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thats almost too overwhelming for me. I dont know my favorite band; its always changing. But one thing thats stayed constant in my life, musically, for the last seven years or so has been Sonic Youth. So I always attribute the title of my favorite band to Sonic Youth. Their epic conclusion to Washing Machine chiming in at JUST under twenty minutes is out of this world.
3) Lets not Shit ourselves (To Love and Be Loved) by Bright Eyes
Ive always loved Bright Eyes. I always will. Lifted is good stuff. So is Lets Not Shit Ourselves. I wish I had the words to describe it, especially since thats the point of me writing a list. But I dont. It is just good stuff.
Single of the
This issues Single of the Week comes from the forthcoming SSWAMPZZ release, Sleeper. Check out Pools, a really poppy track from the EP, and a crowd favorite at shows!
Week
sswampzz
an interview by the miscreant
SSWAMPZZ is band of three dudes who like watching the X-Files. Here, the Miscreant Records band talks about how they met, their upcoming EP, and Cool Ranch Doritos.
TM: What/who do you think is the primary inspiration behind your band? Ricky Balmaseda: Having fun and letting it all out. Garrett Koloski: I would have to say our awkward, goofy selves; making our personalities into songs. Ray McAndrew: I am musically inspired by Clues, Nirvana, and Sonic Youth. I think what keeps us inspired as a band is to just keep the focus on having a good time. TM: How, exactly, would you categorize your music, gun to your head? RB: Melodic noise rock. GK: Uh, noisey? Punky? Mildly fun? Similiar to Cool Ranch Doritos only in band form. RM: Creepy noise rock. TM: Why not just Swamps? RB: Well, basically, theres already a band called Swamps from the Boston area. Usually it isnt that big of a deal for two bands to have the same name, but these guys made it pretty clear that they wanted to be the only Swamps. We made an online page and within hours they were already harassing us about not being the REAL Swamps. They also threatened to schedule some shows near Syracuse so they could come beat us up, but one of Garretts friends basically cleared our name to them. We were in the process of recording our EP and we hadnt settled on a band name yet, so we decided it would be a nice fuck you to them to keep the name but just make it ridiculous. RM: Swamps are for babies. TM: How did you guys all meet? How long have you been playing music together? RB: I met Ray through the Clarendon Collective. We played a show together with our solo projects back in August, and became friends afterwards. Ray introduced me to Garrett a couple weeks later when we were all seeing Best Coast play at The Westcott. Ray and Garrett had been playing together a little bit over the summer, and during the show they invited me to come jam with them in Rays attic. I was just excited to meet new people and have some fun, so we all met up in the attic and jammed some stuff out and the rest is kind of history. I guess weve been playing together for about 5-6 months at this point.
GK: Ray and I have been playing on and off for the last 8 months, I think. And figured we should try out a bass player, or keyboard. We met Ricky and it was love at first sight. Worked perfectly, knew exactly what to play and created, and finalized the family known as SSWAMPZZ. RM: Garrett and I met at an AA meeting, and we met when Ricky delivered a pizza to us one day while we were jamming. TM: What was your first show like as a band? Where did you play, who did you play with, etc? RB: Shortly after we started playing together, Garrett got us a show at Badlands with this punk band from Pittsburgh called Run, Forever. We had only practiced together a handful of times and just kinda winged it to get a 20 minute set together. Honestly, I felt pretty awkward about it. Garretts friends were the only people who showed up. It was only my second time playing in front of people. GK: It was alright, I guess. My friends came down from Pittsburgh and we scavenged around to put a show together. Good ole Badlands always comes in the clutch! TM: What has been your favorite show youve played so far, if you had to pick? RB: My favorite was this basement show we played on Lancaster a few weeks ago with our buds in Beauty School and RAPEWHISTLE. The energy was ridiculous. GK: Probably Rays basement show, or at SPARK when the cops came. Both were awesome. Both totally fit the my life as a movie is fucking crazy. Yeah, that movie is becoming pretty cool, I would have to say. RM: My favorite was the show we played in a basement off of Euclid. We played with some awesome bands, and Ricky threw his bass. It was pretty rock and roll. TM: What bands have you all been listening to a lot (that may or may not have had an influence on SSWAMPZZ)? RB: Lately Ive been listening to Women a lot. I feel like their music is really ugly and depressing and thats pretty much how I feel about spending the winter in Syracuse. GK: Marilyn Manson 666 RM: Currently, I have been listening to Dumb Talk, Nick Cave bands, Nation of Ulysses, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, and Stephen Malkmus.
