Pilot!
Finding a genre to fit in these days is ACTUALLY a lot harder than you’d think. With labels out there like “Post-Hardcore” or “Alternative,” or even the dreaded “Emo” moniker, defining a band’s sound is pretty damn difficult. As a musician, it’s almost easier to pick a genre to be in, and then base your sound around that label instead. Well, the guys in ‘Pilot!’ decided to do things the hard way.
They decided to write what they felt, and then label the product with the genre that fit them the most. “We’re a rock band, and that’s pretty much the only way we know how to label ourselves.”
Surprisingly, it’s fit them pretty well, too. With influences that range from Foo Fighters and Taking Back Sunday, all the way to the other end of the spectrum of more ambient, genre-evolving bands like Thrice and Deftones, they’re perfectly comfortable with the all-encompassing “rock” label. “There’s really not too many bands in this area that sound like us, and we like that,” states guitarist and second vocalist Bran Barlow-Spry. “Every band is either real heavy, or more towards the pop side of music. There doesn’t really seem to be a middle ground around here.”
However, being one of the area’s only “rock” acts hasn’t seemed to hinder the progress of this five peice from Virginia Beach, Virginia. “Honestly, if anything, it’s kind of played to our advantage. Instead of just playing either pop-punk shows or metalcore shows, we play with any band that we can and we’ve found some really appreciative fans out of those shows that we least expected it from.”
In Oct of 2011, the band headed up to Baltimore, Maryland to record their debut e.p., STATUES, with the acclaimed Paul Leavitt(All Time Low, Conditions, The Dangerous Summer) at Valencia Studios. At the end of the process, the band walked away with a product beyond even their expectations. “He really just understood our sound right away. We went in there with three songs that we thought would make for a great album, and we left just blown away with the tone and live energy that Paul was able to capture of ours. We’ve alway been able to pride ourselves on being a LIVE band, and to be able to hear the intensity that we try to bring to the stage every night, now recorded… I just don’t think we saw that coming.”
With STATUES now out and in the hands of such dedicated fans, nothing but high expectations have been placed for the band. Not to mention, with the high-energy stage show that they continue to bring night after night, they’re doing their best to set the bar even higher for themselves. “We typically all walk away from a show with a few bruises and what-not. If we leave the stage unscathed, I think we’re all under the impression that we could’ve played harder,” he concludes. “I say 2012… bring on the bruises!”
Thomas – Vocals
Bran – Vocals / Guitar
Will – Drums
Dan – Vocals / Guitar
Jason – Bass
Bran – Vocals / Guitar
Will – Drums
Dan – Vocals / Guitar
Jason – Bass
The Fighting Jamesons – Aggressive Modern Day Irish Rock
The Fighting Jamesons deliver a traditional style of music with an aggressive and energetic modern-day approach. Forming in 2010, The Fighting Jamesons quickly gained a strong presence on the East Coast. They’ve shared the stage with legendary Irish rock acts such as Dropkick Murphys, The Saw Doctors, and Young Dubliners. In November of 2011 the band released their self-titled debut album, produced and engineered by Capital Records recording artist Mark Padgett (Mae)
The Jameson Family Is:
Mike – Guitar / Banjo / Vocals
Ryan – Bass / Vocals
Geo – Electric Guitar / Beard
Jeffrey – Fiddle / Vocals
Drew – Drums / Vocals
Mike – Guitar / Banjo / Vocals
Ryan – Bass / Vocals
Geo – Electric Guitar / Beard
Jeffrey – Fiddle / Vocals
Drew – Drums / Vocals
Rival Tides
Rival Tides won’t stay calm. As a Los Angeles-based band, they are well aware of the commitment and dedication required to stand out in the rock music scene.
The group includes ex-members of Harris Grade, a former project that provided plenty of experiences that they now reflect on to shape their new endeavor. Rival Tides is currently working with Maphia Management (Eyes Set to Kill, Awaken the Empire, The Material) and together are applying a relentless work ethic to accomplish all goals they encounter.
Rival Tides recently recorded new music with producer Erik Ron (I the Mighty, Get Scared, VersaEmerge) and is now preparing for live performances around the US.
