What were you doing when you were 14 years old? Perhaps you we chasing the dream on your Jr. High B Squad or still getting taken for your lunch money, but did you ever venture to the mic and take your chances with a live audience? The young man performing as Pynt Syze is making his mark locally in Albany, Oregon and if you suppose that Tech9 is any judge of what is or isn’t hip-hop, then you may want to keep a listen out for what is to come.

So, you are a young man but you’ve have been rapping and performing for a while, how long have you been doing rap?
PS I was 9 years old and I happened to be hanging out at the Paradox Productionz studio with my cousin Klutch. Klutch and Phonix of Paradox knew that I liked to break dance so they knew I had rhythmn. They wrote me a verse really quick and put me in the booth to see how it sounded, after some instruction and practicing we finished the song which is called “Kyng Syzed”.

How would you describe your sound and what distinguishes you from other hip-hop artists?
PS I think my sound is different because I’m much younger than anyone else that is rapping around here, I don’t curse or talk about stuff that I wouldn’t want my Grandma to hear, ha ha. I mean, I’m only 14 and I’ve been doing this since I was 9 so I think I already have more experience than most other rappers around here.

What is a Pynt Syze live set like?
PS Well I’m a solo Hip-Hop artist and I try to make my shows as energetic as possible. I’m sure when people see a 14 year old get on stage for the first time they don’t know what to expect but I think by the end of the show they come to respect me as a actual artist, not just a gimmick.

Where are you from and what do you enjoy most about your local scene?
PS I am born and raised in Albany, Oregon. I think what I like best about the local scene is the support that most every artist gives each other.

Who have been some of the key people that have helped you pave the way to where you are now?
PS The biggest influences I’ve had in music are my big brother Mike, the guys from Paradox (Klutch & Phonix), and all of my family.

It’s the start of a new year, what are some of your favorite memories from 2009?
PS My best memory from 2009 was rapping for Tech N9ne, Slaughterhouse, and all of the other artists on Tech N9ne’s K.O.D. tour back stage before his show in Eugene.

What are you looking forward to in 2010?
PS In 2010 I’m looking forward to dropping my mixtape “Class ‘N Session”, working on my debut album, and working towards getting signed!

What do you hope that fans will receive from your music?
PS I hope that they feel my passion for music and understand that you can do Hip-Hop without cursing.

What is one of the coolest stories you have heard from a fan?
PS I guess he’s not really a “fan” but the coolest thing for me was when Tech N9ne shouted my name on stage saying how good I was in from of thousands of people after I rapped for him.

Trend that you have noticed that you will never join? Skinny jeans, they’re not for me. Currently reading I’m reading my 8th grade Science book, haha; listening to Tech N9ne and the songs that I have done from my “Class ‘N Session” mixtape, and T.I.’s “Paper Trail” album; and watching I guess the channel that I watch the most is B.E.T. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? Nothing to crazy, but I pray before every show. When you are a diva/rockstar the three things that you will demand be in your dressing room are? If I demanded three things in my dressing room it would be a notebook to write in, junk food, and apple juice. The perfect combo! Top 5 songs in your personal ipod right now? I’m a Zune guy, so the top 5 songs in my Zune are Tech N9ne – Riot Maker, and 2-5 would be my own songs, haha! I mainly listen to my own music and other music from Paradox Productionz.

See Pynt Syze tear the stage up at Riley’s on March 27th with Oregon’s First The Everything Show starting at 7PM (124 Broadalbin – Albany, Oregon) see banner link below…

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, indie, organic, progressive, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook

How many people still “know what Bo don’t know”? Oregon continues to host and nurture several local treasures who could make an impression in music at large. Flo brings a blend of beauty with humility, class with swagger and a unique Samoan spice to the R&B scene. Her voice is one that reaches beyond genres and carries a power that will readily break through a cloudy day to usher in some melodious sunshine. We’re glad to introduce Flo as an up-and-coming local artist who will be sharing the stage with several other local acts for Oregon’s First The Everything Show (more info at the end of this article).

How long have you been at the R&B game and how did you get started? FLOI’ve been singing just about all my life…my mom taught my sister and I how to harmonize when we were young and made us practice every night…I hated it then, but I’m grateful for it now. I started pursuing a music career a couple years ago when I recorded in the studio for the first time…there was something electric about it, I knew it was something I had to pursue.

How would you describe your sound and what makes it different from other solo R&B artists?
FLO My sound has a lot of island influence because I’m Polynesian and I love the reggae vibe. But I also fuse some R&B into it. I’d say my songs are all feel-good songs, something you can listen to when you’re winding down at the end of the day or just chillaxin, but the beats still get ya toes tappin!

What is a live experience with Flo like? What are some of your best/worst experiences at a live show?
FLO A live experience with my group is always a good one, crowds get to experience a different type of music that they’re not typically used to listening to but at the same time will catch their ear. I think generally a bad experience at a show is when nobody’s feelin’ what you’re performing. You put your heart into this music and for people to not like it is always a bad experience. Whenever I can get a crowd to move with my music or if I’m able to hit a nerve with some people through my music then I consider it a good show.

Where are you from and what do you enjoy most about your local scene? FLO I’m originally from the coast, Florence to be exact…the music scene there is not as active as in other parts of Oregon but it’s nice because the small community there really appreciates any musicians that come out of that town so I’ve always felt supported.

Who has been the greatest influence in getting you to where you are now? FLO My family has been a great influence on my music. My mom has always pushed me musically whether I liked it or not but it’s been a great help in getting me where I am today.

Top 5 songs in your personal ipod right now?
strong>FLO Feluteni – Siaosi, Here Come the Hotstepper – Ini Kamikaze, I Love You – Chris Brown, You’re the One for Me – Dondria, Get Me Bodied – Beyonce

Catch Flo in Albany, Oregon on March 27, 2010 @ 7pm withOregon’s First The Everything Show see banner link below…

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, indie, organic, progressive, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook

Through hurdcore we have met artists, bands, promoters, fans, supporters…individuals who are teaming together to support local music. Its always inspiring to meet people who are actively chasing their dreams and using the tools they have to make a difference in their community. Of this caliber, there are few people working harder at the ground level for local music than Kit Day and Daniel Langenberg, whom hurdcore readers may recognize from their work with getting TreeHouse Venue up and running in Eugene, Oregon. So, we take pleasure in sharing our recent interview with Kit Day, of The Great Exploration, as he shares a bit of the story of how these man-students stepped out to add writing and playing music to their already robust efforts in promoting and hosting it at the local level.

The Great Exploration is fairly new as a band, how would you describe your sound?
TGE mixes progressive/experimental/and alternative all under the same roof.

You’ve played a few select shows and had some great turnouts, what is one of the coolest things a fan has ever said to/about your band? TGE Wow, that’s a tough question! We recently read an article in the paper where we were compared to Coldplay, Seabird, and Danyew. We thought that was pretty cool.

What was your favorite memory as a band from 2009?
TGE Honestly, our favorite memory was recording! We work with a close friend who is a recording engineer and had a blast with him.

