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Catching Up With Crosses Before The Band's Live Debut

Posted 2/1/12 1:50 pm EST by in Bands We Like

Crosses

By Zachary Swickey

We’ve been keeping our eyes on Crosses – the newest side project of Deftones’ Chino Moreno, also featuring Shaun Lopez of ‘90’s alt-group Far and bassist Chuck Doom. The band is a unique departure from Moreno’s other material – sounding like a “dubby” Depeche Mode with occasional sudden shots of testosterone.

We caught up with Lopez just hours before the band’s live debut (the first of a string of only four California shows) to hear his thoughts on the band’s release methodology, how he gathered his group of musicians and what the future holds for the group.

MTV News: When you guys first came on the scene last year, you seemed hesitant to say you’d be doing any touring. So how did these shows come about?

Shaun Lopez: Just sort of made sense. You know, Chino [Moreno] had some time off – just seemed like the timing was right. The interest and demand from fans was just getting stronger and stronger. It just seemed like, "Man, let’s go do it. If we don’t do it now, we’ll probably just keep putting it off or something." It seemed cool and it’s been fun, challenging.

MTV News: Are you happy with the outcome of self-releasing your two EP’s [online without a label]? That seems to be a growing trend.

Lopez: Yeah, totally man, especially with the latest one [Crosses’ newly-released second EP]. None of us really expected the second to do as well as it did, or as well as it’s doing. We’re very thankful.

MTV News: I was curious, how did Duff McKagan (of Guns & Roses/Velvet Revolver fame) end up on your first EP?

Lopez: You know, I kind of know him. Chino’s known him for a while. He just heard some stuff and was like, "Man, I’d love to play on that!” He’s just a f***kin’ rad guy, really super-nice. Just a cool dude – the kinda guy you want to just chill with.

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Bands We Like: Ghostland Observatory

Posted 1/4/12 8:52 am EST by in Bands We Like

By Zachary Swickey

Too often I fall victim to the classic “judging a book by its cover” and miss out on a great band simply because of their name (Foster the People, anyone?). A few years ago, I recall seeing “Ghostland Observatory” emblazoned seemingly everywhere I looked: magazines, music news, festival lineups. What the heck does it even mean? To this day, I have no freakin’ clue, but I’ve been making up for lost time by catching their concerts – a digital light show extravaganza – at every opportunity and preaching their greatness to anyone within earshot.

Surprisingly, Ghostland is just a duo of best buds from a place where it’s cool to be weird: Austin, Texas. Thomas Ross Turner mans the drums/keys/synthesizers, providing most of the signature Ghostland digital bleeps and blurps that the band is famous for. He frequently, or pretty much always, dons a cape, which I can’t help but think Charlie Day (from “It’s Always Sunny”) would love to wear as his Nightman character.

Frontman Aaron Behrens is an instantaneous party-starter. He’s usually rockin’ some Native American-inspired braids and dark shades (likely to help keep the lasers from blinding him) and he’s known to strap on a guitar for a few songs at each show. One thing you’ll quickly notice about Behrens when performing is the man does not stop moving ever – his energy and dance moves would give the late James Brown a run for his money. Their concerts contain the same atmosphere of pure and utter joy that you’d find at a typical Flaming Lips gig – a cozy place to be indeed. Read More...

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Our Bands We Like Album Outlook For 2012

Posted 12/27/11 8:00 am EST by in Bands We Like, Music

By Zachary Swickey

Since next year is supposed to be our last here on Earth (if you’re into Mayan culture and all that), let’s hope that we get plenty of amazing albums so we can bid adieu in style. It should be a glorious year indeed if we finally get that new Santigold record, Tool finally hit the studio and Jay-Z and Kanye both give us solo albums (and maybe more from The Throne). We're no longer holding onto much hope for Dr. Dre's Detox – which is quickly becoming the Chinese Democracy of the new millennium – since the rapper recently announced he’s "taking a break," which begs the question, “What has he been doing this whole time?” But clearly there is plenty of good music for us all to look forward to in 2012.

