Emerging from Philly’s local music scene is Nobody Yet. After heavily refining their original sound, they are a self-proclaimed “alternative pop-punk” band, taking influence from Fall Out Boy, The Venetia Fair, and Bayside. Nobody Yet’s debut full-length, “Say Your Goodbyes,” is an energetic blend of soaring guitars, catchy rhythms, and choruses just aching for a group sing-along.
For Fans Of: Fall Out Boy, Neck Deep, Major League
Social Sites: Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram, Youtube
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Joe Humeas - Vocals/Guitar
Matt Zavorski– Drums/Skin Flute
Seeking Bassist and 2nd Guitarist
What's your hometown (or what are your hometowns)?
Joe grew up in Shenandoah Jct., WV and Matt is from Glenolden, PA. We currently rehearse at Joe’s house in Philadelphia.
How did the band come together? How long has it been?
Joe started the band in college with a group of guys playing cover songs. Eventually, he wrote some original songs and released an EP in 2009. Matt and Joe have been together now for almost 2 years, have 3 children, and released Nobody Yet’s first full-length album in July 2012.
How have you grown since you started?
We learned how to not suck over the years. Our EP and full-length album sound pretty different from one another. Initially, the band had a more simplistic pop punk sound, but it has grown to what we call “alternative pop punk” combining catchy choruses with more intricate instrumentation and guitar solos.
What sets you apart from other bands?
After almost every show we are told that we are the craziest live act to watch.
What's the best part about being in your band?
Performing live is definitely our favorite aspect of being in a band. We have been lucky enough to have fans (even in other states) sing along to our songs, which is one of the greatest feelings ever. Getting free food is a plus.
More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
A few of the influences in our song writing are: Green Day, Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Bayside, The Venetia Fair, Pierce The Veil, and everything Kidz Bop has ever done.
If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
If we could change the music industry, there would be easier ways to get noticed or signed than having our dad be Billy Ray Cyrus.
How did your band’s name come about?
It started as a joke when we didn’t have a band name. Finally, we just went with it.
What's the biggest mistake someone's made while playing?
Joe seems to highly enjoy falling into the drum set. He has done it on numerous occasions. Asshole.
Any pre-performance rituals?
“Mommy made me mash my M&Ms oh my.” Believe it or not, vocal warm-ups actually work.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for checking us out. Come to a show so we can rip your head off.
*This Showcase was compiled by Michael Meeze and edited by Ashley Nicole.
*If you would like to Showcase your band on PropertyOfZack, email Ashley here.
New Empire is an Australian alternative rock pop band. Their sophomore LP “Symmetry” was released in 2011, and received much praise from MTV Buzzworthy, To Write Love On Her Arms, and AOL. After such positive reviews, New Empire was asked to join the 2011 Vans Warped Tour for the whole summer. “Say It Like You Mean It,” the first single off their upcoming LP “In A Breath,” evokes elements found in old-school rock and roll such with the use of synthesizers, gritty guitar riffs, and a catchy chorus to sing along to.
Social Sites: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Soundcloud
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Jeremy Fowler - Vocals/Guitar
Kyle Lane - Guitar/B.Vox
Nate Cairns - Bass/B.Vox
Kale Kneale - Drums/B.Vox
What’s your hometown?
We’re all based from Cronulla.
How did the band come together? How long has it been?
We’ve been a band for about 7 years now and the time has just flown by. Myself and Kale met in early primary school and have been friends since kids. Kyle came on board as a guitar tech 6 years ago and since moved into the band on guitar. Nate is our new bass player as of this year but we’ve been friends from the Cronulla beach area for many years.
How have you grown since you started?
We’ve definitely come-of-age, like most bands do as time goes on. Starting out as more of a pop-punk band, we’ve now progressed into an indie-rock/alternative band, and are trying to explore more complex styles of melodies and lyrical writing.
What sets you apart from other bands?
We have a lot of big, anthemic songs that tend to resonate a lot with our listeners, and so when our fans come to see us play live, we love to give them that full experience that they hear on our records.
What’s the best part about being in your band?
Touring is always fun, being on the road and travelling with some of your best mates. Can’t really complain about that.
