Buzz Blog

click to enlarge

Back out into the local concerts we go, a little earlier than expected this month with Thanksgiving on the way, which usually dries out the next two weeks for other planning between band members. Not like there's been a heavy supply of all-locals shows in the past few weeks with people taking gigs all over the place with visiting bands. 2010 has probably been one of the highest visiting years we've had in a while. So we'll hit up one show that has a Kansas band.

--- The appropriately named Abandon Kansas paid us a visit at The Urban Lounge this past Wednesday, playing along side three local bands before heading off to Denver. Opening up the show with our old friends in Bobo Shand, and then closing out the evening with the ever powerful Dirty Blonde and the always cool rock from Blackhounds. We chat with the last two on the bill today along with over 300 pictures from the show for you to check out here.

Dirty Blonde (Cale Montrone, Spencer Flowers, Aaron Jacobson & Justin Green)

http://www.myspace.com/dirtyblondeutah

Gavin: Hey guys, first off, tell us a little about yourselves.

Aaron: First off, I hate that question, haha.

Spencer: Ya, what are we trying to get a job here? Next question.

Cale: I guess we are just a dumb rock 'n roll band.

Aaron: With a fetish for leather and all the clichés that go with it.

Gavin: What got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?

Cale: I think we can all come to a consensus that Led Zepellin, Thin Lizzy, Queens O The Stone Age, anything Jack White does, ect., changed our lives... And its a toss up between Creed and Nickleback. Haha!

Spencer: I fuckin' love Creed!!!

Gavin: How did you all get together to form Dirty Blonde?

Spencer: Aaron, Justin and Cale have been playing music together since high school.

Cale: I met Spencer playing at a coffee shop and I totally pitched tent in my pants. We started jamming in the attic of a flower shop and the rest is history. Or so they it goes?

Gavin: What was it like for the four of you to come together and try to figure out your sound?

Justin: We just jammed on some tunes and things just fit together.

Spencer: Ya, we all have the same taste in music so it was a really easy fit.

Gavin: You just started out earlier this year playing together. How has it been for you playing gigs and getting the crowd's reaction to it all?

Aaron: The crowds have been very receptive to our musical ensemble.

Cale: The bars and crowds have been tolerant of our bullshit antics.

Gavin: Recently you scored a spot on the Desert Rocks show, which is impressive for a fresh band. How was it for all of you to play that gig?

Justin: From what we remember it seemed like a good time

Cale: It was a goddamn free for all.

Gavin: I understand there's an album in the works. What can you tell us about it and how its coming along?

Spencer: The album is almost done, it is in the mixing stages. Hoping to have it out by the end of the month so we will see how that goes. we will keep everyone posted.

Gavin: Are there any plans for touring after its release or are you sticking to home for now?

Cale: Hopefully tour sooner that later.

Spencer: Tour, yes. Home, no.

Justin: We hope to get out on a tour soon but we will still be playing many local shows for the time being.

Gavin: On the same token, are you going to be looking for a label or sticking to doing things DIY style?

Cale: I will take as much money as a label with throw at us. Next question.

Gavin: Alright, going state-wide, what are your thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?

Aaron: There are plenty of awesome bands in SLC, but the scenes are getting a little stagnant, that's why we want to get the fuck out of dodge!

Gavin: Is there anything you believe could be done to make it more prominent?

Justin: There are some great venues out there for local bands, but there are also some that need to treat the local acts better. As far as the music goes I think more fans would show up if band weren't so worried about how they look on stage and worried more about putting on a kick ass show.

Gavin: Not including yourselves, who are your favorite acts in the scene right now?

Spencer: King Niko, Spell Talk, Devil Whale, Red Bennies, Triggers & Slips, Tony Holliday, Holy Water Buffalo, Rick Gerber, Max Pain & The Groovies, and we cant forget God's Revolver, they are one of the best for sure.

Gavin: What's your opinion on the current airplay on community radio these days and how its affects local musicians?

Cale: KRCL is sweet, the more air play the bands get the better, hopefully more radio stations start weening towards local bands to help them out.

Gavin: What do you think of file sharing these days, both as musicians and a music lovers?

Aaron: We don't like thieves, but we will give you our shit for free. Its like a double edge sword, its great to get your music out there, but it makes it hard for smaller bands to make it.

Gavin: What can we expect from you guys over the rest of the year and going into next?

Justin: New CD, more shows, more leather and more women. Haha.

Cale: I should get a leather drum set!

Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to plug or promote?

Spencer: We have a Facebook page. Keeps you updated on shows and shit.

Cale: Go see local bands and come party with us.


Blackhounds (Ronald Prince, Clyde Armstrong, Lorin Madsen and Benjamin Hoagland)

http://www.myspace.com/weareblackhounds

Gavin: Hey guys, first off, tell us a little about yourselves.

Lorin: Well, we are a four piece American rock 'n roll band based out of Salt Lake City. The band started in the summer of 2008 after myself, guitarist Clyde Armstrong, and former guitarist Daniel McAllister were ready for something different from the previous musical projects we had been apart of up to that point.

Gavin: What got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?

Lorin: I got my start playing music at a fairly young age. My older brother sang in a Ska band called The Fast Eddies years ago. He turned me onto a lot of great music and bands at the time. I remember going to my first show and realizing it was something I wanted and needed to be apart of. From there I just started to jam out in neighborhood basements and garages with friends over the years trying to make something sound halfway decent.

Gavin: How did you all get together to form Blackhounds?

