Archives:
Slapstick
Photo of Brendan Kelly by Katie Hovland
Slapstick was one of the definitive ska/punk bands of the ‘90s. They were together from ’93 to ’96, and after disbanding its members went on to either play in or form bands such as; Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, The Honor System, Tuesday, The Broadways and more. They reunited briefly in ’97 for a pair of benefit shows, but didn’t perform again until the summer of 2011, when they headlined the opening night of Asian Man Records’ 15th Anniversary Festival in San Francisco. Last month, the band played Riot Fest in Chicago and we spoke with singer Brendan Kelly a week or so later. We discussed Slapstick’s recent reunions, their relationship with Asian Man, future plans and more. The band’s lineup is completed by guitarist Matt Stamps, bassist Dan Andriano, drummer Rob Kellenberger, trumpet player Dan Hanaway and trombone player Peter Anna.
Matt Skiba and the Sekrets – Babylon
Superball Music – Release Date: 5/08/12
Babylon marks the debut of Matt Skiba’s latest solo endeavor and the results are surprisingly positive. It’s definitely his best solo release yet and arguably the most memorable record he’s made in the last ten years. Also appearing on the album are AFI bassist Hunter Burgan and My Chemical Romance drummer Jarrod Alexander, both of whom do a skilled and dutiful job, but thankfully don’t get too flashy. This is imperative because they don’t overshadow what’s most important here, and that’s the exceptional songwriting. Babylon kicks off with of “Voices” and “All Fall Down”, which represent two of the record’s strongest tracks. Both are hyper-melodic and very much in the vein of Alkaline Trio’s From Here to Infirmary. They feature inspired lyrics and a renewed vocal strength from Skiba, and fortunately those characteristics are present throughout the album. “Haven’t You?” first appeared on Skiba’s 2010 full-length Demos, but here the heartfelt ballad is enhanced with the addition of keyboards and a rhythm section. Other high points include the haunting anthem that is “You” and the huge, infectious chorus of “How the Hell Did We Get Here?” Babylon concludes with a somber acoustic number called “Angel of Deaf”, and it ranks up there with Skiba’s best stripped-down closers, like “Sorry About That” and “Blue in the Face.” All in all, this is a catchy summertime record that doesn’t lose its appeal with repeated listens. Skiba’s voice sounds great and his writing is in top form, and hopefully that carries over to the next Trio album. Those searching for quality new music shouldn’t delay in checking this out.
Dead Ending
Photo by Katie Hovland
Dead Ending is a punk rock supergroup of sorts, featuring bassist Joe Principe, (Rise Against) drummer Derek Grant, (Alkaline Trio) guitarist Jeff Dean, (The Bomb, Noise By Numbers, All Eyes West) and singer Vic Bondi, (Articles of Faith). We spoke with Grant, who kindly agreed to the band’s first-ever interview, and discussed how the group got together, what they sound like and where their name comes from. We also talked about recording at Million Yen Studios, their newly formed partnership with Alternative Tentacles and some of Dead Ending’s future plans. Continue Reading…
Dead Ending @ Million Yen Studios
Dead Ending is a new project from Jeff Dean, (All Eyes West, The Bomb) Vic Bondi, (Articles of Faith) Derek Grant, (Alkaline Trio, Suicide Machines) and Joe Principe, (Rise Against).
Photos by Katie Hovland at Million Yen Studios in Chicago.
