Brand New: Philly Concert Review

Hey everyone, WVOU GM throwing up Vincent Discepola's review of Philly's Brand New Concert...ENJOY!!!

"This past Sunday I ventured down to the Electric Factory to catch a show before another grueling week of school began. I had seen Brand New a few years ago when their last album (The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me) and was pretty impressed with the performance, although their stage presence was the weakest part of the show.
So heading into Sunday I had the feeling that I would get a pretty similar experience again, and I was right.

Crime in Stereo was on first. They are a band based out of New York (like both Glassjaw and Brand New) and friends of the headlining band. They played a string of songs that kept the crowd’s attention for the brief twenty minutes or so they played, but sadly ended slowly which in a way turned the crowd off to them.
Next up was Glassjaw. The crowd was anxiously awaiting and some even started pushing forward before the band even came on. This was Glassjaw’s first night on the tour, as well as their first performance in quite a long time. They didn’t disappoint, however, as the crowd went wild singing and screaming along. The band had a unique set up, all the instruments were facing one another as the popular flag of Glassjaw hung in the background. Another interesting part of their performance was the fact they did not have a light show, they simply had the lights dimmed and let their stage presence make up for the rest. Glassjaw’s lead singer, Daryl Palumbo (also lead singer of Head Automatica), was by far the most entertaining and energetic of all the bands of the night.

Brand New came out with a lot of energy, Jesse had a second microphone to do most of his screaming into, and the band picked up a 3rd guitar player to cover some extra parts and vocals when needed. The crowd pushed and swayed and sang along, everyone was enjoying their time with the band. Luckily enough, I was able to make my way to the point where only a few people (and a gap full of concert security) separated me and the stage. “Welcome to Bangkok” really got the crowd going right into the pounding bass drum driven “Sink” from their newest release. Then, the band took the crowd back to previous albums for the next six songs. The end of this string of songs included an interesting, mostly acoustic version of “Limousine” (the band only started playing once Jesse sings “seven loves you so much”). Next, the use of the backdrop screen accompanied “Vices” and “Gasoline,” and then the band played one of my favorites, “Sowing Season (Yeah).” The band headed back to two more songs from Daisy, then to The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, then to Jesse Lacey finally speaking to the crowd for once. Up until that point, all that the singer had said to us was “Thank you” and “We’re Brand New,” as well as thanking the opening bands and talking about how wonderful they were. But at this point, before playing “Bought a Bride” Jesse thanked the crowd for the band telling us how much it means to them. After “Bought a Bride,” the band proceeded into the first single off of Daisy, “At the Bottom.” Then, all but Jesse and Vinny (second guitarist/back up singer) walked off stage as the duo performed a simply beautiful version of “Play Crack the Sky.” It was very peaceful ending for a very energetic show. The only person lacking energy was Jesse, but it can’t be overlooked that his vocals sounded perfect.

Overall, the show turned out to be a good one. Crime in Stereo was a good band for being the first out of three, Glassjaw was absolutely phenomenal, and Brand New didn’t disappoint.



BEST SONGS OF THE NIGHT (BRAND NEW): Sink, Limousine, Sowing Season (Yeah), Jesus Christ, At the Bottom, Play Crack the Sky

BEST SONGS OF THE NIGHT (GLASSJAW): Tip Your Bartender, The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports, Siberian Kiss

BRAND NEW’S SETLIST November 15, 2009
1. Welcome To Bangkok
2. Sink
3. Degausser
4. You Won’t Know
5. Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't
6. Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades
7. The Shower Scene
8. Limousine
9. Vices
10. Gasoline
11. Sowing Season (Yeah)
12. You Stole
13. In A Jar
14. Luca
15. The Archer's Bows Have Broken
16. Jesus Christ
17. Bought A Bride
18. At The Bottom
19. Play Crack The Sky
GLASSJAW’S SETLIST November 15, 2009
1. (You Think You're) John Fucking Lennon
2. Tip Your Bartender
3. Mu Empire
4. Ape Dos Mil
5. The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
6. Pink Roses
7. Jesus Glue
8. Two Tabs of Mescaline
9. Siberian Kiss

Tenderbox on tour

Hey guys, check out my interview with frontman Joey Medina of "The Tenderbox" in the blogs archives. Now on tour with Kill Hannah and She Wants Revenge, their latest album "EP1" is up for grabs on Itunes. Take a listen on our Blogspot player to "Media Lies" as well!




