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Stars of the Search Party: Stars of the Show
Stars of the Search Party
w/ You Ate my Dog and Piper Saint
Silver Bullet, London, 14th June 2011
LifeArcade! were at the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park recently to catch up with Stars of the Search Party, building up to the release of their new single ‘Colours’, (released 21st June). With this being the last night of their tour, we also took the opportunity to review their energetic live show. Before the gig began, we ventured north - away from the venue and into the quieter confines of the band’s tour bus, where buses, road rage and ‘Boris Biker’s’ would be of no concern to us all. After noting the comparative ease of chatting in a tour bus, compared to toilets, Steve (Guitar and Backing Vocals), Russ (Guitar) and Artit (Vocals) were ready to begin.
LifeArcade! (LA!): Thank you for joining us this evening, first things first, how did you get started?
Steve: Well we were 17 when myself and Russ first wanted to start a band, but it was a tricky starting point and there have been a few line-up changes. But now we are all 23 and have been in this line-up and going professionally for around 2 years. The most recent addition has been Artit who joined in September…
Artit: Let’s hope they made the right decision!
Russ: Through the times of the line-up changes, it did actually allow us to tighten up as a band ironically. When it came to having the solid band members, that we have now, we felt more professional going into these gigs, as we had been working for so long on the music.
LA!: So Artit, have the band been welcoming to you as the newcomer? Did you all know each other beforehand?
Artit: Yeah they’ve been great. We didn’t know each other exactly. Rob (Bassist) lived with someone in my class who recommended me to them…
Russ: We checked out his stuff on YouTube and were pretty impressed so invited him down for an audition. There was one other guy but as soon as we heard Artit’s voice we were sold.
LA!: Who are your main influences as a band?
Steve: We’re all different really. I do a lot of the main writing and I am personally influenced by bands like Funeral for a Friend, Emery and Underoath. I do also like the breakdowns you get from more Punk orientated bands like A Day to Remember. It’s nice to be able to blend it all in.
LA!: You mention bands like A Day to Remember and Funeral For a Friend, If you had the chance to appear with a band, past or present, who would it be?
Steve: Go West…
Russ: (Laughs). Jack (Sanderson, Booking Agent) would love that.
Russ: Realistically…
Artit: ...Funeral For a Friend would be great…
Steve: …and it’s possible! They’re a band me and Russ have been listening to for a long time, since their early stuff, so that would be great.
Russ: Emery as well would be amazing.
Artit: Four Years Strong would be good too.
LA!: Speaking of Funeral For a Friend, they toured with Iron Maiden not so long ago and had a mixed reaction from the Maiden fans. Is touring with a different genre of band something you would consider?
Steve: Honestly, we would and we have done in the past. Opportunities like that do not come around very often.
Russ: We got offered a show with Mammal, an Australian band who had already sold out the gigs. After listening to them I was a bit concerned and asked the band if we still wanted to do it. They have a Rage Against the Machine type vibe to them and I was convinced their fans would not like us at all. But after chatting with Mammal we went out there and it was probably one of the best shows we’ve ever played and the fans loved us. Since then we’ve learnt not to judge and to just take opportunities that come our way.
Steve: We might draw the line if they offered ABBA though.
Artit: Before this tour we were generally the heaviest band on the tours we have played.
Russ: Because we are that kind of bridge between heavy and pop we are able to translate across different fans and bands when touring.
LA!: You mention pop there. Do you mind being labeled with that tag, as some bands try to avoid being put in that category?
Russ: I think it’s good definitely, as you can expand to a different fan base every time you play a show. There’s nothing wrong with it.
LA!: We’ve talked about musical influences, do you see a band live and think ‘why don’t we do that?’ or ‘that’s cool, lets put that in our show’?
Steve: Well when we first started doing shows we were very static on stage. Each of us now just does our own thing on stage. We have never been a band to choreograph moves and say, ‘Right! Lets headbang at this point and all break our necks’. As we have progressed as a band, we have individually also changed.
Russ: I wouldn’t say we look the coolest.
Steve: We can look at other bands and say ‘yeah that’s a great show’ but we wouldn’t then take any parts from it. What works for one band would probably make us look like idiots if we tried it! We just stick to how we go.
LA!: You were inSwansealast night. How have you found your fan base has developed over time? Do you have fans from abroad saying they love your work?