More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
We’ve definitely taken a lot of influence from artists like M83, Coldplay, One Republic, but even some of the older artists like ToTo and Fleetwood Mac definitely have an impact on our music.
What would you say the band has already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?
We’ve toured Australia quite extensively, and have even had a song as the main theme song for the TV Channel 7 broadcast of the London Olympics, which was surreal! But we’re definitely going to focus on touring internationally and broaden our listener and fan base.
Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
We played a show in Bundaberg, North Queensland and at the airport, Kyle, went to go pickup his suitcase, only to find it wasn’t his. Someone else had taken his suitcase thinking it was theirs, and left Kyle with some pretty dresses and cute sandals ha-ha.
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
We like our listeners to walk away with a sense of hope and encouragement. A sense that us, as artists, are going through life with them and if we can play a part in different events of their life, as in if one of our songs helps someone through a tough time, and becomes a celebratory song in their life, then I think our job as artists is done.
If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
A fair chance for everybody. Some great talents go by unnoticed and it’s such a shame. They deserve their name in the spotlight as much as anybody else.
How did your band’s name come about?
We all loved the word ‘Empire’ but the harder part for us was coming up with something to compliment that. Once we found New Empire, we thought it was a perfect match for our anthemic style.
What’s the biggest mistake someone’s made while playing?
A few years ago our old bass player and friend Sam attempted a backflip in stage because his bass wasn’t working.. And he basically broke his foot.
Any pre-performance rituals?
Usually we all kind of go off on our own little ‘self-readying’ states, make sure we’re ready for the show, both mentally and practically. But then we bring it in, give each other encouragement, amp each other up, and create an atmosphere of excitement. Stuff like that can really make a show so much more enjoyable.
Is there anything else you would like to add
We cannot wait to share the new album, “In A Breath,” coming early 2014.
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Sydney Gore
Drunken buffoonery will never not have a place in punk rock, and bands like The Moms are keeping the tradition of intoxication alive and well. But all booze aside, the New Jersey trio play punk rock that’s written with tight hooks and melodies, all the while sounding extraordinarily casual in practice. The melodic rock n’ roll songs have a twinge of wiry wit (a la Modern Baseball) and more than ample self-deprecation, all the while feeling like a pretty accurate embodiment of what an hot, mildly uncomfortable basement show that some dude you kinda know from town invited you to.
For Fans Of: Joyce Manor, Signals Midwest, Tigers Jaw
Social Sites: Facebook, Twitter
<a href="http://themoms.bandcamp.com/album/viva-7-vinyl" data-mce-href="http://themoms.bandcamp.com/album/viva-7-vinyl">Viva! 7" vinyl by The Moms</a>
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Joey Nester - Guitar/Vocals
Jon Stolpe - Bass/ Vocals
Donny Saraceno - Drums
What's your hometown (or what are your hometowns)?
Two-thirds of The Moms were raised in Florham Park, NJ. One-third was raised twenty minutes away in Scotch Plains, NJ. We started writing songs for The Moms at Joey’s old apartment in New Brunswick but, since saying you’re from New Brunswick has become almost as cliché as saying you’re from Brooklyn, we are now for all intents and purposes from “New Jersey, New Jersey”
How did the band come together? How long has it been?
We played in a series of bands together prior to forming The Moms. While Joey spent a year at Rutgers, Jon and Donny spent their time touring the country. Joey stayed home and played guitar instead of going to class and when Jon and Donny were in the area, the three would play songs together. Eventually, The Moms wrote a set to be proud of, began playing various basement shows, and soon committed to a nation-wide touring schedule. It’s been three years since The Moms began practicing as a three piece.
How have you grown since you started?
We’ve definitely become a stronger band on stage, that’s something we are always working towards. We have also matured a lot when it comes to the way we write together, which I feel is evident when you listen to our new record. Doing a full length, as compared to an EP, gave us a chance to show people a few different sides of The Moms, all while without taking a shit off the deep-end, of course. And as far as physical growth goes, we’ve collectively gained over 50 pounds!
What sets you apart from other bands?
