Band of the Week

Photo by Aaron Seligman

Hot Springs

Mental sanity seems to be in high demand lately. Everyone wants it, but no one can quite define it. Whether there is a pulsing pressure or an intense swirling of thoughts and ideas, the action required may be the same. What our artist of the week, Lawrence Yang, termed "creating order out chaos", Giselle Webber of Montreal’s Hot Springs defines as pushing out of the fire to create calm. However, both recognize the need to allow the deepest fires to surface just before they are thrusted upon the canvas or audience. It is an eruption from a boiling spring spraying mists of creativity and passion in all directions. For Giselle Webber, this eruption typically occurs on stage where she allows the music to take over and completly explodes with energy.

Volcano, is Hot Springs first full length album and it is pack full of Giselle's energy, emotion, and most impotantly fire. Still looking for distribution in the US, Giselle recently took some time while preparing for last week's CMJ Music Festival to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): I love the name Hot Springs, how did the band come to call themselves such an organic and metaphoric name?

Giselle Webber (GW): everything about hot springs is designed to retain some semblance of mental sanity - push out the fire and then you have calm. there was so very much bubbling inside of me at the time when i started the band, and since i was no longer breaking boards with my feet in martial arts training, and since i was no longer playing in punk bands.. there was very much molten lava in my tummy. so it had to come out... and boy did it ever.

OA: Much has been said about your live performances, with the current state of record sales how important is it that bands have a positive reputation when it comes to their live performances? What is your mindset while on stage?

GW: at first i wasn't very proud of the way the band sounded. the songs were written in haste. we weren't yet grown-ups artistically.. and the only thing i figured we could get good at, while we were waiting for the songs to improve.. was the look of the thing: the visual. so people got so excited about all of my rock moves, they forgot to notice that the songs were complete shit. now i quite like the songs.. so it's lovely to have both of the bases covered. onstage, one thing is incredibly crucial to me, and that is sincerity. it is tough, when people tell of us in interviews, of how much explosions will happen onstage.. and you come to a moment when you don't feel explodey at all.. because of a shit crowd or a shit place or a shit time or what have you. so what do you do then? you stay true to it.. and the endorphins come naturally - and i don't force it. and i think people can tell when a band is being transparent and posing. it's a wretched embarrassment to watch. so the most important thing is never to pose. just to be openly crazy. i get it all out as best i can.. and afterwards i can function like a proper lady again.

OA: In a recent interview you discussed the steps a women might need to take to gain respect in the various music scene and shops. Do you feel this is a Canadian phenomenon or is more widespread? Since the powerful female lead singer is a rare commodity, I thought she would be cherished and not forced to change.
GW: women are cherished as sexual creatures. also they are cherished as mothers. so the fellows around me.. well - they do their best to tuck me into one of those boxes. and i have to do my best to smash out of those boxes. i'm quite good at smashing out of boxes, to tell you the truth. it's a little hobby of mine. so us powerful female lead singer types have to get real good at smashing stuff. we don't need to work on sexy things or anything else like that, because the rest of the world paints us as nothing *but* sexy. you just need to scare the living daylights out of some of them. really shake them up a little. that is our struggle. it's also one of the funnest challenges a girl could ever have.

OA: Your lyrics touch on several different topics from the war in Iraq to the action that can be found while wearing an Elvis wig, but a common theme seems to be the environment. How prominent are your environmental concerns on this album? What are some of your major concerns when it comes to the environment?

GW: one thing this life has taught me is that a true connection from one human being to another is about as rare as rare can get. i have some friends that use a whole whack of drugs to simulate that kind of connection. others lie in bed alone watching documentaries about metaphysics. it is the curse of the modern era, how we are allowed to be alone.. and live and breathe and function. back in the day.. we felt grateful in the presence of others. more so than now, anyhow. so i grew up, very much a loner.. on a mountaintop in british columbia. and spent my summers on a very large houseboat my grandpa built. and all of my nostalgia and all of my connections were inherently linked to parcels of land, and parcels of water. when it came time to get mushy and romantic and write actual words for the music (instead of that nonsense language i tend to sing while writing the stuff), i found it easier to write about animistical sort of things than writing about people-stuff. i am as heartsick for the pacific as i would be for some dumb fuck i used to go out with. plus i am pagan as pagan can be.. so much of that is almost religious writing. but politically.. let's just say i eat a lot of groceries from the dumpster. and i turn the lights off all over the bloody place. and i'd never ever ride in a tourbus. even though you can bring a portable record player and the record won't skip. right now i am most concerned with my consumption patterns. eating groceries like in the old days. none of these tractor trailer fruits. even though i do very much love to gawk at the mack trucks on the highway. i think they're kind of beautiful.

OA: Who are some of your primary musical influences?

GW: black mountain, zoobombs, the stooges, silver apples, crass, aids wolf, socalled, cream, black sabbath, louis armstrong's early trumpet recordings, cpc gangbangs, etta james, de la soul, minor threat.

OA: What's next for Hot Springs (might we see an American distribution for the album)?

GW: well we're off to CMJ for this week.. and our lawyer is an american. so i bet he'll have a couple industry fellows at the gig. maybe they will buy me glasses of something electric, like the kind of bourbon you can only get in kentucky.

Bonus Questions:

OA: You are being included in the "Second Wave" of the Montreal music explosion. How would you describe the current music scene in Montreal?

GW: everyone that has already achieved some level of success in one band is branching off and creating splinter cells of side-projects all over the bloody place. we are all getting very arty and weird. one pal of mine has built about 30 robots that work on remote control, and they play the music for him. stuff like that.

OA: What was the last great book that you read?

GW: huckleberry finn.

Volcano
Headrush(mp3)/Cellophane/Fog and the Horn/Tiny Islands/Fantôme Dinosaure/Pink Money/Annimystique/Gotta DJ/Hairy and Airee/38th Adventure

For more information on Hot Springs please visit their website.

Writer's Corner

Jim Benz

"Dead Poets and Billy Collins"

Why isn't poetry more marketable? Contained inside these thin little chapbooks, we die hard lit nerds like to collect, is just as much passion and energy and humor as that of the novel. Yet when you walk into a suburban bookstore you have trouble even locating the poetry section. Once you locate the shelf and a half you half to brush off the dust and look long and hard through the stacks for something published in that last fifty years. The internet has helped those who are seeking, but the casual reader is missing a gripping world of verse that will continue to go unnoticed unless we start screaming. Why isn't Karl Koweski, Christopher Cunningham, or Amy King on shelves at Borders? Why does a wonderful poet like Minnesota's Jim Benz hold enough poetry to fill three or more collections, but still question the marketability and not pursue it further. Why?