Russ: Well word of mouth has played its part obviously. But a lot of it has just come from touring new cities that we haven’t played before. You do these shows and maybe two people will be there that like you. Then the next time you play there they’ll bring their friends and it kind of develops from there. Online tools also play a massive part.
Steve: Absolutely. That’s the best thing really. You can go and play somewhere on the other side of the world, and still keep in touch with those people everyday. That’s the most important thing to us. We like to keep in touch with our fans via Facebook, even if it is just complete crap about ‘Coach Trip’. We like to keep that personal touch with our fans, it helps us keep our feet on the ground as it were.
Russ: I just enjoy the social side of it as well. Also, me and Steve have been best mates since we were 13 and we would go to all these gigs and we remember when these bands would come and talk to us and it makes your day. We like to do that for our fans
LA!: Your new single ‘Colours’ is out on the 21st June. Excited? How has the initial feedback been?
Steve: Very excited yeah. We put the video up about 10 days ago and it was received brilliantly. It actually exceeded our expectations. Initially we wanted to get around a thousand plays in a week, which we would have been happy with – within 4 days we had 3,000 plays, which was ridiculous! Our regular fans have all come out and supported it which is nice to see. But on the YouTube channel we have been getting new subscribers all the time. People have been asking why everyone has been posting about it, then they see it and go ‘oh now I see why!’ which is really nice to see.
LA!: So do you feel a certain amount of pressure to accommodate to your fans?
Steve: Not really no. I think we just go out there and do it.
Russ: I think we have shown the opposite of that in a way. When he had our previous vocalist we were a lot heavier and the fans liked that. We were worried that our core fan base would not enjoy the vocal change, but I think it has turned out that we now have a stronger fan base since Artit’s arrival. We are now definitely a lot more accessible, don’t get me wrong we did lose a couple of fans, but on the whole we are a lot stronger in terms of support and music. It shows that development in your sound can work and you’ve just got to go for it.
LA!: Just a couple of final questions. What do you do after a show? Do you have a few drinks, party or are you just pretty chilled out?
Russ: We’re pretty chilled out really. We hang out with the other bands then start driving in the general direction of the town and venue really. I tried doing the whole party thing when we first started out, but it soon takes it out of you when you’ve got a show the next day. But I’ve learnt through these experiences to be a lot more professional, and in doing so we have never missed a show…
Steve: …Or been arrested.
LA!: OK guys just one last question that I can imagine you and other bands get all the time so I apologise in advance – Why the name?
Russ: (Laughs) Steve gives a different answer to this every time!...
Steve: …It’s a metaphor. Everyone looks out for the stars in the night sky. When you can’t find them, you call out the search party. And the leaders of the search party, looking for the stars? Stars of the Search Party. That and we didn’t want a clichéd name with words like ‘black’, ‘death’ or ‘stars’. Then I thought ‘oh, Stars of the Search Party’. That sounds pretty cool. So essentially we went against our thought process. Speak to Guilford Hospital Radio for the other official explanations!
Interview over, we ventured back south, towards the Silver Bullet. A small, intimate venue with surprisingly good sound that stands out over the road fromFinsburyParkstation, with its bright artwork (unfortunately hidden by scaffolding).
The first band I see tonight is Piper Saint. A London four-piece with a great, unique sound, partly - but not completely - inspired by their female lead singer. The mix of melodic harmonies and loud aggressive angst are neatly tied together in this short but eye-catching set. The banter between songs was fun and kept the audience interested, as well as not detracting from the flow of the set. If you are a fan of Taking Back Sunday or Jimmy Eat World you will like Piper Saint. Certainly one to look out for in the future.
The joint headliners of the night are the confusingly named Swedish band You Ate my Dog (nope, we don’t know why either!). This Stockholm six-piece arrived on stage to a big response and proceed to scream, sing and jump through their 25 minute set. They seem to cover all the bases with hints of pop and rock blended in with punk and hardcore. Luckily for them it does not turn into mush and actually provides quite an interesting sound with recollections of Panic!, Blink 182 and Brand New forming to provide some catchy tunes. They kept the crowd busy too with token sing-alongs, clapping and between song banter which really helped the positive mood of the set. Really good live band that are definitely worth a look, whether you’re inLondonorStockholm.
