Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • About
  • Contact

Music From Your Youth: The Memories vs. The Music

May 20, 2010 By Jessica Astronaut Leave a Comment

My entire life is mapped out and plagued from memories tied to certain bands and particular records. There are few moments in my young life that I can’t identify (or label) with records or bands. Which is why, no matter how much artist changes, good or bad, usually bad, I cannot stop being a fan.

I’ve tried. Really, I have. There are some bands who continuously get worse, yet I still listen because well, I loved it once. I’m not like most people. I don’t just listen to music, I have passionate love affairs with my record collection. Weird? Maybe a little, but I’m kind of obsessive.

As I grow older, the music I loved in all the different phases of growing up, still sounds wonderful to me. Even when I know better. An old record is like an old photograph. It tells a million little stories that no one other than myself and those from the past can hear (or see).

Taking Back Sunday’s Tell All Your Friends got me through a fair portion of high school and yet, as I listened to it the other evening, I realized how generic the lyrics were, how simple the actual music was, how hilarious my young self must have been to identify with this. Yet”¦I still sang along and it felt right. I remember the long dark drives on country roads, feeling lost, feeling as if I belonged, the general feeling of feeling.

I’m much older now, but the memories and time frame attached to this record are poignant. Taking Back Sunday has evolved and released three records since this one, and I’ve bought and loved two of them. If asked my top favorite records TAYF would most definitely make that list. But not because it’s particularly great, but just because of the memories.

This happens often. I have personal debates. Is this record actually any good? Could I love it if it were just released today? What are these memories with out the soundtrack?

I cannot fully answer any of these questions, but I’m fairly certain, that bands like Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Spice Girls, Senses Fail, Brand New, and From Autumn to Ashes, could never have worked in another time. These bands aren’t meant to be classics, these bands were meant for the here and the now and that’s why it worked.

The music is good in its own right, but my personal experiences and childlike fondness morphs these bands into so much more. They will always be a part of me like they’ll always be a part of music history. And who can argue with that?

Filed Under: Articles

Jarrod Gorbel @ the Beachland Tavern – Cleveland

April 27, 2010 By Jessica Astronaut Leave a Comment

To catch an artist at the start of their tour always feels lucky. Like maybe you’re going to experience a more refreshed version of the performance and in most cases, this is probably an accurate assumption. But in regards to Jarrod Gorbel, I don’t think it really mattered.

The venue was filled with young, pretty, well dressed girls and a handful of perfectly groomed boys, all of which appeared to be in love with Jarrod Gorbel. Both as a musician and as the man himself.

For as simple as his music is, just a man and his guitar, it would be easy and almost expected to have a lackluster live show. But his lack of restraint and natural hilarity grants these lovesick suicide (his words, not mine) songs a lighthearted almost joyous presentation.

The setlist contained only a few Honorary Title songs. Mostly he performed unheard new songs, “I’m going to play some new songs and I know that’s not what you want and you wont be able to sing along unless you’re one of those weird people that mumbles your way through songs like “blahhhh blahhh.” He finishes this sentiment off with a strange face, a squeal and than launches into the strongest of the new songs, “Devil’s Made a New Friend”.

Gorbel might be better suited as a comedian because almost every word that came out of his mouth sounded like a well rehearsed joke. He even did an impromptu depression medication commercial. He thanked the openers, talked about how one of them loves big wet hairy and mainly kisses. “What the fuck else is there to say? I love you or not. Do you love me? No, no, I’m not talking to myself. Uh, I’m not even here to see you, fuckin’ a, I need to start to drink earlier”¦when you’re playing. AHHH, this is my meth voice!”

A girl in the crowd casually and quietly said, “My balls shrunk, I just can’t do it.” He laughed and shrieked, “I know, RIGHT? You have performance issues, he likes big men”¦she’s writing, we’re all just sharing memories. Creating a vibe.” Like most things Gorbel says, he nailed it. No matter your interest in his music or opinion on this genre, his performances are part comedy and part hang out session infused with beautiful well crafted songs. It doesn’t get much better than this.

He’s both an artist to watch out for and someone who should not be denied. Buy his EP, check out a show, wear his soft cotton t-shirts as a loin cloth, whatever suits your fancy, but if you plan on passing Jarrod Gorbel by, you will eventually regret it. And I’ll say, “I told you so.”