TGE has a polished sound and you all play well together, as a band you’ve said, “Musically we strive to grow in the creativity God has given us and to give it back to Him through worship.” Is The Great Exploration a worship band, as in you play regularly for a church on Sunday mornings?
TGE I hope I don’t confuse you with my answer! Is TGE a worship band? Yes and No. When I say no, I mean we don’t “sound” like a typical worship band. We are beginning to progress more towards a experimental/progressive sound. When we create music, we try to be unique. When I say yes, our lyrics are completely geared towards worship.

Alright, so for those who still have trouble understanding the distinction, what’s the difference between a worship song and worshiping God?
TGE Music in general is worship. When you come to the realization that God is the one who has given you the talent and creativity to play music, you in turn give it back to Him. This is worship. Giving yourself in complete surrender. This is the difference between a worship song and worshiping God. It’s funny, we all go to different churches. Some of us play on worship teams, others don’t.

TGE had a strong upstart in 2009, what are you all looking forward to most in 2010?
TGE As for 2010, we were looking forward to playing at Tom Fest. Unfortunately we just read that the owner is revamping some things and will be postponing Tom Fest until next year. Oh well.

What has been your favorite show to date?
TGE Our favorite show was last Saturday night (Feb 6th)! We played with some fun bands and had a HUGE turnout of 500 people!

Have you had the chance to tour yet?
TGE Ha, no tour. We’re all in school full time, so a tour is kinda out of the question. Maybe someday!

At the time of writing this interview, your TGE MySpace profile quote reads, “Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.” What do you mean by this?
TGE As a band, we believe God has sent us to love, not condemn people. You will find this mindset deeply rooted in both our hearts and our music.

Your song “Comforter” is obviously a spiritual tune, is this a general song about God or is there a specific circumstance that inspired the writing?
TGE “Comforter” actually was inspired from scripture:

Ecclesiastes 4:1 (NIV) Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed—and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors—and they have no comforter.

John 14:16 (ASV) And I will pray (to) the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever.

It’s a song to remind us that we have a comforter who is watching over us no matter what situation we may be in.

How is He [God] a comforter? Is He only a comforter to those who believe/obey Him?
TGE He is our Comforter in this crazy world. Not only is He a comforter to those who believe in Him, but he can be a comforter to those who choose to let Him in. It all starts with a personal choice.

A lot of people say that they believe in God or some kind of higher power. Saying that you believe in God, and maybe even being a Christian, doesn’t necessarily tell a complete story, what specifically do you believe about God?
TGE We believe God is love. Absolute, complete, pure and perfect love. God is truth. He created us. He inspired creation. He is in us and around us. He chose to love us so much that He gave his son Jesus Christ to die a gruesome death so we might live forever with Him.

You’ve stated, “As a band, we don’t want to be surface Christians. We want to continue to grow deeper in our relationship with Christ and spread his love in every way possible. Every day we aim to discover more of this incredible God who has shown us so much love and grace.” When did you become a Christian?
TGE This is a hard question! Only because there are 6 of us and we all came to Christ at different points in our life. I personally (Kit Day) grew up in a Christian household. I will admit, when I moved away to college I slipped a little. It’s funny how when you have absolute “freedom” to do whatever you want you tend to give into the pressures of society. I can tell you I hit a point where I asked myself, “Is this really how you want to live?” My answer, of course, was no. I sensed I was distant from God and it felt horrendous. Once I made a point to turn back, God swooped me right back into His arms. It felt, for a lack of a better word, monumental.

What are the origins of TGE? Can you pinpoint the moment when you knew you wanted to get serious about being in a band?
TGE When TGE was formed, it wasn’t meant with the intentions to last. Dan and I needed a 3rd band to play at Treehouse, so we thought why not put some songs together? We collaborated with some of our music buddies and put some songs together in a month’s time. After that, we realized we loved playing together and it took off from there.

We thought we recognized some of your faces from The Treehouse Venue (see hurdcore article from 2009 on THV) how is this effort going?
TGE Daniel Langenberg and myself (Kit Day) operate a local music venue called Treehouse Venue. It’s been open for about a year now and slowly getting its feet off the ground. We’re in the middle of a transition phase (new building, new sponsors, and lots of other new stuff!). I can’t really go into details because nothing has been finalized, but we’re exhilarated with anticipation!

So, you have become a two-headed monster with your efforts in TreeHouse Venue and now The Great Exploration, are you all native Eugeneians? What makes Eugene special?
TGE I think I am the only one who is not a Eugene native. I come from different places in Oregon, California, and Washington. I finally ended up in Oregon after moving away to college. Our favorite feature in Oregon is how beautiful and green everything is! The summer’s here are also amazing!

Who has been the greatest influence and/or support in getting you to where you are now?
TGE My greatest support would definitely be my wife! She has been amazing during this process and I thank God for her every day. Our close friends also supported us tremendously.

What are the weapons of choice for TGE?
TGE Uh-oh, now you’re asking for a LONG list! Where do I start? We love having as many instruments on stage as possible. I won’t post everything we use because the list will tire your eyes. Here are the important brands we enjoy:
Fender! (Fender guitars, fender tube amps); Taylor Acoustic Guitars; Boss, MXR, Fulltone, Vox, and Ernie ball Pedals; Furman Pedal board; Schecter Bass; Ampeg Bass Amps; Pixiphone; Xylophone/glockenspiel;
Lots and Lots of percussion

As a fan of music, who are you digging right now? What would be the top 5 on your ipod playlist?
TGE Here are our the 5 that inspire our music the most: Future of Forestry, Deas Vail, Glorious Unseen, Mutemath, Danyew.

…A few quick questions: If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment that I would purchase for the band is a massive glockenspiel!? Currently reading Come Thirsty by Max Ludado, listening to This Will Destroy You and watching Ice Age (yes, all at the same time!)?

Our thanks/kudos to Will Foster Photography for the pics of TGE.
Follow Treehouse Venue to keep current with local concerts in Eugene, Oregon.

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, indie, organic, progressive, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook

Tallboy is a band generating a lot of momentum for themselves right now. With accomplishments such has as playing live to large crowds with known national acts the likes of Papa Roach, Hinder, Kotton Mouth Kings and Floater. Refreshingly, these Medford, Oregon rockers manage to keep enough down-to-earth presence to remain connected with their local following. As well they should considering that this fan-base helped boost them, via frequent request for their song “Taken Back”, into regular airplay on rock station 96.9 KROG The Rogue. With their renewed commitment to music and each other, Tallboy ought to be a band to keep your eye on as they blaze a rock trail of mayhem through Oregon and onto the National heavy music scene.

It’s the start of a new year, what are some of your favorite memories from 2009?
TB (Kevin) Favorite memories would have to be our fans have become more of our family than just a fan! Hiring Jimmy and Brandon, then sharing the stage with Big names like Papa Roach, Hinder, Kotton Mouth Kings, and Floater.