Also, check them out on these fantastic websites:

Tenderbox Myspace

Official Tenderbox Website

Girl in a Coma @ The M Room in Philly!!!!

Blackheart Records artists "Girl in a Coma" will be performing live at the M Room in Philly on October 1st! Only $8 for tickets! Having toured with acts like Tegan & Sara, Cyndi Lauper, and Social Distortion, it's a show not to be missed!

With their latest album "Trio B.C." dropping in 2009, their sounds are a mixture of wavering rock vocals from singer Nina Diaz with hints of rockabilly and San Antonio based twang in between.

Also, be sure to check out my interview with Nina in our blogs archives as well as their websites here:

Girl In a Coma Myspace

Blackheart Records Homepage

Girl in a Coma Twitter

The Dollyrots: Interview with Vocalist Kelly Ogden

Interview with Kelly Ogden
Conducted/Written by Laurel Salvo
Enjoy!!!


With their Sophomore album “Because I’m Awesome” having been out for a little over two years, I had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with vocalist Kelly Ogden about “The Dollyrots” journey in the music business.


Long time friends since middle-school, guitarist Luis Cabeza and Ogden hadn’t originally planned to take the band to where it is now. In the minds of their 8th-grade selves, Ogden didn’t know how to play guitar, they had no drummer, and it was more to “just have fun”. It seems that ultimate and genuine goal has been reached and the Dollyrots are now heavily established in the scene; having recently signed in 2007 to Blackheart Records with their third record dropping later this month.



With hundreds of shows under their belt, songs on the soundtrack of Ugly Betty, Greek, CSI, and even feature films like “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2”, the word is out. Their most recent album “Because I’m Awesome” features pop-punk goodness tailored for anyone who likes to toe-tap in their Converse shoes on black pavement while chewing bubblegum. A mixture of light lyrics and deep cutting rock riffs, it’s a terrific soundtrack to any summer day; a muse of rock and roll and bouncing soles jumping up in a pit to hit a rainbow colored beach ball towards a stage. The songs are reminiscent of a time in one’s youth where you think of nothing but poolside hangouts with friends. Not to be taken too lightly, however, the energy the Dollyrots have on stage is nothing short of combustive. Admittedly Ogden has even gone so far as opening some pretty bloody wounds from how raucous her live-guitar playing can get.


Stage violence aside, the most important part of the bands makeup seems to be tightly knit connections, not just intimately with their fans but namely the roots of friendship where the creation of the band began. Guitarist Cabeza and vocalist Ogden met in late junior high, together picking up Chris Black along the way. Having relocated from Florida to LA after the 2000 election of George Bush and fearing the world could end anytime; the trio set their collegiate goals on the backburner to fully submerge themselves in the business. With their first record dropping in 2004 on the early fizzled out “Lookout Records”, their sound was met with an appreciative nod later on at Warped Tour in 2006, when Ogden mustered up the courage to introduce herself and their current album “Eat My Heart Out” to the summer festivals headliner, Joan Jett.



Aside from their own records, The Dollyrots are also featured on the new warped tour soundtrack, “Endless Bummer”, also produced by Blackheart Records showcasing artists like “The Circle Jerks”, “Pennywise”, and yes, “Joan Jett & the Blackhearts” as well. The Dollyrots cover of “Bad Reputation” delivers the gold-token Summer-festival mosh vibes any scenester can kick their legs to and Ogden’s light-hearted and wavering punk vocals establish their musical persona as a band that’s in the business to enjoy life more than anything.


Kelly called me from LA and the conversation we had included talk of their new record, Halloween plans the band has, and everything in between about fan dynamics and lyrical inspiration.





*Cell ringing* Hey, it’s Kelly

Laurel: Hey, Kelly. How are you?

Kelly: Good, how are you?

Laurel: Great, thanks so much for doing this interview.

Kelly: No problem!

Laurel: So the last show you did was last month in Long Beach at Alex’s bar. Did you play any new tracks, off the new record at all?


Kelly: We did. We played about half of our new songs. And we also played “Nobody Wants U” off our last record and we had never, ever played that live before but we had to learn it. It was weird because we had never played it together, like, we had just played it in the studio.



Luis, live in Pittsburgh


Laurel: And how did the fans do with receiving the new stuff? Did they seem to like it a lot?

Kelly: People really, really liked it. It was kind of a relief because you know, we’ve been like, stuck in a bubble working and working and not really knowing if anyone would like it… So it was really good. I think we really needed it at that point.


