Idyllwild...

“Holy shit! It’s so cold!” - Us.

Adventure is out there, and we were aiming to find it. We recently spent a few days in Idyllwild. We packed up our VW Vanagon, put sweaters on our dogs (we are those people), and braved it up the 5,000 foot elevation at a whopping 17 MPH, in the snow, to take in the peace and quiet this small mountain town has to offer. Jamie and I love to get out of the busyness and noise of Los Angeles. Idyllwild, although very small, has an adorable feel. Everyone seems to know everyone by first name. It was great to sit in a bar, restaurant, or coffee house to enjoy the panoramic, snow-capped views or chat with folks that had grown up around the area. Everyone there seemed to love visitors.

We are both from Philadelphia so you would think we are use to the cold, but it is incredible how much your body changes to adapt to your surroundings. We are use to the sunny weather of Southern California living now. We were cold, and obviously unprepared for snow, but we found comfort in local shops and cozy restaurants to keep us warm. Our motel was just north of town and serenely quiet. We found ourselves sitting on our balcony completely bundled up, looking out into the wilderness in awe.

We will be back, Idyllwild! But, next time I am bringing boots!

Check out the video above made with Clips.

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

Happy Friday and I hope your week went well! We have some new Alkaline Trio, WSTR, and The Story So Far to help kick off your Labor Day Weekend! We also have some new Divided Heaven, Roseview, and Young Culture. Most of this week's music is all new to me and I am pleasantly surprised! Check it out!

Music saves.

Listen, enjoy, and share!

-YourFriendMatt

Friday 6-Pack...

It’s a hot Friday in LA, stay cool out there. This week's list brings us six new tracks that I can’t stop listening too, Dave Grohl is a unicorn. He has just released a 23-minute track entitled 'Play', all recorded himself and there is a documentary to go along with it. You must check it out. We also have a new poppy one from Dashboard, Alkaline Trio, With Confidence and more! 

Music saves.

Listen, share, and enjoy.

-YourFriendMatt

We're Moving...Again!

The time has come for us to wave goodbye to the clear sunny skies, incredible views and warm beach-bum days of California. We are very excited to announce that I accepted a promotion to Nashville, TN and we look forward to what is ahead. We could not be more thrilled to take our next steps in our adventure together. We have learned many lessons over the last few years in Santa Monica. We have had weeks living off ramen and air (and thank God the air was free), and we have also lived like kings adventuring up and down the coast. We went through 3 cars, adopted two dogs and ate more burritos that we would like to admit. 

We have made lifelong friendships that will continue until I am an old man. And, to me that is priceless. Over the last few years, we have become honorary citizens at Disneyland and if we stayed just a few more years I would be running for Mayor there. I was lucky enough to play and create music with some amazing people all over the city and got to sit where my idols sat playing drums. It has been surreal. I saw Saves the Day play “Through Being Cool” in its entirety and chatted with Dan Aykroyd about how he thought I hit drums really hard. Yes, a ghostbusting, Blues Brother saw me play drums (life goal achieved). Jamie and I have seen Justin Beiber on a hover board on Sunset Blvd and Tim Robbins asked to use my phone because his died. “Here you go Mr. Dufresne.” We even got to see Back to the Future at the Hollywood Bowl on Back to the Future Day. 

I got to go to Namm; Jamie went through a career change, and Adam Sandler and his mom hung out with us fishing off the Malibu pier one day. We got to see the Phillies beat the Dodgers, survived quakes, saw Stars Wars and I joined a soft ball league just for the free beer. I got stuck in LAX for two days, made in on The People’s Court on my lunch hour and drove to Vegas one time to shoot a short with friends. 

We have celebrated birthdays, ups, downs, b-sides and made it out just fine. Reflecting this morning is very bittersweet. We did not plan too, but we may have laid some roots here, this was never permanent. I can not wait to take the next step in our lives together. The memories we have created with such great people in our time in California have changed our lives forever.

California - Thanks for keeping us safe. Keep the traffic and I’ll see you soon.

