Jasonmatos

new bands, good time

905 Music Productions along with Throwin' The Horns presents ...

Who: The Goodbye Celebration - Euphoria's Depression - Dear Jane, I - Faceless Tomorrow - The End of August
When: December 1st, 2006
Where: Burlington YMCA, 500 Drury Lane
Cost: $7.00

I have not been to a Burlington YMCA show in over 6 months and I'm not too happy about that fact. The Burly YMCA was a package of firsts for me, personally. I attended my first local show EVER at the YMCA.

I remember the show perfectly. Silverstein was headlining with special guests Protest the Hero, Dead & Divine, Bury Her Breathing and The Reason. All these bands were still pretty local at the time and everything about the show captured my attention. The attitude and non-chalance of the people attending, the energy and passion that the bands possessed and the atmosphere of the show.

Another first that the YMCA granted me was my first chance to do concert photography. Thanks to Paul Shelton's passion for assisting teens and giving them opportunities, I received the chance to stand 2 feet away from local bands and take their pictures. The YMCA became a haven for me on Friday nights, a place to hear great music, chill with amazing people and practice my photography techniques.

Though I have never heard of any of these bands - probably because I haven't attended a YMCA show in over 6 months - it will not stop me from attending simply because the YMCA has the skills to put on a great show.

No band reviews or guesstimates for these bands ... let's just all go to this show and enjoy.

Until next time,

Jason Matos
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www.jasonmatos.com

dead&divine-bodybreak-cain&abel

You could taste it in the air. You could wave your hand at it & feel it. It is the feeling that you know a good show is going to occur. I felt that this show was going to be something very different the moment I stepped into the concert room of the Music Centre.

Arriving late, due to work, I bought my ticket quickly and quickly walked towards the music. Luckily, I missed only 10 minutes of Lifestory Monologue, so I can still review them by the 3 songs I heard. Despite the music hall being packed with people, the crowd just wasn't into the music. I am taking a wild guess it was because of the main singer's on-stage antics.

When Richard Nuttell was not screaming or wailing into the mic, he was jumping and waving his arms around the stage as if he was on fire. Though he was very into his music & I believe his on-stage antics allow for Richard to feel his music and allows him to sing the way he does, I think that his dancing and waving of his hands may have taken away from the show and the brilliance of the band behind him.

Aside from the main singer, the music was incredible. Lifestory Monologue has BIG sound. With guitar effects and keyboard, their sound feels so large. Think Coldplay-gone-screaming.

I personally enjoyed their big sound and Richard's mix of screaming and 'screeching-singing.' You may review and judge for yourself their music at www.myspace.com/lifestorymonologue.

Cain & Abel - an old and ever progressing Burlington pop-indie-rock band. A nice break and interlude from the heavy distortion and screaming, Cain & Abel lifted the crowds spirits and lightened the atmosphere. Their set, as usual, was jam-packed full of quirky guitar riffs, mind-blowing drum patterns and a voice to love. There is not much more I can say about Cain & Abel because they never fail in pleasing the crowd and playing a great, all around show. Listen to them at www.myspace.com/cainandabel.

After Cain & Abel's, during set changes, I was hanging out with my buddy Graham, who is an avid mosher and has connections to a lot of bands and people within the 'scene.' I was telling Graham how excited I was for Body Break's set and Dead and Divine's set afterwards. He smiled down at me, with an all-knowing smile which turned into a smirk. He said, "You have no idea."

"Excuse me? I have no idea what?" I responded.

"Body Break's set, you have no idea what is going down. They are filming their set. 4 cameras."

Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but when a band knows they are being filmed, let alone 4 cameras, and some moshers know they are being filmed, EVERYONE is going to give their 120% into whatever they do. If it is the band playing as hard, as fast and as best as they can or if it is the moshers, throwing down as hard and as passionately as they can, or if it is making sure the circle pit stays big enough. You just knew something was going to go down.

Body Break opens their set with, "Welcome to our show mother*******, let's get this going." After their nice intro to get the crowd moving, all hell broke loose in a beautiful sort of way.