Jim Benz, is a poet and recently returning student from Minnesota. His words have appeared in many publications, but most recently in this months Word Riot and the latest issue of Calliope Nerve. You can also find a good sampling of his diverse work here.

Recently, Jim took some time away from his studies to answer a few of our questions.

Orange Alert (OA): I have seen you referenced as the "Unemployed poet from Minnesota". Does this sum up Jim Benz or is there a more fitting description?
Jim Benz (JB): The description fits. Is there more? Sure, but I hate writing bios or talking about myself. I'd rather talk about my wife (who works hard to support us) or our grown son. So what can I say? I'm 47 years old and willfully unemployed. I used to be a machine operator in a factory, and then (after a number of work-related injuries) became a clerical worker in the same factory. Since the plant closed, I've worked almost exclusively on poetry. I don't question whether that's a worthwhile endeavor or not, but I am self-conscious about not having a job. In other words, I'm not doing what 47 year old men are supposed to be doing. I wish I could be cavalier about it, but I'm not. Apparently, deep down, I bought the lie about what good citizens do for a living, and since this is not a society that looks favorably on marginal poets, I get a little uncomfortable. But it's what I do, so ultimately I have to say "screw it" and just keep writing.

OA: In "When the poet read Bukowski by the fallen Bridge", you seem to express an reverence for Buk's work. In your opinion, why is Bukowski such a major influence for so many of today's poets? Who are some of your other literary influences?
JB: Bukowski was his own man and his own writer. He didn't mimic anyone else or conform to some particular "school" of poetry. He wrote prolifically and he wrote well. I think some poets are influenced by him because they see themselves in the same boat. Also, Bukowski was good at taking mainstream culture to task from an outside perspective, from a bar stool or a crummy job. He's a strong voice from the underclass and he achieved that without all the "credentials" of education or mainstream connections. There's probably other reasons. Some poets might get off on depictions of his hard-drinking lifestyle or the way he tells all the establishment assholes to fuck off. Or maybe its just because he's funny as hell, in a cool way. I like Bukowski, but frankly I haven't read that much of his stuff.

My own influences vary quite a bit. George Oppen influenced this particular poem far more than Bukowski. Others are James Tate, Denise Levertov, Paul Celan, Berryman's dream songs, or haiku by Basho, Buson and Issa. My earliest influences were probably Williams, Rexroth, Ferlinghetti, Whitman, Eliot and Ginsberg. Where does it stop? I don't want it to stop. There's a great book of Russian poets (translated by Paul Schmidt) called The Stray Dog Cabaret. My wife gave it to me. Best book I've read in ages. Also, I was just introduced to the poetry of Czeslaw Milosz and it's incredible.

OA: I really enjoy your poem, "New Years Morning, 2006", what is the connection between the different figures or "celebrities" in the poem? Is it more a poem about loneliness?
JB: They're all 20th century figures that in some way (at least marginally) have some kind of resonance in this culture - actors, writers, political figures, tv personalities. I threw in Boccioni because I wanted a representative of the futurists, preferably a painter. As for what the poem's about, I don't know. It was one of those poems that largely write themselves - meaning I didn't have to think about it much or look for meanings to develop. In other words, I got a superficial idea and it worked right away with almost no effort. Is it about loneliness? I think the poem supports that notion pretty well. On the surface, it's about a terrific hangover. What's more lonely than that? But seriously, I know what you mean and I think that's a very insightful reading.

OA: You reference Jazz music in a few of your poems, and there seems to be a long standing relationship between Jazz and Poetry. What is you impression of this relationship?
JB: That's a surprisingly difficult question to answer because I want to get into all kinds of technical things (syncopation, rhythm, time signatures, etc) but I don't have the vocabulary or knowledge to do so. I think there's a lot of mainstream poetry which has no connection to jazz, but Beat poetry is practically swimming in it. I don't know. Both poetry and jazz are hugely creative and able to go off in strange, interesting directions. I'm thinking of bop and cool jazz, or stuff like Ornette Coleman. So I guess, if I limit this to Beat poets (like Kerouac in "Mexico City Blues") and Jazz artists like Coltrane, I'd say both manage to convey a deep non-verbal impression of what life in the 20th century western world feels like, and they express it in incredible ways. I know that sounds kind of lame, but it's what I get out of it. I suppose the lifestyles mesh somewhat, they co-existed in the same era, probably influenced one another, and both have strained relationships with the status-quo in their given fields. Like Bukowski, this sort of stuff thrives outside the gates of what's supposed to be good and proper. They break rules, but not just for the sake of breaking them - they're on to something. You feel like important work is going on, but the mainstream world turns its back and scoffs. At least to a degree.

OA: Do you have any chapbooks or compilations available or in the works? What is your opinion of the current marketability of the chapbook in general?
JB: I have enough material for 2 or 3 chapbooks, but my writing style is all over the map so its tough to put together. I recently organized 50 poems in a book-length progression that seems to work okay, so I might try to shop that around, but I don't know how much energy I have. Writing is one thing but trying to "market" the stuff is a whole different ballgame. So yeah, I have a compilation in the works. I just need to get off my lazy ass and try to get it published. As for the marketability of chapbooks, I don't know. I buy plenty of them, but I've never tried to sell one. I think it's like the marketability of poetry itself - limited. If you go into a chain book store, what do you see for poetry? Dead poets and Billy Collins. That's an exageration, but not much of one. The mainstrean publishing world, with established markets, doesn't seem to be interested in new poetry as it happens. Or, they prefer safe poetry that doesn't call established ideologies into question. Again, that's an exageration but not much of one. Or maybe I'm showing my own biases. I don't know. As for chapbooks, I think they're cool. I like what I get from Scott Pierce at Effing Press. Sometimes I pick one up at an open mic. They're almost always interesting. I wish there was a bigger market for this stuff, but I don't really know that much about how you'd make it happen. I'm just thankful there's an independant press that nurtures what market there is, no matter how small. The big corporate press, with all its resources, just doesn't seem to be interested in much outside of their own very narrow scope of what's acceptable. That might apply to the university press too.

OA: What's next for Jim Benz?
JB: I just went back to college, so mid-terms are next. Right now, I'm trying to finish my education (after a 23 year break) and see what it does for my writing. Unfortunately, it doesn't leave me much time to actually write.

Bonus Questions:
OA: I believe you are a coffee drinker, mainly because of your recent poem about coffee. What is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite coffee spot?
JB: Peace Coffee, French Roast. It's roasted locally and we get it at the co-op. There's a bunch of coffee houses in my neighborhood, but I probably go to the Auduban Cafe (in northeast Minneapolis) more than any others. Just this morning, though, I was at two different coffee houses in Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota campus. I like them too.

