Reel Big Fish Invade L.A.
When most bands started to jump on the Emo bandwagon, Reel Big Fish stayed true to the music they love…Ska! Reel Big Fish’s lead singer and guitar slinger, Aaron Barrett, has been making the masses skank for over fifteen years. Aaron was awesome enough to answer a few questions in an interview, which you can find below. Make sure to check out Reel Big Fish this Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles!
1. After all these years, how does it feel to still be, “Doin’ the fish”?
We definitely feel very lucky to be able to still tour and make a living playing music! Our fans have been so amazingly supportive over the years and we couldn’t do what we do without them! I think we even have more fun playing now than we ever did before because everyone in the band gets along so well these days and that makes it a joy to be on stage making music!
2. What bands have you been listening to lately? Any bands we should check out?
My favorite bands in the world right now are: Infant Sorrow, The Maxies and The Aggrolites
3. Favorite spots to eat in Los Angeles?
The Stinking Rose because I LOVE garlic! Come up and smell my breath sometime, you’ll know I’m not lying!
4. What can we expect from your show at Club Nokia this Thursday?
A very entertaining show with fun, excitement, dancing, hilarity and sweaty pits! All your favorite RBF songs and some deep, deep obscure cuts we haven’t played in a long time or ever before! We’re really mixing up the set list this time around!
5. What’s next for Reel Big Fish?
We’ll be doing a tour of South America in October and after that, hopefully we will finally start working on a brand new album of new Reel Big Fish songs!
6. Shout-out’s? Words-of-wisdom?
I guess I should plug our latest release; it’s a three disc, best of collection called, “A Best of Us for the Rest of Us (Bigger Better Bonus Deluxe Version).” All new recordings of RBF favorites, a disc of acoustic versions and another disc of all our most popular cover – Pretty awesome! And words-of-wisdom?? …I don’t know, I guess my only advice is to never give advice!
Punk Rock Art
Heather Gabel is a kick-ass artist who has an obsession with all things dark, goth and blood covered. Make sure to check out her show, at the POVevolving gallery, which opens this Saturday July 9th . Heather was cool enough to do an interview which you can find below…
1. How did you get started with art?
Art was the thing I was always best in in school growing up. I went to college on a photography scholarship but ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts since I hated proper photography. In an advanced lighting class I decided that I’d rather not even learn how to professionally light a tube of toothpaste for a print ad because if I did I might end up doing that as a career. So, I switched majors to something much less useful professionally but much more fulfilling personally. I was always doing lowbrow stuff, flyers for shows stuff like that, but it was years before it became a paying gig.
2. You’ve designed tons of album covers and shirts for so many kick-ass bands(Green Day, Alkaline Trio, Rancid, Against Me!, AFI, The Falcon, etc)…What’s that whole experience like?
It’s awesome. If someone would have told me I would do t shirts for Green Day or Rancid when I was 15 I’d have flipped. I was into those bands as a kid, the first time I saw Green Day was in my friend’s backyard and they were wearing dresses. The first time I saw Rancid was in a tiny coffee shop and they were just a 3 piece. It’s weird how things turn out, the business relationships I ended up having with them grew out of friendships, they personally asked me to do some stuff for them after learning I had done so much of the merch design for Alkaline Trio.
3. What inspires you?
In my design work I try to capture the spirit of the music and let that be the inspiration. In my personal work it’s an outlet for whatevers going on inside for me at the time, so my life is basically what inspires that.
4. Can you tell us about your upcoming show?
The show “Supernatural? Perhaps.” Is a show with my pal Steak Mtn (aka Chris Norris) who also comes from a design heavy background. He’s done work for some of the same bands as I have (Against Me!, Fake Problems, Green Day) and we also share an obsession for all things dark, goth and blood covered. This is third show we’ve collaborated on but the first time it’s just he and I so we’ve both been crazy busy working on a lot of new pieces specifically for this show. The show is 2 parts, the big gallery room will have our fine art, I did collages w/some painting/drawing and he did some drawings and big hand drawn/digitally structured drawings for prints. The back room will house a collection of all the design work we’ve both been doing over the past 14ish years, including originals, sketches etc. The show opens this Saturday the 9th at POVevolving Gallery in Chinatown, LA and will be up a month.
