HappyHappy- Zozobra (album review)

The Non-stop energy behind “Zozobra” seems almost a way of life for HappyHappy, having recently released their debut album on Ribfest Records. This honesty holds true from the start with a never ending stream of poetic imagery in tracks like “Mouthwash” and “Jesus Christ” that are constantly riding a serious line of introspection and depression, broken up perfectly by hooks and moments of self parody that feel much like an exhilaratingly bipolar dance that will make you want to laugh and cry and then laugh again. There is a credo that says everything is better with horns and HappyHappy knows how to take advantage of it from the start with “Overreaction” as well as “UV Blue” while still maintaining its pace with more synth driven ballads like “NPR Loves the Postal Service” so be ready for a choir of ska-punk cynicism singing to you all of the tiny thoughts and feelings from the back of your mind. You will never stop randomly yelling “With Cream Cheese!” afterwards and each line is a whole new direction full of relatable circumstances and references to video games and other pop culture that causes anyone within earshot to do a double take time and time again; Not to mention the power-synth break down in “Brave Little Toaster” possibly the legendary apex of the album, setting the tone perfectly for “Amoeba” and “Panic Attack” in a subtler second half. There is a line in “Jesse & Kristen” that compares itself to the likes of The Mountain Goats, but this doesn’t pay enough credit to a record that stands on its own, ending with the title track “Zozobra” an epic medley conclusion that feels more like a therapy session for the many demons released along the way.

https://www.facebook.com/happyhappytheband/

https://www.facebook.com/RibFestRecords/

http://ribfestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/zozobra

Colin Carroll

While spending most of the time either writing and playing music in Owls And Other Animals, or in the studio at Sleepy Owl Records, Colin also occasionally has opinions and writes them down.

www.OwlsAndOtherAnimals.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/SleepyOwlRecords

www.facebook.com/OwlsAndOtherAnimals

www.OwlsAndOtherAnimals.com

Interview with Podunk Parliament

Today's interview is with Podunk Parliament, quite the active group with members also behind Liber-DIY Records and Just D.I.Y. Booking and Promotions.

How did Podunk Parliament come together? 

Dalton: I moved to Dallas in 2015 from Albuquerque NM. I did have much or know anyone besides my mom here. I had a guitar so I picked it up. Something I hadn't done in a long time. I started playing in my room like everyone does. Covering AJJ and Pat the Bunny songs. I went to Buzz Brews off Lemmon Ave for an Open Mic to try and preform some. They had actually stopped doing it since they lost their Host. I took over as the Host for their open mic nights every Tuesday. I play there for almost a year. And started writting my own stuff. I was posting on Twitter and someone invited me to a show at LiberDIY in Denton. I went! I met Cub. And I played a few songs he liked me and my music. And asked me what I called myself. I really didn't have a name for myself yet. I had joked with a friend back home when we were drunk and said I should call myself Podunk Parliament. So when I was asked that's what came to mind 1st. And that's where it all started.

How would you describe your music? 

Dalton: We usually tell people we play political acoustic punk rock hah. We dont like the term folk punk all that much, but if the shoe fits!! Its mostly politically driven, but when I started the project my main goal was to help anyone who felt alone in the world to not feel so alone anymore.

Who what are some of your biggest influences? 

Dalton: For me what influences our music is our friends. I'm also inspired by cartoons, like kid shows, current political struggle, and my mental health.

Jacob: Influences is a tough one, there’s a lot

What is the story behind Liber-DIY Records?

Jacob: LiberDIY Records I originally started to put out my own music but it kinda escalated amongst the people I knew needing online distro and promotion, so I got into that on top of my recording engineering training and here we are. 

What are some hot artists involved that people should check out? Or upcoming events or releases? 

Jacob: Podunk Parliament is definitely top of the list, we’ve got a new full-length coming out real soon, as well as a record from suburban wildlife this spring, and hopefully a shooting Tsars record this summer

What about Just D.I.Y. booking and promotions? 

Mike: Just diy basically started when this band from Florida called Clem McGilicutty and the Burnouts asked me about helping them find a show here in Dallas and i just kind of kept booking shows. About a year into it I met Dalton and Cub. I booked them as a duo a handfull of times. I was so blown away by the lyrical content of the songs I asked to play bass for them. So we built the gutbucket and the rest is history so to speak.

Got anything in the works that Podunk Parliament fans should look forward to?

Dalton: Podunk has a new album coming out very soon. Another full length called Nothing Left. This will have drums which will be new that Cub has been doing and all recorded at LiberDIY

Go check out the music now!

Interview: Princess Possum

Today's interview is with Princess Possum, whose album Songs of A Depressed Anarchist was recently reviewed on Musically Dependent by Colin Carroll of Owls and Other Animals.

What should people who aren't familiar with your music know, and how would you describe your sound? 

Well I guess my solo princess possum stuff would be considered folk punk. I sing sad or angry songs straight from my heart raw and untouched touching on subjects of depression,  alcoholism, anarchy, being poor, breakups and my overwhelming amount of gender dysphoria. I like to call it sad possum core ha! 

Who or what would you say some of your biggest influences are? 

My two biggest influences in my music is Days N Daze and Mischief Brew. The fast pace chords and scream style of Days N Daze is a big part of my music and so is the Mischief Brew style song writing. Combined with my own whatever it is I do. 