We try to keep it honest. Not that we’re the only ones, but that type of mentality seems to be a lot less common these days. We’re three guys from Jersey playing loud and smelly rock & roll, with the hopes that you’ll feel something from it, and with the hopes that we will be able to continue to do it without delivering pizza on the side. Also, our Vans collection is unrivaled.
What's the best part about being in your band?
We’ve all been friends for about 5 years, we’ve gone through a lot of shit together, both good & bad, and when we get together to play music, it shows. You can’t find that sort of thing just anywhere, ya know? Being able to grow together, travel together, and sleep in Wal-Mart parking lots together, that shit is priceless. And there aren’t many other people I would want to share those experiences with.
What would you say the band has already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?
After this fall, we’ll have played 36 of the 48 continental states within our first year of touring, I’m pretty proud of that. We pressed our EP, “Viva!” with Panic State Records on vinyl, something none of us have ever done before. And we recorded a full length record this summer that will be out on Paper + Plastick early next year, another first for the three of us. As far as the future goes, we’re hoping to make it out of the country in 2014, continue to cross the line in our music videos, and publicize Joey’s secret relationship with Miley Cyrus, solely as a publicity stunt.
Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
Outside of Tulsa, OK, we found ourselves in a loud heated argument about designated driving, which culminated in one of the members heaving his pre-made Wal-Mart roast beef sandwich at another members face, and we’ve been closer ever since. Russellville, Arkansas is always a memorable time. One night, the lovely folks at The Cavern kept asking for more until the point where we could only repeat songs. We ended up opening, and closing, with Bedtime that night.
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
Enjoyment. Mad feels.
How did your band’s name come about?
Like any start-up band, we were volleying around potential band names until Jon suggested “The Moms.” Short and simple.
What's the biggest mistake someone's made while playing?
Donny’s passed out on his drum set, Joey’s played entire songs out of tune, and Jon tries to sing sometimes. We all make mistakes.
Any pre-performance rituals?
On tour, Joey and Jon have a daily routine of throat-maintenance. A series of sprays, lozenges, tinctures, tonics, and secret formulas keeps the throats happy for night after night of vocal abuse.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Keep current with The Moms’ internet presence and the next time they play in your area, be sure to go check them out and buy them a drink or nine.
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Adrienne Fisher
Call the Station, a 4-piece rock band from Long Island, are striving to bring the truest parts of themselves to their music careers. Citing the staggering legacy of the LI scene as both an inspiration and a hurdle, CTS handled their songwriting for their record as personally and independently from outside influences as they could. The result is Signals, their debut full length which is a driving rock-pop record that falls somewhere in line with the lighthearted “suppy” pop-punk of today and a more melodic sound that takes itself more seriously.
For Fans Of: Mayday Parade, Just Surrender, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Social Sites: Facebook, Twitter
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
My name is Matthew and I play guitar and sing in Call The Station. The other members are:
Anthony - Vocals
Mauricio - Guitar
Eran - Bass
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Adrienne Fisher
While the members of Bells boast pretty extensive experience in metal, coming off the heels of participation in bands like August Burns Red and This or the Apocalypse, their new band’s style treads out into instrumental post-rock territory. The 5-piece from Lancaster, PA, have been friends for years and finally decided to pool their talents together in the ephemeral Bells. Focusing their songwriting in creating vast soundscapes with extreme technical know-how, Bells’ first release, Our Forest, Our Empire, features dynamic moments that alternate anywhere from driving to quiet to triumphant to patient – creating more of an experience than any individual song.
For Fans Of: Explosions in the Sky, Gates, The Joy Formidable
Social Sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.We have myself, Jon Hershey, Tim Kettering Joseph Terranova, and Toby Pool. We’ve all been in and out of bands for a while, playing different instruments along the way, so the roles vary depending on song.
What's your hometown (or what are your hometowns)?We are from Lancaster, PA.
How did the band come together? How long has it been?
It all starts back in early 2000’s where Jon and I met, when our two bands (Here to Eternity, and Shutup Gorgeous) played a show at this place near Lancaster called The Mill. We became friends, and we realized how small Lancaster was, meeting musicians in many of the other bands who would later become members of Bells (Joe and Tim). Jon and I started writing music together when he left August Burns Red. The two of us played together under a few different monikers, and decided to stick with the name Bells after I left This or the Apocalypse. We’ve been friends with Joe, Tim and Toby for a long while so it was a natural fit to complete the band.