Show took place on Friday, April 23, 2010 @ the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio

Filed Under: Articles, Show Tagged With: Jarrod Gorbel, the-honorary-title

A Conversation with Jarrod Gorbel

April 17, 2010 By Jessica Astronaut Leave a Comment

The Honorary Title started in 2004, by singer/songwriter, Jarrod Gorbel. Under the name, The Honorary Title, he released two full length discs and a handful of EP’s. All of which were well received and kept him touring for three years. In November of 2009, THT played their “last show” to a sold out crowd. This is when Jarrod Gorbel the brand and entity emerged from behind the shadows of the name.

In 2009, he released his first solo EP, Ten Years Older. Which is essentially the same as previous efforts, but with more passion. He is currently embarking on the first leg of his solo tour and thus far the crowd has not disappointed.

The new record, Devil’s Made A New Friend is set to be released some time in September and Gorbel describes it as being, “more emotional folk with female vocals.”

When asked to, “State your name, position, and something completely random about yourself.” Without hesitation he launched into a story about how much he loved almond paste. He seemed ready for such a question.

On tour, he listens to W-H-Y, (yes, he spelled it out), Feist, Regina Spektor and classic soul music.

With the rise of social media sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and you know, actual websites, it’s easy for an artist to over saturate the market with redundant news. That, or it’s a tool for over sharing. Gorbel is a combination of the two. He tweets his natural stream of consciousness. His Twitter, at times reads like a new wave stoned haiku in less than 140 letters. “Well, let’s just say, I’m not always sober and well, if you know me, which you should, on a one-on-one basis, that’s just the shit I say”¦this is how I think.”

For as emotional as his music is, Gorbel has a light hearted manner about him. Laughing in all the right places, over explaining simple things, and all he really wants is to reach a wider audience than he originally had with the Honorary Title. His talent is undeniable and in the words of Gorbel the music is, “Uh, um, hm, uhhh melodramatic sappy emotional”¦shit?” How could you not fall in love with that?

For more information, go here or visit Twitter.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jarrod Gorbel, Ten Years Older EP, the-honorary-title

Guilty Pleasures

March 31, 2010 By Jessica Astronaut Leave a Comment

I have always disliked the term ‘guilty pleasure’. I never fully grasped the concept. If you like something YOU LIKE SOMETHING. Who cares if it’s something no self-respecting person should listen to? You like it for some reason”¦even if that reason is completely invalid.

The Internet defines guilty pleasure as, “Something that brings pleasure but is considered taboo, unadvisable or lowbrow”. That or an Ashley Tisdale record. (Who?/Exactly.)

When thinking of guilty pleasures, my mind automatically jumps to the soundtrack of my swing set. (I love swing sets because I’m a pre-schooler.) I do not, under any circumstances swing to good music. I pick the worst of the worst. Though I enjoy it just as much if not more than some of my favorite music.

I cannot explain the attraction of the crappy music I listen to and in other circumstances, I would never dream of listening to. Almost daily, I find myself on the swings, listening to Destiny Child’s, Fergie, Panic! At the Disco and Mest.

Yes, I know every single word to Fergie’s The Dutchess and yes, I’m more than a little ashamed to write that sentence. Yet it’s true and hilarious.

Is it really a guilty pleasure if I’m willing to admit it? I’d like to think so. I have tried listening to these artists when not in motion and it’s not the same. In fact, I cannot handle it otherwise.

The strangest part is, I was never into these artists. I always imagined guilty pleasures were developed after someone was too old to listen to a particular genre or artist. This is rarely the case for me, so where does this leave me? I suppose, it simply means I notso secretly have bad taste.

When I listen to the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys, I can explain that. Those artists remind me of a wonderfully innocent and simple time in my life. For that, I will never stop.

Everyone has a guilty pleasure to some degree. But with me, I’m not entirely ashamed of any of it. It’s a part of me just as much as the “real” music I listen to. It’s time I came clean.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Soundtrack in Motion:
Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath/Say My Name/Jumpin’ Jumpin’
Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone
Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River
Amy Winehouse – You Know I’m Know Good
Usher – Burn/Yeah!
Spice Girls – Stop/Spice Up Your Life
Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me
Panic! At the Disco – But It’s Better If You Do
Britney Spears – Outrageous/Stronger

“¦I can say no more without losing my dignity.

Filed Under: Articles

A Musical Evolution: Cassettes, CD’s, Mp3’s…and Vinyl?

