Monday, August 30th, 2010
Orbs hit up Bottom of the Hill last night along with Junius and Disastroid. I love Bottom of The Hill in SF because for one it is a really small venue so you are able to get up close and can see the band clearly from practically anywhere in the room.
Along the walls you will see calendar after calendar of past shows, and you can’t help but be amazed when thinking of all the bands that have rolled through within the past ten years. The likes of Cat Power, Metric, Iron & Wine, Queens of the Stone Age to name a few.
The crowd gathered near the front of the stage, faces melted after each set. All in all it was a great show with some great bands and I can’t wait to go to Bottom of the Hill again!
Orbs – Video of Orbs can be found at http://youtube.com/thebayareanative
Junius
Disastroid
Friday, August 27th, 2010
By Alex W. Graham
Orbs’ first album looks and feels like a concept album, and it’s no surprise that the group displays an ambition for the unusual. Among it’s five members, the band contains two parts “Fear Before” and one part “Between the Buried and Me.” Those familiar with the aforementioned know to expect something strange and progressive to spring forth, and “Asleep Next To Science” is no exception.
Still, this doesn’t mean Orbs is just what you’d expect. Quite the contrary. Keyboardist Ashley Ellyllon holds a significant and crucial presence on the album, providing gorgeous classical piano interludes- or wielding a more electronic and distorted synth sound, adding substance and complexity where power chords might grow stale. “A Man Of Science” showcases several sides of her playing and stands out as one of the album’s best tracks. On the next track, “Megaloblastic Madness,” Holyoak’s status as one of my favorite drummers is in full effect. His booming drums are coupled with a clever and melodic bass line that will hook listeners instantly, and the rest of the song doesn’t disappoint. Fisher’s vocals and eerie lyrics work with the song perfectly, and the overall result is – dare I say it – epic.
The songs on Asleep Next To Science are well-arranged, and several are connected by interludes or soft ambient melodies. The album flows together and retains it’s cohesion. This is one of those albums you’re just better off to take in as a whole and not in bits and pieces. With lengthy tracks like “Eclipsical”, it rewards a patient listener, the way any good progressive or concept album should. Patience, you will need though, as almost every song is more than five minutes long, with “People Will Read Again” clocking in at over ten minutes and “Eclipsical” at around fourteen.
Although it has it’s heavy sections, the album is at it’s best when it dwells in the realm of the weirdly melodic and flirts with spacier textures. A valiant first effort by a band populated of diverse members, I say anyone should give this album a listen with an open-mind, because it’s ambitious and original enough that it deserves a go.
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sunbeamrd
Bandcamp: http://sunbeamrd.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sunbeamrd
What’s the origin of the band name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Clive: In our hometown there is a street called “Sunbeam Rd.” Many of the street names in the area were based off of galaxies or something astronomical, because the town was supposed to be the next big NASA town. That didn’t end up happening, though.
Harry: The first night we played I had this dream where I was on a neighborhood street. I was walking down the street and I saw an open garage with a band playing inside and Nina Simone was singing for them. I went in and listened while they played. After they finished a song Nina turned to me and said “Do you know why my voice sounds the way it does?” I shook my head and then she took her microphone off the stand and showed it to me. The mic was gold and shiny almost like it had one of those 70′s starcross lens filters on it. The brand was called Sunbeam Rd. like the name of a street. Nina then looked me dead in the eyes and said “It’s all about the beats”
I awoke perplexed but I really didn’t think much of it. The next day when we were trying to come up with band names I started looking at maps of the town where Trevor, Clive, and I grew up and I saw a street called Sunbeam Rd. It was kinda spooky, it seemed like some sort of sign and it fit the band well. So we decided to name the band after it.
How long have you been all been playing? Self-taught?
Clive: I have been playing instruments since I was a little kid, but picked up drums in 8th grade and taught myself.
Trevor: I played piano growing up, but started learning electric bass in high school. I learned a lot from observing the way others played music, intently. However, I have always been more interested in the formation of a song within a group rather than an individual’s prowess or chops on their instrument.