Laurel: Awesome. And you’ve been off tour for about a month now. How’s that been
going? What have you and the band been up to?

Kelly: Um...lots of kind of random LA stuff which has been nice. We’re still trying to finish up the record and there have been meetings and trying to finish up artwork and that kind of stuff. I mean, personal stuff, I tried out for this Nancy part in this Sex Pistols tribute band. *laughs* It was really, really fun. I liked doing that. It’s called “Anarchy in LA” and it’s pretty hilarious.

My friends just released a movie so we’re helping her out and we went to the premiere and stuff. That was pretty fun. It’s a fun little film, “Let Them Know”. Yeah, other than that, I take Quito hiking up in the hills. *laughs*


Laurel: And the new record is set to have 12 tracks with more than enough B-sides left over, according to your blog on Blackheart’s website. Can you tell me anything about it like what sort of lyrical and musical shifts it’s been from “Because I’m Awesome?”

Kelly: Um…I think maybe it’s just a little bit, I don’t know how to even say it. I guess there’s a little bit less of a concern for what Genre we’re supposed to fit into or, you know, whether if no one’s going to care about saying one thing or another. I think we just felt more free to create what we wanted it to be without over-thinking it. We’re better this time. The bass lines are harder. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it live. *laughs* It’s cool. We made it pretty hard for us and sounding more like from when we grew up.

It’s still going to be a Dollyrots record. I don’t think it’s going to be some major departure. We put some more synth sounds in it though so that’s a bit of a departure but they’re pretty quiet in the mix so people might not always notice.


Laurel: And with the new album you’ll be releasing it on vinyl as well. Is that something you did for the last couple albums? I’m not sure if “Because I’m Awesome” was on vinyl or not…

Kelly: Well for the first record we had it on vinyl but with “Because I’m Awesome”, ya know, things got busy and that never happened. But we’re still going to try and release “Because I’m Awesome” on vinyl too. Yeah I feel like, we really like bands and I love to get the vinyl because it’s this huge piece of art and it looks so cool and sounds so much nicer. I think it’s a cool thing to do. I feel like we should just forget about CD’s because they’re pieces of crap. *laughs* I’ll take vinyl over digital any day and I’ll be a happy camper.


Laurel: You keep a blog updated on Blackheart’s website pretty regularly. All the band have a Twitter accounts. You do a sort-of rock and roll advice column for Buzznet called “Rock & Roll Therapy”, you Blog on Myspace with updates as well and you interact with your fans directly as often as you can.

Other bands might say they don’t have the time for that sort of thing but how important is this type of intimacy with your fans where you’re constantly engaging in an open dialogue?

Kelly: I feel like it’s as important as the music is to us. I would still be making music if no one was listening but the fact that it does matter to people and they do feel passionate about it…The fact that I can communicate with them directly is kind of an amazing thing. It’s something you can experience with the last decade. It’s really cool.

We try our best but it’s kind of overwhelming. In the time that we’ve had in LA lately, I’ve kind of just been going through emails and working really hard keeping up on stuff. We’ve been trying to empty the Myspace page when it’s full. It’s something that we all do every day. We all spend totals of hours on all that stuff. And you know, as we get busy doing the record there’s even more messages and it’s like, “Oh Crap!” *laughs*

But you know, it’s really cool and I think it’s special and we get to meet people on the road. When we kinda already know them it’s pretty cool.



Chris Black drumming in Pittsburgh



Laurel: Are there any recent experiences you’d like to share with fan interactions online or directly or even with letters that have really stuck out to you? Even at the last show at Long Beach…

Kelly: At the last show it’s really, really funny cuz’ you know there were a couple fans that were over at the merch table. And I was just walking around before the show when everybody got in and I almost felt bad…*laughs*A guy walked over and sort of goes, “Hey, I’m really sorry but can you take a picture?”
And I go, “Oh yeah! No problem!” And then I take his camera, because I thought he wanted me to take a picture of him and his girlfriend. *laughs* And then it got really, really awkward and it was just him being “Um I’m sorry but can I take a picture with you…?”

And I go, “Alright, okay…No problem” And I’m thinking, “Yeah, I forgot that you might want a picture with me…” *laughs* That was really, really funny and I felt like a complete…idiot. But, it happens.

And then there was someone at that show who hadn’t seen us…in probably four years. I met the kid once at an LA show and he was just like, “Oh look at how many come to shows!” And he hadn’t even seen us since “Because I’m Awesome” came out so that was fun. Now we’re a different band. *laughs*

Laurel: With being on Warped tour, playing shows in LA at different venues, and being in the sort of…apex of the music scene where you live, what bands are you into at the moment/and are there any album releases you’re looking forward to?

