June / July 2009
by Paul Autry
http://www.myspace.com/spotlight_music
THE RETURN OF WITCHES IN BIKINIS! My headline for this interview might not be 100% correct because it's not like Witches In Bikinis went anywhere. True, they have a whole new line up. However, they released a second CD, which featured the previous line up, during the transition. My first interview with the band can be found in the Voice Of The Underground section of this website. You might want to go back and check that out in order to introduce yourself to what Witches In Bikinis are all about. For those of you who are already familiar with the band, I had another conversation with guitarist, keyboardist and founding member Bill Rozar shortly after I caught the "new" Witches In Bikinis in action and this is how that conversation turned out.
Paul Autry: Let's start off with an introduction to the new Witches In Bikinis line up.
Bill Rozar: We have Andrea Caron as Adora Canner (lavender witch), Carrie Plew as Pria LeCrew (orange), Colleen Hart-Huley as Hellora Eyeclunth (red), Christina Johnson as Mellamorphia (green), Marca Leigh as Mila Greach (light blue), Melissa Bayern as Erimaya Snelbs (sometimes pink, other times dark blue), and Rori Nogee as Neore Gori (red). Mellamorphia (green) is an original member who took a break and came back. The rest of the girls all joined May 2008.
Paul Autry: How about the band members? Have they remained the same?
Bill Rozar: We have Jaime Boyaca on bass, who has been with the group since Nov 2007 and Josh Sazer on drums as well as Anthony Dickerson who also plays drums for us. Josh joined us the same time as all the new WIBs (May 2008) and Anthony joined us to back up Josh around Nov. 2008.
Paul Autry: Last time we spoke, there was a member change. There was one new addition to the band. But, now, it's a whole new line up. So, did that change the audition process at all? I mean, when you replace one person, you simply have to find someone to fit in with the other people. When the whole line up is replaced, it's pretty much like you're starting from scratch, right?
Bill Rozar: Yes. Last spring all the members reached transition points in their lives; getting married, going back to school, getting pregnant, changing careers, etc. The group was so tightly knit that once a few of the girls left with new ones coming in, it just kind of snowballed where everyone felt it was time to leave and let a whole new group come in and start together. It was A LOT of work for all of them to learn twenty four songs (including choreography) in three months.
Paul Autry: Now, I came to know the band through the previous line up and that's what I became familiar with. Before that, there were other people in the band and now, as I've mentioned, there's a whole new line up. So, could you give us kind of a quick history lesson on the band and explain how it has changed from day one right up to what you have now?
Bill Rozar: Well, the group evolved from just recording a CD of my Halloween music to performing one song ("Witches In Bikinis") at a benefit, to putting together a show for the CD release party, to taking this show with CD tracks into NYC clubs and beyond. Then a backup band of drums, keyboard, guitar and bass was added. The group will continue to evolve as availability changes. We always strive to improve the show to keep it fresh and interesting to perform as well as entertain.
Paul Autry: I assume the stage show has changed as well. Call you tell us a little about that?
Bill Rozar: Fundamentally it is still the same stage show since October 2005. We've changed a lot of choreography, are doing a bunch of new songs and are working on incorporating some new elements into the show.
Paul Autry: I asked you this question the first time we spoke and, since some time has passed, I think I should bring it up again. Since there's so many people involved in Witches In Bikinis, does that make it harder to find shows with a big enough stage and, on top of that, I'm sure getting to the show is quite a task as well. So, how do you do it?
Bill Rozar: Well, it is a big production compared to your average rock band. We turn down a lot of gigs at smaller venues just because the stage is too small or they don't have a place to put on costumes. And we're getting choosier about where we perform. Transportation is not a problem when we play in New York, but the road trips can get a little complicated and expensive.
Paul Autry: I follow the band as much as I can and there are a few things since our last interview that I'd like to talk about. First of all, you've performed in a parade. Can you tell us about that?
Bill Rozar: For the past two Halloweens (2007, 2008), we performed on our own float in the NYC Halloween Parade. It was an awesome experience. The parade is in its 35th year and is the largest Halloween event in the world. There were over two million spectators and 60,000 costumed marchers. It was a fantastic experience riding up Ave. Of The Americas on our own float performing for the largest crowd of people I've ever seen. There was just so much energy that the girls weren't even cold performing outdoors in just their bikinis.
