Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2013 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Family of the Year Get 'Shtick' Advice From Steven Tyler http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/17/family-of-the-year-steven-tyler/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/17/family-of-the-year-steven-tyler/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/17/family-of-the-year-steven-tyler/#comments Filed under: , ,


family of the year steven tylerElizabeth Weinberg

Nothing is more thrilling for an up-and-coming band than receiving the personal endorsement from a rock 'n' roll icon. That very scenario happened recently for L.A.-based indie-rock quartet, Family of the Year.

"We were on tour and driving out by Austin and my brother was like, 'Steven Tyler's on the phone.' I was like, 'Yeah right. Whatever. You're kidding.' But that wasn't the case," says Family of The Year frontman James Buckey. Tyler, who is represented by the same attorney as Family of the Year, got a hold of the band's debut album Songbook and subsequently described them as "The Mamas and the Papas on acid."

"One spring day, as the story goes, [our attorney] was giving Mr. Tyler a ride back to his place and she had Songbook in her car and played him some songs. He seemed to fancy it," Buckey says, recalling the time bandmate Joseph Keefe got a call from the Aerosmith frontman. "He said some very nice things and a few weeks after that Joe and Sebastian [Keefe] were able to meet him in person and he gave them a few pointers, one being that we needed a shtick -- scarves, clown masks, blood, whatever -- to stand out. We're still working on what would work best." ]]> Ben Folds and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall in BostonChugJugEdward SharpeEdward Sharpe and the Magnetic ZerosFamily of the YearFamily of the Year Steven TylerLoma VistaSongbookSteven TylerSteven Tyler adviceThe Mamas and the Papas on acid Nicole Pajer 2012-12-17T16:00:00 00:00 Dead Sara Bust Ribs and Pave Their Own Way, Gender Be Damned http://www.spinner.com/2012/10/12/dead-sara-emily-armstrong-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/10/12/dead-sara-emily-armstrong-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/10/12/dead-sara-emily-armstrong-interview/#comments Filed under: ,


C05 Media

If you listen to mainstream rock radio stations, it's safe to say you've heard Dead Sara's "Weatherman" pouring through the airwaves. The Los Angeles rockers released their self-titled debut album in April 2012 and watched it peak at No. 16 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The four-piece, led by vocalist Emily Armstrong, serve as further proof that gender doesn't matter when it comes to who's fronting a good band.

"We have a leg up I'd say because of the lack of female-fronted rock bands these days, but at the end of the day, we are just friends who love rock music and love playing rock music with a passion. There is no boy-girl equation," Armstrong tells Spinner. ]]> dead saraDead Sara Emily ArmstrongDead Sara inteviewDead Sara songsDead Sara TourDead Sara VideosDead Sara WeathermanDeadSara Nicole Pajer 2012-10-12T16:05:00 00:00 Shiny Toy Guns Spend a Month Tornado Chasing for 'Waiting Alone' Video http://www.spinner.com/2012/08/23/shiny-toy-guns-waiting-alone-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/08/23/shiny-toy-guns-waiting-alone-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/08/23/shiny-toy-guns-waiting-alone-video/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Shiny Toy GunsShinytoyguns.com

Shiny Toy Guns' video for "Waiting Alone" unites the band's original vocalist Carah Faye and a whole mess of erratic Midwestern weather. After rejecting several treatments for the video, Faye and bassist Jeremy Dawson decided to incorporate a tornado-tracking journey into the creation process.

