On Tinder with PAPERFOX...

In a time when people are using Tinder for last minute hook-ups and free pizza, one SoCal DIY band is using the dating app to build a tangible fan base conveniently co-located to their live show circuits. I stumbled upon these guys while surfing Tinder (I had just come out of a serious relationship, don’t judge!). The profile of a faceless (and probably) cute guy in a sharp graphic tee with an adorable puppy peaked my interest. Sold, swipe right. Admittedly, I didn’t read the bio until after they started messaging me about what sort of music I’m into. Once I realized it was a band, I had to meet up with them to get the inside scoop on their music and why they were using dating apps with ulterior motives. 

I met up with Christian (Drums) and Danny (Guitar). The explain it has been Christian’s idea to join Tinder as a band while brainstorming ways get their name out to more local fans. Their fan base has been spread through other countries and states from Youtube traffic and other social media campaigns, but how to get more LA folks was the new mission. Tinder was a perfect way to connect with fans locally and increase attendance at their shows. 

Dating sites and musicians both have a proven track record of bringing out a few crazies (sorry mom!). As a result of their Tinder fan-scouting, they have invited some intense fans. “There was one fan that showed up by surprise, and drove about an hour and a half to see us,” they told me. “She was very persistent on trying to hang out with one of us after the show, and several times after that night.” The girl has since backed off, but there’s bound to be a few more as they continue to grow in popularity. 

The band name (which can be Googled - PAPERFOX - all one word) was actually inspired by the Thrice song “Paper Tigers." They don’t mind sharing their name with girly shoes, though (now Google PAPER FOX - 2 words). “It's amazing! Hope they start making men's shoes so we can rock them during our shows.” 

While this band isn’t a first for any of these guys, their roles in PAPERFOX have given them new challenges. Their singer, Richard, had previously been a drummer until they couldn’t seem to find the right singer to front the band. Danny suggested Richard try singing and as you can see he turned out to have a great voice, so it’s worked out so far!

Check out the bands melodic, indie-rock EP Dreamcatcher here now!

Playlist Friday...

This weeks playlist is a throw back to some mainstream punk classics. From The Offspring to Green Day (obviously) this list of songs set the tone for a short, neighborhood jog. If my 17 year old self could see the suburbanite I've become he would be pissed. Go listen and enjoy!

The airport can go to hell...

I have 10 minutes to get the next blog out. I promised myself I would post something once a week for a year. I am currently losing sleep, have no idea when I can get on the next plane back to what I call home. Traveling is a blessing. Getting stuck in airports and dealing with traveling is not. During an 8 day vacation I spent 3 days in the airport. 

I was stuck...Part One...

"I left Thursday and I arrived on Saturday. It's only an hour flight. So, no. No. I am not okay." I said to the gate agent.

Over the last few days I got stuck in LAX trying to get home to see my family for a summer vacation. What we thought was going to be a relaxing trip home turned into 3 days of hell in the airport. 

My mother works for the airlines so we fly for basically free. I know, I know. First world problem, right? Anyway, we arrived at the airport Thursday night and expected to jump right on the next flight. This is how it has always worked out and I have never had a problem. Sure, I have missed a flight here or there, but have never spent more that a few hours in an airport. Well, I guess all that good luck ran out because not only did we miss the flight we attended to get on, we miss the next one also.

We had our dog with us and decided to take her out to the baggage claim area, it's not fair to her to hold it while we sit in the airport all night, right? We gather our various, humungous, bags and made our way out to baggage claim. when we to back in TSA looked at us like we were idiots. "Oh, Hey Baby!" The overweight wig-sporting TSA agent squawked at us, "You can't go through here, no sir, we are closed until 4 am, we will see you in the morning baby!" She pointed to the clock that indicated it was 12:15am. We could not get back to our gate for another 4 hours.

It didn't make sense for us to travel 45 minutes back home, to get an hour an a half of sleep to just get up at 2 am to make it back to LAX. So. The bench next to the airport exit door is where we set up shop and made our bed for the night on top of our baggage.

To be continued...

-YourFriendMatt

Playlist Friday...

Let's travel back. Way back. All the way back to high school and the emotional tunes that shaped our route to art class. This playlist has it all. Sunny Day Real Estate? Check. Dashboard? Check. The Promise Ring?! Check. Sit back and enjoy!

Happy Playlist Friday!

Let's Write...