The band instantly entered a breakdown, with Logan, vocals, screaming along, using his voice to accompany the heavy riffs beautifully. The moshers were let unleashed, forcing their way into the crowd, forming a circle pit. The set progressed perfectly for 2 songs. But then a mistake occured. A fully unnecessary mistake. As I was watching the mosh-pit, I saw a fist raise into the air and come down into a guy's face. Let's call the guy who punched the other guy Mr. S just to make this easier. Instandly, 10-12 guys grabbed Mr. S and started a fight with him, then Mr. S's friends joined in. The people involved in the fight were all the moshers. The music stopped. Logan, very mad, yells out, "Shit! Stop the fighting, take it the **** outside. This is our set and we want no fighting. Get the **** out." They listened to him. The music continued. The set, was incredible, the fight, almost ironic due to the name of the band. Body Break. Don't mess with them. www.myspace.com/bodybreak

Welcome home the poster boys of Burlington hardcore. Dead & Divine return, after a long-awaited home town concert, from their tour.

Their set opened up with a recorded intro. A man speaking, crying & yelling about all the people he has killed and what he has killed them with, the recording ends with him sobbing ... enter Dead & Divine. Their set had all the favorites, with a few new songs added into the mix. The mosh pit, now absent of the fighters, is full with girls 2 stepping and guys dancing across the circle pit.

Almost each song was dedicated to someone during D&D's set, one being dedicated to Nicholas, a guitarist for the now broken up band, Bury Her Breathing. Nicholos died of cancer a few months ago.

Dead and Divine ended with their crowd favorite, "You Are Cordially Invited." www.myspace.com/deaddivine

All in all an amazing night for concert-goers and bands alike. Dead and Divine play with Body Break next at J's Place— near the casino — in Brantford on December 1st.

Until next time,

Jason Matos
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www.jasonmatos.com

Jason's Introduction to Hardcore101

((INSERT 'HARDCORE' PICTURE - CENTERED IF POSSIBLE)) <>

Alright, here it is for all you 'classic-rock-lovers/I-only-like-bluesy-acoustic-'real-music' people. For those of you who listen to your music 'just' loud enough. For those of you who consider The Who contemporary rock because they are still touring. For those of you who still think B.B King is the only one with rhythm skills. It's time to open up your musical eyes to some new sounds.

Are you ready.

I'll lay this out, step by step.

1) Start up your PC or Mac by pressing the power button

2) If necessary log on to your user interface or your desktop

3) Though you are anxious to hear some new music, be patient for your desktop to load

4) Double click on the internet icon

5) Turn your speakers to a minimum of 75% of the maximum volume

6) Put in earplugs if necessary

7) In the address bar type these URL's / websites:

www.myspace.com/thehollyspringdisaster

www.myspace.com/thegorgeous

www.myspace.com/thebattlecat

www.myspace.com/architects666

If you listen to these and enjoy these artists (even if it is just a little bit of enjoyment) then click down to where the bands' "friends" pictures are located and click on some of their favorite bands to listen to.

jason
jasonmatos.com

dead & divine comin' home

Hey - here is a blog about the Dead & Divine show coming up on the 25th.

WHEN: November 25th, 2006 @ 7ish
WHO: Dead & Divine - Body Break - Cain & Abel - Murders of Rue Morgue - Lifestyle Monologue
WHERE: 2311 New Street @ the Music Centre - Burlington
COST: $12

Dead & Divine has not played a hometown show in a long time. The last Burly show I remember them playing was way-back-when in the summertime. They played at the Music Centre and that show was a whole lot of fun. During the delicate acoustic song that Matt Tobin plays acoustic guitar in, the whole crowd started singing the lyrics. Matt was so blown away that the crowd knew the lyrics so well that he would stop singing, turn and look at his band mates and just mutter "awed-obscenities"

The crowd just gave it their all too. They didn't just 'sing' along - they pused their way to the front and yelled out the lyrics passionately. Then, as the song progresses from singing to an unexpected scream, Dead & Divine blew the Music Centre's roof off.

Now, I know I said that I would be at the last show, but with prior engagements and lazy friends I didn't get into the sold-out Rosesdead show. I'm still bitter. It's okay though, I'll get into this one and provide all you lovely readers with pictures.

If this show will be anything like the last show I was at, it's worth the $12.

Until next time,

Jason Matos
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www.jasonmatos.com

rosesdead

ROSESDEAD

Burlington's Rosesdead ready to do a hometown-gig.

