spring/summer 2014
DESCRIPTION
WindowsDownMag.comTRANSCRIPT
spring 2014
EST 2010
Before You Exit All Time Low
Neck Deep
TODAY’S MIXTAPE FESTIVALThe Story So Far, Citizen, Real Friends, Modern Baseball
TAY JArDiNEWomen in The industry
spring/summer 2014
EST 2010
Stay Connected!Website: www.windowsdownMag.CoM
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{Contents}about | 1
editorial: woMen in the MusiC industry | 2
12 essential albuMs | 3all tiMe low | 5 neCk deep | 7
5 years oF pure noise: the story so Far | 9
today’s MiXtape FestiVal | 11VaCationer | 13
sounds oF suMMer | 14beFore you eXit | 15
Contact [email protected]
Windows Down Mag is an
alternative music magazine
established by sisters Gloria “Jack”
& Kim Mejía-Cuéllar in 2010.
Avid music lovers and concert
photographers, the sisters are
currently undergraduates at Yale
University. Their passion for music
and photography led them to
establish Windows Down Mag.
The magazine aims to provide
the latest music news through MeJÍa-CuÉllar sisters
original articles, photography,
and live music videos. All concert
photographs and articles are
original content unless stated
otherwise.
Ben Barlow of Neck Deep’murica ‘14 tour | march 30, 2014
check out more photos on our flickr
It’s no secret that women in the music industry face a double-standard. Often times, their gender becomes an object used to market their band or solo act, sometimes more than male performers. Many publications assume women can only write columns on style or makeup tips. That is why it was so disturbing for us to learn that the popular UK magazine Kerrang! created a “hottest female” category for their yearly awards. We Are the In Crowd frontwoman Tay Jardine released a statement concerning her nomination for the category:
“‘being hot’ is not why i do what i do, i do it to share my music and my life with anyone that will listen.
no one dislikes being complimented about their appearance but i really believe that everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin because of who they are and what they
stand for over anything else.”
Jardine’s piece reminded us of an all too unfair reality of many women in the music industry. We recently attended two dates of the Taking Back Sunday and The Used co-headliner tour. Australian quintet Tonight Alive was one of the supporting bands. Although the shows occurred in different places (Poughkeepsie, NY and Hartford, CT), lead singer Jenna McDougall was subject to similar inappropriate treatment from men in the crowd.
When McDougall took off her hoodie during the set in Poughkeepsie, a group of men in the balcony urged her, “take it off!” with boyish inapproriateness. In Hartford, when McDougall tied her hair into a ponytail, various men whistled. Although McDougall handled it all coolly, as fans we were very upset at the crowd’s willingness to engage in such an activity. Why was it OK to whistle or taunt women performers to “take it off” when they graced the stage? It was astonishing to see the crowd’s behavior.
This is not to say male-fronted bands don’t face similar treatment. There are plenty of girls willing to scream “take it off” or to throw their bras on
Why Tay Jardine’s Statement on “Hottest Female” Matters
“EVERYONE SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN” Tay Jardine performing to a crowd in Hamden, CT on April 1.
stage. Some bands, like All Time Low, jokingly encourage this behavior and collect all the bras thrown on stage. However, we felt what happened to McDougall in a smaller crowd was more direct. It was disturbing to see someone close to our age be openly harassed by drunk men in the crowd. Musicians put so much work into their music and have to overcome various obstacles in order to be successful. We don’t understand why it has become so normalized in our society to shout things at musicians or feel empowered in a faceless crowd. It is ultimately up to the musician if they should encourage that behavior (i.e. making bras on stage a running joke) — but many times, it appears to be unwarranted. Regardless of sex/gender, we do not believe artists should be publicly prized for their looks over their musical talents. It is unfair to the artist. Making “hottest female” a category seems to legitimize this practice. At the end of the day, this is music, not fashion or a beauty pageant. We appreciate Jardine’s clear and brave statement that addresses an issue often left out of the spotlight.
