Dem Boys Real Rockers, an' Mash up de Place!

It's been a loooooong time since I made my way back to you via this outlet, I'm shouldn't of left you with out a dope beat to step to :) Well I'm back and re-energized. I been hitting the streets with my ears to the pavement for some new tunes and I'm liking what I'm hearing.

So you must be wondering, "why heavens, why does he speak in such a manner, I haven't the foggiest what the title of this post says" well this post goes out to all my brothers and sisters out in the Caribbean and it's diaspora who are mixing up their island heritage and rock'n'roll. There have been a few great examples of this mixture in the past most notably Bad Brains,

The Washington, D.C., natives formed the group in 1977 mixed what was the early formation of "Hardcore" punk rock, a fast, jarring and angler sound filled with riffs and attitude; with dub reggae taken up after seeing performers such as Bob Marley.

Well so have UK band Skindred who formed in the late '90's they have a dancehall/metal approach as to the brains are more ragga/dub/punk.

There are a who host of other great bands out there who rep it up island style but I wan to get to the focus of this piece. This new crop of bands as they rip-pit tup! Lets start with this band from my home town Khasha Macka.

A great outfit carrying on the tradition from Brooklyn NY. Very heavy stuff and full of heart and soul.

Learn how to get your music heard at ReverbNation.com

Next up is Philly's Blayer PointDuJour and the Rockers Galore.

Blayer and his rockers galore do something unique out of the previous groups I mentioned. They mix Haitian Kompa music. They style of music is indicative of Haiti and much of the Caribbean. It's hard for me to  explain it to someone who isn't of Caribbean background, when you hear it you have an idea what it. Until hearing this band I had no idea what the word for the "sound" was, I just thought oh that's Haitian music. It's very interviewed, from my perspective, with the culture.



Next is a band smack dab in the Caribbean, TnT's (that's Trinidad and Tobago) 5 Miles to Midnight.

Founded in the mid 2000's this Trini sextet does straight up post punk. Hey just because they're from the Caribbean doesn't mean they have to be ragga ragga, calypso and soca all the time (although they can do that too). In their time as a band they have opened for the likes of Marcel Mantano, Stephan Marley and Maroon 5. Their have infectious bopping tunes have also catapulted them to being featured  MTV Iggy. Vote for them to be artist of the week.

The myth making and magic of John the Conqueror

photo by Jonifin Marvin

Down N' dirty blues blues man Pierre Moore of John the Conqueror is a man of luck and he's here to bring you his magical bag of tricks n' licks. I interviewed the voice behind the band about his path towards creating the band, life and of course music.

Kaos Blac: So Pierre your originally from Jackson, MI when I first met you you where in another band, the now defunct Slack Republic, based in Atlanta, Ga and now your doing John the Conqueror based on your travels I can assume your ascribe to the rolling stone gathers no moss lifestyle in regards to your music. Would that be a clear assumption?

Young country boy Pierre and that fat  farm mascot
 Ronald McDonald

Pierre Moore: Yea I do....when I was growing up, my mama always told me that she was raising me so that when I turned 18, I'd get the hell out of her house....so I got about a thousand miles away! 

Kaos Blac: Well that is a jump and a leap from home. Also it sounds like a as if you were set upon a path to a down homespun blues man from the get go, although that wasn't what you were playing with your previous band. What lead you to from the break up of that last project to what your doing now with John the Conqueror.

Pierre Moore: It was 4 years since the breakup of the last band till I hopped on stage again.....I'd given up playing music because I'd missed a couple opportunities to sign with small indie lables (going back to my college days) due mostly to my own stupidity ....basically I was broken! But it turns out that no matter how I felt when I put down the guitar, I felt even worse the longer I didn't play!

I don't really know if that answered your question but doesn't it feel good to share! hahah

Kaos Blac: No good answer, good answer! LOL.

Pierre during his Slack Republic days circa 2007,
photo by Kaos Blac

So eventually you got back up off your ass picked up your guitar and poof instant music or what? I want to know how you got from the post-punk/alt that was The Slack Republic as the lead guitarist to being the Blues tinged front man of your current project it's a drastically different approach to musical story telling.

