Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Interview with Dan (ex-Keepsake, Until The End, Eulogy Recordings)

 
Dan has been a good friend of mine for many years now and I thought it would be a great idea to hear about his time in the South Florida Music Scene. Dan is currently residing in Santa Cruz, California but still makes it back down from time to time. I received this last night and while I said I wouldnt have a post until after Thanksgiving, I wanted to get this up as it was a great read. Thanks Dan. (Oh and I dont know why the interview is all choppy and skips lines. Im trying to fix it). First off introduce yourself and what bands you have been in. Hello Chip, friend of mine for 10 years, allow me to introduce myself. To you. My name is Dan and I played in the following musical groups: Action Jackson (when I was 14), Keepsake (when they were screamo), One Day Away (when they were metal), Until The End (when we were straight edge), and for one evening I was in Red Roses for a Blue Lady.I still haven't been able to wash that feeling off of my skin. Children still scream at the sight of me. When did you first start attending shows? My first punk/metal shows were when I was maybe 12 or 13. I'm 18 now. SPRING BREAK! Anyway, the city of Coral Springs would put on these outdoor shows-CHAOS. I saw some crazy shit there. Chad's old band Backscatter, Amboogalard, Jack Off Jill. Seriously, what the fuck were my parents thinking letting me go to that shit? "Hey Mom, after the Jack Off Jill show, can we get ice cream?" I should call child services on her...John McHale probably had pictures from CHAOS even though he was too young to be there. Anyway that led to shows at Cheers, Squeeze, The Edge, and the New Moon Cafe (next to the Lauderhill Uncle Sam's). I think that was its name. Someone help me out on that. I always had an ear for all styles of music that sort of fell into the underground world: punk, metal, indie, HC, goth, etc. South Florida always seemed to have a great mix of it all. What bands were you into when you started going to shows? Like I said, I was all over the map. I really loved everything, and for someone my age I was highly inquisitive. I remember buying my first Pavement record in 5th grade. I also loved garage stuff like Mudhoney-who after all of these years I am seeing for the first time in December. When it came to local bands I really loved Notch Above Kafka, Vacant Andys, Ed Matus' Struggle, etc. What do you feel your biggest accomplishment was as far as the South Florida scene goes? Accomplishment? Who the fuck knows and I don't really care-that was never important to me. I think we had a good, diverse scene and that's what matters. What I'm most grateful for are the longstanding friendships I have made and maintained over the years. I have people that will be in my life forever thanks to the South Florida music scene. There's one guy in particular that stands out above the rest. A man of distinction and endless wisdom. Alex Leone, go get me a fucking milkshake. Can you remember anything specific that made South Florida different from other music scenes? We had a true mix of so many styles-that's not something you find everywhere. I think Aryeh hit it on the head. I remember the first EulogyFest had Until The End and Dashboard Confessional on the same bill-and it made perfect sense. It allowed bands to develop their own styles and be creative without fear of the rigid boundaries of other scenes. It may not be as true today, but that's how it was when I was involved. You couldn't have a band like Poison the Well come out of any other scene. South Florida was truly unique. Can you tell us a story or something memorable that you remember from your time attending shows in South Florida? I have tons and tons of memories, but nothing stands out in an epic way. My time in the scene was more of a sprawling tale than an quick explosion. Although, the time that a certain Hialeah gentleman beat up Rob Keepsake's car was fucking hilarious. Not because he beat up Rob's car, but because he wasn't intending to fuck with Rob but someone else. It was equally funny and sad because Rob was a good guy. Sorry buddy...Come to think of it, I have a lot of awesome stories but they pretty much all revolve around riots and fights. I'll keep quiet so as to not incriminate any of my friends. When you joined Keepsake you were pretty young. How old were you when the first record was released? Paul, Mark, and myself started Keepsake when we were 15. After some line up juggling, including the infamous singer trade with PTW that sent Duane to the Well and Shane to the Sake, we recorded and released the record when the 3 of us were 16. When I talk to people now, they don't realize we were just