From the city who has brought us a cornucopia of diverse acts such as Steve Miller, Al Jarreau, and The Violent Femmes comes Milwaukee’s next greatest export: Disaster March. Compared to bands like Weezer, Alkaline Trio, and Brand New, these midwestern guys provide fans with highly entertaining, energetic shows. I caught up with keyboardist Brian Farvour just a few hours before he and the guys took the stage at their hometown SummerFest to discuss everything from their evolution as a band to working with Kristian Riley to their K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) model.

Hey Brian, thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. So I know you guys are getting pretty excited to play tonight at SummerFest in just a few hours; is this your first time playing?

You know actually, we have never done SummerFest as a band. We’ve all played with different bands, and actually this is the third time this year I’ll be playing. Never with the same band twice, but playing SummerFest is something I really enjoy doing, especially being from Milwaukee. The other guys love it as well, Marc for instance opened up for Fountains of Wayne one year. We really love getting up there and having a good time, and look forward to getting a few new fans tonight.

So you guys mention in your biography that you’ve had several name changes. Where does Disaster March come from – what about that name stuck?

We’ve gone through a lot of different lineup changes the past few years, but we’ve had this solid lineup for the past two years. We were initially called “My Disaster March,” but ended up dropping the “My” because there seems to be a lot of other bands out there with that as the beginning of their name…My Chemical Romance, My Morning Jacket…we really wanted to stand on our own. So we changed to Disaster March. And the term Disaster March is the name of the musical theme they’d play at a circus during an emergency to calm people down.

So now you’ve been set as Disaster March for the past couple of years. When you play do you have a standard setlist?

Yah, I’d say we have a pretty standard set list. Sometimes we play off of the crowd to see if we should go in a different direction. For instance, we’ve cut out “Slow Motion (it’s one of our slower songs)” before when the crowd is really rowdy. For the most part it’s pretty standard. We do have a couple of cover songs we like to play…

Which ones?

“Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga and “Like a Prayer” by Madonna: definitely crowd favorites.

The most recent album you have is your Dire Days EP, tell me a little bit about the how you guys came up with that.

Some of the songs go several years back, like “Save Me Jaime” and “Slow Motion.” A few years ago, we actually paired up with Kristian Riley (Citizen King, Truth In Fiction, Paris, Texas) who helped us really flush some of our old stuff out to produce better versions of those tracks. We wrote a few new songs to combine with our “new old” tracks for the EP, which we recorded with Kristian in January 2009.

I actually wanted to get the stories behind a few of your tracks. I’ve got to ask about my favorite, “Save Me, Jaime.” Who is Jaime?

(laughs). Nick, a former member and still great friend of the band knew her. That is about all I know about “Jaime.”

And “These Blue Eyes,” is another one of my favorites. I was going to guess that this track was about Jaime, but I guess you don’t have the answer to that one…

“These Blue Eyes” is one of the old tracks that I told you about that was a really rough demo form, but we were able to flush it out with Kristian. We’re really happy with the way it turned out.

And “Slow Motion,” the last one I wanted to ask you about. Kind of a double entendre there.

Exactly. The title relates to both the lyrics of the song and the tempo/feel of the song itself. I really like this track a lot. I get chills every time I hear the swell of the guitar toward the middle of the track.

I want to ask you about your K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) motto. I’ve played in a couple of bands where everything just seems so cluttered. You know, five or six people sitting around making music together but there are so many melodies and submelodies and….

Exactly! That’s where it really comes from. You know, it’s a really natural hting. We’ve all been in bands before this with larger lineups and we just like to keep it simple. We’ve got guitar, bass, drums, keys. One on each. It doesn’t over-complicate things and we can enjoy the music more.

Lastly, before you get ready for tonight, what is next for Disaster March?

We’ve got a few more songs in the works right now, but really we are just focusing on playing some quality shows to hone our craft. It’s really up to Fr. Time what will happen next, but we’re having a great time playing shows and getting new fans!