Kelly: Um…It’s really, really weird because when we started making the record…I kind of stop listening to all music except what we’re working on. I’ve kind of been really out of the loop lately. When we’re around and Girl in a Coma is around we’ll go see them. For the most part, we’re in this weird little bubble. I haven’t even been to a show lately and that sucks. *laughs*

But as soon as the record is finished and you know we picked our tour up and the album’s done I can stop making mix tapes for us and I’ll probably have a better idea of who’s playing in LA.




Laurel: I read that when you began the band you started out playing Ramones covers. Are there any covers you’d love to attempt live for the next tour with the new album?

Kelly: Mmm...I haven’t really thought about that! We’ll play a lot of “Bad Reputation” of course off the (Endless Bummer) soundtrack. Yeah, I don’t know. Maybe we’ll do “Head On”. The “Jesus and Mary Chain” did that pretty good! I love that song.

Laurel: It would be a step away from the Dollyrots…

Kelly: Yeah! Maybe we’ll do that…


Laurel: You were in an episode of CSI playing a band called “Rough Sects”. Do you have any ambitions towards the world of acting anytime soon?

Kelly: It’s not something that I’d pursue or even something that I desired. But when things come up like that I have a lot of fun doing it. It’s not something that I wouldn’t want to do. I mean, I guess if I had time I might try and do it to make some extra money. It’s not something though where I want to be…in that world….




Kelly live in New York City

Laurel: Artists right now are doing a lot of things outside of touring; Tyson from All American Rejects has his own clothing line, Davey from AFI makes vegan t-shirts with Peta-friendly slogans and he also has his own jewelry line. And then you’ve got Lady Gaga doing the whole spokesperson thing for MAC Cosmetics. I know you’re pretty big on the commercialization of your tracks through TV shows. Do the Dollyrots plan to branch out in any similar ways?


Kelly: I really like making stuff. I make a lot of t-shirts and things like that. I feel like if I had time I would love to make jewelry and clothes. I’d love to make things. I feel like I have a lot of ideas for clothes but I never have time to go shopping or make anything. I do go out and think, “Oh this would be such a cool outfit but…it’s too bad it doesn’t exist!” *laughs*

I do feel like the way the music industry is now bands kind of aren’t huge anymore. After the record label and the publishing company and the artwork and the videos, it may seem like bands are making a lot but that all gets split and divided, ya know and sucked out.


I feel like thinking about other ways and branching out and even using the band as a brand is kind of…inevitable if you kind of don’t want to go out for a real job sometime.


Laurel: Alright onto the random questions...What are 5 essential things you always bring with you on tour?

Kelly: There’s usually a pet, that’s for sure. Vitamins, cuz I eat like crap. Booze. I always have earplugs, but that’s not exciting….We’ll say a pet, vitamins, booze. I bring a lavender pillow because that helps me sleep so I wouldn’t want to not have the lavender pillow. Andddd…my computer.

Laurel: And what was the last movie you saw in theaters?

Kelly: I saw District 9.

Laurel: How was that?

Kelly: I feel like it wasn’t as amazing and brilliant as I thought it would be. I saw it after everyone else saw it. I feel like, it was really good and it was cool.

Laurel: I feel like the hype for that was bigger than it was just because it was Peter Jackson doing it.

Kelly: Yeah it was good. It was just, that was cool. That was that. *laughs*

Laurel: I saw 500 Days of Summer last time I was at the movies.

Kelly: Oooh I want to see that…

Laurel: Yeah I mainly went because Marc Webb directed it and he’s done like, all these really iconic music videos from all sorts of artists and it was just really cool to see him doing film. It had a lot of neat music stuff in it too.

Kelly: Awesome

Laurel: Current ringtone?

Kelly: *laughs* Oh man. I have this awful standard hip-hop beat because I have the 4-year-old Razr and I’m just waiting for my Verizon contract to die. *laughs*

Laurel: What are some dream bands you’d love to tour with if you could choose anyone?

Kelly: It would be really fun to tour with “The Sounds”. They’re like a pretty cool band and there’d be some good overlaps. They’re kinda different but not so different in a way that it wouldn’t work. And if we were more hardcore I’d have to choose “Against Me!” because I love them.




Luis at the Key Club in LA


Laurel: If there was going to be a movie made about the Dollyrots for the big screen, what famous stars would play each band member and why?

