Get to know these badass bands!
Gold Steps is bringing the easycore back to life. Hailing from Austin, TX, Gold Steps is ready to take the punk world by storm by ways of dank riffs, female fronted vocals, and fast punk beats with a touch of chugging when necessary. The band released its first recorded music on Bandcamp just earlier this month, and it looks as though it has really caught on.
Describe the first memory you can recall.
David: Jumping out on pre-k
Roger: Playing super Mario brothers 3 with my dad.
Cam: Falling off my bike when trying to ride without training wheels. I was 4.
Zach: I'd like to say christmas of 7th grade when my dad got me a first act bass guitar, which was my first, and I started learning blink 182 songs by ear. That was a good memory of mine.
Liz: Running around the yard singing while my childhood home was being built. There were just big piles of dirt, and my dad had his video camera out, and I was being silly and singing "Aiken Drum," that song about the man who lived in the moon and had spaghetti for hair and eyes made of meatballs.
What is your view of the state of music and the music business in its current state?
D: Diy is the way to go...
R: It's really pathetic to be honest. 90 percent of the chart topping hits over the last 10 years were written by the same 15 people. The industry itself is failing the artists financially and artistically.
C: I love that it has become a lot more diy. Anyone can record an album with relatively inexpensive equipment and spread it through digital means. Drive and ambition are still a big part of it, but I've heard some great music from bands that wouldn't have had a chance 10 years ago.
Z: myspace was the way to get ahold of music, and I felt like once we lost that, it was a huge loss for bands, nowadays bands can promote on Facebook and although it redirects you to other pages I think it would be beneficial for Facebook to actually have a media player on the band profiles just as MySpace had it. The music and merch is now easily accessible and having a credit card reader for merch is also necessary. I myself am mostly here to just have fun and experience new venues.
L: I love how music and the industry has progressed. It's easier than ever now for people to access bands from all over the world. We have friends here in Austin who have shipped merch to Europe! All because it's so easy to be discovered through online streaming services and social media. The ability to reach people through social media is another thing that makes being a musician easier. We can book shows, meet new promoters, create merch orders and promote our music and shows all from our phones. You can do it all yourself, and that's awesome! I also think it's amazing how music is so diverse now even within the same genre; two bands that are both under the same genre umbrella can be set apart in style and demographics. For example, pop-punk used to conjure a very specific image, and now encompasses bands as different from each other as State Champs and A Day to Remember. I love that, because it keeps things fresh and people aren't afraid to push their genre's boundaries.
What were you in a past life?
R: I took one of those Facebook quizzes one time, and it said I was a wolf,so I'm going to go with that.
L: I can't imagine myself as anything other than a singer or musician. I love Judy Garland and the glamour of old Hollywood, so maybe I was once a performer during that era.
Describe the purpose behind what your music is trying to get across and into the world.
R: To be the voice and inspiration for kids and young adults that grew up like me to show them that theyre not alone and things will get better.
C: I just like to have fun with it. Personally, I've always had issues with depression and anxiety. I've found music to be a creative release that helps me to put that aside. If I can help another person with the way they feel, I'm satisfied.
Z: Having fun, creating a sound that is unique yet inviting to all types of genres. Pop punk is my favorite type of music because it has an easy core to it, and it's something I think everyone can enjoy. Also creating a female fronted pop punk band is unique in its own way as well
L: As a band, we're trying to keep up an inclusive and supportive community of friends and fans. We're very lucky to have that in Austin. We like to have fun, and aren't interested in being cutthroat or competitive. You're more likely to find us singing in the front row of any local show we aren't playing, because we support our friends in other bands. For myself, lyrically I write about past experiences, or try to create strong imagery or stories in my lyrics and hope that other people can relate to them. That's the kind of music that has always resonated with me, and I think my songs reflect that.
What originally sparked you to play music?
R: The drum intro from the song aliens exist by blink 182.
C: My dad played guitar a lot. When blink 182 first got big I saved as much money as I could and bought my first squier strat. I decided it was something I'd like to do, entertaining people is what I love most.
Z: Blink 182 and their perverted jokes. It seems as though they messed around for most of their careers and made it work.
L: I've always wanted to be a singer, but I really took it seriously once artists like Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne took off. I asked for a guitar for Christmas when I was 12, and started writing songs in my room. When I started listening to bands like Sugarcult and Fall Out Boy, I knew I wanted to sing in a band. Being part of a group is important to me, because they help me become a stronger and better musician. I have to think about how my vocals fit in with everything else going on, and that can be an exciting challenge. Plus, you have a built-in sounding board for ideas and constructive feedback. We elevate each other.