12 EssEntial DEcaDE - O There’s always that one album that everyone remembers from their youth with nostalgia - the CD you played on repeat in your room, the background music to late nights in your car, the album that inspired you to start a band or even a music publication. We chose 12 of our favorite records that were foundational to the music scene (listed in no particular order). Listen to a playlist of our favorite songs on Spotify. Share your favorite tracks or your own
favorite decade-old (or older) records on windowsdownmag.com.
Something Corporate Leaving Through The WindoW (2002)
Favorite Tracks: “I Woke Up In A Car”
“The Austronaut” “Hurricane”
taking BaCk Sunday TeLL aLL Your Friends (2002)
Favorite Tracks: “There’s No ‘I’ In Team”
“Cute Without the ‘E’ (Cut from the Team)”
the Starting Line saY iT Like You Mean iT (2002)
Favorite Tracks: “Up & Go” “Leaving”
“Cheek To Cheek”
Brand new deja enTendu (2003)
Favorite Tracks: “Jaws Theme Swimming” “The Boy
Who Blocked His Own Shot” “Play Crack The Sky”
aFi sing The sorroW (2003)
Favorite Tracks: “Silver and Cold” “Girls Not Grey”
“This Celluloid Dream”
ryan adamS hearTbreaker (2000)
Favorite Tracks: “Oh My Sweet Carolina”
“To Be Young” “Call Me On You Way Back Home”
Blink-182 EnEma of thE StatE (1999)
Favorite Tracks: “What’s My Age Again” “Adam’s Song”
Green Day amErican idiot (2004)
Favorite Tracks: “Jesus of Suburbia” “Extraordinary Girl/Letterbomb” “Whatsername”
The killers hot fuSS (2004)
Favorite Tracks: “Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll” “All These Things That I’ve Done” “On Top”
Hon
orab
le
Men
tion
s saosin tranSlating
thE namE (2003)
The MaTches E. Von dahl KillEd thE
localS (2004)
DaMien riceo (2003)
My cheMical roMancethrEE chEErS for SwEEt rEVEngE (2004)
Favorite Tracks: “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” “The Ghost Of You” “Cemetery Drive”
yellowcarDocEan aVEnuE (2003)
Favorite Tracks: “Breathing” “Empty Apartment” “Twentythree”BriGhT eyes
liftEd or thE Story iS in thE Soil, KEEp your Ear to thE ground (2002)
Favorite Tracks: “You Will” “Nothing Gets Crossed Out”
ld (Or Older) recOrds
Crowdsurfers, fans on guest vocals and jokes. That sums up All Time Low’s show at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT on April 30. The band started their high energy twenty-song set with “Do You Want Me (Dead?)” off their 2011 album, Dirty Work. All Time Low took pop punk acts Handguns and Man Overboard along with them on the A Love Like War Tour this spring.
All Time Low kept their audience engaged with pop-infused sing alongs and invited a few lucky fans on stage to sing “Time-bomb.” This show was one of a string of smaller-venue shows the band played in cities they usually don’t visit on their major headline tours, including Fresno, CA, Portland, ME, and Lincoln, NE.
The band announced they will be taking time off to ZRUN�RQ�WKHLU�ÀIWK�IXOO�OHQJWK�DOEXP�ODWHU�WKLV�\HDU�
RECKLESS AND BRAVE Vocalist Alex Gaskarth (top left) and guitarist Jack Barakat (bottom right, page 6) play a twenty song set at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT on April 30.
All Time Low A Love Like Tour
SETLIST
Do You Want Me (Dead)?
So Long Soldier
The Irony of Chocking on a Life Saver
Stella
For Baltimore
Break Your Little Heart
Lost In Stereo
Six Feet Under the Stars
Vegas
Guts
Weightless
Remembering Sunday
Therapy
Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)
Somewhere In NeverLand
Time-Bomb
Backseat Serenade
The Reckless And The Brave
A Love Like War
Dear Maria Count Me In
Neck Deep’s Spring American Headliner
Wrexham, UK natives
Neck Deep embarked
RQ�WKHLU�ÀUVW�$PHULFDQ�headliner in support of
their highly successful
debut full-length,
Wishful Thinking, released January of
this year. The show
at the Middle East
Downstairs was packed
but intimate. It was
clear that many fans
had been waiting a long
time to see the UK band
live - one could tell by
hearing the crowd sing
along to every one of
the twelve songs they
played.
