Friday, September 24th, 2010
Photo by Ariana Perez
By Brittany Coleman
The Limousines, led by singer/songwriter Eric Victorino and instrumental genius Giovanni Giusti have taken the electro-pop scene by storm. True Bay Area natives, Eric Victorino was born and raised in Campbell, CA., and Gio Giusti was raised in Livermore, CA. Originally a part of the alternative rock band Strata (formed in 2001), Victorino decided to go in a different direction with his music. After connecting with Giusti and test-driving their pop artistic endeavors, the fire and passion of The Limousines was thence born. After a busy week in New York, Eric took a few minutes to tell me more about the band..
Did your parents ever wish you to be a doctor or lawyer, something else rather than a musician?
“My mom never cared what I did or what I wanted to be when I grew up, as long as I was happy. We were dirt poor and I wasn’t a great student, so college was never an option.”
I see, so when did you begin writing songs?
“I wrote my first lyrics when I was 15 – I wasn’t in a band yet but I had a poem with a melody in mind.”
Wow that’s amazing, so what influenced you to start writing?
“I don’t know, but I’ve been writing since I could remember, I won writing contests in elementary school. I’ve always seen the value in expressing ideas on paper.”
And do you play any instruments as well, or is that strictly Gio’s department?
“I have been playing guitar since I was a kid but I’ve never progressed past a certain really low level. I play just well enough to use the guitar to help come up with melodies and lines, but Gio handles almost everything on the music end of Limos.”
Gotcha. So you used to be in Strata yeh? What made you create the Limousines?
“I spent the last half of my time with those guys drifting away from that style of music, it wouldn’t have been easy or fair to try and get them to make the kind of music I wanted to make, so the best thing for all of us was for me to split. I hear they’re doing really well without me, so that’s great.”
How did you meet Gio? And then decide you could work so well together?
“Our collaboration came from a mutual respect for each other’s music – friendship came afterwards.”
So how is your creative process? Do you guys fight like siblings, or is it pretty smooth sailing?
“Haha, no – we wouldn’t be doing this if the creative process wasn’t fun. We bounce ideas around but we both respect each other too much to get into fights about music. It’s always easy in the studio because the heavy lifting is already done by the time we put our two halves together. I think we’re both really tough on ourselves and we like to build ideas in private, then when our ideas are ready we squish them together.”
Very cool, so who are you biggest musical influences?
“Mine have always been songwriters with a story to tell. Classic stuff like Leonard Cohen and John Lennon, Dylan, Cat Stevens, but new stuff too – Girls, Bright Eyes, Cursive… I sort of feel drawn to singers who say more. We both listen to a lot of remixes and instrumental s**t too though.”
From your own original music, which is your favorite song, and why?
“My favorite song is The Future… because it’s true.”
Have you had any challenges as a band?
“Nope. Everything has been effortless and smooth from day one to this very minute.
Kidding.
Of course we have, but all of our challenges have been related to industry scumbags trying to make money off of us when we don’t even make any money.”
So true..so where do you see your band in 5 years?
“I don’t think ahead. Probably my biggest flaw.”
Well what do you want your music to accomplish?
“Of course I want it to make me say ‘F**k you money,’ so I never have to do anything I don’t wanna do ever again. But that’s pretty childish isn’t it? Not to mention unrealistic – the only thing that’s really under our control is whether we are proud of the music we make…”
Beautiful – ok any last words?
“Relax, this won’t hurt…” – Hunter S. Thompson
You can find The Limousines on the following sites:
Myspace http://www.myspace.com/thelimousines
Twitter http://twitter.com/TheLimousines
FB Group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53711211632&ref=ts
Friday, September 24th, 2010
We had the chance to catch up with Ashley Ellyllon of Orbs recently and she talks about their imaginative song titles, plans for the future and some of her favorite artists.
By Ruben Tamayo
How did everyone meet?
Dan was the only one that I knew, which was through an email I had sent to Between The Buried and Me about session work. Dan knew Adam and Goose from a previous tour that BTBAM had done with Fear Before. They all became good friends on the tour and wanted to work together on ORBS.
How did ORBS start?
ORBS started when I sent that email to Between The Buried and Me offering session work for keys. They weren’t looking for anyone, but Dan listened to my work and said that he would like to start something new with me, and it took off full blast from there!!
What’s the origin of the band name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Naming ORBS was a very easy and natural process. There is a moment in the first song on the album, “Sayer of the Law”, where everything cuts out and the piano goes into this dreamy interlude. We always said this part sounded like an orb floating through outer space. This vision continued and elaborated, until we just started calling the project ORBS.
Who writes your songs?
Dan and I wrote all the music and then Adam added his vocals. Next album though we want everyone to be involved!