-YourFriendMatt

A Drive To Remember...

“Of course, I drive well, haven’t I driven you mad, already!”

While newly acquired marital bliss was offering us doses of magic and surprise, sharing every single thing was turning out to be a nightmare. Well, at least that is what my husband shall agree as giving me his beloved SUV for a drive was definitely nothing less than a big trouble. 

With little history of driving and absolutely no experience on a SUV, as I looked forward to this task, my husband was struck between beloved wife’s demands and beloved car’s care!

Yet, I am sure every married couple on this earth shall agree that my husband had no choice at all. As he agreed to be an instructor in my subsequent driving adventures, he must have hoped to buy unlimited stock of patience from anyone wanting to sell it.

After endless discussions and arguments about my driving skills, when I actually sat behind the wheel, I hoped for verbal help from him as it was easy to transfer the blame.

Asking him to stop his guidance as I knew my job and blaming him for not helping me out when I needed it along must have confused my poor husband every single time. Though I made endless efforts to stay calm, dragging him into trouble seemed to be embedded within my system, possibly as one of the many side-effects of marriage.

Though I always drove carefully, my husband was never able to appreciate my efforts. Labelling it as over-confidence, his determined stand to hunt for mistakes became one of his habits.

While I relax and enjoy when travelling on the passenger seat, my husband never gets the same kind of opportunity. With eyes glued on the road and mind occupied in mental driving, I am sure he finds my job as a driver more tiring than his own chance at it. 

As if all the drivers on the road conspire with my husband and form one single team, I always find it unbelievable when he picks my mistakes, defending every other driver around. While I am on the driver’s seat, they seem to communicate with my husband, sympathizing his bad luck.

A cocktail of funny, serious, happy, sad all my driving adventures so far have brought me closer to my husband’s endless patience. While as per wife’s code, it is impossible to appreciate him openly, I look forward to many more moments with his beloved SUV. Finally convinced of my skills, be it driving a car on the road or driving him mad at home, my husband has accepted few of the side orders of marital bliss.

“Hold on hubby, there are still many more to follow."

The dumb things I do with my Apple Watch…

I recently received my Apple Watch in the mail and I am already in love with it. Judge away. I tried to explain to a friend how important my tech is to me and he elegantly looked to the sky paraphrasing the Rifelman’s Creed, “This is my watch. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” Then he gave a salute. Insanity aside, I feel this accurately depicts how I feel about my tech. I know, I know, everyone is wondering why you need it or what the hell these things actually do. I guess I am an early adopter. I have been using it as a fitness tracker, which is something I never thought I would do. I have also replied to messages, viewed emails and stayed up-to-date with news all by raising my wrist. I don't even know where my phone is right now, I am doing everything from my arm. Apple Watch is pretty friggin' awesome. But, besides all the formal things you can do with it. What about some of those informal things you can do with it? Well, here you go, these are some of the informal things I do with my watch. 

New vehicle to send phallic drawings.

Dick pics for days...

What is the first thing I did when I turned on my watch? Send a penis drawing to anyone I could. I don’t care, I know I am not a kid anymore, but dick and fart jokes will never get old. Period.

Taking calls in the shower.

Gotta take this..

Why not? It’s 2015, why shouldn’t I be able to take a phone call or respond to a text while exfoliating my face? This is one of the weirdest things I am getting used to. Sure, you don’t have to take your watch in the shower, but I figured screw it, I am.

Running my metronome.

And it stayed on my wrist...

This is actually pretty productive. I mean, sending a phallus to your friends for fun is great too. I recently played with my friends in Lost Sons at the House of Blues in LA (and met Dan Aykroyd!). I play to a metronome in my in-ear monitors to create a consistent set. I ran the entire show from my wrist, changing tempos with my metronome app, cleverly named Metronome from my wrist. Green sports band and everything.

As more and more of these hit the market and more and more apps hit the Watch App store I am sure we will see even more weird shit people are doing with their wearable tech. I am an app junkie and always looking for new ones. Evidently there is a spin-the-bottle watch app, another watch app to track your moles, along with a Whack-a-Mole app (your choice), and even a Magic 8 Ball watch app. Here's to the future, if you need me, you can call me...in the shower.

