The Fox Sisters: It's Alright, Have A Good Time

I know there's a lot of evil and injustice that goes on in the world, but to constantly dwell in that cynicism will in fact consume you.  You get pessimism fed to you every time you turn on the television, social media, film, and music. I'm not saying to ignore it all together mind you, but there has to be an escape, a momentary parting of the swirling storm clouds. That's where Rochester, New York's The Fox Sisters come in.  They play soul shaking, body quaking, late 50's/early 60's style Soul/R&B music. The same kind of terrific sounds that radiated from people like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson decades ago and they do it with every bit of the same passion and fire that those guys did back then.  But what The Fox Sisters really do is provide a life raft for a society sinking in it's own skepticism,  As important as it is to follow current events and involve yourself in causes you believe in, it's just as important to loosen your collar, put on your dancing shoes and just have a good time.

Interview by J Castro

Who is currently in the band and what does everyone do in it?

Mark Bradley - saxophone

Darren DeWispelaere - trumpet

Jimmy Filingeri - bass

Patrick McNally - vocals

David Snyder - guitar

Brian Shafer - drums

Will Veeder - piano

How did you all meet and decide to play music together?

PATRICK: We all sort of "grew up" in the Rochester music scene and have had a lot of fun watching each other’s bands over the years. Some of us have been in bands together from time to time. We have a lot of respect for each other and have a shared musical sensibility. When the idea for this band came up, it seemed natural for us all to work together.

JIMMY: We have all known each other for years from playing in different bands around town. Patrick and I were in a band called the Thunder Gods that had runs its course. After a few years off we decided to try something different. We wanted to use rhythm & blues music as a foundation but we weren’t interested in trying to recreate the vintage sound. What we had in mind was aesthetic or a mood. We wanted to put on a show made people feel the same way we felt when we saw some of our favorite bands or listened to our favorite records. We wanted to make people dance and hoot and holler and scream for more.

What band or musician first inspired you to want to pick up an instrument and learn to play and/or write music?

PATRICK: A lot of bands have inspired me, but it was a Rochester band called The Fugitives that sort of cemented my resolve. I remember seeing them play in

a local shithole bar under a single bare light bulb, and the music was so raw and great and they looked so cool, I decided that I was going to stop thinking about it and actually try it.

JIMMY: I suppose it was bands like KISS, Cheap Trick and The Stones that first gave me the bug when I was a kid. That was the beginning of my life long obsession with music and records. As far as actually picking up an instrument though. Patrick and I were roommates and he wanted to start a band. He told me I was going to be the bass player. That was it.

Under the Stairs LP released September 14th 2015

 How would you describe you band to your grandparents?

PATRICK: With the help of a medium. They are dead, dead, dead

JIMMY: Once their spirits were conjured I would tell them that we sound like a band that would play dances and frat parties in the 60’s. Some up-tempo numbers to fill the dance floor. A few slow numbers for close dancing and kissing. Then finish them of with some wild rockers to make people go crazy and break stuff. 

What sorts of things do you typically enjoy writing songs about?  

PATRICK: Love. Dance parties. Enjoying life. Good clean fun.

JIMMY: Fun songs.  Honest songs. Songs you can dance to. Songs that make people move and shout. Songs that let you forget about the news of the world for a few minutes.

I’ve heard people say that playing and writing music is therapeutic to them.  Have you ever found this to be true?

PATRICK: Definitely. The voices stop when I write. The voices of past presidents. A break from Franklin Pierce is always particularly welcome. Great hair. Total jackass.

JIMMY: Working on new songs with the band is more therapeutic for me than writing them. As a bass player my songs are usually just a skeleton with some lyrics. It’s not until all the band members add their own parts that it becomes a song. It’s exciting because I never know what the final product is going to sound like until they add their magic. Playing is definitely therapeutic, my ego craves applause. It’s nourishing.

Does it annoy you or distract you at all to see some of your audience members fondling their phones while you’re up on stage performing?

PATRICK: We’ve been lucky in that we don't see a lot of that. What we see is mostly smiles, which is really nice. Every once in a while somebody takes a picture, but that's nice too. Somebody thinks enough of you to want to take your picture. What's not to like about that?

