Paperhaus

Paperhaus started in a basement in the suburbs of Washington, DC, where guitarists Alex Tebeleff and Eduardo Rivera spent their teenage years playing music together with ears buzzing from Radiohead, Television, and Fela Kuti. Miles away in Philadelphia, the dissonant vibrato of drummer Brandon Moses howled over distorted blues, while bassist John Di Lascio’s three drunken years playing absurdist prog-pop in shady Japanese yakuza bars were winding down. 

When the haze cleared, these four musicians found themselves in the Red Door room in DC’s legendary Gold Leaf Studios (R.I.P.), screaming raw vocal poetry into rickety old mics and bleeding cosmic noise through rusty tube amps. Regardeless, Paperhaus is the lovechild of four very different, but passionate songwriters, who share only a belief in the spiritually transformative power of music.

Ghettoblaster caught up with the dudes from the band while they prepared their second effort, an EP titled Lo Hi Lo due May 28. Lo Hi Lo was recorded at DC’s legendary Inner Ear studios with producer Ivan Basuri, and reflects the more pop side of Paperhaus’ psychedelic music. Though they won’t be spending much time at home this spring, as they are in the midst of a two-month national tour, we talked to the dudes in the band about their current stomping grounds of Washington DC.  This is what they said about it…

What’s your town’s nickname?

Chocolate City! We are all P-Funk fans, so we are proud to have DC have a nickname from a P-Funk song.

What’s your nickname for your town?

We call it Chocolate City too.

Why do you live there?

Eduardo and Alex grew up in the area. John and Brandon both moved into town and that’s where the band started. We remain there because there is a fantastic community of like minded musicians and artists developing right now, and we run a DIY house venue in the community. Despite the high cost of living, the scene in DC right now is really incredible, it’s rare to find a band in our community that doesn’t have fantastic songwriting. Almost everyone looks out for everyone else, there is very little unhealthy competition like you find in some bigger music cities. Everyone wants the community as a whole to succeed, it’s a really beautiful thing.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

Eduardo bought Mayor Vincent Grey a shirley temple because he doesn’t drink alcohol.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

The art galleries. Portrait Gallery, Phillips Gallery, the list goes on and on. One of the great things about living in DC!

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Fort Reno! It’s one of the best things DC has had to offer in music for many years now. The list of amazing bands that has played it is incredible. It’s twice a week all summer, and we try to go every chance we can.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Spring. Cherry blossoms, and DC has pretty extreme weather in Winter and Summer. Everyone goes out constantly all spring!

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Ian Mackaye. A legend for all the right reasons. We are huge fans of the music and the man.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

DC Reynolds. 2 for 1 happy hour! Our favorite place to drink in the city.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

The Black Cat has the best jukebox in the city, hands down. Lots of classic punk, no bullshit, and plenty of ecletic music too.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

We play The Black Cat and we love playing there, but we really love to play DIY venues. We feel most comfortable in DC in spaces and houses. Our house venue is our favorite place to play!

Does where you live influence your music?

DC definitely influences our music. It has an amazingly rich musical history. Punk, Go Go, Duke Ellington. A strong focus on community, DIY, DIT, and just making authentic music with integrity.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Our house venue is definitely the best place to see live music in DC. There have been so many amazing shows, Cuddle Magic, Deep Chatham, Rachel Goodrich, She Keeps Bees, Wake Island, and plenty of amazing local bands too.

What is your favorite local band?

Too many amazing local bands to name just one for DC! Ugly Purple Sweater, The North Country, Young Rapids, Deleted Scenes, GEMS, Layne Garrett, Typefighter, Pree, the list goes on and on. The music scene in DC is very rich in quality right now.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Everlasting Life. Alex and Brandon have a crack like addiction to the BBQ tofu.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Joe’s Record Paradise in Silver Spring.  Alex found a couple of Kraftwerk records in great condition, and those will always have a place on his turntable.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

The Intentional. Our friend Kate Jenkins is the editor and it’s an amazingly well written magazine with great stories, and really addresses the problems of our generation in a very authentic way. It is very inspiring to read.

What is your favorite local shop?

Qualia Coffee. Best coffee in DC by far. They roast right there, and it has really become like a second home for us.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Berlin. We will definitely make a record in that city one day!

