What I listened to Today....Prologue

I've decided to chronicle what i'm listening to in the car on the way to work everyday. What I hope to do is to re explore all of the bands that I will be seeing at the Burning Fight show in May. I'm not going to listen to bands that I didn't listen to at the time but rather i will revisit what I actually did like.

The bands I'm going to revisit are:

Damnation A.D.
Ringworm
Guilt
Underdog
108
Killing Time
Split Lip
Unbroken

Damn the show looked better to me when it was first announced but seeing some of mys favorite bands in one show is worth the about $300 bucks i'll be spending on the trip.

Meet Your Meat....

Found Via Glen E. Friedman's Youtube page

In Case You missed it cuz you were sleeping LOL

TO in Buffalo

I for one am on board with the Terrell Owens signing by the Buffalo Bills. SO many people think that Terrell will be a detriment to this team and he'll destroy the locker room and he's a "bad" guy.

I disagree with all of these points. I kind of think thats all I need to say.

I'd rather have something to talk about and lose than to have a bunch of nobody's and lose. Do people really want to lose with "good guys" than win with "TO" ?

I don't get it.

I love Brad Riter and we all know he's the best sports talk host in Buffalo.

Here he is talking to ESPN's Tim Graham about it before it happened.

Here is the list of people I talked to right after Owens got signed
Joe The Driver
Jeff Barnes
Farside
Mike Euscher
Pete Price
Dave Putman
Ray
My boss Jim

i think i made more phone calls yesterday than i have all month.

PS MkII

The Elad Love Affair interview

The Elad Love Affair Interview

I knew of the Elad Love Affair mainly because the singer Nola, worked with me at Delaware Camera. They were a young up and coming band in 2003 (when the interview was conducted) whose time was way too short here in Buffalo. Their members have gone on to form a variety of different projects including:

Cages - Nola

Novelist - Ryan

Teeth SO Sharp - Ryan & Bill

Enjoy this look into their past.The interview was conducted with Ryan Via Email back in 2003 i believe.

*Who’s in the band? What does each person play? What does each person do as far as work and school go?

Elad Love Affair is a five piece; Ryan, Bill, Nola, Mark Duggan, and Mark Ludwiczak. I am Ryan, I play guitar and deliver subs for money. I am going to school in Buffalo for Digital Media Arts. Bill also plays guitar and is currently unemployed. He is going to school in the New York City area for painting/visual arts. Nola sings and prints pictures for money. She will be going to school in NYC for photography in the fall. Mark Duggan plays bass, works the night shift at Home Depot and will be going to school in the NYC area this fall. Mark Ludwiczak plays the drums and works at a sports cards store. He is going to school at Penn State for journalism.

*How long have you guys been a band? I remember that Nola said you guys were called Ladies in Red and then she joined and you became Elad Love Affair.

Elad Love Affair has existed since January of 2000, so we have been a band for about two and a half years. Our first show was in May of 2000, and Bill joined the band in August of 2000. The band you mentioned, “Ladies In Red” didn’t really have that much to do with Elad Love Affair. Mark, Mark and myself had been playing together since we were kids, mostly just jamming and fooling around. It was nothing serious, but we called our little project “The Ladies In Red”. We never even played a real show or anything, just a few house parties and things like that… When we decided to get serious about our music we started over from scratch, it wasn’t like that band just changed their name.

*What’s the story behind the name Elad Love Affair?

Elad stands for electrical addict. It’s a term from a book called “The Terminal Man” where doctors plant electrodes in a man’s brain to prevent him from acting out on his violent impulses, afterwhich he begins to kill more and more because he is addicted to the electric shock he receives in his brain. So I came up with the term Elad Love Affair as sort of my take on the world today. It just seems to me that that, as a society, we would rather have our faces come from a screen or our voices come through a speaker. Human interaction is dying and we have been technologically sterilized.

*How did you guys get hooked up with Immigrant Sun? How are they treating you guys? How many records are you going to put out with them?

Immigrant Sun is awesome. We sent out about 75 copies of our EP last winter to every label we could think of and we heard back from 4-5. We had sent Immigrant Sun our last demo about a year earlier and they really liked the new songs. Pat, one of the two guys who runs Immigrant Sun, lived in Buffalo for a few years and they have a history of working with really great Buffalo hardcore bands, so maybe that helped us a bit. But those guys are awesome. We love them to death both as people and a label. They’ve done a ton of promotion for us and have worked so hard to get our name out there so we really couldn’t be happier right now. The contract we signed was for the initial EP and for two more full lengths after that so we are all really excited about the future.

