issue 7
HIGHLIGHT
featuring
MAGAZINE
Twin Atlantic // Empires // devin ingelido // ballyhoo! // matt burke & More
FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS
HIGHLIGHT STAFF Press & Publicity – Photography – Editor– Co-Founder Ashley Osborn
Production – Art Director – Photography Cara Bahniuk
CO-founder – Writer McKenzie Hughes
Features Editor – Writer Liz Brossard
Online Editor
Jenn Stookey
Cody Editor
Hayley Todd
Contributing Photographers
Derrick Austinson, Lauren Brown, Lori Gutman, Arielle Johnson, Erica Livoti, Charlie Martel, Heather Phillips, Oscar Rodriguez and Nesha Torres
Contributing writers (Online & Publication)
Haley Black, Liz Brossard, Tamara Fuentes, Logan Kant, Jessica Klinner, Marina Oliver, Taylor Pittman, Patrick Quiring, Kristy Siciliano and Morgan Waldorf
BECOME SOCIAL WITH US website - www,highlightmagazine.net facebook - www.facebook.com/highlightmagazine twitter - @highlight_mag
WANT TO ADVERTISE WITH US? contact ashley@highlightmagazine.net for more information
INSIDE FEATURES
12 forever the sickest kids
INSIDE FEATURES
8I’mcurrent trends 16 Ballyhoo! sure you have all listened to A Day Ballyhoo!’s music is a blend of
24 album Reviews
To Remember at least once. Well, why don’t you go ahead and check out Alex’s clothing company! Read all about Golden Eagle on page 8!
reggae and rock that you don’t really see much in the industry today! Check out Highlights in about their past, present and future!
9 venue highlight
18 devin ingelido
26 photos
Devin recently left VersaEmerge and began a family, but that’s not the end of music for him. He fills Highlight in on everything upcoming and new!
Highlight went to two must-attend (or should have attended) shows this month. Check out photos from Hot Chelle Rae & Big Time Rush and see what you may have missed out on.
10 label highlight
20 empires
THank you
The Masquerade puts on shows from some of the biggest names in their three rooms! Check out Atlanta’s largest venue and upcoming shows.
Fearless Records has helped launch the career of many pop-punk bands as well as the Punk Goes series. Check out which Fearless bands are Highlight’s favorite!
Empires has had a huge year for them but there is no slowing down in their future. Highlight sat down with lead vocalist to pick his brain. If anything, this interview is a must read!
11 industry Highlight 22 twin atlantic Matt Burke has accomplished a lot with his photography already, but shows no signs of stopping. Read up all about Matt and his career!
Hailing from Scotland, Twin Atlantic filled Highlight in on what its like to be touring in America, Warped Tour and much more. Check it out!
INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHS
Need new music to listen to? Want to read someone elses’ opinion on your new favorite album? Our album reviews should be your stop.
We would like to send out a big thank you to Ballyhoo!, Big Hassle Media, Big Picture Media, Chris Robinson, Christian Anderson, Devin Ingelido, Ekonomisk Management, Empires, Forever The Sickest Kids, Gypsy Fade, James Lano, Matt Burke and Twin Atlantic as well as all the bands that took time out of their busy schedules to work with us. Also, thank you to everyone who supported us and checked out the first seven issues. We hope you have enjoyed what you have seen!
page 6-7
Forever The Sickest Kids
twin atlantic
ballyhoo!
adora
lions lions
Asking Alexandria
big Time rush
Empires
Mojoes, Joliet, IL, Ashley Osborn
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, Jenna Ross
The Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn
Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA, Cara Bahniuk
Columbia, MD, Cara Bahniuk
House of Blues, Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn
Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA, Cara Bahniuk
Grant Park, Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn
Want to post news online? Contact ashley@highlightmagazine.net
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 5
forever the sickest kids - 12
ballyhoo! - 16
lions lions
Big Time Rush
24 - twin atlantic
adora
asking alexandria
18 - empires
TRENDS YOU’LL LOVE
COMPANY: GLDNEGLCO LLC, but you can call us Golden Eagle Co. LOCATION: Orlando, FL OWNER/FOUNDER: Co-Founded & Co-Owned by Alex Shelnutt of A Day To Remember and designer James Lano WEBSITE: www.goldeneagleco.com
How did Golden Eagle come about?
In 2011, Alex Shelnutt approached me about creating a brand, his band A Day To Remember had released a series of video updates highlighting the recording process of their new album and ‘Golden Eagle’ was an alias that Alex had taken on partially as a joke. The nickname ended up becoming popular amongst the band’s fans and we decided to play on the name and create a brand around it. In June of 2011, we opened our online store and have been operating ever since.
What do you feel your brand represents?
The pursuit of a creative lifestyle matched with an all or nothing mentality. Fly High, Die High.
Reason you started your brand?
As an outlet to express all of our interests and influences creatively and to inspire others to live positively.
8 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.net
Three personal favorite designs?
The Fly High Die High concept is our flagship design and has been the top seller since we began as a brand, a simple message and bold imagery goes a long way. The phrase has also become our motto based on the designs popularity. The Player Pocket tee is another personal favorite, clean and simple. Need we say more? Our Process tank is our third choice for personal preference. A bright and bold design for summer, we live in tank tops during these brutal Floridian summers.
Why people should check out your brand?
We’re a two person team working from the ground up to bring you unique, limited edition items. We take pride in our communication with our customers and will continue to establish a worldwide family from all of our supporters and friends. Golden Eagle Co. has something for
venue highlight the masquerade - atlanta, Georgia History:
Why Play Here?
