We recently had the opportunity to check out the new single, “Gunshow” from Belfast based quartet Stratford Rise. You can listen to “Gunshow “ on Spotify Here, Apple Music Here
If you don’t get absolutely charged up after listening to “Gunshow” from Stratford Rise, we strongly suggest getting medical attention.
Stratford Rise, leads the charge towards a new breed of guitar music rising from the Irish noise rock scene.
“Gunshow” , from Stratford Rise, is a fresh sounding track from a band that is taking noise rock to the next level
We were literally hanging on every brilliant sound and melody . It was like we were listening to the rebirth of music.
Their explosive live shows have made them one of the most talked about bands in the Irish live circuit. In a short period of time, they have built an impressive repertoire of performances. From supporting noise rock legends, The Jesus Lizard in Belfast’s Limelight, and a sold out show in Dublin’s The Button Factory, proving their ability to hold their own alongside the greats. At Whelans Ones to Watch Festival the band stole the show, with audience members surfing across the room.
In 2024 they also embarked on their own five- date Irish tour. Their stage presence is erratic, theatrical, and visceral, with each members becoming enveloped by the music, offering a visually exciting performance for audiences. Other notable highlights: Just Mustard support slot at Limerick’s legendary Féile Na Gréine, support slots for Crows and Junk Drawer support, and write ups in Hot Press and The Thin Air magazines. 2025 is to be a big year for Stratford Rise with their debut eponymous EP set to release in late spring. The EP promises to deliver a blistering collection of tracks that encapsulate the band’s intensity, a tasting platter of their live staples thus far. It is a collection of songs that explore extremes in music, interlocking rhythms, and combining harsh, noisy ideas with consonant ones. Lyrically, it’s about small fleeting glimpses into characters at crossroads and crisis.
Find your favorite listening spot, and get lost in the musical triumph of “Gunshow” , from Stratford Rise.
French Noise Rockers Reveal Black Flag Live Session ‘I WANT TO WRITE A GOOD SONG’
Taken From Their 2022 Second Album Everybody Knows Mickey
We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out Hossegor, France-basednoise rockers , This Will Destroy Your Ears, as they reveal their prolific Black Flag Live Session, performance of “I Want To Write A Good Song” (Spoiler Alert: This song and band absolutely rock!)
You can watch the performance of “I Want To Write A Good Song” below
You can listen to “I WANT TO WRITE A GOOD SONG “Here
Often times when you hear a particular band or a particular song it feels important, as if the universe is saying “Hey check this out!, this is special” We definitely felt this after watching This Will Destroy Your Ears, perform, “I WANT TO WRITE A GOOD SONG”
We were absolutely captivated by the powerful performance from , This Will Destroy Your Ears, we were literally hanging on every note/word
The session comes ahead of the official announcement of a new album due for release in 2025, with further details to be revealed over the coming months
‘I WANT TO WRITE A GOOD SONG’ is taken from the band’s second album Everybody Knows Mickey, released in 2022 on respected French label À Tant Rêver Du Roi (FR), Cowboy À La Mode (FR) and Brutalist Records (UK).
The album was produced and recorded by Henri D’Armancourt and TWDYE at pARPAINg, Angresse, mixed by Alex Greaves at Nave Studio, Leeds, and mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering, Chicago.
Conceptually, ‘I WANT TO WRITE A GOOD SONG’ is built around a series of song titles the band would have liked to have written, including 31 influences from the Pixies‘ ‘Debaser‘ to the Talking Heads‘ ‘PsychoKiller‘, not forgetting Johnny Cash‘s ‘Man inBlack‘, The Murder Capital‘s ‘Green & Blue’ and IDLES‘ fabulous ‘Colossus‘—a noisy anthem to the artists TWDYE love so much.
Photo Credit- Craig Szlatoszlavek
Filmed by Loula Productions (already responsible for the group’s excellent ‘Coffin For Two’video on a fishing boat) at the Black Flag in Seignosse in the middle of winter, this live session was conceived as an obvious counterpoint to the exercise. The trio had fun simulating an audition organised by the bar to find a house band for the coming summer, finding themselves in front of a meagre five people who are less than enthused (the zooms on the faces of the protagonists speak for themselves…) while they hammer through the single as if nothing had happened.
If you want to see the band live with more than five people in the room, you can choose between the two French dates in March, or wait until the band announce their Autumn 2025 UK tour dates later this year.
This Will Destroy Your Ears, is a band that you need to pay attention to. We can’t wait to see what they do next.