This year wasn’t too shabby either – we had some great new albums from Bands We Like artists like Austra's Feel It Break, Battles' Gloss Drop, and City & Colour's Little Hell, and thankfully it appears some of our other BWL faves will be hitting us with some fresh material in 2012. While we may not have album titles or specific dates to tide you over, these are releases we expect to have and love in the new (final) year. Read More...

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Bands We Like: Glasser

Posted 12/21/11 11:00 am EST by in Bands We Like

Glasser

By Zachary Swickey

Once again I must thank 2011’s South By Southwest Music Festival for helping me discover a fresh, innovative band whose record I have been spinning non-stop throughout 2011. In January, I began combing through the collection of artists set to appear at SXSW (if you don’t do this, there will be at least a dozen bands you wish you had caught in hindsight) when I discovered the breathtaking music of Glasser and their debut Ring.

As I found my seat at the Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, I excitedly chatted with everyone around me, “Are you familiar with Glasser? Do you realize what we’re about to see?” Everyone understood why I was so elated once Cameron Mesirow’s mesmerizing, angelic vocals filled the entire room – supplying the perfect acoustics to hear the star-in-the-making. (Even the less-than-stellar iPhone video I quickly shot looks and sounds amazing).

Glasser is the perfect band to exemplify the ease with which music can be made with today’s technologies. Mesirow (think Trent Reznor – Nine Inch Nails) had always wanted to make music but it wasn’t until she finally learned the ins and outs of computer software GarageBand in 2007 that she finally began undertaking the task. After famously recording her first demos on the program, Mesirow reached out to producer Ariel Rechtshaid – who has worked with Theophilus London and Diplo/Switch power-duo Major Lazer – to help flesh out the songs (despite the fact that she felt they were near completion). Read More...

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Bands We Like: Walk The Moon

Posted 12/14/11 8:34 am EST by in Bands We Like

By Kara Warner

Not to sound self-aggrandizing here, but one of the things that is so enjoyable about our Bands We Like features is the discovery factor. That feeling that you've found something new that hasn't quite gone mainstream, that is really special and you just know everyone is going to love. Case in point, Walk The Moon, a group of fun-loving, wonderfully entertaining musicians whose tunes will brighten your day and make you want to dance. See: "Anna Sun" "I Can Lift A Car" and "Quesadilla."

The Cincinnati natives - Nicholas Petricca, lead singer, keyboardist, bangs a drum or two; Kevin Ray, bassist; Eli Maiman, guitar; and Sean Waugaman, drums - got together a couple of years ago and started playing locally in Cincinnati and have been generating crazy buzz after appearing at Coachella, SXSW, CMJ and touring with 2012 favorite Fitz And The Tantrums.

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Every Time I Die And Mariachi El Bronx Share Their Favorite Holiday Tunes

Posted 12/13/11 9:56 am EST by in Bands We Like, Holiday

By Zachary Swickey

Typically, people don’t begin anticipating Christmas until Thanksgiving has come and gone, so we really only get one month a year to listen to the holiday tunes that have us waxing nostalgic (unless you’re one of those weirdos who listen to it year-round). Admittedly, the holiday music my family favors belongs to the coolest man to ever live, Frank Sinatra, and brother-sister duo The Carpenters, who aren’t usually my thing, but have been ingrained on my musical palette since birth around Christmas-time.

We wanted to know what tunes some of our favorite Bands We Like artists spin around the holidays, and when MTV News queried Jordan Buckley, bassist of Every Time I Die, he was happy to share.

"Nothing triggers Christmas memories like the 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' soundtrack. That movie got played in my house at least once a day between Thanksgiving and Christmas," he said. "Maybe even a couple of times in the spring. One time. I even caught my dad watching it in French. So whenever I hear that 'Hip Hip Hooray for Christmas Vacation' song, I know the movie is starting. Whenever 'Mele Kalikimaka' is on, I know Clark is dreaming about that chick’s can [Ed. note: I can relate], and 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' on the tuba means the sh**ter is full! Damn, I’m going to put that soundtrack on right now!"

Some folks, on the other hand, aren’t too crazy about Christmas-themed music. For example, I doubt that anyone who works at a mall cares much for. When we reached out to Mariachi El Bronx and asked drummer Jorma Vik for his favorite Christmas tunes, he was the first to admit he’s not nuts about holiday music, but he did have one classic he highly recommends. Read More...