Notable august Shows:
Once known as the Dupre Excelsior Mill, The Masquerade is one of Atlanta’s most unique venues. After being built in the late 1800’s, the building first operated as a mill for several years before being converted into a pizzeria and barrio known for its variety of entertainment, including movies, bands, and even Shakespearean plays. In 1989, The Masquerade was born and now puts on shows featuring the biggest names in music as well as newly formed bands trying to make their mark on the music scene.
With one outside look of the large venue, concertgoers may not realize the venue’s three different rooms: Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Heaven is the largest room of the venue, while Hell and Purgatory are smaller and promise a more intimate experience between the performers and the audience. With artists of all genres and events like themed dance parties constantly being added to the calendar, The Masquerade is definitely a venue you won’t forget.
September 7th –
REVIEW: Taylor Pittman PHOTO: http://www.flickr.com/photos/_katzi_
Ocean Is Theory
september 13th – Paper Route
september 17th – There for Tomorrow & Set It Off
september 29th – Alabama Shakes
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 9
label highlight
WRITE-UP: Logan Kant
Fearless Records began with the intrepid vision and “grass-roots” approach of Bob Becker. In 1994, after years of selling his friends’ records at their shows and consigning them to record stores, Bob dove headfirst into creating his own business: Fearless Records. This alternative rock-oriented record label based in Westminster, California is best known for helping launch the careers of pop-punk bands like the Plain White T’s, At The Drive-In, and Sugarcult. In 2000, Fearless released “Punk Goes Metal” the first volume of the successful and ever-expanding themed compilation series, “Punk Goes…”. Fearless is now internationally recognized for releasing up-and-coming bands. Current signed artists include: Pierce The Veil, Lostprophets, Go Radio, The Summer Set and even our September cover artists, Forever The Sickest Kids. Check out their entire roster on their website! www.fearlessrecords.com
Blessthefall -
This powerful Phoenix, Arizona quintet has been named “one of the most explosive live bands in the world.” Founded in 2003 by drummer Matt Traynor, guitarist Mike Frisby, and bassist Jared Warth, this post-hardcore band’s sound grew from the bottom up: starting with high school practice sessions and moving on to win local battle-ofthe-bands contests. Often drawing bigger crowds than their headliner, the Blessthefall boys confirm their capabilities with uninhibited live shows, even shutting down a well-known venue due to overcrowding. The band has secured its longevity by settling on the current members: Traynor (drums), Lambert (guitar/vocals), Warth (bass/vocals), Bokan (vocals) and Gruenberg (guitar). Their new album Awakening, produced by Michael Baskette (Incubus), is tight and focused, with effective breakdowns, and skillful, invigorating guitar work.
Listen to: “Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted”
Tonight Alive - This band from Sydney, Australia formed
when guitarist Whakaio Taahi and bass player Cameron Adler, in search of an excellent frontman, stumbled upon sixteenyear-old ingénue, Jenna McDougall. The band quickly developed a rabid fanbase in their native scene and is now building a cult audience in the U.S., thanks to The Fearless Friends Tour and key placement of their song on a reality show. Back in 2011, Tonight Alive teamed with veteran producer Mark Trombino (Blink 182) to create a raw sounding record with minimal edits and a soft-handed production approach. With touches of post-hardcore, hard rock, and catchy poppunk, Tonight Alive creates a lasting impression and their own brand of emotional, infectious, and electrifying music. Watch out for their promising new record What Are You So Scared Of.
Listen To: “Little Lion Man” Upon This Dawning -
Italian alternative metal band, Upon This Dawning, is the newest addition to the Fearless Records roster. The band, formed in 2008 in Verona, Italy, is spreading a melodic brand of metal and a message of friendship and brotherhood across. After writing lyrics in English and working hard to attract fans in Italy, where their genre of music is not as popular, Upon This Dawning is up to the challenges of moving overseas. Their work has paid off with a schedule of U.S. tour dates orchestrated to support their debut release with Fearless this fall. While you wait, grab Upon This Dawning’s first song release, “Of Human Action”, from the new album for free on their website.
Listen to: “Of Human Action”
Highlight of
matt burke
Name: Matt Burke Location: Tallahassee, FL Website: www.mattburkephoto.com Clients: Go Radio, Esquire Magazine, Fearless Records, Buzznet
How did you become a photographer?
I have always had an interest in photographing things. From back when I was in middle school skating with my friends up to the present, I have always had some kind of camera with me. As far as really taking it seriously as a career, that only happened about a year ago after having the opportunity to shoot Blink 182. Since then I have shot more bands than I can even begin to list, and to be honest, it has been a totally surreal experience.
What are two personal career highlights?
Shooting Blink 182 is an absolute highlight of mine. At the very last second, I was ushered down to the photo pit in Atlanta and allowed to shoot Blink. Somewhere in the 2nd song, Mark Hoppus walked up to me and kneeled down and waited for me to shoot a few photos and then went back on his way. I grew up on this band, so this was a huge deal for me, both personally and professionally. A 2nd major highlight was when Buzznet was able to get me in to shoot Radiohead in Atlanta. 60,000+ people screaming and about 5 of us in the photo pit shooting one
of the biggest bands ever. Add to that experience that Esquire Magazine came across my photos from the show and published one of them in their May 2012 issue.
What you want to accomplish still in your career?
So much. I want to shoot a cover/feature spread for a magazine, get on more tours, open a studio, and just keep on learning and having fun.
Favorite tour memory?
My most recent tour memory is probably from an off day that I had with Go Radio on the Lucky Street Tour. We had a day off at a little motel in the desert of California in Palm Springs. There was hardly anything around but mountains and palm trees and a pool for all of us to hang out in. After some swimming a few of us went to a pretty epic block party.
Keep updated with Matt! www.mattburkephoto.com www.mattburkephoto.tumblr.com
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 11
Forever the sickest kids HOME: Dallas, TX NOW jamming: Shut The Front Door (Too Young For This) - Single CURRENTLY: Writing a new album!