What are the origins of Tallboy?
TB (Justin) The funny thing is that 3 of the 5 members of Tallboy have known each other for years, but have been in other bands, so we never had a chance to jam with each other. The opportunity arose for Kevin, Angel, and Justin to jam together, and with our previous singer, the first incarnation of Tallboy was born! Members have come and gone, but we feel that the 5 of us are now the “dream team” of musicians we could find.

If we were flashing on the life of TallBoy, what differences would we notice most between the infantile TB and the current TB?
TB The new Tallboy is better lyrically and musically. Our musical abilities have evolved immensely in the last year, where as is in the first year this was very new. (Kevin) I had never been in a successful band before…never played in front of more than 50 people. I also figured out how to “rock-out” and play at the same time.

As recently as August of 2009 you were getting regular play for your single “Taken Back” on local 96.9 KROG. How were you able to accomplish this and how has that exposure affected your band?
TB (Angel) We were able to accomplish this with a great recording, a competition we were involved with, and fan requests. The Exposure has been phenomenal!

How would you describe the sound of Tallboy? TB Energetic, Inventive, Fist-pumping, Aggressive Rock, Complicated, Melodic, and Driven by passion!

What do you believe sets Tallboy apart from other bands?
TB (Angel) Our stage presence and unique sound get our crowds going. We’re always trying to write new and creative songs that keep the fans entertained and interested. Going beyond the boundaries of the normal, and involving our fans more than you would expect!

Does your name have any particular meaning or significant history?
TB (Justin) At first it was just based on a Tallboy of beer, then it was discovered that the name is based on a World War II Bunker Buster, also called an Earthquake Bomb. We thought that encompassed our sound pretty well.

Who have been some of the funnest bands, venues and people to work with?
TB Six Ounce Gloves, A Single Second, Dryseason, Holdfast, and Hired Gun. Playing with Papa Roach & Hinder at the Lithia Amphitheater was the biggest rush we have had in our entire life. All of the local and touring bands we have worked with have been great, and an absolute pleasure to share the stage with. Some of our favorite venues have been Lithia Motors Amphitheater, Medford Armory, Shenanigans, and the Rogue Theatre.

Live local hardcore concert with Oregon band Tallboy

Can you pinpoint the moment when you knew you wanted to get serious about being in a band?
TB (Justin) From the very beginning, something amazing was happening. The songs we were writing were the most complex, and entertaining that we had ever personally played. On top of that, we had never had an easier time writing the music… it seemed to write itself!

Who has been the greatest influence and/or support in getting you to where you are now?
TB Our Fans, Our Family, Our Passion for what we believe in.

What were some of the key lessons that you learned as musicians that helped you get to this point?
TB Don’t ever give up! Trust, Determination, Confidence, Practice, Practice, Practice. When you’re done practicing, go practice some more.

What were some of the key lessons that you learned as performers and businessmen that helped you get to this point?
TB (Jimmy) The more into the music you are, the more the crowd is. Being respectful to your fans, and business owners, and thanking all of them for the opportunity to share our music with each and every one of them.

As a band, would you say that there is an underlying philosophy or core values that create the foundation for Tallboy?
TB (Justin) We all love playing music and are really good friends. We all want to be successful and would love to turn this into a career when the right opportunity arises. Passion is the core of our band!

For you, what are some of the essentials to a good show – both from the performance aspect as well as the behind the scenes?
TB (Angel) Rock out as much as possible without screwing up your parts. Also, know your limits with alcohol…although, for some reason Kevin is the best at getting drunk and playing. Knowing the demographic of the venue, what track record does the venue hold, how popular is the venue. What other bands would be a great fit for a night out for the fans, what type of sound does the venue have.

What do you hope that fans will receive from your music?
TB (Jimmy) We hope they get excited when they hear our music…maybe brightens their day a bit. We usually get inspired to write music when were listening to music, so our hope is someone will listen to our songs and get inspired to write something as well.

What is one of the coolest stories you have heard from a fan?
TB (Angel) One of our fans was having a bit of a hard time with her life. We didn’t know this at the time, but when we had one of her favorite songs done we sent it to her in an e-mail as a surprise, just for being a great fan. So then in turn she sent us an emotional e-mail back saying, “Thank You, you don’t know how soon this could have come to me in this desperate time of my life, your song ‘Let Go’ just saved my life!” There was more to the e-mail than we will say, but you can get the point that she was relieved and very emotional because this song meant so much to her.

Have you had the chance to tour yet?
TB Not a major tour, as we all do have jobs, some of us have kids, but we do try to get out of town as much as possible and spread the music.

Any funny/crazy stories you’d like to share?
TB (Angel) Kevin stinks and is a ninja farter! Also, on one trip I had to stick my head outside of the van because our defroster doesn’t work in the snow and freezing rain! That sucked! Just fun times doing weekend trips. (Kevin) I’m pretty sure that I claim every fart that I produce…its not my fault Angel feeds me fast food and doesn’t provide any Gas-X. I thought it was pretty cool getting to meet Jakobi before the Papa Roach show. He was behind the main stage fishing and we just sparked a random conversation with him.

What are the chosen weapons of the trade for TB?
TB Kevin: Schectre C-1 Hellraiser (drop D tuning), Godin LG HB (drop C tuning), Peavy Triple X Half Stack, Boss DD-5 Delay Pedal, Ernie Ball Volume Pedal.

Angel: 2 Yamaha RBX474 4 string basses (different tunings) Ernie Ball Slinky’s, Carvin BX1200 watt amp, Carvin 8×10 cabinet, Sony instrument wireless system.

Justin: Premier Percussion 5 piece hand lacquered drums, Zildjian A Customs, Z Customs, Tama Hardware and Pedals, Ahead Sticks.

Jimmy: Shure SM-58 Wireless Mic, Behringer 1000 watt Mains, Nady 4×15 subs, and a whole slew of other outboard gear.

Brandon: Peavey Wolfgang Guitar, Peavey Classic 50/50 tube amp, Peavey cab w/ custom Sheffield 4×12 cab.

If you had an extra $1000, what is the first piece of equipment you would purchase for TB?
TB (Kevin Says) “I have been getting the itch to get a new guitar recently. I’m going to try out some PRS guitars and maybe a Gibson SG (hopefully with EMG pickups).” As for the band, we probably would get Recording Hardware, and Updated Software! Maybe replace worn parts of instruments, and or purchase more merchandise.

As a fan of music, who are you digging right now? What would be on the top 5 of your ipod playlist?

TB We are getting really excited for the new Fear Factory album coming out in February. The new Mudvayne is sick. A Day To Remember, Austrian Death Machine, As I Lay Dying, Dethklok, In Flames, Lamb of God, Straight Line Stitch, Breaking Benjamin, Pillar, Chevelle. The list goes on and on and on and on!