WHEN: Saturday, November 18th @ APPR 6:30-7:00
WHO: Rosesdead - Sydney - The Gorgeous - The Stickup - Attack in Black - Ten Second Epic - Summer Hero
WHERE: The Burlington Music Centre @  2311 New Street

Rosesdead, just returning from an East Coast Tour labeled "The Wicked Bitch of the East Tour," is now playing a home-town show in Burlington to finish off their tour.

Rosesdead. Never heard of them? Time to do your research.

www.rosesdead.net

Hit up their multimedia section, listen to some songs, watch their music video, check out their pictures which are done by Brooks Reynolds (www.brooksreynolds.com) Read their biography and go out to HMV and buy their CD, "Stages." Read the lyrics, because you can't understand them, memorize them and then attend this concert and scream them into the face of the person beside you.

Travelling in Rosesdead's wake comes a crew bulging at the seams with talent. Hailing from Edmonton to Oshawa to Burlington, there is an array of talent and sounds, from the Burlington sound to the Toronto sound to the Edmonton sound, this show will have a ridiculous amount of talent and so much variety.

Though the show will cater to the hardcore genre I encourage everyone to attend this show. If you are into Opera, Acapella, or have never heard screaming music than this will shock your system. It might even knock you off your feet. Who knows, you may secretly like it.

See you there, just look for the popping flashes at the front and you will see me,

Until next time,

Jason Matos
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www.jasonmatos.com

xstraightedgex

XSTRAIGHTEDGEX

The choice to fold to society or to brandish your X above your head.

A personal choice in a lot of hardcore concert go-ers lives is that they will be straightedge. It is hard, in this day and age, to call yourself straightedge as there are many different versions or beliefs on what being a "true" straightedge person means. For the older crowd out there, being 'straightedge' is the equivalent to being a 'square.' Let's look back at some history for a bit:

The year is 1970, the new and rebellious genre of hardcore-punk was emerging from the norm of that day. Ahead of the pack was Ian MacKaye, the orignal member of both the band The Teen Idles and the band Minor Threat . In the early 1970's, during the beginning of The Teen Idles musical career they took a tour over the West coast of America.

One of their first shows was at the Mabuhay Garden Club in San Fransisco. Upon their arrival, equipment in arms, they were almost rejected from the club by the owner because they were all under age of the legal drinking age. Instead, due to MacKaye's fast thinking, the owner drew a large X on each of the band member's hands, symbolizing to the bar tenders that the band was underage. On the rest of their West coast tour, when the rejection from clubs was imminent, MacKaye just brought out the black X and the club owners were happy.

Today, you will see straightedge kids branding large X's drawn on the top of each of their hands, representing their oath for no alcohol or drugs. The simple letter on their hands sets them apart. They are either respected or made fun of.

This little history trip is the ground support for the 'new age' term straightedge. To be straightege places the person into musical circles that are associated with hardcore/emo/punk music. Most of the straightedge bands that publicly announce their decision to be straightedge will be within the hardcore genre of music and will place a capital X before and after their band name.

A local example of this is the band XLIFERUINERX.

To physically be straightedge is to be, in our societies terms, healthy. Bottom line. Ben Dussault of the straightedge/hardcore band Throwdown [www.myspace.com/throwdown] is a prime example of what being straightedge represents. Ben does not consume any 'uppers' such as caffeine, painkillers, alcohol or drugs and does not eat any meat. Some people take it to the next level and will become vegans and will not engage in sexual relations until married or in a very, very close relationship with their partner.

To be straightedge, to stand apart from the norm, to seperate from others, to form a tight-knit group of people who will be there, through the thick and through the thin. To live and believe in trust, loyalty, friendship and love.

Alot of people are made fun of for being straightedge, which has always struck me as weird, for a few reasons. As we all know, alcohol can be used responsibly or it can be abused. Since a lot of kids that attend these hardcore shows are my age [17] and younger they don't just casually drink alcohol, they abuse it, get smashed until it's not safe. What straightedge kids and adults realize is that there are hundreds of ways in which they can have fun and enjoy good times without consuming a mind-numbing, emotion draining, sickness-causing drink. So, they have vowed to never drink alcohol.

To be straightedge also means a person must be proud [within reason] of their decision and to stand by their choice to be straightedge with a passion. They will not fold to peer pressure and they will not give in to drinking or doing drugs.

Until next time,

Jason Matos
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www.jasonmatos.com

truly twisted

I feel obliged to write this article because of the truly odd and twisted experience I went through at the Beautiful Nothing DVD release show. You see, I've been to a whole lot of shows, I've been to the shows where 7 people attend and rock out, I've been to the show where amazing bands are playing but kids are too worried about sitting outside and smoking, I've been to the shows where it's all about moshing and throwing down, about giving respect to the person beside you, and I've been to the shows where it all about the music and nothing else.

The Beautiful Nothing show was none of the above. It formed it's own category that I can't name. Personally, when I dish out $10 to see 6 bands play a half-hour set each, I want to stay for each band because I just dished out $10 I could have been putting towards something else, like the mountain of money I need to save for university. So, with that in mind, I am not going to leave the show after I see one band. That would be absurd, because I would have wasted $10, I could have payed $2 and just stayed for one band, but it doesn't work like that.

With each new band that played their set, a visibly different clique/group arrived for the set. There were the regulars who stayed for all the bands, there was me, my buddy Jake, some 'hardcore' kids who just wanted to dance and have a good time, and a few others milling around.

Band: Guilty
Clique: girlfriends - regulars

Band: White Elephant
Clique: girlfriends/Abercrombie & Fitch/American Eagle/skater group - regulars

Band: Maddison
Clique: the hardcore kids had a blast throwing down to the screamo music - tight jeans, skate shoes, tight band t-shirt or longsleeve striped shirts, optional bandana/regulars

Band: Beautiful Nothing
Clique: "Anti-Flag-punk-screw-capitalism-let's-mosh-and-bash-each-others-faces-in-while-our-crazy-dyed-mohawked-hair-scares-people"/regulars

Band: The Video Dead
Clique: metal loving guys - long hair - leather coats - greased hair - regulars

Band: Teen
Clique: their "bar-party-buddies" - let's just say this group of people looked akward without a beer in their hand - me and my friend

You see, this may not appear "out of the regular" but it was very different. When each band was finished, you could visibly see a group leave the concert hall and you could see the new, visibly different group, enter the music hall. If there was two cliques watcing the same show they were seperated and visibly seperated because of their style and the judging looks given to each other.

Plus, for some bands, there would be parents at the back watching. That is not something you see often, considering all the band members must have been late teens, or in their 20's. Odd. Akward to watch them try to 'bop' their head to the music while trying to watch the kids mosh or 'throwdown.'

Let me explain a regular Burlington show to you.

Kids, teens, early-20-somewhats, walkin' around, hanging out together outside of the venue, talking, smoking, having a good time. Inside, there are people looking at the merch, talking with the bands. Inside the concert hall, people just chill until the band sets up.

When the band plays, you have a group of people stand at the very front, tapping their feet, singing along and moving 'slightly' to the music. Against the walls and against the back wall you have people standing with their friends just listening to the music, but enjoying it. In the middle of the floor is where the action goes down. From side to side kids walk a brisk, fast walk in pace with the music, waiting for the instrumental breakdown so that they can perform spinkicks and two-step in time with the music.

This form of dancing is known as throwing down. Throwing down consists of moves such as:

The Spinkick - a brisk walk, jump into the air, perform a 360 degree turn while kicking out into the air

Two Stepping - a jig or dance where one foot is placed infront of the other, while the foot on the ground moves backwards, the person stays in the same spot

"Star grabbing" - bend the knees, look at the ceiling, "grab stars" as fast as you can, switching between arms, bring the "stars" into the chest

Thumping - slamming your fists or open palm into the floor, switching between arms, in time with the music

"Elbow Thrust" - while walking briskly across the floor, slam your elbows back, both arms at the same time, at shoulder height in time with the music

Windmilling - usually a girl thing, in which the dancer takes an open space on the floor, drops into a splay-legged modified rockabilly stance and windmills the arms around, sorta like an airplane propeller.

This dancing has become a cultural icon at shows where the music is distorted, heavy, and the lyrics are screamed, rarely sung.