Will today be a good day?....Thanks Magic 8 Ball...

-YouFriendMatt

Secret Shows at SoFar...

Are you sick of spending a ton of money to go to an over-crowded music venue with a terrible view? Are you ashamed of your “old-man” earplugs because now you’re an adult and you’ve realized that your addiction to loud music is slowly destroying your hearing? Well if you said yes, we have discovered an underground secret show circuit that offers that intimate setting to appreciate live music, a good view, and enjoyable volume level. The best part is that it doesn’t require any cash – only your respectful attention. Sofar Sounds, the answer to your musical prayers!

These events showcase emerging talents in the indie-music scene, as well as well-established artists. The performers are kept a secret until guests arrive at the venue and see discreet posters taped to the walls listing the menu of talent for the evening. So, why all the secrecy? “Keeping SofarSounds as  ‘secret shows’ creates a sense of curiosity, which keeps drawing people back for more. Many like the fun, spontaneous element of surprise, ” shared Monina Castillo, Sofar’s L.A. PR rep. “People also feel special being part of an “in-the-know” music discovery movement and community that offers a different experience than the typical music venue or club.”

The shows are free and you can BYOB so you’re not spending $10 on a can of PBR. However, Sofar welcomes donations to help pay their videographers and editors, who put together the performance videos of each band on Sofar’s YouTube channel, where you can keep enjoying them over and over.

You may ask yourself: “How do I get into one of these super awesome secret shows?” All it takes is the Internet and a little patience - no need for a famous uncle, a small fortune, or forged backstage passes. Head over to http://www.sofarsounds.com/, sign up, and RSVP for the shows you’d like to attend in the city of your choice. You’ll get an email confirmation a couple of days before the show letting you know if you’re invited. Heads up though, since the shows are in small intimate spaces, they can’t accommodate large numbers at a time, so sometimes it can take a few tries before getting invited. But don’t be disappointed and RSVP as many times as you want because the organization works hard to make sure everyone gets a chance to see a session eventually.

Photo: Zane Roesell @ zrofoto.com

In keeping with the spirit of Sofar Sounds, the first show I went to was a totally last-minute adventure. A friend of mine had finally received an invitation after months of waiting. Luckily for me, her original +1 fell through. We arrived at an amazing three-story loft in Atwater Village, early enough to witness the videographers setting up shop in the kitchen across from a menagerie of instruments set up in the living room. That night we indulged in the musical stylings of The Parlour Suite (http://www.theparloursuite.com/), Sales (http://wearenotsales.com/), and My Double My Brother (http://mydoublemybrother.com/). I had never heard of these bands before and I had awesomeness-induced goosebumps the entire time. I was hooked. 

Whether you’re interested in discovering new artists or praying to the music gods for an intimate show with one of your long-time faves, these shows are an amazing experience you’ll never forget. I promise the awesomeness will give you goose bumps, unless you’re a soulless robot. In that case please skip the show and save that spot for a real live music lover.

California Screamin'

"Man, that noise did not sound good." I thought to myself right before my coaster came to a screeching halt.

Yesterday Jamie and I went to Disneyland. If you follow my Instagram (@MattBates) this probably comes as no surprise. We are first time annual pass-holders and since we purchased the passes we have already be to Disneyland 12 times...in 10 weeks. That's roughly about $2,000 if we would have purchased regular tickets every time instead of getting annual passes...I think we're getting our money's worth.

We grabbed a beer as we walked through the park after eating a quick burrito dinner. I am getting good at reading the crowds of zombie-like, fatigued out-of-state vacationers trying to cram in as much as the park can offer on their yearly vacation. We strolled passed California Screamin'. Although it looked packed and would take an hour to get on the ride; it was just the crowd traffic around the area. The real wait time to get on the ride was only 10 minutes. This is very unusual for a Saturday where ride lines can take up to an hour and a half. I turned to Jamie excitedly, "We have to get on! You almost done your beer!" As it turned out she didn't want to get on a roller coaster 15 minutes after eating a burrito...followed up by a beer. I could see her point, but I have an iron stomach. She encouraged me to go my as a solo rider and we would meet up after. Taking advantage of the opportunity I kissed her forehead, downed my beer and ran off like a 5-year-old flailing my limbs around jumping for joy.