You had mentioned to me in a message that you're a writer and poet. Do you have any works out that you'd like people to know about? 

Yea I am more of a writer than a musician. Which is why my friend Matt Pless (interview with Matt Pless) is a big influence on me too since we’re both poet musicians. I look up to him heavily and had the pleasure of playing a show with him this past December. I unfortunately do not have my poetry book out yet but when it comes out it will be over 100 poems throughout the last 3 years titled “a timid arrangement of Blasphemy” hopefully it’ll be typed out by this year so stay tuned for that! 

What about your other hobbies outside of music? 

Well one of my favorite things to do use to be skateboarding. I unfortunately had a bad skateboarding accident this past August that almost killed me and left me hospitalized for a week with a brain bleed and skull fracture.  I want to skate again but I got to wait awhile. But I do also enjoy visual art as well and do commission paintings and pencil sketches. And font work for my bands and different ones! 

What is it like juggling responsibilities for your solo project with the bands you play in, Burnt Toast and Fetus Pizza? 

Well Burnt Toast and my solo stuff is the most active. We are about 50/50 on how it’s equaled out. Fetus Pizza doesn’t play as much but my friends that play in that band have another band that’s way more active called Duck Butter that Burnt Toast is about to release a split ep with. So juggling the 3 projects isn’t too too difficult but trying to juggle adult stresses like working almost full time while very active is. Especially in my strive to be sober.  Sobriety has not been successful so far but 6 months clean off drugs is a win in my book! 

I saw you were recently picked up by Sleepy Owl Records? Can you talk about that some? 

Yeah! Sleepy Owl Records is ran by an amazing person, my friend Colin Carroll. He plays in a band with his wife and my other good friend Dana Carroll. They were formed in Huntsville, Alabama, and now live in Chicago. They are amazing people and I recommend their music and their record label. They do a lot for the underground scene! Colin is also the one that did the artwork for my first Princess Possum album out on Bandcamp Songs of A Depressed Anarchist. I’m very honored to be apart of that label now ! 

What should people know about the next album you got coming out, and when should people expect to look for it? 

This next album coming out is gonna be a little different than my last, but only because it’s gonna be layered over. So I’ll be doing the guitar and vocals all with bass, washboard, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, and tambourines all played by me mixed in all the tracks! Which is why this album is taking a lot longer to get done. My friend Dillon Sizemore is the one recording for me and he’s doing amazing. It’s also gonna feature some of my poetry! The skelton of the album will go... Poem. 6 tracks Poem 6tracks Poem I’m really excited to put this one out. It is called Road Kill, and the artwork was done by my friend Thomas OConner who also designed burnt toast’s toaster head logo. 

What about the bands you play in? What's in store for their foreseeable future? 

Burnt Toast is going on tour in April! We will have our split ep out with Duck Butter and a full length out before the summer. We are playing with Punk With A Camera in May! And also playing Midwest Punk Fest in Illinois in June! And we will hopefully be playing a benefit show with out friends in Days N Daze in the summer as well. We are wanting to go on another tour in July but haven’t finalized anything yet. And for my solo stuff me and Tail Light Rebellion are trying to do a two week tour in August so I’m hoping that works out I love those cats! And Fetus Pizza should have its full length out this year as well. Gonna be a fun busy year and excited for the experiences and for what’s to come after !

Also see the album review for Songs of A Depressed Anarchist or just skip straight to the music and check it out for yourself!

Interview with David Fort of Twin

Today's featured musician is David Fort of the Canadian folk punk group, Twin.

For those who aren't familiar, how would you describe your music?

Well our last album "We Rise and Dance We Sleep and Dream" which recently got picked up by All We've Got Records described it as "TWIN play a hypnotic and warmly crafted blend of alternative indie folk punk"  At our best however is live and live we are intense, truthful to ourselves, embodying our travels and interconnections to our experiences.

Who or what are some of your biggest influences?

Well if I'm speaking for Brooklyn I would have to say probably her late violin teacher that has obviously inspired a boundary breaking impassioned approach to her craft, art and life surrounding it. For myself it would have to be a myriad of people who were around me in a relatively remote northern setting growing intermingled with what the television and computers exported to us. I seem to be drawn to art/music of a rebellious or revolutionary type foundation but really I like so much music it depends on what part of the day you ask! 

You had mentioned to me that Twin does canoe tours. What's that like?

Yeah we've been doing that for about 10 years. Well it's amazing indeed but it's very hard on many different levels. It mixes the hardships that come with a journey like a canoe trip along with the hardships of a traditional road type tour.  It can be very dangerous pending on where you are and that danger can come from nature, humans and Industry. Industry does not move over for you or even slow down a little bit i.e ships, barges etc.... so you have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. With humans you can find your self in vulnerable positions in remote areas and nature well nature is always the beautiful wildcard to say the least. We have been in a few tornado situations, torrential downpours, ripping down through the Shasta/Lassen mountain valley on the Sacramento River just trying to point and shoot our way through the rocks and wind on open water yeah!!! Oh and getting caught in a flood on the North Saskatchewan river and having to share a small island with a wolverine for the night, we worked it out and kept to our own side of the sand barge and left a gift for it when we left!  So on that note the communication you can get going with nature is unprecedented and I like to think we bring that wildness with us when we land on shore for our performances. So what's it like you ask, it's being reminded once again what it is to be alive.

What do you need to prepare for that?

Timing is probably the hardest part as on a canoe trip without show parameters you can stop more frequently. We've learned to break up the distances more than we used to as the early trips were almost militaristic in there approach. So we've learned to give our selves a bit more time to enjoy simple things like swimming and cooking on a campfire the early trips were go go go up at 4am play till 1am crazy shit really. We still have some of that but mixed in with the let's chill with some smoke and drinks after the show by the river kind of thing! Weight and food management is important and the other tough part of touring with the canoe is keeping the instruments dry and safe as well as carrying merch!! 

Do you have a favorite river you've done a tour on?

They're all so amazing of course but I think I am very spiritually connected to the Mississippi as I was born along it and it's the first trip Brook ever did with Twin where she got thrown right in the fire for a crazy 40 day tour on the Mississippi and not only did we agree we should keep working on the music/canoe project but we became life partners as well!!  

Are you eyeing any rivers for future tours?

Yes indeed which one will be next I don't know. Weather patterns are changing so that's something we need to account for. The Assiniboine River in Canada (one twin has done for the past 10 years) was impassable in some parts this past summer as it was so dry and low. But always want to get back to the Mississippi, the Hudson, Rio Grande, Thames,  are some big name rivers we have on our list this summer however I hope to get back to the Muskoka River and possibly do the Don River in Toronto.

What about your radio show, Duel Citizen? Can you tell us more about that?

Yeah, we lived out in St. John's Nlfd 2 years ago and it started as simply doing a show at the MUN university CHMR 93.5fm and upon leaving they said I could keep recording the show from the road and wherever I end up. So a music on unique music of course often with a revolutionary bent and doing my best to keep up with resistance movements particularly those led by Indigenous people. 

What are some of your hobbies outside of music?

Cooking for sure, canoeing although that is more less integrated into music for me now. When were not touring both Brook and I usually work and I like to keep involved with outdoor education and Brook is a screen printing artist as well.

What's planned for Twin in the immediate future?

Right now were staying put in Southern Manitoba working our jobs, getting as many shows in the immediate area starting to contemplate a new album (tonnes of material just a matter of what to focus on and get it right). The last album is great but we recorded it mostly on our own so had little time to put into promotion of both it and our summer tour. So we either want to fully commit to tour planning or recording but not both at the same time because at a certain point your just on a computer all the time and your music starts to suffer not to mention yourself!  translation ---MORE LIVE SHOWS that is where Twin lives and breathes!! 

Don't forget to check out Twin's music!

Princess Possum - Songs of a Depressed Anarchist (album review)

Rhythmic rollercoaster of raw dirty acoustic awesome, the debut release from Princess Possum - “Songs of a Depressed Anarchist” gets you up to dance and keeps you up to raise a fist, especially once the breakdown hits in “I’ll take the bus” followed by the epic shanty that is “within a devil” weaving the torture of our inner demons. “Small Chapters” starts off the second half of the album in a pure melancholy of despair with just a dash of hope for the future we all really want. Possibly my favorite track on the album “The P.O.S. Song” is the modern anthem that causes one to drink, chant along with friends and punch a white nationalist. The sing-along doesn’t end when we get to “Shower Beer” because I feel like we can all relate to the sentiment of small comforts during hard times on some level and the comedy of the little things. The record ends with “Dysphoria And You” a message that speaks strongly to the current culture, and to see and hear an artist so honestly place their heart on their sleeve, I can only hope helps inspire people to see the world from another perspective.


Article by Colin Carroll (Contributors)

Interview: Jessica Pietrzykowski of Tail Light Rebellion

Today we're talking with Jessica Pietrzykowski, accordion player with Tail Light Rebellion, a roots rock and folk punk band in the Fistolo Records family and with Outlaw Waltz Media Group.

So you've been with Tail Light Rebellion about a year now, right? What's it been like stepping into the band?

I will have been with TLR for a full year, as of early May. It was honestly really intimidating at first. I had no idea if I was going to have what it takes to keep up with these guys, seeing as I hadn't been playing for very long, but these two have been really encouraging and helpful. All in all, it's been one of the best experiences of my life. Trying to adjust to tour life as opposed to hobo life has taken some time, but the two match up pretty nicely. I really enjoy the constant challenges and being in an environment that always strives to be better.

What has the transition from hobo life to tour life like? Were there any particular struggles or challenges?

Honestly? Money management has been a bitch to try to learn. Having a financial base has become important because I dont have nearly as much time to busk, fly a sign or pick up random craigslist work and I fall into self loathing when I cant feel autonomous in my own self care, so it will be an important skill for me to learn. Also, going from never using a phone or social media to needing to have a presence for promotion and booking took some time to adjust to. It was and still can be really overwhelming to have so many conversations going on at once, when I'm much more used to being engaged in those directly in front of me. I've come to learn that it's all about striking a balance. The skills and mentality that I gained from riding freight and hitch hiking have come in handy though. There is a certain level of thoughtfulness about others around you, combined with self accountability and humility, that I believe is required to make a community function smoothly, and I personally learned that through being homeless. Also, hobo hacks are always good tools to have under your belt. The ability to creatively problem solve is invaluable. It gave me a sense of self reliance that has greatly helped me these past few months.