How have you grown since you started?I remember Jon and I meeting at Lititz Springs Park, sitting on their picnic benches with our acoustics. We didn’t have any other gear, so we made due with what we had. We would write these long, very circular, polymetric riffs, with odd time signatures. Listening back to them we always get a good laugh because of how rigid they feel.
What sets you apart from other bands?
There are a lot of bands in the world, for us to claim to be doing something completely unique seems a little hubristic. We don’t spend much time looking outward, measuring ourselves up against the current musical landscape. We’re not here to sell ourselves as if this is a business. We write music to humbly inspire and bring people together, anything more would feel fake.
What's the best part about being in your band?Having a creative outlet where there are no constraints and no pre-disposed notions on what we need to do. With so many things in life being a rat race, it feels good to leave all of that behind and play music with some of my best friends and if there are people that enjoy it along the way, that’s pretty neat too.
More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
I grew up in a pretty confused house. A small shanty on a hill, full of my then alcoholic parents and us 3 kids. I remember falling asleep in my bedroom as my parents got stoned listening to Pink Floyd at full volume. I can retrace that moment laying there in my bed, hearing the beefy synthesizers and Gilmour singing “Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.” Growing up and always trying to understand what is normal, at that moment I became really introspective and felt this tugging to understand: Is this what life is? Is this the machine? Anyways, I feel super inspired by music, but feel like true inspiration finds you, and it’s a beautiful thing when it happens, because it gives hope for change. Quick side note: My parents are such a source of inspiration to me and I wish everyone could meet them. They serve as a shining example of hope and change in what may seem like an infinitely hopeless place.
What would you say the band has already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?
Recording / self-releasing our first album was a really big deal for us. The different people who came together to help and the teamwork involved to pull it off really makes us appreciate everyone who believes in us!
I remember a comment from a Chilean fan who messaged us a few years ago. He reached out to us just to say hi, and we exchanged a few emails. I later discovered he had recently lost a friend to cancer, and he described himself walking down the street in Chile after his death. He was listening to our cover of ABR’s Pangaea, mentioned it was a great experience. I felt humbled, sad, and honored to be able to be part of such a sensitive time in someone’s life.
Our recent “Lungs for Life” show with Caspian was one of the most intense shows we’ve ever been a part of. The extreme set of emotions of serving such a brave dude like Jake who is facing a full double lung transplant, paired with playing with one of our favorite modern day bands, Caspian, who had the unexpected death of their bassist. We’ve all played and attended many shows, and can’t say any of us have ever been to a more emotional show. It was an incredible honor to be a part of that day.
Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
Man, this list could go on forever. We’re a very squirrelly group of guys when we all get together. There was this one time we were waiting for Toby to arrive to our rehearsal space, and had this idea to freak him out. So we dimmed the lights and did this weird zombie wobble while groaning. Well, Toby was 30 min. late that day so we literally were standing in our space for 30 minutes, wobbling and moaning in the dark. Other tenants of the building would walk by and are probably still talking to this day about who the heck is that weird “Bells” band. The fact that we were that committed to something so stupid captures our group dynamic, and to top it off, Toby wasn’t freaked out or alarmed in anyway when he finally got there. This is Bells! Ha!
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?If we can inspire people, or in some way serve as a reflection of hope in this world, that would be all the more we could ask for.
If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
I think it’s less about the music industry, and more about the consumers. People constantly act super surprised and in shock from what they read from some of the latest “controversial artists”. We’re all victim to it: we share, tweet, and post about what our opinions are of these artists. We all say how wrong their lifestyle is or argue why we think it’s justifiable. There is an over abundance of opinion with celebrity lifestyle and gossip, which all feeds into the bigger marketing machine everyone doesn’t realize we’re all feeding. Attention is a value people give away far too easily. There is a Ted Talk I recently listened to about a dude who is setting currency to his attention. He allows himself with a daily amount of “attention cash” which is relative to the time in a day. Every useless article he reads uses cash which he could have better spent in something he actually cares about. Point being, let’s not spend our attention so recklessly. If there is something to say or an opinion to share, try not regurgitating what 100s of other people have already said. Let’s all get a bit more creative with where we spend our attention!