Live Dates:
05.03.25 – Bordeaux – Rock School Barbey – Les Inrocks Festival 2025 (w/ Fat White Family) 07.03.25 – Annecy – Festival Hors-Pistes (w/ Shannon Wright and Quentin Sauvé
All music compositions start the same , a blank undefined thought that finds life and melody , that is then shared with the world . Boston and phoenix melodic noise rock duo , CanyonsAnd Locusts, deliver to the universe and beyond, their striking concept record The GoalGigolo today, (Friday, February 21) , about a ’70s-era anti-hero who can’t seem to escape his own past misfortunes.
You can listen to , “The GoalGigolo” on Bandcamp Here
At the core of the beautiful noise and fuzz that is feverishly front and center on “The Goal Gigolo” , from Canyons And Locust , is the cinematic and musical greatness that makes , “The Goal Gigolo , shine.
“The Goal Gigolo” draws together several storytelling narrators underneath the duo’s unhinged wall of fuzzed-out rock and roll. It fully realizes an unfurling narrative from vocalist, guitarist, and bassist Justin Keane and drummer Amy Young that began in November with the release of the gritty, confrontational, and catchier-than-an-attitude lead single “Anna Save A Life” and last month’s anthemic, ebullient, and riff-fueled “Day of the Canyon.”
The Goal Gigolo, tabbed by WBUR, Boston’s NPR, as one of the most-anticipated New England records of the winter, and after a deep listen, we completely agree. There is no reason, why “The Goal Gigolo” should be on a gazillion different “Best Albums” of 2025.
From the opening note on “Have To Fire That Goal Gigolo” , it is crystal clear that Canyons And Locusts have harnessed musical nirvana.
“Broadly speaking, The Goal Gigolo is the story of a guy who makes his living solving others’ emotional problems while trying not to get entangled with them romantically,” says Keane. “It’s set in the 1970s, so I guess we weren’t calling those people life coaches yet.”
And like most moments of inspiration, the seeds of the story first came to Keane in a dream.
“It sounds made up, but scout’s honor truth here – I had a really vivid dream about a guy named The Goal Gigolo, and the dream was very much sepia-toned and ‘70s feeling, so much so that when I woke up I slapped the details into ChatGPT for fun and asked it to come up with an imaginary show pitch. Then a couple of hours later I was like… wait… an ALBUM!”
Courtesy of the band
The cinematic saga of The Goal Gigolo, like some kind of distant cousin to Robert Altman’s film The Long Goodbye, plays out like the latest hit Netflix drama we all binge-watch over a weekend and talk about with coworkers on Slack or Teams come Monday morning.
Every song on “The GoalGigolo”, from Canyons And Locusts are energetic sonically perfect gems that feature the thunderous and powerful drumming of Amy Young and the one of kind and authentic voice and fuzzed out guitar genius of Justin Keane.
The well woven story in “The Goal Gigolo” had us literally hanging on every word . Besides the lead single, “Anna Save A life” and the follow up , “Day Of The Canyon “ , we found ourselves gravitating towards other stellar tracks such as , “Trapped In Trigger, “Here Come The Buzzards “, and “Take Me Back Lee’s
“It was Justin’s dream, but easy for me to connect with – the songs tell the stories,” Young adds. “It’s a journey, and watching journeys unfold is fascinating. It’s a movie that I see in my mind based on Justin’s words. I got to help add a soundtrack to this guy’s goings-on. What’s not awesome about that?”
Picking a favorite track, on an album like , “The Goal Gigolo “, is next to impossible, however the one track that really stood out to us was…. “Motorwall Oil” , this is Canyons And Locusts, at their absolute best . ( The drum and guitar sounds they were able to create are absolutely otherworldly) Everything about this track is spectacularly magnificent. The one thing that really stood out to us on “Motorwall Oil” , how both Young and Keane were almost cosmically connected.
“I listen to what he’s telling me,” Young says. “We’ve known each other and played together for a long time, so generally, I know where his core is at – the nature of where he’s coming from. If not, we’ll talk about it, and then it’s about thinking about how to bring that to life sonically — but also not overthinking it because we leave a lot for the moment when we just play each song and let that give it a lot of its life. And that is really exciting. It starts with him bringing something to me, and then it becomes a glorious conversation.”
“The Goal Gigolo “ , was Produced by Justin Keane and Ethan Dussault. Recorded and mixed by Ethan Dussault at New Alliance Studio in 2023, 2024. Mastered by NickZampiello at New Alliance East, 2024
We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the new single , “Our Hearts Need Electricity “, from Boston, based indie-rock power trio, Cold Expectations, you can listen to, “Our Hearts Need Electricity “ on Spotify, Here, Apple Music, Here and on Bandcamp, Here
With Valentines Day, just a few days passed and February, being National Heart Month, the new single , “Our Hearts Need Electricity” arrives at the perfect time .