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Stocking Stuffers From Some Of Our Favorite Bands We Like

Posted 12/12/11 1:08 pm EST by in Bands We Like, Best Of, Holiday

By Zachary Swickey

With Christmas officially less than two weeks away, it’s about time that procrastinators like myself get off the couch and do some final shopping for the holiday season. If you don’t feel like getting 26-pound gummy bears for your whole family, then why not consider the gift of music? Don’t go the lazy iTunes gift card route either. Instead, put some thought into this to show how much you care and try to gift someone with tunes they’ve probably never heard but you think they will fall for. They'll never forget the guy or gal who introduced them to their favorite new band, and they’ll appreciate the fact that you seem to know them pretty well.

Here in the MTV Newsroom, we always want to do our part, so here are some albums that would make ideal stocking stuffers from some of our favorite Bands We Like artists we showcased this year. Read More...

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Fitz and the Tantrums Is The Band You Liked Most In 2012!

Posted 12/9/11 8:37 am EST by in Bands We Like, Newsroom Poll

By Zachary Swickey

The people have spoken!

We asked you, "Which Band We Liked Is Going To Blow Up In 2012?" and you guys and gals helped soul-lovers Fitz and the Tantrums claim the top spot! We received 6,195 votes in just a few days with Fitz and Co. claiming over 40 percent of your online love. Coincidentally, the Fitz crew is also the very first band we covered when we started Bands We Like back in July. We can’t say we’re all that surprised considering how often we find ourselves spinning their debut album – 2010’s Pickin’ Up the Pieces.

Dredg wasn’t far behind in the number two spot – the So-Cal rockers warmly received 28 percent of your online votes. The New Regime – a side project of Ilan Rubin, who is Angels and Airwaves’ newest drummer – barely edged out Other Lives with just under 15 percent. Other Lives still managed to take nearly 14 percent of the votes with Mariachi El Bronx trailing at 4 percent. (In their defense, they weren’t able to vie for your attention as much as they’re touring overseas right now). There may be only one number one, but all the bands are still winners in our hearts (and ears).

Be on the lookout for our look at upcoming albums in 2012 from some of our favorite Bands We Like artists. Check out a full breakdown of the voting after the jump! Read More...

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Don't Forget To Vote For The Band You Think Is Going To Blow Up Big In 2012!

Posted 12/7/11 10:41 am EST by in Bands We Like, Best Of, Newsroom Poll, Year End 2011

This year we've hit upon rock bands from across the spectrum in our weekly feature Bands We Like. As some of these somewhat under the radar groups begin to take off – Other Lives will soon be the opening act for Radiohead, El Bronx fulfilled their own fantasy by appearing on Conan’s late night show and The New Regime’s Ilan Rubin is the new drummer for Tom DeLonge’s side-project, Angels & Airwaves – we're looking to you indie music fiends to see which Band We Liked is destined to will be the breakout act of 2012.

We've narrowed down five of our favorites (Fitz & the Tantrums, Other Lives, Dredg, The New Regime and Mariachi El Bronx). Now, it's your turn. To find out more about the bands we've selected, go HERE, and vote in our "Which Band We Liked Will Blow Up In 2012?" poll after the jump. Read More...

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Which Band We Liked Will Blow Up In 2012?

Posted 12/5/11 12:58 pm EST by in Bands We Like, Best Of, Newsroom Poll, Year End 2011

By Zachary Swickey

We’ve covered quite a few diverse rock acts for Bands We Like – from the soul-powered retro pop of Fitz & the Tantrums to the always evolving musings of Dredg – and all of the groups had a stellar year in 2011. Other Lives will soon be the opening act for Radiohead, El Bronx fulfilled their own fantasy by appearing on Conan’s late night show, and The New Regime’s Ilan Rubin is now the new drummer for Tom DeLonge’s side-project, Angels & Airwaves. We’ve taken the liberty of rounding up the five bands to keep an eye on in the New Year and wonder which one you think will be the breakout act of 2012?

Check out the Bands We Like All-Stars and vote in our poll, after the jump! Read More...

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