What's next for your band?
R: To conquer the world,become a phenominon,and be the next motley crue.
C: We have an EP coming out at the beginning of fall which we're all excited for, and we'd like to book a small tour so we can see the south and introduce more people to our music.
Z: Releasing our EP and playing more shows throughout Texas and hopefully the country.
L: Planning our EP release for this fall, getting our first big merch order together, writing new material, and playing! We have 7 shows already booked, not including our EP release and another we are still confirming a lineup for. We keep busy, but we love every second of it.
D: Louder than words release on september!!!
R: Change comes to those who force it to appear,never give up never quit.
Z: If you are looking to record, Blackroom studios is an amazing choice, and very happy we chose them for our EP
L: I can't say enough good things about Blackroom Studios in Georgetown. We recorded our EP there with Luke Garrigus, and it was the best experience from beginning to end. He gets exactly what we're trying to do, and he's as professional as you can get while being fun and dealing with our shenanigans. I can't wait for us to get back there to record our next set of songs!
KPM is fronted by long time friend Eric Turner. Where the band was called No On 15 originally, the band made the name switch in early 2013. KPM started in Abilene, TX but the band has since moved to Denton, playing more and more in the DFW area since. Drawing influences from bands such as Jawbreaker and Drive Like Jehu, KPM is a band that only 90’s kids can remember. On Friday, June 24th, the band put out their sophomore LP up on the internet. The record was recorded at Bad Wolf Recordings with Phillip Odom, and was produced by Andrew Rodriguez (ex-Close Your Eyes, Homestead). You can stream the new record on Bandcamp, or listen to their single on our SoundCloud page!
Describe the first memory you can recall.
Eric: Playing air drums to Rush songs in my car seat when I was 3-4
What is your view of the state of music and the music business in its current state?
Music is doing good, the music business is an evil clusterfuck.
What were you in a past life?
Energy floating through this vast universe
Describe the purpose behind what your music is trying to get across and into the world.
Showing people that this reality is not as important as we make it out to be. Shitty things happen to us all the time but we can't let certain situations or people control our existence. No one can define who you are, only you can, so live a life acknowledging the bad but strive to inspire positivity and love.
What originally sparked you to play music?
Not sure, I just always wanted to play music as far back as I can remember but seeing Kiss in 4th grade(all original members btw) certainly helped.
What's next for your band?
Play shows all over Texas then go on tour over the Christmas break when I'm out of school.
Get off your phone and read a book, create art, love everyone(even the douche bags) and go listen to our new record My Ship Will Sail on our bandcamp. You won't be disappointed!
Forever Starts Today will be the second female fronted act of the night! Woo! FST is a pop rock act also from Austin. They are known for having energy filled live performance and having crowd pleasing “fist pumping anthems”. On March 23rd of this year, the band put out their Limitless EP, which was recorded and produced by Joseph Milligan of Anberlin. Their guitar player has also been granted a sponsorship by local guitar manufacturer Moniker Guitars so I’m sure we will see him sporting one of their selections on Wednesday.
Describe the first memory you can recall.
Christina: Probably my 6th birthday party, having it at Northcross Mall and Ice-Skating. I remember it very vividly.
What is your view of the state of music and the music business in its current state?
Now-A-Days you can't just be a singer to make it. You have a to be a triple threat, in almost anything. You need to know how to DIY for songwriting, social media, setting up your own shows, booking your own tours; record labels want to see that you can create a buzz about your band without their help. If YOU aren't putting in the effort yourself to market and further your career, why would they invest money in you? My view of the Music Business is that it's very difficult for the little guy to rise up, but with enough persistence, a good attitude and no bridges burned... you're destined for success!
What were you in a past life?
Jesus created me just as I am in this life!
Describe the purpose behind what your music is trying to get across and into the world.
The purpose of Forever Starts Today is to show our audience that they can be and do anything they put their mind to. Whatever future they want to create for themselves is achievable and it starts TODAY! Start making moves! Break the barrier of fear you might have towards rejection or other peoples opinions. We strive to be a positive influence in the music industry!
What originally sparked you to play music?
FST was originally sparked to play music by watching other musicians as we all grew up individually. With Christina, it was Avril Lavigne, with Kyle G & Troy it was Green Day, with Kyle S it was Blink 182 and with Nathan it was Dragonforce.
What's next for your band?
Many many shows for the rest of the year and then into the studio for recording our first full-length album in December 2016!
Torchys Tacos. Topo Chico. Always.