pronoun: there's no one new around you

By Robin Ervolina
She’s just a heartbroken girl in her shitty apartment in Brooklyn.
Not my words. No hate. I’m quoting Alyse Vellturo of pronoun, and I’m referring to the four-song EP there’s no one new around you. I love a little emotive expression, so with the visual of a lonely, broken girl penning and recording in the corner of a shoddy room, I push play.
The intrigue that ensues is delightful. I can’t quite genre pin-point it. Opening track "a million other things" is pop flavored, but it's not pop. Carefully placed lyrical recitations drive home pertinent messages, which are many in this first track alone. Catchy and dreary, this has cross-genre appeal with its 80s euro-pop influence and low raspy vocals. "til your legs give up" opens with a space rock intro, and Vellturo's vocals call to mind an early Paula Cole. Her emotive presentation of complex emotions ease the listener toward a transcendent journey to a destination of their choosing.
I have to love "just cause you can't" just because I can. This Jon Hughes throwback tune, had it been released a few decades ago, would have been the Kleenex-endorsed finale underscoring the moment when Boy realizes he loves Girl. This is deliciously ironic as it’s not a love song at all, but rather an introspective conversation about a relationship that is purely one-sided.
there's no one new around you did its job introducing pronoun, but did nothing to help me box up and label her "indie" or "alt" or "pop." Thank God. I’m excited to say this is not the first genre-defying CD that’s hit my desk this year, but none have elicited more curiosity than pronoun.
Check out there's no one new around you, streaming on Spotify now.

ICYMI: Sixlight's "Sick Again"

By Robin Ervolina
Ignore the fact that they're hot.
Ignore the fact that they’re Marines.
Okay, I said ignore the fact that they’re …
Let’s start over. Go on and watch the video. I’ll wait.

Rock quintet Sixlight released this gem of a video for their song “Sick Again” in January of this year, and I’m featuring them as an ICYMI because sweeping this North Carolina powerhouse under the rug is not only stupid, it’s dangerous. I mentioned three of the five of them are marines, yes? Okay, sorry, where was I?
All kidding aside, this is an impressive run at the rock world by a fairly new outfit. Formed in 2014, Sixlight has all the polish of a band that has played together far longer, and all the talent most of those bands wish they collectively possessed. Vocalist Nick Tekampe sounds like he was raised behind a mic, and his team of merry bandmates lay the rhythm for his rhyme. Of the “Sick Again” video, vocalist Tekampe says,

The concept behind 'Sick Again' was to put into words the mental struggle of addiction to an abusive relationship or substance. The lyrics describe the feeling of relapsing into the same destructive habits you know are killing you, but enjoying the high and giving in to temptation just to ease the pain. Everyone struggles with right and wrong when finding themselves and we keep making the same crippling choices over and over. 'Sick Again' is the hard hitting dark anthem for anyone who has ever felt like a slave to addiction.

“Sick Again” was mixed and mastered by Kile Odell of Failure Anthem. This is also worth noting. I probably should have started with that, but I got distracted. Sue me.
"Sick Again" is available to purchase on iTunes and all other online music retailers.