Every band has a story. Some
longer than others; some more dramatic than others, but nonetheless they are all unique. Although Forever The Sickest Kids’ story is far from being over, they already have so much to tell. Unfortunately, with every good story comes conflict. There are obstacles thrown at the characters that test their physical and mental stability. The good guys, in our case the members of FTSK, have to overcome the obstacles in order to create the happy ending that everyone hopes for. Before we can get to the ending, we have to take a look at the journey Forever The Sickest Kids embarked on to reach the point they are at today. The combination of two local bands from Texas yielded the formation of Forever The Sickest Kids. Jonathan Cook (lead vocals), Kent Garrison (keys), and Marc Stewart (lead guitar) all knew each other from high school and college. They formed a small band and messed around for a few years playing locally. All the while, Caleb Turman (guitar/vocals) and Austin Bello (bass/vocals) were struggling to get their small music project to take off. After the failure of both bands, the idea was presented by Cook that the two join together and become one with the addition of Stewart’s step brother, Kyle Burns, on drums. Mere days after the two bands merged, Cook unintentionally spent several hundred dollars on a front page song placement on the popular music site PureVolume. This would be great for any band starting out except for the fact that FTSK had not one song to their name. They quickly called on the expertise of producer Geoff Rockwell to help them get out of their sticky situation and make sure they get their money’s worth. The result of the mishap was Forever The Sickest Kids’ first song entitled “Hey Brittany.” The song was a huge success on the website and got the attention of several big name labels. FTSK eventually decided to sign with Universal Motown Records. To follow up on their instant success, Forever The Sickest Kids headed into the studio to start working on new music to follow up their instantly popular PureVolume release. Four months after formation, FTSK had their first EP, Television Off, Party On. This was their gateway to touring. With brand new songs to share and the enthusiasm of a fat kid in a candy store, the band took to the road including a short run on Warped Tour 2007. As their fan base began to grow, the guys decided it was time to head back into the studio and create their first full length album, Underdog Alma Mater, released in April of 2008. A spot on the AP Tour and Warped Tour that year was just what FTSK needed to promote their new album. The album did so well that the band released a deluxe edition of it including 17 never before heard demos from the band’s earlier days. Many, many tours later Forever The Sickest Kids began playing with a concept for a series of three EPs to be called The Weekend. The first in the series, The Weekend: Friday, was released on November 17, 2009. Fans were very excited about this new music and eager to hear the other two follow-up EPs. While the band was recording
the second EP, The Weekend: Saturday, things were going so well that they decided to ditch the EP series and make a self titled full length album. Within all of the good things that were occurring for FTSK their band was changing internally. Two months before the release of their second full length, keyboardist Kent Garrison announced his departure from the band. Fans were shocked, but respectful of his decision to pursue other opportunities. Despite the loss a member, FTSK kept moving forward and released their self titled album in March of 2011. Much success and endless touring followed the album’s release. Breathe Carolina, We Are The In Crowd, and This Century are a few of the bands FTSK brought along to help spruce up their Spring Break Your Heart Tour that followed the album release. Later in the year after touring and great success of their new album, more bad news came to the members of FTSK and their fans. Rumors had been floating around that Marc Stewart was leaving the band and these were put to rest when Stewart confirmed them via his Twitter account. Later the band addressed the issue by stating, “Some may already know Marc is married. We wish him the best of luck and thank him for four great years of hard work and memories.” With a tour in the UK only a month away, FTSK did not have a lot of time to replace their lead guitarist. Luckily for them, a close friend, Rico Garcia, was able to join on and fill in for Marc. Losing two members in the short span of a year would be enough for any band to call it quits. Jonathan, Caleb, Austin and Kyle could have easily accepted the fact that their time as a band was over and returned to their normal lives. Fortunately for the fans, they knew better than to give up on everything they had worked for all because a roadblock. No band will say it is easy to lose members and keep going like nothing ever happened. They knew that the end of their band would mean not only giving up on their career, but also giving up on everyone who had ever supported them. Right in between the loss of Garrison and Stewart, the band’s record label was shut down leaving them and all other artists unsigned. FTSK, being the optimistic and easy going guys that they are, did not even let this major setback keep them from continuing on with their career. It seems by this point that these guys are invincible. Nothing can faze them. FTSK were now independent artists, meaning they would have to fund everything they wanted to do collectively as a band. What good can come out of being an independent artist? “Some perks are definitely no timelines or opinions we feel don’t matter. It’s just us talking to our fans with no strings or filters attached,” said Cook. It is easy to see that Forever The Sickest Kids are fueled by the support of their fans. Every band essentially is. Without fans, no band would have anyone to make music for. We are glad FTSK have their priorities straight and treat fans with respect.
