Very active weekend full of locals
concerts across the state, shows al almost every venue showing the summer music season is in full swing.
--- For
me I made my way to 8th East and hit up the show at New Song
Underground this past Friday, featuring the singing songbird Josaleight Pollett, the heavy
blasting sounds of The Lionelle, and the mesmerizing rock of Fox Van Cleef. Like
most places it was sweltering hot but each played through the
heat and the sweat to bring those who showed an awesome performance. And in the midst of all this I got to interview all
those performing, along with lots of photos for you to see.
Josaleigh Pollett
http://www.myspace.com/josaleighpollett
Gavin:
Hey Josaleigh. First off, tell us a little about
yourself.
Josaleigh: Well, I'm seventeen, going to WSU and trying
to make good music. Ha.
Gavin: What got you interested in music,
and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing
up?
Josaleigh: My parents have always been very musical. I grew up
with The Flaming Lips and Frank Zappa and the Beatles constantly playing around
me. My father was always in a band and my mother was always singing. I've always
loved Joni Mitchell as well.
Gavin:
How did you first get started performing around?
Josaleigh: Mostly
just friends with connections. I go to a lot of shows at local venues, and I
started getting recognized, and setting myself up with
shows.
Gavin: Why did you choose to go solo as opposed to forming
a group or being in a band?
Josaleigh: I'm always doing different
musical collaborations, and I'm singing and playing bass in a band called Eyes
Wide Open. I just love the ability to play and practice on my own time that
being a solo artist allows, so I usually prefer it.
Gavin:
Being a solo act, do you prefer more intimate shows or larger crowds, and
why?
Josaleigh: It depends on the day, really. I love small shows
with friends and families most, but I do enjoy attention from large crowds of
strangers. I mean, who doesn't? Ha.
Gavin: How have things gone
for you recording the upcoming album?
Josaleigh: Slowly. I've been
procrastinating, but finally finished it. It's a little rough with the home
recording thing, but I'm proud of it.
Gavin:
Do you prefer the DIY approach to things, or is it something you've just grown
into doing?
Josaleigh: If I had the money to be in a studio, I
would be. I'm not very good with levels and mixing and all that jazz. But there
is something about being able to say I produced it all myself that I
adore.
Gavin: You're currently unsigned, will you look for a label
to put the album out on or just do it independently?
Josaleigh:
Independently, for this one. I'll keep my options open, but it's not a top
priority at this point.
Gavin:
A little state-wide, what are your thoughts on the local music scene, both good
and bad?
Josaleigh: I love it. It's surprising that such good
music comes out of our area. I love so much of it. Sometimes I feel the ego
stuff get in there, though. It's very competitive.
Gavin: Is there
anything you believe could be done to make it better?
Josaleigh:
Practice! Ha!
Gavin:
Who are your favorite acts in the scene right now?
Josaleigh: I
love Fox Van Cleef, and it's not just because they're friends of mine. Their
music is fresh, yet rootsy, and something I've never heard before. I love it. I
also love Will Sartain's stuff, and S.L.F.M. That's Jessica, and she plays the
Ukelele. She's amazing.
Gavin: What do you think of the current
trends in music that are getting radio play today?
Josaleigh: I
prefer not to listen to the radio. Blog radio occasionally, but I'm not familiar
with the trendy stuff. It all sounds the same to me.
Gavin:
What's your take on file sharing these days and how it affects you as a
musician?
Josaleigh: I allow my stuff for download sometimes,
because I think it's necessary to get it out there, but I really think if you
love a musician for their music, you should support them and just buy a
CD.
Gavin: What can we expect from you the rest of the
year?
Josaleigh: My album, The Body Of Water, comes out
July 20th. I'll be promoting that and my musician friends. Hopefully
I'll be playing a lot while still going to school.
Gavin:
Is there anything you'd like to promote or plug?