*Thanks to Tallboy and Caitlin Siobhan Photography for sharing their awesome pictures for this article. Tallboy wanted to be sure to thank their sponsors: Legionnaire Apparel (clothing from Medford local Joe Moxley and MxPx’s Mike Herrera), Brett Helfrich and Eads Furniture, Creative Concepts and Monster Energy Drinks (Local Sponsorship)

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, indie, organic, progressive, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook

Straight To Our Enemies is something of a Frankensteinian musical-mish-mash. With the goal of creating life these doctors of hardcore have selected irregular elements to assemble their creature. Selecting such random viles as those labeled “pop-punk background” and “folk vocalist”, combining and neutralizing them with a few other compounds [members]. There comes that moment just before the electricity strikes, before the lights flicker for the reveal, the moment when you don’t know if there will even be life once the dust settles. Yet, in this laboratory, somewhere within the heart of Spokane, Washington, the haze is gone and the beast has risen. As Dr. F set out to create life and ended up with a monster like creature larger and stronger than the average man, the composition of STOE has brought about a brutality which may tear the scene (locally and nationally) to shreds. Beware that creature thrashing from the hallows of I-90, beware.

Music is at its best when it taps into the intrinsic value of creating a shared experience with artist and fan, when the artist seems to express with lyric, music and instrumentation what a fan himself is feeling. In that vein, you song “Dreamer” boasts a chorus chant stating, “I am a dreamer, it’s not all I’ll ever be.” Is this lyric written with a specific circumstance in mind or more of a declaration for where STOE is headed?
STOE Dreamer was written with a specific circumstance correlating to the story of David in the bible. David was a man after God’s own heart and this song was written (by Andy) to be about his dream to follow God in David’s path and about how that specific road is not an easy one to journey.

Who have been some of the key figures who have supported STOE and helped to get you to this place?
STOE All of our families, friends, girlfriend, Managers (Noah Zweruhweriodorfin and Rabananda Bennett) fans, and venue owners/promoters have all had a big part in who we are and who we are becoming both as musicians and as people.

You are heading into the studio, when are you hoping to release the album and where will fans be able to pick up a copy?
Our album will be recorded in Iowa in March and we are hoping to have it done sometime mid-summer. We are hoping to get the album into some bigger stores such as Hasting, Best-buy and possibly Target.

January 27, 2010 you have a slot for a speaking engagement at Post Falls (Idaho) Middle School, what were you speaking on? Is this a regular thing for you to speak at schools/events or how did this come about? STOE We were asked by Andy’s mother to go and speak to the fifth and sixth period classes of their newly formed guitar 1 class. We mainly just showed the students what being in a band is all about and how to get where we are and what it takes to be in a band and all the sacrifice necessary to attain your goals. Its not really something we have put a lot of thought into but after doing it we would love to speak at schools again!

You all are from Spokane, Washington but have decided to record in Iowa. What drew you there to record and will this be your first time recording together?
STOE Our main reason for recording in Iowa is the person who will be engineering/producing the record. He is a friend of our manager and we have listened to all the amazing work he has done and all agree that he is the best bet for us to further our music and careers. We recording the tracks “Dreamer” and “We Make Guns” last October in LA with Jeremy Conrad. It was the first time that all of us had recorded track together and it was a very gratifying experience for everyone.

As you prepared to record are you going in with a pretty clear picture of what you want to track and how you want to lay it out or do you anticipate the process being very experimental?
STOE We are finishing up our writing as we speak for the album and we are going in with a very clear idea of how things will sound. Not to say there wont be some amount of experimentation involved in the recording process but we are 80% sure of how we want things to turn out.

2009 just ended, what are some of your fondest memories as a band of the year that was? What are you looking forward to in 2010?
STOE 2009 was a great year for us. It brought us Rob as a bass player and Noah as a Manager. Along with that it was our first time playing the all amazing Tomfest where we shared the stage with great bands such as For today and Oh Sleeper. Our main focus for 2010 is the album getting recorded and our first US tour.

Currently your Myspace is a baseball theme, was that primarily for effect or has baseball played a significant role in your lives?
STOE The baseball theme is mainly that. A baseball theme. Its sole purpose is to create a catchy and attractive idea that will hold peoples interest until they listen to our music and hear the every increasing complexity of our songs.

In your current playlist for Myspace there are two songs with guns in the title “We Make Guns” and “Hold A Gun”, is there any particular significance or meaning behind the title or are you just fascinated with guns?
STOE Guns are a subject of interest for our vocalist Andy. He just loves them and everything pertaining to them.

Hold A Gun starts off incredibly heavy and as of this date is your most played song, what do you perceive or hear from fans that makes this song special.
STOE The song “Hold A Gun” is so popular i believe because of its catchy chants and heavy breakdowns. Kids can just have fun listening, dancing, and watching things transpire before them during the song.

You mention that your vocalist Andy is a former folk artist which isn’t typically a breeding ground for hardcore frontmen, how did Andy come to don this role with STOE? How has your irregular background contributed to the development of STOE’s current sound?
STOE Andy came to be with us via our old bass player Corey Kuheana. They were good friends in high school and when we were looking for a new vocalist Corey introduced us to Andy. Andy, never having done anything like this, surprised us at his tryout practice when he let loose some yells and screams the quality of which we hadn’t heard in recent vocalists. His being from a different music scene doesn’t really have much of an effect on the sound of our music but more on the lyrics he writes.

You’ve mentioned that Cory and Kramer as the founding members have been playing together since 2004, how different is STOE’s sound now from where you were 6 years ago? Is there any significance to the name STOE?
STOE Me (Kramer) and Cody were playing pop punk/rock when we first started and the heavier music didn’t come until our last year of high school and the years that have followed. The name Straight To Our Enemies is a title that Andy brought with him when he joined in March of ‘08.

For STOE is there a particular philosophy or core value that fuels your pursuits in music? Would you consider yourselves a religious band?
STOE We have often had this talk related to if we consider ourselves a Christian band and our best summary of those conversations would be that, while we are all Christian and have our own code of morals and beliefs we do not claim that STOE is a Christian band but instead a band of Christians supporting positive living and good fun.

How would you describe STOE’s sound?
STOE STOE’s sound is a conglomerate of all the members inspirations and influences with our own personalities combined with them. Our music sounds like everything but at the same time sounds like nothing else you’ve heard.

What has been your favorite show to date?
STOE For me my favorite show has been either Tomfest ‘09 or our last Moses Lake show in which we played at a completely gutted old Spanish Restaurant in front of 75 kids.

What is one of the coolest things a fan has ever said to/about STOE?
STOE A few things that people have said to us are:
“You guys sound like Underoath but better”
“Your sound is really full for having just one guitarist”
“You guys are my favorite band and i’ve seen BMTH and A Day to Remember and i still like your shows better”

Interview Question Blitz:
Any song that gives you the most trouble live? We Make Guns first riff haha. If I had an extra $1000, the first piece of equipment that I would purchase for the band is? Robs new bass. Trend that you have noticed that you will never join? Chains on pants. Currently reading The Lucifer Effect, listening to Rogues and watching House. Best book you’ve ever read, why? TOOO many. Any crazy pre-performance rituals? Not crazy but praying. When you are a diva/rockstar the three things that you will demand be in your dressing room are? Chicken N’ Biscuit crackers, Red Bull, and Buck and Opies Rootbeer. Band you have shared the stage with that blew you away? In the Midst of Lions, See the Light, For Today, Plea for Purging….. Top 5 songs in your personal ipod right now? Tusk and Temper-ETID, Big Wiggly Style- TDWP, Chelsea Smile, BMTH, Secrets-OneRepublic, Wanderlust-ETID. Best and worst experience at a show? Best- getting 20 or more kids dancing at every show. Worst- falling on the drum riser at tomfest and messing up a song. haha no one noticed though!