I don't know why but it seems crazy people are attracted to me. Recently I was sitting on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean working on some ideas. With my Moleskine in tow, I paced, trying to figure out a personal problem. I sat down and stared at the sea when a squirrelly transient took a seat next to me. A short, "Hey" squeaked out of him as I awkwardly turned his direction. "You know there are plenty of benches around here." Rolled through my head but all I got out was a short responsive, ”Hey.” 

"Want to write something with me?" He asked as I looked around for a camera filming us. This had to be a set up. He coughed, ”Look, you already have a book. Let's write." I mean, I guess he made sense. I took off my sunglasses and replied "Okay. What do you want to write?” I was in a fun mood. What the hell else did I have to do? This guy was brought into my life for some reason right? Let's figure it out. This opened can of worms that lead to a pretty fun story. He started telling me about the marines that were 100 yards off-shore, underwater, ready for us when we “disobey” and that the Santa Monica Pier wasn’t a pier at all but a portal to another dimension. “So, you want to write a Sci-Fi Thriller?” I responded. “Listen, man! Don’t get caught!” He barked and rose from the seat running away looking through me, as if I was a demon…or there was one behind me.

Something like this happens to me at least two times a month. I guess I just have that welcoming "I am just as bat shit crazy as you are" look about me.

Remember. Don’t get caught.

-YourFriendMatt

Summer Film Series

This is one year old today. The point of this was to make a short less than 3 minutes and still tell a story. We did that.

Enjoy!

-YourFriendMatt.

This one is on us...Part 2...

And...I'm drunk...

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to play drums on the Santa Monica Pier. This was definitely on my bucket list and I checked it off. The added bonus to the night was that Bud Light happened to be in the bar and picked up my tab, then bought my girlfriend and I's beers all night. Then they filmed me responding to whatever they asked me. Safe to say that I am drunk in the video above but I think they planned that...

This video is available on the Bud Light website...my mom is probably so proud...

-YourFriendMatt

Summer Film Series...

Over the next few weeks I will be posting some of the short films I have been lucky enough to work on. Making these were some of the best times of my life. It blows my mind how lucky I am that I work with so many talented people who let me call them my friends.

This was filmed shortly after I moved to Los Angeles. My buddy Chris called me to tell me he was in Las Vegas and had an idea. One bus fare, a few cocktails, lost footage, a red sports car and a totaled Ford Explorer later...and we had this. 

Enjoy!

-YourFriendMatt

Bedazzled...

It is rare that Jamie and I get time to hang with our schedules being so hectic but we recently had a chance to do an overnight at Disneyland. We were having a cocktail before heading to the park and I guess Disneyland liked the photo I posted and tweeted it back to me with a little Pixie Dust.

I'd like to think Walt would approve of this.

Thanks Tink! 

This one is on us...

Jamie and I were sitting at the bar enjoying our time off together when I heard "Hey, can I buy you a drink?" I turned to see a petite girl standing there. 

Another great night of playing music was in the books. We played the Santa Monica pier overlooking the beach, waves and Malibu. We had finished our set and were done loading out our gear. Everyone was heading their separate ways as the night winded down. I still had an open tab at the bar so Jamie and I decided to stay for a drink before we headed home. While we sat to watched the next band finishing our drinks a red-lipped, 20-something bar-girl approached us and asked to buy us drinks. "Hell yeah!" I said without skipping a beat. Jamie looked confused and the girl picked up on it. "I work for Bud Light and we are out sponsoring a new promotion. You guys look adorable so enjoy!" And she scampered away as fast as she had appeared. I, already perusing the beer list, found myself an IPA and Jamie shrugged and ordered a Bud Light. 

We finished the drinks and we were about to close out to head home. Bud Light girl reappeared again like a beer-fairy-god-mother. "One more on us for these two!" She said and handed us free coozies and blue, Bud Light sunglasses. "One thing though, can we get a picture of you two and possibly ask you a question?" She asked as I replied with, "If you're buying I'll tell you whatever you want!" Throwing on the sunglasses and striking a pose for their camera guy. As it turns out I guess they are running a promotion for summer bucket lists and wanted to know if there was anything crazy that we wanted to accomplish before the end of the summer. “Damn.” I replied “You going to be here for a while? I will need to think about this.” My mind exploding with options of insane things I could do with Bud Lights money funding it.