One Okay Rock: Ambitions

Written by Robin Ervolina
Japanese rockers One Okay Rock, released their 8th full length album, the aptly titled Ambitions, early this year. Dive in and listen with intrigue to the instrumental opening, then stick around for the haunting intro to track two, "Bombs Away." Once Taka's pristine vocals kick in, it's obvious why One Okay Rock has been selling out concerts for over a decade, and why Alternative Press awarded them 2016's Best International Band.
One Okay Rock chose their name based on the hour they convened for practice. Since money was scarce and rehearsal space costly, they got their jam on at 1 o’clock in the morning when studio time was cheaper. In Japanese, there is no distinction between the sounds made by the English letters L and R, so pronunciation in English is One O’Crock as opposed to One O’Clock. Eventually, One O’Crock morphed to One Ok Rock, and these young frugal kids from Japan went on to become a high school band success story.
One Okay Rock saw a steady climb to the top of Japanese charts, selling out venues and eventually touring Europe and America. In 2014, they played Knotfest in Japan and the U.S, as well as taking stages at Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio and Vans Warped Tour nationwide. Along the way, they have altered their sound from Japanese rock, to post-hardcore, to pop rock with an edge. This fresh, bright sound will distinguish them from the masses if they don’t lose sight of the uniqueness evident in the 90% of Ambitions.  
As mentioned, the first two tracks feature gorgeous instrumentals, but the melodies and ear worms are just as compelling. While I could continually sing the praises of Taka, it’s not the vocals that make OOR stand out. Their complex compositions and choice of instruments elevate them above their contemporaries. I adore the anthemic “We Are" and swoon over "Jaded," featuring Alex Gaskgarth (the version released in Japan features Avril Lavigne). In fact, the first seven tracks are catchy and inspiring, but they lost me with "American Girls." Why such a campy tune was squeezed onto a 14-song LP is a mystery to me. It’s got a great melody and a fun delivery, but a song like this could kill their potential in the adult market. It's blatantly formulaic and I hope their label isn't trying to pigeon-hole them, because One Okay Rock deserves a much bigger platform than as a boy band.
The rest of Ambitions goes off without a hitch, and I soon forgot the aforementioned hiccup. “Bon Voyage” and "Start Again" show the evolving promise of this band, and “Take What You Want” (featuring 5 Seconds of Summer) closes out the LP with one incredible, long-held, note by Taka. It's the kind of ending that makes you want to start the CD over, and you should. In total, I have nothing but praise for Ambitions and One OK Rock; the band is unique and, judging by their pedigree and resume, limitless. 
Ambitions is available for download at iTunes, and at all music retailers now.
One Okay Rock is:
Vocal: Taka
Guitar: Toru
Bass: Ryota
Drums: Tomoya
Credits:
http://www.jame-world.com/uk/articles-4982-interview-with-one-ok-rock-in-tokyo.html

 

In Your Memory at Baltimore Soundstage - 3/24/17

[caption id="attachment_16202" align="aligncenter" width="6016"] In Your Memory at Baltimore Soundstage[/caption]
Written and photographed by Robin Ervolina for Shockwave Magazine
One of THE BEST things about my job is discovering new music. One of my favorite avenues for that perk is a live performance by the opening act(s). Even though I flew up to Baltimore to cover Being As An Ocean, I was first treated to my first performance by the Washington DC band In Your Memory. This five-piece, self-described "sloppy vicious rock band" formed in 2012, tweaked and solidified their lineup, and went full steam ahead into touring and cultivating fans in the tri-state area and beyond. On his relationship with the Baltimore music scene, lead vocalist Omar Veras had this to say:

We are from the DC area and luckily have had the great fortune of building an amazing follower base here, but it was Baltimore who groomed us for it all. When we first started playing live, many venues/promoters took a chance with us. This helped us build the confidence needed to become the band that we are today in my opinion.

From the outside looking in, it wasn't hard to see the history and bond between Baltimore and IYM. The crowd received them enthusiastically, and the energy exuding from the stage was not harnessed in the least. The music moves through them, but isn't contained by them, surging through their instruments and electrifying everyone in attendance. I shot my three from the pit and got out, made my way to the back, and observed. The audience was a mixture of head banging, body slamming, and dancing, with the best of the dancers being Veras' young daughter near the soundboard. 
The music of In Your Memory feels boundless. Post hardcore. Sloppy vicious. I don't know. I sense a freedom to create whatever genre, mood, or moment they desire. Take for example their latest release, After Dark Sessions (streaming now at bandcamp). Described as "an Indie/Folksy rendition of what post hardcore feels like to IYM," it is a glorious acoustic masterpiece of message and emotion. I hate to make the comparison to other bands, but listening to After Dark Sessions raises the hair on the back of my neck in the same way Sevendust's Time Travelers & Bonfires did the first time I heard it. To see them live, full of energy and reckless delivery, makes me appreciate, all the more, the calculated restraint in Veras' delivery on this, their newest EP. I'm also aware that I'll be making more trips to the tri-state because as they've done for years, In Your Memory has gained a new fan. 
You can follow them on their official In Your Memory Facebook page and learn more about them at iymoffical.com. Their newest release After Dark Sessions is also available on iTunes. 
In Your Memory is:
Omar Veras - Vocals
Alex Scott - Guitar
Casey Reid - Guitar
Troy Humphrey - Bass
Jonathan Shephard - Drums