(Catch Paperhaus on tour at one of these dates:

04.18 • Mud and Water (Baton Rouge, LA)
04.19 • The Prytania Bar (New Orleans, LA)
04.20 • Arterial (Lafeyette, LA)
04.21 • Radio Show & BBQ (Houston, TX)
04.22 • Macaroni Island (Denton, TX)
04.23 • Holy Mountain (Austin, TX)
04.24 • Pour Jon’s (Siloam Springs, AK)
04.25 • The Vassar Bastard’s Present (Albuquerque, NM)
04.26 • The Trunk Space (Phoenix, AZ)
04.28 • Thee Parkside (San Francisco, CA)
04.29 • Eli’s Mile High Club (Oakland, CA)
04.30 • The Bat Cave (Arcata, CA)
05.01 • Valentine’s (Portland, OR)
05.03 • Bird Stop (Caldwell, ID)
05.07 • GNU: Experience Gallery (Fort Collins, CO)
05.08 • Mouth House (Denver, CO)
05.09 • Side Door Lounge (Omaha, NE)
05.11 • Kitty Kat Club (Minneapolis, MN)
05.13 • Blank Space (St. Louis, MO)
05.14 • Haymarket Whiskey Bar (Louisville, KY)
05.16 • The Other Basement (Nashville, TN)
05.19 • Woodruff’s (Ypsilani, MI)
05.20 • Mahalls 20 Lanes (Lakewood, OH)
05.21 • Basement Transmissions (Erie, PA)
05.23 • Anthony’s House (Honeybrook, PA)
05.24 • BSP Lounge (Kingston, NY)
05.26 • The Elevens (Northampton, MA)
05.28 • People’s Art Collective (New Haven, CT)
05.29 • Radio Bean (Burlington, VT))

Fletcher

Fletcher began in early 2012 as a basement project between English brothers Oscar and Harvey Baker and their Chicagoan friend Tom Fry. Since then, the group has been steadily creating an incredible buzz as one of rock music’s new, relevant acts. The group has developed a brand of new-age British rock with quirky melodies and brain tingling music. Insisting on sticking to a three-piece, Fletcher has created a vigorous and chemistry-driven connection between each member. Fletcher’s second EP, Open Arms, was mixed and mastered by Mike Tholen at RaxTrax Studios and was released on April 9.

But what would make two English boys relocate to Chicago.  We caught up with all the dudes from Fletcher to discuss the city’s merits.  This is what they told Ghettoblaster about their home…

What’s your town’s nickname?

Windy City. –Tom

What’s your nickname for your town?

Chi-town. – T

Why do you live there?

I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life. It’s a great city and it makes me never want to leave. – T

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

We were both born in London, England and moved to Chicago 12 years ago in 2001. It was a pretty sudden move but we got accustomed to American life pretty easily – Oscar and Harvey

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

When I first moved to America someone asked me if English people used toilet paper or newspaper in the bathroom… – H

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

I enjoy long walks along the lake; it helps me clear my mind when things seem too murky. – H

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Mayfest and Lollapalooza. -T

What is the best time of year to be there?

May. – T

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Vince Vaughn because he made me wait at a Taco Bell drive through for 45 minutes. – O

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

DMK (burger bar) all the way!!! Sundays during industry night. The people who work there are incredible nice and it’s become quite a religious experience. -T

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

I actually haven’t seen a jukebox for a while. I think I saw one in Johnny Rockets about 10 years ago and “Surfin’ Bird” was in there. – H

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

It’s between Double Door and Lincoln Hall, the sound engineers are incredibly cool and really nice. – T

Does where you live influence your music?

Being able to live in such a big and popular city is great because all of our favorite bands have rolled through at one point or another. It is so easy to see a band you like with all the great venues. Also since we are subjected to a ridiculous fluctuation of weather all the time, it definitely pushes us to new levels of music and warmth. – T

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

I saw Raconteurs at Voodoo Festival and Jack White’s guitar shredding was phenomenal. -O

My favorite show was Arctic Monkeys and Black Keys. – H

What is your favorite local band?

