building up a sizable fanbase.  They have even graduated to a tour bus and a LED wall.  The LED wall was rented until their New Years run and they bit the bullet and bought it.  It is an amazing addition to an already incredible show.  Papadosio’s sound can be described a hundred different ways and everyone of them would be correct, I think of it as the next progression in psychedelic rock.  They are a rock band, they play their instruments and they play them well.  They have also adapted modern technology to enhance the sound, the mood and the composition of their work.  Long trippy jams, explosive solos and crowds yearning for more.  It’s an amazing time and the light show against the Spanish moss dominating the oak trees around the amphitheater is one of those things that will go down as breathtaking and frustrating as a photographer.  I could take a 1000 pictures of the scene and it wouldn’t do it justice.  There was just something in the air.

    So when the night ended and everyone climbed into their sleeping bags, Sunday morning came too early.  The coffee line was long and everyone was talking about how Papadosio melted their face or how sad it is to see P Groove splitting up.  Some were talking about the Stevie Wonder tribute or how Greenhouse Lounge brought it.  First time listeners to various bands were looking up the next time the Big Booty Band or the McLovins were going to play their neck of the woods.  It was a community centered around music and art.

    AURA was more about the music, there was the Tribal Council that offered healing and yoga classes throughout the event.  The artists set up a tent and displayed their incredible pieces and during each performance you could see rows of artists painting away as the bands played.  Music inspires art and art inspires music.  Together through creativity and love you can build a community, a scene of like minded individuals that are better together; and what color was the community’s AURA that weekend? Purple, of course.

    It was Sunday morning and with a 21-hour car ride looming ahead it was sadly time to go.  Driving through the campsite you could see people stirring and stretching and preparing for another great day of music.  Whether it was Brock Butler’s acoustic set on the main stage or Lingo and Former Champions offering up some Sunday jams on the Porch stage.  The Lee Boys took time to offer some spiritual words and festival goers were greeted by Sunday sets from Dopapod, Papadosio and The Heavy Pets.

    AURA’s 4th year and the first one at Suwannee Music Park was coming to an end and Daryl, Destiny, and all of the people that made the festival possible were incredibly happy with the response.  From Friday morning until Sunday night the festival offered up something for everyone.  It was a harmonious experience and one that can’t wait to do again next year.

  • LAESTRYGONIA, BENEATH THE WORDS and more in Geneva on Feb 23rd

    The Headless Sullivan Theater in Geneva, NY Presents: Laestrygonia, Beneath the Words, Divinex, Plague Mask and They Exist on February 23rd for only 5 bucks for 5 bands.  Doors at 5, Show at 6.

    Laestrygonia Make sure to show up early to check out the ambitious triple-axis guitar threat of Laestrygonia. They power out a melodic and rhythmic intricacy that earns them the right to borrow their name from the Homerian epic The Odyssey.  While “Laestrygonia” may not easily roll off your tongue, you’ll perfect it soon enough, as you tell your friends about the up-and-coming band that you caught, and they missed. Or better yet, bring them with you. www.facebook.com/laestrygonia

    Beneath The Words At times smooth, at others raw and primal, but always engaged and unpredictable, Beneath The Words will deliver the full spectrum of auditory experience. Feed off the energy resonating between the dual guitars and the gut-clenching vocals. Let the driving bass and drums bombard your innards. They switch seamlessly from in-your-face assault into meticulous coiling lines. Be prepared for immersion; Beneath The Words is not a spectator sport. www.facebook.com/beneaththewords

    Divinex

    Serving up a full-bodied journey into the moody, ambient realms of metal, Divinex will serve as your capable tour-guide. Divinex spotlights the organic nature of the genre, letting it build and grow before your ears until it surrounds you in all of its lush textures. But don’t let the word “lush” fool you; they will still peel your face off when all of their forces converge. Buckle up and take a loud, heady trip with Divinex. https://www.facebook.com/divinexband

    Plague Mask

    Sinister, suspenseful, and hypnotic, Plague Mask will give you beautiful nightmares. It has been said that E minor is the saddest key; Plague Mask has discovered the eeriest key. Tapping into the most basic of musical emotion, the tension and expectancy of their music triggers your adrenaline release. Their steady, sobering thrum will stalk you relentlessly. Resistance is futile; Plague Mask will infect you.  https://www.facebook.com/PlagueMask315

