WE KNOW HOW MANY TESTS AND QUIZZES YOU TAKE, BUT WE THINK THIS ONE WILL BE YOUR FAVORITE. HERE IS A QUICK QUIZ ON SOMETHING POPULAR OR IMPORTANT WE THINK YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Why is New York referred to as “The Big Apple”?
A. The largest apple ever grown in the U.S. came from an apple tree at a personal residence in Manhattan.
B. The phrase was coined in the 1920s to refer to the large cash prizes garnered at horse races in New York City.
C. Thomas Willett, the first mayor of New York, had a very prominent Adam’s apple.
? POP QUIZ
Orleans refer to New York’s big-time venues and large winnings as “The Big Apples.” Jockeys and trainers also used the term to refer to New York, where a small horse could win “a big apple.”
Answer: B. New York City’s infamous nickname gained widespread popularity when newspaper reporter John Fitzgerald used it in an article about horse racing in 1921. In the article, he explains he overheard two stable hands in New
NUMBERS
Greenland Ranch, California in Death Valley holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S., which rose to 134°F in 1913.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa took 344 years to build.
Tickets to Woodstock cost $18 for 3 days.
Marie Antoinette was only 14 years old when she married Louis XVI.
An amendment must be ratified by at least 38 states before it becomes part of the Constitution.
There are 775 rooms in Buckingham Palace.
Tupac had 11 albums that went platinum, 7 of which were released posthumously.
There are only 4 NFL teams that have not made it to the Super Bowl.
Oklahoma has been hit by 100 tornadoes since 1893
The oldest recorded Galapagos tortoise died in 2006 at 255 years old.
PUBLISHER
Steve T. Strickbine
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Niki D'Andrea
EDITOR
Madison Rutherford
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski and Carson Mlnarik
DESIGNER
Christy Byerly
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Aaron Kolo dny
STREET TEAM MANAGER
Chuck Morales III
DISTRIBUTION FIELD MANAGER
Mark “Cowb oy” Lucero
ASSOCIATE ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER
Nadine Whitehead
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STUDENT LIFE
11 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT...
T11
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
The idea for Record Store Day was conceived in 2007. A group of record store owners came up with the concept as a way to celebrate the unique culture surrounding their stores. The first Record Store Day was April 15, 2008.
10
GOING GLOBAL
There are stores participating in Record Store Day on every continent except Antarctica.
9
FEEL THE IMPACT
People are still going out and buying records.
CARSON MLNARIK • COLLEGE TIMES
his April 22, exit out of Spotify, put down your iPhone and mute the radio. For the 10th consecutive year, Record Store Day celebrates vinyl vibes, history, collectors and purchasing across the
happened” to independent record stores.
8
CELEB STATUS
The first band to hop on board was Metallica. On the first Record Store Day, the band spent hours meeting fans and signing their belongings at Rasputin Music in San Francisco.
7
DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT
Each year, dozens of exclusive releases drop on Record Store Day. Last year included albums by David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Madonna.
world. Whether your favorite indie vibe is at Downtown Phoenix music joint Revolver Records, Stinkweeds on Central Avenue, or Zia in Tempe, you’ve got lots of nearby options. So go, scour, score and savor the sounds!
4
PURPLE RAIN
Old albums are re-released on vinyl each year. This year, several 12-inch maxi-singles from Prince will come out. The pop star was an avid vinyl supporter and loved visiting his local store.
3
VINYL REVIVAL
While CDs took over the market in the ‘80s and ‘90s, vinyl began to resurge in the early 2000s. The vinyl revival began and 2016 marked the highest sales in vinyl records in the U.S. since 1988.
6
COPY CATS
thing that has ever
2
CHART TOPPERS
The bestselling vinyl in 2008, when the holiday began, was In Rainbows by Radiohead. Last year’s bestselling release was Blackstar by David Bowie.
Inspired by the success, some labels in the UK started Cassette Store Day in 2013 with limited success. There were celebrations in the U.S., UK, Australia, Germany and France.
5
FOSTERING THE FUN
1
PRESS RECORD
Each year, Record Store Day appoints an ambassador to spread the word about the celebration and hang at a store during the festivities. This year’s pick is St. Vincent, who joins the likes of past ambassadors Iggy Pop and Jack White.
Getting involved with Record Store Day is as easy as going to your local shop and buying a record. Whether you hang it on your wall, listen to it or give it to a friend, you’re a part of the party. CT
GTFO!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND CATCH THESE 10 EVENTS OR YOU’LL BE FEELING SOME SERIOUS F.O.M.O.
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO
Named last year’s Stand Up Comedian of the Year by Just for Laughs, Maniscalco is on the up and up with a very successful comedy special on Showtime last year and an appearance in this year’s The House with Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell. His over-thetop, exaggerated body language and voices have made his rants on life’s minor irritations a comedy staple. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. Thirty Second Street, Phoenix, sebastianlive. com, 7 p.m., Friday, April 21, $43.75$285.