The result is a 26-day cross-country journey with Faye playing the "Love Runner," sprinting from coast to coast in order to reunite with her long lost love in New York. She battles a variety of obstacles along the way including fellow band member Chad Petree who plays the part of "The Chosen One," her dark apprentice who attempts to stop her by any means necessary. ]]> carah fayecarah faye shiny toy gunsCarahFayelove runner shiny toy gunsShiny Toy Gunsshiny toy guns videosshiny toy guns waiting alone videoShinyToyGuns Nicole Pajer 2012-08-23T16:30:00 00:00 The Parlotones Q&A: Climbing Kilimanjaro Without Proper Training and the Complex South African Music Scene http://www.spinner.com/2012/07/06/parlotones-kilimanjaro-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/07/06/parlotones-kilimanjaro-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/07/06/parlotones-kilimanjaro-interview/#comments Filed under: , ,


The ParlotonesGino DePinto, AOL

After establishing themselves as the biggest rock band on the African Continent, the Parlotones have set their sights on the United States. This spring, the alt/indie rockers completed a North American headlining tour in support of their latest album, Journey Through the Shadows. In an exclusive interview with Spinner, the Parlotones' lead vocalist, Kahn Morbee, discusses battling altitude sickness during the band's recent Mt. Kilimanjaro climb in support of women's rights, transitioning into the American music scene and emerging South African bands that we should probably know about.

What's it like to be famous in your hometown and then start over to break into the U.S.?

It makes us appreciate the successes we've had back home and it makes us hungry again to redo the journey. It's very exciting for us. We grew up in a relatively small music market and then coming to the biggest music market - it's an exciting adventure. ]]> kilimanjaroParlotonesparlotones Mt. Kilimanjarothe parlotonesTheParlotones Nicole Pajer 2012-07-06T13:00:00 00:00 Christopher Mintz-Plasse Rocks Out: 'Superbad' Star's Band, the Young Rapscallions, Premieres 'Middae' Track http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/07/christopher-mintz-plasse-young-rapscallions/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/07/christopher-mintz-plasse-young-rapscallions/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/07/christopher-mintz-plasse-young-rapscallions/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Morgan Demeter Photography

Christopher Mintz-Plasse may be known for roles in movies like 'Superbad' and 'Role Models,' but lately, he's been setting his sights on music. The San Fernando Valley-based actor and three of his childhood friends are part of a rock band called the Young Rapscallions. The project began when Mintz-Plasse and guitarist Nick Chamian started jamming to songs by their favorite bands, such as the White Stripes. The duo then tried its hand at writing originals and enlisted the help of Jonathan Sanders on vocals and Taylor Messersmith on bass.

Since forming in 2007, the Young Rapscallions have been catching the attention of music fans across the United States and internationally. According to Mintz-Plasse, the foursome considers itself a garage-rock band, due to their unadulterated rock sound and the fact that rehearsals take place in Mintz-Plasse's parents' garage.

In an exclusive interview with Spinner, Mintz-Plasse says he'd love to make a living touring the world and performing with the Young Rapscallions. He also discusses buying his first drum set after receiving his paycheck from 'Superbad' and explains how a sex show led to the title of the band's debut album.

You started out by jamming with your buddies, but what made you decide to take it a step further and form an actual band?

I don't know if there was ever a moment where we actually made a decision to take it step further. We started jamming and then started to write songs shortly after that. Granted, they weren't good songs, but we wanted to write originals. ]]> young rapscallionsyoungrapscallions Nicole Pajer 2011-12-07T16:05:00 00:00 Le Butcherettes' Teri Gender Bender Talks Bloody Pig Heads, Malcolm X and Abuse http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/12/le-butcherettes-teri-gender-bender/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/12/le-butcherettes-teri-gender-bender/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/12/le-butcherettes-teri-gender-bender/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Le ButcherettesRobin Laananen

Le Butcherettes hail from the underground Mexican scene, where they quickly rose to fame for their daring live act featuring onstage theatrics involving fake blood and political stunts in the name of stopping violence against women. When vocalist Teri Gender Bender (born Teresa Suaréz) relocated to the U.S. in 2009, she reconvened the band with Gabe Serbian on drums and Jonathan Hischke on bass and keys.

Thanks to the recent release of 'Sin Sin Sin' -- which sees the band signed to the label of renowned producer and musician Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (the Mars Volta, At the Drive-In), who also plays bass on the disc -- the act's stock is rising. The record has even reached No. 1 on the iTunes Mexico Alternative charts in Bender's homeland.