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Enter Shikari at Baltimore Soundstage - 3/24/17

[caption id="attachment_16269" align="aligncenter" width="4318"] Rou of Enter Shikari[/caption]
Written and photographed by Robin Ervolina for Shockwave Magazine
March 24th, 2017
Dear Diary,
How I have never listened to Enter Shikari before today is beyond me. Now that I have, I can't stop. 
Sincerely, 
Robin
I'm on a plane headed to Baltimore, MD to cover one of my favorite bands, Being As An Ocean. It occurs to me just before takeoff that I should probably cue up some songs by headliner Enter Shikari and get a little familiar with their musical stylings. This is an embarrassing admission, but I'm not going to come out of the gate acting like I've known them forever. This review comes from the newbie in the crowd, the girl with the camera strapped around her neck and the grin glued on her face. This write-up comes to you from the photojournalist who downloaded one CD pre-flight, and the rest of the catalogue upon landing. Yes, I iTune Subscription'd the crap out of Enter Shikari.
I've now had several hours to listen to most of their songs, and annoy my friends and family with multiple enthusiastic "listen to this" links via Facebook and text. I'm primed, pumped, and ready to experience a new favorite band for the first time. The photographer to my left is too, but he's not new. He tells me he's seen dozens of Enter Shikari concerts. I ask what to expect. Jump shots? Crazy lighting? Righteous riffs? He says I should expect to fall in love.
I do, of course, but you knew that. The stage goes dark, and a strange cylindrical object illuminates stage left. Chris Batten (bass) touches it and the lights change, eerie sounds emerge, and this wizardly object starts off a nearly 20-song setlist. A majority of the songs come from 2007's Take to the Skies, but fans are also treated to a few songs from their last release, 2015's The Mindsweep. There is some crazy frenetic energy bursting from lead vocalist Roughton "Rou" Reynolds. I adore watching him move around the stage, never able to predict where he's going, what he's thinking, or what he's going to do next. I'm honestly relieved when my time with the lens is over. I scurry out of the photo pit to enjoy the show.
My observations as a new fan are pretty simple. This UK outfit is sincere, unconstrained, and display ridiculous intelligence through their lyrics and instrumentation. Fans are literally launching themselves into the air, riding their peers over the rail, only to be embraced by the strong arms of Soundstage security ... only to return again, feet in the air, one song later. The fans on the rail know every word. The fans to my left know every word. When "Anesthetist" is up to bat, I lose my shit, reverently, but still. I know this one, having played it multiple times since takeoff. I sing the chorus at the top of my lungs. This endears me to a girl who tells me to get ready for the encore, when the entire crowd chants a line from "Stand Your Ground; This is Ancient Land." She whispers it like a secret, and I'm inducted into the fold. When that moment comes, the room is silent, and one voice starts the recitation.
"And still we will be here standing like statues. And still we will be here standing like statues."
It sends chills down my spine, and I actually start to cry. It's like Times Square on NYE after the ball drops and everyone sings "Imagine" in one accord. The unity is thrilling and humbling. As much as I'm drowning in the emotion, I'm instantly buoyant when they return to the stage for a three-song encore. When the lights come up and the music ends, it's easy to understand why Enter Shikari fans have been falling in love with them since 1999. My only wish is that I'd know them sooner, so I could love them longer.

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Enter Shikari is:
Rou - Vox/Electronics
Chris - Bass/Vox
Rory - Guitar/Backing Vox
Rob - Drums/Backing Vox

Palisades: Palisades (Self-Titled)

By Robin Ervolina

palisade

[pal-uh-seyd]

noun

1. any of a number of pales or stakes pointed at the top and set firmly in the ground in a close row with others to form a defense.

2. the line of cliffs in NE New Jersey and SE New York extending along the W bank of the lower Hudson River.