Fans will be happy to know that, for now, FTSK has overcome all of their obstacles. Whether more will face them in the future is just something only time can tell. FTSK could not be happier about starting a new chapter together as a band. They recently joined forces with Fearless Records ending their time as independent artists. Also, they have just completed recording their third studio album and are very anxious for fans to hear what they have come up with. “The new sound we are going to unveil is a mature step forward, but still has all the elements you love from us. This is FTSK 2.0,” said Cook. FTSK has continually been one of the most energetic bands to watch onstage and off. There has to be a secret to being this cheerful and funny all the time. But what is it? “We have strong faith and all four of us know we have a job to do not just for ourselves, but a bigger calling for the fans. No secrets, no regrets,” said Cook So there you have it. FTSK has faced so much over the past year and have every right to give up and walk away, but yet they continue to push on despite hardships and all because they care about their fans. The character of this band is hard to surpass. It seems that FTSK’s story is far from over. The parts that have already been told will be only highlights in
their great career as musicians. With undying love for their fans, FTSK will always remain in the hearts of those who have been touched by their music. Even long after the music fades, fans will be reminiscing on days when they watched Jonathan Cook hop around like a maniac on stage or listened to Underdog Alma Mater while camping with friends. Music is something that sticks for life. When a certain band comes along and changes the way you look at life, nothing will ever be the same. Being able to connect to others through music is one of the most beautiful gifts anyone can be given. Each member of Forever The Sickest Kids has been given this gift and have surely not kept it to themselves. They have truly inspired thousands upon thousands of people to embrace who they really are and overcome all the trials life throws at them. When Highlight sat down with FTSK, they gave some advice to their fans; “Remember that you are the best you there is! You aren’t weird. You are a one of a kind, limited edition. None of the bullying or put-downs anyone throws at you means a thing.” It has been truly amazing to see the band fight to keep their careers alive. They are a fine example of never giving up on your dreams. Wherever their story takes them, their fans know for sure that it will result in the happiest of endings. PHOTOS: Ashley Osborn INTERVIEW AND STORY: Jessica Klinner
ballyhoo! HOME: Baltimore, MD NOW jamming: Daydreams (LAW Records) CURRENTLY: Touring with the Tribal Seeds
Fans are what make a band, right?
At least, that’s how Ballyhoo! feels on the issue. Without fans and the support of other musicians, most of the artists we know and love today wouldn’t have ever seen the limelight. For this Maryland band, life would be pretty empty without music and loyal fans. Here at Highlight, we had the opportunity to interview Howi Spangler, lead singer of Ballyhoo! Ballyhoo! has been active since the mid-2000s and they are continuing with a genre of music that many people forget about; the blend of rock, reggae and punk. A good reference point, for those of you that have not been introduced to Ballyhoo!, would be Sublime or Pepper. They are not to be confused with those bands, though. They have their own unique twist on the genre and a love of their fans and music that is unprecedented. Up until 2011, they had been growing and making music independently, but LAW records had other plans and asked Ballyhoo! to be a part of their Hawaii-based indie label. Since then they have been touring Warped as well as Bamboozle, 311 Carribean Cruise and, most recently, the Night & Day tour. According to Spangler, these concerts came with a packed crowd; even people who had never heard of them before gave them the momentum that they needed. “We get a lot of love from the 311 community,” he said. “We are so happy to be involved in anything that they do.” Spangler added that Ballyhoo! has a deep level of respect for 311 and admire the group’s longevity and the way they connect with their fan base. “Shows like that are fun and we feel right at home, but I was so nervous the first couple times we played with them,” Spangler said with a laugh. For Spangler and Ballyhoo!, the last two summers have been nonstop touring and performing. For a brief moment this summer, they had a three-week break between the end of Warped and the beginning of Night & Day on Aug. 19. And as it is for many bands, there wasn’t a true break in between. A little time with friends and family, but the majority of the time was spent working on their new single “Walk Away.” “It was really hectic, actually, “ Spangler said. Touring is not the only means through which Ballyhoo! shares their music; they have four albums under their belts and a lot of ambition. Artists all have their own way of writing and collaborating music, Spangler said that he used to bring the band a bunch of songs that he had written and they would take some time and jam out to those, but during the last two albums it became a combined effort within the band.
“We would have rehearsal and start jamming until we had something to work with. It is good to have the input from everyone,” said Spanlger. Any band trying to make it now has to not only be unique and write their own lyrics, but they must also rely heavily on social media. For most bands, this is the only way to gain access to fans, but Ballyhoo! tours so much that a lot of their fans just come from word of mouth. Obviously they use social media, but for them growth can come in a variety of ways that have nothing to do with Twitter or Facebook, including putting a few songs on Rock Band. Let’s be honest here, that is the most refreshing thing you have heard in a long time. “People just talking about us have been super helpful,” said Splangler. “People are turning their friends on to us by word of mouth.” Before beginning their summer tours, Ballyhoo! released a music video for “Last Night,” and just like their writing process, they wanted this to be a different and more interesting video than just shooting on a beach and showing the lifestyle. They left it up to the director, but the end product was completely different and in no way typical for their genre of music. “There’s this chain reaction sequence that symbolizes love happening amidst chaos and I’m all about that,” said Spangler. After wrapping up another tour at the end of September, Ballyhoo! is off to Hawaii in October and then back to Marlyland for their annual Halloween show. “That’s my favorite show of the year,” he said. “We get everyone to dress up and rock out. It’s a good night.” Spangler and Ballyhoo! have had many highlights throughout their career, but the biggest one for him was when he heard one of their songs on a local radio station in Aberdeen, MD. Spangler said that he almost wrecked his car from screaming with joy when he heard the song playing. Ballyhoo! has a lot to be excited about. Their tours are gaining them a lot of recognition and I predict that it won’t be long until fans hear Ballyhoo! on every radio station across the country. As for what is next for them, Spangler said that nothing is certain and they will just let the music guide them. “I would love to make a summer album,” he said, “something that really takes you away. I don’t know we will see.” You can catch Ballyhoo! touring with the Tribal Seeds through the end of Septemeber. PHOTO: Jenna Ross INTERVIEW: McKenzie Hughes STORY: Liz Brossard
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 17
devin ingelido
‘A Time Traveler With A Message’ Anxious to begin sharing and extending his message to followers, fans and strangers alike, we recently caught up with Devin Ingelido. After parting with VersaEmerge over a year ago, Ingelido has since been residing in south Florida with his wife and two sons, working on a brand new project, Chrononaut. Ingelido caught up with editor Ashley Osborn for his first interview since his departure and proved to be none other than a time traveler with a message. Read our exclusive interview below. Q: Regarding your exit from VersaEmerge, is there anything you want to say about your departure that you haven’t stated? A: Let me be the first to say there is absolutely no hostility toward Blake or Sierra. When coming up with my leaving statement to the world it was definitely catering to the longevity of VersaEmerge. Much had to be thought out before posting to the public, just like other aspects of my life (the birth of my first son, Maddox, and my engagement, eventually marriage to my wife). My decision to leave wasn’t just for my family. I was burnt out to begin with. Touring gets tough. It’s hard being out on the road for months at a time, regardless of my loved ones at home.