5. What bands should we listen to?
I’ve just been listening to this on repeat for the past month or so…
http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=aZp8u6zpGX0
6. Favorite places to eat in LA?
Flore, M, Real Food Daily, Mexico City, Local, Trees Cafe in Griffith Park, Elf.
7. What’s next on the agenda for you?
I’m putting out a book with all of the designs I’ve done for Alkaline Trio over the past 15 years. The book release will be in Chicago this fall in an exhibit of a series of prints of my most beloved designs.
8. Where can we find more info on what you’re up to?
My website! www.heathergabel.com
9. Any advice for aspiring artists?
Hmmm. I think anyone who really wants to make art, music, etc is going to do it regardless of what anyone tells them so, no, I’ve got very little insight on that topic. Or maybe that’s the advice, just to do what you want because you want to.
10. Shout-out’s? Words of wisdom?
Ha! Nope.
Free Foster The People show at Amoeba!
This band is cool! Check out the details below!
5/24- Amoeba Music in Hollywood, CA (Album Release Event) @ 6:30 PM
6400 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-245-6400
FACEBOOK FAN FRIDAY: Eric BlairingOut
Today on Facebook Fan Friday, we bring you Eric BlairingOut, who interviews celebrities and recently saw an awesome Social Distortion concert…read more below.
If you want to be featured on “Facebook Fan Friday” and share some things about yourself:
1. Like Cat ‘n Mouse Promotions on Facebook.
2. We’ll select a new fan each week to feature!
1. What’s your name?
Eric BlairingOut
2. What do you do?
Interview celebrities
3. Favorite places to eat in Los Angeles?
Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood
4. All time favorite album?
I can not say one
5. Describe a perfect weekend for you?
A beautiful girl, good food, relaxing, watching TV or hanging out shopping
6. What was the last concert you went to? How was it?
SOCIAL DISTORTION…Awesome!
7. Shout-outs? Words of wisdom?
Shout out to Evan Blair my brother the Lawyer, and words of wisdom…Treat people the way you would want them to treat you.
FACEBOOK FAN FRIDAY: Peter Petersong
Today on Facebook Fan Friday, we bring you Peter Petersong, who has a pretty sweet nickname and loves partying to techno…read more below.
If you want to be featured on “Facebook Fan Friday” and share some things about yourself:
1. Like Cat ‘n Mouse Promotions on Facebook.
2. We’ll select a new fan each week to feature!
1. What’s your name?
Peter “Disco” Song… Disco is my nickname because I used to wear a lot of polyester and I could boogie down.
2. What do you do?
A CPA… nothing interesting there.
3. Favorite places to eat in Los Angeles?
I like the classics… In-n-Out, the Taco Trucks, but my favorite place is Super Pho in Culver City. Best Pho in LA.
4. Who’s your favorite superhero?
Greatest American Hero… best theme song ever.
5. Describe a perfect weekend for you?
Waking up at a reasonable hour to watch European soccer. Go Barca or Totten! Drinks at an outdoorsy bar/lounge then listen to some techno in a dark after-hours club. Wake up with too little sleep then brunch with friends and pass out and wake up hungry and order pizza and watch Family Guy.
6. What was the last concert you went to? How was it?
Matthew Dear with his band. He DJ’d afterward. The band was pretty great, Their sound was a futuristic version of Talking Heads and the DJ set was amazing as usual.
7. Shout-outs? Words of wisdom?
My friend Stig just got engaged. Congrats Stig and Caitlin! Dont do drugs, it might just make you too awesome.