Paul Autry: The band was also interviewed by Dee Snider. Can you tell us about that?
Bill Rozar: That was a lot of fun. We were invited to perform live on Sirius Radio on Fangoria Radio hosted by Dee Snider and Debbie Rochon, with guest host Tony Timpone. Even though it was radio, we came in full costume which was much appreciated by our hosts. We figured even an audience of three is still an audience. It was quite an experience. If you only know Dee Snider from his Twisted Sister persona you would never guess what a sharp, quick-witted, intelligent, and articulate man he is. Very cool! (NOTE: At the time this interview took place, my question regarding the Dee Snider interview was in regards to the previous line up. It should be mentioned that Dee invited the band, and the new line up, back to Fangoria Radio for a second appearance!)
Paul Autry: You did some sort of show that involved The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I've always said would be a perfect match for WIB. How did that work out for you and were you able to reach the RHPS audience and will there be any future WIB/RHPS performances?
Bill Rozar: Yes, we certainly hope to do more Rocky Horror shows. The one we did Summer 2008 was at the Brookhaven Amphitheater in Long Island and was billed as the largest Rocky Horror event ever. Unfortunately it rained and, being an outdoor event, had to be cut short; but we at least got to do our set and after the show was canceled, some of the cast members put on an impromptu performance atop a tractor trailer in the parking lot in the soaking rain which was pretty crazy. All in all it was a great time!
Paul Autry: I've always said that WIB is a very visual band, for obvious reasons, and, with that thought in mind, you finally released your first video. Can you tell us a little about that?
Bill Rozar: Some people from Video City TV saw us at the Millennium Music Conference 2008 and naturally fell in love with WIB. So, a few months later, they contacted us about producing a video, which we were thrilled to do. They closed the club Rebel NYC in Manhattan and we shot "Party Like A Chimpanzee" there. It was great fun. You can check it out on YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVI_N0XeGjU)
Paul Autry: You also released your second CD, "A Scary Kind Of Love." Would you care to talk about that a little? Bill Rozar: I'm very happy with it. It reflects the somewhat eclectic nature of Witches In Bikinis, both stylistically and thematically. We've broadened our thematic palette from just horror and witch-related things to extra-terrestrial mermaids, crashing hot rods, getting back to nature, and out of body experiences. On the first album I played mostly keyboards; on this one mostly guitar. This album generally has more of a rock feel. I think it's quite different from our first album but still unmistakably Witches In Bikinis.
Paul Autry: Since that release featured the previous line up, is it too early to talk about your next release? If I'm not mistaken, you already have some new songs, right?
Bill Rozar: My songwriting has greatly outpaced our recording. We have more than two albums worth of material ready to record. There will be more mainstream kinds of songs that will further stretch the boundaries what Witches In Bikinis is. The next album will have a lot of songs that we've been performing a while but never got around to recording; songs like "Freak Show Safari", "Moosejaw Millie", "Alien Surfer Babes", "Kissy Kissy Love Spell", "Movie Star", and "Jesus vs. Godzilla". The album after that will likely be a softer, more introspective collection that will reveal a whole other side of WIB.
Paul Autry: I've asked you this before. But, with all the changes the band has gone though, I think it would be good to bring it up again....how far do you think you can take the whole WIB concept?
Bill Rozar: The WIB concept has unlimited potential. I'm working on a WIB story for a stage production. And we have a lot of ideas for music videos and comic videos as well. It just takes time, especially when we all have jobs to support our music habits, but we're working on it.
Paul Autry: Now, there's some people out there who feel like, well, for example, they say that the Harry Potter books are "evil" because they promote witchcraft or whatever. Have you had to deal with any issues like that yet? How would you respond to something like that?