Once You Ate my Dog were finished, it was time for the headline act. Stars of the Search Party arrive onstage with the challenge of keeping up the tempo left behind by the previous band’s performance. And they achieve this comfortably. From the first note, the tempo is high and the crowd is into it. Like Piper Saint, they have a great mix of calming harmonies as well as the screaming you would associate with more hardcore bands. The influences they stated in our interview are clear to see and hear, and I couldn’t help but notice a hint of Incubus and Lost Prophets in their guitar solos and rhythm – which is no bad thing. One problem a lot of bands have is the transition from the studio to a live environment. Luckily for Stars of the Search Party they do not have this problem as their music is clear, the audience participation is there and their early days of static performances are well and truly behind them.
Stars of the Search Party were a fitting end to a great night of live music and are certainly worth checking out if they are playing in your area. Band of the night and with their new single coming out soon, the only way is up for this Surrey based band.
With thanks to Jack Sanderson of Buskers Hat Management
Stars of the Search Party’s new single ‘Colours’ is available from 21st June via Digital Download on iTunes. They are next playing in London on the 23rd June at O2 Academy 2, Islington
Words by William Evans
Nature's Energy: Fruits and Veggies
Plant-based foods such as fruit and vegetables are great sources of energy because they absorbed sunlight directly and stored the energy as starches. Starch is one of the body’s primary source of complex carbohydrates. The foods we eat are basically stored energy from the sun that has been transformed from one form to another. In order to obtain the most amount of energy from plant-based food, you need to eat the ones that are organically grown. Also, eat them fresh and choose the ones that are bright in color.
Fruit and vegetables are full of minerals, proteins, fiber, complex carbs and many other important nutrients for increasing your energy and health. When shopping for fruits and vegetables, buy the ones that are organic because they are not treated with pesticides. Otherwise, make sure you wash the fruits before eating them.
Fruits and vegetables health benefits
- Most are rich in polyunsaturates and essential amino acids, low in cholesterol and contain no harmful saturated fats
- High in fiber which may lower cholesterol, prevent colon cancer and increase absorption of nutrients
- May help protect the body against certain cancers
- Full of health-enhancing phytochemicals, which play an important role for boosting the immune system and metabolism
- Full of enzymes which help the stomach to digest food
- Low in calories, great for weight management
You should try to eat at least 2 servings of fruits and 3 servings of vegetables per day, more is even better. Doing this will increase your energy and health because your body will be nourished with the necessary nutrients. At least 50 percent or more of your calories should come from plant-based food. Whenever possible, eat them raw because cooking them will destroy a good portion of their nutrients.
Nature's Energy
fruits
and
veggies
Via: Energy Fanatics
What's for Dinner?
One thing I want to know.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
From Peanuts to the Beatnuts
From Peanuts to the Beatnuts!
Summer 2011
Summer!!!
10 Best things to do in the summer.
1. Call in sick as many times as you can
2. Ask her or him on a date
3. Find yourself a new job
4. Travel and get away from work
5. Work outside
6. Visit new places in your country
7. Summer at the cottage
8. Take the grand kids for the summer
9. Go to the drive inn
10. Spend as much time on the beach
Highway 4
Anthony Weiner's Weiner Coming to Your Cell Phone
Vincent Price on Art Bigots
"I trust people who are violent about art, as long as they aren't closed-minded. But, unfortunately, most art blowhards are also art bigots."
- Vincent Price
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The Art of Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta
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When you double click this text box you can change the text, style, color and fonts.
Double click to add text
When you double click this text box you can change the text, style, color and fonts.
Double click to add text
When you double click this text box you can change the text, style, color and fonts.
Double click to add text
When you double click this text box you can change the text, style, color and fonts.
Change post title...
Double click to add text
When you double click this text box you can change the text, style, color and fonts.
12 Crazy Coca Cola Facts
1. Coca-Cola was first made in the colour green!
2. It used to contain cocaine up until 1905, when it was removed due to public concern.
3. It was originally made to cure hangovers and headaches.
4. In Chinese, the name Coca-Cola means "to make mouth happy".
5. If all the Coca-Cola bottles in the world were stacked end to end, they would reach to the Moon and back more than 1,677 times.
6. In one night, a bottle of Coca-Cola can soften a tooth.
7. Coca-Cola is very good at cleaning up blood spots, and is often used in the States to clean blood off from the roads after an accident!
