Meka Nism

 Dance at the End of the World off the band’s newest EP really seems to capture the band’s flavor and overall style, rolling it into a unique rock experience. The other track’s have an interesting effect as for me they seem to lead you to ‘Dance at the End of the World’ while bringing it all together with the final song ‘rise‘. As for the the vocal’s they have a great balance of gritty rebellion and female power.  I recommend this if your a hard rock fan of Halestorm, In This Moment and The Agonist.

Keep up to date with the band new’s as well as their changing tour schedule on http://www.meka-nism.com/#!home/mainPage

We’ve read the stories. We’ve dreamed the dreams. And we’ve wondered, ‘how do I get to play stadiums filled with breasts that let me drink Jagermeister off of them?’ Sure, we all know it takes hard work and luck to achieve the musical unicorn that is a career of rocking stadiums well into your seventies. But we seem to retain little when it comes to understanding the excruciating hard work it takes just to be able to play in front of an audience.

We again talked to singer/songwriter John Taglieri (J.T.) to get his take on getting out there and gigging. He’s always playing somewhere – from Boston to Key West. He always has a new CD to talk about. And for some reason he is always willing to share what he’s learned with his fellow musicians (see exception below).

When we last talked to J.T. he told us to put our egos aside and do the work that needs to be done. Now he shares some tips on just how he’s been able to make a living as a performing artist.

Lazy Musicians Have No Gigs.

Once the music is written and a repertoire developed, it’s time to get gigging. Getting gigs if often easier said than done.  It’s also a topic much discussed here – Because gigging and getting gigs is a musician’s life blood.

John Taglieri tells fellow musicians, “Get on the phone.” Agents work on commission. Unless you’re making them a few grand a month, your band is just not worth their effort. Agents want their commission. They don’t necessarily have a musician’s career in mind.  There may be many non paying or low paying gigs passed over simply because there is no money in it for the agent. So you’d need a manager to fill in those gaps, and now the musician is paying 2 people for the same job!  At the level of a newly emerging artist, “there’s nothing an agent can do for you that you can’t do for yourself.”

J.T.’s steps to getting in front of an Audience.

1. Find similar artists in locations you want to play. Reverb Nation is great for this. Note the places those bands play.

2. Fan and befriend that band. Never waste a chance to build relationships.

3. Research the venues. Go to their websites. Like them on facebook. Note in that gig binder what each venue’s policy is on soliciting bookings.

4. Follow those policies to the letter.

5. Repeat.

“Stop bitching and do it. Yes. It’s a lot of work. But it’s not brain surgery. Just stop whining about how hard it is and do it.” John always has a way of putting things so others can understand him. But don’t mistake this New Jersey native’s frankness. Like most musicians, J.T. is almost always willing to help others…as long as they help themselves.  “If I see someone with no gigs listed and they’re asking me to help them, I think – They don’t deserve a gig.”

Go online, pick up a phone, and do that dirty work. Remember #2 above? When you help yourself and others see it, they’ll want to help you even more. Those other bands might help promote you to their fans, or at the very least, guarantee they’ll come out themselves.

Great Gigs Aren’t Always That Great.

If an emerging artists is playing any large stage, be it stadium or festival, chances are it was a buy on. That brings with it the pressure to gain enough fans and sell enough merchandise to cover that ‘promo fee.’ Such gigs can also mean the artist is under greater professional scrutiny.  These are the gigs that make artists either put up or shut up. Stumble on local stages. Your friends will understand. Fail on a big stage and the artist might never get a chance to set foot on such a stage again. The stress level for emerging artists at those shows is often through the sagging roof of their tour van.

When it comes to playing shows, say yes. “There is no gig I won’t say yes to.” Free Shows? Yes. Charity events? Yes. Back yard cookouts? Yes. Quinceaneras? Who cares if anyone can pronounce it, Yes. Yes to all of them. J.T. would rather play a sweet sixteen party to 20 sixteen year old girls. “Those are the fans who like to spend money. There’s no choice between playing for large groups of drunk 40 year olds in a bar or playing for a small group of people in a private home who are really excited to hear me.”

People like to share, whether it’s a news story, pictures of their lunch, or their latest musical obsession. Create chances to be their obsession by saying yes. J.T. has learned not to turn down those nontraditional shows because in the midst of sharing their latest likes, they’ll tell all their friends about the funk y bald guy who jammed the face off their living room.

There would be more tips but John had to get to a gig.

[Watch this spot got a continuing talk with John Taglieri and his tips for making the most out of being on the road.]   

Takeout’s spark ignited in 2004 when Joseph Rivera II, Matt Sherman, and Mat Sadler met and created a unique sense of music and harmony. After much success on the local scene, Takeout’s original member’s decided to enhance their lineup with current lead guitar member, Zach Yeager. Zach’s addition to the band added a depth to Takeout’s guitar work that has enabled them to enhance their melodic rock showcase.

The guy’s have shared the stage with  Fuel, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Future Leaders of the World & Team Cybergiest and you can catch them live at House of Blues Lake Buena Vista on June 8th, ticket’s are just $5 at the door!

http://www.reverbnation.com/takeoutband

@TAKEoutband

3 Bucksworth is trying to get their music to the people, Mark says, “It’s tough for any good band nowadays, but we can’t go the traditional route. We’re simply not able to go out on the road for any period of time, and we’re not ‘in the scene’; out at the clubs hanging with other bands and musicians. We have families and responsibilities. Luckily we’re still a hell of a cover band, so we can do a lot of gigs playing about half our own material and half covers and it works out well.”