Wilco started in Chicago and they have always had a strong influence on Chicago bands -H

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

DMK (THE WHOLE MENU) but especially the #1 and #9 burgers. – T

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Reckless Records and Reggie’s Rock Club record store –H and T

I visited my grandparents who live in Liverpool about four years ago and they told me I could take any vinyls I wanted from the attic. Took back with me the original Thriller album, Lennon Legend and a very rare Beatles compilation consisting of four vinyls from 1964-1967. Was a great day – O

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

The Deli Magazine. -H         

What is your favorite local shop?

Chicago Music Exchange, has a fantastic environment and selection. – H

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

I would like to live in Colorado because it’s a beautiful place and a very relaxed environment. I would live in a house with multiple puppies and kittens. I’d breed them to create a new species. I would also consider breeding with birds, who doesn’t want a flying puppy? – H

I second that -T

I could see myself on an island in the Caribbean, living off coconuts and rum. I would then build a music studio just so I could have an excuse to record a bunch of reggae music. -O

Congress

Mastering an angularity, edge and knack for catchy repetition akin to the projects of Justin Moyer (El Guapo / Antelope / Edie Sedgewick), Ypsilanti, Michigan’s Congress are far more promising than their namesake currently are – I mean, fuck politics, right? Having just released their first EP, Maker late last year, the band has recorded another couple of tracks with the intent of sharing a split 7” with fellow Ypsilanti band Green Lights. Beyond that are unspecific writing and recording plans, maybe an LP, definitely some drinking, and all interspersed with weekend warrior roadtrips around the Midwest.

Ghetttoblaster caught up with the band’s talented drummer, Aaron Quillen to talk a little about the place he, his band and Eastern Michigan University call home for this Stomping Grounds.

What’s your town’s nickname?
Ypsi

What’s your nickname for your town?
It is sometimes drunkenly referred to as Tipsislanti.

Why do you live there?
I just moved back to Ypsilanti after taking a year-and-a-half break. The rest of Congress lives there, I have a core group of friends who live there, my girlfriend recently moved there, and it puts me about ten miles closer to work. The social life there is excellent.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
I did not grow up there. A large number of my friends migrated to Ypsi after college, and I followed suit.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
From fall 2009 through summer 2011, I lived in an apartment with two friends near the Ypsilanti student ghetto, across the street from a group home. One evening, one of my housemates and I were watching a movie when one of the residents of this group home escaped, we assumed due to lack of sufficient staff, and knocked on our door. We answered and he was completely incoherent and tried to come in. When we wouldn’t let him in, he pissed his pants in the hallway right in front of our door. My housemate then walked him back to the group home and shared some words with the staff working there at the time.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
Ypsilanti is known for its historic giant penis-shaped water tower. Its marker states that it was ERECTED in 1890.

What is your favorite local event or festival?
Mittenfest, a five-day music festival that takes place around the New Year, is always very fun, even if the lineup is usually a little too folk-y for my taste. The Michigan Summer Beerfest at Riverside Park is always the best, especially when you volunteer and get to drink free craft beer for six hours straight.

What is the best time of year to be there?
Ypsi summers are amazing, but in my honest opinion, it is fall. But that’s probably due to fall being my favorite season.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Andrew W.K.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
There are several. Sidetrack has good selection and an amazing late night happy hour ($3.25 25 oz. beers and half-off liquor from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM). The Tap Room always has some liquor and beer on special for $2.75 or less, no matter when you go there. Corner Brewery’s $1-off Mondays is great. Wurst Bar, which has quickly become the new “it” watering hole in Ypsi due to its unique food menu and constantly changing craft beer selection, has an awesome late night happy hour on Fridays featuring $2 pints. And supposedly Red Rock, which is also new, now has the best late night happy hour in town, but I am yet to experience it.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
Pretty much every jukebox in Ypsi is an internet one, so this non-applicable. 

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
We play in Ypsi too often, almost exclusively at Woodruff’s.

Does where you live influence your music?
Sometimes lyrically, but otherwise, not really.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
Probably the Magic Stick in Detroit, I guess (Ypsi is 30-ish miles west of the city). The sound is not great, but I enjoy the atmosphere. Most recently, the best bands I’ve seen there have been Title Fight, Real Estate, Fucked Up, and Algernon Cadwallader, all on separate occasions, of course. I also had the pleasure of seeing The Sea and Cake there a few years back.