HYPED UP UK-based band Neck Deep play to a sold out crowd at the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA on March 30. Drummer Dani Washington (page 7), vocalist Ben Barlow (above) and guitarist Lloyd Roberts (bottom right) perform.
Neck Deep played fan
favorites including
“Losing Teeth” and
“What Did You Expect.”
Pop punk band Light
Years, south suburbs
of Chicago-based act
Knuckle Puck and local
band Traditions opened
the show. The crowd
was receptive to Neck
Deep’s angsty and fast-
paced sound.
The band will be playing
the entire Vans Warped
Tour this summer.
7KH\�ZLOO�WRXU�$XVWUDOLD�with State Champs in
September.
SETLISTKick It
What Did You Expect?Crushing Grief (No Remedy)
Tables TurnedSay What You Want
Silver LiningLosing Teeth
I Couldn’t Wait to Leave 6 Months AgoA Part Of Me
All Hype No HeartOver and OverGrowing Pains
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW The Story So Far frontman Parker Cannon (above) plays a Pure Noise showcase on March 21.
Fans got non-stop rock at the Berkeley, CA based label, 3XUH�1RLVH�5HFRUGV·�ÀYH�\HDU�DQQLYHUVDU\�VKRZ�RQ�0DUFK����DW�WKH�2DNODQG�0HWUR��3XUH�1RLVH�VKRZFDVHG�D�QXPEHU�RI�LWV�ULVLQJ�artists including Elder Brother, )RUHYHU�&DPH�&DOOLQJ��5RWWLQJ�Out, No Bragging Rights, The $PHULFDQ�6FHQH�DQG�7KH�6WRU\�6R�)DU��
7KH�HYHQLQJ�EHJDQ�ZLWK�WKH�VORZHU�VRXQGV�RI�(OGHU�%URWKHU��D�VLGH�SURMHFW�RI�7KH�6WRU\�6R�)DU�JXLWDULVW�.HYLQ�*H\HU�DQG�'D\EUHDNHU·V�'DQ�5RVH�
7KH�VROG�RXW�KRPHWRZQ�VKRZ�
5 YEARS of PURE NOISE
ZDV�RQH�LQ�D�KDQGIXO�RI�7KH�6WRU\�6R�)DU·V�VSULQJ�$PHULFDQ�WRXU�GDWHV�DIWHU�WKH�EDQG�WRXUHG�LQWHUQDWLRQDOO\�H[WHQVLYHO\�
7KH�6WRU\�6R�)DU·V�VHW�ZDV�ZRUWK�WKH�ZDLW��7KH�FURZG�FRPSOHWHO\�ORVW�LW�ZKHQ�WKH�Walnut Creek band took the VWDJH��:H�DSSUHFLDWH�IURQWPDQ�3DUNHU�&DQQRQ·V�SDVVLRQDWH�OLYH�YRFDOV���XQIRUWXQDWHO\��LQ�WKLV�GD\�and age, it can be challenging WR�FRPH�E\�DUWLVWV�WKDW�VRXQG�DV�JRRG�OLYH�DV�WKH\�GR�RQ�WKH�UHFRUG��DQG�QRW�DXWR�WXQHG���
7KH�6WRU\�6R�)DU�SHUIRUPHG�RXU�SHUVRQDO�IDYRULWHV�´6WLÁHGµ�DQG�
´6PDOO�7DONµ�IURP�WKHLU�SRSXODU�QHZ�IXOO�OHQJWK�What You Don’t
See.
it can be challenging to come by artists that sound as good live as they
do on the record.
