Averkiou

It’s hard not call Averkiou a shoegaze band. Their obsession with ethereal vocals and foot pedals is obvious in every track, but they also explore stranger, murkier waters in their premiere album “Throwing Sparks”. The album was difficult for the band to record, as their studio experience left them frustrated. Many band members quit because of the tumultuous affair. But after setting up a studio in their collective basement, Averkiou managed to birth a damn fine record and a career.

Averkiou will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

Asshole Parade

Bastions of East Coast Hardcore, Asshole Parade is the heir apparent to whatever crown is awarded to the kings of East Coast Hardcore bands. They thrash, they rock, and they roll.

Asshole Parade will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

Annabel

Soft rockers Annabel are sweet like high fructose corn syrup.

Annabel will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

Ampere

The dictionary defines Ampere as “the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric current that is equivalent to a flow of one coulomb per second or to the steady current produced by one volt applied across a resistance of one ohm”

TruePunk defines Ampere as one of the noisest, thrashin’est bands roaring out of Massachusetts recently. Their style of wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am mash-up punk rock is among the most energetic and explosive sounds in the country. With a true passion for simply playing music and a playful attitude towards life and promotion, Ampere promises to be one of the enterainingest acts of the upcoming decade.

Ampere will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

American Cheeseburger

Georgian thrash-punk band American Cheeseburger requires no bones in their bloody meat. Their sound is without excess, boiled down to the pounding kick, crunchy kick-in-the-pants guitar riffs, and raw jagged vocals.

American Cheeseburger will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

How To Run A Band Without Running It Into The Ground

This is not an article that’s going to help you get shows, and it’s not about getting your stuff heard. This article is about how to manage those bizarre creatures known as musicians from killing each other, smoking pot all day, and/or getting wasted at a show and ruining it for everyone. Managing any group of people is a living hell. You want to know why your boss at work is a douchebag? Because he has to deal with morons all damn day, each one wanting to serve their own agenda instead of his. And those are just average employees - with a band it’s much harder because you’re dealing with maniacs, geniuses, jagoffs, and rockers each with a special kind of crazy. I’ve been in enough bands and screwed up enough times that I can at least tell you what not to do - across the board. I hope that this short list of Do and Do Nots can help talented people keep making music together instead of wasting their skills or smashing in one another’s faces.

Be consistent with your band mates.

I once had a drummer I had never met before come over and jam with me as an audition. I helped him move in his gear and was very courteous. He turned out to be a good drummer and I wanted him to come back and play with us some more. After the second practice, though, I stopped helping him with his gear because I had stopped caring. He called me on it after the first show we played together, and it turned out to be the last show we played together.

What did I do wrong in this situation? It wasn’t that I stopped helping him in with his gear, it was that I helped him move his stuff in the first time. I had no intention of helping him move gear every time, but I did the first time because I wanted him to like me and be in my band. It was unsustainable, though, and he probably would have been my drummer even if I hadn’t. But since I changed gears on him, he became resentful.

Practice at your drummer’s pad.

Not everyone can afford to rent a practice space, and in this economy it’s doubtful that anyone can afford the gas to be hauling equipment around everywhere. If you can get a practice space, that’s great, but don’t count on it - especially when your band is just starting up. Drummers generally need a space big enough to practice in just to house their drums, and because you can’t turn down drums they’ve probably already got the place soundproofed. The things that make a place good to play drums in are the same things that make it a good band practice spot.

Also, I know it’s a stereotype and generalization, but in my experience having practices at a drummer’s place is usually better because they are the most likely to forget about band practice. If you just show up on their front door they are more likely to throw pants on and play instead of flaking.

Do not have band romances.

I know that there are lots of famous intraband romances: Rob Schneider and Hilarie Sidney of the Apples in Stereo, Patricia Day and Kim Nekroman of HorrorPops, Kepi and Roach of the Groovie Ghoulies, and Reverend Peyton and Breezy Peyton of the Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band just to name a few. But when two people are able to maintain a relationship and keep working together in a band it’s usually because they were in a healthy and long-term relationship before working together. Although Schnieder and Sidney of the Apples in Stereo did marry after being in the band together for years, also remember that they recently divorced and the Apples have sucked since then.

The bottom line is that if you begin a relationship with a band mate after you’ve begun playing together, you will eventually have to choose between the music or your relationship - a choice no one should ever have to face. Because your dynamic together will change, it will alter the balance of the band and harvest resentment from the other band members.

Also, remember, do you really want to date another musician? We’re a crazy bunch! Find a nice poet, or painter or something. Maybe someone with a steady job?

Talk to band mates equally.

It’s a simple fact that not everyone in the band is going to get along with everyone else at the same level. Two best friends often emerge from a group of four or so, and the strength of this kind of bond often overshadows and strains all other friendships in the band. Be very careful to maintain friendships with everyone in the band, not just the ones you get along with.