What is your favorite local band?
Without question, the Detroit bands Zoos of Berlin and Javelins. In Ypsi, I’d say Green Lights (whom Congress are releasing a split 7″ with hopefully in the summer) and a newer band that we all recently saw called Radiant Marks.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Sidetrack and the Tap Room both have fantastic pub food. Red Rock is a new barbecue place, and I just recently ate there for the first time and it pretty much destroyed me. Honestly, the best mac ‘n’ cheese I’ve ever had.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
No record stores in Ypsilanti, but Ann Arbor is only five miles west, and there are three awesome record stores there. My favorite find at Wazoo has been a used, original copy of Beat Happening’s You Turn Me On on vinyl. At Underground Sound, it’s probably a used, albeit reissued, vinyl copy of Elliott Smith’s XO. And at Encore, I think I picked up each of R.E.M.’s first five LPs for $5 or less. I mean, you can pretty much find them used anymore, but its hard to beat that price.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
I don’t really keep up with the local publications.

What is your favorite local shop?
Cross Street Book Shop. Unorganized, overwhelming, but totally great.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
I intend to make the move to Ann Arbor at some point down the road. In a more ambitious way, Chicago is always appealing.

Instant Empire

Instant Empire are set to release their third EP, Keep Up!  Inspired in part by T.S. Eliot, Keep Up!, imagines the voice of a younger (and slightly more intoxicated) J. Alfred Prufrock.  Thematically, the album tackles big topics such as our struggles with the passage of time and the search for clarity in the modern world.  Sonically, the effort is the band’s most aggressive to date and finds the band in league with contemporaries like The Hold Steady, The National, The Mountain Goats, Death Cab For Cutie and Desaparecidos.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with drummer Matt Grizzell to find out what inspires the band in their Stomping Grounds of Denver, Colorado, including the high instances of consumption, John Elway and Rupp’s Drums.  This is what he said about their city…

What’s your town’s nickname?

They call Denver the “Mile High City,” but everyone knows that.  Perhaps more interesting is the nearby industrial enclave of Commerce City; its colloquial moniker is “Stinky Town.”

Why do you live there?

Each of my band members made a conscious decision to move to Denver.  The thin, dry air is good for those of us suffering from the consumption.  I made an unconscious decision to move here.  I was violently trafficked hence by a rabid fan of a previous band.  We are currently expecting our first child together.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

This one time, I realized self-actualization in Dairy Queen bathroom.  For one fleeting moment, I became fully human.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)???

The Colorado mountains are a recreational powder keg!  I really enjoy hiking and climbing together in warmer months.  In colder months, I typically hang out at Vomitland, a dilapidated amusement park.

What is your favorite local event or festival? 

Denver has two fantastic summer events, each of which parade the fantastic breadth of local music talent (and each of which have banished Instant Empire for life):  They include the Westword Music Showcase (curated by the eponymous local rag), and the Denver Post’s UMS Underground Music Showcase.

What is the best time of year to be there???

 For the love of god, any time other than blood-locust season. 

Who is your favorite local celebrity???

Certainly John Elway!  Except for his politics, his restaurants, and his car dealerships, he’s the best.  Oh, and don’t let me forget that phony horse-grin he calls a smile.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour? ??

We like to drink at the Hi-Dive on south Broadway.  They usually have great cheap beer specials  (like Lost Lake, PBR, fresh chum, or Hamm’s).

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

I think we enjoy playing the Hi-Dive more so than most other local venues.  They get big, attentive crowds; they attract national-touring indie acts; and they haven’t banished us for alleged fatal rock performance incidents.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)???

There is an unfortunate dearth of jukeboxes in most tolerable local establishments.  If there were a good local jukebox, I’d imagine it to be stuffed to the gills with a mix of Motown and Matador hits.

Does where you live influence your music? ??

It does, in fact!  Our music is like the local atmosphere:  it is thin, it is dry, and it helps people with the consumption.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there???

The Bluebird Theater on East Colfax is a favorite.  It is not much larger than a typical club, but they get great acts.  I saw Tortoise there for the first time circa 2004, and they blew my mind.  By “they” I mean Tortoise and PCP.