The majority of the reason for leaving was of course for my family, but I can honestly say that if my wife and I felt like we could’ve made it work, we would’ve. But my love for them is too strong and I was tired of dealing with the drama of hearing people hate. The band was not escalating and I wasn’t getting paid enough to support my family. That’s my general reasoning for leaving. I will always love touring but I could never leave my family. I am worth more than what I was made out to be. Q: How do you think this will play a role when it comes to Chrononaut? A: Chrononaut was originally a solo idea I had. But many pieces came together that I never would’ve thought about in the very beginning. Tarcy, vocalist of Artist vs Poet, is someone I shared a bus with on warped tour. I swear we lived mirror imaged lives, and he just moved to Florida not too far from me. We were always best friends and I asked him if he wanted in on it. I always loved his vocals and he’s like a brother to me. This band showcases the real passion I have and is a bit heavier than people might expect. But people who really know me will not be surprised one bit. Q: Are you solely basing it online, or do you ever see yourself playing shows and touring again? Would you allow yourself to do so?
A: We will definitely be playing locally. If families, work and schedules will allow it, I would love to just do a week or two run with the family along of course, not too far out of Florida. Or even just opening for national acts locally. But iTunes is where we will be selling our music. Q: That’s so awesome, man! Great ideas! A: Family first, always. Q: How does it feel to be doing something musically that you have more say in and that allows you to be more flexible with your life? A: Perfect would be an understatement. To be honest, I was always the one calling the shots in just about any band I was in before Versa. It was hard for me to sit back and watch things be decided for my fate, but it’s nice to have the freedom to do, post and say what I want, when I want, now. Q: In the past year what do you think you’ve learned the most? I can’t imagine leaving the band was easy. What was the most difficult part of all of this for you? A: When finally being home and going, “Wow, I’m not going anywhere, I’m getting a job. Going from work to home was the longest trip I will probably be taking,” haha. It was weird. Since middle school, it was always a dream of mine to be a musician. Kids would look at me like an idiot when we were all graduating and asked me what college I was going to attend and my answer was, “Fuck College.” But after some time and looking into my wife and sons’ eyes every day, it got easier and reassured me that I made the right choice. The reality of being in real life was probably the hardest to overcome to answer your question, haha! Q: Do you ever miss playing music and being on stage? How long did you go before you started this new project, was it right away or did it just slowly happen? A: It was literally up until recently that I could finally get this project going. Of course I miss the stage and this will kind of be my in to get back on. I don’t care how small it is (the stage), I have a message and it needs to be heard and the only way I know how to share it is with my voice. Q: How would you define and summarize the overall message you are trying to share? A: Government, Industry, and mainstream media are corrupt. This bypasses people day by day because they’re too consumed with what Kardashian sister will be pregnant next and social media sites. Everyone is asleep. It’s time to wake up. I also want to share that it is possible to ‘do it yourself.’ Q: Would you say that the motivation to share your message is what drove this new project specifically? Or were there other factors?
A: Lets just say I am one hard son of a gun to brainwash, or else I would still be a sitting duck playing music I have no part in, or voting for a puppet who gives the same spiel about changing our country for the best. I wish I could say the same for others. This is my way to share my thoughts with the world. It might come off harsh and blunt, but that’s just the way I’ve always been and have been hindered the past few years of my life. Q: What are your opinions on the upcoming election? A: Worthless, I don’t vote. Elections are a lot like wrestling - they come out and create drama, good, and evil. They put on a great show but when the lights and cameras are off, they’re all best friends. Q: We’re all pretty much fucked anyways A: Yea, we all just need to step away from the TV and just enjoy what’s right in front of us. You know? The people that matter. This life is all about who can survive the game the longest not who does it the best or who ends up with the most money. Q: All-in-all, what message do you have that you would just like to get off of your chest? A: Ha, I’m sure this article from my responses will probably make me look cynical and somewhat anti government, maybe somewhat of a stoner. But at the end of the day I have a good heart and look for the best in people. I have no regrets. I love my ex companions I traveled the world with. I am even recording my vocals to our first track for Chrononaut with Blake Harnage (VersaEmerge guitarist). I just want everyone to read into things a little closer. When I was 21, all I wanted was the opportunity to tour the world. When signing my 60 page contract, I didn’t know all that was going to come. If me from the future came and told me what to expect, I probably would’ve dropped touring the day I met the love of my life at Revolution when touring with Boys Like Girls. The name Chrononaut literally means time traveler, hence the story I just explained. So lets fast forward to the future where we get passed being fucked and enjoy silence. Q: What can people expect to see from you and Chrononaut in the upcoming months? A: No more babies. Well, in the next months at least. Hopefully some new music from my project and more wisdom to enrich their minds with. Every day I understand life and my mistakes a little bit better. Just expect a heavy dark message delivered with a smile. STORY AND INTERVIEW: Ashley Osborn PHOTO: Imani Givertz
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 19
HOME: Chicago, IL NOW jamming: Garage Hymms (HISTORY Records) CURRENTLY: Planning for the fall!