So you're just coming off a tour? What were some of your favorite moments?

You ask that like I can remember them! Really, there have been so many great moments and badass times with some of the best folks I have had the pleasure of meeting. We saw a lot of old friends, and made some fantastic new ones. Like I said, it's hard to pick favorite moments when they have mostly all been unbeatable.

What made you choose to play accordion?

I was in a really shitty engagement and we used to escape by trying to find new music. Well, he had a Gogol Bordello CD (I believe it was Trans-continental Hustle) that he hadn't listened to, so we threw it on. To say I was enchanted is an understatement. I was never really exposed to music growing up outside of classical and whatever throw backs my parents listened to, so their sound and their passion overtook me completely. Hand in hand with a healthy lust for constant movement, the accordion just possesses a sound that fills me with that same fire that I heard in Gogol Bordello years ago.

Do you have any particular influences?

World/Inferno Friendship Society, The Zydepunks, Mischief Brew, earlier Gogol Bordello, and the desire to live a life that I deem fulfilling, on my own terms. Something about working to make a corporation or rich asshole money, just so I can die 'comfortably' paying off debts and rotting in front of the television just doesn’t do it for me. I want to be so much more than that, and I want to encourage others to do the same if they so choose.

What's your life like outside of music?

What life outside of music? I spend most of my time booking, practicing, writing, and playing shows. We try to go to the gym daily just to keep up with our mental/physical health, and occasionally I find time to read a book or sketch in my notebook. I wouldn't have it any other way. What else has Tail Light Rebellion been into recently? We have been really into Rhymesayers lately, which has been influencing Jonny and myself in our own writing. Expect the next album to be a real booty shaker.

What are some projects you're working on now, or are anticipating?

I, personally, am writing some new accordion songs and we are working towards recording a new album this year on top of releasing a traditional folk EP that will consist of Irish/American/Canadian/Slavic folk songs.

I saw there was a recent re-release of Six Strings and Gasoline?

Yep! More notably, we released Broken again with both Richard on acoustic bass and myself on accordion. You can check it out on Bandcamp and Spotify!

Go listen to some Tail Light Rebellion! Also, check out this interview with Isaac Alexander of The Hills and the Rivers!

Interview: Danielle Kolker of Out of System Transfer

I asked some questions of Danielle Kolker, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist of Out of System Transfer and Funkrust Brass Band, two bands also previously featured in album reviews on Musically Dependent. Coming out of New York City, Out of System Transfer has been steadily gaining influence in the folk punk community.

How long has Out of System Transfer been a thing, and what are some of the things you've achieved during that time? 

Jesse and I have been playing music together under various monikers (originally “Up Against the Wall String Band”) since 2008. The McKinley song is actually from around then, probably summer of 08. We’ve been playing under the name Out of System Transfer since about 2012. My proudest achievement has probably been booking a 2-month-long European tour last spring, as well as our two previous cross-country tours (third one happening this winter!). Opening for Mischief Brew a couple times was a really big deal for me, especially since we got to know Erik a little bit and he once tweeted about our Crass cover!

How would you describe your music to someone not familiar with it? 

I usually say “high-energy political punk-influenced folk music with trombone” to anyone who isn’t familiar with folk punk in general. To people who know what folk punk is, I usually use our tagline of “gonzo antifolk punk rock radical leftist hootenanny”. 

So you're getting ready to go on tour, starting January? Are there any upcoming shows you're particularly looking forward to? 

Really looking forward to playing a house show in Hillsborough NC with our friends Rent Strike and She/her/hers! Also stoked about returning to Seventh Circle in Denver, where we’ve had two really amazing shows in the past. We’re also playing 924 Gilman in Berkeley CA for the second time, which is an incredibly historic and cool place. 

Do you have any favorite places you've played in the past? 

Monkey Palace in Boston, where they have a great, welcoming scene and I always have a blast. Konvent Zero in Spain outside Barcelona, an old convent that’s now a huge INCREDIBLE art space (I have some good stories about that show). Wild at Heart in Berlin, our first European show - they had a great turnout and got us WASTED after our set! Also the Curly Cow in Witten, Germany, a vegan punk cafe run by a really sweet older man who totally hooked us up. Finix in Hasselt, Belgium, an amazing squat that’s been occupied for 10 years and had an awesome show for us complete with tasty Belgian beers.   

What about least favorite? 

York, UK, where we got SCREAMED at by an angry Brit for criticizing the police. Pascagoula, MS, where the bar regulars walked out during our set but we played to two very enthusiastic fans. Anywhere that doesn’t give free drinks to musicians.  

So you play the banjolele? What made you pick that instrument? 

I picked up the ukulele just to have something to play in big group jam sessions that wasn’t a guitar or banjo. I’ve always enjoyed old-time music and I really liked the snappy percussive sound of the banjolele - I often tell people that I play the chorded snare drum in our band! 

What about your role in Funkrust Brass Band? 

I’m a founding member (on alto sax) of Funkrust Brass Band, a 15-piece post-apocalyptic disco punk brass band. I definitely take way less of a leadership role in Funkrust because we have so many members and I’m so often on the road with OoST. However, I help book local and out-of-town gigs with Funkrust, and I’m helping organize our Spring trip down to Honk TX, a brass band festival in Austin. Many of the Funkrust members don’t come from a punk background, so I enjoy putting us on shows where people may be a little outside their comfort zone - but we always have a great time! 

What are some things you do outside of music? 

I love to cook and bake and I’m pretty good at both! If you're a musician on tour or visiting and I host you, I'll probably insist on cooking for you, and I try to cook at house shows etc if possible when we're on tour. I also like riding my bike around Brooklyn. When I can get outside the city, I enjoy hiking, bouldering, and kayaking. Jesse and I recently went on a 3-day backpacking trip where we summitted the highest peak in the Catskills! We are planning on buying a National Parks Pass (if they’re open…) during our upcoming winter tour so that we can visit some parks on our days off - right now we’re planning on hitting up Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, maybe Joshua Tree and Mojave.   

What projects are you working on right now? What should people look forward to? 

Just recorded 6 songs in the fall, going to release cassingle in January and prob full EP in March after our tour. We have a whole bunch of new songs that aren’t recorded yet, so people planning on seeing us this tour will probably hear a lot of unfamiliar songs. We’ve got more tours planned, including another summer Northeastern tour, getting out to the Midwest and the northern parts of the West Coast in the fall, and hopefully returning to Europe in 2020 or 2021. I’d really love to play shows in Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii. 

Don't forget to catch Out of System Transfer on tour! Also, check out this interview with Matt Pless!

Interview: Matt Pless

I asked some questions of one of my favorite DIY musicians, Matt Pless, a person with a talent for spitfire lyricism that has made waves with hits such as "When The Frayed Wind Blows" and "Shots Fired".

Can you give a little bit about yourself and your background as a musician for people who don't know you?

My name is Matt Pless. I write songs that get stuck in your head. People say I'm an exceptional lyricist, and a guy in Indiana once said I was one of underground music's best kept secrets. I have probably played 2,000 shows in my lifetime in probably every type of venue imaginable. I love the diy scene more than i hate it and sometimes hate the fact that I love it, but i really just love playing with words and I think the Mountain Goats are overrated.

You were recently working with a label, but as I understand, parted ways because they were seeking to make unwanted changes to your material; do I have that correct? What's the official story on that that?

It wasn't a label. It was one of those shady hustler types trying to ride my train to pocket himself some dollars. He was managing me for a minute but started telling me to change my lyrics or remove some of them from my songs. He talked down to my fans and the diy scene in general as well and overall just wasn't very cool in how he treated me. i told him i didnt appreciate that and ditched his whole operation. Went back to handling things myself.

So you're just wrapping up a tour of Europe; how was that? What were some of the defining moments to you? 

I did the U.K as well and in Edinburgh, Scotland i walked into a 300 year old pub. A local group called The Auld Reekie String Band is jamming out songs.  There are people taking turns trading singing old Celtic folk tunes. I sit down with my guitar.  They ask me to play something. I played this unreleased song of mine called "Nero " and the string band starts playing with me. Picks it up easily.  Next thing I know, the whole drunken place is singing the chorus to my song that nobody had heard before. It was a really cool vibe and, for whatever reason, an emotionally heavy experience for me. They bought me like 6 beers and were super chill. Even after i got too drunk and accidentally broke a glass on the bar floor.
Finding out that there were people traveling as far as 5 hours to see me play overseas and had heard of my music before was mind blowing! There was at least 1 person who had heard of me thanks to the internet at every show.
Talking to people from other countries and learning about how they lived, their experiences, politics, and overall worldview was eye opening in many ways. People across the pond are so nice. Some of them got me hotels. Fed me food that you can't really acquire in the states, made sure I got paid, it was really amazing and I'm really grateful for the chance to have lived that dream. My friend Jak who runs a diy film group called Shibby Pictures booked and organized it all. I couldn't have done it without him so check out his stuff on YouTube if you're interested.
On a side note, seeing all the ancient castles just sitting, crumbling on hillsides made me think about how nothing lasts, no matter how powerful. Empires fall and ruins become overpriced tourist traps 800 year later.
The punk squats in Europe are a thing to experience. Huge warehouses covered in graffiti, walls adorned with political one liners scrawled in magic marker. Communities working together under one roof with over 6 floors worth of rooms. The shows at those spots were very memorable cause ' the USA just doesn't have those types of squats. At least none that I've seen
Rollin' in De Wallen, the red light district in Amsterdam was pretty cool too.

What about the new album you have coming out? 

It's the best record of 2019

When should we expect the new album?

It will be out probably around February or March. It's not "folk punk" whatever that term currently means. It has elements of folk and punk in the songs, as well as blues, some jazz. It's a mix of a bunch of styles.
The process was, I spent a year in relationship that wasn't healthy for me. I didn't see that at the time. I hardly wrote any music and kind of lost myself for a while. Once it ended, a flood of songs came to me that were inspired by the whole experience. I wrote most of the album in about a week over last summer. So its got a mix of relationship songs, social commentary songs, a song about a surrealist circus and a rap track along with some other things. I recorded it in long island new york. It's a mix of full band songs with electric guitar, solo acoustic songs and full band acoustic songs. There are 10 new tracks and 3 older solo songs re recorded with a full band. I'm pretty happy with it. My brother zac played drums and my friend Rob played bass, they are in a band called The Sharp Shadows from Brooklyn who you should Check out if you like garage pop rock n' roll.
It's gonna be a solid record .