The band are set to release an DFRXVWLF�DOEXP�WLWOHG�The Songs
Of RQ�-XQH�����ZKLFK�ZLOO�IHDWXUH�D�%RE�0DUOH\�FRYHU�LQ�DGGLWLRQ�WR�D�IHZ�VRQJV�RII�RI�What You
Don’t See. We are excited to hear WKH�VWULSSHG�GRZQ�YHUVLRQV�RI�FURZGSOHDVHUV�OLNH�´7KH�*ODVV�µ
0DNH�VXUH�WR�FDWFK�7KH�6WRU\�6R�)DU�RQ�WKLV�VXPPHU·V�9DQV�:DUSHG�7RXU�
(OHYHQ�EDQGV��2QH�GD\��7KDW�ZDV�WKH�ÀUVW�GD\�RI�7RGD\·V�0L[WDSH�)HVWLYDO�LQ�2DNODQG��&$�RQ�0DUFK�����7KH�IHVWLYDO�EURXJKW�LQ�WZHQW\�DFWV�LQ�WRWDO�ZLWKLQ�WKH�VSDQ�RI�WZR�GD\V��LQFOXGLQJ�0RGHUQ�%DVHEDOO��5HDO�)ULHQGV��DQG�&LWL]HQ��7KH�IHVWLYDO�ZDV�FRPELQHG�ZLWK�7KH�:RQGHU�<HDUV·�7KH�*UHDWHVW�*HQHUDWLRQ�7RXU���
0RGHUQ�%DVHEDOO·V�VHW�ZDV�KXPRURXV�DQG�D�ELW�VSRQWDQHRXV��$W�RQH�SRLQW�GXULQJ�WKH�VKRZ��WKH�
SKIN DEEP 5HDO�)ULHQGV�OHDG�VLQJHU�'DQ�/DPEWRQ��DERYH��WDNHV�WKH�VWDJH�GXULQJ�WKH�ÀUVW�GD\�RI�7RGD\·V�0L[WDSH�)HVWLYDO�DW�WKH�2DNODQG�0HWUR�RQ�0DUFK�����0RGHUQ�%DVHEDOO��SDJH����WRS�ULJKW��DQG�&LWL]HQ��SDJH����ERWWRP�ULJKW��DOVR�SOD\HG�WKH�IHVWLYDO�
Today’s Mixtape Festival
EDQG�VDW�RQ�JXLWDULVW�,DQ�)DUPHU�DQG�WRZDUGV�WKH�HQG�RI�WKHLU�VHW��WKH\�DOO�GHFLGHG�WR�JR�VKLUWOHVV��%HWZHHQ�VRQJV�WKH\�H[FKDQJHG�SOD\IXO�GLDORJXH��7KHLU�QRVWDOJLF�DQG�\HDUQIXO�VRQJ�´<RXU�*UDGXDWLRQµ�ZDV�ZHOO�UHFHLYHG�E\�FRQFHUW�JR�HUV�
+DUGFRUH�EDQG�%DFNWUDFN�FDPH�RQ�DIWHU�0RGHUQ�%DVHEDOO��'XULQJ�%DFNWUDFN·V�ODVW�VRQJ��DQ�XQOXFN\�FURZG�VXUIHU�ZDV�LQMXUHG�DQG�WKH�VKRZ�ZDV�KDOWHG�DV�WKH�FURZG�ZDLWHG�IRU�SDUDPHGLFV�WR�DUULYH�RQ�WKH
SETLISTFloorboards
Alexander SupertrampSkin DeepLost Boy
Anchor DownHome For Fall
I’ve Given Up On YouLate Nights In My Car
scene. It was a tense moment as staff addressed
the issue and the following band had their set cut
short. Thankfully, the crowd surfer was taken to a
hospital and the show resumed.
5HDO�)ULHQGV�K\SHG�XS�WKH�FURZG�ZLWK�WKHLU�ÀUVW�song, “Floorboards.” Dan Lambton’s sharp and raw
vocals paired with bassist Kyle Fasel’s honest lyrics
made for a powerful live show. The set slowed
down when Real Friends played “I’ve Given Up On
You” and a large part of the crowd sang the words
back at Lambton. The band also played “Alexander
Supertramp,” a song off one of their earlier EPs,
the Three Songs About the Past Year of My Life.
The Toledo, Ohio-based emo act Citizen took the
VWDJH�ULJKW�DIWHU�5HDO�)ULHQGV��7KH�EDQG·V�ÀUVW�IXOO�length, Youth, gained a strong following after the
band’s summer run on the Vans Warped Tour last
year. What sets Citizen apart from other bands
in their genre is hard-hitting songs and Brand
New-like sobering guitars. Vocalist Mat Kerekes’
entrancing performance captured the crowd.