*Special thanks [kudos] to Emmett Photography who shot the picks of STOE which we borrowed from their myspace

For more information, interviews and updates for live local music. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, alternative, indie, organic, progressive, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook

Had the chance to exchange emails with an up and coming local band manager recently (as a plus he works with some of the hurdcore.com alumni). Music interests me and even at the primordial level, what goes on behind the scenes matters. All those who regulate with any hope to mount up in public some day will need to learn and master more than the machinery of their craft. I believe this hurdcore.com exchange with AAP’s William Quintana will be of value to bands who are looking to take their act on the road as well as those who love music and might approach it from the side stage.

Tell us a little about yourself and your company, what is your company called and when did you get started managing?

WQ My name is William Quintana. I am 17 years old and have been managing bands for the past 3 years. I have worked with and represented artists all over the United States and even one from France, every genre you can think of. My companies name is AAP (Artist Agency & Promotion).

Define what a band manager is?
WQ Band manager is a very loose term. It can mean many things.

What do you do for the bands you represent?
WQ Here are a few things I personally do for bands: Booking, promotion, management, artist and career development and much more. This includes helping with tours, art work, endorsement deals and all that jazz. I basically help bands look professional.

What bands have you dealt with and who are you working with now?
WQ There is a huge list. I am currently working with I Am The Monster and Abandon The Shore. Some bands I most enjoyed working with were Her Demise My Rise, Worthwhile, Swamp Monster, Sanctity In Silence, Aschemia and Ezerah. All super cool dudes.

What have been some of the best and worst experiences that you have had with bands, shows and managing in general?
WQ When shows go wrong it sucks. I know this is going to stir up drama, but I honestly don’t care. I booked a show at The Viaduct in Tacoma, Washington in January of 2009 with Chelsea Grin. They were on tour. They called me the night before asking if the show was still on, I said yes. The next day they texted me asking if the show was still on, once again I said yes. 30 minutes before the show starts the venue calls me asking where Chelsea Grin is, they missed load in. I call there contact and he says that they decided not to play because the snow was to bad and they figured the show would be canceled. Sometimes stupid things happen like this and it is incredibly frustrating. Good things are when shows get packed, landing endorsement deals for my artists, making money here and there, ya know, the obvious stuff!

When working to book a show, what are the key components that you look for?
WQ Don’t expect a “huge” band to promote a show alot. It never happens. They can draw with there name alone generally, but if there in the middle stages of being “huge” and being “small” its gonna be hard to draw based on there name alone and little promotion. Rely heavily on locals that will do there best to promote. The smaller the band is, generally the harder they’ll work to pack the venue.

For the band and/or manager out there who may be ready to start booking shows or even go on the road, what are some of the nuggets of wisdom that you have learned?
WQ Prepare for anything. Always have a backup plan for when something goes wrong. Also, expect to lose and make alot of money. Its ups and downs. Sometimes you’ll make some good cash, sometimes you’ll owe bands tons of money. Its a risky business. I currently do everything for free, because I wanted to get back to my roots of booking and having fun with it. If I don’t like the band, I won’t work with them. I don’t care how big they are. If they’re d***s, they will be removed from my roster. I also like to develop friendships with my bands. It puts trust in them.

We all know that there is a struggle to make a living as an artist, what have you discovered about how to make the most of what is available and even make money to cover expenses as a band?
WQ Don’t join bands. Manage bands, that’s the best advice I can give you. hahaha. Nah, just kidding. Its fun being involved with bands in any way possible. I was in a few bands back in Hermiston, where I used to live and loved it. I was the fill in bassist for Grab The Camera for one show and loved that as well. Made no money in any of those bands. Expect to be broke and not eat on tour.

Are there any key items/tools that no manager/band should be without?
WQ MYSPACE, MYSPACE, MYSPACE! Whore your company out on Myspace. Add as many friends as possible and make as many contacts as quickly as possible. Its the most helpful tool out there. There is also a dope website called Indie On The Move. Check that out if your a band needing help booking dates.

Any additional advice that you’d give to bands/managers looking to take their show global?
WQ Don’t be afraid to take risks. Send your info and resume to as many bands, companies, record labels and agencies as possible. Every person that hears about you is helping you get that much closer to being the biggest agency in the world. Trust me.

Contact or follow AAP and their roster of local talent.

HURDCORE.COM ANNOUNCING: Keep your eyes peeled as we prepare for Oregon’s First Everything Show (O1ES) coming to Riley’s in Albany, Oregon on March 27th. (124 Broadalbin ST) We will be having many great local artists of rap, r&b, rock, reggae, country, folk, dance, etc. This show will be the 1st annual of its kind and will be be hosted by The People’s Comedian – the very funny Will Woodruff.

At times there is nothing better than that old school punk edge with salty vocals summoning you to circle pit with your friends. From what I have seen recently the circles may be a thing of the past, but hearing Rendered Useless of Portland, Oregon reassures me that classic punk rock is far from dead. While the band is still primarily a local act and fighting to turn dreams into currency, they have made enough of an imprint to secure their song, “Rose City, Our City” not only into a rally cry for fellow Portlandians but the actual anthem for local soccer team the Portland Timbers (soccer too is alive and well on the West Coast). Rendered Useless continues to build upon the momentum of years past and are working to record a full length album for 2010.

Tell us a little about the history of the band. How did you all come together as musicians and at what point did you decide to take a serious run at going public with Rendered Useless?

RU Three of our boys (Brad, Caleb, and Omar) grew up together in the same small town of Hood River, OR and have known each other since they were kids. Guitarist Caleb and singer Brad had played together in various bands over the years and decided to start what became RU with Omar in the summer of 2008 with then drummer, Scoots. Guitarist Omar and bassist Guy had previously played together and Guy’s playing was a good fit for the sound. Things didn’t work out stylistically with Scoots and Benny stepped in on drums in early fall. Benny is a veteran of multiple projects and a transplant from the East-Coast.

It became obvious from the first few times we got together that there was something pretty special going on both musically and personally. Everything just seemed to “click”. We all got such a charge out of playing together! We got busy writing and arranging songs. We played our first “show” at The Matador in Portland as part of Benny’s birthday celebration. We only had four songs! The response from the crowd was so enthusiastic that we knew, without a doubt, that this thing was gonna take off. We worked hard to put a set together and set off into the scene to start networking and setting up shows.

Rendered Useless has that great old school punk edge, with salty vocals and high energy, how would you describe RU’s sound?

RU We all grew up listening to a lot of the same music and your description pretty much nails what we sound like. As individuals, we have a lot of the same musical sensibilities and influences. Combine that with our friendships, differences, life experiences, and common goals and you get our “sound”. It’s not really something we’ve crafted, but rather something that “happened” as a result of our coming together as this group.