*Who’s responsible for the lyrics and who’s responsible for the music?

Nola writes all the words and vocal parts and we all collaborate on the music. Usually Bill or myself will come up with a main idea for a song and then everyone else gets to put in their input to make a finished product. We really try and stop ourselves from bringing a completely composed song to the band and try and stress each member’s unique contribution to each song.

*You guys have some weird names for your songs. Word on the street is that you all are a little pretentious. What do you have to say about that?

I hear that, we probably are just an annoying bunch of faux art nerds. That’s true. But seriously, all of our titles are very double sided. On one end, there is a lot of thought that goes into the titles and we try to describe the overall feeling of the lyrics and music together, but also, all of our titles are very much tounge in cheek. When you create something like a song, which is a whole universe full of ideas and emotions, and then you reach the point where you have to give that huge thing a name, it’s like, “fuck you”. Titles are really just a formality and tradition that everyone follows and I will never understand how a band could ever represent all that a song is with one word, or with one line plucked from the chorus of the song, those song titles obviously are just filling in space. And then with all that in mind, if you look at the song naming trends in the hardcore scene, it’s sort of hard not to poke fun at it.

*I know some rumors are going around the scene about Nola because of her live performance, what do you say to people who think that Nola is a certain way because of the way she dances when she performs?

Most people don’t know this, but Nola actually put her self through college by dancing as a stripper. She’s really good at what she does. ha… but seriously I think that Nola is just a very passionate performer and she is really pure in what she does on stage. By that I mean, she honestly doesn’t give a damn what anyone in the audience thinks of her and she just does what feels good. She definitely makes a conscious effort to engage the audience through some of her antics, but as far as dancing is concerned, it’s just about the music making you feel good. I respect her for that.

*What topics do you write about in your lyrics? What are your songs about?

The majority of our music, both lyrically and musically is very dark. Nola’s lyrics are always very personal, but everyone in the band relates in their own way even though we haven’t had the experiences or thoughts that Nola has had. For me as a songwriter, music is a really vital and direct form of self-expression, so when I right a song or a guitar part, it tends to be an outlet for a lot of frustration and anger. I’m sure that, in the end, it means something different to everyone, but our music is always based around really strong feelings.

*Do you feel that the Buffalo scene has embraced you?

Yes. I think that for a band like Elad, who doesn’t fit nicely into any one scene and doesn’t appeal universally to any one group of people, we have been really well received. We have a relatively small following in Buffalo, but we’ve never encountered any negativity or closemindedness. It seems like, wherever we go, the handfull of people who like us really really like us and we are more than happy with that. We’ve gotten so much love from people in Buffalo and we are so gratefull to so many people for their support. I think our music is very ecclectic as far as combining different genres and crossing “scene” boundaries goes and as a result, we have managaged to reach at least a few people in all of the different subsects of the Buffalo hardcore scene which is really cool to see.

*I know you guys went on tour with Robot Has Werewolf Hand, how did you feel about that experience? How far did you go and do you have any crazy stories or problems?

Our tour with Robot Has Werewolf Hand, although technically only 3 shows, was amazing. We went up to Ann Arbor Michigan and came back through Ohio and Pennsylvania. It was also the first time that Elad had ever been that far away from home so it was definitely an experience. The people in Robot Has Werewolf Hand are all amazing and they were super fun to be around and we were really gratefull for them taking us under their wing or something… We stayed with a friend of Justin’s in Kent, Ohio after our show and eventually we settled into a 2-hour long acoustic hippie jam which then turned into a 2-hour long rendition of “Jump” by Van Halen. There was a keyboard and everything. One of the shows was at a place that doubled as an art studio/gallery and we searched through their garbage to find a gigantic paper mache head which was placed ontop of Robot’s Van. It was like 6 feet by 6 feet. That at least made a memorable picture.

*Where are you going on this current tour?

The first half of our tour makes a big loop through the North East, starting in New York, going through Boston, up to Burlington, and down through New Jersey. After that we meet up with a band from Johnstown, PA called Elementary Thought Process in West Virginia and head west as far as Chicago and as far north as Detroit. All of the details can be found at www.eladloveaffair.com.

*What do you ultimately hope to accomplish with this band? What do you hope to accomplish with music? Do you uever forsee music being a career path for any of you?

Personally, as a fan of music, I feel like there is a huge hole waiting to be filled in the music scene in general. There are so many bands doing the same carbon copy thing and the world is starving for something new. I can only hope that the music of Elad Love Affair will someday fill that hole for someone. That’s sort of what keeps us going. I think every artist’s dream is that they will be able to someday support themselves with only their art, and I would be lying if I said that that wasn’t my dream as well. However, within the realm of independent music it’s virtually impossible to achieve that status, so I guess music will always just be the driving force behind everything else in our lives.

