Shadows Fall Interview

Interview by: Bob M
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter


When did the band form? and how long have you had your current lineup?
Brian:  The band formed in 1996, it was Matt and Jon writing songs together, then I joined in 1999 Then Jason the current drummer joined 3 years after that and he is still the new guy 8 years later.

What are your musical influences?
Brian: They range from common ground old school metal like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Thrash Metal, Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Melodic Death Metal, Individually we are the most SCHIZOPHRENIC music fans ever.

What would be one of your most memorable shows?
Brian: The Beast Festival in Japan as it was panteras last show ever, and I'll always hold that dear to my heart.

Do you like small venues or the big arenas?
Brian: I love them both for different reasons. We are used to playing small clubs we grew up in a D.I.Y. Hardcore Metal scene, where we would play peoples basements, VFW halls, I love the energy of no barricades and stage diving. But when your in an arena with 20 to 30,000 people you can't compare that energy to anything. But you feel seperated from the them as well, because your about 100 yards away from the audience. I love them both we would just be playing the local bar if we weren't doing this, we just love to play live.

What is the difference between playing cities like Atlanta and Baltimore, compared to the cities in Montana, and some of the really small towns?
Brian: When you play a smaller market like Fargofor the first time there were a few thousand kids and we were amazed that there were that many kids, and we hadn't done a show in about 1 1/2 years so they really appreciate it so much more. When you play New York there is like a show every night in the city, so there is probably 10 shows the night that you are playing, so they are more spoiled by the amount of shows they get. So when you play the smaller towns the kids go crazy and are happy they have something to do you can feel that in the room it's like their big weekend.

How was it playing Ozzfest?
Brian:  Ozfest was amazing!! We were lucky enough to do the 2nd stage in 2003 and the main stage in 2005. We got to see the whole world of it. In 2005 we shared the stage with Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath 2 of the greatest bands of all time. It dosen't get any cooler than that. It was a turning point for us as a band. Touring Ozzfest in 2003 got us in front of so many new people and kicked us up another notch. We appreciated that they had faith to put a kind of unknown band on the tour and let us grow from it.

What music do you listen to while on the road?
Brian: In the back lounge of the tour bus is a no distortion rule. After the show it's a chill spot where people listen to mellow music, some Reggae, I listen to alot of Greatful Dead. Up front is more of the party vibe, like Ratt, Dokken, AC/DC. We have 2 worlds pick your poison. After an 8 hour metal show your ears are pretty beat up, you have to pick and choose your battles.

I see you have a headlining tour of Canada coming up?
Brian: Yeah it's our first ever full Canadian tour. We've played Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, but we've never done the whole country hitting the small cities. We have a real eccelctic line up, 2 Canadian bands will be joining us, Bison BC, who are like Stoner Metal, a slower kind of grungy stuffand a newer band Baptised in Bloodand GoatWhore will be joining us for a little bit as well. We are really excited to see what the smaller Metal scene is like up there in the little towns, it's going to be cold but it's going to be very cool.

How is your new CD Retribution doing?
Brian: The CD is doing great. We are excited about our business situation. We teamed up with Warner Music and did a distribution deal with their independent label group, so we actually own the album and can make all the everyday decisions but we have the power of a major label to get us into retail and getting us into stores, it's kind of the best of both worlds. At a time when when record sales are hurting so bad the industry is kind of struggling we had to come up with a new motto this was a way that not only gave the band power but you also knew that all your hard work was giving you something as opposed to giving a Porsche to some dude in an office that you've never met. My favorite song on the c.d. has to be the opening track "MY DEMISE" because it's like a 6 1/2 minute epic that shows you everything that is going to happen on the record, it's like a blue print for the whole album.


What is it about metal music today versus metal music of the 80's that you think people dig the most?
Brian: In the 80's it had more of a poppy, clammy sound to it which was fun and now  the musicianship level is so huge and there is so many different stylesit's not stuck in little boxes, people are mixing all kinds of influences and pushing the genre. We've been influenced by 80's metal, we cover Bark At The Moon by OZZY, and have been known to play LIVE WIRE by MOTLEY CRUE because that fun vibe is something that may be missing from modern metal. We like the party vibe and honestly we like to party, but we take what we do seriously, but you have to have a good time.

With all the interviews you've done is there something that you want people to know but for some reasonit never gets included in what gets published?
Brian: We just like people to spread the word about our band. We've been lucky that people have really supported us like the press and radio for years and years. I like to think it is all the hard work we put in that they can see that and appreciate that. I've written reviews for magazines and interviewed bands, I've seen both sides of it, I've worked as a publicist for a little while doing the promotion side and I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into it, and we are very happy to get interviewed anytime.

