WJRR'S EarthDay Birthday Pre-gaming: A Sublime with Rome Primer

If you're not familiar with this song, oh my, the rock you live under is large!

By Robin Ervolina
That's Sublime, a hugely popular SoCal band with a tragic story. Shortly before the release of their final eponymous album Sublime, singer and founder, Bradley Nowell died of a heroine overdose. The dalmatian you see in this video was found whimpering by his side when his body was discovered. Having sobered up after the birth of his son, he succumbed to that heinous drug, leaving his wife and son, as well as his band, Bradley-less. Bandmates came together and formed various and assorted tribute acts to keep the music of Sublime together, but ultimately former drummer Bud Gaugh and current bassist Eric Wilson opted to carry on the name and sound with Rome Ramirez, under the name Sublime with Rome.
Sublime with Rome continues to play Sublime's most beloved tunes, and have recorded two albums of original music, the latest being 2015's Sirens. Carrying that chill vibe forward, this promises to be a sunny Florida treat. Check out some of their tunes below and make sure your WJRR's Earthday Birthday Celebration schedule allows time for jammin' with this ska punk / reggae rock act from The Golden State.

WJRR's EarthDay Birthday Pre-Gaming: Sing-a-long With Goodbye June (Interview from 20150

By Robin Ervolina
It's been awhile, but I'm looking forward to hanging out with Goodbye June again when they hit Orlando for WJRR's Earthday Birthday on April 22. I met them in 2015 fresh off their tour with ZZTop, and newly into my career in photojournalism. Some of my interviews that day were pretty rough, but this one was the highlight of my entire weekend, and in the top three of my portfolio.   Listen as we talk about their musical history, growing up singing in church, and getting giddy over Billy Gibbons. Don't mind when I incite an impromptu Andy Griffith alter call, completely off key.
On touring with ZZTOP:

They seemed to like our music, which is mind blowing.
There's Billy Gibbons waiting for us in his pajamas ... and he says ... 'I like your set.'

On growing up singing in church:

We grew up Pentecostal ... everybody did music in the church, or preached, one or the other or both. So at a very young age we were put on stages to do stuff, and my dad use to force me to sing solos I didn't want to sing.
Black gospel probably had a big influence in our music. That's kind of where we get the feel. That style of music moves people, and I feel like we learned that lesson from playing music in church.

Three first cousins from Indiana and Tennessee get together and make music. What ensues is glorious. Get to know the music and personality of Brandon, Landon, and Tyler of Goodbye June. I've included some of my favorite songs from their first EP Danger in the Morning and their upcoming CD Magic Valley, available for pre-order at iTunes. And here's that spotify I promised to link ...

Memphis May Fire: Interview with Matty Mullins

By Robin Ervolina
Last year I reviewed Memphis May Fire's CD This Light I Hold, and it affected me deeply. New to their music, I was overwhelmed by their lyrics, especially those dealing with chronic sadness. MMF expresses an acceptance of those emotions as part of life, and in their acceptance, there is solace. Since discovering for myself this seasoned band, I've returned to their music over and again, sometimes for a swift kick in the emotional butt, but mostly because their words match my outlook on life and their melodies make my heart sing. So of course when given the chance to chat with lead singer Matty Mullins, I eagerly engaged. Pull up a chair and feast your eyes as Matty and I discuss their upcoming performances as part of Vans Warped Tour (where he invites readers to tweet out their ideas for the set list), how to stay sane on the road (it involves food), and what pics are on his phone this very minute.
Shockwave Magazine: I’d like to start out with Vans Warped Tour! This is your fourth time as a part of the bill. What is it about Vans that keeps calling you back?
Matty Mullins: It's such an honor to be back on Warped Tour for the fourth time. We believe it's the best festival tour there is! Such an awesome opportunity to play for a diverse crowd & see all of our friends bands on a daily basis. Oh & the catering RULES! :)
You mentioned that set times for Vans are shorter this year, and you’ve asked fans for input as you start to plan your set list. Are there any songs fans are overwhelmingly requesting? Are there any songs in particular that stand out to you as obvious choices for a short live set?
What makes it so hard is that we get different song requests from everyone, but it's flattering. I LOVE short sets in the summer heat but it's just tough to pick songs when we've put out 5 albums. It's even hard to choose a set list when we play hour-long sets! We haven't decided what we're going to play yet so if you read this & wanna tweet some ideas our way please do!
I imagine being on the road a lot, your suitcases are never unpacked. If yours are like mine, there are some items that never leave it, because you never leave home without them. What’s one item you take on tour that you would be lost without, be it lucky charm or creature comfort?
I pack EVERYTHING cause I like to feel at home on the road, but some staples of mine would be... iPhone, Black Converse, On Point Pomade, AS Colour Tall Tees, & Hi-Chews (no cherry) lol
I have a lot of friends from Texas, and there’s a big ol' Texas Pride theme running through them all. Name one thing that really is bigger in Texas. 
FOOD PORTIONS! Goodness gracious. You could feed a family with one meal!
I’m a fan of Rise Records’ entire roster. I don’t think there is a single “Rise Core” band I don’t love. Any favorite label mates you’d like to introduce your fans to? 
Rise has such an impressive roster these days. It's a huge honor to be label mates with bands like Hot Water Music & Acceptance.
In that vein, we all derive inspiration from the things around us, and are influenced by them as well. What are the top played CDs on your iPad/phone? Is there a particular MMF song that we might tune into and hear the influences from your personal playlist?
I love pop music. Most people can tell when they hear our choruses. Right now I think the most played song in my iTunes is "Warrior" by Steve James (feat. LIGHTS). What a banger!
What’s the first and last photos on your phone? Please feel free to share them.
I have wayyy too many photos on my phone (13,346 to be exact). The first photo on phone is from a mag cover photo-shoot we did in 2012. The last photo is a pic of my nephew Israel lookin' crazy lol.