TM: Talk about the EP what can we expect form your first release? RB: The EP is a really good representation of what were about so far. We recorded most of it over one weekend in Rays attic back in December and got it onto a tape last month. We recorded all the instruments live as a band so it sounds as close as possible to how we sound when we play live. I think theres something to be said for recording it live as a band. Theres just a certain energy that I dont think would have been there if we were all playing our parts separately and playing along to a click track. GK: You can expect a fresh sound. I think it gives the listener exactly what they want to hear. Covers every emotion, if you listen hard enough. RM: Its like if you played the X-Files soundtrack while reading any Goosebumps book. TM: Where do you guys see yourself fitting into the Syracuse scene? RB: Im not sure! I just like that we all come from different backgrounds. Ray and Garrett have been around the Syracuse scene for a while and Ive only been here since Ive been going to school. It makes me really happy that people from the SU scene and the Syracuse scene are starting to meet each other because I feel like we all have a lot to offer. GK: I am not really even certain what Syracuses music scene is. We fit somewhere. I feel like there are two scenes of music. One is totally awesome and I can get behind it 100%. And the other I absolutely want no part in. Fake people, fake problems, and more importantly fake music. RM: Thats a tough question. The Syracuse scene is known for hardcore, Phish tribute bands, and whiny-folk solo acts. I think were a little bit different from whats come out of here previously. TM: Speaking of which, what do you make of recent developments in the music scene? RB: I like it! Im no historian but I can definitely say that people seem to be coming together and being more enthusiastic about the scene. I wasnt around for the Ra Ra Riot days, or the glory days of the Syracuse hardcore scene with guys like Architect, but I feel like it seems to be on an upswing. I think you have to give a lot of credit to bands like Sarongs and Sarah Aument and guys like Dan Creahan, too. Bringing people together in a scene takes a long time, and the people who have really pushed things in the past are just as deserving of credit as all the guys who are trying to do that now. Whether its Mouths Cradle or Black Throat Wind or the Vanderbuilts or the Clarendon Collective or the guys who run Spark and Badlands it shouldnt matter - the big picture is that the more people who put themselves out there now and support the scene the better. GK: I have absolutely loved the bands we have played with, I like the collectives we are a part of, and I like what our friends and soon-to-be-friends are doing for music in Syracuse, or all around the world.
RM: Its pretty cool. There are a few organizations that are trying to stimulate it and there are a few really cool bands. My favorite is Beauty School. TM: Talk about the space you practice at its a pretty big part of music around here, yes? RB: Its pretty great. It looks like a warehouse where people get murdered, but its definitely the best kept secret of the Syracuse music scene. The bathroom is permanently caked in shit and puke, and we find dead rats in there pretty often, but its exactly what we need as a band and as a scene. GK: We have the coolest practice space in all of Syracuse. Every band that practices there is fantastic. Even if I do not like the genre of music, it is absolutely fantastic. Every human in that building is creating something special, and that is incredible. RM: The practice space is like a funhouse for musicians. Awesome shows go on there at least once a month. Just watch out for Los. TM: What other projects are you guys individually involved in outside of SSWAMPZZ? RB: Ray and I have some solo stuff. Like I said earlier, we met while the Bedtimes and Only Child were playing a show through the Clarendon Collective. Garrett is in White Picket Fence and Dirty Humans, and has been in a ton of bands in the Syracuse scene. We all do SSWAMPZZ, but we do our own things as well. GK: White Picket Fence, Dirty Humans, AFROnips. RM: I have something in the works with my friends Joel and Meagan. Nothing is set in stone, but weve been calling ourselves Gyaos. TM: Whats next for you guys as a band? RB: Were finally releasing our EP! Weve only played once outside of Syracuse, so well probably try and play some more shows all over New York state and out of state as well. Were writing new songs too! GK: Hopefully some sort of 7. I feel like that is the appropriate next step in our musical endeavors. RM: Selling out. TM: What does being a miscreant mean to you? RB: I forgot who it was (I think either Matt Gasda or Dan Creahan), but someone summed it up pretty perfectly in one of those earlier issues. To me it means being aware of the environment you put yourself in, and being willing to be yourself and supportive of the things you believe in. Everyones got something to offer, it just takes a little initiative. GK: FIGHT THE MAN, FIGHT THE POWER! Solidarity, my brothers and sisters. RM: It means learning to love myself the way I am.