I quickly got through the line and when the cast member asked me how many were in my party so he could get me on the ride I told him I was a single rider. I also told him I would be willing to wait until the next ride went if I could sit in the front which he didn't mind. The ride I was suppose to be on shot off and I was next to sit front seat for this roller coaster. The coaster pulled in and the riders filed off. I shot Jamie a quick text before stepping on the ride to let her know I was about to go if she wanted to see me off. My phone back in my pocket I stepped on the ride, pulled down the safety bar and waited to be launched.

The ride released and we moved forward. California Screamin' stops right around the first corner so you can see the first incline you'll be flung over. This also gives you family members a good photo opportunity. Jamie stood looking over as I waved or gave her a thumbs up for the front row. The countdown started and I heard an awful metal screeching sound followed by a booming thud. Not normal. And not what you want to hear right before your roller coaster takes off. "Okay Screamers! Ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!" Echoed over the sound system as our coaster stayed stationary. I looked over to Jamie and shrugged. "Okay Screamers! Ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!" Again over the sound system and nothing. I started to look around as if I was being punked. "Okay Screamers! Ready in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!" Nothing again but more horrible metal grinding sounds. On-lookers stared at us on the ride as we all tried to play it off like we weren't kind of scared in a Final Destination kind of way. This was starting to worry me but we all remained in good spirits. The suspense was started in the build. In my head I started to think what if this thing really is broke? How the hell are we going to get out of here? I mean, I am sure we will be fine right? This is Disney. They know what they are doing? Right? Besides, I am kind of like Macgyver, I can fix this. 

Although it was probably a routine maintenance problem for Disneyland it scared the crap out of me. We probably only sat for a few moments before the ride finally released but it felt like an eternity. I did enjoy the ride when it took off and will continue to go on it...repeatedly. But if I am being honest, I held on for dear life this time around. Even still, through a brief moment of uncertainty...you can't pass up giving the camera on the coaster a goofy face if you know where it is.

Kid behind me was not as pumped as I was...

Ever get stuck on a ride at an amusement park?

-YourFriendMatt

Damn you, Hootie...

 "Holy Crap! This song is awful." I state but no matter of the volume she doesn't hear me. My girlfriend loves country music.

I am forever doomed to listen to twanging guitars and lyrics about red dirt roads. I guess it's not all bad. The older stuff seems to hit a lot harder than the crap Nashville is cranking out now. A lyric from a song I heard the other day went something along the lines of "Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit." Now, I am not a song writing master but holy hell that was the best that song-writing team could do? They have to have what, a billion dollars? The worst part is no matter how much I hate the song it always gets stuck in my head, or hers, all night. And we always only know one line from the song so we repeat it over and over again! I guess that team did do it right, bastards. Even Hootie - of The Blowfish fame - is getting in on the action. That's right. Hootie is a country singer. Yes, I know his name is Darius. But I feel I'm not alone when I say he will be Hootie to everyone until the end of time.

Regardless, there is just something about this woman. I love her. So, she can listen to the country station and dance with the frozen peas and roasted chicken we just bought for dinner. I am sure she puts up with enough of my crap daily. I thought the video attached was too good not to share. This is one of her new favorite jams and when we hear it this is her reaction. There will never be a shortage of new country songs on the radio. She will continue to fall in love with them but every time she does something like this I fall more in love with her. Even if the song is crap.

Damn you, Hootie!

-YourFriendMatt

Airstream Adventuring...

We set out on an adventure and found it. 

Airstreaming...

This year Jamie and I have made a commitment to continue our adventurous ways. We will schedule as many trips or over-nights, within our budget, at least once a month...if we can. 