Your Meet and Greets are legendary for being the most fan-friendly. I get the sense this is more than MMF giving back to their fans, but that you get as much out of the interaction as they do. Is this like having family on the road everywhere you go?
You're right, we LOVE our M&G’s, and it's actually my favorite part of the day. We genuinely consider our fans to be friends, so when we hang with them we want it to be legit!
MMF fans know this, but newer fans may not be aware that you were selected as the new lead singer via a YouTube search. As Anthony has just left the band, would you consider another YouTube search for his replacement? 
Actually it was a MYSPACE search lol. We aren't doing auditions of any sort but if we did I'm sure YouTube is the way to go these days.
Do you ever go down the YouTube rabbit hole of MMF cover videos? I sort of just did, so I’m hoping I’m not alone. 
Of course! We love to see people re-creating our music in their own way. It's awesome to see all of the talent out there.
Clearly you’re all creative souls, and music is a great outlet for your creativity. What do you do, outside of music, that feeds you? Is there another hobby or outlet for self-expression when you’re not making music?
Totally! A little over a year ago I started a hair product company called On Point Pomade. I've always been passionate about grooming products & I really wanted to create something that was specific to me. I'm excited about how it turned out and you can check it out at onpointpomade.com
I recently read an article about the weight touring takes on artists’ mental health. How do you overcome the planes, trains, and automobiles lifestyle and stay positive and healthy?
It's so true. If you're not careful, touring can really teach you how you treat your body like garbage. We spent years living on gas station food & energy drinks. These days we are very careful about what we eat & how much sleep we get. It's possible to be healthy on the road, mentally & physically, but everyone has to be on the same team.
On a personal note, “That’s just life” has been a mantra of mine since This Light I Hold came out last year. How does it feel to know your personal philosophies have the ability to positively affect lives? 
Writing music is such a gift. I'm so thankful that our music can influence people. What a blessing to get to be a part of someone else's story!
***
You can check out Memphis May Fire this summer touring as part of the amazing Vans Warped Tour lineup. I've linked this baby up tight if you wanna get some Tees and hit the crowd with your hair on point, literally! Thanks for the music and the light, Matty.

WJRR's EarthDay Birthday Pre-Gaming: Sing-a-long With Goodbye June (Interview from 20150

By Robin Ervolina
"Ohana" is the Hawaiian word for family, and it's a concept embraced by the Kona, HI three-piece ska/reggae rock trio, Pepper. In fact, their 2016 CD bears the name. The guys have a ridiculously positive attitude on and off the stage, and their music is the definition of chillax. If you're attending WJRR's Earthday Birthday Celebration, you need to grab a drink (with or without the umbrella and rum) and get your island vibe going. Check out a few Pepper tunes below, or better yet, download Ohana at iTunes now. Singing along is the best feeling in the world.

Restless Streets: Together

Written by Robin Ervolina
Restless Streets premiered the video for “Wrong Kids” yesterday and…it crushed me. Truth be told, I pressed pause to collect myself more than once. If you've lost someone to drugs or alcohol, you're painfully familiar with the barren wasteland in your heart where their light once resided. Facebook’s anniversary feed is all I have left of my sweet friend. I miss her jokes. I miss her laugh. I miss knowing I could say anything to her, any time I wanted. 

What would you say to someone you loved and lost if they could hear you now?