SAY ANYTHING
Alternative punk rockers Say Anything released their …Is a Real Boy album 11 years ago. Since then, frontman Max Bemis’ quirky observational lyrics have made fans laugh, cry and sing along in songs like “Alive with the Glory of Love,” “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” and “Do Better.” Bayside opens up the show. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, luckymanonline.com, 7 p.m., Friday, April 21, $21-$31.
POW WOW AT ASU
The contemporary Pow Wow is a Native tradition, marking a time for families to get together with other family members and friends. ASU’s large Pow Wow event brings together 28 categories of dance, arts and crafts, Indian fry bread and intertribal dancing for a weekend of learning, tradition and fun.
ASU Band Practice Field, E. Sixth Street and S. Rural Road, Tempe, powwow. asu.edu, times vary, Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 23, $6-$8.
BITES ‘N BREWS FESTIVAL
Beer lovers unite to celebrate the best craft offerings from Flagstaff to Tucson as well as nationally recognized brands. The bites are courtesy of some of Westgate’s best restaurants — including Salt Tacos y Tequila and Whiskey Rose.
General admission gets you 10 beer samplings and a souvenir mug. Work off those carbs with some cornhole and life-size beer pong.
Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N. Sunset Boulevard, Glendale, bitesbrews.com, 5 p.m., Saturday, April 22, $35-$55.
PAT’S RUN
The memory of Pat Tillman, ASU alum, former NFL player and Army Ranger, lives on with the 13th annual Pat’s Run, which will take runners through Tempe on a 4.2 mile course, plotted in honor of Tillman’s No. 42 jersey. Proceeds benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation and academic scholarships for veterans and their spouses. This year’s race finishes in the Sun Devil Stadium, where runners will be treated with post-race swag and a party.
Sun Devil Stadium, 500 E. Veterans Way, Tempe, patsrun.com, 7:05 a.m., Saturday, April 22, $47-$50.
WONDERLAND: ALICE’S ROCK & ROLL ADVENTURE
If you’re on a Disney kick after Beauty and the Beast came out in theaters, continue the magic with this twist on a storybook favorite. In this adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, the actors telling the story are also the band. This story about a girl finding her own beat literally has its own beat with a rock soundtrack. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, childsplayaz. org, times vary, weekends from Sunday, April 23, to Sunday, May 21, $12-$26.
WET ELECTRIC
It’s time to take “pool party” to a whole new level with the return of Wet Electric. The event kicks off the Arizona summer; after all, what’s better than bars, dancing, music and waterslides? With the wave pool as your seat, you can vibe to artists like Borgore, Audien, Anna Lunoe and Diplo. Big Surf, 1500 N. McClintock Drive, Tempe, wet-electric.com, 11 a.m., Saturday, April 29, $15-$3,499.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY FESTIVAL
Join one of the 196 Jazz Day celebrations taking place globally. The day is dedicated to celebrating the role music plays in uniting people around the world. The AZ event at Mesa Arts Center features world-renowned organist Tony Monaco, Scott & Ginger Whitfield, a jazz vocal duo and five other featured jazz performers. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa, jazzdayaz.com, 4 p.m., Sunday, April 30, free.
THE WEEKND
From “The Hills” to “Can’t Feel My Face” to “Starboy” and “I Feel it Coming,” The Weeknd has owned radio airwaves for the past few years. Catch rap music’s very own star-boy touring his newest album right as school wraps up. Make sure to get there early for opener Rae Stremmurd, who is sure to get the night off to a good start.
Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, talkingstickresortarena.com, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 2, $182-$1,070.
BREWS AND BALLET
Brews and ballet are closer than you think. Sample beer, cocktails, coffee and treats at Sip Beer & Coffee Garage during a meet and greet with dancers from two upcoming Arizona ballets. Performers from All Balanchine and Topia will be meeting ballet fans and newcomers alike to discuss Arizona ballet over night-long happy hour deals.
Sip Beer & Coffee Garage, 3620 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, balletaz.org, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 2, free. CT
BITES ‘N BREWS FESTIVAL
CARSON MLNARIK • COLLEGE TIMES
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO
5 FAMOUS MESSAGES ON RECORDS
“Backmasking” started with The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver . John Lennon said one night while smoking pot, he mistakenly played the tapes for the song “Rain” in reverse and liked the sound. So the band began recording messages in Revolver that could only be deciphered when the record was played backwards. (One such message appears in “Rain”: “When the rain comes, they run and hide their heads.”) CDs, personal computers and portable audio players limited the ability to listen to tracks in reverse, and fewer people have record collections today than in the 1960s, when it was the dominant medium for music. By the 1980s, backmasking had become controversial, with some Christian groups claiming the “subliminal” messages in many rock records were Satanic, censorship bills and mandated warning labels popping up in some states, and of course, the infamous trial of Judas Priest — which leads us to the first of five famous backwards messages:
Judas Priest, “Better by You, Better than Me”
Backwards message: “Do it.”