Lorin: Like I said, we started in the summer of 2008. Myself, Daniel McAllister, and Clyde Armstrong were all involved in other projects at the time, but none of them ever felt exactly, "right" I guess you could say. We really loved listening to a lot of classic rock bands, even bands with a bit more of a "country/twang" but none of the bands we had been involved with were anything close to that. We decided we wanted to just start something that felt natural to us.

Gavin: With all the different kinds of sub-genres out there, what was it like for you as a band to hone a more tradition rock sound in your music?

Lorin: Well the more "traditional rock" sound is something that like I said just came natural to us from the start of Blackhounds. We just didn't want to go into this band wanting to sound like someone else, or try to "fit" a certain genre. We really feel that even with two years into this band that we are still coming into our own sound as a band more and more. We want to do just what feels right to us.

Gavin: Earlier this year guitarist Daniel McAllister left the band, making the group a four piece. What was the story behind his departure and how was it for the rest of you going on from there?

Lorin: Daniel leaving the band earlier this year was different for us at the beginning. He was a big part of the band up to that point and it was hard to see him go, but we had been on the road a lot, almost non stop, and he was ready for something different in his own life I think. We're still great friends, and he is now playing in Bobo Shand. We support those guys completely with whatever they decide to do musically.

Gavin: Recently you released your debut EP, Hold On For Dear Life. What was the recording process like, and what difficulties did you meet along the way?

Lorin: Well, recording that EP in 2009 was a great step for us as a band. We worked with producer/engineer Matt Winegar on the record and we couldn't have been more thrilled to work with him. We all respect him so much for what he does and has done over the years that it wasn't even a question to work with him. For our first release we are still very happy with the EP I think. We were going through a lineup change at bass during the writing of the EP which put some stress on us at the time, and of course we'd love to go back and change things here and there, but that album is mark of where we were at that time of our career as Blackhounds and I think we are all very happy with the outcome of the album.

Gavin: How has the public reaction been like to it since its release?

Lorin: I think the public reaction has been great since the release of the album. We have sold a great number of records nationwide and we are really happy with that. We are still a very DIY band and pride ourselves on our touring and being on the road as much as we can. It's really great to go to a city and be able to sell 20 or 30 copies of the album and come back and see some people come back out and be apart of the show with us by singing along and stuff, it's a great feeling.

Gavin: You also recently returned from a short tour. How did that run go for all of you?

Lorin: The recent tour was great. It was supposed to be our 2^nd full U.S. Tour, but we were forced to cut it short after we did the west coast part of the dates. It was a great run though, we love being out on the road.

Gavin: Word has it you'll be going in to record a full-length to be released next spring. What can you tell us about it so far?

Lorin: We are indeed going to be releasing our first full length album in the spring at some point. Since returning from out on the road we have just been focusing our time writing and working on new material and ideas. We are really excited about the direction of the album so far. I know we want to make it a more "relatable" record for people, but we also don't want to loose that "feel good" vibe that we try and put out with our music too. We want people to hear it as good American Rock 'n Roll with a timeless feel.

Gavin: Going state-wide, what are your thoughts on the local music scene, both good and bad?

Lorin: Well I think the scene in Utah is great overall. Although I have seen some great places over the last six years of touring this country. Salt Lake City and Utah in general is one that still stands out to me. We have produced some great bands that have done great things for the recognition of our state, and I think we need to be grateful for bands like that for helping the rest of the country see the talent that is here in Utah.

Gavin: Is there anything you believe could be done to make it more prominent?

Lorin: Well it goes somewhat with my previous answer... I believe in a lot of the bands from here, but many of them don't tour and take those types of chances to get their name out there. I would love to see more bands from Utah realize that getting "signed" to a record label is not what's going to put you out on the road, it's you're passion and drive to make it happen yourself. Anything is possible if you want it bad enough, and if you want to be a "touring band" then spend the time making phone calls and emails to get you and your band on the road. I think having more bands out on the road from here would just give us a great way to show the country more and more that we have a great music scene here in SLC.

Gavin: Not including yourselves, who are your favorite acts in the scene right now?

Lorin: Some of my personal favorites in the scene right now are bands like, The Devil Whale, Neon Trees, Allred, to name a few. These bands work hard, whether or not you "like" their music or not they are bands that have been pushing hard for years to get their names out there and get their music heard by anyone who is willing to listen. I have a lot of respect for bands like that.

Gavin: What's your opinion on the current airplay on community radio these days and how its affects local musicians?

Lorin: It's great to hear about bands getting more public and college radio airplay if that's what you mean. I think it's really helped get the word out about new upcoming music in our city, or getting the word out about other great artists and bands that are touring out this way. I think the more airplay you can get as a band or artist is defiantly a great thing.

Gavin: What do you think of file sharing these days, both as musicians and a music lovers?

Lorin: At the point where music is these days, I think that file sharing and downloading is almost a necessary thing. Obviously CD sales are not what they use to be, and being able to give bands a way to distribute their music/albums on a national or international level by using the internet can be a great thing I think. Times are changing and those of us who use to go out and buy albums from our favorite record shops need to change with them.

Gavin: What can we expect from you guys over the rest of the year and going into next?

Lorin: The rest of the year is busy for us getting the new album written. We will be hitting the studio to begin recording in mid to late January and should be releasing the album in spring at some point. We will be doing a handful of shows here in SLC before the end of 2010 as well.

Gavin: Is there anything you'd like to plug or promote?

Lorin: We just want to thank everyone who has followed us and supported us thus far with this band. We've had some hard times up to this point, but we've also had some of the best times of our lives doing this band.

Follow Gavin's Underground: