Stereo Shout Out

http://www.facebook.com/stereoshoutout

1. How did you get your band name?
Well, unfortunately there is no clever, or crazy way we came upon our name. Drummer Jake Jones and Guitarist Asher Plock Literally just sat down one night brainstorming and didn't stop until they came up with a name.

2. How did this band get started?
Asher and Jake were in met late in to highschool and Asher bugged Jake about starting a pop band nonstop until he agreed, then they slowly assembled the POWERTEAM that is sso.

3. What bands are you influenced by?
The Ready Set, Forever The Sickest Kids, and Hey Monday. We are a weird mix of all of them.

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
We aren't picky when it comes to touring, whatever band can help us get the most recognition would be great! We The Kings, FTSK, and Breathe Carolina would all be nice!

5. Best food to eat on tour?
Fruit fruit fruit and more fruit.....and cold Chef Boyardee spaghettios/spaghetti and meatballs

6. Why should people listen to your band?
Because we'll cheer you up if you're upset.

7. If you could be any athlete, which athlete would you switch places with?
Micheal Phelps, he's a beast

8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
Mom's and Dad's everywhere, God and a huge list of people

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
We'd get rid of all the dishonest people. They are everywhere in the music industry, and it just makes everything so much harder.

10. Memorable tour experience?
Drake(bass), Asher and Jake sneaked into a Pilot gas station shower without paying, and while we were getting dressed and taking showers, some old worker guy starts opening the door, and as he is coming in, Jake jumps behind the door so he doesn't get caught, leaving Asher and Drake to take all the blame. The guy got pissed and made them go to the front desk to pay, but they used the "we're from out of town and we didn't know we had to pay" excuse and got off without paying.

11. What does AP.net mean to you?
Awesome site to help bands and labels out that are poor!

12. What is your favorite song to play?
Song For The Haters

13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Maui

14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Nsync

15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Teleportation, because if you're in an awkward situation or you need to be somewhere asap, ya just get the hell out of there.

16. Any pre-show superstitions or rituals?
We all stretch for like 5 minutes, because we don't mess around on stage. It gets intense up there.

17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
That the band started out with the name Sunlit Sanction, but it was a terrible name that made no sense.

18. What is your assessment of the current state of radio? Do you think it's a place where your band could flourish?
We love how poppy and electro everything on the radio has become! Possibly!

19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Basketball

20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
I'm really good at shooting guns -asher

JOHNNY GET THE GUN / www.myspace.com/johnnygetthegun / http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnny...n/185941844672

1. How did you get your band name?
Jack: We were all listening to a band called Scarlet at band practice once while trying to think of a name and we heard a lyric 'Johnny get your gun' we all thought, yea that's cool.

2. How did this band get started?
Jack: It all started when me and Wayne were about 14, we were picked up by Mcfly's management and told to write songs and send the songs in to them. We done this for a few years and then we started to get a band together, we found Jamie (Drummer) in about 2006 and were gigging around the local area until about 2009 until we found Joe (Bass). This is when we really started to be a band.

3. What bands are you influenced by?

Wayne: we have so many different influences as a band, we normally come together on The Beatles. I influenced by White Lies, Gary Moore and just other ascpects of life which inspire me to write.

Jack: I love The Beatles, Paramore, The Kinks, You Me At Six Futures and more

Joe: I love a lot of the Pop Punk stuff but im influenced a lot by Muse

Jamie: Dream Theatre, Iron Maidad, The Beatles and Kids In Glass Houses

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Wayne: I Would love to tour with The Beatles, just because i wouldn't be playing music if it wasn't for them, and would be an amazing experience to tour with one of the greatest bands of all time.

Jack: i Think that's the same for all of us, either that or play an area tour just cause i would love to play Wembley.

5. Best food to eat on tour?

Wayne: Something healthy because there's only so long you can eat fast food without feeling awful about it.

6. Why should people listen to your band?

Jack: I know a lot of other bands say this but because we're different, due to Waynes voice, not a lof of singers in our genre have a voice like he has and i think that seperates us from a lot of bands.

Jamie: There's some bands with great songs but after a while all start to sound the same, and we try and avoid this.

Joe: So think people should listen to us because Wayne's voice is so good that it's always worth a listen.

7. If you could be any athlete, which athlete would you switch places with?

Wayne: I have no idea, don't really know any athletes names.

Jack: i used to do Hight Jump so who ever does that.

8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?

Jack:Our Parents for putting up with us and helping us get our feet on the ground when we were young.

Wayne: If we won a grammy that would mean we have a record label, so i would thank who ever gave us the chance.

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?

Jack: Get some Major Labels out of the hands of business men, as they are damaging the industry by not giving any new band a chance, if you're not an instant sucess then you're dropped which is not good.

Jamie: I agree with that, Elton John expressed his worry about this too, he said if he was around today he wouldn't have made it cause he wasn't an instant sucess, which is crazy to think. This is the same for U2, Bob Marley, The Beatles and the Human League some of the biggest acts were not big sucesses at the start, so what might we be missing out on??

Joe: I think if it stays this way i think the Indie lables like Domino records will take over as they seem to give artists a chance to prove themselves.

10. Memorable tour experience? Wayne: When we sold out 02 Academy Birmingham 3 earlier this year, it was the first time we sold out a show and it was amazing to walk out to all them people.

Jack: either that or when we went from Essex to Manchester in a day, we were up for 24 hours, Wayne drove the whole way we was nearly falling asleep at the wheel me and our merch guy adam took it in shifts to stay awale so we could keep him up.

11. What does AP.net mean to you? Jamie: It's great that you've given us the chance to have this interview, we've been a fan of the site, we like how you cover all the major rock acts but also cover the smaller bands like ourselves. So the fact that you've let us be part of it is great.

12. What is your favorite song to play?

Jack: Good As It Gets, we always end on it and there's such a buzz about it when we play it.

Joe: yea i have to agree with that.

13. What is your vacation spot of choice?

Wayne: Not too sure really, we're all going to Dubrovnik in Croatia next year so maybe there??

Jack: We're all going Centre Parcs next year too, and that's pretty awsome!!

14. What music reminds you of your childhood?

Jack: Music of the 90's like shaggy! or The Beatles or Family Holidays!

Jamie: Yea The Beatles cause they were always playing when i was small.



15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?

Wayne: To Fly

Jack: Same with me or Time Traveler.

Joe: would love to have them.

16. Any pre-show superstitions or rituals?

Jamie: not really just get on stage, we're boring like that.

17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?

Joe: Jamies a women! just kidding.

Wayne: Jack's a geek when it comes to History

Jack: Im also a big Liverpool fan!

18. What is your assessment of the current state of radio? Do you think it's a place where your band could flourish?

Wayne:Yes and i know i think Radio 1 do a great job for new bands, with the live lounge and things like that, but i think you have to A listed play list to really grab peoples attention, rather than the odd play here and there.

Jack: yea I'd agree with that you need a good amount of plays everywhere to get noticed.

19. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Jamie: Me Jack and Our Merch guy Adam all play x-box.

Jack: i love watching football and going to musems, as i love history.

Wayne: I take care of my car!

Joe: Pub! and whatever everyone wants to do.

20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?

Wayne: I'm good with reparing stuff, i work in a hanger repairing air planes

Jack: football, i used to play for a small team.

Band name: Face The King

http://www.facethekingband.com
http://www.facebook.com/facetheking
http://www.twitter.com/facetheking
http://www.youtube.com/facetheking
http://facetheking.bandcamp.com

1. How did you get your band name? The original band name was Descender. Which if you think about it - sounds like a cross between a metal band and a new SUV - the Descender by Jeep. The name Face The King was a song written by Eric for a previous band. Anthony liked the name so much we decided to call the band Face The King. The whole idea is that at the end of everything - before you face the king - you face yourself. Don't pretend like you are not impressed with how deep we are. (ERIC)

2. How did this band get started? Joey and I played in the band SEER together. When that band broke up, Joey contacted Anthony, his former band mate from the Mercurial, and asked us all to jam. Needless to say the connection was instant. We bonded over music and offensive humor. We had a fourth member who helped round out the sound. However, it was not until we got Dan from STEREO SERENADE that the band really clicked. Now the musical connection is even stronger and the jokes are even more offensive. (ERIC)

3. What bands are you influenced by? We have a wide variety of influences. I wish I could sound more educated and say Bach and Mozart. We each listen to different styles. Everything from Radiohead, Kings Of Leon, and the Foo Fighters, to John Mayer, One Republic, Jeff Buckley, and Damien Rice. Whatever one band member is listening to at any given moment is having an effect on the bands sound. (ERIC)