“Better by You, Better than Me” was originally recorded by the band Spooky Tooth in 1969. British metal band Judas Priest’s cover put the members in court in 1990, when the parents of two young fans of the band who attempted suicide in 1985 sued them in a civil case, alleging the song included the subliminal command “Do it.” The case was dismissed, with the judge ruling that any subliminal messages in the song, if they existed, were not culpable for the deaths.
Queen, “Another One Bites the Dust”
Backwards message: “Start to smoke marijuana”
There’s some debate about whether Freddie Mercury is singing “Start to smoke marijuana” or “It’s fun to smoke marijuana” when this hit spins backwards, but he’s definitely saying something about “smoke marijuana” — which, as we learned earlier with John
Lennon, is how this whole backwards message trend started. Whatever one’s views on cannabis consumption, this message is far less creepy than some of the other utterances on backmask. For example…
The Beatles, “Revolution #9” Backwards message: “Turn me on, dead man.”
“Revolution #9” is weird enough played forwards, but played backwards, there’s something that sounds suspiciously like John Lennon repeating the phrase “Turn me on, dead man.” This message was supposedly part of the whole “Paul is dead” storyline that started in the backtrack for “Strawberry Fields Forever” and carried through (at least for Beatles conspiracy theorists) with things like Paul McCartney not wearing shoes on the cover of Abbey Road as symbols of his secret death.
Electric Light Orchestra, “Fire on High”
Backwards message: “The music is reversible. Time is not. Turn back, turn back.”
The forward version of this song contains a backwards message in the instrumental opening. Over sinistersounding synthesizers, a garbled voice says something that sounds like “ Mad… ness… shnipf shnchop fyeer .” But stop the record, push it in reverse over the grooves, and the message is clear: “The music is reversible. Time is not. Turn back, turn back.” Trippy.
Slayer, “Hell Awaits”
Backwards message: “Join us.”
In 1985, when evangelical organizations were making a furor over “Satanic subliminal messages,” Slayer got blatant and recorded chants of “Join us” over the introduction to the song “Hell Awaits,” which culminates with a demonic voice booming “Welcome back!” before the song explodes in a barrage of thrash metal guitars. Slayer frontman Tom Araya explained the message was for dramatic effect, and not an actual invocation to Satan. CT
NIKI D’ANDREA • COLLEGE TIMES
MY FAVORITE RECORDS:
FOUR PHOENICIANS WAX NOSTALGIC ABOUT
THE GEMS
OF THEIR COLLECTIONS
NIKI D’ANDREA • COLLEGE TIMES
David Accomazzo
Former music editor at Phoenix New Times
Years collecting records: 2
Number of records in collection: 50 Gems in collection : Let Them Eat Jellybeans (‘80s punk collection), Shaft original soundtrack, Sleep’s Dopesmoker
What makes them gems: “ Shortly after getting my record player, I bought the Shaft soundtrack on a whim. It’s now my favorite record, the first record where I truly enjoyed a transformative sense of discovery. The album itself has songs ranging from the conscious slice-of-life of ‘Soulsville’ to the softer lounge feel of ‘Ellie’s Love Theme’ to the 20-minute jam of ‘Do Your Thing,’ which is an exemplary funk jam that never plods despite its length. It is far from an underappreciated gem — it’s considered one of the best soundtracks of all time, responsible for inspiring people like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield to pen their own iconic soul soundtracks in the ‘70s. But I had low expectations for the album, and it far surpassed them. Browsing through records at a store feels to me like an archaeologist unearthing a long-buried ancient city. Those
weathered discoveries might not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but they mean a lot more to the person discovering them. That’s why I collect records.”
Carly “Danger” Schorman Senior editor of YabYum Music & Arts
Number of years collecting records: 20
Number of records in collection: 574 in my home
Gems of my collection: Share by Cherie Cherie, Christmas Island by AJJ, Spill the Beans by The Beans, Dreamboat Annie by Heart What makes them gems: “ Over the years, my work with YabYum has led me to some truly tremendous Arizona musicians, so my first two listed come from that collection.
Cherie Cherie’s Share and AJJ’s Christmas Island are stellar albums and both bands recruited local artists to create their amazing cover art. Really great album art helps takes the sting out of forking over the extra cost for vinyl instead of just buying the digital version online. And since ‘gems’ also seems to imply something a little more obscure, I had to include Spill the Beans by The Beans. This album was originally recorded at East Wind Studio in Tempe back in 1969, but it was given new life for Record Store
Day last year with a little help from Johnny D. Finally, I had to throw in Heart’s Dreamboat Annie because I have probably listened to that record more than almost any other in my vinyl collection. True story.”