Kelly: *laughs* Oh man. That’s a hard one…We’d have to pick like, some kind of High School Musical actors because we’re so young. Who would it be? *laughs* Oh, that sucks. I have no idea. Can you even think of anyone? Zac Efron for Chris…

Laurel: That’s terrible. *laughs*

Kelly: *laughs* Um…I really can’t think. It’d be funny. Maybe…they have to be actors though. I keep thinking of other musicians and not actors. I don’t really know…




Laurel: That’s cool. *laughs*

Kelly: *laughs*

Laurel: Any big plans for Halloween?

Kelly: For Halloween? Um…I’ve been thinking… I cut bangs so I’ve been thinking about being some kind of 80’s pop-star. We all usually go to “Boys Town” on Santa Monica because they have this huge, crazy Halloween parade so that’s probably where we’ll be. It’s almost like… a scary LA Pride but even goofier and weirder, with people wearing scary costumes instead of… rainbow costumes.


Laurel: Yeah Philly has “Dracula’s Ball” at this nightclub called “Shampoo”. It’s weird though because they have it on Halloween but they have it 5 times a year too so Halloween can be like, during May sometime.

Kelly: Oh, awesome.

Laurel: Well that was all I had but thank you so much for the interview. I’m actually working for Blackheart now as an intern and Girl in a Coma is going on tour but hopefully I’ll get to see you guys soon once you start playing live for the new album.

Kelly: Well have fun working for Blackheart! They’re all really cool people!!

Laurel: I love it there. I just started there last week and it’s fantastic.

Kelly: Well cool. I can’t wait to meet you!

Laurel: Thanks! Thanks so much again for the interview and have a good night.


To learn more about the Dollyrots, find them on the following websites:

Dollyrots Homepage

Dollyrots Myspace

Blackheart Records

News, an album review, and more NEWS!

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to write and officially welcome everyone back to Ursinus for the 2009/10 school year. With that welcome, WVOU is bringing you a special concert!!!

Held in Wismer Lower Sunday, September 13th at 7:30pm, "The Living Things" are set to perform. They've toured with the SXSW festival, played this past summer's Lollapalooza, and are going to be in Joan Jett's new biopic film about her early career in the Runaways playing the Ramones. The show is going to be FAN-TAS-TIC so come on out and enjoy the live tunes.



The interview I conducted with their frontman over the summer is in the archives of this blog so feel free to read all about em'.

What else what else? We'll be at the Activities Fair this coming Wednesday 12:00-1:30pm so if you're interested in DJ'ing, or being part of Concert Planning or fund-raising activities to get more concerts for the Spring, please drop by and sign up. Also, bring your friends, cuz' we'd love to have them as well ;)


Lastly, my new good friend Vincent Discepola was kind enough to give me an album review so without further adieu, here's his written words on the September 22nd debut of Brand New's "Daisy"





"To me, a band like Brand New can appeal to so many different kinds of people. Their first release, Your Favorite Weapon, gave listeners an album full of enjoyable, pop punk songs. The next release, Deja Entendu, was not as poppy but, in my opinion, much more enjoyable lyrically as well as musically. Their third attempt gave listeners The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. This album really showed a huge transformation in the band as it revealed a much darker side that many, including myself, did not expect.

So what about the new album?

I hadn’t heard much hype about the new Brand New album. I heard they were playing a couple new songs here and there and laying down some tracks, but it wasn’t until I heard they had a new single that I began to get pumped for the album. However, after finally hearing the single, I wasn’t so sure I wanted the band to get any darker than they already had with their previous effort. It wasn’t until I heard the single mixed in with the rest of Daisy that I really started to see where they were going with this album.

I began to listen to the first track, “Vices,” the songs starts with a woman singing with a piano, sounding like a song taken straight out of a black and white film. But that could only last so long before the band really shows you what they are about with this attempt. The rest of the song kicks in, and believe me, you won’t be ready for this Blood Brothers-ish first track.

After such an intense opening, I only expected the intensity to continue, but I was mistaken. The next track, “Bed,” mellows things down a bit before heading into the first single “At the Bottom.” The album continues through mellow moments, in your face sections, and even a country sounding instrumental track, “Be Gone” before bringing you to the title track, which is actually one of my favorites of the album. The final track, “Noro,” is not a bad closer for most bands, but considering how great all the other album closers have been by Brand New, I think this track is the biggest disappointment of Daisy.