kids. Especially out here on the west coast where I now reside, I'll occasionally run into someone who was WAY into that album. It's sort of creepy. We were just doing our best to emulate the bands we loved. The Promise Ring and Sepultura were our immediate influences. We were odd ducks-I think that's why it didn't really sound like anything out there. What caused you to quit? Things got hairy on the INTERNETZZZZ OMG! A certain member's girlfriend posted some lame stuff, racist stuff. I was 100% not cool with it. I think I was also just burned out on the work involved. We busted our asses in that band. We practiced constantly and we toured as much as our little hearts could handle. That all combined in a way that made it easy to walk away. Fortunately time is a great healer and I'm friends with everyone from the band now, but it's a really heady experience to be in a band at that age. A serious band I should add. We have a Wikipedia entry! After Keepsake you joined One Day Away. How did that come about? The guys in One Day Away were all my buddies and they needed someone. It was about a year or so after I left Keepsake, so I felt like it was a good time to jump in. Those guys were great musicians, light years beyond me. It really made me up my own game. My time with them was short-only a few shows over 3-4 months, but it was fun. How did Until the End come about? UTE started when PTW came home from an east coast tour and Allan and Chris got tapped by the straight edge fairy. Allan and I worked together (at Blockbuster video, perhaps you have heard of it Chip) and I had known John for a few years from the Keepsake record. We were just bullshitting one day and decided to start it up. I think John had enough time off since Morning Again split and the Weapon wasn't going to be full time. Eulogy was starting to take off and I think he knew he wasn't going to be in a full time band again. So John, Allan, and myself got Chris PTW and my close friend Brendan Ekstrom who was in 200 North (later This Day Forward and now in Circa Survive). We wrote songs quick and dirty. Brendan had to move away before we got started playing shows, so we asked JC from Glasseater to play guitar and also to help us meet our Hispanic guy quota. Wylie counts as 3 white people, so we were way off balance for a South Florida band. We went through a millions drummers, one Mark Mitchell, and a couple of other strays. It was fun, the shows were always nuts, and hopefully people had a good time watching us. The End. Youre living in California now. Are you playing in any bands out west? FUCK NO. I need a break for another few years. I have a full-time job and that limits my spare time. I'm at no great loss for people to play with-the Bay Area is full of great people-it just isn't something that interests me at the moment. Maybe one day, I'm still a young man. A young, spry boy. What can you say about the Hellfest 2000 weekend? 1) Dipping a guy's hand in warm water while he is sleeping will NOT make him wet himself. It will only make him splash water everywhere. 2) Syracuse, is it really "a Syracuse thing" to have large phallic sex toys in your apartment-if you're a guy? 3) Doug, your apartment reeked of cat pee and I threw up in your trash can. 4) Everyone in Destro, I made a mess of the van in a very bad way. Deal with it. 5) Adrian is old, or so I hear. Tell me about Bacon. Bacon is a delicious food. It also the name of my cat. Rather than subject readers to 3 pages of me going on about how amazing she is, I will take this time to DEMAND that you adopt a pet-find your local Humane Society or animal rescue. Also, please consider adopting an older animal-kittens may be cute, but they are Nazis. Srsly. You also worked for Eulogy for a number of years. What was your job at Eulogy? I worked there for about 5 years. When I started we were working on a card table in the corner of John's apartment. By the time I left we had a palatial office in Fort Lauderdale. Anyway, my job changed over the years as we were able to hire more people. When it was just John and I, I was basically a gopher. I packed orders, answered emails, listened to demos, spammed message boards, etc. When I left, I was responsible for manufacturing. It wasn't glamorous, but it was a learning experience for sure. I learned a lot of good habits that have carried over well in my current professional life. Dan thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Any closing words or shout outs? I love you all and I miss you. Sometimes life demands that you pick up and move across the country. If you get that urge, go for it. It was the greatest decision of my life. Oh, and Alex Leone, eat an entire bag of dicks. Tee hee.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Shyster