 

Where has Palisades been all my life? This New Jersey outfit described as electronicore (a blending of post hardcore, metalcore, and electronica) was formed in 2011 and have three CDs under their belt, but it wasn’t until the release of their self-titled studio album Palisades in January of 2017 that I discovered them. From the onset of the first track I am enveloped. For a new Palisades fan, “Aggression” delivers everything I need to know about their style and sound. The instrumentation is complex and the vocals are alternately sweet and searing. The wall of sound is so full. I close my eyes and it seeps into all the corners, filling me with mood and melody. It’s intensely experiential, and that’s without headphones. Once I plug into it, it’s down the beautifully orchestrated rabbit hole I go.
“Cold Heart” punches the phrase “requisite ballad” in the gut. It captures the feeling of hating someone you love / loving someone you hate with lyrics like “I wanna hate you, but it’s too much” and “Is it cold in your heart, are the strings getting twisted?” I'm noting throughout that Palisades lyrics are direct.  There’s no “feels like,” no “I’m like a something.” Palisades doesn't do simile; they assault you with visceral lyrical story telling.
“Fall” has all the makings of a radio smash hit and could easily pull Palisades mainstream. This catchy melody hosts more original and finely crafted lyrics about the moment an attraction calls for something deeper.

So can we fall and never once look back?
Cause baby I'm not looking for a "ten night stand"
I wanna make this the start of something
So can you say that you want it all?

If you find yourself craving the feeling of a requited crush, this is the song to sink into.
Another highlight is “Through Hell” with its explosive power guitars, skin-shredding drums, and viper-spitting lyrics. Louis Miceli's voice burrows so deep it’s intoxicating, and his screams sear you front to back. It's a good kind of burn, a purging if you will.
A criticism of Palisades has been the evolution of sound from the band’s inception to present, but I do not see that as cause for alarm or concern. That road traveled led us all to this palisade where we can enjoy a little fortified communion with like minds and hearts. 

Palisades is:

•Louis Miceli
•Xavier Adames
•Matthew Marshall
•Graves
•Brandon Elgar
•Aaron Rosa 

 

 

 

 

Being As An Ocean at Baltimore Soundstage - 3/24/17

[caption id="attachment_16175" align="aligncenter" width="6016"] Being As An Ocean at Baltimore Soundstage[/caption]
Written and photographed by Robin Ervolina for Shockwave Magazine
Last October I was running around Champions Park in Louisville, KY trying to capture as many bands with my camera as possible. With the usual killer Louder Than Life line up, the last thing I needed was to try to squeeze in a band I'd didn't know, but I kept hearing over and over, "Don't miss Being As An Ocean!" In the literal sense of the word, I was plowed over by two kids racing to the stage an hour before the performance to ensure they were right on the rail. As my daughter (and music guru) helped dust me off, she said, "I told you, they're kind of a big deal." So I cleaned my lens, soothed my wounded ego with a warm whiskey, then headed to the small side stage to see what the fuss was about.
The rest, as it's so fun to say, is history. Enthralled by the communion between lead vocalist Joel Quartuccio and the crowd, I barely shot a thing, and wasn't sorry in the least as I traded images for memories. When Being as an Ocean announced a tour with Enter Shikari, I told everyone I was flying up to Baltimore for a chance to re-do the photo shoot. The truth of the matter is, I made the trip because I needed to experience them again, to see if the mystical aura surrounding their performance, capturing their fans, and spellbinding new observers, was a fluke.
So, it wasn't.
As the slide show to follow will attest, capturing Quartuccio on camera is a challenge because the man does not wish to stay on stage, nor does he pay attention to anything but his fans. His passionate delivery is absolutely unique. Many vocalists are enthusiastic about their lyrics, and they sing or recite with conviction. That's common, but that's not what I'm talking about. There is something special about Quartuccio's connection to his prose and his people. If you know the words to any of his songs, he will seek you out and thrust his mic in your face. If you recite his poetry along with him, you will find yourself forehead to forehead, joining in the sentiment, screaming out the message. Lots of fans love lots of bands, but I've never seen a band more in love with their fans than Being As An Ocean.
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Being As An Ocean is:
Joel Quartuccio
Tyler Ross
Ralph Sica
Michael McGough
Jesse Shelley