The Fire

The Fire is a bar & venue in Philadelphia with a passion for developing talented new artists from around the city and beyond. www.firephilly.com

[thefirephilly]

From Winning Cover Contests to releasing 3 projects in one year with a headline tour, Bronnie is paving her own way

Q: You recorded your debut EP “Social Rejex” in your bedroom, all while being in high school. Have you been making music for a long time? Or was it something you picked up in high school?

A: I wrote the songs in my room and then had them recorded by John Delf at Edge Recording Studios in Manchester, UK for my first EP. I started singing at age 8 in musical theatre but I didn't start writing songs until I was 16.  I'm finally about to release 'Stay', the first song I ever wrote. The vibe of the song is different now but it will be fantastic to finally have that song published.

Q: How was it being the youngest and also the only non-American in the Ryan Secrest cover contest? Did any of the contestants impress you in particular?

A: It was really cool. I was the smallest artist at the beginning of the contest but people really got behind me week after week and I was so surprised when I finally won. There were some really talented people in that competition. I felt lucky to win.

Q:  Did things change after you won the contest?

A: Yes, my social media following grew considerably and it was noticeable how many fans from overseas started following my music.

Q: Was Pop-Punk the first genre you chose to do, or were there other genres you tested out in the past?

A: I started out doing pop and pop rock covers but it was always my intention to move my sound towards rock and pop punk. It's good to introduce yourself to as wide an audience as possible in the early years so I dipped into a variety of songs in different genres. From a writing perspective it was always going to be pop punk, rock and relatable though.

Q: You just released your 3rd EP of the year. “Silent Misery” this past November. What was the inspiration behind that project?

A: I released two EP's in 8 weeks this fall. EP3 was Erase Me and that's full on pop punk rock influenced. But we went on to released EP4, a Christmas EP 8 weeks later. It's influenced by Tim Burton and shows different sides to Christmas. The title track "Silent Misery" is a tale of lost love and quite a serious rock ballad, whereas Modern Day Xmas! is a fun modern look at the excesses of the holiday season with, of course, that pop punk vibe. We also did a rock cover of What's This? from A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Q: What do you think it is about your music that attracts your fans?

A: I listen to them and talk to them on social media so I think I'm able to write lyrics that are relatable for a lot of people.

Q: How has it been balancing being on the road doing shows while putting out 3 projects in one year?

A: It's been hard work but we've managed to get the balance right I think. I work every day on either writing, recording, releasing songs, rehearsing or playing shows. And I always put hours aside every day to talk to fans on social media. But this is my dream and when you're lucky enough to have fans that will help you live your dreams, you have to embrace the opportunity you're given as an artist and work hard.

Q:  Since you supported Little Mix for a date on their stadium tour, has it become easier to do smaller, more intimate shows?

A: I actually love intimate shows. A busy 200 cap venue is my favourite type of show. I love to be close to the fans. I love to feel that connection. Big shows are fun too but totally different.

Q: What should Philadelphia expect from a Bronnie live performance?

A: A mix of passion and aggression. I like the crowd to feel the passion and energy of my performances. I'm lucky enough to work with an awesome backing band in the US who really rock-out. I'm really excited for this headline show.

Q:  Anything unusual about yourself or your music making that people don’t know, that you would want them to know?

A: Ooooh good question. Well I'm Welsh and I've visited 44 US states. I bet there aren't many Welsh people that have visited more states than that. Sorry if that's random. I just love visiting America and especially love playing my music here.

Q: You’ve had a really big year with your first headlining tour as well as putting out several projects. What’s next in 2019?

A: I'm starting with a big show in Amsterdam and the rest of the Geeks & Freaks Tour in the UK and I will release more music in 2019 than I've released in any other year of my career!

Thanks for the interview! 

Check out this vlog from Bronnie’s Youtube page! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4laYkPgqIHU&authuser=0

By Walter Victor 

[thefirephilly]

Interviewing Dominic Stone

This Saturday night at The Fire, we are anticipating an incredible lineup with some very talented rock acts to hit the stage. The lineup will include Gatherers, Suntitle, Soulblind, Last Minute Her, Only Sibling, Moonflower, and Weary Travelers. The booking agent, Dominic Stone, who compiled all of these incredibly talented acts for our show, agreed to have an interview with us about how he got into music, booking, and his love for Philadelphia.-

Madison: Hi Dominic! I did a little bit of research on you and I see you’re a booking agent with The Fire, and you work through a few other venues. Care to talk a little bit about that work and what got you involved or interested in booking artists?

Dominic: Well right out of college I was working at Discmakers (an CD and DVD manufacturer) so I was working with music a lot. I was in a band in high school as well and after college I felt that the  music part of my life was lacking. So I decided to fill that void, by booking shows. I researched venues in the area, along with bands online and decided to give it a go. I started with mass facebook marketing along with having a team posting around the Philly area, and it turned out to be a great success. Ever since then I just decided to keep booking.

M: You also are an alumni now of La Salle University. Do you find that going to a school in the city made you more ready for this industry or helped in the initial build of your network?

D: I went to school for Public Relations, so in some aspects yes, I wasn't afraid to reach out to companies and other people to sponsor my event and I was pretty good at selling it. One good example where this helped, was for a while I was having Jersey Mike’s Subs as a sponsor on my shows and they would supply the catering for the bands.

M: You’re a New Jersey native as well. I was wondering what the major differences are between growing up in Raritan, New Jersey and working now in the city of Philadelphia?

D: I have lived in Philly for 10+ years now so I’d like to consider Philadelphia my home. The roots in Raritan have taught me a lot, going to a big Public School and playing shows back then, definitely has taught me a lot about connecting and growing a music scene.

M: You have a show this Saturday at The Fire with lots of great bands performing. I see one of the headlines is The Gatherers who are from Bayonne. I’m actually from North Jersey and my dad lives in Bayonne so I grew up there. I was just wondering how you got into contact with them and how you got them to Philly to do a show?

D: I am also in a band, we are called "Freeze" and we actually played with Gatherers this Halloween, at Electric Halloween Festival in South Jersey. Was an awesome event and they killed it. From then on I have been talking to them and trying to make something work to bring them out here and we finally landed on the show at the Fire.

M: What are the most outstanding bands you've booked thus far at the fire?

D: Left Behind, Ghost Key, Landon Tewers, Kaonashi, Second Death, I Am, Heroes, and Bruise.

M: What do you find special about the fire, and what is your favorite memory from The Fire?

D: What I find special about the fire is that it is an intimate venue, with great sound. Everyone there is really friendly, and they allow me to conduct my shows as if I was a part of their family. I have never had an issue there, and the place itself has years of history even beyond me. We need more venues like The Fire out there.

M: I watched their video for Infinity & Gloom and loved the energy in the music. What can we expect to see from them in a live show?

D: Basically everything you saw in the video and more, great hard working band that deserve recognition.