Buzzed Summer Bucket List Bar Brain Storming Session:

• Play drums with Motley Crue and then convince them to let me join the band.
• Skydive with Jay and Silent Bob.
• Fly Jamie and I’s family out for an all expense paid trip to Disneyland.
• Go to space.
• Lunch with Mel Brooks.
• Lunch with Dave Grohl
• Lunch with the cast of Can’t Hardly Wait.
• Lunch with Hall and Oates.
• Lunch with Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox discussing their lives and then go play bass for Blink 182 at an arena…where they ultimately ask me to join the band.

My drunken brain went with the last option, as I thought this was the most feasible, as we ran to find the Bud Light girl. They did a video recording of my wish on some tablet and submitted it to their database. “Yes. Score. Totally having lunch with Dr. Emmett L. Brown.” I whispered and we staggered away feeling victorious.

Remember, if someone asks to pick up your bar tab, always let them.

I wonder if that tablet video is online somewhere?

-YourFriendMatt

Yep, she's dead...

"Well, shit." As I turned the key and the engine sputtered. Then died.

It was a great night. A fantastic night. I achieved another goal. I checked something off my bucket list. I have played two different House of Blues locations. Once at the House of Blues in Atlantic City playing with Run DMC (yeah, seriously. I have pictures to prove it) and now playing the House of Blues in Los Angeles (where I met Blues Brother himself, Dan Aykroyd. I don't have pictures to prove it. Just believe me).

Most people think being in a band must be glamours. But actually unless you are friggin' Coldplay you are driving for more than half the time and getting made fun of by security when no one is around. And broke, almost always, but for some reason I keep coming back for more. The show was over and everyone had left. Sweaty and tired we loaded out our gear through a half-ass service elevator with each trip, which should have been a few moments at most, taking about 15 minutes. 

After what felt like forever we were finally done and I was tried. We said our goodbyes and ran to get in my car to drive home. Whipping my keys out as fast as possible I jumped in the drivers seat and turned the ignition. Nothing. The sound of you car not starting, that almost-going-to-start-clicking noise, made me feel like the car was laughing at me. "Oh, you wanna go home? Well, I guess you shouldn't have left the headlights on the entire time you were loading out your gear! Moron! Ha-Ha!" My car whispered to be as the clicking played on. "Fuck you, car!" I yelled back as Jamie turned from the passenger seat to asked who I was talking too. "Uh, nobody." Having been caught talking to an intimate object but still turned back to the engine to flip it off.

Luckily one of the other bands that night was loading out and their girl singer/bass player was a mechanic. Sure? Why not. The security laugh at me as I accidentally touch the positive and negative ends of the jumper cables while sparks flew and I jumped (and screamed like a little girl).

Huge thanks to Jason at PopCultureRenegades for jumping me and our new friend, bass player mechanic girl!

This is how we think we should take photos...

This is adulthood. Sometime we have to pay bill or make tough decisions, but I try to get that done as fast as possible and get back to acting like a 5 year old. Recently we took a trip to visit friends in San Francisco. We did the tourist type things and when we finally made it to the Golden Gate. We did actually take a nice photo under the bridge but these are always the best ones to share. You know it is love when taking a silly photo is the first thing you guys want to do together...and being forced to take a nice picture is an afterthought people have to persuade you to do.

Can't wait to do this in front of the Mona Lisa...

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

Stopped by my buddy Steve's house...

"Do those signs say no trespassing?" I whispered. "Well, I mean, it can't be trespassing if I am just walking down the street right?"

A few years ago I hated technology, couldn't stand it. (Honestly, still not the biggest fan). The thought of typing on a keyboard and the frustration that comes when your computer isn't doing exactly what you want it to do in 10 seconds was enough for me to stay completely away from them. I had a dumb phone and I thought the internet was an evil place, mainly because I didn't understand it. And I was right...the internet can be an evil, dark, weird, scary place if you look in the wrong spots, you weirdo's. That all sort of changed when I got my first iPhone a few years back. The ease of use and craftsmanship that came went into every feature, button and app hooked me. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid and became a part of the worldwide cult.

Last weekend Jamie and I went up to San Francisco to visit with some friends and venture around a new city we haven't explored. We took he scenic route up the Pacific Coast Highway along the golden pacific coast on our way. It added about 3 hours to our trip so on our way back we decided to take the direct route back to Los Angeles. One scenic drive, and 8 hours in a car accompanied by our small dog, is enough for any road trip. Typically when we are driving around America, especially in a new city, we will do some research to see if there are any off-the-beaten-track attractions for us to check out. When we were driving through Cupertino on our way home, we used the RoadTrippers app to see if there was anything around that we could check out quickly for fun and get back on the road. "Steve Jobs Childhood Home" was the first thing that populated and it was .05 miles from us on the highway. So, we pulled over to check it out. 