Written from a hospital bed where band member Steve Prygoda was diagnosed with advanced heart failure requiring an immediate pacemaker implant to keep his heart beating, the song percolates with a pulsating insistence that will compel you to get on up and rock out! We were absolutely enthralled with the jangle indie rock greatness of Cold Expectations, and their beautifully crafted new single, “Our Hearts Need Electricity”
Cold Expectations were participants in the 2024 Rock and Roll Rumble, and their recent full-length album, STATIC REACTIONS (Red on Red Records), was a CMJ radio favorite on countless college radio stations. Described as “dark jangle pop” and “hauntingly beautiful”, the band has drawn comparisons to Mission Of Burma, X, and New Order, amongst others. With an indie rock character that touches on power pop elements of melody and harmony, the vocal interplay between Steve and bassist/vocalist, JoEllen Saunders, and the rock-solid back beat of drummer Mike Demers, gives Cold Expectations their own unique and authentic sound.
Not only is is “Our Hearts Need Electricity “the perfect song to get your rock and roll heart pumping, it also carries an important message.
With the release of “Our Hearts Need Electricity”, the band is bringing awareness to the warning signs that your heart may be in trouble and need “more electricity” – which is the impulse that tells your heart to beat. Shortness of breath, low energy, feeling dizzy or tired can all be signs of Heart Failure or the onset of a cardiovascular episode. You might think it’s normal to feel these things on occasion, but it could be your body telling you it’s something more serious. If not for talking to his doctor, Steve’s heart would have stopped beating without notice
Steve has this to say about the new single: “We are excited to put this track out into the world with our pals at The Sound Cove; this song was a truly collaborative effort with all three of us pushing the song to its limits, striving to make it as intense and bracing as possible, to really crush it. Thanks to producer Matt Alexander’s work behind the board, we really feel it was mission accomplished; this is one of the strongest tracks we’ve ever done.”
So go find your favorite listening spot, and get lost in the magical indie rock experience of “Our Hearts Need Electricity “ , from Cold Expectations.
Album art: Collage by Simi Text by Quinn Paint by Noah Body Character by Nori Hilto
We recently had the stellar opportunity to check out the new alum, “Husk Of A Body” , via Sad Cactus from Portland,Maine, based cousin rock band , Amiright? You can listen to “Husk Of A Body”on Spotify Here , Apple Music, Here and Bandcamp, Here
Amiright? delivers an electrifying charge of musical energy and creative brilliance with their latest album, “Husk Of a Body” , cousins, Noah Grenier-Farwell: Lyrics, Guitars, Drums, Vocals, Quinn Farwell: Lyrics, Guitars, Drums, Vocals, Keyboard, and Simi Kunin: BassGuitar, Vocals , do a phenomenal job of crafting a sonically and pleasing gem of an album.
From the opening track, “Jaundice”we were completely enthralled with the stunning melodic tone and sonic joy of Amiright?
Amiright? artfully balances a memorable sonic presence on “Husk Of a Body” We effortlessly found ourselves instantly singing and moving along to such gems as “They Are Burying a Barry Berkman Out Back” ( an absolute melodic work of art ) , “Four Legs Six Ribbits” ( vocally stunning) Every song on “Husk Of a Body “ , is an enjoyable musical experience.
If we had to pick one favorite track, which is next to impossible to do on such a great record, but if we had to pick one … it would be without question, “Car Dealership “ , we love everything about this track. The musical energy on this one is off the charts .
You need to feast your ears on the musical wonderment that is “Husk Of a Body” , from Amiright?, you won’t be disappointed.
We recently got the stellar opportunity to check out the new single, “Pushing Daisies “ , from Bay Area indie punk quintet, Star 99.
“Pushing Daisies”, will be included on Star 99’s upcoming sophomore album, Gaman, which drops March 7 via Lauren Records.
You can listen to “Pushing Daisies“ on Spotify Here , Apple Music Here
Photo by: Ishan Ghoshal
Following the release of lead single “Kill” last month, “Pushing Daisies” tells a story of a phone call gone wrong over the band’s fuzzed-out driving guitars and hooky melodies. “It’s a song about bad communication and losing faith in people,” says Thomas Calvo.
“Pushing Daisies “, from Star 99 is a sonic and melodic dream. Star 99, has created an absolute work of art .
