Music
Extending Soul: Who is Ron Carroll?
From being a choirboy to an award-winning vocalist, Chicago native Ron Carroll not only can play classical saxophone, clarinet, trombone and trumpet, but he’s been on Billboard charting and DJ-ing house music for over a decade. Find out who he is in this SLUG exclusive interview. SLUG: Who is Ron Carroll? Ron Carroll: A-jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none kind
Take the Fall – December 2004
“I smashed my head against the wall, I don’t bleed at all. … I’ve forgotten how to feel, is any of this real/I’ve got suicide intent.” –Austin Parton (singer/guitarist, Take The Fall) “Something that differentiates us from other bands is our songwriting,” Austin explains. “Every song you’ll hear on our CD is a true story.”
How to Build a Better Monster: My Psycho-Sexual Dream of...
Last night I had a dream. Or was it? A giant black-and-white spiral pulled me from my bed. I passed through its middle and found myself in a science lab with a strange-looking man on an operating table. He had dark hair, pale skin, a thin body and flamboyant 50s clothes. Hovering over this man
Ain’t Dead Yet: An Interview with Skinny Puppy
In 1995, it was thought to be over. After 13 years, Skinny Puppy was dissolving and it seemingly came to a close with the overdose of Dwayne Goettel. In the years that passed between now and then, a multitude of side-projects by members of the legendary act resurfaced. Download, The Tear Garden, OhGr, Ritalin and
Just Another Fan on Stage: An Interview with Matt Freeman
Matt Freeman is the best bass player out there, and he’s been proving it for years in Rancid and, before that, in Operation Ivy. When longtime Social Distortion bassist John Maher quit in order to spend more time with his family, Social D went looking for a new bass player. Mike Ness went straight to
The Inevitable Evolution of Isis: An Interview with Aaron Turner
In September of 2002, a Boston-based band called Isis released its second full-length album, Oceanic (Ipecac Recordings), and shattered the boundaries of heavy/aggressive music. Back in 2001, the group released Mosquito Control EP (Escape Artist), which was epic in its heaviness, but still experimental enough to immediately draw comparisons to metal and punk heavyweights Neurosis
In Camera
“Reverse cowgirl indie-rock with a cigarette after;” said In Camera when asked to describe themselves. Six months together, this group of musicians are all barely 21, all live in the same house, and all work for the same employer. They’ve successfully toured once and have a lot of humorous drunk stories to go along with
Speak Nonfiction, Bleed Nonfiction: Q and Not U Bring a...
I have always been a member of the music-and-politics-don’t-really-mix-because-no-one-cares-what-musicians-have-to-say-anyhow camp. Obviously, I can’t ignore the glaring exceptions to the rule. For instance, consider the reverence that Bob Marley and his music are still, in the present day, granted by the Jamaican populace. Yet with artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie often still serving
Flogging Molly
I was assigned to interview members of Flogging Molly. I was looking forward to it; particularly the part about talking to Matt Hensley, the accordion player. I’ve hung out with him before and he’s always been a real nice guy. For those who may be unaware, he also was a skateboarding legend. In the early
Thunder and Lightning: A Late-Night Encounter with Modey Lemon
While Phil made a final comment, “If you like the Liars new record, then you will like our new stuff,” the three of them stepped out into the night. The door slammed shut and I was alone, quaking from the encounter. The storm raged outside. My mind began to deconstruct the events of the evening,