Josaleigh: I'm
having a CD release party at Kilby Court on Monday, July 20th with Fox Van
Cleef, John-Ross Boyce, and Josh Seppich. Wonderful musicians that I am
fortunate to know, and would love if we had a good turn
out.
The Lionelle (Jeff Adams, Tate McCallum, Sheyn
Love & Wes Johnson)
http://www.myspace.com/thelionelle
Gavin:
Hey Tate, first off, tell us a little about yourselves.
Tate:
Well, we are a rock band from Salt Lake City, Utah who seem to be followed by
black clouds.
Gavin: What got you interested in music, and who
were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing
up?
Tate: My brother Quinn really wanted to play guitar, and
started messing around with our dad’s acoustic guitar, so of course- I wanted to
learn too. The musical act that had the biggest impact and influence on me was
Led Zeppelin. I now play a Gibson Les Paul (electric guitar) because Jimmy Page
plays one.
Gavin:
How did you all get together and form The Lionelle?
Tate: We all
met in 2003, at a non-profit multimedia school called Spy Hop Productions. We
were all into recording and more importantly- rock music. Years later, January
of 2006 actually- I called up these five friends that I had always wanted to
play music with. We recorded that first practice, and the results got us really
excited about band dynamics.
Gavin: Early on, what made you go
from having six members to just two?
Tate: I wasn’t ready to be a
songwriter and band leader yet, I guess. I hadn’t quite put my finger on the
specific idea that I wanted to pursue, musically and lyrically. I had a lot to
say, but just wasn’t sure how to say what I meant and felt. So I kind of let the
band dissolve, drummer Ryan Thatcher kept insisting that we keep
writing.
Gavin:
What was it like for just the two of you working on the Oh! The Little
Bee EP?
Tate: I knew how I wanted everything to sound, and
Ryan being an incredible drummer and percussionist helped make that possible. I
really loved making his awesome 1930s Gretsch snare drum sound like it was a
pre-recorded drum loop or something just really “gated." Jeff
Adams (bass player) recorded and mixed the EP, and lent a hand with playing bass
on two of the songs.
Gavin: How and when did you get the other
current members into the band?
Tate: Well Jeff Adams and Wes Johnson were in the original line up, plus keyboardist KJ Paulani of A
Cassandra Utterance, so when it came to time to release the EP it
only seemed natural to have them help out with the show and contribute to making
it sound like the record. From there, I had realized that I wanted them in the
band full time, because being in a “two piece” band gets kind of lonely.
Gavin:
What was it like for all of you developing the sound of the band from there
after all the changes?
Tate: Well for me, I knew I couldn’t just
look at Ryan when we were about to change from one part to the next. I couldn’t
be lazy, I had to count in my head while singing, and play rhythmically in time-
something that was a challenge for me, seeing as I have never been a singer
before. I imagine it was kind of boring for Wes a lot of the time, seeing as a
lot of the songs early on were just written with one guitar in mind. So he would
have to play along with what I was playing, without making it sound sloppy or if
he did too much lead work- it might have not sounded like the
record.
Gavin: How was it working as a full band on Oh! The
Company We Keep?
Tate: Oh man… Not as easy as the EP was. It
was hard for everyone to know their place, me included. The Lionelle started out
as “my” band but I eventually had to realize that these songs wouldn’t be that
interesting if it weren’t for the band itself. Some very humbling moments… The
drums and bass took about a week to record; guitars and vocals took several
months. Finished mixing and mastering it about a week before the release date…
Gianni Skolnick and Matt Mateus (who helped us mix it at Counterpoint Studios)
and the band wanted to kill me.
Gavin:
What was the reception like for it, and how do you compare it to the
EP?