    They Exist

    Some bands embrace several different styles and genres throughout a show. They Exist does it in the span of a song. Every song. Following in the tradition of other power trios, They Exist makes you forget that the wall of sound filling the room is coming from a band of three. Even for a full blown quintet, though, the dizzying musical gymnastics of They Exist is a display you will not want to miss. https://www.facebook.com/TheyExistTheBand

  • AVATAR opens for SEVENDUST at Upstate Concert Hall Feb 6th

    When Sevendust comes to upstate it is guaranteed to be a great time.  Combine their powerful sound with the Italian Gothic metal sensation Lacuna Coil and Swedish-based melodic death metal band Avatar doing their first U.S. tour – be prepared to have your face melted.

    When Avatar came onto the stage, the audience didn’t know what to think of this five piece ensemble.  Upstate Metal ran into the founder and drummer, John Alfredsson, an hour or so before the show at Pizza Hut of all places and got the lowdown on the set.  The plan was  for 30-40 minutes of in your face metal, a little theatrics, and hopefully to impress the American crowd.  Well, I think they undersold the “little” theatrics, but they definitely impressed the American crowd.  When John founded the band in 2001 with singer, Christian Rimmi, it took the duo 2 years to get settled in and find the rest of the permanent members.  So, with almost 10 years of touring Europe under their belt it was time for them to break into the states.  Being on a Sevendust & Lacuna Coil tour guaranteed Avatar a lot of metal heads will see their music for the first time.  Were they ready? Absolutely.

    Christian’s theatrics proved to entice and excite the crowd at Upstate Concert Hall.  Guitars shredded and drums pounded but all eyes were on the frontman to see what the hell was he going to do next.  Coming out in a black executioner style mask for the first song, he then headed backstage to change it up a bit.  When Christian reappeared for the second song, a friend of mine and Upstate Metal editing master, Chris Fleischmann accurately described him as the result of Alice Cooper and Freddy Kruger having a love child.  A demented love child that fronted a band of Swedish misfits.  In a good way.  The set played out and Avatar won themselves some fans.  They hung out at the merchandise table for most of the night and was even seen at the bar a time or two.  I’d say run out and buy their new album, Black Waltz, but who am I kidding.  Go over to iTunes and give it a listen.

    Important Links:

  • CLUTCH Release “Earth Rocker” Lyric Video – Set to play Syracuse in April

    CLUTCH’s first ever lyric video for the song “Earth Rocker” is in and can be viewed here. The video was created by Ramon Boutviseth and his team at Studio RB Films.

    The sold-out and extremely successful European leg of the Earth Rocker world tour is coming to a close. A recent review from Metal Hammer UK from their gig at KOKO can be viewed here.

    CLUTCH’s new album Earth Rocker is available for pre-order exclusively at http://www.clutchmerch.com. Fans can pre-order the record individually or partake in the special fan-friendly bundle packages that are being offered. WEATHERMAKER MUSIC has confirmed a March 19, 2013 North American release date for theCLUTCH Earth Rocker CD and Vinyl.

    CLUTCH will kick off the first leg of the Earth Rocker North American tour March 8th in Cincinnati, OH and it runs through April 20th in Baltimore, MD. CLUTCH will be Upstate New York at the Westcott in Syracuse on April 15th.  Support on the tour will come from Orange Goblin, and Lionize. Unfortunately our friends Kyng will not be able to be with us on this tour. Please visit their website for additional information.

    Fans can keep up on the progress of Earth Rocker by visiting the new website www.earthrocker.com. The website is a hub dedicated to all things Earth Rocker. Fans can expect to see frequent updates including photos, videos from the studio, song title announcements and samples of new songs.