How about a brief vocab lesson to introduce our next band Disalto? Disalto is a band that thinks before they name something. From their band name to their album name,  they lend careful thoughtfulness to their music and everything tied to it. For their sophomore album, Disalto avoided clichés and gave their album a title that is not at once understandable but ultimately decipherable—One Beacon in the Strand. For those of you that don’t grasp the meaning, the words below should help you out. If you still don’t get it, the band explains it themselves below. Enjoy!

Beacon (noun) a person or thing that illuminates or inspires
Strand (noun) the land bordering the sea, a lake, or a river; shore; beach

What is the reasoning behind the band name and who choose it?

Our name, Disalto, was sort of stumbled upon randomly when Joe was thumbing through a dictionary one day for some cerebral stimulation. It’s an old Italian word that means “by leaps” so we felt it had some depth and character. We figured that it would be a good way to remind ourselves that our music must continue to evolve and push forward.

Your new album One Beacon in the Strand was just released, how did you choose that title?

We feel that our album title is a sort of microcosm of the Los Angeles music scene. It seems like there is a lot of the same music being released out there, especially in the rat race known as L.A. I guess we thought that it would be best to at least convince ourselves that we were doing something different.

What is the song that you are most excited to show your fans now that the album is out?

To be honest, there is no one song in particular that we are more proud of…..it’s kinda like choosing your favorite child.  We’re proud that we were able to change the writing process and improve our songwriting overall. Each song came from a different place with different emotions, but they each serve their own purpose on this album and we hope that it is received well as a whole.

You guys had the privilege of playing the Vans Warped Tour, which many refer to as punk-rock summer camp, what was that experience like for Disalto?

You may refer to it as a punk rock summer camp, but we’ll refer to it as a boot camp.  Don’t get us wrong, we were stoked and privileged to be on the same bill with bands such as Thrice, Bad Religion and Underoath, but for a relatively unknown band such as ourselves, it was baptism by fire.  As I am sure with all first time bands, the Warped Tour forces you to improvise, roll with the punches, and show the kids a bad ass show at all costs…..and at the end of the day, we can honestly say we did that. We learned a lot about ourselves and if asked to play it again, we would do it in a heartbeat!!….can someone say summer 2011??

Most bands refer to each other as brothers, but Disalto actually has two brothers, Joe and Dave, do you guys tend to gang up on the others?

Nope….we gang up on Dana!! After all, he is the youngest and he takes it like a champ!

How did all of you meet?

Well, Dave and Joe are obviously womb buddies…..Carlos started tagging along after he was kicked out of his house at age 6 for reckless behavior……Dana was found hitchhiking to L.A. from Bakersfield and we found Oren selling Dead Sea Products at a kiosk in a random mall.

If all of you were given a super power each tomorrow, what would they be and would you change your band name to reflect them?

Dave would like to have the power of Telekinesis so he can change people’s minds. Dana would like to be invisible so he could hide from all his frantic admirers. Oren would like to be able to fly so he didn’t have to drive in L.A. traffic anymore (it’s scary to watch). Carlos would like the regenerative powers of Wolverine so he could stage dive at will, even when the venue is empty. And Joe would like to be a shape shifter so he could turn into a Jonas Brother and cause a massive train wreck on stage in front of thousands of annoying teens…..then quit the band. As for our band name, it would stay the same, but we would have some interesting side projects!

What is the best tour prank you have played on each other or another band?

Considering that we’ve been together for at least 6 years, it is impossible to think of just one….and honestly, we don’t plan masterful pranks, but we tirelessly fuck around with each other. However, If we had to choose one, once when we were playing in Flagstaff Arizona, we threw one of Dana’s flip flops in the woods and told him it was poison ivy…he debated with himself for 20 minutes before mustering up the courage to hop on one foot and retrieve his beloved flip flop…..needless to say, the one-legged man was unsuccessful and he fell in the NON Poison Ivy…..knowing this, we still let him run to the hose to wash off the potential infection that would never happen anyway!….we have it all on video!

If you find yourself in Pasadena, CA on July 6th, Disalto will be playing at The Terrace at 9:45. You can also find them here or on Facebook.

As a Manhattan native, Trevor Potts of NYC-based pop/indie rock band, Red Directors, certainly knows how to succeed in such a fast-paced, demanding society. The notion of “fighting for your piece of the pie” is an ongoing saying Trevor expresses in regards to his stomping grounds, which is clearly demonstrated in the upbeat, catchy, and clever music coming out of Potts and his band members. In an industry where bands race to top the charts of independent and college listeners, it is certain that Red Directors will be one of the few that achieve the task at hand.

What are your musical influences? Any bands to reference in relation to your music?

Personally, as the singer and songwriter of the band, I can only speak for myself as far as the musicians that have influenced me with my lyrics, melodies, etc. If I could pick, I’d choose Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon (solo years), and Thom Yorke as many of my core influences.

Do you believe New York and the city itself has influenced your music? Why?

Yes, New York City has definitely influenced my music, especially with the writing process. NYC makes you fight back, and is a city surrounded by people fighting for their piece of the pie. There is definitely a motivated, aggressive part about New Yorkers where they want to just go out, have fun….but are still fighting for their slice of the pie with every move they make. You must earn your living, and everything that’s involved. So yes, the demanding aspect and fast-paced nature of the city has surely influenced our music.

Dead or Alive: What musician would you dream to play with?

Tough question…but I’d have to say Neil Young. The guy has literally seen everything – and he’s made a record in all genres. So it’d be great to jam with him in different areas of music. I’d love to pick his brain. But, if I wanted to step out of the edge a bit – I would love to follow Thom Yorke around for a day.

What’s the one thing you think everyone should do before they die?

Simple: climb Machu Picchu

If you could listen to 1 album for the rest of your life – what would it be?

Honestly, the new XX record. It’s incredible.

Favorite hot spots in NYC?

The thing about NYC is that it is an ever-changing battle there. As soon as someone finds out about something, it’s no longer a hot spot! Then….the crowd is off to the next place. However, I do love the East Village and Lower East Side of the city. The Thai places, nitty gritty rock and roll bars, and the fancy rooftop hotels are great. They incorporate such an attitude about them, with a new fusion, and a “balls to the wall” attitude.

The inevitable question: why Red Directors? How did you get the name?

I’m fascinated with Russian history, and when the Soviet Union fell, the guys that held the Soviet muscle had to go through a group of men called the Red Directors. Hence, the name.

If you could have any actor star in your next music video, who would it be?

Charlize Theron. She’s not your normal Hollywood star. She’s gone through such an incredible life, is a serial monogamist, and is incredibly sexy.

Any guilty music pleasures? Do you have the Bieber fever?

(Laughs) No. Fortunately, I do not have the Bieber fever. Guilty pleasures though… I actually have a name for mine. I have a radio station that is constantly in my head, called “shit rock radio.” The songs range from Air Supply, to Aaron Neville, to any other cheesy artist you can think of. I can’t get the station out of my head!

Best concert you’ve ever been to?

During summer 2001, I saw the Radiohead “Kid A/Amnesiac Tour” overlooking the twin towers, and the Statue of Liberty. Most amazing show I’ve seen.

Find Red Directors at www.myspace.com/reddirectors or www.reddirectors.com

Here’s a nice find for you. I met the lead singer David Whitton of the band Eggshell Egoz in Vegas a few weeks ago. He came off as a very cool, smart guy who isn’t afraid to work. Other than finding the time for writing, recording AND pimping his music to the masses, he is a family man, owns his own club and works at another (welcome to the world of the indie artist).

I just wanted to share some of his music with all of you because – not only is he’s a good guy and deserves to be heard – BUT his music is fucking good AND is about as Musicgoat friendly as it gets. The tunes throughout their “Funky Poetz” CD incorporate a variety of influences; funk, metal, pop and a few others things I can’t really pinpoint cuz I’m writing this at a point way past my bedtime.

Anyway, check out this laid back video for one of their newest tunes, “We Ain’t Saying Nothin” and then head over to EggshellEgoz.com, listen to more and pick up a CD.

I feel as if Lady Gaga raised the bar for musicians and band’s everywhere. Suddenly, band’s don’t have to just be great musicians, but they also have to be visually appealing and seduce the eyes as well as the ears. Raven Parade understands this very well. Their band’s  image is an exaggeration of their sound, their gothic and romantic sound, that is. Look at the picture below and let it draw you in to Raven’s world.

How did you come up with the band name Raven Parade?

I came up with the name Raven Parade because I am a big fan of Edgar Allen Poe and the poem “The Raven.” The Parade comes from, the celebration of all that is no longer here; hence the name Raven Parade. A celebration of all that is light and dark, here and not here.

What is the story behind Raven’s eccentric style?

The Story behind Raven’s style is, it’s just that, the style steams from my life story and is displayed through sound using my emotions to be expressed by an instrument that sounds like the feeling; I start from there end up where ever the truth in the flow takes me. It’s usually a fusion of classics from soulful greats to futuristic turntablism & beats that inspire me.

What is the driving force behind you lyrics? Which song are you most proud of?

The driving for behind my lyrics is just my passion to express myself and my feelings. The song that I most proud of, I haven’t recorded it yet. ;o) (wink).

In your new music video “My Prey”, you play the two main characters. What was that like? How was it working with yourself as a co-star?

In the “My Prey” video the thought of having two of my personalities showing at once is pretty much the reason behind the entire CD.  It’s that time in the character’s life where she has to make a choice on which way do you go in life after learning all that she has learned and is still learning? How do you answer that?  I guess you just break it all down into a series of events receive it and move on without judgement. (I hope I answered that right) The actual shoot…I hired a double. Praticia Grant from London, England. She was a gem to work with.

Your new album is entitled Looking Glass, does that have anything to do with Alice in Wonderland’s through the Looking Glass?

The album was recorded before I even knew there was going to be a big “Alice in Wonderland” return to the pop culture for front. I was just expressing where I was at the time.  I would love to admit there being a cool connection with the universe and myself, but it’s a charming coincidence!

If you were ever to get stuck in “Traffic on Mars,” what alien from a movie would you want to see in the car next to you?

Neytiri from Avatar played by Zoe Saldana, she seems to know her way out of a jam.

What famous musicians would you like to be in Raven Parade?

WoW what famous musicians who I like to be in “Raven Parade?”  Hmmm, Danny Carey on Drums, Bootsy Collins on Bass, Stevie Wonder on keys, Slash Hudson on lead guitar!  And of course with that line-up, I would have to replace me with a lead vocalist with a mixture of Chaka Khan & Sade!  That would be a Dream team Raven Parade.

Find Raven Parade on MySpace and Facebook.

Here are some artists that are doing something pretty damn cool. Watch Gary Jibilian (N/S Stick), Jay Setar (Drums) and Norton Wisdom (Interpretive Artists) as they perform/interpret a tune called “Anti-Gravity.”

I was in Vegas a few weeks ago for a music conference and I had the pleasure of meeting two of these three very cool guys in this video.

Ever been out somewhere and find an intriguing melody floating around that you follow until you find some street performer? No doubt, there is probably a small crowd gathered with some people nodding their heads and a few others with a subtle smile. Yes, one individual has the power to infiltrate souls and fight boredom, if only for a moment, without even being asked. Way to go. Public art is the best kind of art isn’t it? It not only belongs to the artist, but also to the people.  So let’s put a story behind the face of the countless sidewalk performers that shine out there. Here is some of the story behind John Clinebell.

What inspires your lyrics?

So many things inspire me these days. When I wrote the lyrics for “Make It Land,” I was in a committed relationship that I was trying to express my gratitude for, and also seeing a previous failed relationship for what it was. Just kind of exploring the emotions that came out of that breakup and the emotional withdrawal I experienced from being with her. The songs were written over the course of a couple of years, so there were those different themes to the lyrics.

We hear you are quite the dodge ball player, how, if at all, does that influence your music?