Last Breath Interview.

11 years ago when I lived in an apartment on Buffalo's west side I conducted and interview with Mike "Ratboy" Novak and Andy Williams. At the time Ratboy was the drummer of the hardcore band Last Breath and any was the band's unoffical "Manager. Now the tw of them are in one of the scenes biggest bands Every Time I Die. Originally this interview was to appear in the 6th issue of my Fanzine "Hello My Name Is..." but that issue never came out. I actually have a few interviews which were slated to be released in print and maybe through this blog these articles will actually see the light of day. This interview is 11 years old so some of the info is dated but hopefully it will entertain those of you who where around back then and those of you who are fans of Mike and Andy's current band Every Time I Die.


Ratboy(middle) and Andy (2nd from right) in Every Time I Die


Rat and Andy (from Andy's myspace)


Here Goes...

LAST BREATH Interview

Right after I got back from tour with Despair in the summer of '96 I went to see what would be Halfmast's last show. One of the bands that opened the show was Last Breath, only then they were known as Counterstrike. I thought that they were a pretty good band. When I found out that they were only 13 and 14 years old I was even more impressed. Well it's two years layer and they're still around and they continue to impress. They finally put out a demo (which is very good) and after a long hiatus they are finally playing shows again. I urge anyone who does shows or goes to shows to check them out. I did this interview about four months ago (Spring '98) at my old apartment. The interview was with the drummer "Ratboy" and last Breath's "Manager" Andy Williams. I'm HMNI.

HMNI: Is this your first interview
Ratboy: Yeah
HMNI: I didn't understand that
Ratboy: Yeah!
HMNI: What your deal dude [To Andy]
Andy: I'm the manager
HMNI: Do you manage the whole band or just Ratboy?
Andy: All of them.
HMNI: So they're your little boys?
Andy: Every one of those little bastards.
HMNI: Ok who is in the band give me members names and ages.
Ratboy: Joe the singer is 15. Chris the guitarist is 15. Russ the bassist 16. I'm the drummer and I'm 16.
HMNI: So you guys are pretty young?
Ratboy: that we are my man.
HMNI: what's your real name:
Ratboy: Mike.
HMNI: Why are you called "Ratboy"?
Ratboy: It's a nickname from the manager.
HMNI: Why do you call him "Ratboy"?
Andy: Back in the day we had a band or should I say tried to start a band. It was me and this fucking kid Rich, who was an extreme "homosexual". anyway the Rat would come to pratics because he hung out with Rich's little brother who is the guitar player of Last Breath. I used to bring CD's and shit to practice and I'd be playing drums and stuff for practice and I'd notice that my CD's were there then five minutes later they were gone. So I called him "Rat" because he would scurry around grab my shit then take off like a rat. So he's called "Ratboy", but he looks more like George Foreman.
HMNI: How long has Last Breath Been together?
Ratboy: I don't know...about two years ago. It started durung Easter vacation two years ago.
HMNI: So you guys were 12 and 13 when you started playing together? Were you going to shows back then?
Ratboy: Yeah I was going to shows.

HMNI: What is the staus of your band right now?
Ratboy: What does that mean?
HMNI: You know...whats up with your band you guys haven't played a show in forever.
Ratboy: We played the other night at Sanctuary.
HMNI: That doesn't count.
Andy: Sure it does...
HMNI:...ok it does count but when was the last time you played a hardcore show.
Andy: They played with Against All Hope...whats noot haardcore about Against All Hope? C'mon Phil was in Despair doesn't that make him hardcore? ...Fuck that kid he still thinks Despair is together. You can take that from the manager!
Ratboy: The last hardcore show we played was with HAtebreed in November. (they have since plaed a show with Harvest. that show was in August -ed.)
HMNI: Why haven't you played any shows in so long? HAven't been asked...Haven't wanted to?
Ratboy: We haven't practiced in a super long time.
Andy: Back injuries...
Ratboy: Well thats not the total reason because he's fine now.
HMNI: But it was a back injury?
Ratboy: Yeah
ANdy: And they thought Chris was going to have surgery.
Ratboy: I dunno they think he's going to grow out of it.
Andy: He's got an extra spine or something like that.
Ratboy: Actually it's a vertabrae
Andy: That's it...HE's alright it's just that he like Oasis. Thats how all of them are except him (Rat) and Russ.
HMNI: Oh Really?
Ratboy: They're kind of Morrissey type kids.
HMNI: Oh that type of hardcore kid?
Andy: No they're not hardcore kids, not at all. They don't goto shows.
HMNI: Which one's are you talking about.?
Andy: The singer and the guitar player. They take after Rich, the "gay" kid I talked about before. He's a schmuck.
HMNI: You guys have recorded twice right? So why don't you have anything out for mass consumption?
Ratboy: Money problems.
HMNI: Really? So what are you guys going to do with the stuff that you have recorded?
Ratboy: We're going to put out a demo hopefully really soon.