Every time there is something important to talk about, like planning a tour, deciding the track list for recording, or getting ready for a show, wait until everyone is in one place to begin so you can make sure everyone is on the same page at the same time. Sometimes this is just impossible because of scheduling or timing, but it’s still worth striving for.

And if one of you seems to have a specific issue that needs to be addressed so that you can keep cranking out the tunes, you really should take them aside and have a one-on-one with them so that you know for sure that they’re getting what they need to keep playing. A lot of times people who are able performers but not great composers or arrangers will find themselves elbowed out of band business conversation because they don’t speak up when arranging the songs. Everyone expects them to be as silent for one conversation as the next, although that’s not always fair. Sometimes the best solution is to take them out of the potentially stressful context of having to talk over other, more forceful personalities. Get them alone and let them speak their piece. They probably have an idea worth hearing if they’re worth playing music with.

Be in a band or have a band, but don’t try and do both.

Many front men in bands have had their egos explode. Jim Morrison of the Doors quickly overshadowed his band mates in the press and public conversation, as did Kurt Cobain with Nirvana. Billy Corgan was famously dictatorial with the Smashing Pumpkins, which was cited as one of the reasons the band broke up.

If you want to be in a band, be prepared to share all credit, attention, money, and control evenly because that is the dynamic that keeps a band going and functional. Many groups have been successful with domineering and controlling personalities piloting the ship, with backing musicians rotating in and out. Generally these bands are driven by serious talent and genius in the music, not skilled planning or band management. These kinds of bands also would probably be even more successful if they could maintain greater cohesiveness. If you want to just be in a band, a monolithic and overpowering personality is not going to work well.

It’s not bad to want to do solo work or really have control over the music. In fact it often works really well. You jut have to make sure that your dominion over the songs and sound is clear from the get-go. Having a band name like “A and the Bs” (for example Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards; Richard Hell and the Voidoids; Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers) makes it clear who’s boss, but also gives the band a name instead of just yours.

Love your music.

If you don’t like the music you’re playing, it’s going to show. So when someone in the band really doesn’t like a song, it doesn’t matter if the rest of you do - it’s not a good fit. Make sure they have a chance to warm up to it - and don’t forget to give every song time to grow on you before you dismiss it. But just don’t force a song on the group. Unhappy musicians make for mediocre music.

What did we learn today?

Communication is they key to any relationship. You don’t have to be touchy-feely and you don’t have to open your hearts to each other, but being in a band is hard and if you’re not able to tell each other what you need and want from the experience it’s going to get even harder.

Alligator

Florida is rife with large reptiles, a fact not overlooked by Saint Augustine band Alligator. Driven by a love for herpetology and all things reptilian,  Alligator blends southeast punk rock with a level of “freak out” rock, with a frenetic pacing and ripping guitar riffs. Their unique aesthetic is only part of this theme-band’s appeal. Their primary draw is their absolute love for what they’re doing, a joy that permeates every note of their music.

Alligator will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

Algernon Cadwallader

Their name is pronounced “al-jur-non kad-wall-uh-der” - a strange name without obvious origins. This Philly punk band doesn’t perpetuate the rage of other hard rockers, but instead uses their high energy and rocking tunes to bring out the best in the listener. Long song titles like “Look Down (Because the Ground Is Easier to Understand and Doesn’t Take So Much Work to Figure Out But I’d Rather Not Know Where I’m Standing and Have An Idea of What Life Is All About)” betray an irreverence and love for fun uncommon in Philly rock. Album artwork is missing the skulls and violence common to the genre in favor of simple and colorful depictions of nature and dead guys. If you like punk rock but aren’t mad at much, this band is for you.

Algernon Cadwallader will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

Above Them

Roaring out of West York, the English trio Above Them has made a very odd career trajectory. Having released three EPs and an LP and recieving rave reviews from music pundits the world over, the band made an unusual choice by touring just the American Midwest before returning home to the shores of Brittania. Although popular in their native land, their American punk rock influences and British guitar rock roots have ensured them a steady fanbase stateside.

Above Them will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

A.N.S.

With little regard for convention, A.N.S. is a group of musicians from all across the country - Denton, New Brunswick, and Portland - who have come together to tour and record the sounds of madness inspired by classic punks like Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies. Their breakneck touring schedule, which involves playing a show every night for two months, is powered by a loyal fanbase and D.I.Y. spirit beckoning from before the digital age. The band offers mail-order service for their vinyl EPs, LPs, and splits with other bands. They are now promoting their latest album, “Pressure Cracks”.

A.N.S. will be playing FEST 8 in Gainsville, Florida this upcoming Halloween.

For more on FEST 8 check out TruePunk’s Guide to FEST 8

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