Though this may appear a random blog, I hope that, maybe for some of the readers not attending 'hardcore' shows, that you gain an idea of what goes on at the show and hopefully, appreciate this culture for what it is, a way to distinguish oneself. Besides, is that not the purpose of music, no matter what the genre or the tone of the guitar is? To use music to feel, to need, to want, to fulfill? To each his own right?

Until next time,

Jason Matos

Low attendance, high energy

I'll admit it. I was very, very skeptical about this concert. Other than the band Guilty, I have heard nothing of the other bands playing. Nothing.

Once I arrived at the Music Center I was even more skeptical. I walked up to the front doors, I walked up to the front doors. No one else. Because, other than the people manning the merch booth inside the doors, I was the only one outside, or inside the Music Centre. I looked around confused, saw that there was merch set up, bought a wristband and ventured into the concert hall.

Against the walls sat a few people, nervously chatting with each other as if they didn't want anyone to hear or notice them. I turned to my friend beside me and commented on how I would rather be somewhere else, doing something other than standing in an empty concert hall.

Guilty (pic at bottom) completed their sound check, plugged in, assumed their positions and began playing. I looked around and thought, " I feel like an idiot walking into the middle of the floor (since I'd be the only one) and taking pictures." Whatever. I took pictures anyways.

Unfortunately, the low attendance level seemed to effect Guilty's playing, which is too bad. Guilty, as I know, has a high, high energy level when they play, I just guess their energy comes from a crowd. It was dissapointing to see such a Burlington-centered band not put out for a show, regardless of the attendance level.

Next up, White Elephant. In venture more people. As of now there is roughly 30-40 people standing to the sides of the concert hall. It's all good.

I have, as I said before, never heard any band but Guilty, so I was excited for White Elephant. They plugged in all their equipment, including a synth machine, a Mac laptop and a keyboard. The band members jump on stage, and due to 'technical difficulties', start throwin out some 'funny' jokes to amuse the crowd. Didn't work. Thankfully they made up their sour sense of humor with an amazing set.

For me personally, what separates a good local band from a 'local band' is the singer's voice / scream. If the singer can sing or scream, and change his voice to fit the type of music his band members are playing, then they have skill. White Elephant has skill. With a  smooth, almost Gavin-DeGraw-toned voice, a nice mix of picking and power chords and a whole lot of energy, White Elephant put out a great show.

Madison. This band stands apart from any band playing last night. Last night was Madison's first show. Ever. They can be classified as, with all the new-age sub-genres included, "hardcore-melodic-screamo" mmhhmm. Or, if you're like me and want to know what type of music Madison is associated with I can put down "screamo"

Maddison brought the party to the show. With no groupies tagging along, or haters wanting to harass them, they broke out into their first song with power chords being cranked out of the amps and the screamer, Craig, just givin' it his all into the mic. Incredible stage presence, guitar swings and the works. Their verses flowed smoothly [as smooth as a hardcore band can flow] into the choruses and their breakdowns [instrumental parts] were phenomenal. Heavy-hitting band. Watch out Burlington, Madison is on the loose to make a name for themselves.

Beautiful Nothing (top photo, below) After all, it was their concert, so they eventually played. And it was different. Once they arrived on stage, in charged 20-30 people, a ... 'cult following.'  To say the least, interesting. Once the first note was hit and the first snare was tapped, these 20-30 people acted as if the world was ending. Arms flailing, bodies being thrown around, individuals dancing psychedillically [if that's a word]. Beautiful Nothing has gathered together a tight-knit following that loves their music. Beautiful Nothing's music connects with people, the band's lyrics must hit home and their music must accompany the lyrics perfectly because everone was captivated when Beautiful Nothing played their set. The main singer, arms and legs flailing, dancing wildly, yelled and sung his lyrics with a perfect pitch, and in time with his band members. It was so refreshing not to have a band made up of distortion and screaming.

The Video Dead (second photo from top, below). The next local band to make it out of Burlington. With their CD, "Brotherhood of the Dead" hitting music stores soon, this band has credentials and the arsenal to blow away their fans. I don't know how to categorize their genre. Maybe "old-school-punk-inspired-lyrics-with-heavy-guitar?" With the main singer being monster of a man, I was intimidated taking his picture while standing 2 feet from him. I was afraid I might get a meaty hand around my throat and his face screaming lyrics about hate, war and religion into my face. Though the meaty hand never gripped my throat the screaming lyrics blasted everyone into a dancing frenzy. Congrats to the Video Dead for making it this far, I wish them the best of luck.