Harry: I started out playing piano, but I really wanted to play guitar the whole time because guitars are badass. When I was young I really wanted to learn how to do that finger-tapping solo thing. I thought it sounded awesome. I never really figured it out. It took me a really long time to figure out how to write songs and play my instrument, I didn’t really figure any of that stuff out until I started playing in Open Sonic Youth-esque tunings. I started playing bass much later, I was listening to a lot of New Order and realized just how much you could do with it. Peter Hook is a pretty amazing dude. I start writing most of my songs with bass nowadays.
Who are your major influences? Any major comparisons to certain bands that your music may receive?
Clive: Influences: wu-tang clan, beach boys, thelonious monk, caetano veloso, jim henson
Trevor: l believe I was strongly influenced by the music I would tape record off of the radio when I was a kid.. lots of oldies, and later, the alternative rock that hit the waves in the 90′s. The first band I remember getting really into was Blur, by winning their CD off of a Santa Barbara radio station 97.5 KHTY. Is it just me or was everyone from our generation obsessed with the Batman Forever soundtrack? That had a big musical influence on me…
Harry: My influences generally include Sonic Youth, Wire, Giorgio Moroder, Ghostface & Raekwon,Can, New Order and Dario Argento.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet? When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Trevor: Well l’ve know Clive, my brother, for 21 years… haha. and Harrison I met while in my first science class of my high school career. We were randomly assigned as lab partners to draw illustrations of the classroom’s safety equipment. We all met Cody around the same time, as he is the librarian where the rest of us went to college.
What can you tell me about your instruments? What made you choose the instruments you have now?
Clive: When I was in high school I had a drum kit that was originally purchased from Sam’s Club and that just wasn’t working out. So I fundraised enough to buy the drums I currently own. I wanted big and loud drums, and that is what I got.
Trevor: I’ve just made the best out of what I can get my hands on. I like finding unique or generic brand instruments for cheap.. My favorite find has been a 1960′s Kay Archtop acoustic at a pawn shop in Salinas. Also, we use a disguised & transformed Squier bass that we picked up at a yard sale on-stage.
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues in the Bay Area? Anyone I should talk or speak to so that their venue/open mic/project can receive more exposure? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Trevor: One of the places we’ve enjoyed playing is the Li Po Lounge in China town. Its great if you have a bunch of friends and want to get sweaty in a former opium den… The next show is at the Rock Make Festival in the Mission on Sunday Aug. 22nd. 1pm.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
Clive:
Radio Dept. – Clinging to a scheme
Caetano Veloso – Irene
Autolux – Transit Transit
Van Dyke Parks – Song Cycle
Sun Ra – the night of the purple moon
Secos & Molhados – Secos & Molhados
Os Mutantes – Os Mutantes
Trevor:
Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
Robert Wyatt – Nothing can stop us. Absolutely love his cover of Chic’s At last I am Free
The Radha Krsna Temple London. A beautiful record produced by George Harrison in 1970.
Harry:
Comateens – s/t
Black Flag – Slip It In
Big In Japan – From Y to Z and Never Again
New Order – Republic
Curren$y – Smokee Robinson Mixtape
Lives of Angels – Elevator To Eden
Goblin – The Goblin Collection 1975-1989
Freddie Gibbs – Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers?
Clive: Neil young, Beach Boys, Kinks.
Trevor: Usually we perform all original material, but on occasion we like to play a few covers.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Clive: Everyone writes the songs. The main themes: story telling, outer space, imagination, love, humor.
Harry: I usually write songs based on the last movie I saw. I don’t like writing songs about myself. I’m boring, nobody wants to hear that shit.
Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Clive: Ancient Chinese secret
Trevor: One of us usually brings in an idea, and we’ll sort of work from an uber simple structure. Its very rare that a song will feel even remotely finished before running through all four of us. I get really excited by the limitless possibilities for a direction of a song, and how the rest of the band can interpret what I’m doing in unexpected ways.
Harry: I generally start by ripping off a really specific song while trying to put my own slight spin on it to make it sound newer. Then when I bring something to the dudes and work on it as a group it becomes a different beast entirely. It’s a pretty good system. We’re a very democratic kinda band, which works out really well.
What are some challenges you may face playing at a new venue and not knowing what the sound will be like?
