Tag Archives: Punk

Interview: John E. Carey Jr. & John Rosen of Old Man Markley

I remember the very first time I heard bluegrass/punk rockers Old Man Markley.  I was amazed and intrigued at the same time and could only think, “where has this band been all my life?”  The band puts together a perfect mix of genres I never really fathomed would work so well together, and the result has been in my weekly playlist for years now.

Earlier this year, the band dropped their sophomore release on Fat Wreck Chords titled Down Side Up.  Where I was a fan of their 2011 debut Guts ‘n Teeth, their second album has really grown on me.   From the ode to Gary Busey to the fun track about a certain lovable companion, the album is catchy, fun, and begs for repeat spins.

Having seen them live before, they have no problem winning new fans over.  This seven-piece act is going places and are not to be overlooked.

Recently, I caught up with John E. Carey Jr. (lead vocals and guitar) and John Rosen (banjo and vocals).  They were able to take a quick break while in between shows and were more than happy to shoot the breeze with me.  Check it out:

Old Man Markley

BHP: So, first things first, how did your latest tour treat you?

John E. Carey Jr.: Our US tour with Dropkick Murphys and Jim Lockey and the Solomon Suns was great. JLSS unfortunately had visa issues and couldn’t make the first half of the tour, so the Revillers from Boston filled in. Good Times!

BHP: You are getting ready to head to back to Europe to play some festivals and shows with the likes of Pennywise and even Larry and His Flask. How stoked is everyone in the band to return overseas?

JC: It’s a great accomplishment for us to be returning over seas! I’m Looking forward to the people, sites and falafel!!

BHP: Mmmmm falafel. So when you get back to the good ol’ US of A, you are all on board to tour with Dropkick Murphys some more. No rest for the wicked huh?

JC: No rest is right, but we are happy to again have the opportunity to go out with DM in support of our new album.

BHP: On Down Side Up, it sounds like you guys and gals toned it down a bit and focused more on the bluegrass appeal to your style. Was this on purpose, or did your recording just kind of lead you this way? Regardless, it is an incredible release.

JC: I don’t think we were intentionally toning it down, as much as toning it up and just letting our creativity flow.

BHP: I mean, y’all did have a #1 spot for a Bluegrass album. Did you ever think that would happen? I know your debut release got well-deserved attention.

JC: It was a wonderful surprise, but i guess hard work leads to great things. It’s awesome we made #1 and I’m extremely proud of the band.

BHP: So What was done differently on this album than on Guts ‘n Teeth?

JC: We built a home recording studio and tracked most of the album there. Most of the songs we really developed while we tracked them, which was a different approach to recording our first record, Gut’s ‘n Teeth, which was ready to go by the time we went into the studio to track it.

OMM - Down Side UpBHP: I love that in the album notes it was listed that a Converse shoe was used as an instrument on that track. Was that random or were there many shoes used in looking for the perfect beat?

John Rosen: When we were recording the song, Chris Hesse of Hoobastank, who played shaker on the song, had suggested the sneaker tapping to flesh out the instrumental section of the song. It was just an off-the-cuff suggestion thrown out at the spur of the moment and it just happened to work great.

JC: Like George Martin said “All you need is ears.”

BHP: How did “Beyond The Moon” come about?

JR: I’ve always been a huge fan of Gary Busey ever since I first saw The Buddy Holly Story as a kid. More recently, when reality TV breathed new life into his career, I discovered shows like Celebrity Rehab and I’m With Busey. I’ve always been fascinated with him and had toyed with the idea of writing a song about him for years but didn’t know how to approach it. My first pass at the song was a much sillier version than what we ended up recording. This first version felt a little too cheap, too Weird Al Yankovic, so I took out all the references to his movies, Dr. Drew and his teeth and shifted the song’s focus from him to me. In this version, Gary is just a passing reference in the chorus. The rest of the song focuses my struggle to write a song about him. So really, it’s not a song about celebrity or mental illness, but a song about writing a song.

BHP: Man, I loved I’m With Busey. So anyways, did the greatest villain ever out of all the Lethal Weapon franchise ever catch wind of the song, and if so, what did he have to say?

JC: As far as I know, Mr. Busey has not heard it, but I’m sure he will.

JR: I think someone may have brought the song to his attention via Twitter, but none of us have heard anything about his reaction or if he’s even heard it for that matter. I’d only hope that if he does hear it, he understands the song is not a swipe at him but just the opposite.