Since forming in 2021, Star 99—formed by four best friends Saoirse Alesandro, Chris Gough, Jeremy Romero, and Thomas Calvo—has come a long way since their humble beginnings. Their debut album, Bitch Unlimited (2023), introduced their high-energy sound to a wider audience, earning praise from outlets like Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, and Consequence. With Gaman, the band expands their sonic palette, blending high-energy indie rock with more delicate moments, reflecting on relationships, persistence, and personal growth.
You owe it to your punk loving heart, to check out “Pushing Daisies“, from Star 99.
We recently had the distinct honor to check out the latest single “Over Signs” from Italian singer – songwriter Jack Adamant who lives and records in Stockholm. You can listen to “Over Signs” Here You can also check out the video for “Over Signs “ below
“Over Signs” from Jack Adamant is an absolute sonically driven triumph. Jack Adamant artfully weaves perfectly placed vocal with memorable melodies. Jack creates a musical composition that will stay in your soul long after the music has ended.
His solo career began around 2012 when he started writing songs that were heavily influenced by American artists such as J Mascis, Lou Barlow, Evan Dando, Bob Mould, Mac McCaughan, Robert Pollard, Daniel Johnston and others. While Jack may drawn influence from the above artist, it is crystal clear that Jack Adamant has a style, sound and vibe that is completely his own .
Beyond the melodic goodness found in “Over Signs” , Jack Adamant is a talented musician that has a voice that needs to be heard .
For music with a heart beat and a soul you need to check out “Over Signs” from JackAdamant
We recently had the epic opportunity to check out the new single “Lightbreaker” (Ladder) from Boston based post-punk band The Collect Pond . You can check “Lightbreaker” (Ladder) on Spotify Here and Apple Music Here
We first got to know the incredible sound of The Collect Pond last month when we checked out “Disassociating “ ( Cigarette Dress) which, if you are scoring at home ( and we know you are ) we freaking loved .
The band has now given the universe a new single “Lightbreaker” (Ladder) and it is an absolute gem . The Collect Pond meld post-punk immediacy and jangle pop with a sprinkling of alt-country, synth wave, and indie folk. and it is such a brilliantly constructed sound and it is front and center on “Lightbreaker” (Ladder) .
The Collect Pond is the name under which songwriter Danny Moffat produces his own music. Studio recordings often resemble a collective of musicians with a core four. They are Moffat: Vocals/Guitar, Rob Carrington: Drums, Roger Maranan: Keys/Bass, and Ben Bonadies: Guitar/Bass. They met through connections with the music blog Allston Pudding.
Moffat grew up in Bellingham, Washington State in the shadow of grunge and alternative music. Early influences were Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., and Pixies.
When he was 23 he moved to New Zealand and played in The Future’s Bright (live guitarist) and Frend (songwriter/singer/guitarist) which resulted in the latter bearing a critically acclaimed EP that was requested to be in the New Zealand National Libra
Moffat was born with a rare spinal condition called spina bifida, which often manifests in debilitating nerve pain. He is reminded everyday how much of a gift it is to physically make music, and that sense of urgency fuels the drive behind creating The Collect Pond.
We found ourselves gleefully singing along to “Lightbreaker” (Ladder) at several points in the day ( In our book that’s a good thing .
One of the best feelings in the world is finding a song that just hits perfectly and you want to shout from the rooftops how good it is . We feel this way about “Lightbreaker” (Ladder) from The Collect Pond.
Rising indie-rock artist meg elsier reveals her highly-anticipated debut album, spittake, and we think it is positively amazing.
Blending elements of grunge, contemporary pop, folk, and indie-rock, spittake showcases meg’s ability to create dynamic, versatile, and effortlessly catchy music. Across the album’s 11 tracks, she delivers musings on love, death, nostalgia, youth, anxiety, depression and everything in between, with a uniquely self-deprecating touch. “spittake” is one of those magical/ special records that stay within your soul.meg elsier has such a beautiful and unique sound that you can’t help but take notice.
“The story isn’t necessarily linear,”she explains. “But the main connection throughout is this unreliable narrator that you as a listener determine your view/trust of. They are incredibly inconsistent with their statements but I believe they think they’re telling the truth.”
All of the songs on spittakewere solely written and demoed by meg over the last few years. She later collaborated with Nashville-based producer Ryan McFadden to record the final product while still maintaining the DIY spirit of the album as a whole (the lowercase, uncapitalized song titles are a nod to the original demo names).