OA: When did you first know that you wanted to be a poet?
JB: When I was around 15. I worked hard at it for about 10 years and then abruptly quit - I was more interested in spending my energy on being a husband and a father. When my son was a junior in highschool, I started writing again. Now I can't stop. Sometimes I wish I could, though, because it's frustrating work and the pay is lousy.

For more information on Jim Benz visit his page at mnartists.org.

Artist of The Week

Lawrence Yang

The concept that the mind at times is chaotic can be difficult to admit to or understand. Many people like to feel as though they control their thoughts and actions, but in reality the mind ultimately decides what we create and when. Simple tasks are easy to control, but stand in front of a blank canvas or stare at an empty word document and that control shifts. Your minds races, or possibly stands completely still. It is this randomness or chaos that the artist must rein in and transfer to the canvas, or as Chicago native and San Francisco resident Lawrence Yang puts it, "creating order out of chaos".

Lawrence Yang is relatively new to the scene, but has already created many beautiful pieces. He has participated in two exhibits and is a special contributor with the Robots and Monsters charitable Menagerie. His work combines themes from both Asian culture and graffiti art, and the results are incredible.

Recently, Lawrence took some time out to answer a few of our questions.

Orange Alert (OA): How did your time in Chicago affect you as artist? What were you able to take away from your time there?

Lawrence Yang (LY): I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago -- not really the most inspirational of places for an artist. But that in itself was a mixed blessing, as it gave me more time inside my head to come up with crazy ideas and things to try out. I would say that the midwest is where I laid the foundation for my style, but most of my artistic growth happened once I moved here to San Francisco.

OA: You define your style as containing "graffiti and Asian influences". How did these two typically separate genres come together as your influences? When you say your artwork is "concerned with creating order out of chaos" does graffiti represent the chaos?

LY: The Asian influences come directly from my heritage -- I have gone back to Taiwan and China every year or every other year all my life, and the exposure to Chinese culture has definitely influenced my artwork. The graffiti influence comes out of my own interest in the urban art scene -- I don't tag myself, but one can't walk around the city (whether it's Chicago or San Francisco) without being exposed to it. Taken together, one finds certain overlaps in the two styles, and when spun a certain way, they don't seem that different at all. "Creating order out of chaos" refers more to my state of mind while I am creating art -- sometimes it feels like I'm sweeping my skull out and figuring out what patterns can be created with the resulting mess.

OA: I have come to notice a few reoccurring colors (pink, purple, mint green) in your work. Do you work with a set color palette?

LY: Hmm. . . I don't usually come to a piece with a set color in mind -- but I would say there are colors that i gravitate towards. Again, it mostly has to do with my mood and the idea I have.

OA: The cover of Departure looks great, how did you choose which pieces would be included the finished product?

LY: The pieces I included in Departure are predominantly the ones I include in my "zen-scape" series. Mostly watercolor, marker and ink pieces that incorporate my little characters. There's a small sampling of some of my digital work interspersed throughout the book as well -- where it makes sense.

OA: I really like the two shirts that you have created, What is your opinion of artists that manufacture art on magnets, laptop cover, shirts, shoes, etc? Does this lessen the quality of the original work or does it make it more lasting?

LY: Thanks! I'm glad you like the shirts -- I'll probably be adding some more designs to choose from very soon. As far as how I view artists that manufacture art on shirts, mugs, magnets, etc. . . it's really up to the artists themselves, right? If their chosen media is a shirt as opposed to a canvas, then that's cool. If it's a question about the sacredness of fine art compared to the commercialization of design. . . it's the same answer. The artist chooses whether they want to use their art as a vehicle for self expression, or a method for making money. I don't know if there's a right answer, but I will say this: There is something undeniably gratifying about creating a piece of art that is an expression of myself, and finding that other people enjoy it so much that they would like a copy for themselves.

OA: What's next for Lawrence Yang?
LY: Lots! As I said before, I'll be adding more shirt designs to my site. People have been asking for prints, so those will be added soon as well (I'm still testing out different printers to see what works the best). I'm also involved in a charity art project at robotsandmonsters.org. Otherwise, just creating more art every day =).

Bonus Questions:
OA: Coffee? If yes, what is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite coffee spot?LY: Ha, definitely yes for coffee. I am partial to soy lattes -- being one of those unfortunate people who cannot handle too much dairy. Don't really have a favorite spot though. As long as there's a good friend or a good book to keep me company, I'm fine.

OA: What type of music do you enjoy listening to and who are some of your favorites?

LY: Trip hop, rock, classical, jazz -- it really depends on my mood. Some favorites would be Zero 7, Ringside, Flaming lips, The Killers, Rachmaninoff, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner.

For more information on Lawrence Yang, please visit his website or check out his blog.

New Release Tuesday

photo by Camm Rowland

Music:
Yea Big + Kid Static - Yea Big + Kid Static Listen to: Duck, Mother F***ers (mp3)
Muscles - Guns Babes Lemonade Listen to: Chocolate Raspberry Lemon & Lime (mp3)
Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals Listen to: 2080 (mp3)
Phosphorescent - Pride Listen to: A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise (mp3)
Holy F*** - LP Listen to: Lovely Allen (mp3)
Subtle - Yell & Ice (mini-album)
The Forms - The Forms Listen to: Knowledge in Hand (mp3)
The Besnard Lakes - Volume 1
Junk Science - Gran'dad's Nerve tonic
Castanets - In the Veins Listen to: This is the Early Game (mp3)
Realistic - Perpetual Memory Loss Listen to: The Camera Track (mp3)
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Start A People (Reissue) Listen to: Hazy Field People (mp3)
Prefuse 73 - Preparations
Saturday Looks Good To Me - Fill up the Room Listen to: Make a Plan (mp3)
J Live - Reveal the Secret Ep
Scott Walker - And Who Shall Go To The Ball?
Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation (CD/DVD) (Stream)
Ween - La Cucaracha (stream)

DVD:
Meet the Robinsons
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama
Into Great Silence
Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season

Hot Spring's Giveaway Contest

In honor of this week's interview with Giselle Webber of Hot Springs, Orange Alert is proud to announce The Hot Springs Giveaway!

Simply put your name and e-mail address in the comment section of this post or send me an e-mail, and you will be entered into the drawing to win the following:

1. Hot Springs brand new CD (not released in US) "Volcano"! Listen to: " Headrush" (mp3)
2. Other priceless Orange Alert SWAG!

The drawing will take place on Sunday, 10/28 so enter today and tell everyone you know to enter!

"Montreal’s Hot Springs are bringing something new to the table. Their first full-length album, Volcano, dishes out a combo of perfect pop that sinks its fangs in, rock that doesn't stoop to knuckle draggers, and fluff-free ballads. Volcano also throws a flurry of psychedelia into the mix and, yes – you can even dance to it.