Over the last year we uprooted our lives and moved 3,000 miles away from everything comfortable. We have seen our fair share of setbacks, poverty and have remained positive to come out on top. Now that we have laid a thin layer of roots down in Southern California we felt it is time to start seeing what was at our fingertips.

This past weekend we found an Airstream camper in the middle of nowhere on AirBNB. It was within our budget, close enough to home and just the right about of danger…or adventure…that we were comfortable with. As we pulled into the farm-like gates we were a little confused. Didn’t we move away from the country? I thought LA was a city? Evidently Malibu can get very country, very quickly. We found ourselves roaming scenic, winding roads until we finally found our destination. A scruffy mountain-man on an ATV greeted us with two humongous, matted rescue dogs as we pulled on a dirt path with our 2004 Ford Focus...not the ideal mountaineering car. But she is trusty.

“Hi! I am Matt and this is Jam…” I shouted from the rolled down drivers side window being cut off by his roaring, scratchy voice. He was trying to project his voice over his engine with a careless “Yeah, That’s great, kid! Follow that dirt path up about a mile!" Pointing aimlessly "You’ll find it! If you don’t, you’re a moron!” He cackled and drove off. "Welp, up that dirt path we go." As we shrugged at each other. Jamie and I found ourselves scaling this dirt path, on the side of a cliff at about a 45 degree angle. I caressed the dashboard and wiped the sweat from my brow exclaiming "Okay, Ol' Trusty. We have been through a lot, but please make it up this mountainside! Don't die on me now!" Our car engine was revving so hot that it sounded like it was going to fall out. Jamie looked to her right out the passenger side window as our tires spun inches away from what would certainly be our death if we made a wrong move. A pack of wild goats, no joke, I wish I had a picture, greeted us as we reach the top and then scampered off. A rounding curve led us directly to our home for the night.

This is called ‘glamping.’ A mix of the word glamour and camping, I assume. When you go on a camping adventure, but have most the amenities of home. This thing was running hot water, electricity, a refrigerator, shower, septic system, full oven and breathtaking view of the Santa Monica mountains. Our white-haired, scruffy host eventually made his way up the mountain on his ATV to greet us, his fellow scruffy friends by his side.  Without missing a beat he started with “Now, if you see any big black shadows moving around in the middle of the night don't be scared. It’s not the devil or a bear. It’s just the horses scrounging around.” I paused for a minute and followed excitedly with “You have wild horses roaming around here?” I asked as he replied with a short “You calling my horses wild?” I immediately shut up and let him show us in.

We unpacked, especially our cooler of beer and took a walk through Backbone Trail located right off our front door. For the rest of the night we unplugged playing Trivial Pursuit (which I lost), cooked a camping stew, listening to oldies and laughing together. Having no TV is a blessing. We often get so wrapped up in our daily that we forget to have a conversation.

To our surprise it rained overnight resulting a cloudy, misty morning as we shared coffee, staring out to the fresh, green hills littered with bright foliage and boulders. 

This dude...is ready to party...

Side-note: It started raining right after this photo was taken and we immediately started playing Uno...and quickly turned it into a drinking game...it was 9am. 

-YourFriendMatt

Hell on Earth...

I am at the Department of Motor Vehicles. This is hell.

February 3rd 2015 - It's a Tuesday morning. The DMV opens at 8 on a beautifully brisk SoCal morning. I grab my coffee-to-go mug and leave to get there by 7:30am, to be the first in line when they open. Pulling onto Colorado Ave. I see a line of people and think nothing of it. After all my local DMV is across the street from Universal Music Group, maybe there is a celebrity signing or free concert. Nope. This endless line of disgruntled zombies holding paperwork is here to get a title changed or take their drivers test. This should be fun.

They don't open for another half hour. 