Tracklist:
1. Vices
2. Bed
3. At the Bottom
4. Gasoline
5. You Stole
6. Be Gone
7. Sink
8. Bought a Bride
9. Daisy
10. In a Jar
11. Noro

My overall opinion is this: Daisy is not the band’s best work, but that does not necessarily mean it is a bad album, all I am saying is I expected more. I feel many parts of the album lack instrumentation like in their previous albums and the lyrics are dark but will not appeal to many like they have before. But this is just my opinion.
Please, if you are a Brand New fan or just a fan of music in general, go check this album out when it comes out September 22. I only ask that you keep an open mind when you listen to this album because it does not sound like the Brand New you once knew. Expect the unexpected. "

New, News, News

Hey guys. So a few things to let you know before Fall semester begins.





First off, there will be an interview of Los Angeles based rockers, "The Dollyrots" posted on the blog sometime in September. Now signed to Blackheart records, they've performed on 2006 Warped tour, had their music on ABC's "Ugly Betty" as well as "The Greek", and performed on Fuse's "The Sauce" in the past. Trust me, you'll love em'. Their cover of 1971's Billboard hit, "Brand New Key" is pretty fabulous as well.


Check them out early:

Cover of "Brand New Key"

Official Dollyrots Website

Dollyrots Myspace






Secondly, Nick Hanford and myself have been working on booking some folks and our first official WVOU show will take place on Sunday night, Sept. 13th with "The Living Things". Find their interview in our archives I conducted with their frontman, Lillian Berlin along with links to their Myspace and official site. It's going to be a great set to take in, so bring your friends!!



dynamite with a laser beam,

~Laurel

Girl in a Coma Interview

Hey everyone, back again with a new interview I conducted with lead vocalist for Girl in a Coma, Nina Diaz.



From Left to Right: Jenn Alva (Bass, back-up vocals), Nina Diaz (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Phanie Diaz (Drums)


Coming from San Antonio Texas, the band recently released their Sophomore Album, Trio B.C, fondly named for their Grandfathers Tejano band sisters Phanie and Nina grew up listening to. Two months after Trio hit stores and after a long spree of touring the East and West Coast, I caught up with Nina after the band played a show in Austin.



Girl in a Coma Interview with Nina Diaz, conducted on July 30th, 2009

Nina: Hi, may I speak with Laurel? This is Nina from Girl in a Coma.

Laurel: Hey, Nina this is Laurel. Thanks so much for doing this interview. How’s it been going? Did you guys just get off stage?

Nina: Actually we finished earlier. We played this morning in Austin at this “Girls Rock” camp thing. It was really cool.

Laurel: So with playing in Austin today, do you think the crowd response has been better when you play shows in Texas being that’s where you’re from or does it all feel pretty much the same live?

Nina: Um…shows, especially in San Antonio are beyond what I could ever hope for. And it’s grown so much since our first show 9 years ago. Our last show here was at this bar and grill…it was packed and it was just really cool. The shows around Texas are good response as well and each time we go out, there’s always a couple more people out.

Laurel: You’ve been on road pretty much non-stop since the end of May and your tour-dates on your website go til’ the end of September. Looking back on how things have been going, do you have any good stories to tell about you know, your sister and your friend…was there anything at a specific venue that seems to stand out?

Nina: Touring with Ms. Dehringer was a lot of fun because. That was this this tour. And they’re based out of Los Angeles. And they’re amazing to tour with. Usually with touring bands sometimes we don’t instantly click with them but with these guys we got like, an instant connection. And they’re really great people. Great, great music. All of the shows of this tour were a lot of fun and no…bad energy. Everything was good.

Laurel: And Trio B.C. has been out two months now, right?

Nina: Yeah.




Nina, performing on stage @ Jack's Patio

Laurel: Have people been singing the songs lyric for lyric yet? How has the crowd response been with it?


Nina: Yeah a couple of people singing along, especially to “El Monte” which is pretty cool. We actually just made a video for “El Monte”; for “Static Mind” as well.

Laurel: Yeah I saw that. It’s all still photos used to look like video footage. That was pretty interesting. Did you guys come up with that concept or was it the Director that thought of that. How’d that idea come about?


Nina: You know, we thought of it together. Jimmy. Jim Mendiola. He’s always wanted to do a video like that with a bunch of pictures and we wanted to do a video…like, just a random video kind of like uh…Smashing Pumpkins’ “Today”, you know, just having fun. And we just kind of collided on that…


Group photo of Girl in a Coma


Laurel: Itunes Review said that, “Trio B.C. displays a focus and consistency that far more experienced bands might envy.” What do you think of that? Are you guys fans of reading your own publicity or do you try and ignore it for the most part?