What is your favorite local band??

We have lots of great bands locally, but my two favorites are probably Gun Street Ghost and El Toro de la Muerte (from Colorado Springs).

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish???

My favorite restaurant is a breakfast establishment called Dozen’s; partly for the Belgian waffles and partly for the opportunity to talk about vintage drums with the owner John.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there???

WaxTrax is a local legend!  Best (almost) find: When I was in high school, someone walked in a few steps in front of me and proceeded to buy the only available copy of the obscure release I came to find (Mangravy by Fluf).  True story.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)???

Until a few months ago, the Onion AV Club had a local writing staff that had the most concise, insightful print and web content regarding local music.  The Westword is the other 500-pound gorilla for local music and food coverage.

What is your favorite local shop???

Rupp’s Drums.  They keep a  few vintage drums around, they exude less coke-fueled bravado than DrumCityGuitarland, and sling less cookie cutter suck-ness than Guitar Center.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be??

London.  I hear that consumption is much less prevalent there as of late.

(Find out more about Instant Empire here: instantempireband.com.)

Aleister X

Combining elements of pop, dub, rap, all manner of good rock, and experimental music, Aleister X takes the BK/HLYWD/DTLA/JA/JP lion’s amalgamation of music and dark humor to a new level.  The first single from his forthcoming Half-Speed Mastered, which is set for a February 19 release via Andrew W.K.’s Steev Mike label, “LAX,” for example, successfully merges psychedelic sunshine pop with bouncy

Layering live instrumentation, big vocals, and samples as well as visuals into his live performance, Aleister X’s multi-media head-fuckery has spread organically worldwide.  Besides his notorious live NYC appearances, Aleister X has toured Australia, Canada, the U.K. and recently opened shows on Andrew W.K’s “Ten Years of Partying” 2012 US tour. 

Ghettoblaster recently spoke with Aleister X who had much to say, hilariously and with tongue firmly planted in cheek, about his current home, NYC.  This is what he said…

What’s your town’s nickname?

I don’t know, Nu York? But John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt) used to call it, “New Calcutta.”

What’s your nickname for your town?

Kiss-Ass City.

Why do you live there?

The Illuminati told me to.

Did you grow up there?

Oh heavens no. No.

If not, what brought you there?

The lure of models and 20,000,000 hot girls everywhere. Also very powerful telemetric microwave frequencies that control my every move with voices. Or so they say.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

Nothing weird ever happens here. Ever.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

Google Chrome.

What is your favorite local event or festival?

The corner deli.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Summer, when only the most broke residents who can’t afford to go anywhere nicer are in town.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Dr. Z.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

You know, NYC really needs some new bars, with some fresh ideas, and drink concoctions. Especially Brooklyn.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

The problem is, the few bars there are in NYC play the same old same old. Lots of A-sides, just typical, pedestrian shit that everyone else listens to anywhere else.

Do you play music there?

Yes.

 If so, where is your favorite place to play?

Secret Project Robot.

 Does where you live influence your music?

Only what NOT to sound like.

 What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Wild Kingdom/old Free 103 Space. Endless Boogie.

What is your favorite local band?

TV Baby.

 What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Palace Fried Chicken.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Record Grouch is the best record store in NYC. I recently got the first Damon Edge solo record there.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

Twitter.

What is your favorite local shop?

Guitar Center.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Cougartown.

TV Snow

West Australian quintet TV Snow released their U.S. debut on December 1.  Given a title that pays homage to bass player Ben Linden, who was fatally attacked by a shark while surfing just a day after the record wrapped, Red is a collection of new material and re-recorded re-mixed versions of songs from their debut EP.  The commonality that runs throughout the material is an affinity for catchy hooks and a deep understanding of ‘90s alt rock.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with TV Snow’s Derek Wardrobe to discuss his favorite things about his home, Perth, Australia.  This is what he had to say about it…

What’s your town’s nickname?

Perth doesn’t really have one…. Gets called “A big country town” a lot as there is only 1.5 million here… But I’m pretty sure Perth is just Perth. I’m making one up now. We need one!!

What’s your nickname for your town?