I remember seeing something about you having a book in the works?

Yes, I've been working on a collection of what I think  are interesting stories about things that I've experienced  throughout my life, as well as some poetry and journal entries from touring and playing shows. I always wanted to write one, so i started putting it together 2 years ago. I dunno when its coming out. It should probably be released soon since its already up to 400 some pages long. I want it to inspire people to never be afraid to chase a cool story of their own and to never give up on something you love. I just need a good ending and I haven't made the cover of Rolling Stone or checked into an asylum yet.

Don't forget to check out Matt's music!
Also, see this interview with Skyler Husebye of Straight Line Arrival!

Interview: Skyler Husebye of Straight Line Arrival

Musically Dependent wanted a little insight into the world of up-and-coming folk punk musician, Skyler Husebye. Or, as this person is sometimes known as, Straight Line Arrival. SLA was featured in a previous post reviewing their album If No Place...

You had an album featured on Musically Dependent in If No Place... and have released two new albums since. What do these albums offer? 

SLA started out as a way for me to start getting clean four and a half years ago. I had never even played a show up until I turned 20 but had always been writing music but just never had a band materialiaze for me.
Straight Line Arrival became my therapist. I used this medium to cope with and try to understand my frustrations with the world around me. Two years in and "If No Place..." was my first album where I realized, hey I'm gonna start taking this project seriously. Its a short ep giving glimpses into various parts of my life from the ages 18 to 22. It really starts to expose my frustrations with the place I've called home for 20 plus years. And was recorded during the NODAPL protests which happened pretty much in my backyard. Glass Bones I wrote after breaking two bones back to back. It set me back a lot and there were a lot of challenges that came with it. And the fact that I couldn't be there in person to support Standing Rock killed me. I was angry with the world. I was angry with myself. I finally had something I felt like I could make a difference with and I could do nothing about it. Even with it practically in my backyard. I did a lot of reflecting during that time about the things that were eating me alive and the things I was scared of and put it into an album. Paper Skin was a giant continuation of the same themes except I really wanted to highlight the growth and willingness to move on from my traumas and do what it takes to finally leave this place.

You have often made comments on social media about the struggles of being progressive, and of being a folk punk musician in North Dakota. What has that experience been like for you? 
Bismarck, North Dakota is a strange anomoly. Last winter on new years day we were the coldest place in the world. Colder than both poles even if just for a while. This cold leads to severe isolation and in a lot of cases various drug abuses for a very good portion of the year. This place is the place Trump holds rallies when he wants to feel good about himself. Racism, transphobia, and homophobia is so ingrained here and socially acceptible that it blows my mind. The people that are trying to make a difference are few and far between. Our lawmakers refuse to repeal blue laws "because their wives spend enough of their money" and they wonder "whatever will happen to breakfast in bed". Our police tried murdering over a hundred people by spraying cold water on them outside in below freezing temperatures. Hardly anyone here bats an eye. The government around here definitely represents the majority here. It's sad. Every time someone tries to start out somethint great it is almowt immediately shut down. Its a very frustrating place. I used to see the appeal to the isolation when I was younger. But as I got out and travveled I realized the center of the continent was just a backwoods shithole.

What drew you to folk punk?
When I first got clean off the needle a friend left a guitar at my house. I started writing music and asked him what genre my music was. He said folk punk then showed me the front bottoms. From there I found Ramshackle Glory and I listened to Live the Dream everyday for a whole year until I hit my one year mark that Pat sang about in First Song part 2. The rest is really history. I got into it for the accesibility stayed in it for the community that inspired me to get clean and be a better person.

I saw where you were recently active in local politics by supporting a measure that would have allowed cannabis to be consumed in your state. Can you talk about that movement, and your feelings on the ultimate failure to garner the needed votes?
Measure 3 ultimately was doomed to fail. I severely underestimated how many of the old dying people here make it out of their nursing home to vote. There were critics saying the bill was poorly worded but everyone was biased against anything to do with legalization from the start. If people start smoking pot legally people might not want to buy meth off the crooked cops. I really did believe in it. For a few weeks there I really felt as if something good would happen here. I got good and hammered when it failed and am just happy that the voting power here will shift when the nursing homes finally empty. I wont be here. But I still want the best for my friends that will still he here.

What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of music?

I love playing bartender at parties. At every house show I try to have a few specialty drinks to make for everyone. I like painting even though I haven't painted in a while. I used to he quite great with watercolor pencils. I am also a very good cook and love making pastas and seafood. I guess other than that my main hobby is playing video games. I think I have at least a few thousand hours put into league of legends.