This is probably my fault. I should have followed the rules, been aware of my expiring license and got it taken care up in a timely manner making a reservation. I did not do any of that and now I am paying the price. When I finally got into the building, just to get into another line, the chipper administrative officer told me I needed a reservation to take my California drivers exam and added "They next one I can schedule you for..." trailing off in silence squinting at the glow coming from his computer screen "Is late March! Wow! That's not bad at all." I stare in awe. I can't do anything but I can't be without a license for a month and a half. I beg and plead asking if there is anything else I can do and he brings me in close to tell me a secret. "The DMV in Granada Hills accepts walk-ins." He whispers "You should be able to get in and out of there quick!" I thank him for the tip and jump in the car - and expired license - to Granada Hills.

After sitting in in the other Hell on Earth Los Angeles provides to the world - The 405 - I arrive a quick hour and a half later at the next DMV and there is no place to park. Usually not a good sign. Remember how that guy at the other DMV said I should be able to get 'In and out'? Well, this is what I walked into.

5 hours, 3 different lines and a panic attack later I walked out. 5 hours. 5 hours of sitting. I had so much time on my hands I wrote this blog, downloaded the DMV App and took practices driver tests. I even called home to a few people to let them know I was still alive.

This is a tale of caution. Don't make the same mistake I did. Make a reservation for the DMV. And if someone gives you advice at the DMV punch him in the balls.

On Break...

“Holy shit, this place is weird.” - Me

All I wanted to do is read a book and relax on my lunch break. I am lucky enough to work a stones throw away from the breath-taking views of the Pacific. This is my place of choice for taking all breaks throughout the work week, an oasis if you will, from the hell-trap on Earth I work in dealing with the silver spoon, brainwashed to keep-up-with-the-Jones’, American public day in and day out. In all honesty I love what I do, no complaints…if only the damn customers weren’t there…but thats a whole other conversation.

Today, I take the long way to the coast to sit on my usual bench to read and decompress from the first half of my shift. I arrive at my bench just at the edge of the tree lines shade at the perfect time of day. As I take my seat there is a man pacing behind the bench on the phone call of his life. He speaks loud and direct to whomever it is he needs to get his point across to on the other side of that mobile device. I do the usual raised eyebrow dirty look towards him and open my book. As I start to ingest the immoral words from my library-borrowed Christopher Moore fiction my new pacing friend ends his call. Good - my eyebrows did the talking again. Victory.

As Pacer stands there I notice out of the corner of my eye another older man, tattered, in every sense of the word, with a sticker-covered guitar case takes a seat on the grass next to the bench. Indian style now he opens the guitar case to pull out 2 drum sticks. Sure. Why not? What? You expected him to pull out a guitar? No, no. This is California, nothing normal happens here. Especially on the cliffs overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica…I really need to find a new oasis…this place is getting weird. Oh - did I forget to mention he has a tarnished, half consumed wine jug with him? My new tattered friend takes his drum sticks, one in each hand, and in no order or musical computation I can make out starts to sing and bang on the guitar case as if it were a drum using his half consumed red-stained jug to accent his nonsensical beat. I slowly raise my head from my fiction in a mix of confusion, frustration and awe. By the time I look over at this tattered man he has pulled out a recorder, the kind of flute-like instrument they hand out in 3rd grade and starts contributing his own horrific, and once again in no music computation that anyone could comprehend or interpret to paper, soundtrack to the picturesque scenery.

At this point I assume you for got about Pacer. I almost did too. As I rip my eyes from the absurdity that is Tatter to my friend Pacer I notice he is in a trance, barefoot, shoes removed and discarded across the grass like litter in a hunched position looking like he is prepping for a human take-off in the vein of Superman or Peter Pan. He springs upright and releases all the air in his lungs like a party favor balloon squeezed of air. It is at this exact moment I notice another man who has sat down on another bench a few feet from me fighting the air in front of him as passerby’s move out of the way of his mighty fists. What the hell is going on today? I sit and wonder then ask myself, "Does this happen everyday?"

Now, I can’t make this shit up. I wish I was this creative and smart but I’m not. I am on break at work and from all sides around me people are going crazy. How in the hell am I going to focus on a book now? And it is now that I realize. If we stop to notice life, just slow down for a minute...the world is a beautifully insane place. Take a minute this week to break out of your 'normal' routine and look to see what the hell is going on around you. Like Ferris said "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around for a while, you could miss it." Or you might find some crazy assholes doing God knows what in all areas around you. 