Jason P. Woodbury
Music journalist and social media manager for Zia Records
terrible about organizing
Number of years collecting records: 15
Number of records in collection: “ I’m
and cataloging my stuff, which is embarrassing to admit. Conservatively, I’ve got around 3,000 LPs and 45s – enough that I’m constantly trying to come up with new places to store them.”
Gems of my collection: “My ideal answer would be, ‘I don’t own any record I don’t think is a gem.’ But of course some stand out more than others, namely my copy of Waylon Jennings’ Waylon at JD’s . Despite its title, it was actually recorded at Audio Recorders, not JD’s, the nightclub where Waylon played in Scottsdale. It’s like owning a piece of Arizona and country music history. My copy of Nick Lowe’s Labour of Lust is dear to me. He’s one of my all-time favorite songwriters and he signed it with a word balloon on the cover outside of the Rhythm Room. I really treasure my copy of shoegaze band Starflyer 59’s 1995 album Gold I scored it at one of the Zia Records locations in Las Vegas last year after searching for it pretty much every time I shopped in a record store since I’ve been buying records. Finding it felt like a real triumph.
I’m pictured here with the Ciao! Manhattan soundtrack, which comes out via Light in the Attic on Record Store Day. I wrote the liner notes.”
Amy Young Drummer for local bands French Girls and Sturdy Ladies
Number of years collecting records: 25-plus
Bee
over the years, due to different circumstances, but currently I have a couple hundred.” Gems of my collection: “My gems are more about personal value than monetary worth. A couple include: Guided By Voices, Thousand Director’s Cut. This came out about a decade after Bee Thousand was released in 1994. That was a huge time of transformation in my life and the record was part of it. It was so moving and powerful to me that it was part of what helped direct me to make a bigger pursuit of playing music. And a mutual love of GBV was a bonding factor in one of my earliest bands, the Jumping Bomb Girls, who still play to this day even though we all live in different cities. This version shows some of that album’s history and how it was edited down to that final, life-changing version. (Also), the Over the Edge movie soundtrack. Matt Dillon’s first movie is my favorite movie of all time. It’s the best story of teenage rebellion, ever. And it turned a sixth-grade me onto Cheap Trick, the Ramones, and the Cars. Forever grateful!” CT
Number of records in collection: “My collection’s size has varied
VINYL IN THE VALLEY
7 LOCAL SPOTS TO CELEBRATE RECORD STORE DAY 2017
MADISON RUTHERFORD • COLLEGE TIMES
Whether you’re a veteran vinyl junkie or a recent record enthusiast, you know that Record Store Day is like Christmas for record collectors. Instead of wrapped gifts showing up under the tree, extremely rare vinyl reissues and releases show up on record store shelves around the country. Here’s where audiophiles can get their fix in Phoenix for RSD 2017.
ASYLUM RECORDS • 108 W. Main Street, Mesa
This one-stop record shop on the main drag in Mesa will open its doors at 9 a.m. to allow the Valley’s vinyl junkies to sift through hundreds of exclusive record releases. Get there early to get your hands on rarities like picture discs, live recordings and unreleased demos from artists that range from Sia to Santana, or swing by to meet Michael Bruce and Neal Smith from Alice Cooper’s original band and Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson. If you favor sitcoms over shock rock, Larry Thomas, better known as “The Soup Nazi” on Seinfeld , will also be there to meet and greet fans.
THE RECORD ROOM • 2601 W. Dunlap Avenue #21, Phoenix
The Record Room is a treasure trove of vintage vinyls and boasts new and used music, including CDs and LPs, and other merch. Though the store won’t be slinging any Record Store Day titles this year, it will debut tons of new and used vinyl and tees and offer 20 percent off the entire store. Dollar records will be on sale for 10 for $1. Local bands like Hillbilly Devilspeak, Jesus Ponies and Sturdy Ladies will provide a live soundtrack all day. The shop will open at 10 a.m. and stay open until the last band is done playing.
THE ‘IN’ GROOVE • 3406 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix
This tiny vinyl vendor has an impressive inventory, and will be hosting more than 20 bands on its recently built concert stage in the front of the store. The ‘In’ Groove will open at 8 a.m., offering storewide sales such as 15 percent off all used vinyl, 40 percent off all non-autographed posters and 33 cents for all dollar records. The first 13 customers in line will get a free T-shirt and die-cut sticker. This year’s live lineup includes Blank Waves, Devil Grass, I am Hologram and Broken Girls From Affluent Backgrounds.
ZIA RECORDS • Locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Chandler
Zia has five locations across the Valley, so it’s no surprise this record store chain is doing it big for Record Store Day. This year, all locations will stock its shelves with hundreds of RSD exclusives, music compilations and special swag, including tumblers, T-shirts and enamel pins. Zia is also one of the only locations in the Valley where vinyl and Star Wars junkies alike can pick up the RSD Exclusive Star Wars Crosley record player. Catch local bands like Fairy Bones, The Sink or Swim and People Who Could Fly in between giveaways and signings.