STORY: Liz Brossard | INTERVIEW: McKenzie Hughes | PHOTO: Ashley Osborn
empires
For any band releasing a new album
and starting a new tour comes with excitement, antcipation and a little bit of fear of the unknown, but Empires seems to be taking it all in stride and doing everything just right. We were lucky enough, here at Highlight Magazine, to catch up with vocalist Sean Van Vleet and pick his brain a bit before they begin their next tour in October. Q: You and Tom both came up with the same name for the band while in two completely different areas of Chicago, was this a name you were both toying around with or was this completely an unexpected coincidence? A: We had been toying around with names for months, but nothing felt right. I was sitting on the floor of our apartment next to the heater because it was freezing. We had one somewhat functional heater to heat this huge drafty apartment. I was sort of blindly staring at it when “Empire” caught my eye. It was the logo below the vent. I was like “okay, that should be the name of our band”. It didn’t feel like a “eureka” moment or anything. Later that day we picked up Tom from the L to head out to practice and he gets in the car and says “hey, I came up with a name on the train...how about Empires?” It was eerie. How can you deny using the name after that? So Empires stuck. Q: You released your first album via your website for free with 70,000 downloads, how has this effected you as a band? Do you think that this brought in fans that would have never taken the time to listen otherwise? A: Of course. We were just another band with a first record amid thousands of others. We had no marketing, plans, etc. Releasing our first record for free gave us a good wordof-mouth buzz. We developed a small but passionate fan base because of it. I remember leaving for that first tour and being greeted by 50 or so fans who donated and put together over $1,500 as a tour send off. It blew me away. Q: I noticed that you guys were in the Rolling Stone competition to get on the cover back in February of 2011. I am sorry to hear you got eliminated so close to the end. What was that like for you guys, even getting recognized for such an honor? and how did you get involved? A: We got an email that we at first shrugged off, but when our manager was notified, we knew it was real. We were hesitant because it was a contest, but in the end we just went with it. More than anything, that contest forced us to get our shit together. We suddenly had a few more eyes on us. There’s a camaraderie that grew as a result and we busted out a record while we were the most unified we had been up to that point. The contest made us huddle, and that’s the best thing it could have done for us. Winning or losing isn’t something I ever think about when I remember that thing. It was doing our record amidst it all. And ‘GARAGE HYMNS’ reminds me of what finally felt like our true beginning. Q: What is the process in which you release albums and EP’s? You guys do everything by yourself all the way up to designing and drawing of the
album art work. Is this something you guys just love to do? Does this keep you more tight knit? A: We grew to love being independent. In the beginning, I think we were hoping for help, and I can’t stress enough how lucky we were to never get any. We realized we had to do everything in-house because whenever we had someone else try record us or design something for us, it felt wrong. We’ve become strong as hell in our roots. We’ve got a core and so now, when someone enters our equation, we sort of have to call the shots. So we’ll probably remain independent, doing most everything ourselves. Q: Your second album was just released. Was this album self-produced as well? And what do you expect your fans will take away from this new album? A: This was the first album we did entirely in our basement. We began the drums in early May and Max finished his final mix in early August of 2011. The best part about this record is how quickly we got it done. We had our homework done, our songs were road tested, and we pounded it out in blitzkrieg fashion. It was such an exciting record to record. We didn’t allow ourselves to over think anything. Whenever we were stuck, we moved on. Q: Was the writing process the same on this album as it was on your past releases? If not, what has changed? A: The writing every day began in 2007, so that hasn’t changed. But our demoing process changed this time around. We did the demo for ‘Night Is Young’ in a house outside Orlando. We were in the midst of a summer tour and about halfway through the run. I remember feeling like we were starting to catch fire. We were reaching a new grove that I hadn’t felt with this group before. So on a day off, Max set up his mic and portable recording rig and we recorded a song I had written in the van a few days earlier. The demo riveted us. It had a haunt to it and invigorated us on the road where it can sometimes be a tough place to stay energized in between all the long, hot travels. Q: When your recent Lollapalooza performance was going to be cancelled because of the rain, but you were still given the opportunity to play last minute, how did that feel for you guys as a whole? How did that happen? A: That was the most bipolar weekend of our lives! Our crowd before the evacuation was going to easily be the biggest we’ve ever performed for. We were seconds from starting. It was surreal to see the crowd walk away and exit the grounds. I think at first, I was in shock. I had a pretty rough night and woke up the next morning so angry. But I headed over to watch our friends in Mona play their set around 12:30. Right after their set, I got a weird feeling of confidence that preceded the call I got from our manager saying we were rescheduled for 7:45 that night. So our hearts were only broken for a night. We got our aggression out. Something happened during that performance that I can’t explain. Simply put, I think we snapped. Our live show may never be the same, and I think that’s a really good thing... HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 21
twin atlantic
HOME: Glasgow, Scotland NOW jamming: Free (Red Bull Records) CURRENTLY: Preparing for the release of their full-length The Peace of Wild Things
If I were to sit down and make a list
want to make a timeless rock song and are hoping that they have done that. Twin Atlantic wants to be their own brand name and want their fans to grow with them and feel more a part of the music. “If we did do it, then people haven’t realized it. We just kind of go through little phases of all liking the same band and that’s usually the direction we go in, but we all listen to different stuff. Quite complicated group of chaps, “ said McTrusty.
Twin Atlantic is currently touring around the United States and they have just announced a west coast minitour with The Used. There is not complete certainty with what the rest of 2012 will hold for the band, it could be anything from a new single to potentially recording a new album.
Even though they are inspired by rock bands like Pearl Jam, they don’t want to sound exactly like them. They admire their career path more than wanting to be like any other band. They just want to sound like Twin Atlantic.
of all of my favorite bands, the majority of them have probably been from the UK, Ireland or Scotland. And as Americans we tend to be mesmerized by bands that are from the states. Twin Atlantic is no different. Scotland is their home, but for right now they have graced us with their talent and are truly showing fans what makes a great band.