Pierre Moore: Probably the most anticlimactic part of my whole life: December 2010 I decided to start a band. I couldn't find a singer that I liked in the WHOLEEE MONTHHH I tried (you can tell I tried soooo hard) so I said I'd give it a go.

Last week of december we got a bassist (Merry Christmas!). 3 months later we played our first show at a ROCKERS event (I know you're familiar with those folks and that scene)...1 month later we recorded a 6 song EP. 5 months later we recorded another EP. 

Click the jug to listen to and download the EP
designed by Katrina Tapper

4 days before our 1 year anniversary of finding our bassist and officially becoming a band, Alive NaturalSound Records contacted us about signing (Merry Christmas again!)....

That was December 21st ...but in true Pierre fashion, I fucked shit up (sorta) ...I didn't see the fuckin email somehow! So I didn't respond till New Years day! I damn near pissed my pants when I realized that I'd (almost) fucked up an indie label offer AGAIN! 

Apparently Patrick, the head of the label, thought he should get back at me for being so bad at emailing because it took him two weeks to get back to me...

John the Conqueror/Robert Johnson tat
design courtesy of Katrina Tapper

Anyway, fastforwarding ...we signed, recorded an album...

comes out october 16th...the whole band got John the Conqueror tattoos (mike, the drummer and I are cousins and he was the bassist in slack.....when we started this band, it was for fun, but we jokingly said if we got signed this time, we'd get band tattoos)

Kaos Blac: Well thankfully you answered that email and didn't fuck up. One thing I been dying to know is why the name John the Conqueror?

Pierre Moore: Mannyyy reasons ....

1) The John the Conqueror root is a staple in the lyrical tradition of blues and if we're gonna try to honor our roots then.... (bad pun!)

 2) High john the conqueror root is traditionally used in a mojo hand and can be applied for many purposes but usually its for a gambling type of luck ...the first year of this band, I carried my mojo hand almost everyday cause lord knows I needed some luck.

3) The character of John the Conqueror is as old as our peoples in America.... He was an african prince, stolen from his kingdom and brought here to be a slave. But he was smart....he constantly was outwitting his master at every turn ....thats how I feel about the proverbial hand I've been dealt in life.... Thats also why I have a highway 61 north tattoo on my shoulder. Thats known as the blues highway....thats the road all the great blues musicians had to take to leave the mississippi plantations and find a happier life....It took em to memphis, chicago and (if i recall) detroit ...and from the 30's till the 50's, these were like the promise land to black folk! I need a constant reminder that I love my home and I miss it ...but I had to leave to actually DO something! And hopefully I'll do something!

Kaos Blac: Which you are as seen below.

  JOHN THE CONQUEROR - Time To Go by Alive Naturalsound

You have the self titled album coming out October 16th, are you and the band amped about it's debut?

Pierre Moore:  lol yea.

Kaos Blac: No big pressures eh or pre-jitters?

Pierre Moore:  We were told that we should already be writing our next album so I suppose thats a little pressure. The album isn't even out yet, we haven't started touring yet and im already writing MORE songs!

Kaos Blac: lol. Hey your in the big times now, now is the time of John the Conqueror. From what I heard of the current album I think you have something with legs especially with acts like Alabama Shakes. Speaking of touring what are your plans to travel out with the album.

Pierre Moore: In november we're doing some dates on the east coast. We'll be full fledged touring at the beginning of the new year.

Kaos Blac: Well folks will have something to look forward to coming up in the new year. Any closing words about the band?

Pierre Moore:  Umm..nope 

Kaos Blac: LOL. Well Blac-out! 

You ca get the self title debut John the Conqueror, out October 16th via Alive NaturalSound Records , and on tour this fall starting tonight at Milk boy Philly.