RECORD HIGH • 4242 E. University Drive, Phoenix
This laid-back shop specializes in rare jazz and blues records and is a destination for local audiophiles. This Record Store Day, the hi-fi haven will put out 1,200 used, collectible records that have never before rested on Record High’s pristine, organized shelves. Customers can spend the day sifting through these titles and testing them on the turntable in the shop’s listening room.
STINKWEEDS • 12 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix
Stinkweeds has been a mainstay in Phoenix for 30 years, proffering a robust collection of new and used records as well as CDs, DVDs, cassettes, books, magazines and apparel. This year, Stinkweeds will have refreshments and goodie bags for the first 100 customers. There will be a DJ in the morning and an afterparty at First Draft Book Bar at Changing Hands Bookstore sponsored by Dogfish Head Brewery, which will have a limited edition poster and its own RSD 2017 release.
REVOLVER RECORDS • 4747 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix , 918 N. 2nd Street, Phoenix
This year, both Revolver locations will open their doors early so local vinyl lovers can get exclusive titles in their hands and on their turntables. The locally renowned record shop will also be celebrating its 10th anniversary that day by adding thousands of RSDexclusive releases to its sturdy supply of more than 25,000 new and used LPs. There will also be a 50 percent-off blowout for all LPs $5 and under and 20 percent off everything else.
SPORTS SPORTS CALENDAR
Thursday, May 4, 7:30 p.m., $16-$231.
KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY
Celebrate in style with Arizona’s only Kentucky Derby party, during which guests can watch, wager and win with live local horses. Don’t forget the hats, glasses and a flair for over-the-top fashion. Bring your appetites because buffets will provide the eats.
Turf Paradise, 1501 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, 602.942.1101, turfparadise. com, Saturday, May 6, 7:15 a.m., $5-$180.
WANDERLUST 108
ALL OF THE BEST SPORTS EVENTS TO CATCH, TACKLE AND HIT
CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI • COLLEGE TIMES
BUBBLE RUN
Welcome to the only running event that celebrates bursting someone’s bubble. The Bubble Run brings participants through 3.1 miles of big bubbles and brightly colored foam. You can opt to run, walk, dance, twirl and frolic, but according to the rules, feeling like a kid is an absolute must.
Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, 623.882.3120,
bubblerun.com, Saturday, April 22, 8 a.m., $20-$50.
JDRF ONE WALK
Valley residents and visitors will join together to raise funds and awareness for type 1 diabetes at the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund) One Walk. Participants will walk a 5K (approximately 3 miles) to benefit the local JDRF chapter. Sloan Park, 2330 W. Rio Salado
Parkway, Mesa, http://dsw.jdrf.org/, Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m., donations accepted.
WWE PRESENT NXT LIVE!
WWE NXT features the up-andcoming generation of superstar wrestlers battling to prove they belong in the WWE. Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 800.745.3000, ticketmaster.com,
The “1” in 108 stands for unity, the “0” for wholeness and the “8” (a sideways infinity symbol) represents infinite love. The daylong celebration features a triathlon with a 5K run, then an outdoor yoga class and, finally, guided meditation. Still not done? Tackle hooping or acroyoga afterward. Music, organic food and craft and several “Om”s are sure to fill the air.
Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, 480.270.5000, wanderlust.com, Sunday, May 7, 7:30 a.m., $21-$49.08. CT
BASEBALL SCHEDULE SUN DEVIL
CSU BAKERSFIELD
APRIL 21-APRIL 23, PHOENIX
OREGON
APRIL 28-APRIL 30, EUGENE, OREGON
STANFORD
MAY 5-7, PHOENIX
ARIZONA MAY 9, TUCSON
WASHINGTON MAY 12-16, SEATTLE
ARIZONA MAY 18-20, PHOENIX
UTAH
MAY 26-28, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
THE RIGHT TRACK
A PEEK INSIDE THE PLAYLIST OF PHOENIX’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
There’s one thing local rapper HotRock SupaJoint likes more than sick beats and skin-tight pants, and that’s the sweet leaf. You can find the local legend on stage taking stoner rock to a “higher” level, slinging beats and spitting rhymes, rocking bell bottoms, a handlebar mustache, a giant, curly wig and his favorite accessory — the devil’s lettuce.
The Phoenix-based rapper’s flashy persona and profanity- and slangladen lexicon beg the question “Is he for real”? We don’t have the answer to that question, but we did have an entertaining email exchange with him. We’ve tried to preserve HotRock SupaJoint’s unqiue linguistics as much as possible, while limiting the amount of four letters words he frequently uses (except the four letter word “weed,” which he uses probably more than anything), and to which he credits his creativity: “I got into music through my weed man back in the day, an’ now I be here.”