HMNI: what would you say influences you guys musically...soundwise?
Ratboy: Well our guitar player basically rips off Turmoil and Bloodlet and stuff like that. It's all he listens ttoo besides Morrissey.
HMNI: So if he listenes to Morrissey why doesn't he do a Morrissey band?
Ratboy: He is.
HMNI: Oh really?
Ratboy: I think so....I don't want to totally talk trash about them because they are my friends.
HMNI: Are any of the members of your band Straight Edge?
Ratboy: Me and the bass player.
HMNI: Are the other two alcoholics?
Ratboy : BAsically
Andy: 420 Dude
HMNI: 420 Every day?
Andy: Yep.

HMNI: What was your first show?
Ratboy: It was at the Showplace Theater with Halfmast and One King Down.
HMNI: I was there it was in July of '96 right?
Ratboy: Yep
HMNI: Is the lineup the same?
Ratboy: Yep
HMNI: Do you feel like you've gotten a good response from people? MEaning do people like your band?
Ratboy: Yeah I guess...Before we were terrible and gradually we've gotten a little bit better.
HMNI: Do you think that's due in part to the "Vogel Factor"? How do you feel about the "Vogel Factor"?
Andy: What Vogel Factor
HMNI: Do you think the "Vogel factor" has anything to do with this band.
Andy: Quite possibly....
HMNI: I think when Vogel started to like this band people started to take some interest...
Andy: What are you trying to take away from their playing abilty?
HMNI: No I love these guys I had them plastered all over my last zine.
Andy: Just because Buffalo's in love with the cutesman in hardcore...the little loveable cuddly stuffed animal....doesn't mean that the Vogel Factor has anything to do with people liking them.
HMNI: But you have to admit that there is a "Vogel Factor" in the scene.
Andy: There is definitely a Vogel factor in the scene. I've got to talk to that guy. Scott Sprigg over me? I play guitar...whats wrong with me?
HMNI: I guess yer not cool enough
Andy: Exactly.
Ratboy: this is off of the subject.
HMNI: Who cares this is good shit talk.
Andy: No offense to Vogel its just something me and him have to square away..
HMNI: Where do you see Last Breath a year from now? What do you guys want to be doing?
Ratboy: I want to play some more shows outside of Buffalo and maybe have something besides a demo out.
HMNI: Why don't you guys send some stuff to Victory...You guys have a schtick. You know, yer a bunch of 15 and 16 year olds. Victory likes stuff like that...remember the Doughnuts?
HMNI: What bands do you like to go home and listen to?
Ratboy: I'm liking the new 25 Ta Life . ACDC...
HMNI: Have you heard the new Blood for Blood?
Ratboy: No....
HMNI: Well we're going to take a little break to listen to it.

HMNI: Ok bands you like
Ratboy: Overcast, Merauder, Unbroken, Coalesce....
Andy: Anything you can weightlift to....
Ratboy: Sepultura
Andy: Yeah anything Sepultura "Chaos AD" and before.
HMNI: Are you guys down with Rollins? "anything you can weightlift to"
Andy: There's nothing wrong with Rollins.
HMNI: I agree, I have five Rollins records in my collection. I love the guy. Do you like the new Bloood For Blood?
Ratboy: What I heard, yeah.

HMNI: Ok we're going finish this up. If anyone wants to contact your band where should tehy go to contact you?

Ratboy:blah@aol.com
HMNI: Andy final words manager?
Andy: Look out for Last Breath in '98
HMNI: Wait a minute. Why did you change your name from Counterstrike to Last BReath?
Andy: A Body Count song....
Ratboy: We changed it because we thought Counterstrike was kind of a cheese name. Now looking back I think it was kind of cool.
HMNI: What about Stone Cold (The band was supposed to changed their name to Stone Cold, named after the wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin)
Andy: The whole Stone Cold thing blew up. The man is just too big for the band. Not saying the band isn't anny good but Stone Cold is way better. Like I said before LAst Breath in '98 this is their year.

Here's a link to the demo.......

http://www.sendspace.com/file/k2zjt0