Harry: Not being able to hear yourself when you’re singing sucks, it gets really hard to tell if you are singing in the right key. That happens a lot.
What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Trevor: We have set times for practice every week, sometimes its really hard for all of us to be there at the same time, so we either skip practice or one or some of us use the space for random practice or experiments.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Trevor: In the beginning a lot of the songs felt very structured and resolved, because we were just getting used to playing music in a band again. I think we’re more comfortable now building in a certain looseness to the songs, and improvisational aspects that weren’t really there before.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Harry: Getting started is always the most challenging thing. It can be difficult finding like-minded bands to play with, but I feel like we’ve made friends with some really great people in really great bands. It just helps to have a network of people that you respect that are all willing to help each other out and down to make things happen.
What’s the ultimate direction for the band?
Clive: We’re goin’ to Disneyland!
Trevor: We wanna do a video with Hype Williams.
Harry: Getting Kanye to follow us on twitter.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Harry: Hit your guitars with sticks.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
Clive: Neil Young, Sun Ra, Madonna, and Mark Mothersbaugh… because they all did something original and with gusto
Trevor: Sonic Youthers, George Harrison, Neil Young, Greg Saunier, & Leonard Cohen.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Harry: Thanks Mom & Dad.
Trevor: Thanks to anyone who has compromised any of their hearing abilities through out the years!
What does music mean to you?
Clive: Music means many things. Music has made us friends. Music has helped us get to sleep at night. Music has helped us get through the most arduous of tasks. Music is just like another limb, perhaps an invisible one.
Any last words?
Clive: Hi , mom!
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Myspace: http://myspace.com/seaofbees
Twitter: http://twitter.com/seaofbees
What’s the origin of the band name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Well? I played in my hometown Sacto, California and I would usually do a lot of house shows.. and for a good time I would call myself SEA OF BEERZ. But it was only because my friends and I were just having a nice time. I was in a band at the time called Find Me Fighting Them for realz so SEA OF BEES wasn’t something I was totally ready to focus on.
How long have you been playing? Self-taught?
Several Yrs, to this day.. Thank You, Self Taught.. I mean I am no Van Halen or any of that sort of shit, I have never been really into covering songs and learning that way. I learned by just listening and watching. I learned my first song when I was 16 it was Forth Figure who was a local band. “oh my God You turned your eyes.” Steph this girl sang it and her brother played acoustic I wanted to be that good someday.. so I tried.
Who are your major influences? Any major comparisons to certain bands that your music may receive?
Oh god I love Jeremy Enigk, I heard of him through my old best friend at the time, her boyfriend was real into him. So I fell in love with Enigks passion and fire in his voice. He is like a mystic to me. I get Kate Bush dunno her.. uh portishead dunno them, some other people I just don’t no.. kinda don’t care.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet? When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Well? I just started playing with this girl and now once in awhile a band. I met James Neil the drummer through my producer and friend John Baccigalupppi from (TAPE OP). James came in on last minute days for 2 hours and did fast one to two take tracks pretty rad dude.. he’s a machine!
Bryce is my friend who works with John Baccigaluppi he makes “THE BRYCE TUBE AMPS.” We became good friends and he volunteered to help out.
Amber was a sweet meet.. John heard about her through some friends and she sang in a band called “Spider Silk Dress.” John thought it would be awesome to have her help out.. She was perfect! Now we are like doing the duo thing.. Experimenting!
FRIENDZZZZZZ.
What can you tell me about your instruments? What made you choose the instruments you have now?
Experimenting, John would let me record my skeletons of the songs then we would just use most things we were curious about. Like John would suggest things and I would try them and we would work them out dynamically on the songs… PRETTY AWESOME TO TRY NEW THINGS!!!
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues in the Bay Area?
I dunno so many places already… Plus I forget so quickly..
Uh.. Bottom of the hill.
the woods in oregon.. uh
thats all i remember :: ) for now.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
Beach House
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Sex, drugs, Love, alcohol.
What inspired you to write “Wizbot”?
Oh love and not getting what you want.. or feeling you will never be happy cause you cant have it, cause you were told it was wrong? yes this.