TOP 5 FAVORITE SONGS OF ALL TIME
“The Bank Account Song,” Louis Cole
“The s**t totally rock, yo. I found it on the Interwebz through my FB feed, an’ homey be all like playin’ funky jazz drums wit the total funk keyboard sound, while he be singin’ all about how he be too scared to check his bank account. I totally relate to that yo, wit this new mixtape I be droppin on 4/20 callt Bitches Love Mixtapes , cuz releasin’ s**t be expensive yo... not as expensive as my weed habit, but close.”
“F**k It All Up and Get High,”
Andy Warpigs
“I be mixin’ Andy’s new album, so that’s the song I done heard the most in the past 24 hours. S**t’s dope,
yo. This song real personal to me, cuz I love weed homiez, an’ f**kin s**t up while I be getting’ all high be what I be all about.”
Pretty much any track, Cypress Hill
“Cypress Hill be the soundtrack to my youth homiez, gettin’ high an’ s**t. All they songs about weed, an’ since I be all about the weed too, this song be the song I want to be playin’ at the pearly gates when Bob Marley pass me a spliff.”
“ ,” Pootie Tang
“Someday Imma record somethin’ as groundbreakin’ as this track from 2001... I ain’t holdin’ my breaf till then though, homiez. Jus’ sayin’.”
“Royal Jelly,” Dewey Cox
“Man, homie jus’ be hittin’ all the important s**t on this track yo, an’ I be a lil amazed that it didn’t blow up on the radio like Drake’s new s**t be doin’ back when he drop that movie. Song totes make me cry always, homiez.”
FAVORITE SONG FROM A STONER MOVIE
“Well, my fave stoner movie be this indie flick that came out back in 2015 called Fakest . There’s this one song on that soundtrack calld ‘Weed Money,’ where the dude in the movie be all like, ‘Yo, buy my CDs an’ s**t so I can go buy some weed wit that money.’ When I saw that song in the theater, I was all
HotRock SupaJoint
like, ‘OMG yo, I totes relate to this s**t.’ The dude be all wearin’ chick pants an’ a wig too, so I saw a lot a myself in that dude. He be wearin’ them glasses wit the reflective coatin’ on ‘em, so I jus assume a lot of otha peeps see themselfs in that dude too... reflectively speakin.”
FAVORITE SONG ABOUT WEED
“‘Happy Birthday Mothaf**ka Hell Yeah Smoke Weed’ by SupaJoint be my fave song about weed.”
PREFERRED WAY OF LISTENING
“Most music I be listenin’ to now be music I be findin’ on the Interwebz, like through YouTube an’ through my FB feed, cuz that’s where all the newest s**t live now, homiez.”
GO-TO GUILTY PLEASURE
TRACK/CLASSIC KARAOKE TUNE
“I refuse to admit guilt eva, an’ since I be a rapper, most of my live performance basically be ‘rap’aoke anywayz, homiez. But fo’ the classic, I throw it all the way back to the ‘80s fo’ that REM ‘It Be The End of the Earf As We Know It an I Feel Fine, Yo’ track. I dig it cuz them words be so fast. I don’t know ‘em, so I just rhyme about how much I love weed during them verses. I don’t think anyone notice the dif.” CT
“The Bank Account Song” Louis Cole
“F**k It All Up and Get High” Andy Warpigs
Any track Cypress Hill “ ,”
Pootie Tang
“Royal Jelly”
Dewey Cox
“It’s the End of the World As We Know It” REM
GRAPHIC
THE NEW STANDARD
AMERICAN STANDARDS GETS PERSONAL ON NEW ALBUM
MADISON
RUTHERFORD • COLLEGE TIMES
Brandon Kellum is the self-proclaimed Clark Kent of hardcore.
By day, he works with a team of analytic consultants and project managers for a large financial company. His “alter ego” is the vocalist of Phoenix metalcore band American Standards.
“I take off the tie and turn into Superman,” he jokes.
Kellum, 31, is no stranger to balancing work and play. He has been playing in Arizona bands for nearly half his life.
American Standards was formed in 2011 and quickly became a staple in the local hardcore scene, accruing steadfast fans in Phoenix and rapidly garnering national and international attention. They signed to a subset of Victory Records shortly after their first selftitled EP. Since then, they have released four albums, including their newest full-length, Anti-Melody . The band has consistently kept things fresh with lyrics that oscillate between politics and personal struggle.
“I’ve seen the cycles over time where music starts off… it progressively gets heavier and heavier into hardcore and metal and people get burnt out from all the noise and it just recycles right back to the beginning,” Kellum says. “I think we’ve always paralleled the popular style of music and we’re never exactly the model for what fits into hardcore or punk rock or metal; we’re just somewhere on the side of it and because of that, I think promoters and venues don’t know what to do with us.”
Kellum says they have been put on bills with bands that range from death metal to indie rock to pop punk, which has helped expose them to a variety of different crowds.
