Murder Person For Hire - I Thought I'd Be Dead By Now (album review)

I trust you as much as I trust anyone who doesn’t listen to this album. The debut release from Murder Person For Hire is the perfect blend of sarcasm, satire and emotional turmoil, leading the listener on a journey akin to a stage musical of life in a counterculture world of anarchy and underground house shows. It causes one to reminisce longingly of every DIY venue ever patroned, while at the same time reevaluate every situation that came out of them; Instilling the idea that, looking back, maybe everyone didn’t think and feel the way you might have thought they did at the time..

The story begins with “fishing” an epic intro that can only be heard, and “theme song” which introduces us to our main character, followed by “3edgy5me” which all seem to mark a commentary on the proverbial modern decent into the so-called folk punk scene. “Glass Body” and “Knife.mkv” take us to the next stage of turmoil for the protagonist as social pressure and confusion start to take hold, which then comes to its peak in “Get In The Fucking Robot, Shinji” a sarcastic take on giving up and giving in.

Things begin to turn around for our hero in the second act as they lash back out with tracks like “Chaotic Gender Neutral” and “Wish” that feel more personal and relatable. Then the finale stays true to the contrary nature of the story so far and takes shape in “Break All of My Fingers” followed by the paradoxical ballad “I Trust You” that leaves us with the feeling that things might never be too great for our hero, but maybe at least they are a little better off than when they started..

www.mp4h.bancamp.com

www.facebook.com/nonopersonforhire

Album reviewed by

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: Isaac Alexander of The Hills and the Rivers

Today, we're talking with Isaac Alexander of  rising folk group, The Hills and the Rivers, whose album Apocalyptic Dreams was previously reviewed by Musically Dependent.

What should people not familiar with The Hills and the Rivers know about the band, and how would you describe your music? 

We're a family band centered around 4 Hill siblings. We're an acoustic ensemble that uses the limitations of our instruments and voices to explore influences from many genres, and we focus on creating music that attemps to transmit healing, inspiration and illumination.

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

Neutral Milk Hotel, Sufjan Stevens, Black Bird Raum, Rail Yard Ghosts, Leonard Cohen, Fela Kuti, 60s folk revival, old school jazz, old time music!

You played quite a few fests this past year, I remember seeing. What were some of your favorites? 

We had a blast at FloydFest in Virginia, the biggest fest we've played at by far. Xtreme Folk Society Fest was a nice, intimate festival with a welcoming family feel. Pyro at Nelson Ledges was awesome, Starwood was an interesting pagan festival with lots of educational work shops, but 4th River Fest was my favorite, being our own hometown featival that we run from our own DIY show space.

Were you excited to share the lineup with anyone? 

Oh yeah, playing with bands like Old Crow Medicine Show (a busking band with real deal chops that made it HUGE) Infamous Stringdusters and Jason Isbell (plus so many other great bands) at FloydFest was amazing. It was also awesome to open for Rising Appalachia at Pyro!

Are there any fests you played this past year that you would like to, or are planning on, returning to? Or new ones you might be looking at? 

We're returning to Starwood, and a few others that I can't announce yet, and we've set the dates for 4th River to be August 16-18. We're always looking for new fests and audiences to share our music and message with!

What about this tour you're getting ready to go on? What are some shows you're looking forward to? 

Excited to get to the west coast again! NOLA is always a blast, and we love the Pacific Northwest, also thrilled to be playing two shows with Mama Said String Band in Louisville and Cincinatti.

What are some other things The Hills and the Rivers are working on right now?

We're working on setting up 4th River Fest and have begun practicing new songs for our next release, which will probably be out in 2020!

What's some of what goes into running a festival like 4th River Music Fest?

Its a relatively small festival, which is good because theres not a lot of space for people to camp, but we are blessed with a lot of abandoned lots around the house and cool neighbors. We had about 300 people over the whole weekend last year.

When will people get an initial look at the lineup this year? What should interested bands know?

Well we'll be playing, obviously, and many acts from the 4th River Music Collective, but we do have a couple tentative headliners we're waiting to announce. We'll probably announce an initial line up after we get back from tour, probably some time in March. We're not really taking submissions, we always have more people that we want to play than we actually have time for!

Don't forget to check out The Hills and the Rivers, and catch them on tour or at a festival near you!