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why? Foo Fighters, and Led Zeppelin. Do I really have to explain why that would be awesome? (ANTHONY)

5. Best food to eat on tour? I have to say Turkey Jerky. It already looks bad - so you don't have to worry about that. It lasts forever - and when I eat it - it makes me feel tough: like I should get into a bar fight. I am a buck fifty soaking wet and should probably never get into a bar fight. Nothing like dried and cured meat to really get a tour going on the right foot. However, it does make the long distances in the van rough. Many a pit stops! (ERIC)

6. Why should people listen to your band? Right now we live in a time of disposable music. What I mean is that a band is here one day and gone the next. I believe we are a career band: A band that will constantly evolve on record and on stage. We put a tremendous amount of effort into what we do, and we care about our fans. We are always the last to leave a show, because our fans are the reason why we love doing what we do. We also work hard to give our audience something that takes them to a place beyond just the music and the sound, and that is done by putting on an entertaining live show. We’re very much about the overall experience. People should listen to us because we listen to what they want to hear and try and give it to them in a way that they have never heard it before. (DAN)

7. If you could be any athlete, which athlete would you switch places with?
Michael Jordan. He was in Space Jam. (ANTHONY)
And of course Happy Gilmore... he had a SUBWAY endorsement. (THE REST OF THE BAND)


8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank? Family and friends of course. To be honest - each other. None if it would happen with out the four members of this band. Please don't think that is an ego thing. I would love to thank the first fan who bought a shirt or CD. Or the first venue that really believed in us and kept booking us at the start when no one else would. Probably, the first fan who came to a show and could sing all the words to our songs. I would also thank my dad. Cliche - I know. My dad passed away when I was younger and I haven't been to the cemetery since the funeral. I promised myself I would only visit when I had a Grammy to leave for him or to show him his grand child. No grand child to show him yet - I think I am closer to the Grammy. (ERIC)

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
That people would actually buy records again. To me, the main reason why the industry is failing is because people just don’t buy albums anymore when they can just get music for free on the Internet. (DAN)

10. Memorable tour experience? The van once broke down on the way to SXSW. This was in a previous band. It was literally erupting with coolant. We got the van to a parking lot across the dealership and cleaned it up - let it cool down - and covered some things with electrical tape. I mean this van was horrible. We got it started enough to get it to the dealer across the street and we traded it in for $2500. If this story ever gets back to the dealer - I will deny the whole damn thing. (ERIC)

11. What does AP.net mean to you?
To me, AP.net means a noble cause to help good local music get discovered again. There are too many talented bands that go undiscovered these days, and AP.net is yet another force that counteracts that. (DAN)

12. What is your favorite song to play? My favorite song to play live would have to be, “Colours.” Playing the ending finale of that song live actually weighed in on my decision to officially join the band. It literally made me feel empowered. When we play it live we invite the entire audience on stage to sing the end with us. It is moments like those that keep you wanting to step on stage or drive through the night to get to your show. (DAN)

13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Southern California, preferably Laguna Beach. I’ve always loved the weather in California because it’s perfect: usually never too hot or too cold. I hope to live there some day. (DAN)

For me it is Bethel, NY - home of the original Woodstock. I lived there for aw hile. Everyday felt like a vacation. Friends there are family and at the heart of it all is the musical history. (ERIC)

14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Michael Jackson. When I was a little kid I used to use tin foil to make Michael Jackson outfits and dance around. (ANTHONY)

This also explains a lot about Anthony. (ERIC)

15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
I wish I could intensely pleasure a woman just by playing a melodic guitar solo. Why… um ‘cause that would be awesome? I might as well be god. (DAN)

16. Any pre-show superstitions or rituals? Before every show we all watch an episode of Dora the Explorer in Spanish on my iPad. Then Joey reenacts the entire episode through interpretive dance. That is not true - but I just might have to start that. At every show right before we play the first note - we all go over to the drums, pound our fists, and I say a few words. Not a prayer - typically it is some inside joke. It kind of centers us and reminds us to have fun - just like in the rehearsal space. This is much better than when we used to verbally assault Dan and cut his guitar strings. We quickly learned that was counter-productive. (ERIC)

17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
Most fans don't know how much work goes into playing music. I think they think we hang around and drink, and then we get on stage and play. It takes an enormous amount of discipline to be a great band. Rehearsal, balancing a budget, networking, and writing. I think fans don't often realize what it takes to be in a real band. Also - Joey was a gorilla in his past life. (ERIC)

18. What is your assessment of the current state of radio? Do you think it's a place where your band could flourish?
Where we are from, new rock music on the radio is pretty much non-existent. Every single rock station that has ever existed in New York has been replaced with a top 40 Pop/Dance station, so it’s a little hard to find our niche here. However, going out of state is a different story. With the right backing, I feel a radio advertising campaign could help any artist/band flourish if the music is relevant enough to current times. (DAN)

I think that some songs get shoved so far down your throat on the radio that you have no choice but to swallow. It is impossible to not sing a song when it spins all the time on every station. My favorite is when you talk to the DJ's and they tell you they don't like the song. (ERIC)

19. What do you like to do in your spare time? Here is the funny thing - we like to play music in our spare time. Of course this is in between walking old ladies across the street and picking up trash at the beach. (ERIC)

20. What kind of hidden talents do you have? Dan has the unique ability to imitate some celebrities perfectly (Robert Deniro, Bill Cosby, T-Pain, etc). It is pretty crazy. Anthony is one hell of a hockey player and would have gone pro if he was good enough. Joey can pinch harmonic any guitar and make it sound uber metal. I can talk to animals. Granted they don't talk back and we don't understand each other - but I still do it. In all seriousness - I went to school for fine arts. So if you need a portrait painted or nude drawing of someone - I am your guy. (ERIC)

Mörse
Country : France
Genre : punk/hardcore
RIYL : Tragedy, Cancer Bats, Amanda Woodward, Trap Them
Tumblr l Facebook l Twitter l Bandcamp



1. How did you get your band name?


We all wanted to find a band name in French : something short and "catchy"! We first thought of the name "Crosse" but went for "Morse" (like the swedish vampire movie) because of Chino Moreno's side project called "Crosses". Then we learned about another band called "Morse" ; so we said : "hmmmm, okay, nevermind, let's put an "umlaut" above the "O". Mörse is also the name of a neighbourhood in the german town of Wolfsburg (Town of the Wolf) which suits us pretty well...


2. How did this band get started?



I (Clément) always played in bands with my cousin Rémi (our singer). We stayed something like 2 years without playing together, notably because of some issues with musicians in the past. One day we just realised that we needed to do something better than being couch potatoes.


3. What bands are you influenced by?



I would say bands like Unkind or Trap Them for their dark, heavy razorlike sound! In fact, I don't listen to punk/HxC music that much. When I'm home, I mostly listen to polish composer Chopin, or many post-rock and old school screamo bands like City Of Caterpillar and Amanda Woodward, or songs from my all time favourite rock band : The Smashing Pumpkins (only the songs before Zeitgeist cause it's not the same thing anymore). I also have to admit that I'm a big fan of creepy japanese pop songs...


4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?



I love The Smiths! Morrissey is like the sexiest singer alive! I think that I would have learned so many stuff on how to write songs (emo songs?) from him and Johnny Marr. The lyrics were fabulous too.

If I were to choose another band to tour with, I would choose a band like Mötley Crüe! Why? Because you know : Mötley Crüe!


5. Best food to eat on tour?



As I'm not "vg" or "vegan" like our bassist and second guitarist, it's sometimes hard for me to eat what I really like... even if we always ate great food everywhere we played. I recently discovered small sausages in Belgium called Bifi : they look like dog's penis but are quite delicious!


6. Why should people listen to your band?



Because we are a mix between different genres : from punk/crust to heavy/stoner with french lyrics half close to silly poetry and half to giberrish. Actually it's like listening to 4 or 5 bands in one without even understanding a word but with the urge to dance to it.
No, really, I don't know why people should listen to us...


7. If you could be any athlete, which athlete would you switch places with?



Scottie Pippen! But you know, in the 90's! The Chicago Bulls were really a dreamteam when I was a child and Michael Jordan was out of this world! But I think Scottie Pippen was pretty awesome too : he lived in the shadow of Jordan but was such a pillar for the team.

8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?



Come on, being a punk/hardcore band and win a Grammy? Okay so I try to imagine such a thing (in a utopian?/dystopian? future) and decide that I would probably thank Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber and some stupid generic country band for not being in the "music industry" anymore...

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?



The word "industry" in "music industry".