Friday Oct 5
Milkboy Philly
Philadelphia, PA | 9:30PM

Saturday Nov 3
The Legendary Dobbs
Philadelphia, PA | 7:00PM

Thursday Nov 8
Broadway's
Asheville, NC | 8:00PM

Friday Nov 9
Jack of Hearts
Weaverville, NC | 8:00PM

Friday Nov 16
Joe Squared Station North
Baltimore, MD | 10:00PM

Saturday Nov 17
Clementine
Harrisonburg, VA | 8:00PM

Monday Nov 9
Slim's Downtown
Raleigh, NC | 8:00PM

WEREBEARS

You always wondered what happened after Yogi and Boo-boo became tired of going after picnic baskets? Well they went after picnickers. Cute and cuddly my ass. From the bloodlust dense brush of Jolly stone park to the wilds of Jersey came WEREBEARS. Well that's how it plays out in my mind anyway I asked Daryl Shelton aka WEREBEARS about how he came about.

Kaos Blac: So well me about Werebears? where Do they come from I can see Yogi and Boo-boo going on a rampage and biting people. How did Werebears come about?

WEREBEARS: This motherfucker was a werewolf with a dirty habit, feel me?

Kaos Blac: LOL, So then you started to pick up a guitar and rock the forest huh?

WEREBEARS: Exactly. I got the moss game on lock down.

Kaos Blac: You have a new video out entitled Locals, it's off of the Roar Album. Tell me whats it about.

WEREBEARS: The album is like a vignette of what WEREBEARS is doing. Literally plays on the dichotomy of hard digital and warm analog music. That play goes further into the sort of vocals between really honest and harsh lyrics sung but a really sweet dude voice. And that voice comes out of my heinous mug. All themes associated with WEREBEARS are contrary to each other and Roar is the first exhibit of that with the band.

So there you have it, WEREBEARS a mixture of cute and cuddly with tough as nails. Click the link below to pre-order the WEREBEARS album Roar.



Finally take a look at the latest WEREBEARS video, LOCALS

 

Leon Grey

I'm so blessed to have grown up in a place where I have made connections that are more than the people on "da block". Take my former roommate Leon Grey, native of Chesapeake, Virginia; I met him what seems like ages ago in 2005, I think, well it was at a Tv On The Radio concert at prospect park. Even back then he had an energy to him. He was up here for a bit to hang out with his lady and I got him to come out to an Afro-Punk concert I was helping to promote. We became friends even with the distance between us. It wasn't until 2009 when, he and another friend of his at them time moved into a place up in Washington Height that I got to see a deeper side to his character. He's an artist, activist, writer and now emcee. Times have'd changed we're no longer roommates, but I follow his on going's from time to time as he checks in on me. I so proud of my bro and what he's doing and I want to share some of it with you. Check it out and be on the watch for more.

The Atomic TanLines

Photo By Ess Beckett 

Punks not dead, Queer is still core, and Black still has power. What am I talking about you ask I talking about the intensity behind The Atomic TanLines.

Kaos Blac: So lets get to the nitty gritty who are the members of the band?

Atomic TanLines: The Atomic TanLines are made up of a a bunch of damn dirty reject kids. You have Dick Male on the Guitar as well as Pablo Trill, Dromingo on the drums and Bobby Hill on the bass and last but not least Ally PlayNice on the voice box.

Kaos Blac: (how) Do you describe your music output as...?

Atomic TanLines: We describe our music as Maladjusted punk rock because we aren't punk enough for the "punks" and aren't fashionable enough for everyone else in the rocknroll scene. We're basically a ball of varied musical influences packed into a cannonball hurtling through your eardrum.. that also may just be me during one of our concerts, but look out for both.

Kaos Blac: Queers and POC have been apart of the scene for ages and I know thats what you guys rep, tell me more about why its important to have queercore and poc alliances on display in music, especially punk stuff.

Atomic TanLines: Well I for one have it on display because I'm not ashamed who I am and gender issues and sexual identity are very evident in the lyrics I write because they are very important issues to me. I come from Texas, predominately the Austin area and have been listening to queer posi bands like The Dicks and MDC for quite awhile now and coming from a small conservative homophobic town bands like these where a inspiration. It sucks not identifying with anyone. I felt that way with music for a long time until I found punk rock and even then I was dissatisfied with the lack of African Americans in the scene. Its important to rep who you are and what you stand for to find or build a community of people you identify with, to eventually change the world and challenge peoples prior judgments about the issue at hand.