The delicate balance of noise and music was beautifully blended on “spittake “ – meg elsier delivered an absolutely magnificent vocal performance throughout “spittake”
We loved the tenderness of the title track “spittake” and reveled in the beautiful crunchy noise of “iznotreal” One of the highlight tracks is the single “ifshitfuq” where we feel meg absolutely shines . If we had to pick a favorite track ( which is next to impossible to do ) we would choose “youngestchild” The vocals and melody on “youngestchild” are exactly why we love music- Bravo
Many artists tend to craft an album that is one sided however, on “spittake” meg elsier brilliantly makes each track memorable and unique.
Do yourself a favor and check out the debut album “spittake” from meg elsier it is an absolute can’t miss.
Upcoming Tour Dates: November 6 – Detroit, MI @ Lager House* November 7 – Toronto, ON @ The Baby G* November 8 – Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Foufounes* November 9 – Burlington, VT @ Radio Bean* November 11 – Somerville, MA @ The Rockwell* November 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s* November 14 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right* November 15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe* *supporting Finom
We started The Whole Kameese back in 2020 as a way to keep busy during the pandemic. We are so lucky to have worked with so many wonderful artists, promoters and other music professionals. We were also so blessed to be able to share so much amazing music . We have made the difficult decision to put the blog on the back burner. At this time we need to focus on other important matters. We do not know how long we will be away but, we will return. We thank all of you for your support
“Barely Living Proof” comes ahead of fourth studio album “…buried where you stand”
From tone,style and sound “Barely Living Proof “ from Birmingham (UK) post-punk /noise rockers Mutes . (James – Vocals/GuitarsKeys, Tom Hewson –Bass and Craig Bainton, Drums)
Mutes are more than a band … they are three highly skilled expert musical craftsmen, who delicately construct breathtaking melodies that are honestly otherworldly. “Barely Living Proof is an absolute gem.
What is remarkable about “Barely Living Proof” and the upcoming album “…buried where you stand” is that the trio recorded almost completely live . The single is a dynamic meandering through existential crisis – a topic the band cover a lot throughout the course of the album, due for release May 17th.
The band comments: Our goal when writing and recording ‘…buried where you stand’ was to capture the essence of our live sound in the most honest manner possible – this meant all tracking in a room together with very little separation between instruments, and minimal overdubs. Our ‘Albini record’, if you will.
Barely Living Proof, is the 3rd track to come from “…buried where you stand”, and is absolutely stunningly perfect. Treated piano and vocals loops lurk beneath chromatic musings, until the sober tone gives way to a jarring out-and-out post-punk assault, with dual drum kits and dissonant noise bringing the song to its stark conclusion.
We are completely mesmerized by Mutes , they are most certainly a band to keep your eye on .
Full disclosure we here at The Whole Kameese LOVE Music, truth be told it’s our spirit animal. But sometimes we come across a collection of music that is Beyond LOVE it’s so good, that it’s next level. “The Red Angel“ from Boston and Phoenix melodic noise-rock duo , Canyons and Locusts definitely fits that description.
The EP is dedicated to the late Justine Covault, a tireless supporter of the band and whose Red on Red Records released their previous album. You can listen to “The Red Angel” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Canyons and Locusts
We have been slowly falling deeper and deeper in love with the electrifying music from “The Red Angel”, due in part to a quartet of singles dating back to last fall. The six song EP, is only 13 minutes in length but the number of emotions you feel during the EP is truly endless. “The Red Angel” is the kind of EP, that is absolutely everything and then some. Melodically and sonically perfect in every possible way .
From the opening of “To Art Bell” all the way through to “Wave Out Sunkiss “ the listener is taken on a breathtakingly awesome musical journey that you won’t soon forget . The songs are loud , catchy and perfect .
“Soo All The Way” is a such a memorable and catchy gem , that we have caught ourselves on numerous occasions busting out the chorus in the most unexpected places. ( Your Welcome aisle 12 at MarketBasket) Honestly, from top to bottom “The Red Angel” doesn’t disappoint.
We found ourselves going back to all six tracks again and again, music this good shouldn’t be left unplayed. We really fell a connection with the track “Donna Summer “ the longest song on the EP comes across so heartfelt it’s hard not get emotional .
But underneath the tense, barnstorming surface is a tender core, one that finds vocalist and guitaristJustin Keane and drummerAmy Young bound by common interests – a feverish approach to crafting gritty, weathered rock and roll; a genuine trust in the other’s ability to understand the Canyons and Locusts core sonic identity; and a mutual love and appreciation for Justine Covault, the late Red on Red Records founder who passed away last summer, less than a year after her label released their debut album, Roll The Dice, in 2022.