JIMMY: Not a problem at our shows. Most people are dancing or jumping around. Cameras are fine. I like to see pictures of us.

After one of your shows, what sort of feeling or sentiment do you hope your audience walks away with?  

PATRICK: I hope people walk away feeling like they've made a new bunch of friends that they love to dance with.

JIMMY: Leave them wanting more. Elated. Spent. Hopefully telling their friends about us the next day. We want to be on their “guaranteed good time” list.

What is your favorite album to listen to from start to finish?

PATRICK: Sam Cooke - One Night Stand: Live at the Harlem Square Club. The world's greatest record.

JIMMY: Jerry Lee Lewis - Live at the Star Club. Pure Rock & Roll from start to finish.  It’s tough to pick albums because most of my very favorite music came out on 45’s. At the time albums had a lot of filler on them. Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues, country & soul from the late 40’s until the early 70’s is my favorite kind of music.  I like to listen to Dave the Spazz from start to finish every week on WFMU.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you that you still follow to this day?

PATRICK: If you can see them from behind, marry her.

JIMMY: Don’t overplay.

What is the best way people can hear and get a hold of your music?

Our music can be found on:  Bandcamp: thefoxsisters.bandcamp.com

Our activities can be found on:  Facebook: facebook.com/TheFoxSisters/

We can be contacted via email: foxsistersband@gmail.com

What lies ahead for the band in 2016?

PATRICK: More good times. We plan to put out our second album soon, and will be appearing live regularly.

JIMMY: We will be playing several shows with the Rochester R&R/R&B Revue. That is The Fox Sisters along with our friends The Televisionaries and The Temptators. All powerhouse bands who aim to entertain. Hopefully some shows will be recorded to come out as a live record.  We have a lot of new songs that will be recorded for our second record. Until then, just playing and trying to show people a good time.

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Thee Rum Coves: Prime Party Starters of The South Pacific

One of my favorite parts of having a blog is getting to hear so many fantastic bands I probably wouldn't get to hear otherwise.  Magnificent groups from all around the planet send us their music they've released themselves.  This may sound daft, but one of the reasons I love digging deep into independent labels and self released records is because I'm afraid of missing something exciting somewhere.  In some dimly lit corner of the globe, something extraordinary is going on and I want to catch it before it blows out.  I don't trust stuffy old men in expensive suits working for entertainment corporations to do this for me.  I learned long ago that this is something I have to do myself.  Case in point: Auckland, New Zealand's Thee Rum Coves who rose from the rubble of  rock n roll maniacs The D4.  These guys take 60's Mod R&B, 77 Punk, pour gasoline all over it then light it on fire and don't stop until everyone in the room is hot footing it all over the place.  This is why Audio Ammunition exists; to shine a light on amazing, hard working bands that deserve your attention and Thee Rum Coves are most certainly that.


Interview by J Castro

Who is currently in the band and what does everyone do in it?

JAKE: We’ve just had a couple of changes in the lineup recently with a new drummer coming on board and Kendall leaving to go and do her own solo work. We’re back to a four piece with Jake Vox/ Guitar, Tomas Guitar, Jimmy Bass and Treye on Drums.

How did you all meet and decide to play music together?

JAKE: Jimmy and I played together in the early days of the D4 for a couple of years before I headed back to the UK from NZ. When I came back to NZ a few years later I started the band with Jono, the former drummer, and the universe put us in touch with Tomas, who’d just arrived from Chile… total cosmic alignment, man. Then the original bass player quit to move away and it was a natural move to get Jimmy in, who was looking to get into a band where he could just turn up and plonk away on the bass. Treye works with Tomas so we have two barista in the band, so if you ever want a kick ass coffee, come see us.

What band or musician first inspired you to want to pick up an instrument and learn to play and/or write music?

JAKE: I learned to play guitar playing along to It’s Alive by The Ramones, the perfect textbook for any budding guitar player, bass player or drummer! I also loved the Clash as a kid, they were from my part of West London and I loved everything about them; their politics, perfect front man, guitar slinger and bass player. From then on it was all about these –

-          The Clash, The Damned, The Buzzcocks

-          The Stooges, MC5, New York Dolls

-          The Kinks, Small Faces, The Who

-          The Saints, Radio Birdman, Celibate Rifles

How would you describe you band to your grandparents?