Nina: I’m not really very around the internet much to read up on it. But my sister, the drummer, she’s always checking up on it. And ya know, whatever kind of response we’re like, happy to know that we’re being talked about. Whether it’s good or bad, ya know, that kind of compliments us and it’s good to know.

Laurel: Yeah totally. I actually saw you guys last year on my 23rd birthday when you opened for Tegan and Sara. And you’re the second all girl band I’ve interviewed. I was thinking back to all of the shows I’ve gone to. I’ve probably been to about 80 or so in the past 2 years. I go to a lot of concerts in Philly. I was just realizing though, predominantly, the groups I’ve seen are just all…male artists pretty much. Tegan and Sara’s show was maybe the first concert I’d been to where there wasn’t a guy on stage for two straight bands. Do you that’s become a subject that isn’t talked about too much with the music industry? Do people think it’s more progressive than it really is as far as gender goes?

Nina: Um...I think it is talked about to an extent. Ya know, especially if you are in a girl band they always ask you, “How does it feel to be in a girl band in a male-dominated business?” And I’ve seen a lot of progression from it being all guys. Even back in the Doo-Wop days ya know there were the Supremes, and then like Abba, and then there’s Joan Jett with the Runaways. You know every generation there’s a new flight of girl bands and hopefully it can just all someday just be known as “music” and not be categorized by this or this; it’s just everyone playing music.

Laurel: Yeah, I like that.


Jenn Alva on Bass


Nina: I’ve noticed a lot though. Especially playing that rock camp today in Austin. It was very enlightening, you know, amazing to see these young girls playing their instruments at like, 10 years old. It’s really cool.

Laurel:So you signed to Blackheart Records in 2006 and you guys got an instantaneous offer from Joan Jett on live TV after she saw your set. If you had to describe her as a person I’m just kind of wondering what she’s like…offstage. How would that description go exactly?

Nina: She’s…I said this earlier today cuz they asked us too, the girls camp we played for today in Austin…. She’s exactly how she looks, she’s just cool. And confident. And she’s a really smooth person. And she’s always down to give great advice. She’s very low-maintenance. She’s just like, a really cool person and a really great musician and I wouldn’t ask for any better…as a boss. *laughs*

Laurel: Yeah, I mean, did you pick up anything from her when you recorded “Joanie in the City”? Did you notice anything when she was in the studio with you?

Nina: Yeah. When it comes to her doing her things she does them and she does them on point and she’s very professional. That’s something I hope to do, just to be very professional and learning all my craft the way that she did.

Laurel: And I read that you joined the band when you were 12 years old when Phanie and Jenn were sort of, in limbo with finding a vocalist. Was there a certain moment when they said, you know, “Be in our band!” Like, the moment where you joined “officially”. Do you remember what that was like when it happened?

Nina: Yeah…Cuz they were trying out all different sorts of vocalists and I was sort of, listening in the corner thinking, “I could do better than that.” And meanwhile I was working on my own stuff and I wanted to show them to just get their opinion of it. I wasn’t really trying out I just wanted to know what they thought of it. And they were about to leave and I called them out…on the porch of my Moms house.

“Hey before you guys go, you wanna hear this song and tell me what you think?”

And they were like, “Alright yeah, hurry up.” *laughs*

And so I played it for them and they said you know, “That’s good, who wrote that?” *laughs* And then it was just funny a little and them going, “You want to be in the band with us?”



Phanie Diaz on Drums at an in store at Best Buy

Laurel: And have you always sort of, written your own lyrics? When did that start? When I was 12 I was not writing my own lyrics, that’s for sure.

Nina: *laughs* Yeah I wrote my own stuff. Of course to play guitar I learned you know by playing Misfit songs or other songs. But with lyrics…I’ve always been a writer. In Elementary school even; writing class was my favorite class. I just really had something to say I guess inside my mind and writing just helped me let it out.

Laurel: How’d that go with school and everything when you were that age and doing shows with them? How did that work out exactly?