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Adam writes about space, nature, the animal kingdom, and how humans are destructive too all of these things. He is incredibly creative, so I’m sure he will continue to write about new topics!
How long did the band work on the album?
It took only about three months to complete all of the music, and then Adam sporadically would write all the vocals up until we were in the studio.
How did you guys come up with such awesome track names?
The track names are all the result of our front man Adam, who has the wildest imagination of anyone I have ever known.
How long have you all been playing? Self-taught?
I have been playing since I was six years old, and I think the rest of the guys probably started around 10 or 12 years old. Music has been a huge part of our lives since childhood.
What instruments does everybody use?
Not sure what all the other guys use, but I use a Roland Juno D, and Nord lead, the Yamaha S90, and Trillion and Omnisphere samples.
What are some challenges you may face playing at a new venue and not knowing what the sound will be like?
This tour we just completed was with mostly smaller venues, which is nice to have a more intimate experience with the audience but can be tricky with sound. The hardest thing is for Adam and myself, who have to rely on monitors on stage to hear the vocals and keyboards. If there are no monitors or weak monitors, or if the person doing sound is not turning up your monitors loud enough, I could go through a whole show without hearing a single note I play. Most of the times it’s fine, but even when it isrough – you still have to rock!
What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Having to work around all of our schedules can be challenging. We have three other bands that tour regularly, so sometimes it is hard to find that open window. Patience is key.
What’s the ultimate direction for the band?
We just want to continue to challenge ourselves creatively, make records and play them for the world. This is a regular band, not a side project!
Do you all plan to make more albums as ORBS?
Yes, see above!
Which famous musicians do you admire?
Muse, Cave In, Blonde Redhead, Radiohead, Sigur Ros are my favorites.
What does music mean to each of you?
Aside from our loved ones, music is the most important thing to us. It is our passion, and having that creative outlet is a necessity. I can’t really imagine life without it.
Any last words?
I hope that everyone can get lost in the record and find inspiration in our spacey world!
Friday, September 24th, 2010
By Brittany Coleman
Post apocalyptic grunge pop, complete with the occasional guttural hardcore metal yell. Not to forget the ravings and ragged expressions of a man in deep angst. These are the things that I’m reminded of whilst listening to the Klaxons’ newly released Surfing the Void. Highly reminiscent of the bands earlier tracks, yet with a much darker vibe, Surfing the Void takes me back to the moment when I sat outside of an old music venue begrudgingly waiting for my friends to come out. Annoyed and irritated that the bands I had just spent my hard earned $10 bucks on played extremely unsatisfactorily, and the fact that a debased 17 year old was peeing in a bush two car lengths over, only purged me further into my infuriating delirium. So what did I do? I blasted the Klaxons. And why did I blast the Klaxons in my little car? Because the Klaxons were significantly better than that “rock band wannabe” band. And they still are. The Twin Flames track very much so mirrors my beloved Golden Skans track from the band’s 2007 debut album. With lyrics like “Speed’s set to PSI, to cipher, reset to PSI, to cypher speed,” making you want to phone home to the mother ship and resurrect Data’s creator from his blissful sleep, Cypherspeed has a sort of super-ubiquitous sound that can only be described as futuristic. It must be said that my most favorite track on the album is Echoes. An ode to everything fine and good that makes the Klaxons so epic. A tune that can be danced to, a catchy chorus that you won’t help but sing a-long to, and a stirring guitar/base riff that is truly stirring. The Klaxons must have been thinking of nebulas, galaxies, and red dwarfs when they wrote these lyrics from Echoes, “Send out a sound for the wood between the worlds, Gently repeat as the boundaries start to swirl, Keep to the call that is twice now liminal, It’s not the same where the trails lead to the outer regions.” Keeping true to their numbing intensity and jarring drumbeats, this album will no doubt keep any grunge junkie in a state of blissful happiness. My only complaint is that the album is much too short. At the end I was left thinking, “Oh is it all done now?” But no worries. I just restarted the album again. It’s just that good.
Thursday, September 16th, 2010
Diana Gameros makes beautiful music. Folk, acoustic music with a latin vibe, I was really pleased to find that latin musicians in the Bay are alive and well! Check Diana out at myspace.com/dianagameros.
How long have you been been playing your instrument?
I started playing a little keyboard that my mom got me at a flea market when I was 5 years-old (I still have it, I keep it as a souvenir). I would make up songs and play traditional tunes by ear. I started taking piano lessons when I was 10. When I was 11 years-old I took a few guitar lessons with Julio, my neighbor, and then just learned on my own. When I was in elementary school I played in almost every event that the school had and in all of the family reunions. I continued playing piano in college but started to play guitar more often. When I was in college I joined the college’s mariachi band (yes! A mariachi band in a Michigan college) where I learned to play vihuela, a rhythm instrument similar to the guitar but much smaller and with five strings.