Along with Montreal acts like The Besnard Lakes and Malajube, Hot Springs are among the most exciting bands to spring from the second wave of the Montreal music explosion, with Volcano quickly earmarked as one of the best records of 2007. "

Orange Alert's Music Minute

The venue was small, the crowd was equally small, drunk , college aged, and predominately male. The scene was set for the extremely rare and quite odd Sea Wolf aggressive dance (I refuse to say mosh) pit. Alex Brown Church armed with his acoustic guitar, maintains his composure, but is clearly surprised by the "crowds" (maybe 25 people total) reaction. He runs through several of the tunes on the bands latest album "Leaves on the River", the highlight for me being "Middle Distance Runner", and then thanks the crowd and turns to leave the stage. The 10 dancing fools start chanting, "one more song", Alex reluctantly agrees, but on one condition... they must stop dancing! It was at that moment that I wonder if I would ever see Sea Wolf at The House Cafe again. Listen to : You are a Wolf (mp3)

Sea Wolf's label is Dangerbird Record's which also managed Darker My Love. You can download Darker My Love's self-titled debut here for free.

Normal, IL is home to husband (Hank Hofler) and wife (Jane Dowe) team, Oh Astro, who are preparing to release their new album, Champions of Wonder, on Illegal Art on November 6th. If you were forced to classify their unique style of music experimental electronic would almost fit, but their music reaches farther them most. One of the common techniques on Champions of Wonder is the manipulation of vocals by spectral software that is coded by Dowe and long-time mentor Christopher Penrose. Even the more experimental or ambient tracks contain ghostly sounds of vocals that have been stripped from their original context and placed into the pulsating electronic world of Oh Astro. The other common practice on the album is that every sound, with the exception of some of the vocals, is sampled from pre-existing recordings. The types of music sampled range from top 40 songs to indie hipster music to the obscure. In the end, it’s more about what is done with the sample than what was originally sampled. Much like label mat Girl Talk, Oh Astro also reaches into the realm of hip-hop by involving Stefan Robinson (a.k.a. Yea Big) on several tracks. Listen to: Snow Queen (mp3) and Hello Fuji Boy (mp3)

While on the subject of Illegal Art, here is their latest sampler featuring tracks from Girl Talk, Steinski and the soon-to-be-released albums by Oh Astro and Realistic. Get it here!

Manchester Orchestra and Annuals are proud to announce a 20-date co-headlining tour beginning October 26th in Atlanta, GA. As a special exclusive to the upcoming touring partnership, Manchester Orchestra and Annuals have created an exclusive, limited edition 7-inch for fans attending the shows. Only available on the upcoming tour dates, this split vinyl 7” contains each band covering each other’s tracks: Annuals cover Manchester Orchestra’s “Where Have You Been”, and Manchester Orchestra cover Annuals “Brother”, the Mp3s of which are available below. For the artwork, each band re-interpreted the other's album art, featured below.

They will be in Chicago on November 6th at The Subterranean. Listen to: Annuals covering “Where Have You Been” (mp3) and Manchester Orchestra covering “Brother” (mp3)

Also check out the new video for "Carry Around".

Great news this week for TMTS fans (which I am a huge one), here is the press release from Secretly Canadian: "We're uber pleased to announce Seattle's Throw Me The Statue to the Secretly Canadian family. Conceived and fronted by Scott Reitherman, TMTS has been delivering its wondrous concoction of cheapo sequenced synths, brass ensembles, fuzzed out beats and epic vocal melodies to various Seattle clubs for the past year. Due in February, "Moonbeams" "is both complicated and personally cohesive. Each song expands beyond the bedroom atmosphere often attributed to mellow solo artists. The opening track, 'Young Sensualists' sets the tone with a digital backyard party beat while a guitar riff and vocals dance smoothly over it." (QRO Magazine, 2007)" TMTS will touring the US with now label mate Jens Lekman next month. Listen to: About to Walk (mp3)

The Peel Back: Operation Ivy "Operation Ivy" (1991)

I have always had a more diverse taste in music, but that diversity is not always appreciated. This can really become apparent in the punk music circles. Take for example the day I "lost" my Operation Ivy tape. I used to hang out in a parking lot behind a restaurant on the banks of the Fox River. People would sit in or on my car and simply enjoy the company and the music. One day an acquaintance was sitting in the back seat looking through my tapes, and she simply could not get over the fact that I had both Frente and Operation Ivy in the same tape case. She was disgusted, and that was the last day that I say my tape, and all because I respected Frente. This album is being rereleased by Rancid Records (Epitaph) on November 6th. Listen to: Sound Sytem (mp3) and Heathly Body (mp3)

The Watch List

Listening:
1. Loose Lips Sink Ships - Ocean of sound... I never knew what that meant, perhaps I thought it was cliche or to abstract to be descriptive. Last night, Dekalb's Loose Lips Sink Ships made me realize, forced me against my will to feel there ocean of sound. the ever growing wave of feedback and swirling guitars. It swells, beginning with gentle droplets and amassing into a complex, at times abrasive, at other times extremely passionate blistering sound. There were two microphones on stage, but these kids did not even look at them once. In fact they clasp their over their mouths when addressing the audience. I say kids, they may have been college freshmen (may), but they play well beyond there appearance, and well beyond the size of the room , for that matter the town itself. Listen to: No. 1 (mp3)
2. The Sharks - "The Sharks started their music career not as a band, but as an Islamic terrorist group. After several hilarious and ill-fated attempts to destroy the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the change in popular attitudes toward jihadism following the unpopular attacks of September 11 forced the Sharks to re-organize as a conventional rock band." Well this statement alone makes them a perfect fit for Orange Alert. The Sharks just released their debut ep "Bridget Quits" this past week. Listen to: The Kids Know Best (mp3)
3. This is Me Smiling - Everyone smiles for different reasons, what might make you smile today may do nothing for you tomorrow. However, a rock song with a sparse little ragtime melody smack in the middle, that makes me smile today, tomorrow, and beyond! I saw this terrific Chicago band open for Sea Wolf last night, and I just had to smile. Listen to: A Better Way to Fall in Love (mp3)

Reading:
1. "Reaching Aushak" by Roger Pincus - A well-written story of mistaken identity and alarm clocks that sound like toilets. This story was recently posted on Word Riot.
2. "The Slants" by Jason Jordan - Every time I read the work of Jason Jordan it seems to be written in a different voice, but there are elements that draw them all together. I found this interesting story of life in the Jordan household over at RAGAD.
3. "Movie" by Radomir Vojtech Luza - Luza is the co-poet of the week over at Poetry Super Highway.
4. "Because You Like To Listen To Stuff..." by Graham Sanford - Orange Alert is recommended by Gaper's Block!