But then again...sometimes....you have to go back to work.

-YourFriendMatt

While You Were Gone...

Holy Crap! I am so excited! Here it is! We made a 3 minute short film!

I can't believe that I still get to do creative things surrounded by the people I love who in return continue to push me to do more creative things. I am one of the luckiest and richest dudes on the planet. Please watch, share, laugh, hate it, love it and let us know what you think!

Also, if you have not already done so please check out some of the other shorts we have done under the "I Write and Act" tab on YourFriendMatt.com or at our YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/BrokenSoundRecording.

Thank you all for anything and everything you do!

Stay positive. Smile. Have fun and screw 'em.

-YourFriendMatt

While You Were Gone...

I am so excited to announce we are going to be releasing another short film on August 1, 2014! It's under three minutes! We are always looking for new hurtles to jump and to push our creativity. Trying to get a point across in three minutes is a challenge but I am proud of this outcome.

Above is a quick trailer about the film. We submitted this to a film contest here in California and no matter what the result this is another project of love and passion. Create because you love it, you get to make your friends laugh and screw what everyone has to say. Please check it out and let us know what you think! Thank you for everyone's continued support and love! 

The Return of Owls...

Some would say it is about time and way over due. We can all relax now, it’s finally here and fans could not be more excited. Owls have released their sophomore album ‘TWO’after a 13-year hiatus, through independently owned Polyvinyl Records. Back in action and touring the globe Owls is a super group of progressive, emo and pop rock royalty. Featuring Tim Kinsella, Mike Kinsella, Victor Villarreal and Sam Zurick from groups Cap’n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owen, American Football and The Promise Ring, Owls second album marks a more defined, mature and confident sound.

An hour before the doors a line has already formed for the die hard fans who wish to claim their spot on the standing room only floor, and as they take the stage, the crowd goes ballistic. With a simple, soft spoken “It’s good to be back”from smiling singer Tim Kinsella the band breaks into their title track from TWO “Four Works of Art”—a slow-paced, riff driven rocker that allows the band to groove and fans time to watch Owls musicianship. They flawlessly transition to their single from TWO “I’m Surprised”with Kinsella’s trademark eccentric vocal stylings. The club participates with Owls call and response choruses and metaphorical lyrics.

For the rest of the set Owls transition from one progressive emo track to another showing that their was no rust to shake off from their hiatus. They are as energetic and captivating as they were a decade ago…if not more. Check out Owls in a city near you this summer and pick up TWO as soon as humanly possible if you know what is good for you.

An Evening with Into It. Over It...

Welcome to the one-man show. Catch him slinging his vinyl records, hoodies and t-shirts at his merch stand then transition to social butterfly before hitting the stage to put on a flawless performance of emotional rock songs to which everyone can relate. Is this person a superhero you ask? No. This person is Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It., and Weiss has a long history of performing that dates way back to his high school years in Cherry Hill, NJ. Into It. Over It. has played as a full band but these days primarily tours as solo act.

Tonight Into It. Over It. is solo and Weiss is preparing for the crowd at the iconic Roxy on the Sunset Strip. As the curtain rises Weiss cracks a joke about how he thought it was going to open sideways; before ripping into the intro riff from the title track “New North-Side Air”off the new album Intersections. It’s Weiss’emotion and honesty that make his live shows so damn compelling. There’s an electricity to Into It. Over It. and Weiss commands every lyric, drawing his audience in. When the chorus hits you can’t help but get involved chanting and belting every unforgettable melody. Weiss has a magic about him that allows Into It. Over It. to bring its audience into the inner circle of participation.

After the show, we were able to get a word with Weiss who gave us a loose update on a possible new EP or LP coming out with a member of fellow tour mates OWLS. “I can’t really say as of now because I don’t want any rumors to start but it will be cool,”Weiss said, smiling. Sounds like we should be on the look out…but we’re not here to start rumors either.