    Earth Rocker North American Tour

    • 3/8: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s – Tickets
    • 3/9: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works – Tickets
    • 3/10: Sauget, IL @ Pop’s – Tickets
    • 3/11: Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s Cantina Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/12: Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/14: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/15: Austin, TX @ SXSW
    • 3/16: Austin, TX @ SXSW
    • 3/18: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep – Tickets
    • 3/19: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot – Tickets
    • 3/21: Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues – Tickets
    • 3/22: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee – Tickets
    • 3/23: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café Las Vegas Strip – Tickets
    • 3/24: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues – Tickets
    • 3/26: San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom – Tickets
    • 3/27: Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory – Tickets
    • 3/29: Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market – Tickets
    • 3/30: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater – Tickets
    • 3/31: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Tickets
    • 4/1: Missoula, MT @ The Wilma Theater – Tickets
    • 4/2: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Tickets
    • 4/3: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom – Tickets
    • 4/5: Calgary, AB @ Flames Central – Tickets
    • 4/6: Saskatoon, SK @ Odeon Events Centre – Tickets
    • 4/7: Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall – Tickets
    • 4/9: Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick Centre – Tickets
    • 4/10: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue – Tickets
    • 4/11: Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s – Tickets
    • 4/12: Chicago, IL @ House of Blues – Tickets
    • 4/13: Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room – Tickets
    • 4/15: Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater – Tickets 
    • 4/16: New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place – Tickets
    • 4/18: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy – Tickets
    • 4/19: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE – Indoor – Tickets
    • 4/20: Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live – Tickets

    Follow CLUTCH on Twitter @ClutchOfficial

    Like CLUTCH on Facebook

  • Danny Avila at The Westcott Theater, February 4th

    After a set chock-full of massive club bangers from the  tattooed Mikael Weermets, 17- year old DJ Danny Avila emerged from backstage at The Westcott Theater last Monday night with an edgy new haircut (literally edgy, it was quite spiky) and a pair of Studio Pro Beats by Dre around his neck. Once the crowd recognized him they went absolutely nuts despite having been pretty wild already. Mikael Weermets had already gotten people to form dance circles and at that point I had already seen two 28 year-old men booty drop, which is two more than anyone should ever see. Weermets suavely transitioned into “Snapbacks & Tattoos” by Driicky Graham while he did the equipment switcheroo with Avila.

    When Danny finally got situated at the table with his three Pioneer players and mixer he faded out of “Snapbacks” and the crowd really got ready to jump. Avila has been playing a residency at Pacha in Ibiza so it came as no surprise that he knew how to put hands in the air, but what sets him apart from other DJs is his energy. Throughout the show you could see how much he truly loves making people dance. It shined right through his Bieberesque smile. He was literally glowing with passion, and it had nothing to do with his Spanish tan or the crazy light show. The light show was pretty impressive though and in addition DJ DBerrie, Krill was in the house along with Mikael Weermets who hung out on the stage to throw stickers and shower the crowd in champagne.

    During the set he dropped a handful of massive tracks by Knife Party, including “Rage Valley”, “Power Glove” and an interesting  trap remix of “Internet Friends” which he got everyone hyped up for by transitioning in with the intro guitar riff of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. A few other songs he used for epic transitions  were Deadmau5’s “What The Fuck”, where he slyly mixed  in the vocals, “They know what is what but they don’t know what is what” during  the track,and the infamous “1, 2, Woop, Woop!” from the track “WARP” by The Bloody Beetroots and Steve Aoki which was a huge crowd-pleaser.  What I appreciated most about his set was its versatility.  In addition to surprising the crowd with classics like “Jump Around” by House of Pain and “Zombie Nation” by Kernkraft 400, he showcased every spectrum of EDM, from Dubstep to Trap to Moombahton and Dance to House. I really feel bad for anyone who missed this show.

    Some tracks he played that I strongly suggest for your listening/download pleasure include: “Say My Name” by Porter Robinson, “Raise Your Weapon” by Deadmau5, “Goin in’” (Skrillex Goin in’ Hard Mix) by Birdy Nam Nam, “Go Deep” by Neoteric & Wax Motif, “Rukus” by Valentino Khan & Will Bailey, “Animal Rights” by Deadmau5 & Wolfgang Gartner, “Atom” by Nari & Milani, “Pursuit of Happiness” (Steve Aoki remix) by Kid Cudi, and “Heads Will Roll” (A-Trak Remix) by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

    Danny Avila Twitter, Website and Soundcloud

    Check out his bangin new single “Breaking Your Fall”

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iftO6DYT1_E&w=420&h=315]