JAKE: I’d have to dig them up first.

What sorts of things do you typically enjoy writing songs about? 

JAKE: Girls and cars. Well, girls. I’d love to be able to articulate my politics but it always comes back to girls and relationships. Some real, some imagined.  Oh, and a bit of mental illness.

I’ve heard people say that playing and writing music is therapeutic to them.  Have you ever found this to be true?

JAKE: Absolutely. Playing music certainly is. Having a guitar to hand is the best way for me to relax. There’s no better social interaction than hanging out and jamming with people, creating something from nothing, literally pulling something from the ether. When you’ve got some likeminded people together and you can shift the dynamic or move the song along with a look or a nod, then you know you’re somewhere pretty good.

Writing songs can be the opposite of therapeutic though, particularly when it just isn’t working. It can be the most frustrating thing. And then sometimes songs pop fully formed into your head and it’s the easiest thing in the world.

I’m working on my post-therapy primal scream, birth howling solo LP at the moment… It’s a magnum opus of Freudian and Nietzschean existentialist soul bearing. It’s quite catchy. 

 

Thee Rum Coves S/T debut LP released December 1st, 2014

Does it annoy you or distract you at all to see some of your audience members fondling their phones while you’re up on stage performing?

JAKE: I never notice. I’m too busy trying to remember the words, stop my fingers cramping, avoiding breaking my teeth on the mic or ducking Tomi kicking me in the head.

After one of your shows, what sort of feeling or sentiment do you hope your audience walks away with? 

JAKE: I hope their feet hurt from dancing. I hope they’re humming our tunes. I hope they feel like they’ve just seen the best band around….. and I hope they are asking themselves exactly who that god-damned hot singer was, although in all likelihood they’ll be staring starry eyed at Tomi.

What is your favorite album to listen to from start to finish?

JAKE: Too many to mention but to pick one – Radios Appear by Radio Birdman. One of the greatest and most under-appreciated albums ever.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you that you still follow to this day?

JAKE: Two pieces of quality advice:

1. Do what you do and don’t change for anyone. Play it and your audience will find you.
2. And don’t be a dick.

What is the best way people can hear and get a hold of your music?

JAKE: We’ve just signed a distribution deal with Aeroplane Music so you should be able to source our stuff here soon http://www.aeroplanemusic.co.nz/ or you can go to our own Bandcamp site here https://theerumcoves.bandcamp.com/. People can contact us through Facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/Thee-Rum-Coves

What lies ahead for the band in 2016?

JAKE: Lots of shows around NZ. Get some recording done. We’re planning on doing a couple of EPs in short succession and trying to get them both out this year. Then looking for shows in Australia and the rest of the world! 

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The Ballantynes

     Take some Smokey Robinson, a dash of Dusty Springfield, and a pinch of Punk delivery and you have a Rock ‘N’ Roll band the likes of which this earth hadn’t seen prior to the conception of the magnificent Ballantynes.  The band have three 7”s under their buckle on the equally fabulous La-Ti-Da recording label. So, do yourself a favor and partake in the good times that will ensue after you place their records on your turntable.  It’s undeniable!  It’s unmistakable!  It’s the Ballantynes!

Interview by Jay Castro

Who’s answering the questions?

Vanessa and Corey

Who is in the band and what instruments do you play?

Jarrod Odell - Hammond/Vocals

Vanessa Dandurand - Vocals/Tambourine

Jennifer Wilks- Vocals/Hammond/Tambourine

Corey Poluk- Guitar/Vocals

Max Sample - Bass/Vocals

Michael McDiarmid- Drums

Trevor Racz- Drums

Is the band originally from Vancouver BC?

Oh ya.

How did the band start and what bands/musicians did you have in mind when starting out?

Out of necessity and cacophony. We all come from varied backgrounds but classic soul, motown, stax artists form common ground between us as well as a lot of punk and garage both contemporary and quintessential.