How did your band’s name come about?
Tim’s parents had a house down in the Florida Keys when he was growing up. There was this shipwreck museum near the house, and his grandparents knew the manager. He had an old school diving bell that he said Tim could go down in. Well the winch lowering him down ended up breaking, and Tim was stuck underwater for a while before they were able to pull him up. We all were unhappy with our current band name at the time, so after hearing that story, we thought Bells would be perfect!
What's the biggest mistake someone's made while playing? We’re notorious for trying new things last minute. If we have a show next week, we’re going to try and write an intro the day before the show. This has led to some hilarious moments. The most incredible fail wasn’t on one group member, but a full collective of band embarrassment. We wrote this weird rhythmic intro that involved a lot of synchronization between all instruments. Well it was a major fail. It was so bad we literally were all hitting random notes on random intervals with our heads towards the ground wondering when the madness would end. When we finished, I embarrassingly rose my eyes to the audience only to see a silent crowd, with utter confusion on their faces. Jon approaches the mic and chalks it up to it being a sound check, saying “Thanks, that was the sound check, now we’re going to start our set”. What a humbling moment. Safe to say no one has video evidence of this because it was a much earlier show for us, but if they do please do share!
Any pre-performance rituals?
We often like to all get together to say a word of thanks, gratitude, and humility.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks to friends and family who have extended themselves to us when we are least deserving and shown us how to love each other. Thanks to our fans for making this journey on earth a little bit less lonely. We love all of you!
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Adrienne Fisher
It’s Only a Story is an alternative/pop-punk band based in Orange County, CA. Active since 2011, the band markets their handcrafted music as a DIY (Do It Yourself) experience. In additional to their musical endeavors, the members of It’s Only a Story are also passionate about art, film, photography and web design.
Social Sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Youtube
Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
Last summer, a fan of ours from the UK was in California on a family vacation. We got put on a last-minute show, and when she found out, she somehow convinced her whole family to drive 6 hours so that she could see us live. It was amazing. These kinds of interactions are incredibly inspiring.
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
We like to think that we are the type of band that levels the playing field. When we write a song, we are super honest about our feelings, but it’s not like we invented angst and heartbreak. We get it, everyone feels that way sometimes and that’s how we are all connected. We’re not elitists, we are inclusive.
We try to express how we feel in the moment, but then break it all down a few minutes later. We can say, “I hate you!” but then immediately afterwards say “But it’s stupid I feel this way”. We aren’t taking ourselves too seriously and that makes our songs easy to relate to. You can hear pieces of yourself in these songs. The only thing that separates our fans and us is the stage.
If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
Miley Cyrus. Just kidding. As long as she keeps letting Terry Richardson take her photos, we are all right.
How did your band’s name come about?
Our name comes form a line in “The Neverending Story”. We’ve always been lyrically influenced by the ideas of growing up and holding onto youth. This movie deals with some of those themes and is one of Will’s favorite childhood films. In the film, the main character, who’s struggling with both the stories in the book and his own real life hardships, blurts out the line. The line serves as a personal reminder that although sometimes you want to run away from your problems, in the end you need to meet them head on.
What's the biggest mistake someone's made while playing?
At one of our earlier shows, Chris was beating the shit out of his guitar with his fist. He hit the body of his guitar so hard that he detuned his strings to a completely different key and when he came back in… let’s just say it was gross.
Any pre-performance rituals?
Every show we all stand in a circle, clap and sing “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For Dat”. Going around the circle each person in the band gets a chance to scream, riff or anything else ridiculous they can think of in that moment. It allows us to get pumped up, laugh and just be ready for a fun show... who can’t smile after singing that song?
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Sydney Gore
Dreamy doo-wop in punk rock can be a tough thing to nail, but California’s Mini Death has accomplished the art of compact, straightforward pop songs with a gritty edge that are focused and self-contained. Forming in San Diego after a move from Texas, the group expanded in size, moving from a drum machine to a real drummer and locked in their sound with a full lineup. And Mini Death’s attitudes toward their music are very relaxed - concerned not with rocketing toward success, but on creating a fun environment for themselves and for their listeners to let their hair down and dance around a bit.