M: After listening to Suntitle, I found their sound to be really high energy as well. Any ideas as to what we’ll see from them Saturday night? D: Suntitle is another band I have played with before and they blew me away. Really awesome sound that isn’t that common in local scenes. Def a band to watch.

M: Once I got to listening to all of these groups I realized they all have a similar style, and I was wondering how you select bands to play at The Fire? Do you choose based on if you are a fan of theirs or not, or do you have a different method of choosing artists to play our venue? D: This show I decided to go more Genre oriented, I do mixed shows all the time and my main audience is metal core music. I am stepping outside my boundaries a little with this one and trying something new. I back every band on this bill.

M: Do you have any other groups right now that you’d like to see come to The Fire soon and hit the stage?

D: I’d love to seem some huge bands in The Fire space. Every time I have had someone that usually plays bigger spots play The Fire its always been a night I can’t forget.

M: I’m currently a student at Rowan University in Glassboro studying Music Industry and I was wondering what advice you had for any self starters who wanted to get their foot in the door in the industry? D: No one is going to do things for you. You have to be motivated and most likely do it yourself. I know building a team sounds great but it's hard to rely on a ton of other people if you want the event to come out perfect. If you stay at it and continue to better your craft, the outcome will be better than you can imagine.

M: Do you have anything you’d like to promote besides your show this Saturday night at The Fire? Feel free to plug anything! D: FREEZE MOTHA FUCKA!!!!!   https://freezemf.bandcamp.com/

-

Check out Dominic’s podcast feature here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk2_dnvGSxY

You can buy tickets to see the show at The Fire this Saturday night for $10 at the door! 412 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. http://thefirephilly.com/thefire/

[thefirephilly]

Interview with PA Native J.W. Farrell

J.W. Farrell is coming through The Fire this Saturday, December 1st. Check out our interview with him down below and find out how he creates his music, why he loves performing live and who is on the musical playlist that describes his life.

Q: Growing up in Bucks County, were you pretty familiar with the Philadelphia music scene? Who do you remember going to see play live at venues in the city?  

A: When I was around 11 years old my Dad took me and my brothers down to see Bruce Springsteen at the Linc. Even as a little kid I remember being absolutely floored. For a few years after that he brought me to see bigger shows like that such as Bob Dylan, U2 and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. But besides that we were pretty isolated out in the 'burbs so I didn't really come down to see shows in the city until high school and college.  

Q: Was music always something you knew you would pursue when you grew up? How did you first get into music?

A: I think I'm still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.   I always loved music but never thought it was something I would seriously pursue. It seemed like such an unattainable goal. Even watching friends play I was just always very impressed, so thinking of doing it myself never really occurred to me.  I started playing guitar in high school and played in a couple of bands with friends but it was just for fun.  It wasn't until I met up with the guys and gal in La La Lush during college that it became a serious pursuit.

Q: During your time with La La Lush, what skills or abilities do you think you gained that really helped you when you transitioned to your solo music?

A: They were an incredible group of musicians, so I think just being around them taught me a lot about how many different ways there are to approach a song. You can express all sorts of ideas and feelings with more than just lyrics and chords.

Q: What was the process like of recording your first EP "Alexandria"? How did you approach creating and choosing the 4 tracks on the record?  

A: When La La Lush broke up I was eager to get something out as quickly as possible. I had been writing songs for a long time but never had recorded any of them on my own and still wasn't entirely sure what I was doing.  I think I was just trying to prove that I could do it.  So everything was recorded on my laptop in my then girlfriend's (now fiancee's) apartment in Alexandria, Virginia.  It was really a learning experience.

Q: When you write your songs, do you generally listen to other music for inspiration or start playing around with your instruments and working from there?

A: It's a song by song type of thing. Usually I'll think of a phrase or rhyme that sticks in my head and try to form a some lyrics and chords that. Other times it will come from fooling around on my guitar and something just clicking.  Overall I think everything I do writing wise is inspired from whatever I'm listening to at the time either consciously or subconsciously.   

Q: What is the best part about performing for a live audience?

A: There's a beauty in spontaneity. Sometimes a song will just take on a life of its own in the moment that you can't recapture. I think that's why I enjoy performing more than recording.  

Q: From all the years that you've been involved with music, either as a kid, in a band or during your solo career, what has been your favorite music-related memory?  

A: That's a tough one.  Each show I've played has been special for one reason or another (not always good haha)  But I'd have to say seeing The Tallest Man on Earth at Union Transfer was a life changing experience.  His raw talent just had me and the rest of the audience completely captivated. You could hear a pin drop.   I had never experienced something like that before.  

Q: If you had to make a 5 song playlist that describes your life or the music you love the most, what tracks would be on that playlist?

A: Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky- Lee Dorsey, Incident on 57th Street- Bruce Springsteen,  Ashamed- Deer Tick, Fairytale of New York- The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl, I've Been Loving You Too Long- Otis Redding

You can check out J.W. Farrell at his website, Facebook, YouTube, Soundcloud and Instagram!

He is joined by James Daniel & the Thursday Night Band, Rare Spirits and Tygersounds THIS SATURDAY!!

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

Interview with Dune Puma - Giving Thanks To Craigslist

Dune Puma will be playing at The Fire tonight at 7:30pm, along with some other great bands. We got to talk with some of the members of Dune Puma and learn about their musical influences, how they all met and why they are thankful for Craigslist. Check it out down below!

Q: How did you all come together to form Dune Puma?

A: Fish (bass), Nate (guitar), and I (Luke, drummer) have been in various bands together over the past 15 years or so. After our last band split, Fish and I kept jamming, wrote a bunch of songs and decided to find some other members. It made perfect sense to ask Nate if he wanted to join, and luckily he did. After having a couple different guitarists leave for various reasons, Jamie, who Nate and I worked with, joined. Our former singer moved to New York and, ironically, Evan moved from New York to Philly and was desperate to get into the scene, so he was the perfect final piece.

Q: Was music something you have always wanted to do or has you found a love for it over the last however many years?

A: Music has always been a huge part of all of our lives. None of us took lessons when we got started, we all just decided it was something that interested us, picked up instruments, and went for it.

Q: What has been your favorite venue to play?

A: I think we'd all be in agreement in saying that the Grape Room in Manayunk is up there. It's smaller so it fills up easily, the staff are great and easy to work with, and the sound engineer always makes us sound great. It's a great spot.

Q: When writing your own music, do you typically draw from inspiration from band's you like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

A: We all have pretty varied influences, which is kind of a blessing and a curse when writing. That being said, I think you can hear some emo qualities in the music. We were all kind of coming of age in the early 2000s when emo was huge so it has naturally influenced our writing. You'll hear some TBS influence with some of the dual vocal parts and harmonies. Personally, my two favorite drummers growing up were Dan Trapp of Senses Fail and Aaron Stern of Matchbook Romance, so there's definitely some influence from them in my playing.

Q: What was the process like creating the three tracks under the Dune Puma Sessions on Spotify?

