Rawkin: Headbanging 80's metal in the Shack
Another week gone and in my opinion one of the best New Music Fridays I have been to thus far! I was pretty disappointed that only a few students were in attendance this week. The two bands that played this week: Apocalypstic and Leather Snake.
Who They Are: Apocalypstic (NOT to be confused with Apocalyptica, the Finnish cello metal band) is a young band founded by two talented and very gifted ladies, Drea Benjamin (lead vox and rhythm guitar), and Laurie Stewart (lyricist and drummer). They are joined by new members Zack Roy (lead guitar), Chantel Hajj (bass) and Meredith Van Volkingburgh (keys and synth). They are from Ottawa and have been playing a lot of shows while still getting used to each other. They are growing together as a fresh band but they feel like they fit together already and have a vision of where they are going.
I sat down with Stewart and Benjamin and had a great conversation about what they are doing, the new band members and how their first experience of playing outside of their hometown has been like. They felt a little nervous but excited playing away from home. They had some problems finding band members and two of the new members are brand new to the band. They are underage but already very committed to the band and the music, which is something they were having a hard time finding with other people. They are currently promoting their EP called People You've Been Before; and they are also starting to record a full-length album. One thing they don't want is to be is classed into just one genre of music. Right now they sound more pop-rock, but they are exploring so many different types of music, including R & B, pop, metal and reggae just to name a few.
How They Did: They opened the night to a very sparse crowd which can be un-nerving to any performer but they gave it their all and started out strong with a Lady Gaga melody that had a very interesting spin on the song that Lady Gaga herself would love! They played one song that is on their website called Spun. Check them out, I think they have great potential and we can expect great things from them in the near future!
Who They Are: Leather Snake is an 80's metal cover band from London, ON., that love to have fun and rock out donning spandex and 80's hair that brings you back in time with no apologies and they play the best music ever! The band members are Archie Gamole, (drums), Johnny Jamez Dio (lead vox), A.C. Kurrent (lead guitar), and Ace Wylde (bass).
I had a chat with the band and asked them about being a cover band. Gamole responded by telling me, “We aren't a cover band, we had a hand in all the songs they play at some point in time, but all these other bands stole parts of our music and they became hits! Seriously!” I asked them how they got together then and they said, “We put ads in the classifieds looking for people that liked leather and spandex and 80's metal and big hair... that is how we all met, we just found each other and we play great music!” In all seriousness though they love playing the covers and they all do this for fun. They go by their stage names in this band and stayed in character during the interview, but they all have other serious projects separately.
How They Did: These guys are AMAZING! They come out in spandex, leather, big hair and you feel like you just time-warped into the past. They play every great metal and rock song possible and the whole show became complete with the blow up sex doll, their lights, banner, costumes and set! They play the likes of KISS, GNR, Motorhead, Whitesnake, Iron Maiden and they ended off the night with Metallica (my personal favourite band of all time)! They played two sets and kept their energy throughout and they had every song perfect!
Please come out and support your local talent and check out new music each week at these events! What is better than coming to shows each week usually for free? It's a great way to relax and connect with friends and the Out Back Shack has great food too!
As always any comments, questions or concerns please feel free to email me! That's all from me so until next week, KEEP ON RAWKIN!
Who They Are: Apocalypstic (NOT to be confused with Apocalyptica, the Finnish cello metal band) is a young band founded by two talented and very gifted ladies, Drea Benjamin (lead vox and rhythm guitar), and Laurie Stewart (lyricist and drummer). They are joined by new members Zack Roy (lead guitar), Chantel Hajj (bass) and Meredith Van Volkingburgh (keys and synth). They are from Ottawa and have been playing a lot of shows while still getting used to each other. They are growing together as a fresh band but they feel like they fit together already and have a vision of where they are going.
I sat down with Stewart and Benjamin and had a great conversation about what they are doing, the new band members and how their first experience of playing outside of their hometown has been like. They felt a little nervous but excited playing away from home. They had some problems finding band members and two of the new members are brand new to the band. They are underage but already very committed to the band and the music, which is something they were having a hard time finding with other people. They are currently promoting their EP called People You've Been Before; and they are also starting to record a full-length album. One thing they don't want is to be is classed into just one genre of music. Right now they sound more pop-rock, but they are exploring so many different types of music, including R & B, pop, metal and reggae just to name a few.
How They Did: They opened the night to a very sparse crowd which can be un-nerving to any performer but they gave it their all and started out strong with a Lady Gaga melody that had a very interesting spin on the song that Lady Gaga herself would love! They played one song that is on their website called Spun. Check them out, I think they have great potential and we can expect great things from them in the near future!
Who They Are: Leather Snake is an 80's metal cover band from London, ON., that love to have fun and rock out donning spandex and 80's hair that brings you back in time with no apologies and they play the best music ever! The band members are Archie Gamole, (drums), Johnny Jamez Dio (lead vox), A.C. Kurrent (lead guitar), and Ace Wylde (bass).
I had a chat with the band and asked them about being a cover band. Gamole responded by telling me, “We aren't a cover band, we had a hand in all the songs they play at some point in time, but all these other bands stole parts of our music and they became hits! Seriously!” I asked them how they got together then and they said, “We put ads in the classifieds looking for people that liked leather and spandex and 80's metal and big hair... that is how we all met, we just found each other and we play great music!” In all seriousness though they love playing the covers and they all do this for fun. They go by their stage names in this band and stayed in character during the interview, but they all have other serious projects separately.
How They Did: These guys are AMAZING! They come out in spandex, leather, big hair and you feel like you just time-warped into the past. They play every great metal and rock song possible and the whole show became complete with the blow up sex doll, their lights, banner, costumes and set! They play the likes of KISS, GNR, Motorhead, Whitesnake, Iron Maiden and they ended off the night with Metallica (my personal favourite band of all time)! They played two sets and kept their energy throughout and they had every song perfect!
Please come out and support your local talent and check out new music each week at these events! What is better than coming to shows each week usually for free? It's a great way to relax and connect with friends and the Out Back Shack has great food too!
As always any comments, questions or concerns please feel free to email me! That's all from me so until next week, KEEP ON RAWKIN!