Who are your major influences? Are there any comparisons you receive?
I won’t name specific people. I listen to a lot of traditional ethnic music from all over the world; I’ve always been fascinated by all the different techniques and rhythms that each culture offers with its music. But I also love dreamy, spacious, minimalist modern music so I like incorporating all these elements in my music as well.
Comparisons….someone once told me I was a latin Feist.
When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music?
I don’t really have a set band. I have to recruit musicians almost every time I have a gig. I usually meet them through other friends who are also musicians.
What can you tell me about your instruments? What made you choose the instruments you have now?
I use a Takamine (electric-acoustic guitar), it’s good for now. The guy from the music store told me the electric components on this guitar were great and when I heard the quality of the sound I was content with it so I bought it! I also have a P-120 Yamaha electric piano that I use only on certain performances.
Raúl Vargas has been playing the cajón and other musical toys (mouth harp, castanets, brushes, shaker, etc) on most of my performances and when the recruiting goes well I have an upright bass player (Kenan O’Brian) and a flutist (Isaac Weiser) who also plays melodica occasionally.
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues in the Bay Area?
I have performed in all kinds of places…bart stations, parks, galleries, garages, churches, libraries, radio stations, tv stations, cafes, restaurants, houses, streets, buses. Some venues include Amnesia Bar, The Independent, Ti Couz Too, Red Poppy Art House, Bazaar Café, Make Out Room, Vortex Room, La Peña Cultural Center, Univisión 14, KPOO, Dance Mission, L’s Café, Sunrise Café, Blue Macaw, Coda Jazz Club, Hotel Utah, Pirate Cat Radio Café, Hemlocks Tavern, UC Berkeley, SF City Hall,.
I’ve also been part of MAPP (Mission Arts and Performances Project) many times. Check out their website, hthttp://www.sfmapp.com/ everyone should know about this!
My favorite venues are the Red Poppy, Vortex Room and the Make Out Room. I like small cozy places where I can see people’s faces. Verso sin esfuerzo!
Some upcoming shows: I have a live filming session/concert at BAMM TV open to the public on September 9th at 8pm (go to justin tv to view online http://www.bamm.tv/live). October 2nd at SF Public Library/Mission Branch. On October 12th I’ll be performing at the Latin Heritage Celebration at SF City Hall. October 16th at Koshland Park in SF. I also have a regular gig where I play as a soloist at RTP (Roosevelt Tamale Parlor) in the Mission District, every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9:30pm.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
Patrick Watson’s Wooden Arms; this album has become the soundtrack to my life these days, I play it e-v-e-r-y d-a-y. Brazilica!, a compilation of, well yes, brazilian music. Phllip Glass’ Naqoyqatsi-Life As War and Jürg Frey’s Streichquartett II for times when you need to detox from music with lyrics. Jon Zorn’s station on Pandora…full of surprises.
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers?
Para papa, Ligerita, Pêut être, are always in my set list. These songs are really fun to play and sing. I do play covers at my regular gig at the restaurant; they’re mainly latin tunes or anything that is in spanish.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
I write my own songs and they talk about: pigeons, distance, strangers, introspection, foreign cities, reality, color, clocks, sea, sky, fiction, walls, death, hope, sun, eyes…
Everything in my life is in a constant change so it wouldn’t surprise me if my writing style changes as well.
Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Live one moment at a time; read books, talk to strangers, look up to the sky, stare at sidewalks, kiss my lover, call the family, quiet my mind, grab a pen and a piece of paper and write about these moments; grab a musical instrument and sing what I’ve written… Voilá! Music is made!
What are some challenges you may face playing at a new venue and not knowing what the sound will be like?
Bad sound. I get pretty sensitive when sound is not the way I like it. It’s hard for me to get into my music if what I’m hearing on the monitors or other speakers is not pleasant to my ear…I guess I’m one of those picky musicians. All my love to all the sound guys, it’s a tough job!
Do you have a set time each week in which you practice?
My rehearsals are very spontaneous. I don’t have a set time because I don’t have a set band. I practice on my own and then get together with musicians a few days before a show.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music?
I’ts been a while since I first began playing, so my music has changed a lot. I used to be more methodical before and now I think I’m a little less afraid to let music flow and experiment with new things.
What has been your biggest challenge as a musician/band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Not having a band is a challenge in itself. It’s hard to find people who have time to take on a new project .
What’s the ultimate direction for the band?
No ultimates. For now… as soon as I settle on the right musicians for a band I will start recording an album.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
I need those advices myself! 
Which famous musicians do you admire?
In no particular order: Philip Glass, Café Tacvba, Jón Þór Birgisson, Kronos Quartet, Roger Waters, Esperanza Spalding, Sarah Chang among so many others.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
My biggest emotional sponsors: mamá, tía Cata, Claudio.