“If we were making any statement with this record, it would be to just make loud, heartfelt noise in service to and in honor of your feelings, the people in your corner, and the things and people you love and who love you back,” says Keane.
And Young agrees, adding: “I think both in honor of Justine and aligning with our personal approaches to life, it’s just about doing what you want – things that don’t hurt anyone, don’t trample on anything, and are just pure acts of making the music you want with the people you want to and hoping that people can feel what it means to us…or even just get a line stuck in their head and come back for more.”
Its title a not-so-subtle nod to Covault’s colorful hair color and personal brand, The Red Angel is a cathartic release of pent-up tension, a fiery and impassioned record that redefines notions of “noise-rock” and ignores convention
Life is too short . Music is love. Fall in Love With “The Red Angel” from Canyons and Locusts.
New EP ‘The Red Angel’ is dedicated to Justine Covault and set for March release
We recently fell head over heels for the new single “Love Goes Down The Drain from Boston and Phoenix based melodic , noise rock duo Canyons And Locusts.
You can listen to “Love Goes Down The Drain” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here.
Canyons And Locusts greet the holiday of love , with one big shrug and one even bigger punch. “Love Goes Down The Drain “ delivers quite the sonic punch, clocking in at a 1:44 runtime, it’s gritty and to the point, and unlike a thoughtless Valentine’s Day gift, doesn’t overstay its welcome. vocalist and guitaristJustin Keane and drummerAmy Young offer up a solidarity shrug to all who just roll with love’s freewheeling punches.
“Honestly, it’s pretty simple and the first two lines of the song say it all – ‘sometimes it’s out of reach, that’s why love goes down the drain’. Sometimes shit just falls apart and you can’t find the center anymore and that’s when things – relationships, friendships, fandoms, anything – get flushed down the toilet,” admits Keane.
“Underneath the title, there’s the message that sometimes it’s out of our control and at the end of the day, that’s okay if you did everything you could,”Keane adds. “I hate hearing people feeling badly on Valentine’s Day and while I don’t begrudge the holiday or a great love song, I also kinda… eh. Sometimes it’s out of reach… that’s ok. You’re ok.”
Canyons And Locusts have a genuine and authentic sound that is a beautifully woven gift of musical energy that will warm your music loving soul. “Love Goes Down The Drain “ is the latest melodic, noise rock masterpieces that is museum worthy.
We are so excited to bring you our 3rd ArtistOf The Day for 2024 – Nashville based indie rock duo Friendship Commanders, they have recently released epic concept record “Mass” .
We recently caught up with the duo ( Buick Adura, songwriter, vocalist and drummer/bassist Jerry Roe to talk about all things Friendship Commanders and of course all about “Mass” You can listen to “Mass”Here
The Whole Kameese: First off, we are so excited to get the chance to talk about your wonderful album “MASS.”
Buick Audra: Thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to talk about our new work!
The Whole Kameese: Can you introduce yourselves and your roles in the band?
Buick Audra: Hello, I’m Buick Audra, the vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter in Friendship Commanders.
Jerry Roe: Jerry Roe, and I play drums! I also play bass on our recordings.
The Whole Kameese: Your latest album “MASS” is a well-written and beautifully crafted body of work. Can you talk about the concept of the album?
Buick Audra: Thank you! The album is about my time as a teen and younger adult living in the Boston area. I had some experiences there during that timeframe that were intense and formative, but after I moved away from the area, I packed those memories up and put them away for a long time. When my friend Marc Orleans died, I started to remember my time there. He and I became friends when we were both part of the extended Boston music community and then we remained in touch after we both left. But his suicide took me right back to those days, and when I reviewed my experiences there through my current lens, they looked wild. So, I wrote a whole album about it. Ultimately, the record is about returning to what once almost took you down and being able to name the things that happened. Bullying, abuse, silence, complicity, loss, etc. I felt strongly about opening the album with BLUE because it has a message of hope, of survival, of living to tell. I think the thesis of the album is contained within the lyrical phrase, “If you don’t yet have the language for what you want to say, you will.”
The Whole Kameese: How was the writing process for “MASS”? Did it take a lot of time, or did it quickly come together?