What projects are you working on right now? What should people expect of Straight Line Arrival in the future?
Right now I am working on an album called "The Greatest Arsonist" its an album exploring how everything changes as you grow up and desperately trying to keep hope and a sense of wonder. I will have a short two week tour going from Lousiana back to Bismarck sometime in the very near future. After that I am slowing down for a few months and moving to Minneapolis. I'm very excited to be in a new place with much more opprotunities. Where I live has held me back for much too long. And I can assure anyone that I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing even if I don't have my prison of a hometown to whine about anymore.

Don't forget to check out Straight Line Arrival on Bandcamp!

The Hills and the Rivers - Apocalyptic Dreams

Pittsburgh folk punk group, The Hills and the Rivers, appropriately released their album Apocalyptic Dreams last November, and it's the perfect music for the modern times. With both XVI - The Tower, and XX - Judgement's, symbology woven together into the album cover, this album promises right from the start to tell a story of the upheaval our world is going through.

"Secondhand Grin" goes through a few musical shifts, showcasing this band's excellent musicianship.

"The Tower" starts off with the card from Tarot's Major Arcana of the same name - which represents such things as chaos, upheaval, and destruction, losing the "crown" that you've built up as things start to come crashing down - then applies that to our lives in the world today. All with a catchy chorus.

"The Collapse" follows, with some descriptive apocalyptic imagery, laid over a smooth melody.

"Sorrow" is slower, with some lower vibrations, but it really hits home with how many of us feel right now.

"Lift the Veil" conjurs up more apocalyptic imagery, outright saying, "We are living in an apocalyptic dream."
                                       

"Lot's Wife" was good, but the symbology went beyond me on this one.

"Wild Wolves" asks questions about nature - is everything just chaos, or is there an order?

"Misery's Company" brings up things like how all life is meaningless, and everyone dies, but that we can't think that's all we are.

"Folk Steady" is a groovy finish to a great album that lifts the energy back and gets you wanting to create some movement.

Check out Apocalyptic Dreams on Bandcamp before it's too late!

Also, see album reviews for Straight Line Arrival - If No Place, or Broken Glass Kids - Another Step Back

Broken Glass Kids - Another Step Back

Canadian folk punk group, Broken Glass Kids, released their full-length debut album, Another Step Back, just this past June.

"Spit 'n Blood" opens with a bit of a haunting tone, which changes up into some light-hearted bluegrass in "Ordinary Magic," which reminds us there's "magic in the every day."

"Midsummer Heat" is a lot of things. Smooth and catchy come to mind.

"Burn the Map" will make you want to quit your job and hit the road until you don't know where your home is anymore.

Until "Going Home", that is, which will make you long for the place you've left behind. There's nothing like the feeling going home after a long time out on the road. This song just might call you back.

"Calculated Risks" is another smooth track, and has some sweet harmonica on it.

"Down With It" is super catchy, and has a nice mandolin solo. Working class song about how the system takes everyone "down with it".

The album closes with "Each Other's Heros", which is an incredibly inspiring song about how we can be each other's heros. This song is very real, down to Earth, and sure to make you smile.

Another Step Back is a solid debut for the punks from Toronto, and I highly recommend you check these folks out!

Also, see album review for Joe Billy - Let 'Em Fall, or featured album Cats Not Cops//Captain Chucke - UKElear Assault

Cats Not Cops//Captain Chucke - UKElear Assault

Ohio's Captain Chucke and Tennessee's Cats Not Cops teamed up for a split, UKElear Assault, and it just became available yesterday! The new split features three new originals and a cover, each!

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Cats Not Cops is the one-piece folk punk/uke punk band of Keith Kaaos, based out of Johnson City, TN.

Captain Chucke is a folk punk/uke punk based out of Athens, OH.

Check out the split on Bandcamp!

Joe Billy - Let 'Em Fall

New Jersey folk punk musician, Joe Billy, just put out Let 'Em Fall last month, and can be found on tour right now.

"Sorry, Mom" starts the album off with some fast and angry guitar, and some shouting about making the world a better place.

"Denounce Columbus" is about how Columbus commit atrocities against the Natives, like bringing plague, but we celebrate him and shouldn't.

"Age Is A Social Construct (built on faulty roots)" starts off by questioning why you've gotta wait until 21 to by beer, when 12 year olds are often more mature than 40 year olds.

"The Fly You Ignore" - as far as I can tell - is about people that ignore the homeless in the street.

"I Pray For Armageddon" is about how we're heading towards our apocalypse.

"Half Assed Apology" is a non-aplolgetic apology, and it's kinda catchy.

"The War On War" is a call for peace. Great lyrical work on this one, and the harmonica is nice.

"Self Hate Masculinity" is about how blaming natural instinct on being a man is lazy.

"Rainbow of Trash" is about how, "we're all just a rainbow of trash." 'nuff said.

"Smash Your Television" is about reasons to smash your tv, and alternatives you could be doing, instead of sitting in front of a mind control device.

Offering plenty of things to think about, Let 'Em Fall is definitely worth giving a listen!

Also, check out album reviews for Out of System Transfer - Junkyard Golem, or Joe Bartel - Are You Even Nice

Out of System Transfer - Junkyard Golem

New York folk punk group, Out of System Transfer, released Junkyard Golem last November.

Kicking off with "Hank Stamper's Blues", you're gonna get sucked right in and grooving along with the blues-y trumpet, bluegrass-y vocals, and a solid guitar riff.