Robyn – Vocals
Caleb – Guitar
Alex – Guitar
Jason – Bass/backup vocals
Greg – Drums
Caleb – Guitar
Alex – Guitar
Jason – Bass/backup vocals
Greg – Drums
Studio Evolve Tattoo
Studio evoLve is all about evolution, which to us means moving forward through experimentation, education and pushing limits. We wish to combine our artwork with the way the shop looks and feels in order to better the client’s experience in our environment. Providing excellent tattooing in a comfortable space is essential to a positive client experience. Studio evoLve will integrate tattooing with other mediums of art to create a space where tattooers not only work together, but for themselves – where they come to work with open minds and a willingness to help each other, so everyone learns and grows. This is not only for the betterment of the studio, but for that of ourselves, as people and as artists. We want to push limits of skin technically, but we also want to push the social acceptance of tattooing by changing the way we are viewed in the community – from a misguided deviant subculture into true artisans of our skilled and beloved craft.
Our main goal in opening a tattoo studio is to develop a positive environment geared toward customer service and artistic creativity, which is in turn driven by our respect for the tattoo industry and passion for the craft. Studio evoLve will be a tattoo shop, an art gallery, a creative space and a cultural center for our tattooers, our industry, and our local community. People will be inspired, impressed and relaxed within the space as soon as they enter the studio. We want them to be pleased by what they see and feel, as if they are somewhere different, special, safe and clean. Visitors will feel that their money will be well-spent, will be comfortable getting tattooed by us, and will see no reason to go elsewhere, because we will provide top-quality work at fair prices. At Studio evoLve, the clientele and staff will always feel good in the space – not only because of the design, but also because of the way we all treat one another. This business is not only about our careers and our futures, but also about how we respect each other, our clients, and our industry.
Studio evoLve will be a custom tattooing studio, reaching out to all of the 18-and-older men and women in the Tidewater region. What we are offering is an experience rather than just a service, unique to most of what else can be found in the area. We hope to attract clients that seek out an artist based on the understanding that tattooing is an art, it is permanent, and that responsible decisions should be made with that in mind. We will educate the public, as much as we can, on what it is that we do, especially those unfamiliar with the concept of custom tattooing. We do not wish to be a typical “street shop” with a big walk-in client base, looking for a quick tattoo they have chosen from a wall, but rather, we will strive to be an exclusively custom, by-appointment tattoo studio where everyone is welcome. When a client walks in for the first time, there will be a greeter at the front who will help to guide them toward the artist best suited for their personality, lifestyle, and artistic desires. They will then meet, or set an appointment with, the artist to discuss the ideas they have. Getting a custom tattoo is an investment of time, on both the client and tattooer’s part. The reward in the end will be a one-of-a-kind piece of art that the wearer can proudly display for a lifetime, and an experience that is both very professional and personal.
Gabriel Cece has been tattooing since 1995. He has been published numerous times in magazines, won awards at conventions, developed a consistent custom-based clientele, and has earned his way in the industry, enough to realize his dream of owning his own shop and being able to give back to the tattoo industry all that it has given him. You can view his work at www.gabrielcece.com. For information on joining the family, please contact gabriel at gabrielcece.llc@gmail.com
Loss Of Reason
Loss of Reason is a progressive metalcore band hailing from the mean streets of south central Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Formed in 2002, Loss of Reason made a name for themselves touring heavily up and down the East Coast for many years. After a few member changes, it was time for Loss of Reason to refine their sound, and head in a new, more aggressive, stage in their career.
With the self release of “Welcome to Aardvark City,” Loss of Reason was able to grab the label attention they needed in order to help them boast their name to the masses. And now with the release of “Shark Bites and Lightning Strikes” on Dark Harvest Records, Loss of Reason aims to be a house hold name in the Metal scene.
Ian “Wodie” Tobey
Chris “The Shredinator” Love
Clarence “Last Place” Freeman
Ryan “Whiskey Ginger” Ware
Andrew “The American Dream” Hess
Chris “The Shredinator” Love
Clarence “Last Place” Freeman
Ryan “Whiskey Ginger” Ware
Andrew “The American Dream” Hess