What inspired you to write “Gnomes”?
My friends Jo and Alexa they are like my muses. they are fairy tale creaturez.
Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Experiences. life.. love. things above.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music?
I’ve learned what I want and don’t want. DYNAMICS.
What has been your biggest challenge as a musician?
Getting over myself.
What are your future plans for your music?
Helping people and standing up for what I love and believe in. Live life and inspire.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Don’t try so fucking hard and do what you love. Be honest, be true… just be yourself.
READ TAPE OP!! THEIRS SOME COOL SHIT IN THERE.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
TAPE OP AND CROSSBILL RECORDS AND RIOT ACT MEDIA!!!!!!
Any last words?
I love kitties.
Friday, August 20th, 2010
By Brittany Coleman
After spending a nice weekend in Houston, Texas with her family, Chauntelle DuPree from Eisley spared a few moments to tell me about her love of art.
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chauntelle_art
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chauntelled
When did you start painting and sketching?
I’m the oldest of six kids and we never had enough money for professional lessons, though I was able to take a few small classes from a nice woman here in my town for a couple of months. I still basically taught myself how to draw, though. I set it aside for a good 8 years when I began playing guitar for the band. I just recently got back into doing art.
What are your favorite mediums to use? Paints, charcoals, pencils, pens?
I mainly sketched while growing up. But my favorite medium right now is acrylic paints. I also like to use other things such as pencils, charcoals and watercolors.
How do you choose which medium you’ll use?
I take requests, so whatever the person requests is what I’ll use.
What are your favorite scenes to draw?
I’m obsessed with Disney, so I really love to draw people and cartoons. I also love trees, ships and anything that’s sci-fi, so I try to incorporate those as well.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced with your art?
Well since I wasn’t professionally trained, I’ve tired to overcome my insecurities. It’s hard not to compare myself to other artists. Also, my dad is a graphic designer and he gives me tips all the time, and I love it because I hold his artistic opinions really high.
What inspired you to paint “Transcend the Red Moon”?
Books by C.S. Lewis inspired me to draw the trees like an aisle going down the center. And at the time, I had been reading the sci-fi novel Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. The person that requested the painting had no style preference. So a lot of that painting’s design is inspired from those books.
What inspired you to draw “Boy Under the Stars”?
Before we got married, my husband said he wanted a piece of art with stars and trees and a boy. So I decided to paint this for him for his birthday.
Do you listen to music when you draw?
I’m almost always listening to music. It’s such a huge part of my life! When I’m painting or sketching I have to have music playing or I feel restricted, creatively. I find that it really inspires me and even motivates me!
With the success from your band, how do you find time to draw?
I’ve had a lot of downtime lately. Currently, the band is in a legal struggle with Warner Brothers (our x record label). We’re trying to get them to release our music to us so we can get back on the road with these new songs. Until then, doing art at home is really helping me cope with all that frustration.
Has there been anyone in your personal life who has influenced your art?
My Dad has always inspired me, since he’s a very talented graphic designer. But my sister Sherri has also truly inspired me. Sherri draws a lot of ink drawings and sells them, and she would always say to me, “I never know why you quit, you were so good!”
Are you currently working on any paintings/drawings, or a series of drawings?
Actually, my sister Sherri and I are both collaborating our art on some custom electric guitars that my husband Todd is building. He’s a very talented luthie. My band plays all his, ‘LaRose’, guitars. We’re excited to see people’s reaction to these unique instruments!
I just finished the acrylic painting with the strange grey tree and orange moons over the ocean, for someone this week. I basically just draw whatever people ask me too. I imagine that I’ll do my own series someday as well.
Would you ever consider making art a part of your career?
If there is more of a demand, then yes, I’ll pursue an artistic career. But right now I’m just testing out the waters and having fun with it.
Who is your favorite artist/painter?
Norman Rockwell is definitely one of my all time favorites! I also like Van Gogh and all the colors he used.
What is your favorite piece of art that you’ve created? Why is it your favorite?
My favorite piece is a drawing of a little girl I drew when I was 14. The little girl is holding a flower in her hand and blowing it. When I had my daughter, I noticed that the picture looks just like my daughter.