BHP: I loved the tracks “Up Side Down” and “Fastbreak”. You can hear the chemistry throughout those duets. Stuff like that does not happen accidentally. Was this something that had to be worked on, or did it just come naturally?

JC: Joey had all the music worked out for “Up Side Down” to a tee. Originally, I tried singing it and I had the hardest time following the up swing of the song! After a bunch of failed attempts, I realized it would better suit Annie, so she ended up taking the lead on it. Joey and Katie sang the harmonies trading back and forth and my vocal response just sounded cool so we went with it! Then it really came together. Great song, one of my favorites on the record!

Old Man MarkleyBHP: Same here. Speaking of “Fastbreak”, the album sleeve lists the song as “Fastbreak” and the lyric insert lists it as “Run Away From Me”. Which is right? More importantly, as a dog lover, tell me all about Lucy.

JC: The song “Fast Break”, and yes that’s the official title. [I] pretty much wrote [it] one afternoon after I chased my pet chihuahua Lucy down the street during one of her glorious sprints for freedom! I like how light hearted the lyrics are and dark at the same time. The line “don’t run away from me, for your own safety” makes me think of some hopeless obsessed romantic warning his ex not to leave him or else, when really I’m referring to Lucy possibly getting hit by a car on her adventures escapes!

Lucy is a chichi-mutt that we adopted off the mean streets of Redondo Beach. She rules the OMM manor and used to tour with us, but these days she’s more comfortable staying with grandma and grandpa lounging in the sun. The road can be a ruff place for a little munchie.

BHP: Sounds like one rad dog. I need to pause for a moment and give kudos to the limited edition vinyl pressing of Down Side Up. Whose idea was that? I know I missed out on nabbing one, but still, that is one cool press. Who came up with the idea?

JC: Obvious choice for us. We wanted to go all out with the limited color release so three color red whit and blue seemed appropriate!

BHP: So, what’s it like to be a bluegrass band on a punk rock label? I know that you incorporate tons of punk rock into your music, but still, you are on CMT’s radar, and I would have to say that is probably the first for a Fat Wreck band.

JC: It’s rad! We are having fun and making music and that’s all the matters! We love Fat and I like to think they love us! I’m sure we are the first Fat Wreck band to be on CMTs radar and that’s great! The more support we can get the better. It only opens up more windows of opportunity for us and that’s what we need to stay on the road.

BHP: Looks like Fat Mike assisted in producing Down Side Up. How does it feel to work again with not only the guy in NOFX, but also in a sense, your boss?

JC: I don’t really consider Mike our boss, Fat works with us like record labels are supposed to. But it’s a total family vibe with Fat and that’s what i love so much about them. Producing with Mike is really a dream come true! I always send him demos of our songs and he tells me what he thinks, its great to have his input and we trust him as a producer but ultimately Mike let’s us do what we do, and that’s what is most important to us.

BHP: That’s awesome. I think what I love the most about your band is how humble you are to your fans and how much family feeling is contained in the band. Is it always a blast to play live with the band?

JC: Lot’s of love! And yeah, it’s always a blast!

BHP: As your band clearly is maturing, are you living into a rock star life, or are you more still into just crashing on a couch at a random house while on the road?

JC: Actually, turns out these days crashing at a random fans house on the side of the road every once in a while and sleeping in our beloved bus the rest of the time is the rock star life; at least for me. So yes; I mean no.

BHP: Haha. What’s the most messed up thing that you all have witnessed to date while on tour?

JC: The price of diesel gas!

Old Man MarkleyBHP: I believe that! So does Mr. Markley himself have calluses like no other? I have seen that man shred the washboard a mere foot from my face and it is intense. Has he occurred any injuries from washboard thrashing?

JC: In the first year, Ryan would scrape up his knuckles regularly, almost every show. He went through a few different variations of spoon handles too and finally made the right set using his old drum sticks and kitchen silverware. He later hooked up with Columbus Washboard Company and now he gets his boards with stainless steel grills which hold up longer. Still he manages to tear them up after a few tours so he recently built a washboard that he can replace just the grill on once its torn up. It works great! Now Ry just orders back up steel grills and he’s good to go!

BHP: Awesome. While I am on the topic, your live shows are entertaining as hell. How fun is it to just jump on stage and do your thing to thousands of people?

JC: I’m having the time of my life!

BHP: What would you say was the best show you ever played?

JC: One of my favorite shows we ever played was in Paris at a punk squat to 300 people in a tiny sweaty concert room in an abandoned building! It was dirty in all the good ways! And the bad ways too. PunkSpring festival in Tokyo with Weezer and Nofx was pretty cool too.

