The local spotlight this week is on a band that makes no apologies for their Boston heritage- accent and all. That’s not to say that our local spotlight artists typically cower from their New England roots, but these guys do it with some humor. Hi8us, the 4 piece -group we’re highlighting this week, draws its inspiration from a wide sample of genres and time periods, citing influences like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Curtis Mayfield, and Stevie Wonder. With these pop stars in their minds, the sound Hi8us has crafted for itself is as listenable as anything you’ll hear.
The band of twenty-something-year-olds just finished their debut full-length album, Superficial Deep, that’s set to come out the first week of August. Determined not to let it end up as an indie release that falls under the radar, the group is having an album release party at The Middle East Upstairs on Friday, August 8.
Hi8us is about to embark on a bigger scene than just Boston. The group has a tour planned to kick off immediately following the release party for Superficial Deep. The tour will take them from Canada to the West coast, making manifest destiny a part of not only America’s blood, but Hi8us’ too (go wikipedia that phrase if you were sleeping in history class).
Without further delay, Stranded in Stereo puts Hi8us on the hot-seat for five grueling questions.
Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because:
We don’t pronounce our “r”s. Those pesky “r”s slow you down when you are singing a wordy song. We can get through our material much more efficiently when we can substitute a nice “ah” in there instead of another boring consonant.
Also, we feel that we have carved out a unique little sound, having played together for several years now. There is an incubation period you go through as a group where each individual member’s style has to find its spot. Over time, the four of us have become quite comfortable with each other’s personalities as players. Having gotten to that point, we know where each of our strength’s lie, and we are able to showcase those elements in our collective sound.
As far as us being better than all those non-Boston bands… eh, “better” is a pretty subjective term when it comes to pop music. I think what sets us apart right now is that we are playing songs we want to play. Our songs don’t fall neatly into a genre. Some people want to label us an indie rock band, some want to call us a jamband. We think we are both of those at times and neither at other times. The point is that we are playing for us and not to fit in with a particular scene. We are just trying to play the music we hear in our head, not take ourselves too seriously, and have tons of fun in the process.
Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well:
Rogue Wave
The Roots
Hall & Oates
Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is:
The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge
Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.)
I wouldn’t say that any one particular genre has an overwhelming influence on our songs. Instead, I feel like we have taken key pieces from a few select genres and melded them into something that is our own. For instance, we play a song called “The Crawl.” The song starts out with a relatively standard verse/chorus arrangement, then there is a complete departure from that theme and we get into a dance/house-style jam section for the rest of the song. As a complete composition, it has structural elements of a song from a band like Social Distortion, as well as something you would hear from a band like The New Deal.
We want our songs to dig deep enough so the people who listen closely are able to sink their teeth into something that we are doing, but also remain straightforward and keep it palatable. It’s rock ‘n’ roll.
Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is:
The Sevens on Charles Street.
For streaming audio and MP3's, head over to http://www.hi8us.org
This week’s band spotlight is on Aberdeen City, a local four-piece described by the Boston Phoenix as creators of "...glimmering, agonized, anthemic indie pop." On the strength of their 2006 album The Freezing Atlantic, they have received a slew of awards, including the Phoenix’s 'Best Local Album' (2006), as well as Boston Music Awards for 'Best Local Album' and 'Best Local Rock Band of the Year' (2006).
Brad Parker, Chris McLaughlin, Ryan Heller, and Rob McCaffrey have been winning over audiences outside of Boston as well with a strong presence on the CMJ charts and appearances at the CMJ Music Marathon and SXSW. They recently teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Morrissey, Talking Heads) to re-work the tracks on their debut LP, and are currently working on a new record.
Guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Heller took a few minutes to answer the same five questions Stranded In Stereo always asks:
Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because None of us actually grew up here, but as an outsider I have noticed that people seem to be actually miserable here-- not like that fake Williamsburg miserable we've all gotten to used to hearing-- and that makes for some good rock music. But then again I like my rock music with more than a splash of authentic misery. See Elliott Smith.
Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well I've learned from touring that it's hard to know who you fit with and who you don't- I guess that's why we have booking agents. Our most fun tours have been with bands whose audiences weren’t necessarily down with the sad sounds of abcity-- and it kinda makes sense. But fit aside, and in no particular order: The National, Death Cab and Bloc Party are band I like who seem like they'd be fun lovin' tourmates. Or I'd like to tour with the Electric Six like ten more times.
Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is The Paradise.
Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.) Brad listens to lots of classical music. He likes the idea of interacting lines as an alternative to chords. Chris likes dance music. Come to think of it, I think I'm the only person in the band that might actually listen to us if I wasn't in the band.
Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is Harvard Gardens on weekends. Boston, MA.
This week’s local band highlight comes from KID:NAP:KIN, bringing some kickass guitar licks, exuberant vocal harmonies, and solid bass work to the table. Selling out shows at the Middle East and firmly marking their territory in the Boston music scene, this clean-cut three piece band cemented their spot as a local favorite when they were selected as the Best New Act at the Boston Music Awards in 2007.
After a few line-up changes and one escape to Canada, what started off as a four-piece band has boiled down to an energetic power trio. Since 2005, Dan (vocals, guitar), Pat (drums, vocals), and Jamila (bass, vocals) have steadily built up a solid repertoire, including an EP and two full length albums, Touring The Riot Scene and Hush, Now...
Having performed twice at the venerable SXSW music conference and the Berklee College of Music showcase in New York, these guys are not far from winning over new fans all across the country.
All three members took the time to answer the same five questions Stranded In Stereo always asks:
Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because Gigantic mutant rats prowl the city keeping their beloved bands safe and the stray cat population down.... But being from Boston doesn’t make us better than anyone else.
Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well The Fall of Troy, Jimi Hendrix (yes, he’s still alive), Rod Stewart (even though he’s dead), Stone Temple Pilots, Apollo Sunshine, New Kids On The Block.
Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is Jamila: The Middle East Pat: Great Scott. Killer discounts for drinks (they make em stiff) and Carl books super rad bands.
Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.) Anything visual, really; words and shapes, stage performances, film. All of these themes and visuals I’ve got in my head from everything I’ve taken in over the years ends up playing a role in how certain parts come out in our music. Some people see music in colors, I see music in shapes and structures. Certain words generate energy when you visualize them, elements like water or crashing waves vibrate an intense anxiety and recall overwhelming emotions and visions of destruction. While it’s not something that is necessarily conveyed to the listener, these elements make for fun song writing based on visuals and emotion rather than chord structure, patterns and rules.
Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is Pat: Does my living room count? I've got a bar stool. Jamila: Great Scott Dan: I prefer diving into an exhilarating political discu...I mean whatever venue gives us drink tickets!
This week's Q&A comes to you from Bang Camaro, a local band quickly picking up speed on the national radar. They've already been labeled "the premier party act in America" by MTV News, who describes the band as a "full-blown metal assault dedicated to transplanting the fun back into rock through a series of kegger-iffic live shows." Bryn Bennett and Alex Necochea started Bang Camaro in the summer of 2005, after years of playing the same clubs in their respective local rock bands (The Model Sons, Bleu, and The Good North). As Alex recounts, "when our bands fizzled it followed naturally that we'd work together. We set about writing songs under the idea that bigger is better. Obviously, this meant, for us, 3 guitarists and 19 lead singers. The rest is history." History indeed. As the FAQ on their website states: "Q: Are you guys joking? A: No."
Bang Camaro has gone on to win just about every local music award there is to be won, before moving on to capture video-gamer hearts nation-wide through the inclusion of their songs in the best-selling games Guitar Hero II and ROCK BAND. Not only are their songs featured in the games, but guitarist and band co-founder Bryn served as the motion capture actor for ROCK BAND. The success of these collaborations with Harmonix has helped lead the band to features in magazines like Billboard, Rolling Stone, Spin and Blender, as well as the opportunity to kick off their most recent tour at Madison Square Garden.
Now they're preparing to head out on their next month-long, cross-country tour before joining the line-up at Lollapalooza in August.
Alex took a few minutes to answer the same five questions Stranded In Stereo always asks:
Hailing from Boston makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because In Boston, our rock bands have 19 singers.
Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you'd love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well Fortunately, we're not easily pigeonholed as a metal band. We have a wide array of tastes and influences that drive the band's vision and music. I can imagine us playing with acts like Death Cab for Cutie, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket as well as louder and harder rockers like Queens Of The Stone Age.
Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is The Paradise
Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can't hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.) Absolutely. As I mentioned earlier, we take our cues from several genres and sources - books, music, art, current events. For instance I'm currently listening to TV On The Radio, a few tracks by Lily Allen, Wagner, and George Lynch YouTube lessons... you know, to get in the mood.
Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is Zuzu in Central Sq, Cambridge. The staff is real pretty.
This week's local band spotlight comes from Destruct-a-thon, straight from the depths of Boston's metal/punk scene. Fueled by political outrage and driven by a tumultuous wall of guitar, Destruct-a-thon has been making noise in their headquarters of Allston, Ma., since the summer of 2000.Led by Duncan Wilder Johnson's "mental patient on crack" stage presence, their gritty sound is made ten-fold with Michele Morgan's furious guitar riffs, Sean Linehan's low end attack on bass and Eric O'Brien's fast paced drumming insanity.Destruct-a-thon's latest EP, titled "Aloha Jihad" and out just yesterday has 2 songs, 1 cover and 2 bonus tracks. Tracked at New Alliance in Cambridge with His Majesty Ethan Dussault (God.Fires.Man., The Lot Six, Smoke or Fire, Everybody Out!) and mastered by Nick Zampiello (Dropkick Murphy's, Torche, Campaign For Real Time, Against Me!, Cave In, Converge) at New Alliance East.The EP features the standout track "Aloha Jihad" -- a blistering 2 minutes and 33 second tirade against the Bush Administration. Cruise on below to grab the track, and if you like what you hear, make sure you check them out this Friday at the Middle East Upstairs for the official "Aloha Jihad" EP release party with We're All Gonna Die and 26 Beers.
Now read on to see Destruct-a-thon frontman Duncan Wilder Johnson answer the same five questions Stranded In Stereo always asks local bands.
Hailing from Boston, makes us better than all those non-Boston bands because Okay, going for honesty here: I don’t think that being from Boston makes us “better” but I would say it makes our skin a lot thicker. Boston is an intense place with a deep history in local music and punk rock. When we play other places, I notice that we’re the most energetic band on the bill, the most relentless band on the bill, and often the heaviest band on the bill. People in New England like their rock LOUD and people in Boston are a tough crowd. So, if you don’t “bring it”, you’re not going to last too long around here. That being said, Boston is where we cut our teeth, so when we play other towns people’s jaws drop because they see that we’re not fucking around. Name at least three bands that are still around and touring that you’d love to be on a bill with, and think it fits well Clutch, The Sword, and Shat
Your favorite Boston venue to perform in is This is like asking which of your kids do you like the best? We built our following playing O’Briens (so hats off to those guys), but I have to say I like playing The Middle East and Great Scott’s a lot too. We’re making our debut at Church this summer and I’m looking forward to that. Other than that, I’m dying to do an all ages punk show at The Papercut Zine Library or The Elks Lodge.
Are there any genres that influence your music conceptually, rather than sonically? (In that you can’t hear from simply listening to the music, but from getting into the structure or mathematics of the song-writing, etc.) I’m not sure that I understand the question, but if you’re asking me what inspires me in regards to our music other than other music then I’d have to say Visual Art. I went to Art school. I have an insatiable love for photography. I read. I see films (especially political documentaries). When I write the lyrics for a Destruct-a-thon song, I tend to write about what’s upsetting me in my life: people dying, general frustrations, relationships ending, and corrupt government shenanigans.
Your favorite local bar to hit up when not doing the whole band deal is The Model or The Middle East. The Model is an evening place (often after shows) and I go to The Middle East earlier in the day on weekends to get food, drink a beer, and write crap.
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The local spotlight this week is on a band that makes no apologies for their Boston heritage- accent and all. That’s not to say that our local spotlight artists typically cower from their New England roots, but these guys do it with some humor. Hi8us, the 4 piece -group we’re highlighting this week, draws its inspiration from a wide sample of genres and time periods, citing influences like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Curtis Mayfield, and Stevie Wonder. With these pop stars in their minds, the sound Hi8us has crafted for itself is as listenable as anything you’ll hear.