City: Orlando
Years Active: 1993 - 1999
Type of Music: Punk
Myspace or Website: http://www.myspace.com/shysterforever

From the Shyster Myspace:

"Shyster was conceived back in May of '93 in Orlando, FL under the influence of heavy metal and California punk. The fiery and typically always-changing-members quartet established itself through a series of demos, albums ("Say Uncle," 1996; "February," 1998) and compilations (including locally produced "Spirit of '99" and "1998 Orlando Music Awards"). And for its live impact, the band has taken the trophy in the Punk category for two Orlando Music Awards. Through it all, Shyster has triumphed where many have failed: longevity.

After almost six years of releasing 7-inchers and CDs, and tirelessly traveling around the country playing basements and bowling alleys, you'd think Shyster singer-guitarist (and main songwriter) Mike Levin would have had his fill of the punk-rock lifestyle. But he continues to make music, now in New York with his new band, The New Lows."

Shyster - Thats My Story And I'm Stickin To It

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=961FAFH1

Shyster - Cold Weather

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7LKCNU5W

Shyster - Say Uncle

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HUY8EXLA

Shyster - February

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VJU6MVKB

Shyster - Their tracks from the "Spirit of 99" Compilation

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KLI8Z1X9

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Pre-Thanksgiving Update

Some of you have left me comments stating that you have music I would be interested in posting on the blog. I am very grateful for the help I have received from all of you but many have left the comments as anonymous with no email address for me to contact you. If you do leave a comment and dont want to post your email address, please shoot me an email because there is some great stuff that Im waiting on and have no way to get in touch with you. Please get in touch...

Ill have an update tomorrow but Ill be heading to Miami for the Thanksgiving weekend so there will be no post on Thursday. Also, I will spending 3 weeks in Miami for the Christmas holiday and Ive already spoken to people about acquiring music as well as old flyers to post so be ready for that. I should have a new interview with Shai Hulud's Matt Fox up in the next week or so.

Heres a few things Im currently looking for (anything from the following):

FWA
Chocolate Grasshopper
Dan's Army
The Believers
Dead Patriot
Smite
Taxi
Ikthus
Tension (demo)
Solid Answer (pre-Bloodlet)
The Lab Rats
Going Nowhere
Dynamo Plaza

Anything else you havent seen posted, demos, 7 inches, 12 inches, Comps, Eps...anything. Get in touch by posting a comment or emailing me at Bestwisheshc@yahoo.com

Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Outrights


City: Fort Laudedale
Years Active: 1994 - 2000
Type of Music: Punk
Myspace or Website: http://www.myspace.com/outrights

Taken from the Outrights Myspace:

"If memory serves me right, the Outrights existed from roughly 1994 - 2000. In that time, the Outrights released 2 full length CDs, a 7", and a couple of comp tracks on various south florida labels. We managed two US tours during high school, taking us to far-off lands like Chicago, which is about as far as Istanbul to a 16 year old kid from Florida.

We played locally at Cheers and Respectable Street and Club Q and Happy Daze, with local bands like the Schmendricks, Side Order, The Crumbs, Against All Authority, Hudson, Project Winston, the Vacant Andys, and A New Found Glory. Some idiot promoters also put us on stage with national acts like Guttermouth, MTX, The Beatnik Termites, Discount, and the Teen Idols.

We probably hit our peak at age 17, more-or-less living in a dirty warehouse in Pompano Beach where we drank far too much, watched Johnny swing from the rafters, and manged to write the second record.

Marco Argiro - Guitar/Vocals
Now Playing with THE MOOD in NYC

Chad Voight - Drums
Now Playing with BAD WIZARD in NYC

Travis Woods - Bass
Now digging ditches for pennies"

Also if memory serves Andrew who played in Poison the Well, Drowningman, and The Distance also played in the Outrights.