Bill Rozar: No, thankfully not. At least not that I am aware of. As far as witchcraft goes, my response would be that I believe that whatever power it may have is not inherently evil or good. To me, the only evil is to initiate harm against a living creature (and I say initiate to allow for self-defense and retribution). So using witchcraft (or inflammatory speech, or sarcasm, or religion, or faulty reasoning or lies or anything) to initiate harm against someone is definitely evil and not something we would promote. We do get asked, "Are you real witches?" - and our response is, "As real as any witch who ever lived." We are not, of course, the archetypal Halloween make-believe witch riding on a broomstick, nor do we cast spells and perform magic-other than the kind of spells and magic our music produces. And we are not Wiccans or followers of any religion, though we agree with the Wiccan Rede "An it harm none, do what ye will" and are aligned with their basic beliefs of respect for all living things, closeness to nature, and the celebration of the cycles of life and the solar system. To us, "witch" represents everything in women that frightens us yet also excites us: mystery, power, sensuality, and magic. We also regard "witch" as an invention used to demonize and marginalize people. We embrace the label of witch to honor those who suffered the great witch hunts of old as well as unjust persecution of every kind to this day. And we embrace the bikini as a symbol of female sexual power. Witches In Bikinis are musical super heroes!
Paul Autry: I've seen the band live a few times now and I've noticed that there's always one or two people who seem more interested in the fact that there's a group of beautiful women on the stage in bikinis which, of course, would take away from the music and what the band's really about. It's kind of like going to the beach and not paying attention to the sun and the ocean because you'd rather lay on the sand at look at the women. So, do you find it hard to actually get your point across to the people who just don't seem to get it?
Bill Rozar: Yes, definitely. A lot of people just assume that the bikinis are a gimmick to sell sex and compensate for lack of creativity and musical ability. On the one hand I don't care...let people enjoy it on whatever level they want, but it is frustrating when people do not or cannot fully appreciate the entire package, which is beautiful women dressed in ways you don't get to see every day, with great voices, dancing ability, performing fresh original music. It's mostly prejudice; you see a musician dressed conservatively with an intense serious expression on their face and you assume they are some kind of virtuoso; whereas you see a musician in an outrageous costume and you assume they are trying to cover up the fact that they can't play. When people come to see us, most of them "get" us at some point during our set, others take longer. And, by the way, if anyone wonders just how serious a composer who wrote "Party Like A Chimpanzee" can be, check out some of my non-WIB music on http://www.myspace.com/billrozar.
Paul Autry: There's a WIB drink that I've seen you promote. What is that exactly?
Bill Rozar: Ahhhh, the Witches In Bikinis Black Martini. Here it is:
4.5 oz. juniper spirits (gin)
1 squirt black wormwood wine (black vermouth)
2 oz. sweetened bat's blood (raspberry liqueur)
1 oz. dissolved alien surfer babe hair (blue curacao liqueur)
handful of frozen rain (ice)
Combine in shaker and shake vigorously
Strain into drinking vessel
Paul Autry: With a band like WIB, it would seem that the merchandise possibilities are endless. Is that something you've put a lot of thought into yet and will there be anything new that we'll eventually see on the merch table?
Paul Autry: We have ideas for all kinds of fun WIB merch. Right now you can get some cool stuff at http://www.zazzle.com/wibstore. T-shirts for various songs, such as "Video Vixen Vampire", "Horror Flick Chick", WIB bumper stickers.
Paul Autry: Final comments? Bill Rozar: Thank you for all your continued support and this opportunity to share.
http://www.witchesinbikinis.com
http://www.myspace.com/witchesinbikinis
I try to keep up to date with a lot of the people who are featured in this column. It's kind of rough because I'm only one person and I know A LOT of musicians. Some of them make it easy for me by sending messages all the time...even if it's just to say hello. One of the bands who can always be found in my inbox is 3 Kisses. Forget trying to keep up with everyone I know...I have a hard enough time just keeping up with 3 Kisses. They promote themselves 24 hours a day and I think it's safe to say that they're the hardest working band that I currently know. Seriously, they have a drive and a passion for what they do that's simply mind blowing...and I honestly don't know how they do it. I drink about 45 cups of coffee a day (no lie) and I don't have as much energy as they do. I don't even come close.
