We all remember the crazy videos from our favorite bands at house parties or out in the woods creating a show! There are plenty of stories of the old punk days in the desert where bands brought generators into the middle of nowhere, and just partied! This was the purest for of the art form …
Videos
King Parrot Release New Music Video
King Parrot are notorious for their incredible live show, and of course their amazing and wild music videos! While recording their new album, Dead Set, at Philip Anselmo’s place, they decided to make a music video. And it didn’t disappoint! Whenever the guys roll through San Francisco, CA we always put them up, and they always show …
Mayhem 2014 Interviews
This year we had a lot of interviews set up with a number of great artists. The festival was not so packed this year at Shoreline in Mountain View, CA for the main stage, but the parking lot stages had great turn out. We wanted to ask artists about touring this year, and how they …
Warped Tour 2014 Interviews
Van’s Warped Tour Interviews We invaded Van’s Warped Tour once again this year. In 2012, we had such a great experience that we definitely wanted to do it again. In 2013, they only approved us the day before, which meant that we couldn’t set up anything in such a short time. This year, they approved …
King Parrot invade America
Matt Young of Aussie Metallers King Parrot have been on a constant touring schedule in Australia, the United States, Canada, and next in Indonesia. For those in Australia, Higgo, is a main-stay of the Australian Metal Radio airwaves on Triple M Distortion. He has helped many bands get on his show from all over the globe …
The always forward-thinking Mark Hunter of Chimaira
We got stoned with the Chimaira frontman, then tried to talk about complex stuff.
Threat Signal talk post-label prospects
With their Nuclear Blast contract now complete, Threat Signal mull their options for the band’s future…
The Agonist and Casket of Cassandra frontwomen talk about their respective DIY hustles
Last night, we caught up with Alissa White-Gluz of the Agonist and Amanda Maddera of openers Casket of Cassandra before they brought the pain to San Francisco’s DNA Lounge. One thing that both women related to was the importance of reinforcing your band’s income off merch sales, which is becoming more important than ever in the …
Lacuna Coil singer talks about their 15-year career
We caught up with Lacuna Coil frontman Andrea Ferro in San Francisco last night, before their opening slot for the mighty Sevendust and Coal Chamber. Andrea was a talker — and we love that! He told us about the band’s recent tenure on last year’s 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise, then dove into the always-complex issue …
Gojira drummer gives advice on resolving band conflicts
We caught up with Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier before their show at the Fillmore in San Francisco last week. One of the best pieces of insight Mario gave us was about how the band has stayed together so long. Since their start in 1996, Gojira have had the same line-up — and Mario told us this …
Anders Fridén claims “there’s vitamins in all the beers we drink.”
I met up with Anders Fridén of In Flames at the Warfield in San Francisco, CA, while they were on tour with Hell Yeah and Lamb of God. The show was sold out, and the press was limited with LoG frontman Randy Blythe’s impending trial. I even ran into Chad Gray, as he directed me towards …
Voivod say “music is music,” don’t obsess over sub-genres
Canadian metal iron men Voivod played their first SF Bay Area show in nearly a decade this past weekend, opening for local legends Neurosis. Plagued by flight delays before the show, frontman Denis “Snake” Bélanger and guitarist Dan Mongrain made time for a quick chat with us and gave their advice on cutting down recording costs (practice …
All Shall Perish frontman says label suing downloaders is “absolute horseshit”
We talked to All Shall Perish vocalist Eddie Hermida last week before they opened for the mighty Hatebreed. Eddie told us about his own production company that puts on shows in the SF Bay Area, his regimen on the road, and how he really feels about his own label suing his fans for downloading ASP’s music. …
Devin Townsend tells fans to “download everything that I’ve ever made”
We caught up with Devin Townsend the other day at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall on his co-headlining tour with Swedish metallers Katatonia. “Hevy Devy” gave us the low-down on why he wants people to download all of his music immediately, and also talked about how he “bridged the gap” between DIY and being a …
Paradise Lost guitarist talks “booze bargains” while on tour
We’re not always so serious around here. For instance, when we talked to Paradise Lost guitarist Greg MacKintosh before they opened for Devin Townsend the other day, he told us about hunting for “booze bargains” on tour — checking alcohol percentages to determine how much of a buzz you’ll get for your money. Call it liquornomics! …
Iwrestledabearonce say the Internet is “a gift and a curse”