The Outrights - Its The Attack of The Outrights

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HKOG4HWW

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Nobuhjest


City: Miami
Years Active: 1994 - 1997
Type of Music: Emo
Myspace or Website: http://www.myspace.com/nobuhjest

From the Nobuhjest Myspace:

"Started through an ad placed at yesterday and today records (Miami, Florida) in '94.
Played their first show at the local college to a huge group of high school truants
Drove to Gainesville, FL the next day with friends, WAS, to play their second show at the Megarock Arena with Tampa's End of The Century Party and Gainesville's Fried Christ.
Joined the Smoothlips records outlaws who released first 7" later that year which was recorded at Tapeworm studios by Jeremy Dubois
Began performing outside of Miami more often at some great venues like Ft. Pierce's Old Schoolhouse where they met Vero's Discount and Tampa's My Pal Trigger.
Went on their first mini-tour with My Pal Trigger. The bands went as far as Wilmington, North Carolina
Began performing alongside some great touring bands such as Lifetime, Garden Variety, The Van Pelt, Braid, Castor, Rye Coalition, Karate, Cursive, Traluma, Kerosene 454, later touring with State College's Ethel Meserve, and with Piebald and Cave In during thier last trek out.
throughout this time a few other records featuring :nobuhjest: were released
A split 7" w/ Chicago's Traluma (smooth lips records)
A track called "Fuse" for the Bottlenekk Distribution's Sampler CD (Bottlenekk Distro)
"Define and Direct" on "The Eagle has Landed" 2x12" (Tranquility Base)
A 4 way split 7" with Miami's Gemma, Lawrence, KS' Proudentall and Teresa Undefined on Fragil Records out of Gainesville, FL
played their last show at Power Studios in Miami, FL
parted ways in late '97. "

Members of the band went on to the following bands:
Foreign Bodies
Map of the Universe
Modernage

Nobuhjest - Self Titled on Smooth Lips Records

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=X8BNF10S

Thursday, November 13, 2008

To The Bitter End


City: Miami
Years Active: 1999 - 2000
Type of Music: Hardcore
Myspace or Website: n/a

To The Bitter End wasnt around for a long time and they would have done pretty well if they stuck around. Bundy from Mehkago NT on vocals playing metal hardcore. Still listen to this fairly often. Great demo...from what I understand there are more songs recorded but these 2 were the only ones on the demo.

To The Bitter End - Demo

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RQJ14GH0

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Cowpuncher


City: Pompano Beach
Years Active: 1995 (maybe 1994)
Type of Music: Punk/Ska
Myspace or Website: n/a

Cowpuncher featured memebers of Shai Hulud and the Vacant Andys playing a mixture of punk and ska. As far as I knowthis is the only thing they ever released...if Im wrong, correct me please. Check it out

Cowpuncher - Demo

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=55WNBKF0

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Another great blog focusing on Florida music

I was left a comment by a man calling himself Aesop letting me know about this blog that has some amazing old Florida bands including Load, Roach Motel, and the Doldrums. Check it out...because he has already posted them, I will not be posting them on mine.

http://cosmichearse.blogspot.com/search/label/Florida

Thursday, November 6, 2008

One Size Fits All / The Brown Study



City: Miami
Years Active: 1996 - 1999 (roughly)
Type of Music: Punk
Myspace or Website: http://www.myspace.com/therealbrownstudy

Taken from the Brown Study Myspace:

"One Size Fits All met some other loser and then they changed their name and started doing drugs. they played alongside punks who'd smack their heads against their van only to be cursed with lopsided mohawks and they avoided stoopid bro labels. they played redneck venues in davie and krishna temples in coconut grove and ate at wendy's after practice almost every single time."

To add to that, the band started as One Size Fits All and then changed their name to The Brown Study. They released a 7 inch on Carpathia Records which is available below.

One Size Fits All - La Alegrai Musica de One Size Fits All

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5YYE7ZNR

The Brown Study - ST

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1981FQK5