When you write and play, what do you hope fans of Rendered Useless come away with?
RU When we write and play I think the essence of what was described above is translated to the audience. There’s a sense of camaraderie, a feeling of being “part of” at our shows. The music begs to be sang along with! We engage the crowd and make them a part of the show. It’s about having a good time with your friends and releasing some of the tension life has dumped on you. It seems to go over pretty well.

Rendered Useless is currently based out of Portland, Oregon – “Rose City, Our City!” What are some of the local influences that have helped the development of RU?

RU We love Portland! It’s our home, why not sing about it? “Rose City… Our City” is actually an anthem for our local soccer team, the Portland Timbers, and their fans (including us). There’s some pretty avid hooligans in this town! Other then that, there’s so many incredible bands and musicians in the Pacific NW that we can’t help but be influenced and inspired by them.

What are some of your favorite places locally to perform or attend shows? Where is the best and/or most unique place to eat in Portland?

RU Once again, there’s so many places to play in this town it isn’t even funny. We’ve played small rooms, large rooms, living rooms, basements, etc… you name it! Now where to eat in this town is even more complex then where to play! There is so much good food here that we couldn’t possibly relate all the cool joints in this interview. I’ll throw a quick plug for Eastside Deli on 46th & Hawthorne though cause they ROCK! Best $5.50 you’ll ever spend on a sandwich, hands down.

Rendered Useless is currently signed to Horns Up Records, how long have you been a signed entity and how has your relationship with Horns Up been?

RU Horns Up pretty much embodies our work ethic. It’s more of a co-op then a label. It’s about hard working, hard rocking bands getting together and helping each other out. Everyone involved is a musician. We met them in Jan ‘09 and it was quickly apparent that we’d be a good fit for their roster. They’re having their 1yr anniversary showcase this coming Jan 15th and the Tonic Lounge on 31st & Sandy in Portland, 9pm. We’re on the bill along with some other awesome bands, come out and show your support!

What were some of the highlights from 2009 for Rendered Useless and what are you looking forward to in 2010?

RU Through hard work we’ve landed some pretty cool shows, opening for the likes of A Wilhelm Scream, Death By Stereo, and Less Then Jake. We’ve gotten to play with so many other incredible bands from all over as well. Kinda hard to nail down the highlights! It’s all been pretty awesome so far. In 2010 look for our first full-length record and a tour of the Western US.

What are the weapons (instruments) of choice Rendered Useless?

RU Necessity being the mother of invention (as in we’re broke) we’ve all come to rely on function over form. Both guitarists play Epiphone Les Pauls, the bass is an old Fender Jazz, and the drums… we can’t tell you due to statutes of limitations!

Any funny and/or scary stories from recent shows or tours?

RU I’d have to say the best so far would have occurred at an event called “Creepshow”. It was a big deal with lots of different acts like fire-dancers, magicians, acrobats, suspensions , and of course, punk rock! We took the stage and there were many props off to the side for other acts. Most notably some black sandbags that were to weight down a pole for one of the dancers. They were next to Caleb, stage right. On that side of the stage there’s a stairwell.

Well… at some point Caleb managed to trip over the sandbags and fall head-over-heels off the stage and down the stairs. He managed to knock himself out and break is guitar into three pieces! Once we realized what had happened our friend Dillon (My Life In Black and White) hopped on stage and played the rest of the song. The stage crew had no intention of letting Caleb back on stage. We got the crowd to chant “Let Caleb play!” and after a little coaxing we got him back up there and finished out the show!

That guitar was his baby and he was crushed. We took what we were paid and pitched in a few more bucks and surprised him with a new one (in black this time) at our next rehearsal. We put it in his old case and as we were unloading the van told him to check it and make sure we’d grabbed all his cables. The look on his face was PRICELESS!!! He’ll never cop to it but I swear he shed a tear or two. Good times!

See more on Rendered Useless and concert information at their myspace

Regiment 26 has been on scene locally since 2006 and has already rallied local fans and attracted the attention of national acts, including an upcoming show with renown Mike Thrasher Presents at the Hawthorne in Portland, Oregon slated for February 24, 2010. Regiment 26 isn’t a band that is still working out the bugs, they are a force in motion with a biting hardcore sound crisply weaving speed with range and energy with sheer brutality.

HC Tell us a little about the history of the band. How did you all come together as musicians and at what point did you decide to take a serious run at going public with Regiment 26?
R26 We formed originally as a four piece sometime about five years ago. The only original members are Tim (drums) and Cole (guitar), who got together out of a mutual love of music. At the time we had no idea of what was to come or how far we could possibly go. Now with the current line-up, with a new second guitar player AJ, bassist Per and vocalist Eric anything seems possible as we strive to create unique and brutal music.

HC Regiment 26 has a solid hardcore sound with a range of rumbling lows, blistering guitars and guttural vox, are there particular influences or intentional dynamics that you have sought to accomplish through the music of R26?
R26 As a band we try not to take too much from other bands and create our own original sounds. Some of the bands that have probably influenced us are August Burns Red, Black Dahlia Murder, and Veil Of Maya. We see our band as an entertainment act so we hope that fans can come out of a show and say they had a blast watching as well as listening. We also hope the music we write will stick with them for a long time to come.

HC When you write and play, what do you hope fans of Regiment 26 come away with?
R26 We see our band as an entertainment act so we hope that fans can come out of a show and say they had a blast watching as well as listening. We also hope the music we write will stick with them for a long time to come.

HC Regiment 26 is currently based out of Salem, Oregon, correct? What are some of the local influences that have helped the development of R26?
R26 Actually R26 is based out of Portland, OR only the vocalist is from Salem. We have a lot of bands we consider friends and think very highly of their music.

HC What are some of your favorite places locally to perform or attend shows?
R26 Some of the best places we like to play are the Hawthorne Theatre, Satyricon, and Roseland Theatre. Other awesome places are The Space in Salem, and the Samurai Duck in Eugene.

HC What were some of the highlights from 2009 for Regiment 26 and what are you looking forward to in 2010?
R26 In 2009 we had the opportunity to play with many national touring bands like Within The Ruins, Seneca, Knights Of The Abyss just to name a few. We also have booked a show with Mike Thrasher Presents at the Hawthorne Theatre [Feb 24, 2010 - Portland, Oregon] with Winds Of Plague, Despised Icon, For Today, The World We Knew and Stray From The Path. Hopefully 2010 will bring lots of new opportunities for us!

HC What are the weapons of choice for Regiment 26?
R26Eric – vocals – loves his Shure 58a mic; Cole – guitar – uses Peavy head and cab and ESP axe; AJ – guitar – Crate head and cab and ESP guitar; Per – bass – Ampeg cab and head with Ibanez Prestige 5 string; Tim – drums – Pearl drums with zildjian cymbals and DW pedals; Jason – lights – lots of cans and strobes with his magic fingers!

UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS:
Jan 8, 2010 – 7PM @ FCC, w/ LIFERUINER
111 West 19th St., Vancouver, Washington – $10

Jan 9, 2010 – 6:30 PM @ The Domino Room, w/ LIFERUINER
Bend, Oregon – $10

Hurdcore.com is still working as an internet resource with tentacles stemming from our web-based operations that bring our audience a unique peek into the entrails of local music. For our latest local artist interview, we call to your attention an Oregon grown local group reading to bring rock to a neighborhood near you. Obscure poetry and five dudes from Medford (Oregon) residing for over a year in a living room somewhere near Oregon State University form the petri dish and catalyst for the musical life spawn known as Her Death and After. HDAA has endured lineup changes, interstate relocation and the financial constraints of aspiring artists to continue their run at making a mark in the music world.

Your name, Her death and After, is a nod to a Thomas Hardy poem of the same title written in 1898. A poem, as you say, that exemplifies the inevitability of beauty after tribulation, could you elaborate some on that concept?
HDAA Our band came together in the fall of 2006 with a totally different line up. Along the way we’ve had a lot of personal struggles as friends and band mates. As a result of all of our conflicts, Her Death and After is our “beauty after tribulation”. We have finally assembled five guys who share the same goals and are willing to sacrifice anything and everything to make our dreams come true. Even when that has meant the whole band living on a friends living room floor for a year.

Have the writings of Hardy always been a part of your lives or did this poem just happen to resonate at a specific time in life?

HDAA At first, when the name was chosen we didn’t realize how much it would ultimately mean to us, but as time has passed the meaning behind “Her Death And After” has become more and more personal to the band and ourselves as individuals. So yes! We guess you could say it did resonate at a specific point in time but everyday since then we come to realize how well the name really fits our band.

The current persona of Her Death and After was formed in 2007 from the involvement and death of several other ventures. What is different about the current HDAA that sets itself up for a long term run at making a mark locally and nationally?
HDAA Well first off, we don’t suck anymore and of course our stamina in the bedroom has increased….by about five minutes. Ha! but really, one of the biggest reasons we can see ourselves making a long term run is because of a lot of improvement on communicating with each other. Like we said, we spent a year living in a two bedroom apartment and we’ve really learned each others boundaries. It pretty much all comes down to the fact that we’ve grown up. We are stronger than ever and we’re all here to see this band through no matter what gets thrown our way.

For those who are unfamiliar with your set, how would you describe yourself? What can we expect from a Her Death and After show?
HDAA Super sweet dance moves, bad jokes and Sean.

Her Death and After is based out of Medford (Oregon), was in Corvallis for a time and now back in Medford? What brought you to Corvallis and what takes you back to Medford?
HDAA Our drummer Andrew was accepted into OSU and we knew that if we didn’t follow him to Corvallis the band wouldn’t be able to continue. So one by one we all moved up. As time went by we discovered all the perks of being on our own. The freedom, the nice practice space and being secluded from all distractions back in Medford. After a year of writing and partying we found out that a huge part of being in a band requires money that we didn’t have. We looked for jobs and found nothing. So we had a band discussion about what our next step should be. The conclusion was that Medford was our only option because of the fact that it’s our hometown and we knew it would be the best financial step for the band.

Do you notice any difference in the local music scenes from Medford to Corvallis and even Corvallis to Portland? How often do you play locally?
HDAA It’s hard to say because Medford and Corvallis have two very different vibes. But we can say that the Medford music scene is growing and we know that we will end up growing with it. It’s pretty much the ultimate foundation for our band right now. As far as Portland goes we don’t have much experience in that music scene.
Our local and state wide shows are going to be growing exponentially in the very near future.

You recently parted ways with your guitarist (and Kevin’s younger brother?), Mike, have you been able to recruit and fill that position or does HDAA proceed as a fourpiece?
HDAA We recently filled that position with one of our long time friends, Aaron Hammericksen, who thankfully for us also happens to be an outstanding musician.

The bands most recent recording is the Living Room Wars EP, is the recording out yet or still in the works? Is this your first recording, what did you learn from this process of being in the studio?

HDAA Living Room Wars is our 4 song EP that you can find on our myspace! This isn’t the first time we’ve recorded but Living Room Wars was our first professional recording. We practiced a lot before we headed into the studio so the process went very smoothly. One positive lesson we learned from that experience was that having legit recordings gets you so much more respect. So we recommend spending the extra money to sound professional.

What are some of your early influences that got you into music? Who were some of the influences that helped you launch HDAA?

HDAA Almost all of the band shares a very similar music background. Blink-182 was probably one of the most significant influential bands for us. As far as HDAA goes we didn’t have any certain bands in mind while writing our new material. Our sound has evolved from all of our personal inspirations.

Where are you currently grabbing inspiration from and how has this been affecting your music?
HDAA New opportunities, new albums and [other activities]. That seems to be workin’ for us.

Where can those interested best connect with you to find out about news, releases and tours?
HDAA www.myspace.com/herdeathandafter

What do you enjoy most about the local music scene? Who have been some of the funnest bands and venues to play with locally?

HDAA The Broadway Waxers Music Hall in Coos Bay [Oregon] was an awesome venue! As far as bands go we recently played a show with a band called ” Hit em’ where it hurts” from Chico [California] and they were really awesome guys.

What are the weapons (insturments) of choice HDAA?
HDAA Present Gear – Kevin: AKG mics; Sean: Jackson DXMG, Peavey 5150 II and Marshall Cab; Aaron: Ebanez RG, Peavey 6505 + (half stack); Josh: Mark Hoppus signature precision bass;
Andrew: 4 piece Pearl kit export series, 18 inch A custom fast crash, 21 inch Zildjian Aedius, 18 in Zildjain Oriental China, 13 in aax zildajian hi hats. 23 in A custom ping ride (i wish)

Favorite place to eat in Medford? If we were coming to a show in your hometown of Medford, and arrived a little early what is one place/site in town that is a must see before departing?

HDAA Muchas Gracias! we recommend the chicken fajita burrito!!!

What have been some of the most important lessons for you as an aspiring artist? Any words of wisdom for those wanting to pursue their dreams of music stardom?
HDAA We still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn but communication is one of the biggest things we’ve learned keeps our band together.

UPCOMING SHOWS:
November 28, 2009 10PM – Rooftop Show Downtown Medford. $5 – message HDAA for show details.

Her Death and After will be at Riley’s Bar & Grill in Albany, Oregon with fellow hurdcore alumn Abandon the Shore on Thursday, December 10, 2009 @ 7PM ALL AGES!!! 124 SW Broadalbin St, Albany, Oregon 97321

Life is a journey that is not traveled without its trials, thankfully it is seasoned with its share of beauty as well. A Hope For Home assembles as a group of young men grafted together through tragedy and committed to pressing forward in pursuit of their dreams, a process that they invite others to share in through the medium of music. So, whether you are a dancy dude or not, I think you will find a sincerity and even a challenge in A Hope For Home that can be appreciated by all.

Is there any significance or story behind your name? What are the origins of A Hope For Home and how long have you been at it?