For Sam McTrusty (vocals and guitar), Ross McNae (bass), Craig Kneale (drums, percussion) and Barry McKenna (lead guitar, cello) of Twin Atlantic, being in a different city everyday is just becoming a commonplace thing. They have spent the last five years touring in Scotland, so this is just another facet of touring as a band. Even though other bands warned them of the long drives and tedious days that were ahead of them while touring in the U.S., they are having a “really fun and enjoyable time.” “It‘s kind of cool. We kind of enjoy the challenge of playing to people who aren’t familiar with the band,” McNae said. “The crowds are a lot smaller [in the United States] which makes it different, I suppose.” There is always a band trying to make it the states and always a new band touring, the list of new bands is too long to even begin to recite. For Twin Atlantic, this is just another stepping stone. Warped Tour is gaining them a lot of recognition, and could be the catalyst for their popularity in the U.S. Twin Atlantic has been skeptical about how they would fit in, but there is always someone there to see them and spread the word about them. “You can’t think about it too much cause if you did you’d probably just freak out; like get snowed under by the thought of it. We really only think about ourselves, in a good way, not obnoxious,” said Mctrusty. The band formed in 2007 and since then has released two full-length albums under the label Red Bull Records, Vivarium in 2009 and Free in 2011. They feel that they have grown between the two albums and that their music tastes expand every day. Most recently they have fallen in love with the music of Pearl Jam, and due to this they are going in that direction with their newer music, while they would compare their music on their last album to the Foo Fighters. They just
“It is really easy to get caught in the trap of writing songs that sounds like your heroes,” said McTrusty. “We will probably just have more of an insight into how we feel about being 24 and 25 instead of being 19 and 20.” In 2009 Twin Atlantic signed with the record label Red Bull records and they were the first of two bands that began with the label. According to McNae, the label has done a lot to promote them in UK and around Europe. America is a whole new dynamic for them. This is the first year that Twin Atlantic has spent time touring around the states and they are learning how to split their time and make an impact wherever they go. Red Bull Records is a relatively small label and Twin Atlantic is one of only five bands that are signed, for the band this is important because the label doesn’t just care about the music that they make, they actually take an interest in them, as people. It is a large company, but they make Twin Atlantic feel as if they are part of a small Indie label. Being a musician in America is hard enough. There are so many bands and so much competition within such a large space that it sometimes seems impossible to make it as a band even if you are already from the states. Multiply that by 100 and you can vaguely understand what it is like for a band overseas to make it within the competitive music business here, but for Twin Atlantic, it is just another step in their journey as musicians. “I don’t think [we feel competition from other overseas bands coming to America],”McNae said, “I think it’s another one of those things. It’s not like ‘oh we don’t think about it,’ but we actually think about it. I personally don’t. “Who really cares, if you just concentrate on yourself and making music and touring … if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
At the end of the day, they are here for the music and doing live shows for their fans. For Twin Atlantic, live shows are a pretty common occurrence. There is a feeling of euphoria for any band when a show turns out exactly like they wanted it to, but for McNae it is favorite part of playing live music. He said that one out of ten shows that they play really comes together, so every time that one show happens there is a lot of excitement. Twin Atlantic knows, though, that it is truly all about their fans and what their reaction and feedback is to their live shows. “[A fan favorite] I think, on our new album is probably ‘Make a Beast of Myself,’ but I don’t know if that is because it is on the radio a lot back home,” said McTrusty Twin Atlantic is touring in the United States currently, but before that they had the privilege to tour with Blink 182 in the UK. This allowed them the opportunity to gain a new fan base and, well, tour with a band that has become more than a household name to most people. McTrusty said that there is a difference in the UK, with people recognizing Twin Atlantic, because most people there have heard of them before and they are starting to bleed into the mainstream world. Moreso, it was an opportunity for the band to allow their fans or new fans to understand their band a little better. “It was [an] all-around good experience. Something that not many people will ever get to play in those rooms and we might never again, but it was a good experience,” McNae said. Even though Twin Atlantic is increasingly becoming more mainstream, they always want to be proud of their music, they don’t just want to settle and change who they are because the music industry begs them to do so. The band doesn’t want to look back in 10 years and be embarrassed of what they have created. They want to keep their music unique and all their own. They just want to represent themselves within their songs and that is why, they believe, their music comes off as unique. “We are really proud of our music and we don’t want to like, throw away stupid things that ruin it. We almost did that when we were starting out because we didn’t have the experience and we never spent any money on a video, so we became nervous and made the wrong decisions,” said Mctrusty.