10. Memorable tour experience?


I think I'll always remember that night, right after a Loma Prieta show in Darmstadt (Germany) when we (the band) decided to go to a club with our friends from the US band Panzram. We were so drunk that we danced all night long and sung shitty 80's pop songs in front of german clubbers thinking : "What the fuck?" We really could read it in their eyes!



11. What does AP.net mean to you?



The opportunity to discover a lot of good punk bands !

12. What is your favorite song to play?


I don't play many songs other than the ones of the band. Even if, sometimes I really love to play openings/endings from some japanese tv shows or folk songs by Aimee Mann... Oh, and I almost forgot to mention "Scars Align" by the awesome band Trap Them on its awesome lp "Darker Handcraft" : there is so much groove, heaviness and despair in this song!

13. What is your vacation spot of choice?



My job as a Psychologist in a public office and its lack of holidays doesn't give me many opportunities to go outside or far from France. Thanks to touring with a band, I can see other countries and meet people from different culture. But there is a country I really need to visit : Japan! It would be great to play there with Mörse, but so much better to visit Shinto temples with my family!


14. What music reminds you of your childhood?



Hungarian dance n°5 by Johannes Brahms. It always makes me think of when I was really young and was going to school in my dad's car. I have mixed feelings about this music cause on the one hand I can imagine myself as being safe in a car slowly driving and on the other hand, going to school means being afraid of some scary old teachers, waiting for you to be perfect when you only want to make everything roughly until the moment where you'll be free to run in the schoolyard with your friends.


15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?



Maybe being ubiquitous : so many things to do, so little time... But I'm afraid that in the end, everything would finish on my couch, playing videogames with my other self instead of trying to change things and make plans for my own good... Or maybe being Magneto ; but without the full skinny leather/vinyl costume!

16. Any pre-show superstitions or rituals?



As I'm not really a believer, I don't think that I have any pre-show ritual : I only always check my strings and straps just to make sure they won't break and that I won't finish the show with a very heavy guitar on one of my feet!


17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?



Fans? What fans?

18. What is your assessment of the current state of radio? Do you think it's a place where your band could flourish?

I really don't think our band could flourish on radios between two Lady Gaga's or Katy Perry's songs... Don't misunderstand me : I love Katy cause she's so well developped. I guess it would be much easier for us to draw people's attention via webradios or very very small or local radios... No, maybe only on webradios when knowing the webmaster!

19. What do you like to do in your spare time?


Reading about zombies, watching movies about zombies, killing zombies on a screen and spend as much time as I can with my baby daughter. And try to prepare her for an upcoming zombie apocalypse!


20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?


My talents are so very well hidden that I could spend a day long trying to find them...

Fighting Free

http://fightingfree.bandcamp.com/

1. How did you get your band name?
It was the best name I could think of for a punk band. What says punk rock like Fighting Free?

2. How did this band get started?
I was tired of trying to play music with metalheads and rednecks so I started doing everything myself.

3. What bands are you influenced by?
Dragonforce, Strung Out, NOFX, Anamanaguchi,Good Riddance,Rancid,Strike Anywhere

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
I'd say NOFX or Strung Out. They know how to start a good pit and have good drugs.

5. Best food to eat on tour?
Anything but ramen noodles.

6. Why should people listen to your band?
It's way different than anything else out there, I've perfected the art of fusion of punk rock and chiptunes.

7. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
The Academy, the gods, and the people that make my equipment.

8. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
Everything. The term industry takes alot of the personality out of what music is about.

9. Memorable tour experience?
I don't do shows but I have rocked some faces off in a living room or two.

10. What does AP.net mean to you?
Nothing.

11. What is your favorite song to play?
Fighting Free or Notes of Nostalgia

12. What is your vacation spot of choice?
The beer cave at the gas station.

13. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Lagwagon, Craig's Brother, Pennywise, all that good melodic punk that's good to skate to.

14. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Shapeshifting, I would turn into Goro from mortal kombat and beat the hell out of some drums.

15. Any pre-show superstitions or rituals?
Tuning instruments and taking care of head.

16. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
Everything, I have no fans.

17. What is your assessment of the current state of radio? Do you think it's a place where your band could flourish?
It sucks, there's no place for me on the radio, I don't want to be associated with that shit.

18. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Drinking nyquil out of the bottle and passing out on the couch.

19. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
None. I've exploited them all.

Interview sent in! thanks for the sweet opportunity.