Melodic rock outfit Restless Streets hails from Albany, NY. I was fortunate to sneak a listen to their upcoming EP Together, which is set to release April 28, 2017. Their songs are intensely personal, and within the tales of their lives are snippets of lines speaking universal truths. Logan Carpenter (vocals) delivers those lyrics with a pleading tone that infuses genuineness and gentleness to this EP.
The first track, “A Little More Us” introduces a slightly softer sound for Restless Streets. Their previous track “In Vogue” was textbook post hardcore, whereas this song is ambient and hypnotic. If you've ever wondered if the person you're spending time with is worth it, this song is easily relatable. “Roots Dig In” takes this chore sound to a different level, playing with dissonance and asymmetry, resolving the metric and melodic conflicts at just the perfect moment. The mixing on this track lends to the fullness of the message of perseverance. It also contains one of my favorite lines in the entire CD: "If you open your book, then I plan to read it." One of the most charming tracks in Together is “Twin Flame,” a ballad about a chance meeting with someone you’re instantly connected to. Kudos again to the sound engineers and producers who played with fading vocals to create a dreamy auditory manifestation of the tale RS tells. 
This brings us to “Wrong Kids,” the track that started it all for me. The band shares:

"Wrong Kids” is a song that deals with the loss of a loved one, specifically to drugs. The song talks about how someone can be alive, yet completely absent from your life due to their bad habits. A lot of the lyrics are a direct conversation with a loved one that succumbed to an overdose. We talk about the lasting effects this can have on the people that are forced to move on with their lives, and find peace without one of their most prized, and important friendships.

Recovering from this tune takes some time, but “Glow” helps. Restless Streets produce the most gorgeous sound environments, and Logan’s baritone burrows deep into my chest. Closing out the CD are two more beautiful compositions, “Drive Fast” and “Dreamers.” There are no winners or losers for Together.  A cursory listen will endear you to their ambience and further listens will uncover their lives. Together is a must-have for your 2017 music library.
Together will release in a few weeks, but while you wait, I suggest you head over to bandcamp where you can download, for free, their 5-song EP We Had It Perfect. The acoustic set is simply gorgeous and I believe showcases the wide range of Restless Streets. I would urge you to go iTunes and download “Wrong Kids” directly. All proceeds from the iTunes sales off "Wrong Kids" go to HERO, and organization focused on ending the heroin epidemic and aiding families and friends of those affected by the disease of addiction. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area, Restless Streets will be playing at Lucky Strike Social in Guilderland, NY on 6/2. 

Restless Streets is:
Logan Carpenter - Vocals
Brandon John - Guitar
John Alund - Bass
Brian Nellis - Keys
Aaron Uline - Drums
Band Twitter - @restlessstreets
Band Instagram - @restlessstreets

WJRR's EarthDay Birthday Pre-gaming: Sevendust in the House!

Written and photo by Robin Ervolina
Ah Sevendust. The only thing I love better than catching their light is experiencing their music live.
Sevendust is a friendly group of guys who are wicked talented (Grammy said so). This American metal band has been tearing it up since 1994, and have 11 albums to their credit, though I'm pretty partial to Time Travelers & Bonfires because Sevendust is amazing, but 7D acoustic is *cue brain exploding sound. I'm beyond excited they're playing WJRR's Earthday Birthday celebration on 4/22/17 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando. I'm pretty sure tickets are just about sold out, so if you're interested in seeing one of the best metal bands out there, you should grab yours now.

Vajra: "The Mirror"

 

Written by Robin Ervolina
I love when new music lights me up. I have genres I tend to gravitate to, but after awhile they start to sound the same. That's when I yearn for sui generis. Thankfully High Road Publicity sent me this gem by the band Vajra.
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Vocalist Annamarie Pinna created Vajra during a self-imposed exile in India. Her unique approach to music is multi-faceted. Her parents are a former monk and a school teacher; both encouraged her to explore the world and question boundaries. Add to that beautiful recipe for raising an incredible human the fact that Pinna was born with a condition called synesthesia which blesses her with the ability to see music as colors and shapes. What we are fortunate enough to witness is the creation of music that grounds us and releases us at the same time.  This is equal parts sexy and serious, with a heavy dose of appeal and abandon. I both want to plant my feet firmly in the terra of my intrigue and close my eyes to ready myself for a transcendent journey.
Come, see what all the fuss is about:
“Must-See Act” by Rolling Stone Magazine
“Most underrated bands” by AXS Magazine,
“Their live show is like a cathartic punch in the face” says Creem Magazine
We'll be talking more about Vajra in the coming months as they reveal the 2nd and 3rd parts of this video trilogy. Push play already, would ya?