Well Brian I want to thank you for your time and good luck on your upcoming headlining tour of Canada, and continued success.
Brian:  Your welcome


Band Website: www.shadowsfall.com

 

 

Music play list for the week ending January 24, 2010

Top 25  - In no particular order -

Movits! - Fel del av gården
Interpol - Slow Hands
Descendents - 'Merican
XTC - Senses Working Overtime
The Crowd - Letter Bomb
Pussy Cow - Jello Biafra
Resilience - Beat For The Beaten
The Germs - Manimal
Litmus Green - Hegemony
Redd Cross - Puss 'N' Boots
The Clash - Brand New Cadillac
X - Come Back To me
Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
Propagandhi - Nation Sates
Sin Dios - Canción De Amor
The Briefs - Silver Bullet
Oxymoron - Crisis Identity
Adolescents - Rip It Up
One Man Army - SOS
Bonecrusher - Hell I've Already Been There
The Clash - Death Or Glory
Against Me - You Look Like I Need A Drink
The Dollyrots - My Best Friend's Hot
Wesley Willis - Rock And Roll Power
NOFX - I'm A Huge Fan Of Bad Religion

The above list are some of the top played songs amongst our staff this week.

Get the albums that these songs are on HERE

Message of the week:
Rule No. 40 - find people who know things you don't.
-Glen Bell, Founder of Taco Bell

 

5 Finger Death Punch – Shadows Fall – God Forbid – 2 Cents – at The House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV

This was one night of Heavy Metal Thunder that started off with heavy metal head bangers 2 cents, they ripped through their 30 minute set like they were trying to rip through the Berlin Wall, They totally tore up The House Of Blues !! The entire audience was bangin their heads. The guitar riffs shredded the bass was well kick ass!! In between the drummer and lead vocalist this band started the night off the way a HEAVY METAL show should start. Which is Tearing up the place.

Next up was GOD FORBID from New Jersey. Another Head Banging bunch of dudes who have a following in Las Vegas, which was evident by the singing along of the songs and the hand gestures that are very familiar with Heavy Metal bands. These guys totally warmed up the audience even more for what was about to come. If this band plays near you and your a METAL HEAD definitely check them out.

3rd on the Heavy Metal bill is a band from Springfield Mass. "SHADOWS FALL" Formed in 1995 and fronted by lead singer Brian Fair, the man whose has dreads from his head to his toes, And a voice that is just so incredibly powerful !!! Paul Romanko on Bass, Matt Bachand on guitar and vocals, Jon Donais lead guitar and vocals and last but not least Jason Bittner on drums. You can't go wrong with this line up.

Playing songs like "Still I Rise" And a plethora of hits from the New CD "Redemption" They did more than destroy THE HOUSE OF BLUES! My favorite song of the night was when they did a cover of Ozzy Osbournes "Bark at the Moon" Just friggin incredible. This has to be one of the best Metal Bands I've seen in along time. They are on an extensive tour and when they come to destroy your city be sure you are there to experience The Musical Metal Madness of Shadows Fall. In A Word "INCREDIBLE"

Headlining this Heavy Metal night was 5 Finger Death Punch. With Ivan on Lead vocals, Zoltan on guitars, matt on Bass, Jason Hook on guitars and Jeremy on drums. By now the audience was ready for there dose of 5 finger Death Punch. Not to sound redundant but these Hard Rockers Killed !! and Totally Destroyed what was left of the stage. Playing hits off of their new CD as well as many favorites from CD's past. The audience was totally into this performance they didn't stop head banging once. Which gave me a headache watching them Bang their heads to this Heavy Metal Massacre. it seemed to me that the crowd knew every song from every band that played the way they sang along with just about every song played. I say give it up for these 5 guys because they put on an incredible performance. By the end of the night I was Spent, one Awesome night of Metal. Hats Off to all The bands that shredded The House Of Blues last Saturday. They are also on a major tour for their new CD if they come to city near you, you have to go see them, disappointed you will not be. I Guarantee you that.

Bob Mandoki
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

 

Movits!

A couple of months ago a close friend of mine told me that I really needed to give this new band a listen. The album name; Äppelknyckarjazz (Apple Swiper Jazz) by a band called Movits! When I first put the album on I was taken aback by what I was listening to; Jazz and Swedish rap. I don’t generally care for rap music, but man was this stuff cool!