Wishing:
1. Lawrence Yang "Departure" - This is a mini-portfolio from an artist who combine traditional Chinese painting and modern urban art. We will find out more about Lawrence Yang next week. - $15.99
2. "Reading Is Sexy" buttons - Sarah Utter has designed on of the coolest buttons I've seen in quite some time. This image is also available as a shirt or bumper sticker. - $1.25
3. Scintillating Publications announced this week that they are publishing three new chapbooks and here are the details.

Wayne Mason's chapbook is titled "Everyday is Labor Day," Rob Plath's is titled "Hooked to An IV Bag Full of Bile," and James O Shea's is titled "Ghost Scenes On My Mind's Eye."

Each one is $6 ppd and can be ordered directly from me via check, money order or well-hidden cash, made payable to Joseph Veronneau. His snail mail address is on the website, but here it is for easy reference:

Joseph Veronneau
21 Russell St.
Burlington VT 05401

Getting:
1. Digital Slang #2 - The fine folks City Slang have release a free music sampler feature Stars, Caribou, Menomena, Malajube, and more.
2. Blanket Issue 6 release #2 - Featuring the work of Joe Penrod, Grant Barnhart, Michelle Arcila, Stephanie Lok and lots more.
3. Inbox goodies: June's Panic "Birthday Present" (mp3), The Octopus Project "Bees Bein’ Strugglin" (mp3), Realistic " The Camera Track" (mp3) Cryptacize - Cosmic Sing Along (mp3)

Watching:
1. Meshach Jackson's tour video log part 1 and part 2 - Meshach gives you a sense of life on the road. More details soon on the album release.
2. I love Black Moth Super Rainbow, Dandelion Gum is a great album, but their new video for "Sun Lips"(mp3) is really quite disturbing.

Saturday Morning Cartoon

This morning while enjoy a nice bowl of Slimer Cereal, watch this new animated video from one of my new favorites, Wax Stag.

Short Road

Band of the Week

Tree Wave

Growing up in the eighties I can vividly remember learning how use a computer for the first time, and the noisy printer that we loved to set off. My second grade class took a special trip to the newly assembled computer room. It was a whole new world full of green letters and strange new symbols. Of course true love met me when I got home from school, the Atari 2600, and I would play Spider-man for hours. It was 1985 and I was already fascinated by technology. One man who has remained fascinated with the technology of his childhood is Paul Slocum of Tree Wave.

Paul creates the complex bed of sound that allows the lovely Lauren Gray's voice to soar above the waves. His tools are wonderfully outlined here, but include a Commodore 64, Atari 2600, Compaq Portable II, and an Epson LQ500. He has the ability to create custom cartridges for this equipment which allow for such an intricate rhythmic output. It was back in 2004 that this duo released their debut EP, Cabana EP+, and received a lot of positive reviews. After the release, Paul and Lauren needed time to pursue other interests, but continued to perform occasionally. However, as you will hear in the interview new material is on its way.

Recently, Paul took some time out from deconstructing Christian music and setting up his lab to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): How would you describe your sound?
Paul Slocum (PS): It's basically 8-bit + My Bloody Valentine

OA: The equipment that you use to make your sound is incredible. When did you first discover that you could use a Commodore 64 or an Atari to make music in this way? Are there plans to incorporate any other pieces of equipment along those lines?
PS: I started using the C64 and Atari with my old band in the 90's, The Science Club, a sort of Ween-like band. Although I actually even did a little music on the C64 in the 80's.

I previously used sampling a lot, and I've started using samples more in the some of the newer stuff. I use a Boss SP-303 phrase sampler when I play live.

I'm experimenting with a new concept where I'm remixing contemporary Christian music, with the intention of producing a result that is not Christian music and not anti-Christian music. It starts off with the original song, which degenerates into phased loops of the song, then I gradually mix in a wall of 8-bit tones on top of it.

Watch: Sleep (mp3)


OA: You also utilize the Atari to create videos to for your shows and for the songs themselves. How important are these videos to your overall live performance? What equipment do you bring to your live shows?
PS: When somebody goes to a live show they want to see something. Since youcan't see a that much of what I'm doing on stage, I think the video'spretty important.

I bring two Commodore 64s, an Atari, a printer, a 1987 portable PC, amixer, two Boss Heavy Metal pedals, and a sampler. And also backups ofmost of the gear

OA: With Lauren in school I've read you are performing alone, but is there any new material being recorded? When might we except to hear a new album from Tree Wave?
PS: In the next few months. I've been running a gallery for the last year and a half, and I haven't had much time. But things have stabilized and last week I set up my studio properly for the first time since I moved into the gallery space. Lauren is going to be recording new material.

OA: There has been a good amount of quality electronic music coming out Texas in recent years. What is your opinion of the current music scene in Dallas and in Texas in general?
PS: I don't keep up with the music scene that much, but the music scene in Texas seems healthy. Probably the strongest scene in Texas is its hiphop scene. Midlake is my favorite Dallas-area band. The band Mom is really nice too.

OA: The equipment that you utilize gives Tree Wave a very unique sound, but who would you say are some of your bigger musical influences?
PS: My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Ariel Pink, Steve Reich

OA: What's next for Tree Wave?
PS: New EP in the next few months, probably followed by an online release of the Christian remix stuff I was talking about (there's probably no way I can release a CD of that stuff without getting sued).

Bonus Questions:
OA: Coffee? If yes what is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite coffee spot?PS: There's this Ethiopian coffee I like from Whole Foods, but since I'm trying to save money right now I just get the best Colombian whole-bean coffee I can get at the regular grocery store. I don't go to coffee shops, but I everybody says that Murray Street in Deep Ellum is great.

OA: What was the last great book that you read?
PS: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie.

Tree Wave will be playing tomorrow (10/20) at And/or Gallery in Dallas, TX. This performance will be a part of the opening of the Kevin Bewersdorf + Guthrie Lonergan exhibit.
For more information on Tree Wave check out their website or visit their myspace page.

Writer's Corner

Elizabeth Crane

If you were to imagine the current Chicago literary scene as a human body, Joe Meno may or may not be the face, Todd Dills may or may not be the backbone, but Elizabeth Crane is absolutely the heart. When I read her work, it feels as though she is talking directly to me, and we are in the middle of a friendly conversation. She tells me stories from her life and I understand every moment. She is honest, yet coy, playfully sincere, she can break your heart, but make you smile. She does not set out to change the world, but simply to explain it a little better.


Elizabeth Crane is the author of three short story collections, When the Messenger is Hot (2004), All This Heavenly Glory (2006), and the forthcoming You must be this Happy to Enter (2008). She also has a mini-book, Donovan's Closet, over at Featherproof.com. She teaches writing at the School of the Art Institute and the University of Chicago. She can be found darting in and out of readings across the city, and perhaps holding a few of her own. She will in fact be reading Friday, October 19, 7:00 at The Book Cellar, Saturday, October 20, 7:00 at Quimby's, 1854 W. North Ave, and Thursday October 25, 7:30 The Fixx Coffee Bar 3053 N Sheffield Ave.