Buick Audra: So, the first two songs I wrote for the record were A RETRACTION and FAIL, and they each unfolded kind of slowly, like over a couple of weeks. I tend to be a quick songwriter, usually completing a song in one sitting, so for it to take multiple days or weeks is uncommon. But those two songs took a while, and as they were coming to me, I became aware that I was writing about my time in Massachusetts. I leaned into that, and the rest of the album was written over a very short period of time. Less than two months total. The process involved a lot of listening to myself; remembering things I had long forgotten; grieving people, places, and things; and letting the music be whatever it wanted to be at first. Also, I tuned my guitars to four different tunings to give my ear some different options and not be stuck in riff or progression ruts. That benefited the writing process greatly.
The Whole Kameese: The album was recorded at God City in Salem, MA (which is right down the street from us) with Kurt Ballou. What was it like working with Kurt at God City in Salem?
Buick Audra: It was productive and fun! We had worked with Kurt as a mix engineer on several projects before we went up to Salem and tracked MASS with him, so we already had some professional and personal camaraderie. But the workflow was good, the vibe was easy, and we were thrilled with the results. He’s the dude.
Jerry Roe: Truly, it was fun, comfortable, and honestly very easy! He created an environment in which we could work with ease and challenged us in all the right ways. I greatly appreciated how much he cared about exploring tones and making sure we were getting all the sounds exactly right and how they should be. That doesn’t tend to happen all the time, and I feel like that’s one of the primary reasons why you’d ever want to record with someone else (versus doing it yourself). He’s the best at it, I think.
The Whole Kameese: Did the city of Salem influence the record at all?
Buick Audra: Not really, but it was a peaceful, safe place to make the record for sure. None of my history with Massachusetts took place in Salem, so it was a respite of sorts. Neutral ground. Loved it, can’t wait to return!
The Whole Kameese: For someone who has never heardFriendship Commanders, how would you describe your sound?
Buick Audra: I tend to say we make melodic heavy music, but if I were to put a finer point on it, I’d say it’s very heavy grunge with pop sensibilities and soulful vocals.
Jerry Roe: I guess I would say we’re sort of a sludgy doom grunge rock band with a big emphasis on songs and song structure.
The Whole Kameese: The album is accompanied by a memoir. Did the memoir come first or was it something that developed while recording?
Buick Audra: I wrote the album first, and then the memoir. The book is there to expand on the story contained within the music.Because the album is autobiographical, it seemed like a natural thing to go into more detail in prose. It was a lot of work to render both, but I’m so glad they exist as a set.
The Whole Kameese: How has it been playing the songs from “MASS” live? Is there a particular song that really stands out when playing live?
Buick Audra: I’ve loved playing the new work live; we toured for almost two months after the album came out last year, and it was so refreshing and empowering to perform the new songs I love all of them, but FAIL is intense for me to play because I wrote it about the death of my friend Marc. Musically, it’s a beast to pull off, but emotionally, it holds so much sentiment and truth for me. And every time we play it, I get to say, “For Marc Orleans.” Feels good to say his name. BLUE is a gift every night, no question.
Jerry Roe: BLUE really feels like an important stake in the ground, and a mission statement of sorts. We’ve been closing our shows with it, and it feels triumphant and heavy as hell all at the same time. Kind of like a big reward at the end of a 45-minute marathon. It’s wonderful to play.
Photo credit- Anna Haas
The Whole Kameese: What is next for Friendship Commanders in 2024???
Buick Audra: We’re doing some more touring on MASS, we’re working on some new work that I’ve been writing, and we’re working toward getting the next body of songs together!
The Whole Kameese: Thank you so much for talking with us at The Whole Kameese, today. We hope that 2024 is an amazing year for Friendship Commanders.
Buick Audra: Thank you! Really appreciate your time and attention. Hope your year kicks ass
We recently had the amazing opportunity to check out the latest single “Soo All The Way” from Boston+Phoenix noise rock band Canyons And Locusts .
You can listen to “Soo All The Way” on Spotify Here and on Apple Music Here
Those of you who are regular readers of The Whole Kameese know that we say what we mean and mean what we say . The new single “Soo All The Way” from Canyons And Locusts is an absolutely phenomenal new song that, should be required listening for all music lovers.
Soo All The Way,” the punchy new single from Canyons and Locusts, is crashing the streams today , Friday, January 19.
And that extra “o” in the title’s “Soo” is certainly deliberate, as it’s a shoutout from the Boston and Phoenix noise-rock duo to Sault Ste. Marie, the international border cities of Michigan and Ontario – dubbed the “Soo” – that have a special place in the heart of Canyons and Locusts’guitarist and vocalistJustin Keane. His fuzzed-out guitar riffage and gritty vocal howl pairs perfectly with drummerAmy Young’s thunderous and propulsive beat, allowing the duo to showcase what they do best in a robust 131-second runtime.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Canyons and Locusts
“For my work, I am part of a mentoring group based out of Sault Ste. Marie – and through that group I’ve met some of the coolest and nicest people in my life,”Keane says. “One of the things they mention is that while the winters can be pretty long – and rough, but also beautiful – the summers are so lovely and the time when many folks take to their cabins and camps and cottages for vacation. So, thematically… it’s just about that cycle of going inward in the winter and outward in the summer – going ‘Soo All The Way.’”
