Posted March 8, 2006 — in Interviews
How long have you been together?
We have known each other since we were in high school and Tom and I have been writing together for about two years. But the band actually formed and started playing out in January of this year.
What kind of local support are you getting (radio, press, distro)?
Unfortunately, most of the radio stations in our region are owned by Clear Channel and that has made it incredibly difficult to get radio support. The college stations in the area are playing us a lot, but the commercial stations have proven difficult to break into. We get a lot of local press support in all the newspapers. Clay County Line did a review for us, as did Port Of Times Union (The largest paper in Jacksonville). Our first record was only available at shows and online, where it did surprisingly well, but our new record will be in all the area FYE stores, as well.
What are your shows like? How well do you draw?
We average about 250 people at the shows. Our biggest show was our CD release party for the first record in August. We sold out the place with 500 people. Our next CD release party is on the 26th, and we booked a bigger venue this time. We’re expecting to sell out again with around 700 people. I know it may not seem like a lot, but Jacksonville is a very metal town. And we are very not metal. We bring in something different, and to get so much support from fans really means a lot to us. Read (more…)
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KOAR: Tell us about how you got started in the music industry- your first job, position etc…
The Rev: Funny story actually, I got into some trouble with the cops in college and as a result couldn’t move home for the summer. I ended up getting a job moving furniture where I met a guy who DJ’d at Michigan State University’s radio station. One night they asked him to fill in on the Heavy Metal show and he didn’t know squat about the music and knowing I was a huge fan, he asked if I wanted to come up and pick out the music. I of course I said yes and he let me do a segue over the air. The program director heard me, called in and asked me if I wanted to host the show permanently!! Long story short, a half-year later, I was the program director of a 3500 Watt FM college station. Through WDBM I made tons of contacts in the music business and during my last semester I lead the station to #2 in the ratings 18-34 females and got an offer to move to New Jersey to be an independent radio promoter at the now defunct AIM Marketing. Pretty crazy turn of events!
KOAR: The Syndicate you formed- tell us about the background on the company, departments, services, clients, roster of bands.
The Rev: The story continues, 3 months into my job as director of the Loud Rock Radio department at Aim, my immediate supervisor, Anya Feldman, left for a job at TVT. I didn’t feel like I was qualified to run the department at the time, so I suggested they bring in Marc Meltzer. Marc interviewed and got the job. Within a year we had the department doing more business that it had in years. At the height of our success, the owner of the company decided to disband the company, which left 15 employees out of a job. Marc and I decided to team up with Tracey Zucatti and Jon Landman who were running the College Radio department and Bernie Mueller who ran the Retail Promotions department and do exactly what we were doing at AIM but as the owners of our own company. On December 17, 1997 the AIM offices closed and on January 5, 1998 The Music Syndicate was born. Click to read more (more…)
The Black Maria is now signed to Victory Records with their debut album slated for release in January 2005.
KOAR: Tell us how the band formed.
Well basically, we have all known one another for many years, whether it was
through the scene or being in other bands together. When this band formed I
was playing in Chris’ solo band. At the time a local band called GRADE was
playing it’s last local show (Kyle was the singer of this band) I knew Kyle
over the years from going to local shows, and I approached him about
starting a band, or just getting together and jamming. We exchanged phone
numbers, and about a month later he called me and said let’s get together.
We talked about other people who we could possibly recruit for this project.
Kyle wanted to play guitar in this band, stepping away from the mic. So I
asked Chris if he would be interested in singing. Chris was now on board. I
then approached my friend Derek who played drums in a band with Chris and I
called Zyon. He was into the idea. We all got together and started writing
songs (without a bass player) We went through numerous bass players trying
out for the spot. Thats when Mike came along. Chris previously played with
Mike years ago in a band called Montgomery 21. He was a perfect fit. The
Black Maria was then born.
KOAR: How did you come up with name “The Black Maria”
The name “The Black Maria” comes from the slang term given to a police
patrol vehicle. It was used to transport criminals in the 1800’s, and was
known as the “deliverer of death”. Read (more…)
(Kings of A&R) - Who are you currently with?
Brian Sirgutz (Elementree Records) - I currently run Elementree Records for the rock band KoRn.
(KOAR) - Waht do you think of the current state of the music industry?
(ER) - I think that in any industry, there are cycles of growth and consolidation. In today’s music industry climate it will get much worse before it gets better. This is because labels are stilll looking at artists quarter by quarter instead of making careers. The hits that Clear Channel requires for ratings are processed and delivered by the labels and the record sales in turn are driven by the hit songs clear channel play. Today, the industry is reapoing with it sows. If you sell an artist by the hit song and not the artist, instead of the consumer paying as high as $19.95, they will just turn to the nete and download if for free, it’s easier to download than to purchase it online. Labels have to compete with ease of use and free. In this case, the labels will lose. It needs to get a lot worse before it gets better, but people need music like humans need air. It’s a matter of how music becomes commodified. Click to read more (more…)
I Hate Kate - So. Cal - The lead singer Justin Mauriello is the former front man for rock band Zebrahead that released 3 albums on Columbia/Sony which sold a several hundred thousand units combined worldwide, went gold in Japan. Booked by the MOB Agency [No Doubt]. Recently picking up spins at radio stations like X96 in Salt Lake City where they have been #1 continuously beating out similar major label bands via requests. “Bed of Black Rosesâ€? has recently been serviced to 270+ stations and is on the FMQB sampler. For more information contact Lawyer Ben Mclane at BCMcLane@aol.com. Check out the track Bed of Black Roses which is stronger than Arctic Monkeys lead off single. Speaking of Arctic Monkeys………….I have heard the chatter on Arctic Monkeys. Hyped bands don’t often live up to the chatter (i.e. Block Party). After watching the video on Fuse at 2:00am in the morning, I can honestly say I don’t get the band. How these faceless bands gain this type of momentum is a mystery. It goes to show you how powerful the media has become. Helmet has signed to Warcon Enterprises
The Wall Street Journal :
One after another, British acts awash in homeland success like Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and the Darkness have hit American shores riding a global wave of hype, thanks largely to the Internet. British rock band Arctic Monkeys has so far failed to generate blockbuster sales in the U.S. British acts are hyped so routinely, critics take the hyperbole as a given — and then try to take the superlatives even further. Publications from Australia’s tiny Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper to America’s giant People (”Britain’s Next Great Things live up to the hype,” the magazine declared) have noted the overstatement but declare this newest arrival different
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA
Manager
berko@worldaudience.com
Lawyer
Nick Ferrara ncf@srfllp.com
Under the influence of Giants such as The Beatles, The Bee Gees, The Who and Led Zeppelin, the southern California rock band called Under The Influence of Giants seem to have found the right combination for writing modern classics. The bands latest EP, called ‘Mama’s Room’ was produced by former Blind Melon members, Chris Thorn and Brad Smith. Under The Influence Of Giants have been making a name for themselves throughout southern California, drawing over 500 at their shows and getting airplay on Indie 103 with their single ‘Mamas Room.’ The strength of their songs alongside the strength of their determination have been capturing the eyes and ears of many majors. The band will be performing June 9th at the Viper Room in LA and July 8th at The Roxy.
For more information, contact berko@worldaudience.com or legal Nick Ferrara ncf@srfllp.com
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