I guess they had just wrapped up filming for the latest Jobs' movie because the small town was still in a buzz, but there were not cameras or film crews to be seen. As we pulled onto the neighborhood street I couldn't help but think "This is just a regular neighborhood." I guess when things seem bigger than life you expect them to be this grand experience. But, all the world's most famous people, leaders or your role models...are just that, people. They all came from some neighborhood somewhere.

We did a quick drive-by of the house and there we signs all over the street and front yard stating the house is under "surveillance" and "no photo please." Pfft. I can't help it if I take a photo from the street and your house happens to be in the background. We quickly jumped out of the car, ran down the street, got into position, snapped the photo and ran away like we had just played ding-dong-ditch (that game you play as a kid ringing someones doorbell, running away as fast as possible and then hiding behind something to see if they answer the door, such fun). Jamie took a bunch of great pictures and obviously in this day and age where instant gratification is a must we reviewed them while sitting in the car before we took off from this quiet neighborhood.

I love traveling and I love my phone. I use this technology to stay in touch with my family across the country. It's friggin' awesome.

Remember, when there is a sign that says don't take photos, pretend like you didn't see it.

Stallions...Have a One Track Mind...

It's officially summer. I don't know about you but when summer hits I want nothing more than the sun, the beach and some flawless, poppy jams. Luckily, I did not have too look to far to discover the new single "Still Chasing" by rock foursome Stallions. "Still Chasing" is a sample from what we can expect from the bands new EP due out in July, One Track Mind. "Still Chasing" opens up with a effortlessly, upbeat tempo and leads to an undeniable chorus that gets stuck in your head until you are screaming it over and over again. We had a chance to catch up with Stallions recently to see what is going on.

YFM: Your new EP One Track Mind took a year and half to finish, what was different from this writing process than prior releases?

Stallions: This was the first album that we all wrote the music together. One of us would come to practice with a riff or idea and then we would expand on it as a group. We would record a quick demo of that song and Andrew would write lyrics and a melody to it.  After getting the principle tracks done for the album Shane and I [Steve] spent a ton of time programming drums and writing keyboard parts for the songs. 

YFM: Any plans to hit the road to support One Track Mind? 

Stallions: We are hoping to build enough buzz to make touring a viable option. We already have a tour bus! 

YFM: What can we expect from Stallions in the next year?

Stallions: We will be recording another music video in the next couple months for "Five More Steps." One of the other songs from One Track Mind. We would love to be able to make this our careers.

Give the new track "Still Chasing" a listen and look for Stallions in a town near you soon. One Track Mind will not disappoint. The musicianship, the voice and the good summer vibes are all accounted for and ready to take over your summer speakers. Stallions are here. Check them out now!

For Stallions info click here!

Scenic Route...

 "Where in the hell are we and who owns all these cows?"

This weekend Jamie and I took the scenic route up to San Francisco to visit with some friends. We love road trips and we ecstatic that we had extra time to take the long way up the coast. We cruised up the PCH for hours past countless forgotten beach towns and cattel farms. It's amazing how many cows there are wondering the golden hills of California. Honestly, who the hell do they belong too? 

When we finally ran out of gas, which always seems to happen happens when you are about 80 miles from the nearest gas station, we found King City.  We didn't getting to spend much time there but we were able to find this actual general store and meandered the dusty aisles for souvenirs. This was a true truck stop but we had the sense this was the kind of town that the Disney/Pixar movie Cars was based on. The owner was elated that we were there, showed us around, petted our dog and even threw in a free frisbee with our purchases.

What was your last road trip? 

Record Store Day at The Record Parlour...

Want to dig through crates of quality vintage records? Find music you grew up with? Discover music you never knew existed and discuss it with other music enthusiasts? The Record Parlour on Selma Avenue in the heart of Hollywood is a one-stop shop for all things music. They specialize in hunting down vinyl records, cassettes, old school turntables, and band memorabilia creating a culture of community that the neighborhood desperately needs. Attracting everyone who has a passion for the music, with over 20,000 vinyl records, vintage stereo gear and music memorabilia, the Record Parlour is quickly becoming a staple hang out for the surrounding hipster youth.