What does music mean to you?
Composer Philip Glass once said: “Music is a mystery and I leave it at that”. Mexican writer Octavio Paz defined mystery as “…a power or hidden virtue that doesn’t obey us; we don’t know what time or how it will manifest…” I share these views. To me, music is the most beautiful enigma.
*Any last words?
Menos face y más book.
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010
By Ruben Tamayo
I was able to have have a quick interview with singer/songwriter Sean Atkins. For those who don’t know him, he is someone you most definitely should check out.
How long have you been playing? Self-taught?
It’s weird; I started playing guitar when I was around 14, but then I quit that
and played bass in bands. I was always the bass player. As those bands grew apart
and people moved away, I started picking up the acoustic. It’s something that
doesn’t require a group… and I picked it up at a time when I couldn’t rely on
people. I am mostly self taught, I mean, people teach you little tricks along the
way…a lot of people in my family have played, so it’s not fair to say
I’m completely self taught.
Who are your major influences?
My major influences I guess would be whatever I grew up on. I had a lot of
tom petty in my life. I liked his music. I had a big, long nirvana phase…
that’s when i started really getting into music, sort of 90′s rock/grunge… then
i had a long punk phase, which led to emo, then indie, then folk…
pretty natural progression among people my age, I think.
What inspired you to make music?
I think my father and uncle inspired me a lot. They were in bands together
when I was a kid, plus I didn’t own a guitar until my uncle died. His guitars
were kind of lying around, so I picked them up.
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers?
I will play a cover here and there… mostly for fun, at open mics…
show-wise, i don’t know if there’s a song i play more than any other… it’s pretty
even.. Usually it depends on who is playing… if i don’t have extra singers,
i might stay away from a song… or if there’s no piano, etc…
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Well, I’ve gone through some pretty serious things this year… and have just now
been able to sit down and write them out, so yes, i think there will be changes
a lot of my songs have been stories about other people’s interpersonal relationships.
Others are just stories based on events… but not entirely true as they’re written.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music?
Oh sure, I was in a punk band, then a rock band, then a hardcore band… now this.
And I’ve even taken on a few other projects along the way. I’m getting the bass
ready again; I’ll be playing with a band called ‘glory glory’ this fall.
When we talked you said you didn’t want to sign to a label. Why is that?
it’s not that I wouldn’t sign with a label, I just wouldn’t want to sign to a label
that would attempt to control any aspect of what I’m doing… and it kind of seems
like a lot of labels do that.
What has been your biggest challenge as an artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
I think my biggest challenge as an artist is my self esteem. There are a lot of
insecurities exposed when you have to get in front of people and talk about your
emotions. It can be really difficult. I think I’ve made a lot of progress in the
last two years, just being more comfortable in my own skin.
What’s the ultimate direction for your music?
I don’t know yet. I think I’m still figuring that out. I don’t know if you ever
stop figuring that out.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I admire tom waits a lot… i mean, A LOT. For very many reasons. Also,
Dave Bazan, Gregory and the Hawk, Rosie Thomas, Bright Eyes… I admire them too.
What do you want your music to accomplish?
I think my music accomplishes what it’s supposed to on a small scale now.
I played a song the other day, just at an open mic with ten or so people… and I
finish, and my own cellist is crying… haha. I mean, that’s gotta count for
something.
What albums are you currently listening to and would like to recommend?
It’s funny that you asked what albums I’m currently listening to, because I was
just involved in this ’15 favorite albums’ thing… and now i’m just revisiting
old nirvana stuff, and saves the day… i’m just the wrong person to ask right now
about what’s new/ up and coming i’ve been in my “old music” bubble..
But if you don’t know the standards, how can you appreciate what’s now?
so listen to: At The Drive-In, Refused, old Bright Eyes, Sunny Day Real Estate,
old Radiohead, Neutral Milk Hotel… and currently: The Antlers, and mewithoutyou
When do you plan to come the Bay Area?
I’ve been thinking about moving to the west coast a lot lately, so maybe soon?
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
I acknowledge everyone who has ever so much as listened, or been a friend.
I don’t acknowledge that one is more important than another, but they’ve all been there
and they are all the most important.
What does music mean to you?
I don’t always know what music means to me. It’s not necessarily something I
can put into words. It’s just there, all around… and perfect for whatever moment.
It defies anyone’s ability to pin it to any kind of definition. It picks you up,
it puts you down, it lets you feel… more than anything it allows you to relate to
any feeling at any time… whether it be a funeral march, or some sweet-like-love
lyric… music can be anything, to anyone. It’s pretty neat.
Any Last Words?
I’ve got more last words than I’ll ever care to say… and none that i’d want
to have read.