I call it “the land of the WA” (pronounced WAHHHHHHHH).

Why do you live there?

All about lifestyle!! Perfect pace of life… Best beaches, great pubs!! Not much more I ask for.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

I’m originally from Melbourne, moved to Perth about 5 years ago for a change, and I have never looked back. I absolutely call Perth home now.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

Weirdest thing… 

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

A place called “Kings Park” would probably be the best. It’s where any local would take an out of towner to show them Perth. Big park looking over the city and river. From the top, your view is about 180 degrees and pretty impressive. Other than that, Stacey from down the road!!

What is your favorite local event or festival? 

I’m a big fan of Big Day Out. This festival travels to every major city in Australia and get some pretty big international acts. Always a solid day of festivities!!

What is the best time of year to be there?

Definitely summer!! Perth is practical all about the sun, beaches and pubs. Summer is the perfect time to hit all three in one.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

I would have to say the late Heath Ledger!! Phenomenal actor.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
Loads of good places in Perth, so many pubs looking over the beach and coastline. You would be hard pressed to find a better place to drink in Australia!!

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

The best jukebox I found was at a little country pub about 3 hours south of Perth in a place called Margaret River. It was still so old school and played CD’s. Everywhere is digital these days. I think Cold Chisel was getting a workout that night.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

Still yet to get out in the country of Western Australia. We all love playing where ever we have good sound and a good crowd.

Does where you live influence your music?

Absolutely does!! Summery coastal vibes run through all our veins. 

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Not long ago, I saw The Dandy Warhols and the Silversun Pickups at the Fremantle Arts Centre. It’s an outdoor venue next to this very old gothic style building. Very cool atmosphere.

What is your favorite local band?

At the moment, I would say Tame Impala. Their latest album Lonerism is up there in my top 5 Album’s for the year for sure. And these guys are doing awesome things on the world stage too. 

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

I love eating at small, underground restaurants. There is a small Japanese restaurant in the city which you have to enter via an alleyway then walk down two flights of stairs to get to. Cheap and so delish! Can’t remember what its call but I could take you there!!!

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
Place in the city called FATSHAN RECORDS. Massive range of old vinyl’s. Found a really old school reggae vinyl there for like 5 bucks… it was a win!!

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

Always pick up the local music newspaper/magazine thingy called “Xpress Magazine” and another called “Drum Media”. Big fan of trying to keep up on my local knowledge of what’s happening around town, who’s coming to town and who’s leaving!! 

What is your favorite local shop?
Roj Kebabs, the best Kebabs going around. I go out of my way to get these… Chicken sweet chilli and sour cream… Starts me!!

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

 Still got a lot of places to check off my “to do” list, but maybe somewhere the total opposite of Perth… like Tokyo or New York. Perth is a sleepy place, be cool to live in a place that just doesn’t stop!! Total other end of the spectrum

 (For more information on TV Snow, visit http://tvsnow.net/.)

Haley Bonar

Once upon a time, alternative country singer-songwriter Haley Bonar left her home state for a new adventure and landed in the north woods of Duluth, MN. At an open stage called “Experimental Thursdays,” she brought her guitar and Farfisa organ and played a few originals and a cover of “California Dreamin’.” Alan Sparhawk of Low, was in the small audience. When she finished, he promptly approached her and asked if she would open for Low on their upcoming tour. He eventually released her album on his Chairkicker’s Union label the following spring.

Before she knew it, she had quit school, crammed her Honda Civic full of gear, and was opening for Low across the country. She was twenty years old.Since then, she has released three full length albums, several EPs, started a punk/new-wave side project (Gramma’s Boyfriend), had songs tapped for major motion pictures and has played for, and with, the most talented artists in the world.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Bonar to discuss her current stomping grounds of St. Paul, Minnesota, while she prepares for the release of her next full length record, which is expected this spring.

What’s your town’s nickname?
Mini Apple

What’s your nickname for your town?
Saint Paul is hard to nickname

 Why do you live there?
Because it’s beautiful and quiet, and the perfect size for a city!

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
No, I grew up in the Black Hills, but I moved to Minnesota when I was 18 to go to school and have pretty much been here ever since.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
Working in coffee shops over the years when money’s been tight, on more than one occasion someone has ordered a drink from me and said “You know, you really look like Haley Bonar.”