A: That was an interesting time. Those 3 songs were being written right at the end of the time with our former singer through the transition to Evan. I think only Life On Trial was written with our current lineup. The other two, at least musically, were written before Evan joined. He then came in and put his touch on them, and voila.

Q: Do you have any new music in the works? Maybe an EP or possibly a full album?

A: We actually just finished recording a full length with Eric at the Boom Room. Thinking an early 2019 release.

Q: What is the best part about performing for a live audience?

A: The best part of performing live is feeding off each other and the audience. When recording or practicing, it's kind of the same experience every time. Playing live is always something different which always makes it exciting. We have some of the most supportive friends and have met some other great bands through playing live, and it's great playing for them and with them.

Q: We can't wait for the show on the 24th, what can fans expect?

A: Fans should expect a fun, energetic set. People that have never seen or heard of us should expect some surprises and great involvement from our friends and other bands. It should be a great show.

Q: Do you have any fun facts or cool stories about Dune Puma that most readers wouldn’t know?

A: We actually found Evan, our singer, on Craigslist....or maybe he found us. Either way, we had a listing on there and had a few responses. One person that we had set up to come jam asked if we could learn a couple covers to showcase his vocals, so we did. When Evan showed up, we asked which of the covers he wanted to start with and he looked at each of us like we had two heads. Turned out he was not who we thought he was, but luckily for us everything worked out in the end.

Check out Dune Puma on Facebook and their website! 

They will be joined by special guests Qwirk, Moment to Capitalize and Jamie and the Guarded Heart tonight starting at 5:15pm! 

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

The Moment He Knew He Would Drum Forever...

Philly punk jazz trio, The Mojo Machine, came through The Fire a couple weeks ago and we were so blown away by their performance that we had to learn more. We were very fortunate to talk with drummer Pauly Panda, who told us about his time in Mojo Machine, how he started drumming and why he loves Philly so much. Check it out down below!

Q: When did The Mojo Machine form as a band?

A: Summer 2015, my old band, The Missile Toads opened up for Dan's original hardcore punk rock band, stepping razor, for their 30 year reunion show at the old (now closed) "third and girard" club.  Stepping Razor got back together after a 27 year break and had a reunion show.  I never met Dan before that show.  At his stepping razor reunion show, I was blown away by stepping razor's music and I just had to go up to Dan after his set and introduce myself.  A couple months after the gig, he asked me if I wanted to join him and michelle to start a trio playing punk rock covers.  I said yes immediately.

Q: Was music something you all have always wanted to do or has you found a love for it over the last however many years?

A: We've all been performing music live since we were pre-teens. Dan and Michelle started off playing original rock, punk and hardcore music. I started performing live in 1987 playing in blues bands, cover bands and tribute bands, two completely different scenes in and around philly.  

Q: When writing your music, do you typically draw from inspiration from band's you like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

A: Dan and Michelle write The Mojo Machine songs. Dan has such a diverse background in music from playing jazz, funk, rock, punk, hardcore and crossover metal and he draws from those genres of rock music in his arrangements. Michelle almost the same.  I know Dan loves coltrane (jazz), ruin (philly hardcore).  

Q: More specifically about your drumming, when did you start playing and realized this was a talent of yours that could be made into a career?

A: I started taking drum lessons in 1976 (when I was 6 years old). When I was 5 years old I played suzuki method violin and my sister played the drums.  Being the younger sibling and after realizing her instrument made more noise than mine, well, we just had to switch instruments! Fast forward to 1982, I was in the 6th grade and during "catholic schools week", our school always had an annual spring talent show, but you had to audition in front of the nuns to be allowed to compete. I asked to play the drums to the song, "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles. A  week before the competition, my sister bought the Rick Springfield album, "Working Class Dog" and I heard the song "Love Is Alright Tonight", and it struck me.  I just had to learn it and play it for the upcoming talent competition because the most popular song on the same album was the song, "Jessie's Girl". I played it and practiced over and over until I got it right on drums note for note. Come the day of the talent competition, the 8th grade girls help me set up my drum set on stage, I hand the girls my sister's Rick Springfield album and they play the song on the gymnasium loudspeaker system without even telling the nuns i changed the song from my audition. As soon as I hit the last note on drums, the whole gym student body went nuts and the 8th grade girl stagehands tackled me in front of everyone on stage!  I knew that moment I wanted to play the drums the rest of my life. The nuns punished me for not telling them I switched the song but it wasn't so bad I lived.  In those days, nuns and priests were still allowed to use capital punishment and the parents didn't care!

Q: What has been the best part of being a drummer in such an awesome mixed genre group?

A: Playing with Dan and Michelle is like having the best of both worlds, I still get to play multi-genres of music still which helps keep my chops up and creative juices flowing. That makes us a very versatile band. Mojo Machine plays the funk, jazz, rock, punk and some metal influenced music, while Stepping Razor, an old school philly hardcore band founded by Dan and his two teenage friends, John Finn and Matt Harkin, plays the crossover metal and hardcore punk music. I joined Stepping Razor in october 2016, and that is another story.

Q: What type of music is your favorite to play?

A: I said this before and I'll say it here, punk rock music saved my life.  Back in 2011, my old band of 31 years (I was in the band for its last 16 years) called Hot Rocks (a rolling stones tribute band) broke up because our lead singer died and some other stuff, I was devastated and depressed.  I really loved hot rocks, I am still friends to this day with a few of the original members. After Hot Rocks broke up, my dear good friend Dan Wargo picked me up, dusted me off and took me to a punk rock show. I think he took me to a New Hope, PA club, "John and Peter's" where we saw the punk band "Fed Up".  They played fun punk rock covers I never heard of before, I thought they were an original band! I loved their attitude, rawness, realness and they played fun hard rocking songs,  none like I never heard of before.  I liked fed up's show so much, Dan Wargo took me to more philly punk rock shows and we started the xmas punk rock band,  The Missile Toads, back in 2009, which we only played one to two shows a year every december for fun because I was finishing our last bunch of contracted shows with the last two years worth of Hot Rocks before Hot Rocks officially broke up in 2011.  2009 was the first unofficial break up of Hot Rocks and we flew in satellite musicians from all over the country to help us play our contracted shows. The rest is philly punk rock history.

Q: Everyone loved your set, how did you all feel the show went?

A: The comments keep coming! Just yesterday a friend of mine from another band saw our video upload of our cover of the new edition song, "Candy Girl", and he said " you guys are crazy!" Therefore, I am very pleased, we keep turning up the heat every show and give it our all no matter how many people are in attendance, we love to play! It's funny because when we practice, I'm always the primadonna one saying " i ache... i'm tired...i have a headache..".  Then when we play live, I play like its my last show ever and I'm gonna die right after the show.  

Q: What was your favorite part of the show?  

A: Playing the original songs "Shooter, Lil Red, and Starships". We started out in 2015 playing obscure covers but is nice to be a team and let our creative juices flow. For me, being an italian, it’s "creative gravy.”

Q: Do you think you'll play at The Fire again soon in the future?

A: Absolutely yes! But not until after april 2019. January through April every year is my busy work season and I do not play shows unfortunately.

Q: What do you love most about the Philly music scene?

A: I see bands forming every day in philly, I see musicians helping out other musicians, especially me the last 8 years by having filled in and recorded for at least almost a dozen philly punk bands, and lately I love seeing musicians creating artwork, which I also support and purchase, including photography. I also love seeing long time philly punk rock musicians now playing side projects in cover bands, rockabilly bands, jazz music and one specific unique electronic device, the theremin.  philly has always been a concentration of talent, always will.

Learn more about The Mojo Machine here!

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

He Never Expected They Would Become a Band! Interview with Nick Sumner & The Assistance

Tonight another great act is coming through! Check out our latest interview with lead singer Nick and Graeme Wilson and make sure to come by tonight to see them live!

Q: Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions! When did you all become a band?

A: Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to answer some questions! Nick and Akil, bassist, backing vocals, and all-around swell guy, have been playing in bands, projects, and just to play for nearly 2 decades. John, guitarist and face-melter, Jordan, drummer and bringer of rhythm, and Nick, a self-proclaimed man in need of as much assistance as possible, all know each other from the audio industry, where they hold day jobs and nerd out habitually. Nick was finishing Embers, which had taken 5 recording engineers, 5 recording spaces, 7 keyboardists, 2 drummers, and nearly 3 times the originally intended budget, and was tired of the effort without the payoff. He’d mentioned in passing to John and Jordan that he wanted to do a release show and sort of be done with it, and they responded as though there were no other option: they’d play. Akil, the only other musician aside from Nick on the EP signed on for the one show, also. That was less than a year ago, and whereas Nick thought they’d be done with playing once the release happened, they keep coming back to collectively create something unique and bring it to a stage where they hope audiences feel the same when they hear the songs as the band does to play them.

Q: ”Embers" came out this past August. What was the response like for that? Are you currently working on any new stuff that fans can get ready for?

A: The release party we did for Embers was pretty great, but beyond that we haven’t made a tremendous push. And the reason is: Nick spent so long working on Embers before the Assistance joined up with him that by the time of its release, it was already old. There are a couple of new recordings of new songs already in the works, as well as new songs coming together… hopefully there are some fun things not too far on the horizon.

Q: When writing your own music, do you typically draw from inspiration from band's you like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

A: When I bring a new piece to a rehearsal, it is usually graded by the band on the scale of Nick Tune. The more odd time signature or rhythmic changes combined with the unusual chord voicings that I lean toward, the more of a Nick Tune the guys deem it to be. I don’t know how to classify my songs… rock, singer/songwriter, folk… but I definitely draw from all of my influences, or think I do, which might account for not being able to pin a specific name to the style. Maybe you could give us a listed and tell me whether you think I successfully draw from Jeff Buckley, Tom Waits, Foo Fighters, Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, or Stone Temple Pilots at all. Seriously… I’d love to hear someone’s take…

~Nick

Q: Was music something you have always wanted to do or has you found a love for it over the last however many years?

A: Music has always had a particularly strong hold on each of us. It is the only way to explain why years of emotionally shattering critique and painful let-down could result in the four of us getting back onto a stage to try it all over again.

Q: What is the best part about performing for a live audience?

A: The audience themselves. When you can actually see them moving to the music, or reacting at the end of a song it sort of makes the experience tangible and something more than getting up on stage and making some noise. Its something everyone in the room can feel. Sort of transcendent.

Q: What has been your favorite venue to play?

A: To be very honest, collectively we’ve all played over a thousand shows… but together it’s been about 7. Rockwood Music Hall and Pianos in New York City are pretty fantastic venues - but Nick is very vocal in telling people that he’s wanted to play The Fire for almost 10 years. We’ll see what happens after tonight :)

Q: We can't wait for the show on the 15th, what can fans expect?

A: You can expect four dorks who like to make music to get up on stage and try to make the room feel the feels that they feel from the stage.

Check out Nick Sumner & The Assistance on their Facebook Page!

They are joined by Goodtheif, Idle Kyle and The Life in You tonight at 8pm! 

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

Interview with Deanna Devore & Evie Joy

Deanna Devore and Evie Joy are coming to The Fire TONIGHT, November 14th at 8pm! Check out this pre show interview we did with them can come out to see them live this evening! 

DEANNA DEVORE

Q: Have you ever been to Philadelphia or played in the city before? What have you heard about Philly?

A: No I haven’t, I know there is a good university in the city and Philly cheesesteaks. That’s all I’ve really heard!

Q: Growing up, was music always something you knew you wanted to pursue?

A: Music was always something I did as a kid, I was always recording in my basement after school. I always knew I wanted to do it but the music business can be really tough and I was waiting for the opportunity to come. It’s always been something I loved and wanted to pursue.

Q: Listening to you latest album, there is a great mix between singer-songwriter tracks and electronic downbeats, is that something that came naturally? Do you see a lot of your influences factor into your music creation?

A: I have been doing a mix of the two for a while now, all three of my albums have been like that. This recent one does have more of an RnB/jazz influence, but I really like the combination of the real instrumentation verses electronic music. I like more of the downtempo, relaxed beats than EDM.

Q: What has the response been like for the EP?

A: Yeah, it seemed pretty good! We are still getting press on it and still pushing it. I’ve heard a lot of great stuff about it so I’m excited. Im going to be working up a new single that will be released in the beginning of the new year.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to regularly? Do you listen to the same genre that you create in?

A: I grew up listening to all types of music, my parents showed me a lot of older music and I used to listen to a lot of jazz which I think influenced my sound. The stuff I listen to now is electronic, RnB and new soul. A lot stuff from out of London and Europe.

Q: What is your song writing process like? Do tracks just come to you or do you sit down with the goal to create more music?

A: I never plan to write a song, I usually start by sampling on a guitar or keyboard and then I’ll hear a chord progression. Once I get that I’ll start humming a melody over it and then I usually save lyrics to the end.

Q: What is your favorite thing about performing live?

A: It depends on the show, I’m bringing a band with me on this tour so it’s nice to have the songs emulate the recordings. The songs are being brought to life, they still sound like the recordings but have that live, raw feel. It’s nice to hear what I created back to me in a live setting and also have a connection with the audience.

Check out Deanna Devore on her Facebook page and Instagram!

EVIE JOY

Q: When did you start playing music and performing?

A:  I started performing when I was very young. My mom used to take me to the doctor's office near by where she worked as a nurse and have me sing songs to the doctors. Then that continued as I got older, I started singing in church and I learned how to sing opera from a teacher in town!

Q: What has been your favorite venue to play?

A: Comedy venues have been great, the audience is so engaged and normally that freaks comedians out but as a musician, that is your best bet! I have been pretty successful with comedic songs as well as my serious songs and they are great to perform there. I’m definitely going to be writing more!

Q: When writing your own music, do you typically draw from inspiration from bands you like or try to create you own individual sound? Who are some of your biggest influences?

A: I think everyone tries to create their own individual sounds, I draw inspiration from Sarah Bareilles. She has been a huge influence, her music is wonderful and her emphasis on words is something that I find very refreshing. Jazz is a huge influence as well, I sing jazz all around NYC at little clubs, I have a couple of residencies where I sing and perform every month. 

Q: Was music something you have always wanted to do or have you found a love for it over the last however many years?

A: It was always something I did, I’ve done it ever since I came out of the womb. They said I was humming when I was born and after some tragic experiences in my childhood, music was something that I always used to help me cope and to heal. It’s my only true love, even though the industry can be tough at times.

Q: "Expiration Date" came out at the end of October, what has the response been like? Are you currently working on any new stuff that fans can get ready for?

A: The response has been really great, really well received! It’s fun because the video for the single is a coded video. It’s kinda got political message, not only i do find a Trump hat in my ex boyfriends apartment but its also hinting that he is a representation of trump in that he has cheated and lied, now I’m taking back the house! There’s a lot of hidden things in there so people should definitely check it out and see what they can catch! I have some new singles that will be coming out in the next coming months. I have one in particular that we are revving up for that will be coming out in the next quarter and others that will follow in the second quarter.

Q: What is the best part about performing for a live audience?

A: When you can find a connection and you have to improv as things go along. I used to hate mistakes but now I’m starting to be okay with it and just go with it. The fact that you can change things up as you go and get some laughs, especially when I’m doing comedy, its the best feeling.

Q: We can't wait for the show tonight, what can fans expect?

A: I will be doing some musical comedy and ukulele rap, ill be looping and new singles that can only be heard live right now.

Check out Evie Joy on her Facebook page and website!

The show is TONIGHT at 8pm! Link to event page HERE

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

Interview with Boston Rock Group The Ultra!

The Ultra, rock ‘n’ roll band from Boston, are coming to The Fire on Friday, November 16th! I got the opportunity to sit down with Sam (guitar), Pat (bass) and Shaqed (drums) and talk to them about creating their sound, what it was like performing at Gillette Stadium and how the last year has been since forming the band. Check out the full interview down below!

Q: What got you all into music? Is this a passion you’ve had since you were young or did you find your love for it within the last few years?

Sa: I think our parents got us all into music. My dad still gives me a hard time about it, I ruined all of his Beatles records as a kid because I would just play them so much. I made my mom made too because I would just steal all of the pots and pans and pretend I was Ringo.

Sh: We all have different pathways that got us into music. I am from Israel originally and my mom was really well known singer there and so I was just born into the industry.

P: My mom got me a guitar for Christmas when I was about 6, a little acoustic guitar, so I was really grateful for that.

Q: It has been a little bit under a year since you guys first became officially The Ultra, how have the last few months been releasing so much new music and just growing a band?

Sa: It has been very exciting and face paced, and very, very busy at all times.

P: Yeah, it’s been a wild ride!

Sh: Initially when we were playing as Alec Mac we were having a lot of fun but there was this very immediate agreement that hey, we’ve got to do something more than we are doing now. Then “Lights Go Down”, our first song, materialized really fast and now here we are.

Sa: Yeah and after a few trips to California and rehearsing a lot, we are pretty immersed in our field right now.

Q: That all sounds really awesome, what has been your favorite venue to play at so far?

Sa: Gillette Stadium, that was last Sunday before the Pats vs. Packers game. That was really something, it was a really fun gig.

P: We were opening for LoCash, we didn’t know this but people were texting us saying we were on tv and that was really surreal.

Sh: I think as of late, that place seems so untouchable and just to be in that vicinity is amazing.

Sa: The next step is being the headliner!

Q: From listening to your latest single “Look Like Kylie” and the EP, I really get the sense that your music is this fantastic blend of early 2000s punk rock and today’s country music. Was that sound something that came naturally when you guys first jammed together?

P: I’ve known Alec for like a million and a half years, we grew up together, and we started our first rock band in like 6th grade so rock n roll has been the goal for us. Then we split ways, he did his thing with country and then we came back to form this band so it is interesting having that country aspect of it. Our music is still heavily punk rock vibes. We were big Good Charlotte fans, I used to wear spikes in my hair because I love Benji Madden.

Sa: I will tell you right now this guy right here [pointing at Shaqed] is the second coming of Travis Barker.

Sh: Oh, thanks man! I think the thing that really makes the combination work is that we do have a center of about 2 or 3 bands that we all love and listen to but then we all come from such different backgrounds musically and it all adds that something extra.

Sa: Exactly and I think the four of us find common ground with our influences because they all have a similar energy.

Q: You guys got to work with producer Courtney Ballard who has done stuff for bands like All Time Low and Good Charolette. What was it like working with him?

Sh: He’s unbelievable, I’ve been buddies with him for about 3 or 4 years now. I met him just before I started college. I was in another band and we were looking to record an EP and we stumbled upon his studio. Then when we formed this band I had this instinctive feeling that he would really like our stuff so I sent him some tracks to see what he thought and he really liked it.

P: His stuff is awesome, we were ripping the new Waterparks album last night, which he produced, and it is just amazing. Anything he does is amazing. When we went to go record “Getaway”, I thought the verse guitar riff was like an All Time Low riff, and when we walked into the studio he asked me if it was cool if he changed it around. I looked up and saw the platinum All Time Low placard on his wall and I told him of course, I’ve gone straight to the source.

Q: What's a song you've written that came out of nowhere? Maybe from just staring at a tree or making food and then think ‘Oh this would make a cool song’.

Sa: “Lights Go Down” was a weird on take thing. It was our Big Bang, we created a real tangible energy with that song.

Sh:  I think the random part about it was the way we started the band with Alec coming from Nashville and him coming back for jaw surgery. He hit us all up because he wanted to play and make some money so we kind of just built off the crazy, unique energy that was present from the beginning.

Q: It seems like within the last couple months you guys have been playing a lot of cool places and really growing your fan base. What is your dream venue to play? Is there a place where if you were to headline or play there, you would get that ‘yeah we made it’ feeling?

Sa: We got a little taste of it this summer. We headlined Brighton Music Hall in our hometown, it’s like a 500 person club and we gave them their biggest ticket sales of the summer.

P: In terms of venues we hope to play, in our home town we’d probably say the House of Blues. That’s probably the biggest club in Boston.

Q: You guys hit the ground running with all of the new releases in the last couple of months, can fans be expecting new material soon? Maybe some more singles or a possible full album?

P: We’ve got some things we’ve been holding on to and we are still figuring out the release plan for that. We’re in studio shift right now and we’re cooking some things up.

Sh: Yeah we’re always cooking new things!

Sa: The beginning of 2019 is gonna be pretty loud. I think that is what we are gearing up for! We’ll let people enjoy the holidays before we bombard them with all the new stuff.