There has been a lack of queer posi punk bands in the scene for quite sometime now and I find it disheartening. Now days women's rights are being threatened queers still arent aloud to marry and I can turn on my radio and hear a rape joke in a song as if it completely acceptable. Its mind boggling to me that even though we live in the most technically advanced age people are still so oppressed by a select fews narrow minded ideologies, and aren't you mad? Punk is about the people, it voice of the youth and its up to us that all voices are heard. I do this for the kids in the small towns who feel left out so that maybe somehow they can come across our music and feel alittle less different from everyone else. Because I know if I didnt happen on the bands I found then I would a completely different person.

Kaos Blac: I'm glad I came across your band, and you are putting your music and self out there as a signpost, a marker for those to find. It matters that you are conscious of whats going around you and aren't just fluff pluff flash pan theatrics, not saying that we don't need those sort of acts no one can be on the front lines of the negation wave forever, and you are doing it on your own terms. Thank you, all of you. Any thing else to say in parting for the piece?

Atomic TanLines: Yeah we would like to say Fuck Rick Perry. - We are The Atomic TanLines and we have lost our damn minds.

Artist to watch...Jermaine Riley

Its a bird, its a Plane, it's London R&B artist Jermaine Riley and his latest video taken of of his Hello Earth album "Smallville". It's R&B and nerdom coming to a head in a surprisingly okay mash-up.



If you like the video download his re(fix), his versions of current tracks by other other artist,

Brittney Campbell is a Nerd that wan'ts to stay a while

These boots where made for walking...right into your heart.

So people just make you stop and look them up and down, I'm glad I did stop and take a look at local music artist Brittany Campbell.

I saw here on the train with the above shoes on and knew I had to just take a picture of them and get just to know here even if it was for a brief subway chat. She had just put out here EP called "NERD".

Recently she just put out the video for "Let Me Stay A While". Its a soulful song about love and being in that moment of a romance where you just don't want to leave. Take a gander at Brittney Campbell's  "Let Me Stay A While".

Artist to watch....Theme Park

I just found this great band from London. They have catchy beats, i'm hooked, and they are just the bees knees. Check out their latest video, MILK.



Also they did a live session with The Line Of The Best Fit, Wax,




Find out more about the band at Themeparkband.com

Jaimz Deen is a chameleon at times. His able to hid in plain sight until he want's to been seen. Now is on of of those times. He's been on his musical odessey for some time now and has leaked droplets of nuanced polyphonical dreamscapes from time to time. Well this go round we get a fully dousing of lyrics and  beats in the form of the Crisis Complex. I questioned Jaimz about the release and what it means for him.

Kaos Blac: So Jaimz tell me about your upcoming release, The Crisis Complex.

Jaimz Deen: All my blood sweat and tears are truly involved in this project, it has taken YEARS to get here. Crisis Complex is a brief window into where my mind has been in the last few years - and really my whole life so far. I've always lived in somewhat of a fantasy world, as a survival tactic. The songs on the project play with the parallels between my real world and the one I imagine.

In a lot of ways, the project is about me saying goodbye to my past, because it's haunted me for some long. I'm proud of the mini album and the music video for Jesse Strange, because it is a true representation of who I am as an artist 100%.


Kaos Blac: So where to musically after this release?


Jaimz Deen: I'm already in the process of working on my next project. I'm in the very early stages, but I am already excited. I've started recording and I am having a blast, I can't wait to get back in the studio again. The next project is a more bold statement of who I am right now its so early, so I can't label it at all.


Catch what his music now with the release of The Crisis Complex is available now. Download 

• • Also head over to his site: Jaimzdeen.com
    
    

The Cooler Side of BLUE

If you follow my blog you know I'm a huge fan of DMV group The Fiveone, and it was a huge surprise to me when I found out that drummer, BLUEfiveone was leaving the band and striking out on his own. The groups members take their names after colors as a way to abstract personality from their art and just be a color, an abstract based on it's definition in this case the art of music.  For years now he has been keeping the rhythn going and now he was making the leap to drop beats of his own drum and step awy from behind the kit and take center stage upfront in the blue lime light. I had a Blac to Blue moment with the break out to find out why he's leaving, where he's going and will he still feel blue.