I saw that the band is scheduled to play the Squamish Music Festival in August, a pretty immense occasion.  Will this be the biggest audience you’ve played in front of?  How do you feel your music comes across in a festival type atmosphere as opposed to a smaller dimly lit club?

We’ve been lucky enough to play some pretty cool gigs like Victory Square Block party and opening at The Commodore, I guess it will all depend on how many people come and get wild in the wild with us. We will take as much or as little room as you give us but its definitely exciting to get that much room to spread out sonically, it doesn’t happen everyday.

The Ballantynes have a look and sound, which to me, is quite sophisticated and debonair.  No easy feat to pull off!  Anything other than music influence the band’s musical compositions and appearance?

We all have our comfort zones when it comes to how we dress. It’s actually pretty basic if you think about it. Maybe we all kind of recognized something and gravitated towards each other. Or maybe we all just figured out you can get away with a lot more if you look like you’re put together. Who knows?

The band has quite a robust membership, did the idea of having two drummers, two guitarists, four vocalists etc. develop over time or was this the master design from the beginning?

We’ve always had the same members, and there are definitely things like having two drummers that were decided from the get go. Other things like vocals or second guitar roles fell into place wherever they were needed. A master design sounds ominous.

I got into a lot of older music by way of punk music.  I have noticed that you have shared the stage with a lot of more traditionally punk sounding bands.  What do you think is the connection between the type of music The Ballantynes play and punk rock?

The connection is probably with us socially. Punk rock is definitely part of our shared histories in one shape or form. Plus, when you run out of bands that make sense together on a bill you just want to play with your friends because that’s the most fun.

With the band’s sound drawing influence from so many different eras of pop music, if given the opportunity, what band/or musician from the history of pop music would you want to tour with the most?  Who else’s music/attitude or style do you feel would fit together with what The Ballantynes do?

Can we say ‘The Boss’? Bruce Springsteen though, not Rick Ross. He’s the other boss. We also have to say The Clash. Because Jarrod’s not with us right now. His blood would boil.

I recently read a quote stating that music, above all other art forms, has the ability to drastically change the disposition of a person.  I know for myself, a bad mood and a radio playing Sam Cooke’s Twistin’ The Night Away can’t exist in the same room.  Do you agree with this?  If so, can you think of any examples of what and how certain pieces of music have affected you for the better or worse?

We definitely agree with that idea for sure, especially when it comes to Sam Cooke. At the end of the day music can and will attach itself to moments in your life, some of them good and some of them bad. It’s not necessarily the music but the moments attached to that music that we feel affect people the most.

50 years ago people used to buy music and get their water free; now people pay for water and get their music free. How do you think this affects the music industry?

Even if it's a different set of rules, the people who need to make music will still make music. Worrying about it might just give you a headache, it pays to stay thirsty.

Where can people hear the band or purchase your music?

On out bandcamp! Or iTunes! Or latidarecords.com!

What’s next for the band?

Our new 7" Faith/Velvet which is part of the LA-TI-DA Spring Singles Club and a weekender in Alberta! We're super stoked to be back on that side of the mountains for the first time since Sled Island. We are going with Needles // Pins! We've also got a show coming up at The Astoria in May with our friends BIG EYES from Seattle who totally rip, and we'll be back on the road this summer!


 


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Suedehead

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Chris Bradley – Lead Guitar, Suedehead

Where is the band from?

Southern California Region, we are spread over the greater LA basin region.  Korey lives in San Diego, Greg and Mike live in LA, Davey and I live in Orange County, and the horns live out in the Inland Empire area.  We meet in Orange County at the Hurley recording studios to rehearse.  We consider that our home base.  Davey runs the studio there and I used to work for Hurley for 3 years as well.

Who is in the band and what instrument do they play?

Davey Warsop – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Chris Bradley – Lead Guitar, Harmonies

Korey Horn – Drums

Greg Keuhn – Keyboards

Mike Bisch – Bass, Harmonies

Marques Crews – Trumpet

Kip Wirtzfeld - Sax

How did the band start?