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RECESS COFFEE
IN HOUSE ARTISAN ROASTED FROM ORGANICALLY GROWN & FAIRLY TRADED BEANS
RECESS COFFEE
IN HOUSE ARTISAN ROASTED FROM ORGANICALLY GROWN & FAIRLY TRADED BEANS
er friends were out While all h fun at Recess, Susie having inside, left to ponder was stuck oice in supporting her poor ch a chain coffee shop.
Vegan & Non-Vegan Baked Go ods FREE Wireless Internet
Close To Syracuse University & Lemoyne Just Off Of Westcott Street
her friends were out While all g fun at Recess, Susie havin inside, left to ponder was stuck oice in supporting her poor ch chain coffee shop. a
Vegan & Non-Vegan Baked Go ods FREE Wireless Internet
Close To Syracuse University & Lemoyne Just Off Of Westcott Street
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or to prove something. Thats what I was doing, until I realized how annoying and stressful that is as a writer. Trying to figure out how to one-up someone else just ends up wearing you down. Once I started making music for my own listening purposes, more people started to like it too. Started doing shows after posted on the Quad, seeing live reaction for something youve worked for hours and hours, it made it all worth it. What would you call you music style? My music style is filmmaking. Im a combination between a filmmaker and musician, so whenever I write songs I try to visualize a movie beforehand. Ill try to visualize color schemes and editing styles before I even write the words down. When I find tracks, its sort of like making a movie score. im curious about your song writing process. Some emcees start with a beat and some start with the 16-bar format already written. Where do you start? I try to find the beat that fits the visual in my head and from there I try to half write, half freestyle. Id write like two lines then try to freestyle from there, and then Id stop and write the next couple of lines, freestyle again, and so on. I do this because I want my music to be organic. I want it all to sound as natural as possible. Who has influences your writing style over the years? Kanye West from the start. As of now Im getting a lot of influence from Childish Gambino. I feel like were similar, since were both in the film-music world. Were also both less-hood black people (laughs), so he really helped make it easier for me to be comfortable as a rapper. So its been Kanye and Childish Gambino, those two opened the door for me the most, made me comfortable as a rapper. What directions do you see your music going in the future? Well, I got tired of the whole mixtape thing. Right now, Im working on what I call an experiment. Were called Bosa and the Red Rockets. Its a comedy show mixed with music. I play this character, Bosa, and we have a group of other guys, The Red Rockets, who are like my Motown backup band. Some of it is based around music and the rest is sketch comedy. We call this the Mainstream Hipster Show. We already have episodes online at MAINSTREAMHIPSTERSHOW.com. Its a new form of entertainment. Im excited about it. I edit all of the video while my roommates and I write the comedy for it. Check out the site, were always updating it with photos, music and comedy.
For more content from Bosa and the Red Rockets, follow them on twitter @redrocketsmusic, and check out MainstreamHipsterShow.com.