AHFH When we first started up, our guitar player, Kyle was dying of cancer. It was a rough time, and it was actually a name he came up with, that obviously had a lot of meaning to him. That was 3 years ago and while that hardship has come and passed, I think its a really cool reminder of him.

For those who are unfamiliar with your set, how would you describe yourself? What can we expect from a A Hope For Home concert?
AHFH Well, for starters we aren’t really a dancy band, which doesn’t really go over all that well sometimes when we play with a lot of the bands we do, haha. Nothing against that! Its just not really our thing. We try to convey a lot of emotion, I guess, and we actually have a really cool concept we might be trying to convey live with this record we are doing.

A Hope For Home is currently based out of Portland (Oregon), are you all natives? With your signing is the band discussing relocating or will you stay local?
AHFH We are actually technically from Vancouver [Washington], except for our guitar player Tanner, he lives in Portland. I (Matt) grew up in Portland though, and other than that, most of us have lived here in Portland for the greater part of our lives. We won’t be relocating, but we probably wont be home a lot!

You were signed earlier this year to Strike First Records and have recently signed over to Facedown Records, how have you enjoyed being a member of the Strike First and Facedown families? How has being signed benefited the band?
AHFH I can’t say enough good things about Facedown and Strike First. Since record sales have so violently plummeted over the past couple years some might see signing as a foolish thing to do, but it honestly has been such a blessing. They help keep us on the road and push us in ways we couldn’t do otherwise.

Strike First Records is a subsidiary of Facedown Records, is it not? In signing with Facedown are you working with a completely new team or is there some carryover from the relationships you’ve already established at Strike First?
AHFH Strike First is basically somewhat of a “training ground” for Facedown Bands. Its run by the same people. Its not at all that the bands aren’t as good as Facedown bands, its just that they are not as well known, so it becomes somewhat of a megaphone or stepping stone. All the bands on Strike First are really great at what they do.

A Hope For Home has worked the local and national scenes, gained a strong following and obviously the recognition of established indie labels, how often do you reflect on the process of getting to where you are?
AHFH It is quite humbling but to be honest I try to not think about that too much and just kindof live in the moment-focus on what is ahead of us and what we are currently working on.

As you move forward, what are some of the defining moments that have brought A Hope For Home to this point?
AHFH So many to count! Lots of days where things felt pointless and that we were accomplishing nothing, and I can definitely say its not the case. I don’t really think of us as at a different place than before we signed other than semantics like having an album ad in a magazine or getting better tours.

You have stated that your upcoming album will address the concepts of dealing with doubt and the search for meaning from a first person perspective of reconstructing reality from meaninglessness. Is this a reflection of where you are at as a band ideologically? Is your purpose to create a discussion platform or do you hope to inject some insight and/or experience into the conversation?
AHFH Well I can’t speak for everyone in the band and the things they go through, but we will all bring our perspectives to the table for this record. This concept is something that sort of sprouted from conversations with Nathan, our singer, and just emotions and things we have been feeling. We had been exposed to a lot of different kinds of bands and scenes as we toured this year, seeing a lot of different facets and faces to the idea of a “Christian band.” We have never been too comfortable with that label, because there are a lot of expectations that come along with it. I’m not denying faith, but I’m simply stating that I (and we) believe in what we do because we believe it, not because we are a part of this “Christian band” club. I also don’t really feel like I have some grand metaphysical truth that no one else understands, and that this record will be me telling people that they are wrong, or whatever. It comes from a point of trying to understand what is real, what I believe, which is something that, at least I think, anyone who claims a particular ideology should do. I hope we can reflect the emotions that go through peoples minds and the doubts people fear, but are too afraid to talk about when your favorite band might tell you you aren’t a “good” enough Christian if this, or that, or whatever. My goal is mostly just for us to express ourselves, and maybe it will resound with other people.

What are some of your early influences that got you into music? Who were some of the influences that helped you launch A Hope For Home?
AHFH I think all of us can safely say that the mid 2000’s bands like Thrice and Thursday are the bands that really got us heavily into music. For me anyway, those two bands have had the most effect on my life and I don’t think I would be doing what I am now were it not for them.

Where are you currently grabbing inspiration from and how has this been affecting your music?
AHFH I got really burnt out on heavy music touring this year, just playing and listening to it every night. Everyone else in my band is probably going to hate me for bringing this up but I really heavily got into Pink Floyd this year and honestly probably spent the better part of the year really digesting their album concepts and music, which is definitely and inspiration for making this concept. Bands like Sigur Ros, Isis, This Will Destroy You, and of course the mainstays are probably what I can say for the rest of the guys.

Where can those interested best connect with you to find out about news, releases and tours?
AHFH We always have dates posted on our myspace and keep it updated with info. Recently we have been using twitter a lot (twitter.com/ahopeforhome) and started up a blog (ahopeforhome.tumblr.com) that we will be updating during this process. A facebook page too. So definitely check those out!

What do you enjoy most about the local music scene? Who have been some of the funnest bands and venues to play with locally?
AHFH It definitely comes in waves in Portland, and we are gone a lot so I can’t speak with the best authority. I know that we always have some good friends to come home and jam with like Something About Airplanes and Fallstar. Recently some awesome new bands have propped up like The Sky Electric from Seattle and this amazing new band called Amos Val that you need to check out now. They are all on our top friends so go check them out!

What have you tasted of the national scenes? What have been some of your best experiences on the road?
AHFH Southern California is nuts. The midwest has some pretty rad scenes too. We recently did a tour with our label mates in Hands and every show had a really solid group of kids, and that was in like the midwest/north area of the country. It was a lot of fun.

What are the weapons (insturments) of choice for A Hope For Home?
AHFH We’ve been experimenting with a lot of different things recently! So other than the usual guitars and keyboards we’ll see what ends up being used on the record.

Favorite place to eat in Portland? Craziest thing you’ve eaten on the road?
AHFHThis is difficult! Chipotle is always good but I feel like a tool plugging a national chain. I might have to say the Montage. Get the spold mac!! Craziest thing on the road…there is this gas station somewhere on I-90 in Washington, I forget where, and they sell pickled eggs…which, seriously who eats pickled eggs? One of our friends pretty much told us we had to try it and I seriously wanted to puke, it was awful.

What have been some of the most important lessons for you as an aspiring artist? Any words of wisdom for those wanting to pursue their dreams of music stardom?
AHFH Umm….just work really hard, play music because you like it, not because you A) look cool on stage doing it or B) can get really famous and popular. I mean, I guess if you really want do to that, go ahead, but I don’t see much worth in that.

Any funny and/or scary stories from recent shows or tours?
AHFH We aren’t too crazy, but every touring band has had their share of stories. Driving the van off the road in a snowstorm in Montana, getting stuck on a hill about 34 times when it rained at Cornerstone while everyone walked past and laughed, meeting interesting people at gas stations in rural America at 4:00 AM, the like. Mostly weather for me. I’m dead scared of driving in snow. hah!

A Hope For Home is currently in the studio, look for them to explode onto the local and national scenes again soon and an album ready for listening pleasure! *All pictures taken from A Hope For Home’s Myspace album – give credit where due to these talented photographers!