March 24, 2010 By Jessica Astronaut 6 Comments

My musical evolution has grown as much as I have and so has the form of media — from cassette tapes, to CD’s, to mp3’s….to…vinyl? I grew up on music and while most of the music I was force fed as a child, on long car rides and on cleaning days, wasn’t music I particularly enjoyed, it was music. I had always been drawn to the background noise escaping the speakers. I feared silence.

My mother was a country fan, but my father listened to death metal. I was raised on bipolar genres and my preferences today reflect as much. My first cassette was purchased by my father in Mexico. It was Mariah Carey. While I never fell in love with Mariah, I was, however, marveled by the idea of having music at my palms, whenever I wanted. Like most kids growing up in the early 90’s, I received my first Sony Walkman and with it I was given blank cassettes. The radio was my newfound best friend. I made makeshift mix tapes, composed entirely of popular music. From the Goo Goo Dolls to Destiny’s Child to Green Day, I wanted it all. I stopped being social and was rarely spotted without headphones attached to my head. I used and reused those original tapes creating better mixes every day.

And then…middle school happened and so did compact discs. With CD’s came a bigger selection, more of an opinion, and I was finally allowed to watch MTV’s Total Request Live. I wore band tee’s like it was my job. I had lunch boxes, patches, purses, stickers, folders, whatever I could get my hands on. I loved music and everyone had to know. I graduated from cassettes to CD’s, but also from pop radio to rock television.

Middle school came and went as did the allure of CD’s. High school showed up with MP3’s and music pirating. MP3’s were all the rage. You mean I can download music from my computer, where I spend all my time anyway, for free? Which is great because I’m only fourteen and don’t have a job and oh, wait, I can get music before it’s released? WHAT? I was enthralled, hypnotized, captivated, it didn’t get better than this, did it?

I did not purchase an mp3 player until graduation, but I bought blank discs by the 100’s. I made everyone I knew mixes full of music I knew they’d hate, but hey, IT WAS FREE MUSIC. I never once thought downloading music was wrong and so, when I heard that it was illegal, I simply downloaded more. Record labels and prosecutors be damned. Once I had an iPod, I gave up CD’s and had 20 gigs of music with me at all times. I thought, how in the world, can this get any better?

College came and I made it through the first year being entirely content and happy with my rapidly growing digital collection, but with digital I had nothing tangible. Just something filling the empty space of my hard drive. No longer did I count the days until release dates, rushing to the mailbox every day until I received that brown bubble wrapped package. I no longer had to struggle with the sticker on the top of a CD. Digital was easier and free, but I missed all of the anticipation, the actions, the smells, the shine.

This is how I fell in love with vinyl. Vinyl filled the void that mp3’s never could. I felt as if I had finally found the perfect balance in the musical world. But solace in something so old and so dated? I was skeptical. I felt as if I was moving backwards instead of forward, but unbeknownst to me, records were just as popular, if not more popular. I began collecting records before I received a record player. Because, hey, we all have to start somewhere.

Luckily, the city I live in has an independent record shop and the bands I listen to are the bands that put out records. One of the many things I enjoyed about vinyl was that a lot of records came with a link to a legally downloadable file. My world was simultaneously revolutionized and de-revolutionized. Once again I was reunited with the packaging, the anticipation, the entire process of having tangible music at my finger tips.

Vinyl looks good, smells wonderful, sounds better than any mp3 ever could, and there’s just something about listening to vinyl that puts a smile on my face and eases the tension of my busy life. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with supporting the music you love.

Who know’s where we’ll be in ten more years and I may be traveling backwards in time, but as long as there’s music in any form in the background, I can’t say I mind.

Filed Under: Articles

The Avett Brothers – Cleveland Show Review

March 1, 2010 By Jessica Astronaut Leave a Comment

As I write this, I’m trying to be objective, but it’s hard. Because let’s face it, The Avett Brothers are easily one of my favorite bands. The sold out House of Blues show included an impressive 90 minute set and after it finished, I still wanted more.

The opening act, the Low Anthem, might have been good. But the crowd, however, was louder than their music. Which is unfortunate because the brief moments I could hear — sounded pretty good.

The Avetts’ opened with “Salina”, a song from 2007’s, Emotionalism, Singing, “Cleveland, I ain’t never felt nothing so strong. Been believing the words to my songs. Ohio I’m leaving, Ohio I’m go.” What better way to get the Cleveland crowd jazzed?