Q: Do you guys have any fun stories from being on tour or when creating new music?

P: One time we had a mosh pit to the song ‘Wagon Wheel’, that was really crazy. Fireworks works behind the stage playing a billionaire's estate in Maine.

Sh: Yeah nothing too crazy, we are pretty relaxed but do like to have fun!

And that is what you can expect from the show next Friday! Come by and rock out with this awesome band!

Check out The Ultra on Facebook and their website!

The band are joining Black Tie Stereo and Menace of Canvas  at The Fire Friday, November 16th. Link to the event HERE

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

Interview with Graham from Protean Collective

We got the chance to ask Graham Bacher, vocals/guitar of Protean Collective, a few things about the band and their evolvement over the last 8 years. Check it out down below!

Q: We are so excited to have you play tonight! You mentioned this is a return gig in PA. What are you most excited about playing in the city again?  

A: When we play in Philadelphia, the crowds are just awesome.  Lots of great music fans and energy, and we always end up meeting some cool people.  We’re hoping to see some familiar faces and make some new friends, and to eat some awesome cheesesteaks.

Q: What is one aspect of the band’s live performance that you feel makes it a great one?

A: Well, we try to be the tightest band that we possibly can and also have a lot of fun sharing our music with people, so hopefully that chemistry comes off to the audience and makes the show memorable.

Q: Your discography looks to have been cultivating since 2010. How would you say your music has evolved over the last 8 years?

A: I think probably the biggest difference is just our evolution as songwriters.  I think we’ve always had a lot of really good ideas, but we’ve gotten much stronger at forming those into impactful, cohesive songs that stick with you.

Q: What is the band’s song writing process like?

A: It varies song to song, but typically we’ll start with a riff or a beat or something, and we’ll just jam together and see what ideas work. Once we have a few ideas, we’ll start adding vocals in and figuring out how to arrange it. It’s a very collaborative writing process, which has always been one of the things that really helps define us as a band.

Q: Some of your listed influences include Soundgarden and Porcupine Tree. How have those bands, or any others, impacted your music or your desire to be a performer?

A: You know, all of us grew up with music being such a focal point of life.  I grew up absolutely idolizing the music those guys made, and wanting to create something that made people feel the way I felt about their music.

Q: Your latest LP “Collapse” came out in 2017. What was the response to that like? Can fans be expecting any new material coming out soon?

A: The response was absolutely incredible.  We were fortunate that a lot of our fans helped us fund the album with pre-orders through an Indiegogo, so it was really awesome to have them be a part of the creation process.  We’re so happy with how the album came out and just want to get it to as many listeners as we can at this point.  

We haven’t started officially writing anything yet for the next release, just playing around with some ideas- right now we’re just focusing on trying to share this album with the world.  We’re getting very excited to make new music again though, so hopefully we can start on that before long.

Q: What is the inspiration behind the name “Protean Collective”?

A: Haha, probably overthinking!  We really wanted something that describes and encapsulates what we’re trying to do as a band.  Protean means something that can change shape easily and transform; Collective because everything we do is such a collaborative process.  I’d say years later it’s still pretty accurate to what we’re trying to accomplish with our music.

Q: From the various performances done over the years of being a band, what have been some of the most memorable shows and what made them that way?

A: I think for me, the most memorable shows were when we got to play with Cynic and with Pain of Salvation.  Both those shows, we got to play with incredible bands who really had a formative influence on us, and at each the crowd energy was just incredible. That’s what makes a good show for me- is just when you look out and see people so excited about what we’re doing

Q: What can people expect from the show on Wednesday?

A: Hopefully a lot of power and dynamic!  We’re going to be playing some songs from Collapse and a few songs from the Red and the Grey, our previous album.  There should be a pretty wide range of material, and we’re just excited to get on stage and play for you!

Check out Protean Collective on Facebook and their website!

The band are joined by Crown of Earth tonight! Show starts at 8PM!

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

Pre-Show Interview with Cave Light

Q: We can’t wait for the show tonight! Is this the first time you’re performing in Philadelphia? If so, what have you heard about the city? What are you most excited about?

A: We’ve never played Philadelphia before, but it seems like the DIY scene is really killer, and we’ve obviously heard about your cheesesteaks. We’re really excited to play the Fire.

Q: How did all of you meet and decide to become a band? What was the inspiration behind creating the name Cave Light?

A: Cody and Kyle have been playing together for about four years and and started playing with Matt and Jesse within the last couple. The tight diy scene in Minneapolis made it pretty easy to link up. As for the name, Plato had something to do with it? But also maybe glowworms.

Q: The latest EP “Bird, Watched” features 5 awesome original tracks. What’s your process for writing music? Does every member write, is it a large collaboration or do you have a couple that primarily write?

A: It’s usually Kyle that comes up with the skeleton for each tune, musically. Cody and Kyle usually jam stuff out before the rest of the band hears it to get a structure, and then Matt and Jesse come up with their parts and make suggestions. Cody writes all the lyrics and vocal melodies.

Q: You list Animal Collective, Soul Asylum and Collective Soul as some of your favorite artists. How have those impacted your music style and performance technique?

A: Animal Collective is probably the only band on that list that we actually vibe with; that entire section is a total joke. In seriousness, everyone has incredibly varied musical tastes and backgrounds. We try to shirk a lot of conventions, or twist them in some way. People have a hard time describing our sound, and we like that. We all believe in DIY, that’s probably the simplest way to describe what we draw inspiration from.

Q: One of the things I love is on your website you use the phrase “emo rock for adults”. Has that “emo” genre been constant since the start of Cave Light? How has your music evolved since you first started playing together?

A: Emo has been a constant tag for the band, yeah. We don’t think of ourselves as an emo band, but a lot of the melodies and guitar-oriented stuff seem to remind our friends a lot of their high school days and tastes. Over time, mostly our sound has evolved by including more elements from different places, country music in particular.

Q: The tour started earlier this week, how has it been going so far? I know it’s only been a couple of days but how are you liking life on the road?

A: We’re having a ton of fun on tour, it’s gone really well so far. We haven’t starved or frozen to death, and we’ve played with some really cool bands. As long as we can play a set and sell some tapes, we’re happy.

Q: How do you balance your life and regular life? What’s your biggest tour tip?

A: Tour tip: Ginger shots and unsalted nuts. Miss us with that salt. As far as balance, this is our life. We have jobs, but when we get back, we’re going to play shows at home, and work to save up money until we go out on tour again

Q: What can people expect from tonight’s show??

A: You can expect to see the 4 of us playing our hearts out on stage, and our homies in Splimit tearing the roof off the place.

Q: This night is not only just a show but a Halloween party, are you guys planning to wear any costumes? If so, what are you planning to be? What has been your favorite Halloween costume you’ve ever worn?

A: We’re still figuring costumes out, but we’re leaning toward being members of the Mystery Inc. gang. I was the Tin Man for Halloween once, that costume was sick.