Recently, Elizabeth took some time out to answer a few of my questions about here new collection and her work in general.

Orange Alert (OA): When speaking of your writing style I have heard comments to the effect, "effortless", "compelling portrayals of the everyday", "unique in its simplicity", and so on. Do the words come as easy they appear to, and how do you select your subject matter?
Elizabeth Crane (EC): Interesting question(s). That's the first time I've ever heard the word simplicity about my work! Anyway, not easy, I don't think, but certainly not hard. Sometimes a first draft will come quickly. It's just something I enjoy doing, but that said, I want to do what I do as well as I can, so I spend a lot of time on revision. In terms of selecting subject matter - sometimes story ideas come randomly, but there tend to be subjects that interest me at any given time.

OA: Have you always known you were meant to write?
EC: Meant to, I'm not sure about, but I've known I would keep writing since I was a kid.


OA: Your latest collection, You Must Be This Happy to Enter, is being published by Punk Planet Books. How did you decide to go with Punk Planet, and what can we expect from the new collection?
EC: One reason is that they pursued me, and made me feel really good about it. Another is that I knew Joe Meno, and how well he'd done there, and how happy he was with the experience.


OA: What is your opinion of the current literary scene in Chicago?
EC: I think it's great and I'm really glad to see so much going on, and so many people going to things!

OA: I read an interview with Joe Meno, and he talked about the relationship between book sales and book tours. Do you see any connection between readings and book sales?
EC: The folks at Punk Planet seem to believe it - I'm not sure I have a definite answer for that. Books get sold, for sure, but it helps to get people to come out - that can be the tricky part, and tat varies from city to city.

OA: How do you select the pieces that you read, and do you view them in a different light when reading them to an audience?
EC: Well, I try to mix it up when I read around Chicago, because sometimes I feel like I've read everything in this town and everyone's heard it already. On tours, I often read stories that I've read in other cities that I know will go over well. But also - some of my denser stuff is hard to read out loud, so I don't read those too often at all. Mostly, I aim for funny, at readings.

OA: Has being a teacher of the written word affected the way you approach your personal writing?
EC: Hee - I write less! No, that's not really true, the only way it's changed is that I do have less time to do it at my leisure, I really have to find pockets of time, and I'd prefer to have a regular schedule.

OA: What's next for Elizabeth Crane?
EC: Wealth. Great heaping piles of money. Besides the next book, there's been a play adaptation and a short film made from my stories, so I'd love to see a feature or a series.

Bonus Questions:
OA: After reading "Privacy & Coffee", I can assume you are a coffee drinker, but what is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite coffee spot?
EC: I meet students at the Alliance Bakery often. I do drink coffee, mostly at home, loaded up with hazelnut cream.

OA: What type of music do your enjoy and who are some of your favorite musicians?
EC: Different stuff. It's almost the season for Sufjan Stevens Christmas record! But you know, I might also listen to Gnarls Barkley or the Flaming Lips or Shawn Colvin. My husband turns me on to cool stuff, but I'm still a little VH1 inside.

For more information on Elizabeth Crane you can visit her website or check out her blog. To preorder your copy of You Must This Happy to Enter go here.

Artist of the Week

Nick Volkert

On the surface, the world of abstract art may seem quite different than the world of illustration. Where one is completely about the exploration of colors, explosions, blurring of lines and structures, the other is about reoccurring characters, typically clean lines and traditional social commentary. However, the art form both carries forward the concept of freedom. In either genre the artist is free to create the universe that she/or is living. Whether that universe is randomly full of color or straight black and white, the artist guides the tempo, design, and ultimately the outcome.

One artist who has transitioned nicely into the realm of the abstract is Northern Illinois University graduate Nick Volkert. When Nick began the graduate program at NIU he was mainly focused on the school paper, and developing his numerous cartoon ideas. However, in 2005 Nick began to let the paint take over really explore different textures that he could create. Since graduating he has focused on this new found world, while also freelancing in the community. He is also the founder and operator of a website, Student Fine Art, that also the provides an outlet for the art community at NIU. He now prepares to share his personal creations with the public. On November 14th at The House Cafe in Dekalb, IL, Nick will unveal his current series of paintings, and this will be an event not to be missed.

Recently, Nick took some time out to answer a few of our questions.


Orange Alert (OA): How would you describe your style of painting?
Nick Volkert (NV): Abstraction that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's as deep as you want it to be, but is accessible to anyone. I don't like to be filed away into any of the "ists or isms", but the way I paint is very aggressive and physical. If I amount to anything I'll let someone else come up with a cool name for it.

OA: While at NIU you developed your fascination with and ability to create abstract painting, what else did you take away from your time at NIU?
NV: Self sufficiency. Being filed away at the topmost farthest corner of the NIU art annex you have to take things in your own hands. It was also nice too because I'd have my solitude, and be able to crank some crazy metal and not have to worry about making my art neighbors mad. I also gained a level of defiance, I was told "no" a lot, and said I was somehow going about my work the wrong way. So through that I grew my artistic identity. No one's going to tell me no, and I'm going to paint what I want to paint. I got into abstract after some late night searches on the web; the voodoo land where the academics say you're not supposed to find anything artistically profound. I found an artist named Karen Jacobs who does these large fantastic abstracts. I began working similarly in very small sizes, and eventually my works grew in scale. After a night of crappy critiques, I painted, was venting some frustration, and stumbled upon the splatter technique I use; mixing tube acrylic with gesso, and then eventually hardware store grade latex house paint. The work I was doing previously was very illustration looking; rendering my work almost in a photoshop airbrush tool manner. I think the abstracts were the equivalent of taking those paintings and throwing them out the window. It was liberating. I was able to focus more on color. I was also a good stress reliever. Ha.

OA: Next month you have exhibit opening at the House Cafe in Dekalb. What can we expect to see at this opening?
NV: Being in limbo right now I really can't make guarantees. I will say that I put on a good show. Admittedly I don't have the luxury of time on my side, but I hope to have a little bit more work on display than a modest showing. Set your expectations low, and you'll always be surprised, I say. Ha.



OA: I really enjoy your comic "Gone Clean Wholesome Fun". What are you plans for this comic? Is there a collection in the works?

NV: Right now it's in the back of my mind and is definitely going to make a comeback. No collections in the works yet. I came to terms with the fact I that I have multiple artistic identities, and the comic is something that I just need to do to keep my sanity. I don't know if a physical collection will be around anytime soon, like I said, but I'm hoping to launch a website for the comic as soon as I get things to a point where I feel comfortable sharing it with the world again. There's so much more I can do with Scooter the two legged cat.