Right from the start the crowd was animated, loud, and moving in all sorts of directions. The song selections ranged from brand new, “Slight Figure of Speech”, old, “Shame”, to older ,”Traveling Song”. With the old songs, the avid fans stood out as they  sang along with their Avett pride plastered on their faces.

The Avetts’ music is throughly dynamic. It’s a bit bluegrass, a bit old school country, with a hint of modern day pop elements. Their new record I and Love and You incorporates more instruments into the mix, creating a grown-up rock sound. But the true beauty of the Avetts’ lies within their song writing. These boys write songs like they’ll never write another again, as if their lives depended upon it. And maybe they do.

I’m almost preaching here, I realize, but here’s the truth “” whether you’re like me, a loyal fan, who is destined to love everything these boys create, or whether you’re just into excellent songwriting with a dash of technical brilliance, or if you’re looking for a lively stage show, or that rare human experience “” the kind that can only happen when squeezed together in a sweaty venue, the Avett Brothers authenticity in all of these regards is undeniable.

The Avetts’ are no amateurs. This is simply what they were made to do and it’s true “” there is no harmony like brotherly harmony. The Avett Brothers will be making music until the day they die die die.

Filed Under: Articles

The Best Of 2009

January 4, 2010 By Bryce Jacobson 1 Comment

Below you can see our top 10 lists for 2009. Feel free to comment on them and even leave your own lists to share.

Ben Minsky

  1. A Day To Remember – Homesick
  2. The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
  3. New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight
  4. John Mayer – Battle Studies
  5. Every Time I Die – New Junk Aesthetic
  6. Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
  7. Jay- Z – The Blueprint 3
  8. Saosin – In Search Of Solid Ground
  9. Taking Back Sunday – New Again
  10. The Devil Wears Prada – With Roots Above And Branches Below

Favorite Band of 2009: The Dangerous Summer

Bryce Jacobson

  1. Say Anything – Say Anything
  2. The Dangerous Summer – Reach For The Sun
  3. Owl City – Ocean Eyes
  4. The Fold – Dear Future, Come Get Me
  5. Set Your Goals – This Will Be The Death Of Us
  6. Sherwood – QU
  7. Skillet – Awake
  8. New Found Glory – Not Without A Fight
  9. Twin Atlantic – Vivarium
  10. Tegan & Sara – Sainthood

Favorite Band of 2009: The Dangerous Summer
Favorite Song of 2009: Say Anything – “Do Better”

Manual Garcia

  1. “Veckatimest” by Grizzly Bear
  2. “The BQE” by Sufjan Stevens
  3. “Two Suns” by Bat for Lashes
  4. “Noble Beast” by Andrew Bird
  5. “Beggars” by Thrice
  6. “Popular Songs” by Yo La Tengo
  7. “The Ecstatic” by Mos Def
  8. “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” by Phoenix
  9. “It’s Blitz” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  10. “Hold Time” by M. Ward

Filed Under: Articles, News Tagged With: 2009 list, A Day To Remember, New Found Glory, Owl City, Saosin, Say Anything, Set Your Goals, Sherwood, Skillet, Taking Back Sunday, The Dangerous Summer, The Fold, The-Devil-Wears-Prada, Twin Atlantic

The Matches: A Retrospective

July 9, 2009 By Max Specht 2 Comments

 

l_77c972dd401647a9ad4e5c8bd85d7460

“Do you belong to a song?/Does it drag you along by the tongue at the top of your lungs” – Salty Eyes, The Matches.

And so we say goodbye to another band that have made the music scene what it is today, The Matches. Today they announced that they are going on hiatus, which is the nice way of saying that they are breaking up while remaining on good terms. And so we have a catalogue consisting of the some of the best albums out there for us to live with that make The Matches who they are (were?).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: The-Matches

Warped 2009 – Get to Know the Band: Saosin

July 3, 2009 By Kristen Cavanaugh Leave a Comment

saosin

Saosin is no stranger to touring. Their powerful stage presence has always been a perfect match for the high-energy of Warped Tour. However, this band’s first shot at Warped was sans their then frontman, Anthony Green. Green claimed to be homesick as well as displeased with the overall direction that band was heading in. He headed home and later to form the band Circa Survive. Saosin still hit Warped Tour with Phil sneed from Story of the Year filling in, but that was only a temporary fix before finally finding current lead singer, Cove Reber in a public audition.