Since it opened, almost two years ago by owner Chris Honetschlaeger and manager/partner Chadwick Hemus, the store has been building a name for itself by hosting exciting in-store showcases, pop-up performance gigs, album playbacks and DJ sets to entire live performances recorded and transferred directly to vinyl onsite. Honetschlaeger has a background in vintage equipment and Hemu’s pedigree is as a vinyl curator for the original Amoeba (San Francisco)—which ensures that the sound and quality are outstanding.

Rooms and rooms and rooms filled and organized with albums...

For Record Store Day on Saturday, April 18 The Record Parlour hosted a series of events and live performances kicking off the celebration with the debut vinyl collection from the estate of philanthropist Marshall Howard. The heavily curated collection features extremely rare original finds—including Jazz, R&B, Classic Rock, Soul, Blues, Exotica and Folk. Bands that performed included Isaac Rother & The Phantoms, Lee Bob and The Truth and Big Jay McNeely & Rob Stone: Chicago Blues; and there was a book signing of Record Store Book: Fifty Legendary and Iconic Places to Discover New and Used Vinyl by author Mike E. Spitz and photographer Rebecca Villaneda.

We had a chance to sit down with Honetschlaeger to see what makes The Record Parlour tick.

M2M: How long have you been serving the community?

Honetschlaeger: We opened August 2013, so a little over a year and half. It took me four months to build. It was all offices before. I basically knocked out all the walls to keep the space open. The idea was this building has so much history being an old print shop in the 20’s. If you look around Hollywood these buildings are going away with all the development going on. We just basically came in here and reconfigured the whole joint.

M2M: What makes The Record Parlour different from other record stores?

Honetschlaeger: I don’t think we’re a record store at all. We’re a record / lifestyle store. I am not offended by the record store [title] but I just think we are bigger than that and here’s why, the three P’s: Purchase, Perform and Produce. That’s the vision here. We go past the one-dimensional place to purchase music. The second “P” stands for “place to perform music.” We built a stage and an incredible sound system. We have had little bands and big bands play here and they tell us it sounds amazing. It sounds amazing because we make it amazing. Venues operate 24/7. If a speaker goes out they can’t get to it for two weeks. I have a tech on staff, so if something goes out, it’s fixed immediately. Also, we don’t stack bands. There is only one band per night, except for today, which is special because of Record Store Day. One band per night gives the band time to hang out and sell their merchandise. If you have ever been a musician it can be pretty hectic to be rushed around. The third “P,” which we started rolling out in January, stands for “a place to produce music.’ So downstairs, right below us, is going to be our control room. So literally you come play, cut a record on our record lave, perform it that day and sell your records. Again, Purchase, Perform, Produce.

M2M: What is on your personal turntable right now?

Honetschlaeger: Well I have a five year-old daughter so nothing is ever on my turntable. I don’t know if you have kids, but it will get destroyed. [laughs] But what was on my turntable was, well like to tinker with DJ’ing. I am sort of good at it, not that I am a scratchy turntable-ist but I know how to put songs that are BPM (beats per minute) related together and that’s hard because you’re tying into the vibe of the song, or to the break of a song, or the bridge of a song. Nowadays with all these DJ’s I have to say it’s pretty easy. I mean everything is BPM or beat tracker. Back in the day all we had was vinyl. Everyone who comes here spins records. I’m talking about real records and that’s really, really hard, especially if you’re not tapping them out or matching BPM’s. But what’s on my turntable? As of right now. Rick James.

Honetschlaeger’s passion for detail and love for music is what makes The Record Parlour an undeniable epicenter. The rustic feel of open space, brick walls and exposed wood beams give the space character that is accentuated by its enthusiastically helpful staff. Whether you want to find that KISS album you had in your teen years, acquire a first pressing of Changes by David Bowie or catch a concert of local The Record Parlour is a must.

The Record Parlour owners hard at work...

THE RECORD PARLOUR is located in Cahuenga Corridor: 6408 Selma Avenue: Hollywood, CA 90028. www.therecordparlour.com

Fraudulent Charges...

"I am not saying it was you, but someone spent $100 on condoms, stool softener and nail polish at Walgreens Mr. Bates." - Bank Customer Service. 

I am a victim of fraudulent charges...for the second time in my life. I am told it happens to the best of us. Whoever said that is a dickhead though. Fraud blows. The last time this happened the bank froze my account and we set up a covert operation. I had to call from a specific number when I was at a local ATM. They could then unfreeze my account for 90 seconds so I could get some money to last me until they sent me a new card. I felt like a secret agent. Like we are about to sneak into a Swiss bank account and take them for everything they got. Then I looked at my bank statement and reality set back in.