For Fans Of: Young Statues, Diamond Youth, Nude Beach
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp
<a href="http://minideath.bandcamp.com/album/a-loner-a-rebel" data-mce-href="http://minideath.bandcamp.com/album/a-loner-a-rebel">A Loner, a Rebel by Mini Death</a>
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
I’m Tess. I sing. Jordan plays guitar and sings too, Brandon plays bass, Drew is on da drums.
What's your hometown (or what are your hometowns)?
I am from El Paso, TX. Everyone is from different places. I think Brandon was born in Japan…no really, I think he was even though he’s the whitest boy ever…. Anyway, we all came together in San Diego. And that is where we are based out of now.
How did the band come together? How long has it been?
I guess we started a couple of years ago. Jordan and I had some songs and then we added Brandon. Back then we just used a drum machine. But it lacked that extra oomph. That is when we added Drew on drums and our sound really evolved and our live performance got a lil’ more ballsy.
How have you grown since you started?
I think we have really honed in on our sound and what we are good at. Short and sweet poppy songs. We are no epic ballad 8 minute song band… that just isn’t our thing.
What sets you apart from other bands?
I think we have an interesting dynamic and our personalities really come through in the music. Really, we just want to have fun and play our songs and aren’t really concerned about being cool and selling millions. We do it for us, and its fun and quirky and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Hmmm. Well for me, I seem to have kept the same influences from when I was like 12, ha. And I think you can hear that – from Roy Orbison, to bands like Jawbreaker, to 90’s Liz Phair and the Pixies. It’s an eclectic mix really. There’s that vintage doowop charm with a little 90’s punk played in a garage wearing flannel – I guess that can describe our influences.
What would you say the band has already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?
I think we are constantly growing and looking for more. We just put out our second EP and are starting to write a full-length. We have played awesome shows and now are looking to play awesome shows all over the US. I guess we just want more people to hear our music, turn it up loud, and get rowdy and dance. That would make us happy.
Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
I don’t know why I always remember the battle of Brandon vs. the raccoons. We had raccoons that were living in our studio ceiling and Brandon made it his mission to get them out of there. It was like he was going into battle. Trying all sorts of weird stuff. Coyote pee. Traps. It was all really amusing because he was so determined and almost obsessed. It was a full-on operation for sure. Which was funny for us all to watch.
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
Just have fun and dance. That’s all. Simple, I guess.
If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
That’s a tricky question… I just would want more people to be able to make a living doing what they want to do by playing music and touring, which is way easier said then done.
How did your band’s name come about?
As a joke really, I had some really horrible names I thought were awesome, that got vetoed. Then Jordan randomly joked about Mini Death. But we all really liked it and thought it was perfect. Little and quirky and a little dark. Just like us.
What's the biggest mistake someone's made while playing?
Oh man. I think we have made quite a few – from me just not singing when I am supposed to, to people missing beats, but really those are the things that make a performance exciting and give it character…recovering from those lil’ fumbles and just carrying on. It adds an extra energy knowing that you have to be on your toes.
Any pre-performance rituals?
I usually have some vodka. Ha…. I swear it helps loosen up my vocals chords. ; ) and I usually lock myself somewhere to do weird warm-ups. But that’s about it….Lots of jokes too – so we don’t get nervous.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just a thanks – thanks to you guys for having us. Thanks to people for listening to us. And thanks to everyone that has supported us. Xoxoxox from Mini Death.
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Adrienne Fisher
Hard work is half the battle, and after touring and playing as many shows as possible, Neighbours are attempting to take their brand of pop-punk to the next level. The band's debut EP, This Past Year, will be released in November.
For Fans Of: Set Your Goals, Veara, The Story So Far
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp
<a href="http://neighbours613.bandcamp.com/album/this-past-year-2" data-mce-href="http://neighbours613.bandcamp.com/album/this-past-year-2">This Past Year by neighbours.</a>
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Colin McColeman – Lead Vocals
Jake McGill – Guitar
Andrew Turenne – Guitar
Ben Thum – Bass
Jordan Gauthier - Drums
What's your hometown (or what are your hometowns)?