Nothing gets us more excited
for summer than listening to
the self-described “escapist
dream pop” Pennsylvania
natives Vacationer. The band
recently stopped by The
Space in Hamden, CT during
their co-headlining tour with
Hellogoodbye and openers
Heavenly Beat on April 22.
&RPSOHWH�ZLWK�SURMHFWRUV�ÁDVKLQJ�warm nature scenes and the
venue lights lowered, Vacationer
launched into a long blissful set
with a good mixture of new songs
from their 2012 full-length Gone and the band’s upcoming release
Relief. Lead singer Kenneth Vasoli
(former frontman of The Starting
Line and Person L) had easy
humor and amazingly smooth
vocals that made the show feel
personal and exuded a tranquil
DQG�UHÁHFWLYH�DXUD��7KH�VKRZ�was a nice change to usual
concerts. Slowing down the pace
gave listeners the opportunity to
appreciate the music more. The
band’s effort paid off; listeners
were able to experience a feeling
of leisure and relaxation.
DREAMLIKE The band plays a mellow show at The Space in Hamden, CT on April 22.
vacationer
SETLISTBe With YouIn The GrassSummer EndGreat Love
GoneShining
TripFartherWarmerWild Life
DreamlikeJesus
Everyone KnowsGood As New
COLD NIGHT // you me at six Catchy and sweet, “Cold Night” is one of You Me At Six’s softer-sounding songs on “Cavalier Youth.” Josh Franceschi’s vocals are smooth and heart-wrenchingly sincere.
THE EDGE // tonight alive Stellar track by Aussie quintet Tonight Alive. Vocalist Jenna McDougall’s impres-sive vocal range and the band’s song writing ability shines through in this song. The band is spending the summer writing and we can’t wait to hear new material soon!
CRUSHING GRIEF (NO REMEDY) // neck deep One of our favorite tracks from Neck Deep’s debut full-length Wishful Thinking. “Crushing Grief” is incredibly infectious and deals with parting ways with someone you disagree with.
TWO GOOD THINGS // modern baseball Teen angst and youthful uncertainty paired with Jake Ewald’s raw vocals make this song unforgettable. You’re Gonna Miss It All demonstrate’s Modern Baseball’s versatil-ity as musicians.
REMEDY // state champs “Remedy” is a straight-up fast-paced pop-punk song. Frontman Derek DiScanio isn’t afraid to experiment with his vocal range. It’s one of those songs you wouldn’t want to miss live.
COME BACK HOME // we are the in crowd This song stuck as soon as we listened to Weird Kids. The slow track deals with changing relationships everyone can relate to.
ANDREAS // seahaven This is one of the standouts of Seahaven’s Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only. This timeless summer jam on nostalgic love deserves a listen!
HOLD ONTO ME // mayday parade “Hold On To Me” is one of the best Monsters In the Closet tracks. This song on troubled love is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
WIDE AWAKE // man overboard “Wide Awake” is a refreshing change from your average Man Overboard song. Singers Nik Bruzzese and Zac Eisenstein express desire to reconcile a lost love in this semi-acoustic track.
Here are nine tracks we can’t get enough of.
Listen to the playlist on Spotify.
Before You Exit: Dangerous Tour
POP PLAYLIST The brothers in Before You Exit Toby McDonough (page 15), Riley McDonough (top left) and Connor McDonough (top right) play Hamden, CT on March 25. Opener Plug In Stereo (bottom right) performs an acoustic track.
The three brothers of Before You Exit played an energetic show in Hamden, CT on March 25 as part of the Dangerous Tour. Their upbeat light-hearted tunes drew teen fans from all over.
Before You Exit began their set with their catchy new single “Dangerous.” Before You Exit also included more fan involvement - the band picked one lucky fan to draw the name of a song the band would cover from a jar. They treated fans to a cover of fun.’s “Some Nights.”
Plug In Stereo, who opened for the brothers, also played a notable set. Singer Trevor Dahl’s soothing vocals on “To Be Wanted” was well-received. Dahl also played “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” a song fans were surprised to learn he co-wrote for One Direction.