Tate: You know, this town is quite hard to read into. You have
to take opinions with a grain of salt, never knowing how heart felt they really
are. Luckily, Slowtrain Record Store has always been a huge support for the
band. They let us release our EP and LP in their store. They have a pretty big
influence on people looking for new music. They have helped spread the word (on
both releases) and that has made for a positive response with both the EP and
LP. I believe the online blog Forest Gospel compared the EP to the LP by saying
I took the skeletal structures of the songs found on the EP, and turned them
into full-scale monsters… Okay it wasn’t that word for word, but something along
those lines. I feel the same way, because the EP was intended to be an
‘acoustic’ EP, shedding different/softer light on our current songs before I
found the right approach to making the music I wanted to
make.
Gavin: What brought about the decision to join up with Sound
Vs. Silence?
Tate: Sound Vs. Silence is a Seattle/SLC based label
run by two guys, who happen to love our music, and music in general. Over the
past few years, I have maintained a friendship with Tyler AKA “Lucky” and we
just got to talking one day… Want to know a secret? When I was in high school
(not too long ago, I guess), Sound Vs. Silence was pretty big in this new,
post-hardcore scene, and I always dreamt of having my band at the time sign to
the label and tour endlessly. And live happily ever after. Little did I
know.
Gavin:
Is there any work on a new album being planned, or are you mainly playing around
for now?
Tate: The writing process for the new record is almost
complete. All the while, we’re still playing one or two shows a month. We hope
to release the new record by the end of the year. Oh, it’s entitled
Shipwreck. Get it?
Gavin: A little state-wide, what are
your thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?
Tate: I
think people are afraid to create something new, especially in Utah, where
everything you see is cookie-cutter. Whether its pop we are talking about, or
metal, or cool-kid indie dance pop- people only create what they can trust won’t
fail. That’s a problem. However, some people here in town have made amazing art
by putting their faith into their voices and instruments. I think that is great.
Kilby Court is going stronger than ever. Band Of Annuals is no longer known as a
local, I have crossed state lines and found the name Band Of Annuals mentioned
in a buzz-worthy manner. East Broadway is a constant party,
Slowtrain can be thanked for this.
Gavin:
Is there anything you believe could be done to make it
better?
Tate: Musicians need to try harder to reach out to people
with sincerity, and show them it’s all right to listen to things that aren’t
played on the radio, or sound just like Vampire Weekend or M.I.A, or even worse-
have a cool “Myspace layout”. Oh, and quit auto-tuning your voice. And people
need to trust music again as a loud, in your face, poetic approach to life. It’s
not meant to be background music. Really listen to what you’re listening
to.
Gavin: Who are your favorite acts in the scene right
now?
Tate: The Continentals. We all agree that this band of 15/16
year olds is amazing. Next, the Pleasure Thieves. I just heard a few songs in
their practice space, and I was so into it. It got me excited. Patter Stats will
be releasing a new record soon; they are such great musicians, and amazingly
sweet dudes.
Gavin:
What do you think of the current trends in music that are getting radio play
today?
Tate: I don’t really have a problem with radio. The music
that gets played on the radio, was written to be on the radio. And what’s wrong
with that? I’m just happy knowing that in comparison between The Lionelle and
like Nickleback we are probably making more money per sale. However, they have
a lot more sales than us. Which is fine by me. I love my day job, I love living
with my parents, and I don’t hate myself for writing shitty songs or having a
shithead haircut. And I get to make my music on my own terms, and that is my
ultimate goal.
Gavin: What's your take on file sharing these days
and how it affects you as a musician?
Tate: I’m not sure if I
would say that file sharing hurts us, right now. If we were Metallica… If
anything, file sharing (for now) really helps get our name out there. I think
Radiohead has found the perfect middle ground of all this debate on file
sharing. People should have a conscience to support their favorite artists, and
buy music. But making a product reasonably priced is the ticket.
Gavin:
What can we expect from you the rest of the year?
Tate: Well we’re
doing a week long tour in August, with a kick-off date on August 6th at Kilby
Court. 7PM. And hopefully, like I said earlier, our new record Shipwreck will
be out by the end of the year. Hopefully by fall.
Gavin: Is there
anything you'd like to promote or plug?
Tate: Um, come to a show.
Buy a CD. Give Jeff a high five.
Fox Van Cleef
(Erich, Matt, Dustin, Jesse and Chase)
http://www.myspace.com/foxvancleef
Gavin:
Hey guys, first off, tell us a little about yourselves.
Matt: We
are like dysfunctional parents that stay together for the kids. Our kids being
our songs, that being said our songs can come out a little fucked up but we did
our best. Hell it's hard being a parent. Especially when you have four other
spouses to please.
Dustin: All of us are absolute nerds. All about
tabletop RPG's (Cthulhu, D&D, Serenity) video games, old cartoons and of
course spaghetti westerns.
Erich: Really we just play rock and
roll for fun. We party and laugh a lot.
Gavin:
What got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and
musical influences growing up?
Dustin: I always looked up to the
older folks who were plucking strings and playing keys, when I was a kid. There
was always such an amazing and unexplainable energy that was oozing out of these
people as they played, and I wanted to give that off too. My biggest influences
growing up were Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, Sheryl Crow, Velvet
Underground, Semisonic, Muddy Watters, Frank Sinatra and as I grew my tastes
did, now I love jazz, big band and swing, country, hip hop and all
sorts.
Matt: The Spice Girls got me interested in music mainly
cause I was going through puberty. After that it was the Beatles. Also Dave
Grohl’s drumming influenced me heavily. I wouldn't play music if it wasn't for
my good friend and fellow musician Spencer Reed. And experimental Hip-hop keeps
me interested in drums.
Erich: What got me interested in music was
hearing my dad play the guitar as a kid. I picked up his guitar, and along with
the piano lessons I was given as a kid, I slowly taught myself how to play
music. I was very heavily influenced by a lot of different bands, such as At The
Drive-In, Weezer, mewithoutYou, Fugazi and plenty others.
Chase:
Some of my greatest influences have been The Doors, DJ Shadow, and
Tool.
Gavin: How did you all get together to form Fox Van
Cleef?
Dustin: Chase, Jesse and I were high school friends. Chase
and I were originally playing with another drummer and I guess Jesse must have
taken pity on us and decided to come jam ha.
Gavin:
What was it like for you guys to develop your sound into the
psychedelic/alternative vibe you've got?
Erich: It was more or
less natural, I suppose. All in all, we play by what feels right. We strive for
self-satisfaction, not for a particular style or anything. I don't think we
intentionally decided this is exactly how we want to sound, other than it's
exactly what felt right at the time we wrote these songs. I'm sure we'll develop
into something different further along the way.
Matt: We love all
kinds of music; did a lot of drugs and just fucked around.
Gavin:
You've been together for about three years and do everything DIY. Do you prefer
it that way or is it more something you've grown accustomed
to?
Chase: Right now we just want to get our music out there. By
producing the album ourselves and giving it away for free we hope to just get
the name and music out there.
Erich: Well, I suppose a little of
both. I don't think we ever considered doing it any other way, but it definitely
feels a lot more satisfying to say we're doing things on our own than having
someone else do our dirty work.
Matt: I absolutely hate setting up
my drums. If you want to do it for me, for free, be my guest.
Gavin:
How was it for you recording the Cigarettes, Terrorism, Etc.
album?
Matt: Stressful, stressful, fun, stressful, tiring, and
worth it.
Chase: A lot less drama than we expected and no one
killed anyone else. Success!
Gavin: What was the public reaction
like to it once it was released, and how did you take it?
Chase:
People seem to be responding to it very well. I think people are a lot more
willing to listen to your music if you just give it to them for
free.
Dustin: It sounds like everyone really digs it. People love
all the movements and chaos and different elements, its been cool the way people
respond.
Gavin:
Are there any plans for a tour to support it, or are you mainly playing around
Utah for now?
Chase: The focus if Utah at the moment. As soon as
our drummer is off probation we will be going on a tour through the
west.
Matt: We will tour for sure, once the man gets off my back
for speaking my mind and enacting my free will. Down with victimless crimes.
Fuck the war on drugs.
Gavin: A little state-wide, what are your
thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?
Dustin: I
love the music scene in Utah, always have. There is some amazingly
talented musicians that have been untapped. This place is a secret goldmine of
all genres of music.
Erich: I love it, honestly. Even the “bad.”
The sheer amount of diversity alone is just awesome. More and more every day I
keep seeing fresh local acts that blow my mind. There's lots of very
enthusiastic and incredibly supportive musicians out here in Utah, and I'm
pretty thrilled to be apart of it.
Gavin:
Is there anything you believe could be done to make it
better?
Matt: More people need to get involved, cover charges need
to come down especially when we aren't getting paid.
Erich: Ah, if
18-year-olds could get into bars, that would definitely help! It's difficult to
mesh the bar scene and the all-ages scene together with that barrier there.
Young kids can't come to the bar shows, older people aren't thrilled about going
to all-ages places if they can see us at a bar later. But other than that, the
music scene, from my point of view, still has a lot going for
it.
Gavin: Who are your favorite acts in the scene right
now?
Erich: Ah man, too many to name! Loom, Gaza, Reviver,
Tolchock Trio, Silver Antlers, Josaleigh Pollett, The Lionelle, The Naked Eyes,
the Auto-Pirates, God's Revolver, and so many more... there's so many good bands
around, and there are so many I've yet to see.
Matt: Labcoat is
the shit. Check 'em out, they're like us but better. It's alright though, cause
they're a lot older then us.
Chase: As far as local bands go I
think the Auto Pirates, The Naked Eyes, Josaleigh Pollett, and The Futurists,
have a very genuine and sincere vision to offer.
Gavin:
What do you think of the current trends in music that are getting radio play
today?
Erich: As far as mainstream radio goes, I really don't
follow it that much anymore. It's something I simply don't care about, and
really have no opinion of. If people want to listen to it, that's just fine with
me. It's become awful commercialized, which can't last much longer with so many
new independent musical outlets available to people. The internet is just
exploding with blogs and bands sharing their music. Independent radio is waving
their proverbial middle finger at popular music. The mainstream airwaves don't
really seem to jive with how things are going.
Chase: I only
listen to KRCL as far as the radio goes so I really am not up to date with the
trends. If it's good it's good.
Gavin: What's your take on file
sharing these days and how it affects you as a musician?
Erich:
Personally, I think it's great. It's a whole new form of distribution, of which
we've only seen the tip of the iceberg. You'd be hard pressed to find a musician
who doesn't enjoy the fact that people can listen to their music from anywhere
in the world whenever they want to. Things are changing and I think it's
fantastic.
Matt: File sharing affects everyone in a positive way,
art shouldn't be forcibly bought and sold. You can't put a price on my soul...
but if you want to help me out, then thank you.
Chase: There is no
way around it. Deal with it and be creative.
Gavin:
What can we expect from you the rest of the year?
Matt: Hell if I
know, I think we're on Twitter.
Dustin: Ha, lots of shows, the
release of the album and so much love it will smother you.
Erich:
Lots more shows, hopefully more songs. Hard to say. We mostly take things as
they come.
Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to promote or
plug?
Erich: Check out our website, http://www.foxvancleef.com. Give our tunes a
listen, or just download our EP for free! Also, support local music, get out and
go to a show! Listen to local radio! Enjoy life!
Dustin: Burt's
Tiki Lounge, Kilby Court, New Song Underground, Liquid Joe's and all the other
great local venues! Wes Johnson at Archive Studios, and Ogden Underground; it's
the best fucking liquor there is.
Matt: Just check our page, oh
and Josaleigh Pollett is a bitchin' folk arist. Come to one of our shows when
she's playing.