“It also kind of hurts us because we go in as the underdog where we don’t fit in with the four other bands that sound very similar to each other, so it’s a lot of people scratching their heads at first and they either really love it because we’re completely different or they hate it because it just doesn’t fit the mold,” he says.
In fact, the band’s album release show, which will be held at Rebel Lounge on April 28, will feature a mix of genres and styles, including rap group Teammate Markus, femalefronted rockers Eclipses for Eyes and fellow local hardcore heavyweights, Amor.
“It’s this mix of all types of bands, which we felt really ties into the concept of the album, how people
focus on the things that divide us and thinking about what brings us together,” he explains.
The album’s heaviness in sound is underscored by the heavy topics explored throughout each track. Kellum says it is by far the most personal album the band has put out, written in the wake of the loss of his father to cancer and the unexpected suicide of the band’s lead guitarist, Cody Conrad, in 2015.
“I almost hesitated to write such a personal album but I felt like I needed to. When those two big things happened, they made me rethink how I wanted the lyrics,” Kellum explains.
“I definitely wanted to include some of the stuff that we had talked about in the past, especially in our political climate now… but at the same time I needed to talk about the experience with my dad and the experience with Cody… and that’s something I just never really did.”
Prior to Anti-Melody , Kellum had avoided including extreme emotions like love and hate in his music.
“I felt like they were cliché and I didn’t really have a lot to add to those conversations,” he says. “I’m not belting out love ballads and I’m not writing these really angry, hateful songs. We’re doing something musically that’s so different and out-of-the-box, and then if I make it personal, when someone takes a jab and says, ‘I don’t like this,’ it’s going to be even harder to take that jab if someone’s hating something that’s so personal to you, so that’s kind of what I struggled with for quite a while.”
According to Kellum, writing and recording Anti-Melody served as a form of therapy to cope with and overcome the tragic events in his life. Kellum explains that the album also serves as a snapshot in time, documenting his emotional evolution and maturation, both musically and personally.
“I think back to some of my first
bands and all we talked about was, ‘My girlfriend broke up with me’ and then you get a little bit older and some real sh*t starts happening and you’re like, ‘Damn, that stuff meant nothing,’” he says. “That stuff passed in a week, but you’re so stuck in the moment and it’s good and bad. If you had all ups, you would never appreciate the ups. One makes you appreciate the other.”
The album’s first single, “Writer’s Block Party,” amassed widespread exposure and acclaim, but it also gave way to a fair share of criticism. However, the vocalist never lost his humility or ability to laugh things off.
“We had slowly grown for five years as a band, and most people either liked us or they loved us… we never really had a lot of people that overtly went out of their way to hate us a lot,” he says. “With this last song we put out though, we got exposed to such a big crowd of people that hadn’t heard us before, and we get all these comments from people that are really loving it and really connecting to the message, but then we get a lot of hate comments too and we’ve got so many people that are bashing us, but not like ‘I hate this song’ or ‘I hate this message,’ it’s just like, ‘You guys look real dumb’ or ‘You guys are a bunch of nerds,’ so that to me is funny… they’re not bashing on me, they’re just hating on the way I look. Most people tell me if people are really going out of their way to creatively hate you, that means you’re doing something right.”
Kellum says “Writer’s Block Party” is the most lighthearted and tongue-incheek song on the album.
“I almost wonder if we’re completely throwing people off putting that out as the first single because there’s a lot of
heavy topics on this album, but in a way I see it as a preface or a prelude to the album,” he details. “What it’s kind of morphed into is almost looking at the album as a whole piece of art. ‘Writer’s Block Party’ was a whole thing of me determining, ‘Do I want to write with a very personal narrative and if so, how are people going to receive that personal narrative knowing that our music is kind of polarizing in some ways where people either love it or hate it?’ That’s what the song is about, the idea of us writing what we want to write on our own terms and putting it out there regardless of the fact that it might not fit into the mold that people are used to.”
Writer’s block was a recurring theme while writing the album. He says writing about sociopolitical issues came a lot easier than expressing personal ones.
“I think a really big thing for the song itself is to do the thing that you love, follow your passion, do it with your whole heart and don’t expect anything from it, money or fame or anything other than to have the experiences that you build from it along the way,” he explains. “And that’s exactly what music has done for me.”
For Kellum, art imitates life. He acknowledges that American Standards isn’t the fastest, heaviest or most technical band in the hardcore scene, but their message is authentic and unwavering.
“We didn’t want to compete with being the most of something. We just wanted to be what we enjoyed,” he says. “We have parts that are fast and slow and technical and not technical, but I think those parts make you appreciate them, whereas you have one band that’s shredding non-stop and you say, ‘What’s your favorite riff?’ and you can’t even pull out one because it’s all crazy. So that’s kind of life too, right? You have to have the ups and downs to make it stand out.”