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?
Como Park.

What is your favorite local event or festival?
Music and Movies in Loring Park on Mondays in the summertime.

 What is the best time of year to be there?
Fall.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?
I don’t know…

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
The Clown Lounge in the basement of the Turf Club on a winter’s night. Get a Maker’s Mark and a Summit Winter Ale and you’re set.

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
Again, the Clown Lounge has a juke box and it’s pretty great. Lots of Motown and old country.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
I do play music here. I like to play the Cedar Cultural Center and also the 7th Street Entry.

Does where you live influence your music?
In some ways, I’m sure it does, but I couldn’t tell you exactly how. 

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
I like seeing shows at the 7th Street Entry. Alpha Consumer has rocked that joint pretty hard in the past. 

What is your favorite local band?
That’s tough. Since I just saw them this week, I’ll go with Alpha Consumer.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
The Blue Door in St. Paul has the best burger and tater tots ever.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
The Electric Fetus hands down. Not sure about best find though.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
I don’t read those too much.

What is your favorite local shop?
I Like You in Northeast Minneapolis.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
Switzerland maybe. I’ve never been there, but that’s where Heidi is from and my Grandmother swears it’s heaven on earth. Seems pretty great.

Citizen

Run For Cover Records released Young States, the debut EP from Ohio/Michigan indie rockers Citizen on October 23, 2012.  The EP, a follow up to last spring’s split with Virginia Beach’s Turnover, shows a measure of growth for a band who effortlessly blurs the lines between post-hardcore and emo, reinvigorating time tested sounds with Midwestern flare.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Citizen’s Mat Kerekes as he prepared for a vigorous winter routing to ask about his current Stomping Grounds, Lambertville, MI. 

What’s your town’s nickname?

Lambertville.

What’s your nickname for your town?

Lambertville.

Why do you live there?

It’s where my parents chose to raise me.

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

Yes.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

Nothing really weird happens. I hear that Bob Seger, or his drummer lives in the area though. That’s kind of weird.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

Parmalee Park.

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Parmaler Park Summerfest.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Fall.
Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Joey Chester.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

I do not.

Does where you live influence your music?

I guess kind of.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Frankie’s Inner City. My favorite show there was probably Fireworks a few years ago.

What is your favorite local band?

React.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Red Lobster. Crab legs.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

I don’t really go out and buy records, but this place called Re-Play is cool. I bought a Marvin Gaye CD there once.

What is your favorite local shop?

Independent Dairy.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Ocean Beach, California.

Midway In Wake

Midway in Wake originated in 2006 in a tiny studio apartment in southern South Korea where Texan Greg Reynaud moved to in order to write a new chapter on life. After the breakup of Lovetron (a band that featured early At The Drive-In guitarist Adam Amparan) and the release of an instrumental/electro/hip hop solo EP Behold the Profit (then Thieves) on Lowatt Records, Greg began hashing out rudimentary recordings with nothing but a guitar, voice, and whatever was lying around the place.

Though the aforementioned projects satisfied the desire for creative expression, Greg continued to record vocal/guitar driven music. Lacking musicians with which to collaborate with in South Korea, Greg decided to work towards releasing a full length album on his own.  We Will Remain Sedate is slated for release in late 2012 on Lowatt Records, and is Reynaud’s self-produced and arranged album.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Reynaud to discuss his Gyeongsan, South Korea home, rice wine, jook, teaching, and more.  Here’s what he told us…

What’s your town’s nickname?

The town, Gyeongsan, doesn’t have a nickname that I’m aware of, but my neighborhood, Sampoong-dong, is sometimes referred to as the “poong-dong”

Why do you live there?

I teach at a university here.  Gyeongsan is a suburb of Daegu, a city of about 2.5 million people.  

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

I wanted to teach abroad and had a few options.  Having grown up in Texas and not knowing much of anything about Korea, I decided to move here.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

When I first arrived, I was constantly stared at by children and adults and received random “hellos” from people.  Getting pushed aside by older men and women before getting on a bus or subway is pretty commonplace.  