On the dodge ball court I get to be a totally different guy. Like a comic book character. It doesn’t really influence my music, but I like to think that what makes me a good dodge ball player (communication, being present, and being a good sport in the end) also help me as a songwriter and performer.

Are there any epic dodge ball stories we should know about?

I’ve experienced both extremes of tragedy and triumph on the dodge ball courts. Recently my team, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, played on the Staples Center court for the West LA league championship and won. I’ve definitely had some great individual moments out there as a player as well. Like times at open gym where I’m the last person in on my side and I end up taking out the 8 players on the other side to win the game myself. Stuff like that. It’s so much fun!

What is it like being a street performer on the Santa Monica Promenade, knowing that most people are there to shop instead of listening to music like they would at a typical venue?

The first year I went out there, it was kinda rough. I had this expectation that a huge crowd was gonna form around me, that I’d sell thousands of albums, etc. I slowly came to realize that I wasn’t a show-stopping attractive girl, wasn’t singing covers, and wasn’t exactly doing a lot to make my performance a “street show.” Then it dawned on me that I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone out there, that I could just have fun. And the crowd that goes out there… they show their respect for you in more ways than giving you their undivided attention or tips. I get a big kick out of seeing the small signs of appreciation. The smiles, the bobbing heads, the peace signs, the toddlers dancing. The things I enjoy most about street performing are being outside, connecting with people, and being able to test out new songs.

You have a paper crane on your album cover, what is the craziest piece of origami you can make?

There’s a frog I know how to fold that takes about 10 minutes. You have to make the piece of paper more or less like a chessboard with all the fold lines. So many folds!

Currently, you are being played on over 65 college radio stations, have you heard yourself on the radio yet? What station do you want to hear yourself on?

I haven’t heard myself on anything but internet radio from that, but I’m sure it’ll happen when it’s supposed to. I’d love to hear myself on KCRW (in Santa Monica). They are really selective and didn’t add me to rotation. Maybe they’ll dig my next album!

If another musician covered one of your songs, who would you want it to be and which song?

I think Jack Johnson should cover “Sunday Afternoon” because it’s totally his kind of chill, peaceful song. Finger picked rhythm and laid back vocal delivery, all that jazz.

Since you live near the beach, if you knew a tsunami was coming which one of your original songs would you perform and why, “Lay Back and Die” or “Hold On”?

I’m sure I could think of other things to do in those conditions, but if I were to pick between performing those songs, I’d pick “Lay Back and Die” because I think that song is more about acceptance of what is—about realizing that we don’t have to struggle or strive to be satisfied with life. We could just lay back and die because we are so content. That’s definitely the emotional space I’d want to be in if I knew something catastrophic was about to happen.

To listen to John Clinebell visit him on Facebook or at JohnClinebell.com

It is time once again for another installment of Cranium Melody. This is a podcast where I get together with Greg and Joe over at the Social Blend Podcast and do nothing but talk about and play music from pretty much any genre.

In this installment we each went deep into our personal archives to dig out some tunes that are either not well know (and good) or are very old and have special meaning.

Go listen to Cranium Melody IV now and check out all the links and videos in the show notes (great job Greg and Joe).

Hey everyone, my name’s Jeremy and I’ve been running the Fingertips music site since way back in 2003. Every week I sort through a mountain of free and legal MP3s that I find online and pick out three really good ones. While I don’t range too widely across genres (there’s no jazz, no hip-hop, no blues, no genres ending with the word “core”), I try to keep the sounds varied each week so that the three songs together take you an interesting place.

What I’m going to start doing here on Musicgoat is write up a quick monthly summary of the songs Fingertips has featured by pointing you to one song out of three each week–I’ll give you the link and a very brief description. This is the digest version to be sure. On the site itself, the reviews are longer and more descriptive; my aim is to give the reader a strong sense of what each song sounds like and I why I think it’s particularly good. And remember, because I’m picking just three songs every week, all three of them are really quite excellent, so it would be a great idea for you to go visit the site to hear all three songs each week.