Last up, Teen (third from top, below). Pure raggae. Always enjoyable, you can't not enjoy raggae. Teen, no matter where they play, if it is a bar, a concert hall, or the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, they have a constant following of their close friends who sing and dance along. I know this because last night, the only people watching Teen, was their close friends. Did that stop them from playing a great show? No. They realized, "hey, we're playing raggae, we have a concert hall to ourselves with only our close buddies, what more can we ask for?" The main singer was out, dancing with his buddies while singing, the guitarists were jumping and rocking out, and every band member had a smile on their face.

So, other than the low attendance, which did peak during the middle of the concert, it was a shame not a lot of people came out to see this hidden gem of a concert. Though the bands aren't 'locally famous' they bring a good show, give it their all, and enjoy every single minute of it.

Until next time,

Jason

not so heavy

BEAUTIFUL NOTHING DVD RELEASE

WHERE: The Burlington Music Center, Burlington - 2311 New Street

WHEN: Friday, November 10th, 2006 @ 7:00

WHO: Guilty, White Elephant, Madisson, Teen, The Video Dead, Dear Jane, I & Beautiful Nothing

COST: $10

So, never hearing Beautiful Nothing and with not too much to do, I ventured back into the Myspace world which I so brutally ripped myself out of 6 months ago. I found myself listening to Beautiful Nothing's tracks on their myspace and became inspired to write about their DVD release concert this Friday, which I'll be at taking pictures of.

I'll be honest, I didn't expect them to be so light and airy as far as instrumentals go. I like it. I didn't expect it, but I like it. They have thought out guitar-riffs that bring you into the song rather than allowing you to just listen to the song. Anthony, the vocalist, has a good voice. This is something new for some Burlington bands. There are the top bands out there that have a great vocalist but there are some bands whose vocalist just can't sing. Beautiful Nothing's singer can sing and his voice fits perfectly with the tone and rhythm of his band members.

I decided, since I did not have much to do, to check out the rest of the bands on the set for that night. Teen, is amazing. I saw them play a live show at the Burlington Music Festival last year and they put out. They have a solid, solid fanbase which is always a good time when loyal fans come out to watch. Not only did the band members just give er' on their instruments but Rich Marcone stepped off the stage, walked into the crowd, started crowd surfing, all the while singing his dub beats.

Madisson, I guess, is a 1 member band?!? His music is mellow, chillin' music. He has some instrumental stuff which is pretty solid for it being played by just him, but I'm skeptical if he can entertain the crowd and keep them into the music while playing. With a lineup that includes Beautiful Nothing, Guilty and Teen, it is going to be tough to keep the crowd into the music. All the best to him.

Even if you haven't heard of any of these bands or if you have heard of all of them, come out, because this show is going to be good times all around, accented by crowd surfing, raggae moshing and good, clean music. A night without heavy distortion and in your face screaming.

It could be relaxing.

Until next time,

Jason

dead & divine

WHERE: The Jamspace, Hamilton - 102 Catharine Street

WHEN: Friday, November 3rd, 2006 @ 7:00

WHO: Dead & Divine - Sawmill Valley - Forever & A Day - Braebrook - Guilty - More Then Meets the Eye

COST: $10 @ the door

Do I need a written opinion on this concert? Is it fully necessary? Because, if you look at who is playing, or, more appropriately, who is headlining the concert tonight then you will realize this concert doesn't need my opinion. Dead & Divine bring with them a good, solid, hardcore Burlington-style show no matter where they play. Amazing, thought-out guitar riffs, Will destroying his bass drum with his double kicks, Kellan flailing along in beat with the drums on bass and Matt Tobin on screeching and screaming, yelling and singing. So, yes, Guilty is really, really good too and I'm not going to sit in my swivelly chair here at the office and pretend to know everything about the local music scene - because I don't - so I won't comment on the other bands because I've never heard them. So - hey, if they are playing with D&D and Guilty they must have some aquired some talent in the hardcore scene.

Check it out.

Until later,

Jason Matos