Saosin has had great success since Reber joined the band. The band has since signed to Capitol Records and has had several great tours with bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Coheed & Cambria. They also toured with the popular Taste of Chaos Tour in both 2006 and 2007. While on this rigorous tour schedule, Saosin released their first full-length, self-titled album. With such constant touring, it only makes sense that the band released a live album in the spring of 2008. The band then went on one more tour with Armor for Sleep and The Bled before taking a six month break from the world of touring.

When Saosin returned to touring in October of 2008, it was with UnderOATH and The Devil Wear Prada. Saosin now finds themselves touring with these bands again on Warped 2009. Together, these three bands make up the crowd favorites at Warped. With all the extensive touring, Saosin puts on a show like the seasoned professionals they are

I caught these guys for their set in Venutra, CA and was nothing short of impressed. I got to the Hurley Stage long before their set time and the crowd was already massive! Saosin is definitely a crowd favorite on this year’s Warped Tour.

Saosin is on Warped Tour all summer! Do yourself a favor and be sure to check these guys out! Be sure to follow them on Twitter for all their updates on the road!

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Saosin, Warped Tour

Warped 2009 – Get to Know the Band: Escape the Fate

June 23, 2009 By Kristen Cavanaugh

etf

Since I first heard Escape the Fate’s debut EP in 2006, I’ve been a fan. Initially, I can attribute this to the fact that I’m a huge Motley Crue junkie. Now, I’m not saying that Escape the Fate is the reincarnation of the Crue, but let’s face it, among all the pop-punk and straight-edge bands on the scene, Escape the Fate is, at the very least, the Motley Crue of Warped Tour. Think about it. Both of the original lead singers have done jail time. Both bands have parted ways with their lead singer (at least temporarily). Both bands have a shy, quiet, soft-spoken, but shredding guitarist. Sure, these are trivial comparisons, but an article published in Kerrang! really shows similar lifestyles. I don’t know how much truth there is to this article, but for the sake of rock n’ roll, I’m going to go with it. I was born a decade too late for the domination of Motley Crue so I take what I can get. And I’m taking Escape the Fate.

Escape the Fate formed in Las Vegas back in 2004 and released their debut EP There’s No Sympathy for the Dead in May of 2006. Four months later, their first full-length album, Dying is Your Latest Fashion was released. Dying is Your Latest Fashion was the only full-length album released by Escape the Fate with their then lead singer, Ronnie Radke. In 2008, Radke was replaced by former Blessthefall vocalist, Craig Mabbitt and the band released their second album, This War is Ours in October of the same year.

I’m not going to get into the politics of why Ronnie Radke is no longer in the band or which singer is better. Bottom line is, if you like Ronnie, keep listening to Dying is Your Latest Fashion and check out his new band, Falling in Reverse (formerly From Behind These Walls). If you like Craig, listen to This War Is Ours or some old school Blessthefall. And hey, you could even check out some older tracks by Craig’s side project, The Word Alive (now fronted by former Greeley Estates member, Telle Smith). It’s not that hard, guys. You don’t have to turn this into an epic Team Ronnie vs. Team Craig situation like Twilight. (Team Edward, by the way…)

After completing a series of sold out headlining shows, these guys are going to be on Warped Tour all summer. YOU NEED TO CHECK THEM OUT. In my opinion, a lot of bands on Warped Tour are very “edited.” For example, maybe the band can kind of sing and play their instruments, but with the help of studio technology, they can sound amazing ““ until you see them live and just pray they’ll hit at least one note in their set. Escape the Fate is as far from an “edited” band as they get. These guys know what they’re doing and I’m pretty sure Craig Mabbitt is one of the best live performers on the scene today. These boys will put on one of the most explosive live shows you’ll see on Warped Tour this summer”¦possibly ever. Don’t miss them.

I’ll try and score some time with these guys out on Warped Tour, so keep your fingers crossed for an interview soon! (Update: You can read my interview with drummer, Robert Ortiz here.)

Until then, check out their newest video “10 Miles Wide” which features Josh Todd from Buckcherry. It’s over on their Myspace.

Still want more of these guys?
Escape the Fate on Buzznet
Escape the Fate on Twitter
Craig Mabbitt on Twitter

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Don't Miss, Escape The Fate, Warped Tour

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next Page »

Recent Posts

Motion City Soundtrack To Release Video Documentary

Secrets Stream “Maybe Next May” Video

Emery to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign for New Album

I Am The Avalanche Stream New Album “Wolverines”

The Weeks @ The Ryman Auditorium

Copyright © 2023, Driven Far Off. All Rights Reserved.