Kaos Blac: My diddy it's time for a Blac to Blue moment. Mind answering some questions for an interview?

BLUEfiveone: Lets DO THIS! Im all about it.

Kaos Blac: I've know you for years now as you have been the drummer for The Fiveone why the change, are you leaving the group for good?

BLUEfiveone: Ive always been a lyrist. So making my own music isnt that much of a change. I didnt leave the group either. I was cut off. Personal issues with me and GREEN made working together too difficult for GREEN.

- BLUEfiveone and GREENfiveone, Oct 2010

It took about 3 months before the other 2 COLORS, (RED and GOLD), along with him decided I was the most expendable COLOR in the band. "If you leave nothing changes but if I leave this whole band is different" is what GREEN said to me and a few hours later I was removed as an admin and all the passwords to our band sites were changed. I tried to find a more friendly and fair break via email for 3 more months. It took 2 months to get my access restored and only a month after that a conversation with just GREEN lead to them locking me out a second time. I don't see us getting back together.

Kaos Blac: So that's it then for you and The Fiveone. Now that your out what do you feel about the work you did with the band? Will The Fiveone still be The Fiveone without you in the sense of creative intellect concerning the music. Will that music be play by what ever new lineup comes after your departure?

(l-r: GOLD, GREEN, BLUE, RED)

BLUEfiveone: I feel great about the work I did with the Band. I've always expressed myself truthfully in the music so I don't see it as anything less than great music. The Five One is something more than music. It never represented a band to me, it represented my family and has been that way since I was 6 yrs old and I moved to VA. I've added to that family and when I started making music with GREEN at 11 it only made sense to be something I've been my whole life. I think whatever they do as the three of them will be different in both sound and feel. I'm not sure what they plan to do about the music as I am no longer in communication with anyone after the last lock out. But I dont have any ill wishes for them musically. I think that GREEN is very talented and will continue to make decisions that he sees is fit for his plan for The Five One. I don't see them being able to replace what I brought lyrically or in the Live show with someone else. BLUE is nothing something that gets replaced. And I dont think they will look to do that. The are more than likely, from what I know of them, find the best way to get the sound they are looking for.

Kaos Blac: So tell me more about what your working on moving forward?

BLUEfiveone: Its a busy process but basically Im just going to continue being BLUEfiveone. Im going to be making music that reflects more on me and my view of the world. Its been great being able to flap my wings and explore music alot more. I will be using Live insturuments with a band that I hand picked. BLUE County is the name of the project and the band. And Im just excited to share some music with everyone. Though getting in touch with fans I have with thefiveone will be a lil difficult. Im just focusing on getting the word out about my sites and the project and putting out the best music I can.

Kaos Blac: Okay, so do you feel that using the name BLUEfiveone your going to capitalize on your previous notoriety with The Fiveone to make a name for yourself and your new project, or is it a matter of fact that it's just who you are?

BLUEfiveone: Its both to be honest. BLUE is what I am. Fiveone has been my tag name since before the band existed.. I'm going to die BLUEfiveone. On the flip side even if I was to change my name to BLUE Chocolate it only make sense to capitalize on the notoriety I've alREady established with the band.

The Fiveone in The Washington Post

Kaos Blac: And what happens when the music you helped craft with the band gets even more recognized after the fact?

BLUEfiveone: Its still music I was a part of and I dont see it as bad. I would promote and support those projects in some way.

Kaos Blac: So what will the sound be of Blue County and when can we expect some music?

BLUEfiveone: Its Hip Hop. Just a very polished and lyrical style of Hip Hop. Im excited to put out some music, but as of right now I don't have any dates. I do hope to put out a single by the close of the year though.

Kaos Blac: Well I can't wait to hear it when it does. Thanks for the time, any parting words, vital info to share?

BLUEfiveone: Just to share the link to my site, BLUEfiveone.com and facebook page, BLUE51, as much as possible. I have to build a entirely new network so all help is appreciated. And I'll be sure to send that track to you once its REady to be dropped.