Im a big fan of swing music, and generally a purist when it comes to how its played, but these guys were able to create an album of songs that are very unique and complementary to this great old jazz music. My friend called me last month to tell me that Movits were doing a U.S. tour and better yet would be playing at Spaceland in Silver Lake, CA. I went to buy tickets fully expecting that they would be no less than $25, but to my surprise it was only an $8 show!

The doors opened at 8:30, so we decided to hang out and have some drinks before the show started. To our surprise the show did not start till 11pm, at which time Movits took the stage. It was worth every second of the wait. The crowd was psyched, dancing around and having a great time. Movits had an amazingly fun stage presence dressed in Tuxedos with their own personal band crest embroidered into the breast pocket of their jackets. They played most of their songs off their first album, and introduced a few new songs as well. At one point they invited Zacke, a Swedish Hip-Hop artist they were touring with, to do a few songs with them.

Movits played a nice full set and were visibly exhausted by the end of their set. Im definitely going to catch these guys next time they come back to the states, but I fear next time I really will have to pay $30 to see these guys at the House of Blues. No matter, they are worth it.

Addendum

After the show I was able to have a little chat with Jocke, the sax player of Movits and we talked a little bit about how they came to be as a band. Based on what he told me Movits was not a planned band, the idea for the band came to be during a discussion after a party, and thus Movits was born. I also asked him about their popularity in the United States vs. Sweden and he said that after they were invited to perform live on The Colbert Report, their U.S. following skyrocketed overnight. Many tanks to Jocke for taking the time to talk to us after an awesome show.

-Matt C.
Editor-in-Chief


Band Website: www.movits.se


 

Pussy Cow – The Ignorant – Bobot Adrenaline – at Juanita’s – Highland Park – Los Angeles, CA

Tonight’s fun takes place up in Highland Park which is just a few mile north of downtown LA at Juanita’s. For the uninitiated, Juanita’s may be one of the chillest places you will every have beers at, hand out and watch bands. The place is completely devoid of hipster cool types, you know the crowd that wears sunglasses at 11 at night and al the related post Goodwill garb.

Ok, we digress, so we are here because Pussy Cow is doing their album release ….it is about gawd damm time… so they know we are all pissed off about the wait and they went and released two records at the same time (damm, talk about saving money of promotion).

Opening up the record release show was the band that was awarded our 2008 Record of the Year award, Bobot Adrenanline. No one seemed to mind having this headliner kick off the night with tunes from their drawer of songs that included Penalty Box that was featured in the Tony Hawk Underground video game, Radio Tikrit and Dumb Bomb that will be on their new album that is expected to be released in February of 2010, among many others. Seriously solid band every time they play. Have your life not suck and go over to their MySpace and listen to some tunes as you add yourself as a friend. www.myspace.com/bobotadrenaline

Sandwiched in the middle of this show was The Ignorant. In looking over the logs, it looks like BW has listed plenty of their shows, yet had never delivered some press on them, guess we just can’t be everywhere. As the band got their gear set up, our crew got our drinks set up for their set. WOW, right from the get got, this band ripped our faces off with their high energy and very tight set. They certainly draw some Clash influence from their sound mixed in their some good, old school LA in your face stage vibe and you have for the good time that is The Ignorant. If you have not seen this band perform live, do yourself a favor, go! www.myspace.com/theignorant

After a bit of an intermission and getting our new Pussy Cow “Koozies” in place over our chilled beers, the show that would make Cal Worthington blush was to begin. As was noted earlier, Pussy Cow released a couple of albums tonight that are titled, Drinky Birds and Ride. The band is now banging on the door of their 5th year as a band that all started at the Kiss Or Kill Club at the Echo way back. With a throng of believers assembled, Pussy Cow took the stage to break in these 2 records. The set blistered through just about every song including our personal favorites, Hope We Don’t Suck, Me & Ice-T, I Love The Muffs and Jello. If you had ever lost your faith in Punk rock, now is the time to believe again, the time has come to believe in PUSSY COW!  www.myspace.com/pussycowtheband



Big Wheel Music


 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

Is it time to say goodbye to MP3s?

MP3s changed the way we listened to music. Now there's a new format on the block that could be it's successor. The music industry has been hammered by piracy in the last decade and is looking to develop new offerings to entice consumers to buy their music from legitimate sites, instead of taking it from illegal outlets. Here is a good glimpse into a new technology that may be a game changer. Read more HERE >>>

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