Nina: A lot of tired first periods…

Laurel: *laughs*

Nina: *laughs* After a show ya know, I’d get home around 2 and then I’d wake up at like, 6. First periods were all sleep. I got by pretty well though. Of course I was a dreamer and I’d always be thinking “Man I wanna get out of here. I wanna go tour…”

When I was 16 during the summer I was on tour and then Junior year I dropped out before Christmas vacation because I had the opportunity to go to London to record a demo with Boz Boorer, which is the Musical Director for Morrissey. At that point I thought, “Alright, now it’s getting a little bit serious and the only thing that’s holding us back is me being in school still and I really want to do this.”

So I dropped out and got my GED and kept going from there.


Nina on stage

Laurel: That’s crazy. I mean, what do you tell your friends in a scenario like that?
“I’m going to London to record for Morrissey’s Music Director…”

Nina: Yeah! I mean, we told my best friends…Chris and Carly, “Ya know I’m not gonna be able to graduate this year and I’m gonna go do this.”

Everybody really understood. Everyone was very understanding.

Laurel: And you guys have done a few covers. You did “Van Cerca” by Los Spitfires, that’s on Trio, and then I saw a Youtube video of “Ring of Fire”, which was pretty awesome. Are there any other covers in the works? Any favorite bands you’d like to do one by?

Nina: Yeah, we’re always…there’s always something new we want to play. Every couple months we want to do a cover. So there’s always ….something like, Elvis. Jenn has always been the one, “Let’s do an Elvis song!” Eventually I want to do that just so we can do that and have fun with it. It’d be cool to do um…a bunch of new bands and where I want to do it our way. But yeah with covers, I’m always down for a good cover.

Laurel: And who have you been listening to now? Who are the top 5 on your Itunes lately?

Nina: Definitely number one has been Jeff Buckley.

Laurel: Oh, I love Jeff Buckley.

Nina: Yeah! I got that new Grace World Tour DVD/CD split thing that just came out. Yeah it’s really, really crazy. His mom put it together.

Laurel: Oh Wow.

Nina: Yeah and it has interviews and like performances and then on the CD it’s just songs from Grace performed around the world. It’s really good. And it’s really inspiring, that DVD. And umm…Smashing Pumpkins for sure. I started listening to this band called “Sparks”. And they sound like…70’s and onward. They’re a really cool band, like fun music. And then David Bowie. And then T-Rex.

Laurel: Oh man, T-Rex. You guys should do “Cosmic Dancer”. It’s one of my favorite T-Rex songs.

Nina: Yeah! That’s a great song. I love that song too.

Laurel: Ok so here’s the last part of the interview and this is, I guess…the random question section.

If you could have three female musicians on your side in a bar-fight, who would they be?
Nina: Kim Gordon, from Sonic Youth. Kim Biel from Breeders and the Pixies. And…Joan Jett.

Laurel: Three things you can’t tour without?

Nina: My laptop. Peanut Butter. And a good book.

Laurel: I noticed you’re all pretty inked up. What’s the last tattoo you got?

Nina: The last one I got…actually was a cover-up. Cuz I had my boyfriends name tattooed on me. And then we broke up so I got a tattoo of a train over it. *laughs*

Laurel: Alright, lastly being on the road together with your sister and best friend, you start to pick up on behaviors of those who are with you for a long time like that. Have you started noticing any weird habits or sort of fun idiosyncrasies of everyone else in the band from being on tour for the past 3 months?

Nina: Well, we’re just really silly people. We were talking and whoever is the 4th person that comes on the road with us, we like to say that we kinda make em’, a little less smarter. It’s one of our jokes.

Laurel: *laughs*



The Girls, at Hogwild Records


Nina: And Jenn likes to make these movies on the road. Hopefully someday she’ll put them out to the light. They’re really funny movies and we’ve kinda been acting in them too. And we just ya know, goof around a lot, that’s the main thing.

Laurel: Current Ringtone?

Nina: Well, I used to have Dirty Boots, the Sonic Youth song. But my songs got erased so now I’m just stuck with original T-Mobile ringtone.

Laurel: That’s sad.

Nina: Yeah…it sounds like a career point song. Like, a “Get down to it!” kinda thing. *laughs*

Laurel: Alright well that’s all I have for today. Thank you so much for giving me the interview.

Nina: Aw, no problem.

Laurel: Hopefully I’ll get to see you guys live again when you’re with someone else other than Tegan and Sara. I really enjoyed that show.

Nina: Oh thank you!

Laurel: Have a great night and thanks.

Nina: No problem, you too. Bye.




To learn more about Girl in a Coma, you can find them on:

Myspace
GIAC Website

Albums "Both Before I'm Gone" and "Trio B.C, are both available on Itunes now :)