Among our plethora of Warped Tour interviews, our chat with Iwrestledabearonce probably best exemplified the conundrum facing musicians in today’s Internet Age. Sure, the Internet has made anyone able to start a band and release music without depending on a record label — but that also means a lot of crappy music gets put out, as well. …
Anti-Flag drummer says failing labels make “a much better world”
We always knew that Anti-Flag pride themselves on being a politically outspoken band — like a punkier version of Rage Against the Machine. The band’s song lyrics and offstage activism routinely slams human rights abuses and worker exploitation all over the world. So, when we caught up with drummer Pat Thetic at Warped Tour yesterday …
Marduk guitarist talks about lasting over 20 years in black metal
We caught up with Marduk‘s lead ax-wielder Morgan “Evil” Steinmeyer Håkansson in a dark corner of San Francisco’s DNA Lounge this past weekend while they were on tour with 1349. Morgan told us about Marduk’s relentless tour schedule and how it’s made them black metal mainstays for over 20 years now. He also explained the deal …
Fear Factory frontman “not surprised” with record labels collapsing
We talked to Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory right before Memorial Day in San Francisco. After giving some behind-the-scenes details on their new album The Industrialist (drum machine brutality!), Burton also shared his own candid thoughts on the collapse of Roadrunner Records and the importance of bands today to have a good lawyer and not sign …
Shadows Fall frontman says “be careful of signing a record deal”
Right before Memorial Day, we hit up the Fear Factory/Shadows Fall show in San Francisco and had a chat with the frontmen of both bands. (Burton‘s coming tomorrow!) Brian Fair of Shadows Fall had a lot of valuable info to give to us — making money by getting your songs on video games or ESPN, using …
Aborted frontman compares touring Europe vs. U.S.
We talked to Sven de Caluwé of Belgian brutalists Aborted yesterday in San Francisco. Sven really elaborated on the differing aspects of touring Europe vs. the United States nowadays, confirming some long-held suspicions that it’s just better in Europe. Hopefully, it’s not that bad Stateside as Aborted finish up their current tour with Origin and Cattle Decapitation. Note to U.S. venues: …
The Agonist’s Alissa White-Gluz says record labels need to “dissolve”
We were back in San Francisco last night to talk to the Agonist frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz before their set opening for Kittie and Blackguard. Aside from the usual ice-breaker question about being a girl on a metal tour, Alissa tackled the pros and cons of downloading, the importance of self-management (“If you want something done right, …
The Devil’s Blood guitarist talks touring as an international band
We talked to Devil’s Blood ax-slinger Selim Lemouchi last night in San Francisco, before they took the stage opening for Watain and the mighty Behemoth. Since the Devil’s Blood are a Dutch band, Selim gave us some good insight about touring the U.S. as an international band (two words: government grant!) and the revelation that …
New Threat Signal video with a Metalluminati cameo (well, sort of!)
A few weeks ago, Jeff went to Vegas to ambush our buddies in Threat Signal for one of our first interviews everrrrr. (be sure to check that out too — lots of music biz and DIY advice!) So, this past weekend, Jeff got a text from frontman Jon Howard saying “Hey man, you will love our new video!” …
Jeff Loomis offers advice to young bands and “bedroom guitar players”
We caught up with guitar god Jeff Loomis last night in San Francisco, before his band’s opening set for Periphery and Protest the Hero. Fresh off a previous interview with a raving fangirl, Loomis talked to us about why he actually likes his label (Century Media — same as Warbringer), offered his best advice to younger …
Marshall fridge inspires new wave of ‘cool’ puns
Rock mainstays Marshall Amps seem to be unsatisfied with staying exclusively in the sound space. Why do I say that? Because now they’ve created their very own mini-fridge styled after one of their iconic half-stacks. No word on wattage, but the Marshall fridge does have knobs that go to 11 — which kinda ruined the joke I originally …
Gypsyhawk interviewed at SXSW
We caught up with Gypsyhawk at SXSW after their set for the Metal Blade showcase. Jeff talked to them about fans’ buying habits, putting their album up for free download, and their recently successful Kickstarter campaign for gas money to SXSW from L.A. Shout-outs to Metal Blade for not checking us out beforehand!
Early Graves’ Chris Brock interviewed at SXSW
Last week, we infiltrated (read: walked into) the Metal Blade showcase at SXSW and scored some face time with Early Graves guitarist Chris Brock. He told us all about his thoughts on booking your own shows, making your own merch, and how most record labels do nothing but “give you money to record.” Special shout-out …