With a string of dates with the mighty Queens of the Stone Age on the horizon, Bender sat down with Spinner to discuss her crazy live show (from the early days of incorporating a severed pig head into the set to her token blood-soaked apron.) The fiery 22-year-old also recounts a near-death stage-diving incident in Tennessee and how Malcolm X inspired her rock 'n' roll namesake.

Why did you nickname yourself "Teri Gender Bender"?

I was really influenced by Malcolm X. I love how he said, "OK, my last name is part of who I am but it really doesn't mean anything to me because all of my ancestors were robbed of their original last name by the white man." The reason of "X" was for him unknown. For me, gender bender is, "OK, look at me as an individual, not for my sex." It's like the literal meaning of taking the gender and you're bending it -- I want you to see me for my ideas not for my anatomy. ]]> Le ButcherettesLeButcherettes Nicole Pajer 2011-07-12T14:00:00 00:00 Cage the Elephant Discuss Matured Sound, Meeting Paul McCartney and Nerdy Habits http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/09/cage-the-elephant-thank-you-happy-birthday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/09/cage-the-elephant-thank-you-happy-birthday/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/06/09/cage-the-elephant-thank-you-happy-birthday/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Cage the ElephantUniversal Records

Cage the Elephant recently released 'Around My Head,' the second single off their esteemed 'Thank You Happy Birthday.' The London-based band, in the midst of a massive headlining tour, are still soaking in the fact that their sophomore album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 Chart.

In an exclusive interview with Spinner, Cage the Elephant lead singer Matthew Shultz discusses the band's matured sound, and their "musical ADD with a dash of hyper paranoia." He also divulges which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle he is most similar to, explains where he purchased the dress that he wore at Coachella, and shares his surreal encounter with Sir Paul McCartney.

What was the inspiration for the new single, 'Around My Head'?

When I wrote the song, I was hanging out with our friends, Morning Teleportation. They're an amazing band. Tiger's the type of guy that every time he touches an instrument, it makes you jealous so I wrote it like on the spot. They had all these new songs and I said, "Yeah, I have a new song I'm working on right now," so I just picked up the guitar and started playing it and that's how that song came about pretty much. ]]> cage the elephantCageTheElephantpaul mccartneyPaulMccartney Nicole Pajer 2011-06-09T14:00:00 00:00 Liz Phair Defends 'Funstyle,' Claims It Wasn't a 'Stunt for Press' http://www.spinner.com/2011/04/29/liz-phair-funstyle/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/04/29/liz-phair-funstyle/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/04/29/liz-phair-funstyle/#comments Filed under: , ,


Lyle A. Waisman, Getty Images

As a child, singer-songwriter Liz Phair grew bored of practicing for her music lessons and made up her own renditions of popular songs to throw her parents off her trail. This early independence offers much insight into her fearless spirit, a spirit that has compelled Phair to push musical boundaries and sidestep the cookie-cutter image which female artists often fall victim to.

Given her rebellious nature, Phair's recent endeavor, 'Funstyle,' shouldn't come as a shock to the music world. After shaking off criticism from reviewers and fans, the Connecticut native is ready for some positive 'Funstyle' press. And she'd like to reiterate that people shouldn't take the album so seriously -- it's called 'Funstyle,' for Pete's sake.

Phair tells Spinner she wouldn't do a thing differently, with the latest disc or her career, if given the chance. She discusses the liberation of not being tied to a record label, how she's fought to gain respect as a woman in the music industry, and why she'd love advice from the late Tupac on her recent rapping effort.

Now that 'Funstyle' has been out for some time, what has the reaction been from fans?

All the hyperbole and freak out has died down, and I think people are enjoying it more. It was a departure, stylistically. I enjoy doing stuff like that and I tried to name it in such a way that would kind of explain it -- 'Funstyle' should, theoretically, clue people into the fact that it's experimental and that it was really organically born. It wasn't some kind of stunt for press. It was basically me reacting to one of my new jobs, which is scoring for TV, and long hours in the studio where we got slap-happy. ]]> liz phairLizPhair Nicole Pajer 2011-04-29T16:00:00 00:00