Kaos Blac: I'll be waiting, and ready to share my thought on it to the world.

Artist to watch...Ghostpoet

The slow and laborious rhymes of Brit emcee Ghostpoet are haunting and bump on an ethereal plain that is just pushing the UK music scene forward. I really like what UK artist do with hip-hop in there own ways in splinters as Grime and Dub-step. Ghostpoet brings these splinters together in a low boil of a cauldron that is primed to serve you a new flavor in ya ear. Check out his video for "Cash & Carry Me Home,"

Artist to watch...Tecla

Tecla has been on the move since our last visit to her world with the release of 'Strangers In Mask.' She's been traveling the world as keyboardist in the groovy funky band Gordan Voidwell.

  -Gordon Voidwell left, and Tecla right appearing at Santos party house. Photo by Amanda Hatfield
Well aside from touring extensively with Voidwell Tecla still finds time to put out her own dope music, the girl just doesn't stop. I recently caught up with her as she took over the stage at lit lounge with her mixture of coastal pop grooves. Check the photos and video.

Fun times, you can't better than a full band, back up dancer and Tecla doing her thing. If you like her groovy tunes vote for her in the Deli Magazines online Artist of the Month Poll, and check out her August 27th as she takes the stage again with Gordan Voidwell at the Afro-Punk festival. 

Interview with Chanell Crichlow of Pitch Blak Brass Band

I recently caught up with Chanell Crichlow, the Tuba player of Pitch Blak Brass Band, at a in-store event she put together for Chicago artist The Cool Kids. Taking some time away from the event I pulled her aside to get the one on one with her the band, playing tuba, and women playing instruments.

Check out more info on the band below:

http://PitchBlakBrass.blogspot.com
http://PitchBlakBrassBand.tumblr.com
http://youtube.com/PitchBlakBrassBand
http://twitter.com/PitchBlakBrass

Artist to watch...Panda Panda

It's always fun to see a friend perform live, whats even more special is to be at there first live show! I'm proud to present to you Panda Panda a punk rock duo primed to tar n feather you in tuff love.

Lucky for me I got ask the vocalist, Ebony Brown, a few questions about the band, check out show footage and photo's after.

Kaos Blac: How did you come together as a band, and why just a two piece vocal and guitar.

Ebony Brown: Noah and I met a while back when I lived in LA. I was a model itching to become a vocalist. He was living in NY making really dope music under the name MISO. We kept in touch and after a few years, I moved out to Brooklyn, determined to work with him. Our early collaborations fused Hip Hop, Rock, and all types of crazy sounds and samples. We made some really cool experimental stuff but ultimately we just wanted to rock! We both love Bad Brains and that's pretty much where the inspiration started. Luckily, Noah plays every instrument so it made it easy to get the sound we wanted. Unfortunately, it ain't so easy to lock down good musicians in this town. But thanks to technology we're still able to play shows without a full band. It's actually pretty convenient at the moment.

Kaos Blac: How would you describe your sound?

Ebony Brown: I'd describe our sound as Hardcore, Sexy, Punk Rock with a pinch of Grunge.

Kaos Blac: when can we expect some more music?

Ebony Brown: We're still in the studio writing and recording. My psychic eye is telling me...you can expect more Panda Panda soon...the end of summer!

-Photo by Saman Nahid

- Photo by Saman Nahid

If you like what you see check out some music by the band.

Artist to watch...Veronica

I was out late one night scouring the city for something to do when I came upon Otto's Shrunken head, okay I wouldn't say scouring but seeing a friend perform...it was challenging music to say the least yet still good, when I happened upon one of the coolest acts I've seen in a while, Veronica. They are a three piece outfit of droning beat and lo-fi dark wave. They made an impression on me not only by their music but even in a dump like Otto's, come on its a dump we all cherish, they didn't look like they just showed up off the street and picked up instruments to play. I admire a band that can pull the simple things like stage presence off.

"Fear On The Radio"

"Writing In The Sand"

They have a ep single out now, "Writing In The Sand EP" which you can download from the below linked picture,