Davey and I met whilst working at Hurley and had a lot in common musically.  Davey had previously been in the band Beat Union in England and had wanted for a while to do a more soul based power pop thing.  We both mutually knew Korey and Davey and started writing some really good songs.  We rehearsed a few times and just couldn’t really get any members to stick and we sort of lost drive to do it.  Then one day Social Distortion were in the Hurley studios doing some demos for their new record and Davey was at the helm.  Mike Ness was asking Davey what he was up to musically and Davey played him a few rough demos.  Mike and his management were really into it and said; hey when you get a band together we’ll have you out for some shows.  We all thought “Oh, that was nice of them to offer…” but didn’t think they were serious. So, fast forward 2 months- no rehearsals, no members yet- and Relentless Artist Management calls up and says hey Mike wants your band to play a few shows in a month can you do it?  Davey calls me up and we decide to try to put something together just for these shows, not thinking that it would be anything serious beyond a few shows.  We called up some friends and put a band together.  We rehearsed about 5 times and played these two shows with Social D in Anaheim at House of Blues and another in Tempe, AZ at this really big venue. On the way home from the AZ show we were all just sort of looking at each other in the van going, that was kind of magical and fun guys, do we want to do this as more than a temporary one thing. We were all stoked on it, so we set some goals, and within a week were in the studio recording the first EP.  It has just sort of snowballed from there.

How does it feel to a northern soul mod/pop band in such a county known for punk rock?  Even getting played on Surf & Destroy podcast, which is dedicated to OC punk.

For us man, we are kind of older dudes and we’ve all played in lot’s of different kinds of bands from Reggae and Ska, to straight up old school hardcore and punk, New wave, and everything in between.  It was not our goal in this band to be associated with any particular genre or scene.  We are just doing what feels good for us.  We see it as transcending genre and hope other people do as well.  We want this to be a very inclusive thing rather than exclusive.  It’s about good music not scenes or labels. 

Suedehead has some degree of success right out of the gate. Coachella and two mini-tours. Care to explain how?

We have been really lucky right out the gate to get the attention of some really great influential people such as Mike Ness of Social D, and gotten some really good opportunities from it.  We were lucky enough very early on to sign with great management and booking agencies, which is really hard to do these days.  We consider ourselves lucky to be where we are but also work our asses off at the same time to deserve and utilize every opportunity afforded to us.  We are a very hard working DIY band.  We have funded and recorded 3 x four song EP’s in the past year, which we released on our own imprint – International Soul Rebel Society.  We record, Produce, manufacture and distribute everything ourselves.  We have been able to build a very healthy mail order online on our website which sells internationally, which really helps support our touring efforts because whilst we have a great management and booking team we don’t have any publicity agent, label, or distribution network yet.

Is I.S.R.S. just a label for Suedehead releases or will it develop into a label that puts out non-Suedehead releases?

When Davey and I started the Imprint the idea was that it would act as a platform for all things Suedehead.  Record Label, Fan club, and anything else that might come along.  The original idea was that we might eventually release records of side project bands that we are doing or maybe even other bands that we play with and really dig.  It’s sort of wide open at this point.  We shall see what happens.  We don’t put any sort of expectations on it at the moment beyond just Suedehead stuff. We really want to build it organically, and slowly.

Do you think music can still be a vital force in such a disposable age?

I think music will always be a force.  The way music is made, distributed, and viewed live is ever changing, but I think it’s a healthy thing.  People will always be passionate about music.  It’s in everything. It can provide you such an array of emotions. It evokes every kind of emotion there is.  Music is definitely different these days than in the past and whether you feel good or bad about that is irrelevant, if you don’t like the state it, then go start a band and change the world in your own way.  I still strongly believe that this is possible probably more so than ever with the ease and rate of information exchange on the interwebs today.  Ha, ha, ha!

Where can people hear the band?

www.suedeheadband.com

What’s next?

We have some good dates coming up between now and the end of the year.  We have toured quite a bit out the gate in our short 1.5 year career as a band and we are concentrating on playing a bit more in our own back yard over the next 6 months to year, as so far we have done it kind of backwards and played a lot more on the road than at home. Check our website for dates.  I know we’ve got some coming up in San Diego in September, LA and SF with Tiger Army in October, and we are doing a free in store performance in Long Beach at Fingerprints Records on September 27^th.

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