Check out Cave Light’s Facebook page and website! 

The band is joining mirrorsigns, Splimit and Apt A tonight! Doors open at 8PM // Music starts at 9PM

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

Interview with New Zealand artist Graeme James!

Q: From your bio we see that most of your performances have been in New Zealand. Is this your first time playing in Philadelphia? If so, what have you heard about the city or what are most excited about for this performance?

A: Yes, this is my first time playing in Philadelphia, although it is not my first time in the city! When I was a child I lived with my family in The Netherlands and we came to visit some friends over here- it was the first place I ever visited in the United States! I acquired a Philadelphia Eagles cap on that trip (despite having no idea who they were!) and ended up wearing it for years afterwards.

Q: You’re joined by Alex Preston on this tour. How did you guys meet and have you ever combined music styles/collaborated with each other on stage?

A: Alex and I share the same booking agent- Jason Marcil at Ed Keane Associates, so it was he who put us together. I’m really stoked that he did! We have been having a great time on the road together, with lots of laughs. We’ve been jamming on stage together every night- I’ll usually get up and accompany him for a few of his songs on my violin.

Q: Starting the violin at the age of 7, did ever have any idea that this is what you would be doing? If not, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?

A: Actually at the time, I dreamed of being a concert violinist. It was only after a wrist injury that I picked up the guitar for the first time and started writing my own songs- a serendipitous turn of events.

Q: How would you say your performing and original music have evolved since you first started making this your full time career?

A: I’ve grown a lot in being my own front man. It wasn’t always natural at first, but years of street performing has taught me to really engage with who is there and to tell stories. It was actually performing on the streets that was such an enabler in developing my sound too- there you have an opportunity to try songs out on people without the pressure of being in a club. You can tell if a song is going to stick, because people stay to listen or just keep walking- they didn’t pay to be there, so their actions are very honest.

Q: What was your favorite part about living and growing your craft in New Zealand? What similarities and differences do you see with the American music industry?

A: The size of New Zealand is pretty special for a performing artists- whilst the quality of music is exceptionally high, there just isn't the same number of people trying to “make it” as there is in the US. This has been a huge enabler for me- this tour for instance is funded by the New Zealand Music Commission, who cover 50% of the expenses of a NZ artist who is taking their music to an overseas market. Kiwis really support the arts. The size of the industry here can make it challenging for an artist to make it big, but the incredibly rich history of music here and it’s various different styles is truly inspiring.

Q: “The Times Are Changing” just came out Aug. 17th. What was the inspiration behind that single and what was the response like for it?

A: The response has been fantastic! I’ve really been enjoying people singing along at shows. The song was inspired by faded aerial photograph from the 1960’s that I found while on holiday in New Zealand in a place called Castlepoint, which is a small beach town on the rugged coast of the North Island. The lyrics are an attempt to capture the bittersweet emotion you feel when you look back and reflect on the changes both in and around you. It’s knowing that nothing will ever be the same, while realizing that this fact is the very thing that makes the present both meaningful and exciting.

Q: You’ve released 3 albums and 4 singles/eps so far. What can fans expect in terms of new music in the near future?

A: I’m excited to be releasing my second original album in January 2019! Before that I have a single coming out in a month’s time named “Reverie”.

Q: What can fans expect from tonight’s show?

A: A collection of foot stomping folk songs featuring electric violin, guitar, bass, ukulele, harmonica, mandolin, vocals and percussion- all through a loop pedal, and some good stories from the road. Opening the night will be Alex Preston, who just released an album last Friday named ‘A Work in Progress’. Alex has the voice of an angel and is an incredible songwriter, so you’ll be in for a treat!

Check out Graeme James on his website and Facebook page. Also check out Alex Preston on his Facebook page and website for more info!

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

By Jackie Karlsson

[thefirephilly]

New Interview with Philly Local Band Moonroof!

Moonroof will one of the performers at The Fire this Saturday, October 20th! Check out a cool little pre-show interview we did with them:

Q: We are so excited to have you play at The Fire on October 20th! I know you guys are from Philly, what has it been like doing performances in the city? What do you love most about the Philly music scene?

A: Well we actually started playing together in college up in Bloomsburg, and we moved down here to have better access to an already thriving scene. We love the people here! There’s always someone coming up to us after shows to compliment us, and we’ve made some great connections. There’s no shortage of cool venues, either.

Q: You list some of your influences as Last Dinosaurs, The Strokes and The 1975. How have those artists, or others that have influenced you, impacted your music/song writing process? How have those artists shaped the way you perform on stage?

A: A lot of times we’ll be really into one particular song by an artist that one of us loves, and we’ll use that as the inspiration for a jam sesh that eventually evolves into a new song. We also spend a lot of time watching how our favorite artists move around on stage - when we first started, we were a lot more stiff, but with every show we play, we loosen up a bit!

Q: Your latest EP "Good Luck Out There" came out in April of this year, what was your process in creating those 6 tracks and chasing those to put them on the EP? How was the response from release?

A: When we came to Philly, we all moved into one house together. It was our first time striking out into the “real world,” so the EP had a theme of growing up and forging a new path. We spent a lot late nights up in the attic just jamming and writing. The response was fine, and there was a lot of positive feedback from those who heard it.

Q: How would you say your performing and original music have evolved since you first started out?

A: “Good Luck Out There” actually came out right before a lineup change, so we had a 5th member who was also a big part of writing those tracks. After a summer of adapting to being a 4-piece, we have some new stuff coming out soon that’s going to sound a lot different, and we’re really excited to see how people react.

Q: In your bio, you mention really trying to work the Philly underground scene. Have you played any shows in different cities? Is a tour something the band has been thinking about doing and if so, what places would you most want to play?

A: When we first started out, you wouldn’t recognize us. We were actually just playing open mics with a guitar/piano/cajon lineup, & we didn’t really have a specific style. Our 2 originals were this really dark and epic track about a fire burning everything down, and a disgustingly sweet pop song called “Sweetest Girl.” After college, we buckled down and started taking things seriously - and our sound started to shape into what it is today.

Q: What can people expect from the show on Saturday? Post show, what is next for the band in terms of music release? Maybe some more singles or possibly an album?

A: They can expect a fun time & some good conversation… Our buddy Fonvery actually put this whole thing together, so we're pumped to see the other bands on the bill, too. We just wrapped up recording some new singles and a music video, and we’ll be showing off those songs at the show! We’ll be releasing the singles over the next few months, so stay tuned!

Moonroof website and Facebook

The band is joining FONVERY, Good Luck Hornet and Distant Destroyer this Saturday night! Doors open at 8:30PM // Show starts at 9PM

Stay up-to-date on all things happening at The Fire HERE 

[thefirephilly]

Interview with alt-pop/rock band GVRDEN

This Thursday, Connecticut-based alternative pop/rock band GVRDEN is coming through Philly and playing at The Fire. We had the opportunity to ask the band’s creator Mike about starting his band, how his influences impacted his writing and what he is most excited about playing a show in Philly. Check out the full interview below!