What Twin Atlantic is going through on their path to become a household name is what every band goes through, but their approach and their ability to constantly create is what makes them a step ahead. Their minds work like a picture book when it comes to creating the music. Their music can quickly be turned into music videos because they already have those ideas in their minds during the writing process. Or at least that is the hope. Mctrusty said that with every song they write, he always sees it in a video form, but it never transpires. “Making a music video is a really weird thing,” he said, “because you learn to play guitar or you like music and then you kind of have to be an actor for a day. It’s a weird experience that I don’t think we will ever get used to. “We get about 30 ideas and there are two or three that resonate with how you feel about a song.” Twin Atlantic entered into the music scene during a time when many other artists seemed to view the music world as a dying being. The band takes a much more positive outlook on this idea, though, and they see it evolving rather than dying. “It’s probably just that what we are used to is no longer the case,” McNae said. “There are very few people who make money from selling music. If you want to make money, you make the music to then go on tour to sell other things and tickets to make a career out of it.” “It is something that has always been changing (the music industry). It just changed radically over the last 10 years as opposed to the previous 70,” said McTrusty. For them, it is a simple philosophy; if people are going to buy, they are going to buy. And people who are going to download music, are going to continue to do so. They believe things are starting to even out, that the industry is not dying. For them, it is just about making music their life and their career and navigating their way through the ups and downs of it all. Twin Atlantic can be an inspiration to other artists to not let the hard parts of the music industry make them forget about the true reasons that they are there; the music and the fans. PHOTO AND INTERVIEW: Cara Bahniuk STORY: Liz Brossard
follow twin atlantic On Twitter
follow twin atlantic On instagram
Band - @twinatlantic Barry McKenna - @barry_mckenna Sam McTrusty - @sammctrusty Ross McNae - @rossmcnae
Band - @twinatlantic Barry McKenna - @barrymckenna Sam McTrusty - @sammctrusty Ross McNae - @rossmcnae
Check out Craig Kneale’s blog at: www.craigernestkneale.blogspot.com HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 25
review: Morgan Waldorf
artist:
Yellowcard album: Southern Air
rating:
sounds like: Jimmy Ear World Taking Back Sunday All Time Low
recommended tracks: “Here I Am Alive” “Telescope” “Southern Air”
tracklisting: Awakening Surface of the Sun 3 Always Summer 4 Here I Am Alive 5 Sleep in the Snow 6 A Vicious Kind 7 Telescope 8 Rivertown Blues 9 Ten 10 Southern Air 1 2
release date: August 14th
website: yellowcardrock.com
There are many bands who were at the top of their game about ten years ago that are thought of as almost pop punk royalty now. While some of these bands’ music is simply good for nostalgic listening sessions these days, others continue to put out excellent records and draw major crowds whether playing on the main stage on Warped Tour or on their own major headlining tours. One of the bands that has continued to add solid records to their body of work is Yellowcard. With their newest record Southern Air, the band affirm their place as one of the biggest and best pop punk bands around. Yellowcard make music that is perfect for summer, road tripping and reminiscing and this latest effort is no exception. With fun, catchy songs like ‘Awakening’, ‘Always Summer’ and ‘Southern Air’ the band show that after fifteen years together they are still just as capable of creating impeccable pop punk anthems. With their usual full sound and signature violin, they show the maturity one would expect of a band who has been around for fifteen years. ‘Here I Am Alive’ is a standout track about growing up and living your life the way you want featuring Tay Jardine from We Are The In Crowd’s guest vocals. It is sure to connect with many older fans who are now in their late teens or twenties that grew up with the band as well as new fans who are in the midst of these feelings and experiences right now. Other highlights of the record are the heart-wrenching emotional ballad ‘Ten’ as well as the beautiful track ‘Telescope.’ ‘Telescope’ features an incredibly catchy chorus sure to have you singing along and boasts the packed guest vocalist list of All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth, Cassadee Pope and once again Tay Jardine. It’s clear that the years, which included a gold single and a two year hiatus, have been good to Yellowcard. Their music has only gotten better and their fans more dedicated. Whether you’ve been listening to Yellowcard since the beginning, since their renowned 2003 record Ocean Avenue, or never and just want to get into an excellent pop punk album, you won’t be disappointed with Southern Air.
Artist: Circa Survive Album: Violent Waves
After Circa Survive’s 2010 release, Blue Sky Noise, I was quite surprised to hear the origins of the band come out so vividly in this new release. When we originally caught up with July cover artist and Circa Survive front man, Anthony Green, he was highly anticipating the reveal of Circa Survive’s new masterpiece, Violent Waves. Cue the ambiance: this is an album unlike any other. It’s nearly impossible to describe how you feel when you listen. Let’s be honest, the band’s unique sound has always the ability to flux and flow into any direction, but Violent Waves takes this to an entirely new level. The entire album feels like Green and Co. surrounded you, and they’re telling you a story composed of melodic unexplainable emotion that you simply don’t want to escape. Lie down in the grass, close your eyes, peacefully tap the play button and prepare to get lost like never before. Circa Survive has stepped up their game and just released the best album of their career.
recommended tracks: “The Lottery” & “Bird Sounds” review: Ashley Osborn
Artist: Two Door Cinema Club Album: Beacon Two Door Cinema Club’s second studio album has arrived! Are you ready to dance like you’ve never danced before? That’s what I did the entire time I listened to this record and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The Northern Ireland indie rock band takes elements of electronic and indie rock music to create a killer second album. Beacon is an incredible follow-up to 2010’s Tourist History that fans will be very pleased with. The use of synth in Beacon sets this album apart from TDCC’s previous record. Most times synth can be overpowering and quite honestly annoying, but TDCC found a way to make it bearable to listen to. Alex Trimble’s vocals are nothing short of angelic. His high pitch voice gives the TDCC sound something that is hard to compete with. If this album doesn’t make it into your Top 20 of 2012, you’re wrong.
recommended tracks: “Next Year” & “Someday” review: Jessica Klinner
Artist: Our Last Night Album: Age Of Ignorance Our Last Night’s third album, Age Of Ignorance, could simply be described as a decent addition to the band’s discography. The album as a whole is neither bad nor exceptional, and it isn’t exactly what a loyal listener of the post-hardcore band would expect. In comparison to their sophomore album, We Will All Evolve, it is almost soft. Only two songs stay true to their work over the years, and they are “Fate,” and the single, “Liberate Me.” They are virtually the only songs on the record that aren’t completely clean vocals. A couple of other tracks have mild screaming, but don’t seem quite up to par. Brothers Trevor and Matt Wentworth, who both front the band have voices that are practically identical. The band has always written meaningful, relatable lyrics, and that is one thing that Age Of Ignorance delivers. The album is definitely passionate, but the lack of screaming is a little disappointing.
recommended tracks: “Liberate Me” & “Fate” review: Haley Black
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 27
hot chelle rae
WHERE: Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD PHOTOs: Cara Bahniuk
Big Time Rush
WHERE: Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA PHOTOs: Cara Bahniuk