BHP: So what influential punk act from the past do you thing y’all will cover next? I will not lie, I love your takes on classics

JC: We just finished tracking a No Use For a Name song “The Feel Good Song of the Year” for the benefit compilation Fat is releasing later this year for Tony Sly’s family.

BHP: I can not wait to hear that. So, folk and bluegrass seem to be really popular these days and I am sure you are all aware. I am just curious what your reaction would be if say, a band like the Avett Brothers or Old Crow Medicine Show were to ask you to join them on tour

JC: I love those bands and it would rule to tour with them!

JR: It’d be the thrill of a lifetime for me. I’ve got a ton of respect for both those bands and love their music. We’ve done our share of touring with high profile punk bands over the past 3 years and I think touring in the alt country world would be a great change of pace. It’d be a chance to expose ourselves to a broader audience and introduce our sound to people who might otherwise never have known about us unless they were punk fans.

BHP: I know you are still living off the energy of Down Side Up, but have you all started writing new material for your next release?

JC: We have some really great new songs that were demoing! Very excited to get back in the studio after these next few tours!

BHP: What do you think people like Bill Monroe and The Stanley Brothers have to say about what route you have taken bluegrass to?

JR: It’s hard to say. I’ve been playing bluegrass ever since I was a kid and one thing I’ve learned is that in this this genre anything that pushes the boundaries of what is considered “traditional” bluegrass is usually viewed with a little suspicion, even skepticism. This isn’t always the case, but among purists (and you’ll find a lot of them in bluegrass) you’ll encounter this attitude from time to time. I’m sure Ralph Stanley and Bill Monroe would be fine with what we’re doing musically. Whether not they’d consider it bluegrass might is another story.

JC: I think they would like it, and probably say that’s not really bluegrass! And that’s cool with me.


For more information on Old Man Markley, check out their band profile on Fat Wreck or head over to their Facebook page.

Down Side Up is out now.  Check it out on iTunes or Spotify.  If you really want to be cool, head over to the Fat Wreck Store and snag up a vinyl release.  It is so worth it.

Music Video: Masked Intruder – “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone Tonight”

It’s official, Masked Intruder have won me over once again.  Check out their latest video for “I Don’t Wanna Be Alone Tonight”, a heartfelt punk rock stalking jam off their Red Scare / Fat Wreck self-titled release:

I just adore the 8-bit reference throughout; especially the end.  I hope to hell someone with a lot of time on their hands will turn this video into an actual game.  I’d play it.  Props to Patt Fink for creating this.

The band is currently on the road in support of the Red Scare Across America tour.  Seriously though, I am not sure this band has stopped touring since they dropped their self-titled release.  Pretty impressive.  I still don’t trust them.

MI_By_Katie_Hovland

 

Music Video: All Dinosaurs – “Tight Rope”

Cleveland champs All Dinosaurs have released a video for “Tight Rope”, the first single from their new full-length album, Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior. The album was dropped earlier this year on Anti-Flag’s label A-F Records.  Filmed by the good folk over at TurnStyle Films, this video is hard and chilling at the same time making for a good view.  Check it out:

All Dinosaurs – Tight Rope from TurnStyle Films on Vimeo.

I have been a fan of these guys ever since I first caught them in a basement show.  Not only did they blow me away with their music, but they were fun as hell and all-around genuine dudes.

Music Video: Worship This! – “Indifferent”

As previously mentioned in my review of Tomorrow I’ll Miss You by Worship This!, the band has dropped a video for one of my favorite tracks on the album titled “Indifferent”.  The video was filmed by Cleveland’s own Turnstyle Films at Cleveland’s very own Now That’s Class.

Check it out:

Worship This! – Indifferent from TurnStyle Films on Vimeo.

This video was just amazing.  Makes me miss home and my friends a whole lot.

Also in case you were not aware, Tomorrow, I’ll Miss You is up for grabs at A-F Records.  The album is available for digital download right now, or you can pre-order the album on vinyl which should ship in late-June.

Album Review: Worship This! – Tomorrow, I’ll Miss You

I always told myself that I would never review bands who were also my friends, but I’d be a fool not to review the debut release by Northeast Ohio’s very own Worship This!.  Having just signed to A-F Records, Worship This! is about to drop Tomorrow, I’ll Miss You next week, and let me tell you, this is one impressive debut.