For American Standards, the music has always been about the message.
“Hardcore made me realize you don’t have to be so musically talented; you just have to have something good to say.”
CT
From L to R: Guitarist Corey Skowronski, drummer Mitch Hosier, vocalist Brandon Kellum, bassist Steven Mandell
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
APRIL 20
Anthrax w/ Killswitch Engage
Marquee Theatre, 7 p.m., $30-$200
ASU Concert Jazz Band & Combos
The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15 Blossoms
Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$15
Dandy Brown
Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free Dreamcar
Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., sold out Nicolas Jaar
Livewire, 8 p.m., $23
Scottsdale Musical Theater Company
Tempe Center for the Arts, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., $28-$34
Jay Allan & The Uncommon Good w/ The Runner-Up, Gene Pool Last Exit Live, 8 p.m., $8
Kane Brown
Livewire, 7 p.m., sold out
Phoenix College Combos & Big Band
HAPA
Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $43.50-$48.50
Jungle Exotica Hipster’s Extravaganza!
Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., $5
Orgone w/ Monophonics
Last Exit Live, 9 p.m., $15-$18
Pile
Rebel Lounge, 8 p.m., $8-$10
Sallie Ford
Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $12-$15
The Garden Rebel Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $14-$16
James McCartney
Valley Bar, 8 p.m., $15-$20
Jamey Johnson
Marquee Theatre, $35-$39.50
Kevin Sharp
Yucca Tap Room, 8 p.m., free Missio w/ 888, Coast Modern Crescent Ballroom, 8 p.m., $15-$18
Rhiannon Giddens
Musical Instrument Museum, 7 p.m., $48.50-$63.50
The Nash, 7:30 p.m., $5-$15
Traitors w/ Distinguisher Pub Rock Live, 7 p.m., $12-$15
Whitherward w/ Jay Allan, Cameron Degurski, The Waters Rhythm Room, 7 p.m., $10
Zac Brown Band
Gila River Arena, 7 p.m., $44.75-$235
TOTALLY ACCURATE PREDICTIONS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT
AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 18)
You’re feeling suffocated. It might be your family, it might be your decor, it might be that turtleneck from freshman year you insist you still fit in. ‘Tis the season for spring cleaning and it might be time to trade the old for the new… unless it’s your family. You’re stuck with them.
PISCES (FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 20)
Ever thrifty, you’re trying to eat through your entire refrigerator before school ends. The saying is “Waste not, want not,” but you might want to hit up the grocery store at least one more time. You can live on Saltines and mustard till May… but do you really want to?
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 21)
With projects, exams and summer break looming, it’s easy to get stressed. But not you, Aries, you’re not stressing at all. No stress when you’re hitting up Coachella, no problem going on an Amazon shopping spree, no anxiety when you decide to take up hot yoga! But when walking into your exam, we got a feeling you might freak out a little.
TAURUS (APRIL 22-MAY 20)
There’s nothing wrong with showing your more fiery
side every now and then. Sometimes the world needs people to speak their minds. Just remember, there’s a difference between speaking your mind and forcing a pizza restaurant to close three months for repair.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 21)
You’re a natural born multitasker but you’re learning more than ever the importance of quality over quantity. Take some time to focus on one task at a time. Does that mean spending all night finishing an essay or all weekend catching up on every Fast and the Furious movie? It’s your call.
CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22)
The dreaded group project is eating up your life and you’re picking up slack for the rest of your team. There’s not much you can do besides grin and bear it, but don’t be afraid to get a little passive aggressive. Whose name should be the first on that PowerPoint? Yours, baby!
LEO (JULY 23-AUGUST 22)
It’s time to put the pedal to the metal and get on top of your grades before finals roll around. You’re going to drink a lot of coffee and listen to the Mulan soundtrack an embarrassing amount of times but you’ve got it in you, Leo, don’t worry!
VIRGO (AUGUST 23- SEPTEMBER 22)
You’re going through a difficult time. Don’t be afraid to turn to your friends for advice, feedback and help in this situation…but not money. That’s what rich distant relatives are for.
LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 22)
Tied between treating yourself and working hard, don’t forget balance is key. That being said, you take more falls than a skydiver so maybe it’s time to rethink your metaphorical sayings.
SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 21)
As summer begins, your friends’ allergies are slowly dissipating. You, on the other hand, are coughing and sneezing like no other. At this point, you have two options: go to Health Services or stay up all
night self-diagnosing yourself on WebMD. We say the latter because after all – you’re educated enough to make a guess, right?
SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 21)
A distant prophecy says you will pet a dog today and become extremely happy. We recommend you find a pup ASAP and see if the message is true.
CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22-JANUARY 19)
Working alongside others, you find yourself lost in everyone else’s agendas. Assert your opinion every now and then. Someone will find it worthy, even if it’s shouting something as simple as, “Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is totally underappreciated!” We totes agree. CT