Dan Andriano in the Emergency Room
Photo by Katie Hovland
Last month, Alkaline Trio singer/bassist Dan Andriano released his debut solo full-length, Hurricane Season. He recorded the album in his home studio and also played a majority of the instruments himself. We spoke with Andriano about the creation of Hurricane Season, as well as what inspired some of the lyrics, his upcoming European tour and where he hopes to take The Emergency Room in the future. Continue Reading…
The Smoking Popes
Photo by Katie Hovland
The Smoking Popes are one of Chicago’s most influential bands. They got their start in 1991, achieved widespread success with two albums on Capitol Records and this March released their latest full-length, This Is Only a Test. We spoke with singer/guitarist Josh Caterer about the new record’s concept, what it was like recording at Atlas Studios, the band’s relationship with Asian Man Records and more. Be sure to check out the Popes on tour this summer with Alkaline Trio and look for their classic album Born to Quit to be reissued later this year. Continue Reading…
Asian Man Records
For the last 15 years, Asian Man Records has been synonymous with do-it-yourself ethics and a fan-friendly approach. Such methods have earned the label a sizable and devoted fan base, as well as a reputation for prioritizing its ideals over any kind of business plans. Owner Mike Park founded Asian Man in 1996, after parting ways with his first band, Skankin’ Pickle. Along with Skankin’ Pickle’s other members, Park had previously run Dill Records, but after leaving the band the time was right for him to start his own label. Since its formation, Asian Man has grown significantly, issuing more than 200 releases and achieving both national and international acclaim. This June the label will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a five-day festival in San Francisco, which will encompass ten shows and over 40 bands. The event will not only celebrate Asian Man’s past accomplishments, but also serve as an affirmation of its plans to continue releasing music for many years to come. Continue Reading…
Alkaline Trio Interview, 2009
In 2008, Alkaline Trio released their sixth studio album and major label debut, Agony & Irony. The following year, we spoke with singer/bassist Dan Andriano and talked about how the band partnered with Epic Records, as well as how the album was recorded and its overall style. We also discussed the reissue of their first album, Goddamnit, the unexpected passing of producer Jerry Finn, Nike’s custom Alkaline Trio shoe and more. Continue Reading…
Alkaline Trio – This Addiction
Epitaph – Release Date: 2/23/10
This Addiction is unequivocally the homecoming or return to form album that it’s been widely hailed to be. Released on the band’s own Heart & Skull label, (an imprint of Epitaph) and recorded by producer Matt Allison, (who helmed the boards for the band’s first three records) This Addiction serves to remind listeners as to why they fell in love with Alkaline Trio in the first place. On the one hand, there’s the return of the sincere and heartfelt lyrics, and on the other is the somewhat simplistic yet catchy songwriting that can’t help but demand frequent, recurrent listens. The disc begins with the title track, a swift and speedy number sung by guitarist Matt Skiba that sounds like a melding of previous Trio tunes “My Friend Peter” and “Armageddon”. The second song, “Dine, Dine My Darling”, sees bassist Dan Andriano assume lead vocal responsibilities, resulting in a melodious entry that evokes Warning-era Green Day. Track three features an unexpected horn solo that brightens and enhances the overall effort, while the fourth song, “Dead on the Floor”, is likely the pinnacle of the entire album and one of the greatest Alk3 songs of all-time. “Off the Map” and “Fine” are quality and quintessential Danny-penned anthems, whereas “Eating Me Alive” and “Piss and Vinegar” are straight-ahead rockers that showcase the finer elements of Skiba’s song-crafting abilities. The deluxe edition includes six bonus songs, not to mention a DVD of the band’s 2008 performance at the House of Blues Las Vegas, making it definitely worth the retail price. Arguably their best album behind Goddamnit and From Here to Infirmary, This Addiction is a true “return to roots” and simply a must-have.
Atlas Studios
Growing up in a musical family from Rockford, Illinois, Matt Allison began his path to becoming a producer while playing guitar and bass in various high school bands. He later moved to Champaign, Illinois to pursue an English degree, yet his passion for music remained. Allison continued playing in bands, but also took interest in recording demo tapes for his and his friends’ bands alike. “I kind of realized you could really exercise a lot of whatever creative urges you had via recording music, while at the same time making a much better living than you possibly would as a musician,” he said. “In some ways it was like hedging a bet, career-wise, but on the other hand I never have been interested in being a touring musician. Working in a studio is something I really enjoy doing.” Allison and a friend eventually constructed a small studio in the attic of the home where they were living, though it soon became apparent that Champaign was simply overcrowded with studios and under-populated by bands. This revelation is what ultimately led Allison to migrate to Chicago. Continue Reading…
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