Thanks to Corey for the invite, and let’s get right into it with an abridged look at what I picked out for May. Remember, these songs are all available as free and legal MP3s that you can download to your heart’s content.

Week 1:
“Let the Record Go” – The Mynabirds
A slice of stompy, retro perfection from Laura Burhenn, who used to be half of the duo Georgie James. The entire album is highly recommended. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 1: The National, Hey Marseilles)

Week 2:
The Mermaid Parade – Phosphorescent
Both laid back and expansive, this one brings a slow-burning quality to its sauntering vibe. Phosphorescent is a Brooklyn-based band featuring Matthew Houck and whomever else he can get to play with him at the time. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 2: Villagers, Beach House)

Week 3:
“The Kiss” – Pallers
A graceful, beautifully unfolding electronic dance-ballad, from Sweden. Builds without hurrying to a moving climax. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 3: Sarah Blasko, The King Left)

Week 4:
“Captive” – Sarah Harmer
This super-talented Canadian returns after a bluegrass project to some straight-ahead pop. Very appealing. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 4: Light Pollution, Sarah Jaffe)

You can read the reviews and listen to the free and legal MP3s on Fingertips every week. Better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed and you’ll never miss any of the songs.

Thanks for looking the picks over and maybe giving a listen. Keep reading Musicgoat and I’ll be back in early July with the June highlights from Fingertips.

I just decided that all bands should have a message and a mission. Since there are more bands than ever and the world is drowning in problems, then why not pair each band with a cause and see where that leads us? Side FX from a few interviews back is taking care of Veterans and All The Abused is lending a hand to Human Trafficking and raising awareness one song at a time. Awesome, we got two issues down, so which one of you is taking on another one?

What’s your mission as a band?

Our mission as a band is to raise awareness about Human Trafficking and all forms of abuse occurring in our communities and around the world.

We know you’re not a fan of violence, but you perform with a black eye painted on your face so I must ask, if you could fight anyone who would you fight?

That’s right I’m not a fan of violence. There are usually acceptable alternatives to handle the vast majority of situations. I wear a black eye as a symbol for all the abused people around the world. The only time I believe violence is acceptable is when you are helping or protecting someone who can’t protect themselves.

Who or what inspires you to make music?

What inspired me to make our music and start All The Abused was learning about Human Trafficking. I have always had a love for music but once I learned about human trafficking, I truly felt like I found my mission— to raise awareness about human trafficking and abuse through music.

You have a song called “I’ll Never Be a Rock Star.” Who do you wish never became a rock star?

If I had to pick a person, I would pick the character of Ike Turner since he was involved in abusive relationships.

Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers?

Yes, we play a lot of Top 40 Rock covers, everything from classic rock, southern rock, contemporary, and oldies. Out of our original songs, I would say we play “I Don’t Care,” “Hope Love Peace Help Friends” and ”I’ll Never Be a Rock Star” the most.

Orange County is known for producing some great bands, Social Distortion, No Doubt, etc., why do you think that is? What makes the OC so special?

Definitely, a lot of amazing bands have come out of Orange County. I think it is because there are so many talented musicians out here looking to form great bands and share their music with the world. For me, those gifted musicians are what make Orange County so special because I love hearing great live music as much as possible.

Finally, you have hot air balloon on your site. Which leads to the question, if you were floating back to Kansas from Oz on a hot air balloon, what song from The Wizard of Oz would you sing on your way back?

Well, If All The Abused was floating back to Kansas from Oz on our hot air balloon, then I think we would sing “If I only had a heart” from  The Wizard of Oz. My favorite lines from that song are, “Just because I’m presumin’ That I could be kinda human, If I only had a heart. I’d be tender, I’d be gentle, And awful sentimental…” I really feel that song shows that if you have a heart and you are humane, that’s all that matters. Just as we say in our song “I Don’t Care” – DNA is insignificant, it’s just about being humane.

Visit All The Abused on MySpace, Facebook and if you go to their site, you’ll soon find that they’re giving away a free download.