Q: We are so excited to have you play on October 18th, is this your first first time playing in Philadelphia? What are you most excited for playing in the city?

A: We are also excited! This is actually GVRDEN’s Philly debut; something we’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. I’ve played personally in Philadelphia before, and I’m ready to come back with this project. I’d have to say the thing I’m most excited for, returning to Philly, is the cheese steaks. I may have to break my no-red-meat diet! Q: You list some of your influences as My Chemical Romance, Say Anything and Taking Back Sunday. How have those artists impacted your music/song writing process? A: Well to start, MCR’s Gerard Way, and Taking Back Sunday’s Adam Lazzara have both been immense inspirations in my life when it comes to singing; I must have every lyric memorized by this point from singing along in my car so much. Beyond that, the influence of MCR’s ability to capture a darker emotion, and express it, definitely comes out on a track like Grove, while that lighthearted summer feel of Taking Back Sunday and Say Anything is more apparent on tracks like A Lack of Better Words, or Just Call.

Q: Since the release of your latest single “Grove”, which you said was a little bit more aggressive than your other releases, how have people responded? A: The response is fantastic, I never expected it to catch on so quickly. I’ve had more than just a few friends tell me they’ve already got the lyrics memorized. The harder sound felt like a natural progression, and I’m glad that that’s the general consensus.

Q: How would you say your performing and original music have evolved since you first started out? A: Well when GVRDEN first started out, I didn’t play guitar live yet, and now that I do, our live sound is definitely more full. As far as original music, expect the next record to be HUGE.

Q: GVRDEN was your conceptual creation, how did you find your bandmates? Where they people you already knew or did you search out people that had the same creative visions? A: Well we did have a different lineup of members in the beginning. We were all friends that wanted to tour, and after that the rest of the band decided to move on. There was a point after our tour around the time when we released the video for Just Call, that I was actually the only member of the band. The release of that video was like a spark in the darkness for me, and I guess it gave me the confidence to push forward, and link up with Chris Adams who I knew from mutual friends. We must’ve jammed together for about a month or two before Troy, then being someone I had only met at a bar once, randomly messaged me on facebook mentioning how he wants to be involved in music, and if I would want to jam sometime. Like that he joined. Gabe was lucky break number two. He was a regular customer at the store I worked at, and I had a certain vibe I felt about him so I asked him if he played bass, and that’s how we got Gabe. Basically after that came the re-branding from Garden to GVRDEN and the rest leads us here.    Q: What can people expect from the show next week? Maybe some songs from the upcoming album? A: We’re going to be playing from our fall catalogue to close up the season before we take a break into November for studio time. We usually like to spice up the set with a notable cover, but we try to make it something you wouldn’t expect. We list our lyrics up on bandcamp and encourage all to brush up on them before the set, but unfortunately you’ll have to wait till next time for any sneak peaks into the new record other than Grove.

Check out GVRDEN on their Facebook and Instagram!

The show will also be featuring artists Tiger Castle, The Ratio and Oh Jeezus.

Doors open at 7:30PM / / Show at 8PM  -  link to the event

Make sure to go to our website to keep up-to-date on all events happening at The Fire!

[thefirephilly]

End of Pipe Pre-Performance Interview

The Fire -- Earlier this week, we were able to ask Brazil-based band End Of Pipe a couple questions about themselves and their upcoming show at The Fire. Check out what they had to say down below!

Q: How would you describe your band/music style? Who are some of your major influences?

A: Our band music style is 90s punk Rock and our major influences are Farside, Bad Religion, Pegboy, Samiam, Hot Water Music and many others.

Q: End of Pipe is such a cool name, what is the origin?

A: We always searching for the barrel exit, we are surfers that's why the name. Also END OF PIPE means a great thing :  Methods used to remove already formed contaminants from a stream of air, water, waste, product or similar. These techniques are called 'end-of-pipe' as they are normally implemented as a last stage of a process before the stream is disposed of or delivered

Q: How long have you guys known each other?

A: We've known each other for 20 years already.

Q: When did your band form? What inspired you to make music together?

A: End of Pipe formed in Florianópolis, SC. in Brazil in 2006, Campeche beach. It is always good to make music with those who breathe the same ideas and share many things in common.

Q: How has your culture impacted your music? Your lyrics are in English, have you always written lyrics in English or sometimes switch between that and Portuguese?  

A: We were inspired by skateboarding and surfing soundtracks from the 90s and early 2000s, these are our influences. It's not because we do not like Portuguese music, it's just that we grew up with other types of music, that’s why we just wrote our song in English.

Q: What is your song writing process like? Do you write your music together

A: Usually Uirá come up with ideas of riffs and melodies and the rest of the band will give their opinion during rehearsals.

Q: How has your music evolved since your first started playing together?

A: Is perceptible our evolution throughout our releases , since the first release “ Don’t Think Twice” until our last single “Get Alive”

Q: You just released a brand new song ‘Get Alive’, along with an awesome   music video earlier this month. What was the inspiration behind the song and the video?

A: The video was inspired by the 90s VHS tape time that refers to a very special moment of all of the band and practically everything that we lived from that golden age.The music says that the moments of inspirations can´t be denied, .. besides the power to say "No" that is one of the greatest wisdoms of life . finding personal evolution.

Q: Is this your first tour in the US? What are you most excited about? What does this mean for your band?

A: This is our second tour in the USA, we are very happy , it is one of the happiest times in our musical career. We will do a total of 15 concerts total and we was selected for one of the biggest punk rock festivals in the world, THE FEST that brings together more than 300 bands in the city of gainesville in Florida, we feel very honored to be the first Brazilian band of punk rock to be invited to this great festival that brings together great bands from all over the world.

Q: How was planning for the tour? What went into creating your set list?

A: I run a booking agency it’s called Foreign Bands on tour in I've been working for 6 months every day on this tour ... it was hard work.

Q: What are you most excited about performing in Philadelphia? What have you heard about the city?

A: I'm friends of a ska punk band from Philly called Behind Deadlines, I do not know anything about the city, but we're very happy to be able to play there!

Q: What can we expect from End of Pipe in the next few months? Another single? Possibly an EP or album?

A: We have a full album all composed, get ready for the best material of the band, we are very happy to be able to present some songs from the album in this tour in the USA, probably after the tour we will go to the studio to record this album so expected by us!

Check out End of Pipe, along with Burnout Star and With Friends Like These at The Fire Saturday, October 13th at 9pm. All the event details can be found HERE!

Head over to End of Pipe’s website for more info.

Stay up-to-date on all The Fire news and events here: https://www.firephilly.com

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at The Fire

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#ElectricChurch returns tomorrow night at the Fire presented by @illfatednatives with @hardworkmovement @aimetothe and @deejaysylo (at The Fire)

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Monday means Open-Mic Night at the Fire. (at The Fire)