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

There are mountains and temples everywhere in Korea.  I usually take walks in the wilderness area near the university.  There are people everywhere at all times, so it’s difficult to find privacy.  

What is your favorite local event or festival?

I used to get out to Buddhist, lantern, and fireworks festivals here, but not so much anymore.  

What is the best time of year to be there?

Autumn is a great time to be here, especially around September/ October.  Leaves changing, pleasant weather, etc.  

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

I would have to say my favorite Korean celebrity is Park Chan Wook, the movie director famous for his revenge trilogy, including Old Boy.  The singer Psy, famous for the track “Gangnam Style”, is all the rage these days.  

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

Korea has a few specialty drinks, one cheap and awful liquor called soju.  Kind of like a sweeter vodka, but made mostly from chemicals, hence the $1 a bottle it costs.  I would rather have the fermented rice wine called makkoli.  A little like sake, but cloudy and milky.  

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

Sadly, no jukeboxes.  

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

Not yet.  Someday, hopefully!

Does where you live influence your music?

I would say some of my lyrics are influenced by my life here.  I suppose the fact that I recorded everything myself has to do with my surroundings.  

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

I went to see No Age a couple of months ago in a larger city called Busan.  A cheesy, heavy metal/rockabilly/punk band from Korea opened up and put on an awesome show!!!  

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

I often go out to a place that serves Korean porridge called Jook.  You can have it with seafood, meat, or vegetables.  Pretty tasty stuff.  

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Sadly, no record stores in my area.  

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

There are a few publications for expats that help people adjust to life here.  Mostly they contain information about events and venues around the main city, Daegu.  Daegu Compass and  Bracket are a few.  

What is your favorite local outing?

Hmm.  I usually cook my own food, make my own coffee, and brew my own beer, so I would have to say my home.  There’s a cool western-style bar called Traveler’s that serves veggie burgers and pints of pale ale, which are incredibly hard to come by in Korea.  

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Since I am in the field of education, I’m intrigued by Finland’s educational system.  Students in Korea study hard for tests and to further their careers.  Finnish students don’t study as hard, but manage to do as well on tests as Koreans.  I’d like to see why that is.

(Check out some music by Midway in Wake at one of these locations:

http://store.lowatt.com/album/we-will-remain-sedate

http://midwayinwake.com/

http://www.lowatt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/midwayinwake)

Chicago, Illinois is a city that is no stranger to emo and punk heavies.  Braid, Smoking Popes, Alkaline Trio and the list goes on and on.  Rising indie/emo band Dowsing are keeping the legacy alive as part of the Count You Lucky Stars roster.  With a split with Parker and the It’s Still Pretty Terrible full-length under their belts, the band perfect the delivery of sincere rock music that is pleasing to the ears.

Ghettoblaster recently caught up with Erik Czaja to discuss his current stomping grounds including the glory of Millennium Park, Michael Jordan and vegan hot dogs from Hot Doug’s …

What’s your town’s nickname?

Chi-Town or The Windy City.

What’s your nickname for your town?

CzaCity or Czacago.

Why do you live there?

I came out to Chicago for Graduate School. 

Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?

I have always had this attraction to Chicago, but my education like I said before brought me here.

What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?

Deep Dish Pizza.

What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc)?

Millennium Park.

What is your favorite local event or festival?

Renegade Craft Fair.

What is the best time of year to be there?

Anything but Winter.

Who is your favorite local celebrity?

Michael Jordan.

Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?

My front porch and it’s gotta be the mini Mickey’s bottles. 

Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?

Definitely my roommate Nick’s iPod. So much much Propagandhi.

Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?

Well, we practice in the garage… Our most played/favorite venue is Township in Logan Square.

Does where you live influence your music?

I tend to write about where I am originally from, New Jersey/East Coast, but I’ve started writing about Chicago.

What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?

Subterranean.  The best show I saw there was the Jealous Sound.

What is your favorite local band?

The Island of Misfit Toys.

What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?

Best restaurant is the Chicago Diner.  Everything.

What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?

Reckless Records.  I found the Anniversary’s Designing A Nervous Breakdown.

What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?

I read the RedEye more than I should.

What is your favorite local shop?

Hot Dougs, because he deep fries my vegan hot dogs.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Seattle.