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MUSIC IDENTIFICATION
by tori cote
If I had to make a playlist for every time my best friend and I drive from our hometown to my beach house in Maine, I can already tell you what we would be listening to; Lily Allen, Florence + the Machine, Dashboard Confessional, Best Coast, Kate Nash, and a lil bit of T.I. Im aware that this list is a little odd and not exactly comprehensive, but I dont really care. All of these bands represent our relationship, and I hold them dear because of that. Now, dont think that shes the only person I associate certain music with. I have a band for every single one of my friends, boyfriends, family members, etc. The Miscreant? An Horse or Beyonc. My dad? New Order. My sixteen-year-old brother? Tigers Jaw. One of my besties sitting on the couch with me? Young the Giant. Im not kidding, I have a band recognition for every stupid relationship I have. While some people think that this might be weird, its sort of how I operate when it comes to music. I even have different band associations with different seasons! (Fleet Foxes, winter. Eisley, fall.) But to be 100% honest with you, I kind of like it that way. I like being able to relate certain aspects and people in my life with music. Its like everybody has their own personal soundtrack, kind of like if everybody was a movie. I think that bands are supposed to have their own personal story or message, so it only makes sense that other peoples stories relate to a specific band. I dont think that associating bands with people is a bad thing. Sure, if you have a rough relationship or falling out with someone you might have a sour association with that music, but youll move on. If you are able to relate music to people, than you probably understand the artists intent of making music. Music is meant to be relatable, personable, and emotional. Youre supposed to have your own experience with it and make it your own. I know its a little corny and gimmicky, but it really just makes sense. So, dont be afraid to recommend music to people or tell them that they remind you of a song. You never know, you could remind them of a song as well. Relating music to your everyday life and relationships can make you a little bit more introspective of peoples personalities and the relationships you have with them. And let me tell you, its not exactly a bad thing to take time out of your day to think about music. Youll never know what you might find out.
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thanks to everyone who came out to the show a couple weeks ago! we had a great time with dumb talk, sswampzz, rapewhistle, friendless bummer, our daily fix, and gngsgns.
friday, february 18 @ the practice space photos by meagan gregg
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book relationship status was met with a resounding no. But its not just that our secretive relationship was the crux of or even a reason for our issuesthe kid was just too damn busy. Maybe I underestimated the capabilities of someone who traded a college education for a shot at a music career, or maybe I just didnt understand the band slave dynamic. Mark poured all his energy and free time into answering emails, staying on top of social networking sites, and keeping fans happy. After hours of alternating between a computer screen and a Blackberry, he was too worn out to catch up with his long-distance girlfriend. Maybe Im giving him too much creditthe kid was a straight-up asshole. Despite the fact that he spent the earlier months attempting to woo me while on tour, that faade quickly deteriorated when I actually was able to spend time with him over winter break. Cute, meaningless texts turned into ugly, even more meaningless silences as my image of the perfect relationship disappeared from view. Where was my Radio Disney star? We broke up shortly thereafter in a heated text message battle where I begged for a minute of free phone time only to be denied on the grounds of a band meeting. And as most text message break ups go, it was ugly. Real ugly. After that night I laid low by going out, partying, and making out with at least five people. I also repressed Action Items keyboarder from memory and resolved to never date a band member again. Id say I got the upper hand on that one. But life moves on, and *some other garbage quote like that here*. It wasnt until recently that Id noticed hes dating someone new, a hairstylist from back home who was graciously allowed to post her relationship status with him on Facebookhow quaint. And even though thats a telltale sign their band is failing and missed their calling as Radio Disney stars, and even now that its exactly a year since we broke upIm not bitter or anythingI still wince at the thought of what that relationship could have been otherwise. It would have been bad. Real bad. And Im glad I got out of that shitstorm with my dignity and reputation in tact. Because, lets face it: who really wants to be caught dating a Radio Disney star?
*To preserve the integrity of no one, all real names are used in this article.
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Its pretty obvious that Ive been feeling pretty ghetto lately; as a small, blonde white girl in a pretentious liberal arts college its only understandable. And Im going back to Brooklyn next week. Word. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Notorious B.I.G Juicy Childish Gambino Heartbeat Major Lazer + Vybz Kartel Pon De Floor SBTRKT + Sampha Hold on Notorious B.I.G. Big Poppa Jay Z + Kanye West Ni***as in Paris Nas Last Real Ni**a Alive Big L Put It On Snoop Dog Drop it Like its Hot Dr. Dre Forget About Dre
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