I currently have no access to my money and I can't say that my customer service has been that stellar either. When they say they work banker's hours they weren't kidding. I wish I worked Monday through Friday 9-5. Conveniently, my fraud happened on a weekend, but don't worry, they will be working on getting my money back in a few business days...starting Monday. “Do you have any checks that you can use until we get you your new card?” My banks customer service agent asks over the phone. “Are you kidding me? It’s 2015. Who the hell even knows how to write a check? Can we just expedite me a new card and we can be done with this?” I reply. “Yes, Mr. Bates, for an additional $15 we can expedite the card and you should have it sometime early next week.” I am stunned. Yep. That sounds about right. Sure, why not. Let's do that.

Honestly though, after I got over the shock and anger of this situation, it has not been that bad. As I am currently write this I have a $1 bill in my pocket, which Jamie gave me, and have been coming up with inventive ways to pays for things. I say we bring back the bartering days. "I don't know, what do you say? I give you this nice pen in exchange for that bag of chips?" But I don't think that guy at 7-11 was amused by my offer. Apps have really helped. The Starbucks App has been great. I reload my gold card with them using my PayPal account so I have been living off a healthy diet of vanilla coffee and scones. Did you know they have a new Mini Frappuccino? What will they come up with next?

Anyone else ever go through this?

A Chat with At Our Expense...

With their passion and presence on stage, DIY band At Our Expense is a group of guys worth looking out for in the music scene.

“How are you all doing tonight?” Angel, lead singer, asks to a roar from the crowd.  The intro to “Embers,” off their album, “I’m The One Who Changed” begins, and you can feel the build up, the tension on the stage as the music collides, crashes together to form their pop punk, post-hardcore sound. Their stage presence is big, each of the six guys in their own zone, putting their all into this song, the band, and the music. I’m easily impressed with their spirit.  

At Our Expense is a group of musicians out of the San Fernando Valley. Having just released their fourth EP, Awake, they’ve come a long way from the garage they started jamming in, in the spring of ’07.

I got to sit down with three of the guys: Angel Carmona (vocals), Andres Argueta (vocals), and Danny Santamaria (guitar) to discuss everything from their future goals to their dedication to music. The great thing about them is that right off the bat, when asked about their biggest accomplishments, they don’t hesitate in saying that it would have to be sticking together for the last eight years.

JE: What would you say are your biggest accomplishments as a band?

DS: Sticking together for eight years

AC: San Fernando Battle of the Bands. And we’ve been on two tours and two smaller ones. 

JE: Why do you guys make music?

AC: We’re all into music, we’re all music lovers. That’s why we do it. 

AA: And hanging out with your friends at the same time. 

AC: Playing live is the ultimate high. To sum it up we’re just a bunch of dedicated people who – we share the same passion. Music’s our thing, it just happened to be that way. 

AA: I think we’d all like to leave a mark. 

JE: What’s your favorite thing about music – yours or in general?

DS: The feels. When you hear something that you emotionally connect to, or you hear someone sing about a situation that you’re going through or have been through… you just go, yeah that guy knows what’s up. 

AC: For our music, if someone digs our songs it means a lot. We wrote it and people enjoy it. When people actually take the time to remember your lyrics, it’s nice. 

JE: What do you guys like to do outside of music?

AA: We keep up with sports. 

DS: Yeah, we’re really big sports fans. 

AA: Music and sports. Going to other bands shows and listening. 

AC: Video games and… we like food. Music is the coolest thing we’ve got. 

JE: What are your goals for the future of AOE?

AC: Shows, tour, writing. Shows, tour, writing. Building up the fan base. 

DS: Yeah, we’re trying to write a full-length right now, but it really depends on the finances to take on that big recording contract. We’re DIY. 

AA: We’d like to travel to the east coast; write more, travel more. 

DS: Hopefully it becomes full-time, where we can really dedicate ourselves – getting a house, everyone living there and writing a record together.

With their DIY ideal of doing things at their expense and their strong bond, I can tell that they’ll make their goals. They are some of the most dedicated dudes I’ve had the pleasure to meet. 

2015 has been a good year so far for AOE and seems to be only getting better, with a bunch of shows under their belt, they continue to book shows locally.

Check them out soon: FaceBook.com/AtOurExpense