Everyone in the band except for Colin is from Ottawa, Ontario or the Ottawa area. Colin is from a little gem of a town called Sarnia, Ontario. He moved to Ottawa a few years ago to go to College and met all the guys through going to shows and through friends. “Sarnia is such a little town so if the pop-punk stereotype has any truth, you can imagine how stoked I am to be in a pop-punk band after escaping my hometown.”-Colin
How did the band come together? How long has it been?
Summer of 2012, Colin had convinced Jake to drive to Warped Tour in Montreal pretty last minute. Jordan tagged along and they started talking about all the bands playing Warped like, Senses Fail, New Found Glory, Yellowcard. How cool would it be to wake up every day and play a show to a bunch of kids who actually give a Gretzky? Damn, that’d be cool. So they decided to give it a try, just the three of them at the start, eventually convincing our first guitarist, Zack, to come track some leads and Ben to haul his gear to the basement and start being more ‘neighbourly’
How have you grown since you started?
When we started up, Colin was the only one who hadn’t been in a band before. Our demo that we put out was the first songs he had ever written. He didn’t really have any idea of what to expect or how to write or what to do in the studio. We’ve all grown though, seeing what it is we actually want from this band. It’s one thing to talk about it when you’re talking big with the boys, but to drop a bunch of important stuff in your life to really do the band thing is where we’re all at. We’re on the cusp of what we’ve been growing towards and we’re all stoked to do it. Really hoping people dig our new tracks as much as we do
What sets you apart from other bands?
Well, most of us live on the same street so our name is pretty literal. And I think that’s pretty neat.
More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
We all draw our inspiration from different places. We’ve got a few bands that we all really dig and respect that we like to pull our sound from like Jimmy Eat World, Motion City Soundtrack, Sum 41, Brand New and New Found Glory. Colin likes drawing his lyric writing though from whatever he’s currently in to like Fireworks, The Wonder Years, Polar Bear Club, With the Punches, and The Swellers
What would you say the band has already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?
We’ve definitely come a long way as a band, mostly in the fact that we’ve all realized what it’s actually going to take and the sacrifices that come with actually being “successful”. We are just really banking on people digging our debut EP This Past Year, when it drops this fall. All of us have really got our eyes set on working hard to push ourselves to earn some notoriety
Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?
Tie for first, freezing Jordan’s Bills hat into a block of ice in the freezer or waking up to Ben blasting LMFAO at 7 a.m. on an overnight drive back from playing a show in Toronto. Ben’s so party
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
Surround yourself with people you love and don’t waste your time with people who couldn’t be bothered. Be passionate about everything you care about and go do something positive with your life
If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
There are so many great people in music that we’ve met from having bands stay at Colin’s house/our jam spot when they come through Ottawa or that we’ve just met from going to shows and what sucks is people don’t really talk up those people. Those bands should get more credit as a band and people should like them more because they are nicer people. We like bands less when they are dicks to us so therefore we like bands more when they are nice to us. Shout out to Texas In July, Have Mercy, State Champs, I The Breather, Handguns, Bathurst, Half Hearted Hero, Altars, Terrified and Alive, and With Life In Mind for being some of the best band dudes we’ve been lucky enough to know. I think those people should be talked about more than all those dudes who get credit for being jerks or two faced promoters
How did your band’s name come about?
When we started neighbours., Jake, Jordan and Colin all lived on the same street so it just seemed to make sense that we would call it neighbours.. We made it all lowercase and with a period at the end to be subtle I guess. David Drive is still alive
What's the biggest mistake someone's made while playing?
“We played a show with our friend’s in Of Reverie once. There was a really young crowd at the show that night. As we were getting ready to cover ‘Dammit’ by Blink-182 and I prefaced the song by saying ‘If you don’t know the words to this song, it’s past your bedtime.’ Of course I screw up and come in 2 bars early. They still Harper on me for it sometimes.”-Colin
Any pre-performance rituals?
Drink a beer. Take a poop. Smoke. Plug in the gear. Play the show. We keep it simple.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Taking Denver to the Superbowl this year.
*This Showcase was compiled, written, and edited by Michael Meeze and Adrienne Fisher