OA: Who are some of your biggest influence artistically?
NV: I love anything and everything comic books. Those are what originally brought me to the dance. I really wanted to be the next Jim Lee, or Dan Silvestri. I plan to get back to that. Right now I always check to see what James Jean is doing, I love his compositions, his ideas, and his use of extremely bizarre colors. If any other artist was given the ingredients he has, they'd definitely drop the ball, but he always manages to knock it out of the park, just awesome stuff. I also like looking at graffiti. I take trains a lot now, and used to drive by trains a lot on the way to school. I always have the rust vs. minty 1950's green color composition in my mind. The idea of the boxcar is great too. Once they exceed their use they are sent away in a yard somewhere, to become some graffiti artist's canvas. Just the odd but wonderful life for a railroad car.

OA: What's next for Nick Volkert?
NV: I want to get back to illustration really bad, and my comics. I have a comic book idea I've been knocking around for years that I'm willing to spend enough time on to really make it something. So, revisiting a lot of old ideas. I'm also learning web and flash, so I'm sure a flash animation authored by me will be coming around soon. Continuing to work though, in any form is a must for me. Finding time and getting ideas for new work while living a day to day life is like a fight, and I'm a fighter. I'm not going down for the count anytime soon.


Bonus Questions:
OA: Coffee? If yes what is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite coffee spot?
NV: I've yet to find what's so great about coffee. I like cold drinks, so I'm a tea drinker. Fresh brewed tea, is the way to go. Mountain Dew is like my heroin. There's definitely an addictive chemical in that garbage.

OA: Do you listen to music while you painting? Who are some of your> favorites while painting and in general?
NV: Music definitely inspired a lot of my work. I rocked a lot of Nonpoint, Hurt, Black Crowes, Shinedown, and Death from Above 1979. I wish I could paint the sounds I hear instead of reacting to it. In general I like highs and lows, heavy parts and pretty parts. My taste in music tends to be very heavy with strong melody. I like the heavy rock bands that have singers that actually sing and do the occasional Cookie Monster voice. It's got to move you man, it's got to move you. I'm in debt to all the music that's inspired me.

For more information on Nick Volkert, please visit his website.

New Release Tuesday

Music:

Underworld - Oblivion With Bells Listen to: Crocodile (mp3)

The Blakes - The Blakes Listen to: Pistol Grip (mp3)

The Busy Signals - The Busy Signals Listen to: Plastic Girl (mp3)

Louis XIV - Guilt By Association (single)

DVD:

The Invisible

A Mighty Heart

The Reaping

Transformers

The Hoax

Monday Morning Mix

Like a tiny digital drill, the analog worms are slowly crawling through the deepest corners of my brain. If I could dance I would, but instead I violently shake my head trying free myself from these deadly blue creatures.

This week's mix feature music from Dat Politics, Kit Clayton, Lali Puna, Tree Wave, A Place to Bury Strangers, and more... Enjoy "Analog Worms 1.0"!

Artwork: "Analog Worms 1.0" by TEEBEE (aka Todd Berger)

Orange Alert's Music Minute

The Baltimore duo of Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, otherwise known as Beach House, have completed their second album, Devotion. It will see the light of day on Feb. 26, 2008 via Carpark Records, which also released the band's self-titled and critically acclaimed debut album way back in Oct. 2006. The band has spent most of 2007 on tour, with pals like Grizzly Bear, The Papercuts and The Clientele. The band is currently wrapping up its last US tour of 2007 and then will be heading to Europe (where they recently signed to Bella Union) from Oct. 18 to Nov. 16.

Beach House - Devotion
1.Wedding Bells
2.You Came To Me
3.Gila
4.Turtle Island
5.Holy Dances
6.All The Years
7.Heart Of Chamber
8.Some Things Last A Long Time (Daniel Johnston cover)
9.Astronaut
10.Home Again
11.d.a.r.l.i.n.g.

Why? will release two unique Ep's next month (11/19), one will be released in the US on Anticon and one will be released in the UK on Tomlab. These are both in preparation of their new LP, Alopecia, due March of 2008.

US:
A1. The Hollows
A2. By Torpedo Or Crohn's (a remix by Dntel)
B1. Yoyo Bye Bye (a cover by Xiu Xiu)
B2. Pre-teen Apocalyptic Film Acting (Medley) (a cover by Half-handed Cloud)

EU:
A1. The Hollows
A2. Good Friday (a remix by Boards of Canada)
B1. Yoyo Bye Bye (a cover by Dump)
B2. Broken Crow (a cover by Islands)

With the CMJ Music Marathon just around the corner, Insound & CMj have decide to give everyone a taste of the bands that will be at this years festival. With such an incredible line-up, do not pass up this free sampler. The line-up seems endless and packed with quality, but a few of my favorites are Bowerbirds, A Place to Bury a Stranger, Islands, Dataroc, Bon Iver, A-Track, Blue Scholars, Cadence Weapon, Ghostland Observatory, Cotton Jones Basket Ride, and many many more!

Just when you thought the book was closed on the Beasties mashups, Gabe Durham of Gather Round Children, posts a terrific mashup album feature none other the Beastie Boys. The album contains many other artists as well, including Shapes and Sizes, Sufjan Stevens, Of Montreal, and of course the Beatles. The album is called For the Beasties in the Burroughs, For the Beatles in Britain, and can be downloaded here for free. Listen to: How We Gonna Kick it? With a Mandolin, Fiddle, and Guitar (mp3)

The Peel Back: Ned's Atomic Dustbin "Godfodder" (1991)

I keep finding myself returning to 1991, I don't know what it was about that year, but was perfect for the music fan. I never actually did it, but I can clearly remember bouncing around my room chanting "Kill Your Television". Ned's Atomic Dustbin's debut album was driving, aggressive, yet still maintained a pop appeal and a very danceable element. This album was quite unique, yet very fitting for the time period.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin "Godfodder"
Kill Your Television (mp3)/Less Than Useful/Selfish/Grey Cell Green(mp3)/Cut Up/Throwing Things (mp3)/Capital Letters/Happy/Your Complex/Nothing Like/Until You Find Out You/What Gives My Son?