8. Coca-Cola can be used to remove grease from clothes! It's as simple as emptying a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, adding the detergent, and run through a regular cycle.
9. A bottle of Coca-Cola has a PH scale of 2.8, and could dissolve a nail in just 4 days
10. Coca-Cola released a 'Diet Coke with Bacon' flavour!
11. Another less known flavour that Coca-Cola released was the "Coca-Cola BlāK". This was a coffee flavoured soft drink, released in 2006 in France. Sadly this was short lived, and Coca-Cola discontinued the production in 2008.
12. Coca-Cola even helped create the modern image of Santa!
12 Crazy
Facts
Via: The Facts Site
1985
word..
Just 2 dope pictures I like.
Britney Spears likes tight jeans and little t-shirts
"I'm usually all about the tight jeans and little T-shirt, but sometimes I want to put on a black, sequined dress and be a freaking girl."
- Britney Spears
Artist Copy Cats - Michael Wolf
COPY
CATS
MICHAEL
WOLF
“Copy Artist”, brilliant photos by Michael Wolf. Knock-off artists in China pose next to their paintings. I’ll take the Francis Bacon!
ARTIST
Via: Boooooooom.com
I'm not sure if these are students or what. Considering this series was taken in China, I would say these will be sold on the black market of some sort. Who knows. Make sure to check out Michael Wolf's personal site so you can view the whole set, the artist's copy pretty much everything, from pop art to modern and contemporary. I guess there's a "fake" market for everything!
Some photos by Stina Maria
Stina Maria
Just came across Stina's Flickr account. Some pretty cool pictures to look at and pass the time. I really enjoy pictures where you can tell the photographer is still trying to figure out what their main subject will be, and they post the process of it.
Via: Stina Maria's blog
Jose Pineda Installations
Jorge pineda:
CHILDHOOD
Jorge Pineda (b. Dominican Republic 1961)
Childhood is the time when we start to build up our personality, and it is supposed to be the happiest time of our lives, but social violence makes it difficult to adjust. In order to be strong, children make masks where they can hide fear, so they can play with the negative idea they have of themselves. These masks shield the feelings reflected in society as I show in Mambrú, with its child soldiers who have been taken away and used as instruments of destruction.
The Real UN Logo (Pacman Version)
Mickey Mouse Doesn't like Cops
Mickey is Anti-Establishment
1994 Shooter Confesses to shooting 2pac (on the rappers 40th Birthday)
A man suspected of robbing and shooting Tupac Shakur at Quad Recording Studios in 1994 has confessed, accusing James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond of orchestrating the crime. The confession comes as Rosemond continues to elude federal authorities, who are currently seeking the music businessman in connection with a cocaine distribution investigation.
The confession of Dexter Issac, a former associate of Rosemond, who is currently serving a life sentence in New York City, was reported by AllHipHop.com, who spoke with Issac. The site has an image of the statement posted on their site. The statement, which also vaguely implies that Bad Boy mogul P. Diddy continues to hide some secrets, was released in part due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, and in retaliation for Rosemond’s previous statements demeaning Issac’s character, calling him an informant.
In early May, a warrant was reportedly issued for Rosemond’s arrest, allegedly regarding cocaine distribution. Rosemond has conducted business with a litany of high-profile musicians, including Akon, Wyclef and Game.
Tupac himself seemed to think Rosemond was responsible for the attack, stating so on several occasions. The Quad Studios incident has long been viewed as the escalating catalyst of the Tupac-Biggie, East Coast/West Coast drama which ultimately, many feel, led to the murders of both rap titans.
A small mention seemingly regarding the murders was made by Issac which could be seen as casting a suspicious cloud over Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Issac states, “Jimmy, you and Puffy like to come off all innocent-like, but as the saying goes: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people, all of the time.” The statement does not elaborate further, only going on to rhetorically ask whether or not Rosemond plans to “flip” on Diddy when the feds catch up with him.
In issuing his statement, Issac told AllHipHop, “I want to apologize to [Tupac's] family. I am trying to clean it up to give [Tupac and Biggie's] mothers some closure.”
Tupac Shooter Confesses: ‘[Jimmy Henchman] hired me…’ To Commit 1994 Assault, Robbery
2Pac Shooter Confesses on his 40th Birthday.
Come dovrebbe essere la vita
E' sporco il sesso? Certo, ma solo se fatto bene!
- Woody Allen -
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