"The Horse (and his boi-sterous hatred of all forms of earthly authority)" showcases some great, imaginative songwriting about how much they could "care less if your monarch lives or dies."

"Fear Jelly" has some intense riffs and lyrics.

"Eliyahu" is told from the perspective of an indigenous person, discussing how "you're all still fucking awful."

"Well, Do They?" is fast-paced, showing more flashes of blues, bluegrass, and punk all blended together quite beautifully.

"Goddamn Your Bloodshot Eyes" is very blues-y, and is super catchy.

"June, 1969" has nostalgic lyrics that take you back in time to share an experience. I'm not sure which was better, the lyrics or trumpet.

"Storm Clouds (over Manhattan)" is full of energy, with ominous over tones, with another flawless blues/bluegrass/punk fusion.

"Disco Fries" is a song about not eating disco fries.

"Heads I Win" has some dank musical fusion going on, too. Really dig the sound they have going on.

"Slant Rhymes and Eye Rhymes" is a stream of catchy goodness.

"Rank Stranger" has some outlaw country feels, with jazzy/blues-y layers.

"Quinine" is a high-energy end to an incredible album.

What stands out the most to me on this album is the amazing sound they create with elements of jazz/blues/bluegrass/punk/etc., all rolled smoothly into one. This is an incredible album that you need to hear.

You can get it off Out of System Transfer's Bandcamp. 

Also, check out album reviews for Joe Bartel - Are You Even Nice or The HueMans - What's Going On?

Joe Bartel - Are You Even Nice

Are You Even Nice by folk punk musician Joe Bartel is a great album, opening with "Why Am I Like This", before going into a dark, but catchy song called, "What Does Your Truma Look Like".

"Vampyre" is an interesting song about being an introvert with social anxiety, I think. Or maybe it really is about being a vampire. I'm not entirely sure. But the song is pretty catchy.

"Early Summer, 2012" is beautiful and nostalgic, looking back at the past and how things changed.

"Good News" is about first word problems. The opening is kind of amusing, and the whole song is very well done.

"Don't Talk" is your friendly reminder to not talk to copsn. 'Nuff said.

"You Don't Desereve It" is about someone that must be a pretty horrible person. If you know someone like that, you might find yourself singing along.

"Sisters" is very mellow and apologetic. It might make you wanna call up your own sibilings.

"Song For A Car Thief" says all it needs to in the name. Fuck thieves. Actually, there's a deeper message here, too, so check the song out.

"Puppy Dog" is a happy ending to a good album. Who doesn't want a puppy dog to help make their lives better?

You can get your copy of Are You Even Nice on Joe's Bandcamp. I highly recommend you do!

Also, see album review of The Huemans - What's Going On, or demo review of Jaded Life

Jaded Life

Earlier, I did an interview with Ernie Fonseca, an incredible artist responsible for the cover art on my album, "Health Nuts Are Wingnuts Too".

Ernie also makes his own music, and you can check out his band's self-titled demo, "Jaded Life" on SoundCloud.

A humorous opening, accompanied by some nice, classical music, invites you to enjoy the band's misery and discomfort, before jumping into some growing vocals about how every cop deserves to die, with "Passive Aggressive".

Actually, "Jaded Life" is anything but passive aggressive. The rough guitar and growing vocals continue to shout at you.

Doom Song is my favorite off the demo, proclaiming, "I've always been jaded since I've walked this Earth."

The outro is much more demonic than the intro, laid over the same classical track.

Jaded Life is definitely interesting, and worth checking out!

Also see artist interview Ernie Fonseca: Era of Failure or album review The HueMans - What's Going On?

The HueMans - What's Going On?

The HueMans are a folk punk band from Ohio that just recently put out a new album, titled "What's Going On?"

I gave it a listen and loved the sound they got "going on".

Stripped down and mellow, with just a guitar and hand drum, the album starts off with "Coming Home", which pulls on the heart strings and gets you grooving at the same time.

"Andy" is about that one guy we all know that let their addictions and party lifestyle into their 30s.

"Growing Up" is super catchy, and one of my favorites of this one about exactly what it says.

"My Dad and My Best Friend" is another catchy one that hits some harder issues, like the lack of a father, or a friend that commit suicide.

"Giving Up On God" almost put me in the mind of Johnny Hobo, in a good way.

"War" is another mellow-vibbed one, about personal relationship conflicts.

"Calling Names" tackels the important, current issue of hatred towards members of the LGBT community.

"25 Years Old" is another short, catchy song about growing up.

"Nothing In This World" is a song that inspires confidence. Good vibes.

"Last Song" is beautiful, catchy, and a great end to this album.

You can check the album out for yourself, and even download it to your device for free or donation on the HueMans' Bandcamp.

Also, check out the article "6 Things A Musician With Professional Aspirations Should Consider", and the album review of Robber's Roost's "Swallow Your Fears"

Lyrics & Chords For "Health Nuts Are Wingnuts Too" Album by Captain Chucke

After​ several months of hard work writing songs and playing my first full round of shows this spring, I'm happy to announce I just went live with Health Nuts Are Wingnuts Too! Download it for free on Bandcamp (donations​ go a long way)!


https://captainchucke.bandcamp.com/album/health-nuts-are-wingnuts-too