This is a filling album with 11 track’s that are truly all worth listening.

http://www.3bucksworth.com

3BW FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/3-Bucksworth/54640641814?id=546B40641814&sk=info

Action Item is made up of New Jersey natives that have been touring in support of their EP, “The Stronger The Love” an album that has sold over 22,000 copies independently & has had successful placement on multiple television shows. Not only have these pop/rocker’s gone on a full headlining tour but also has shared a stage with Hot Chelle Rae, Andy Grammer, & Allstar Weekend and supporting Boys Like Girls. The band has had 3 singles in Radio Disney’s Top 30 Countdown including “Learn To Fly” a track produced by Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers. Now the guy’s are touring the nation with one of most popular music festival’s in the country The Warped Tour! 

The Warped Tour 2013 Florida Dates include:Tampa 7/26,                                                                                                                        West Palm Beach 7/27,                                                                                         Orlando 7/28!                                                     http://www.vanswarpedtour.com/band/view/id/32/

Sugarless, a hard hitting alternative rock band with members from Orlando and Kissimmee Florida. Sugarless was originally formed in 2010, and after a few different line ups, finally in 2012 the band came together and has evolved into something that can’t be ignored. Sugarless’ lineup includes lead vocalist and song writer Shawn Lessard, guitarist, creative force, and back up vocals, Hutch Rymer, hard hitting bass sound, and back up vocals, Gabe Delrio, and master time keeper and the thunder behind the drums, Robby Buck. Sugarless is inspired by a variety of influences that include; Vapid, Nirvana, Hale Storm, Breaking Benjamin, and Alice in Chains to name a few.

Stereo-Type, a progressive, alternative, and
punk band based in Orlando. We started about a year ago, all
playing instruments excessively for the past ten years. Vince,
playing melodic, yet punk, riffs on the guitar and following after
vocalist idols such as Dave Grohl ( Foo Fighters), Kurdt Cobain( Nirvana), and Matthew Bellamy ( Muse). Bassist, Edwin, finds influence inspired by Les Claypool ( Primus), Geddy Lee ( Rush), and Flea ( Red Hot Chili Peppers). Then, finally, Brian, torching a progressive metal sound inspired by the likes of Matt Halpern ( Periphery), Matt Gartska ( Animals As Leaders), and Mile Mangini ( Dream Theater).

SKNN is an all American, Original rock band from Orlando FL , formed in 2003. The Genre is 80’s based Arena Hard Rock. SKNN is also know for making covers all there own and creating an electric party atmosphere wherever they perform.
The group formed by Mario MonteLeone(Lead Vocals, Guitars), Hector Ruiz (Bass Guitar) and Ruben Ruiz (Drums) became the foundational Trifecta. Mario Ticlea (Lead Guitars) joined soon after followed by Don Rider (Lead Guitars).

Cold War Relic,  Formed in Orlando, Florida, the band features Andy Staggs on bass, Chris Bongiovanni (aka “B”) on vocals and guitar, George Fry on lead guitar, and Rob Tetro on drums. The guys initially united to write and play music simply for the fun of it. They soon realized that while they didn’t take themselves too seriously, they’d crafted some very serious music. Alchemists of classic rock, metal, punk, and alternative, their song-writing has been heavily influenced by some of this century’s darkest elements.

Ben Cook, alternative/pop singer songwriter based out of Orlando. You can listen to his full album ‘The City’ on PureVolume:

http://www.purevolume.com/BenCook63683/albums/The+City

Entrepreneurship has always been instilled in me, whether I knew it or not. If I think about it, I’ve actually been an entrepreneur ever since I was a young boy mowing lawns for people or even offering DJ services since I was in high school. I believe all of us have idols or influential people that we all look up to, especially as kids. When I was younger, I would say the majority of my influences were either sports stars or music celebrities.

 Put On Your War Paint!

Read it on the news stands as the Boy’s of the iconic American punk/rock band Fall Out Boy have yet again stole our attention and just maybe with the cryptic Lyrics that truly first made me a fan. As Patrick’s massive vocal’s not only fit the Lyrics but the added feature is his voice has taken on an almost Erie yet power driven tone in track’s The Phoenix and The Mighty Fall which are also the two I recommend for the harder alternative fans that follow Three Days Grace and The Used.                                                                                   Coming back to the infectious nostalgic pop/punk sound there is no better way to describe them than with their lyrical ingredient in Where did the Party Go “I’m here to collect your hearts, It’s the only reason that I sing, I don’t believe a word you say, But I can’t stop listening,” and of course their track Alone Together “I’m outside the door, invite me in So we can go back and play pretend I’m on deck now, I’m up Tonight, I’m high as a private jet”.

Adding to this explosive record produced by Butch Walker is the talent’s of Big Sean on The Mighty Fall, Just One Yesterday featuring Foxes, Courtney Love on the punk track Rat A Tat and Sir Elton John on the title track Save Rock and Roll.

If you are a veteran FOB fan than you’ll be addicted, if you’re a pop/punk junkie there’s a track you will be lip sinking to in the car like a 90′s pop star and hard rocker’s you shall not be forgotten either! 

Fall Out Boy will be invading House Of Blues Orlando on June 4th 2013

I need more dreams and less life, And I need that dark in a little more light, I cried tears you’ll never see, So f-ck you, you can go cry me an ocean and leave me be You are what you love, Not who loves you, In a world full of the word yes, I’m here to scream, No No ~ Save Rock And Roll feat. Elton John