The Watch List

Listening:
1. Friendly Fires - UK dance rock is what these three lads are all about. Releasing their debut Ep "Photobooth" on People in Sky Records last year, the band is now set release their follow-up remix ep this Monday (in the UK only, sorry). Listen to: Photobooth (Mock & Toof Mix) (mp3)
2. Virgin Forest - Beautiful, organic and flowing music from Brooklyn of all places. This band is giving away the debut LP on their myspace page via download or mail if you send them your address. Listen to: At the End of the Day (mp3)
3. .tape. - Spain is home to these creators of gentle ambient music, perfect after a hectic day. Their latest single, FAR AWAY 7", comes out at the end of the month. Listen to: You've Bought a Minicity Free of Plastic Squirrels (mp3)

Reading:
1. "Secret Wives" by Matt Rittenhouse - I found this over at Alice Blue, and almost didn't post it. I didn't want the wife to get the wrong impression.
2. "Death of an Outlaw" by Noah Cicero - This is the first chapter of Burning Babies, Noah's unpublished, but highly hyped novel. I've sent Noah a few interview questions, but I haven't heard back. Noah, if you're reading this, I may have had the wrong e-mail address. I would love to have you on the site. (orangealert31 at gmail dot com)
3. "Rotten Like The Gutter" by Vanja Kovacic - Laura Hird is always a great place to find whatever you might be looking for. I really appreciate the manic feel of this piece.
4. "Death" by Jim Benz - I found this little collection of works from Jim Benz here, when you click on a link on this site it downloads into word. Although most of the files are poetry, "Death" is a short story about Jim's literal encounter with death manifested at his doorstep.

Wishing:
1. QUIDs - I wish I could get my hands on some space money, then I would all set to travel the universe. Well maybe I would to buy a space ship as well. - One Quid = $12.50
2. A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book - This book gives every blogger hope, and is a really cool concept. - $16.77

Getting:
1. Calliope Nerve XIV: The Queen - Nobius Black is the creator and occasional contributor of Calliope Nerve. This issue features the work of past interviewee Zachary C. Bush and feature interviewee Jim Benz. However it is only available via e-mail.
2. twohundredby200 Issue #28 - Exceptional art work and design in this issue!

Watching:
1. Lucky Man, Inc. presents: Free Lucky Man Hugs Chicago
2. "This is gonna be weird" was all Jimmy Kimmel could managed to say as 5 celebrity impersonators took the stage to do their thing while Justice played "D.A.N.C.E.". Check it out.
3. The Cansecos - Juices! (coming November 20, 2007)

Saturday Morning Cartoon

This morning, while you enjoy a nice bowl of Punch Crunch, watch this Atari animated video from Tree Wave. Also, keep an eye out for my interview with Paul Slocum of Tree Wave this Friday (10/19).


Combat

Band of the Week

Cadence Weapon

It was nearly two year ago that I came across the name Cadence Weapon for the first time. His debut LP, Breaking Kayfabe, was being reviewed by Clayton Purdom of Coke Machine Glow, and all I could think about was how perfect that name was... Cadence Weapon. Those two words seemed to sum up the true (or should I say original) intention of rap. There are many meanings to be found for the word cadence, but perhaps my favorite is as follows, "The pattern of stressed & unstressed syllables at the word, line, sentence, and paragraph level. You might think of it as sort of the drum beat of words." (from The Online Poetry Dictionary) Cadence Weapon can definitely use his "drum beat of words" as weapon as he battles he way up the hip hop ranks.

At 21, Edmonton native, Rollie Pemberton (aka Cadence Weapon) has accomplished quite a bit. Even before the release of 2005's Breaking Kayfabe, he had released the wildly popular mixtape, Cadence Weapon is the Black Hand, written reviews for Pitchfork and he also ran his own blog. Now as he prepares to begin the next chapter in his career he has found a new sound, signed to Epitaph Records (US), signed to Big Dada Records (UK) (who just released Breaking Kayfabe on 9/24), formed several diverse friendships, and is battling on a whole new level.

Recently, Rollie took some time out from mixing his new album, Afterparty Babies (March, 2008), and preparing for his fall tour of the states to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): Your debut LP, Breaking Kayfabe, was well received across the United States as well as Canada. As a former music critic, do you read your own reviews? With the state of music being what it is, do you think a positive review holds more or less weight then it did five years ago?
Cadence Weapon (CW): I always try to read my reviews. It's interesting to see what people think my music means or what lyrics I'm actually saying or what direction I'm taking. People are buying albums less and less, but nowadays, if you get over a 9 on Pitchfork, you're still gonna move some units. So I think it actually means a lot more. Now people won't even get your album on OiNK if the reviews aren't good enough, let alone buy it.

OA: What can we expect from your new album, Afterparty Babies?
CW: For a lot of my existing fan base to be a bit confused. It's probably 75% four-on-the-floor dance music with rap over top of it. There's a song made out of human sounds I made in the booth. There's a couple of the most traditional rap songs I've done on it as well. It's an interesting record and I really, really like it.

OA: What is you opinion of the current state of hip-hop?
CW: I think rap is cool. I listen to a lot of Bay Area rap and they have some great beats and ideas. The Turf Talk album is insane. There are lots of inspiring emcees out there and I just figure there's a paradigm shift coming where people will just get sick of hearing T-Pain all the time and they'll want something different. I think T-Pain has the line of the year though. In the song "My Girl's Got A Girlfriend", in response to his girlfriend cheating on him with another girl: "It really is not a problem!"

OA: You don't shy away from working and touring with a diverse group of musicians. How did you come to work with Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) and Matthew Adam Hart (Russian Futurists)? Could there be any future collaborations with either of them or other like minded musicians?
CW: Matt is my label mate and we drink beers whenever I'm in Toronto. He's a smart guy with great music taste, so I can't imagine we wouldn't be making music together in the future. I'm really trying to get him to rap, because he was a rapper before he sang. I met Owen through the press junket for the Polaris Music Prize last year. We got paired up to be on the cover of Eye Weekly in Toronto and have since become friends. I am looking into sampling some stuff of his for a future project.

OA: Your lyrics are quite thoughtful, have you considered writing anything other than lyrics? Could there be books or essays in your future?
CW: I dream of writing a book some day. Maybe even a screenplay. I have an idea for a book that is based purely on the analysing different cities during a tour, but it's harder to do than to talk about it. I don't wanna be one of those dudes who says 'Yeah, so I'm writing a book....'and it never materializes. It'll happen one day.

OA: What's next for Cadence Weapon?
CW: A better diet, Afterparty Babies in March 2008, touring the US in October with Final Fantasy, hitting Europe in November, turning 22 in February, fixing my chipped tooth, having fun with strangers at rap shows for the foreseeable future.

Black Hand (mp3)




Bonus Questions:
OA: Coffee? If yes what is your favorite type of coffee and where is your favorite coffee spot?
CW: To quote Andre Nickatina, I don't drink coffee but I love Pam Grier. I'm huge into London Fogs though. It's earl grey tea mixed with vanilla syrup and foamed milk.

OA: What was the last great book you read?
CW: Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste by Lester Bangs.

For more information on Cadence Weapon visit his website or check out his myspace page.