The Boston-based Keane feels a special kinship with Sault Ste. Marie, as New England’s seasons have the same type of extremities. And the dual elements and dichotomy of environments is certainly a key element in the music of Canyons and Locusts, as not only do the duo merge noisy, unhinged guitar-rock with a melodic and calculated spirit, but Keane’s Boston weather is usually at odds with the desert landscape of Young’s home out in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Generally, Justin will let me know when he has a batch of songs in the works and what he’s thinking about for a song,” Young notes. “Even though he’s writing the songs, I often feel like the records can pertain to the general ongoing conversations we have, in mood and tone. It’s never not relatable and it’s always a guide.” Adds Keane: “This was a song with a winter riff/verse and a summer chorus. Amy has this way of just getting things I haven’t been able to crystallize yet and it’s just perfect and moves the song where it’s meant to go.”
This theme of duality is reflected in the “Soo All The Way” artwork, designed by Young, which features fallen snow across cacti and agave plants as city buildings and majestic mountains loom in the distance. The physical separation between the two Canyons and Locusts players does not hinder their creative chemistry, however.
“There are so many times that we can get what the other person means without a long explanation,” Young admits. “Sometimes it’s a word or a reference to something and then it informs how we move forward. In this case, I immediately felt the vibe of Sweet’s ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’, and telling Justin that gave me an idea of where I wanted to go with the beat. It just clicked into place. Living far away from anyone you want to create and hang out with isn’t always ideal but it’s not uncommon these days. We have the technology, you know. For Canyons and Locusts, this, in some ways, allows us to maximize our creative time – and we do. We can schedule blocks of time to do shows or record. We never complain about any of it, as we’re just driven to move full steam ahead.”
Co-produced by Keane alongside Ethan Dussault and recorded at New Alliance Audio in Somerville, “Soo All The Way” is the third single from Canyons and Locusts’ forthcoming EP, The Red Angel, set for release on March 15. The EP is dedicated to, and named after, the late Red on Red Records founder and Boston music scene champion Justine Covault, who personally signed the band a few years back and released through Red on Red their 2022 album Roll The Dice. The band were in the midst of recording this batch of new songs last summer when Covault unexpectedly passed away; left without a label home, Keane and Young decided to self-release the EP in her honor.
We are so excited for the forthcoming EP, “The Red Angel” Canyons And Locusts bring a real energy with their music that is both genuine and authentic. They say music is the highest form of expression… With “Soo All The Way” – Canyons And Locusts have created an absolute gem.
We are looking for Bands/Artist to send their vinyl releases for 2024. We are putting together a new video segment where we will be featuring vinyl releases. If you are a band or artist and you are going to be putting out a vinyl release in the new year we want to tap to you . You can find our information on the contact section of our website or send us a message through our socials @TheWholeKameese
What seemingly sounds like a simple drum and bass track “SÉANCE” quickly becomes one of the most explosive tracks we have heard in quite some time .
Hammok presents “Seance”, the latest taste of their upcoming debut album “look how long lasting everything is moving for one”. The single is served up with an explosive one-take music video produced in the childhood home of vocalist Tobias Maxwell Osland.
“Seance” shows the band’s most direct side yet. The song barely rounds out two and a half minutes and at that time gives you a masterclass in hardcore chorus flair. The soundscape is controlled by a constantly forward-propelling drum machine and a metallic synth bass where vocalist Tobias Osland is given plenty of room to dominate the listener’s eardrum.shows the band’s most direct side yet. The song barely rounds out two and a half minutes and at that time gives you a masterclass in hardcore chorus flair. The soundscape is controlled by a constantly forward-propelling drum machine and a metallic synth bass where vocalist Tobias Osland is given plenty of room to dominate the listener’s eardrum.
With fragmented images inspired by horror films and occult traditions, “Seance” brings out a deeply dark and disturbing reality where the protagonist finds themselves in their worst nightmare. A feeling of being haunted or persecuted, a life where your reality is terrorized. Where it all began, in a SÉANCE
We are always asked “What’s New and Fresh In Music?…. Look no further than Hammok and “SEANCE”
The Whole Kameese 