Consisting of Josh Taylor (vocals, bass), Jeremy Provchy (vocals, guitar), Aaron Novak (vocals, guitar) , and Jeff Hart (drums), Worship This! has definitely put in their time since then band’s formation in 2010.  Hailing from the Akron / Cleveland area, Worship This! are not new to the scene as all of the members have been involved with various local bands for the past 15 years.  Forming through friendships and mutual acquaintances, the boys of Worship This! were almost meant to be.

“I, Human” started off with Taylor screaming “I don’t wanna be human” at the top of his lungs making for any music fan to turn their head and pay attention.  Full of energy and ideals that slightly reminded me something Propaghandi might make mention of, I really liked how I could hear an immediate chemistry throughout the band members.  The moment I heard that opening song, I knew it was in for something good.  “Jen, with 2 Ns” continued to fuel that feeling

I adored “Indifferent” for so many reasons.  Not only was the track catchy as hell, but it carried  the feelings of being too old for the scene, contemplating giving it all up, and then coming to a realization to move on without care.  This song was solid start to finish and one of my favorites on the entire album.  Full of catchy riffs, infectious drumming, and just an overall sense of pride of current state of being.  It is no wonder the band chose this song to make a music video.  Seriously, the following lyrics from this track have been stuck in my head for weeks:

“I’ve given my all, maybe its about time that I hang it up.  There’s so many things I never did, and I life I never lived. Maybe I’ll stop getting dirty looks from all these kids.”

I swear, I have had those same thoughts in my head numerous times over the last couple of years.  Look for the video to be dropped around the time of the album.

“Summit Tower” really was put together flawlessly.  Provchy took over vocal duties primarily while the rest of the band just jammed out alongside.  I may have caught myself signing along to this one the first time I listed to it.  The upbeat “Springs and Levers”,  moved along well thanks to Novak and Provchy exchanging lines throughout.

The lyrically deep “Purpose and Meaning” flowed directly into “The Fear Of Missing Out”.  The songs were like a masterpiece, but different.   Seriously though, these two combined songs were addicting from start to finish.  You can just hear years of hard work put into both tracks and they last less than 3 minutes total.  Secretly, I wish those tracks were of a “November Rain” length.

Novak painted a pretty vivid picture as he sang at the beginning “Bike Ride”.  The song, which told the story about a neighboring house that suffered a grim demise, really carried well throughout.  “This house is my reminder of what we have and and who we live for” bellows towards the end of the track with “our lives carry on” ending it.

“Whatever Happened To You Melissa” reminded me of Dinosaur Jr. at the beginning, but only because of how the lyrics started off.  The song, clearly reaching back to a torn relationship, had a strong effect while listening to.  Listening to Novak and Taylor sing “I’ve lost all hope, in everything I know…and everything I loved” just brought back some of those memories you can’t ever get rid of.  This was another track on the album that blew me away.

“Momophonbe” has radio playable qualities.  The chorus alone reminded me of, dare I say, Gaslight Anthem, sans the whole I’m-from-New-Jersey-and-love-Bruce-Springsteen-feel.  Taylor and Provchy made this song even better thanks to their singing styles bouncing back and forth.  “Anathema”, the closing track, started off melodic with singing that did not impress me, but moments later that all changed.  I loved the group signing on this track that eventually laid the album to rest.

Take everything you know and love about punk rock from the 90s onward and you can hear it in what Worship This! has brought to the table throughout the album.  This is far from a pop-punk band and anyone who labels them that needs to really reevaluate their opinion.  This is a band that successfully manages to merge all of their unique influences from over the years and package them into one great style.  We’re talking seasoned here folks, not young blood.

Fans of all of the current bands filling up the punk scene in basements, various self-funded punk fests, and even online should take note at this talent.  I could sit here and label off tons of bands, but why bother?  A-F Records has something good on their hands and I am sure they know it.  Add the fact that all four members are just genuine dudes who play music for the sake of playing music.

Friends or not, Worship This! has got my vote for album of the year with Tomorrow, I’ll Miss You.  Just like the Menzingers, Cheap Girls, Masked Intruder, and Luther wowed me back in 2012, Worship This! has done the exact same for me this year.  I can not stop listening to this album.  I can only image how crazy the kids are going to go for this release.  This is one album you should not sleep on.  Trust me when I say that.  Don’t believe me?  Head on over to PunkNews.Org and hear it for yourself.  You can thank me later.

The CD drops this Tuesday and a vinyl pre-order should be announced through A-F Records soon.