Now, I've been a 3 Kisses fan for a few years now and I really enjoy what they do. The only problem that I had with the band is the fact that what I saw on stage wasn't what I heard on record. I mean, they have some great, kick ass tunes. But, when it came to putting the power and energy of a live show on record, it's like...well...they never quite hit that mark. I haven't heard their first album. The second and third release, "It All Comes Down To Me" and "Nut Job," were really good..it's just that...it seemed like something was missing. So, when it came to their new release, "American Breakdown," I was curious to see what they had to offer this time around...and they freakin' killed it. This album's fantastic. This is the 3 Kisses that I saw on stage. High energy, totally aggressive, power pop party punk. I might have to get another disc because I've been playing this one to death. It's just so damn good. No, it's not just good...it's GREAT!
Since I got countless messages from the band between their last album and this one, I thought I would send them a message and get an update from vocalist Tish Meeks. I asked her to write me a little blurb on what the band's been up to these days and what they've got going on...and this is what she sent back.
"After releasing three decent (but not great) albums, 3 Kisses finally released an album that we feel captures the essence of the band live. After signing with Rat Pak Records in October 2008, we immediately arranged studio time with producer Eric LaBrosse, Cherry Pit Mobile, and flew him down to Texas from Milwaukee, WI. We spent a grueling week in the studio tracking day and night and ended up with 22 songs. Of those, we picked 14 that flowed naturally together and came up with the album “American Breakdown” which we released in February 2009. We were in a really creative frame of mind, so instead of sitting back waiting for “American Breakdown” to be released, we continued to write, flew Eric back down in January 2009 and tracked 7 more tunes. The momentum within the chemistry of the band, alone is something that we’ve never had before and just seems unstoppable, at this point. With the addition of Brian Hymel on bass and Andy Wood on drums (no, he did not play on the album, but his style and attitude fits 3 Kisses much better, so don’t worry! ) our time on the road is much more cohesive and everyone is having the most fun we’ve ever had. It seems that after busting our asses for the past 5 years, people are finally starting to take notice. We’ve also tracked three tunes at the legendary SugarHill Studios in Houston, TX, with producer Dan Workman (also a good friend of ours.) Dan has quite a reputation, so we are honored to have the opportunity to work with him. We continue our charity support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and we’ll be playing for ~50,000 race participants in San Antonio, TX, and Waco, TX, in April. In the past seven months, we’ve played the Rock Solid Pressure label showcase in Florida (where we hooked up with Rat Pak Records), the Dewey Beach Music Fest in Dewey Beach, DE; and RedGorilla Music Fest, Texas Rockfest, Invasion of the GoGirls and the Music Gorilla Showcase, all in Austin, TX, in March. We continue to do as much radio as possible and tour every chance we get. We’ll break the international barrier this November with a 10 day tour in Germany. In addition to our current sponsors Jagermeister, Paul Reed Smith Guitars, Daisy Rock Guitars, Dunlop, Coffin Case, Old Dog Products, Dirtbag Clothing, GoGirls Music, Music Gorilla, Rockin’ Moms, TuneToad, Miller Lite, Texas Independent Musicians we’ve also recently picked up endorsement deals with Shine Drums, Silver Fox Percussion and PorchBoard. Brian has a pending custom signature bass endorsement that we’re working out the details on right now. Tish’s book, “How to Get Band Sponsorships and Endorsements” is selling consistently due to 3 Kisses’ ability to gain and retain sponsors. One of our big pursuits this year is going to be venturing into Film/TV licensing. Our “Wife Swap” episode is in syndication on the Lifetime network and the exposure and royalties we’ve gotten from that project has been tremendous. There will be plenty more news where this came from and you can stay up to date with 3 Kisses developments at http://www.myspace.com/3kisses and http://www.myspace.com/ratpaknewengland. Whether you’ve ever seen us, bought a CD in the past or have no idea who we are, if you are a fan of high-energy party tunes, you’ll want to add “American Breakdown” to your collection. It is truly the first album we are proud of. You can pick it up at http://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/3kisses."
I also got an update from long time friend, Denise Barbarita, who has also been featured in this column before. I've written about her previous releases, "Beauty Lied" and "Chaos & Congeniality" and since it's been some time since I heard anything new, I was wondering what she's been up to. This was her response, "We're busy working on our next studio album, "A Beautiful Mess." This month, we're finishing up all of the "ear candy" portions, guitar OD's, backround vocals, that sort of thing. The plan is to have the album finished by June of this year. Mastered, pressed and ready for sale by Spetember. I'll also be doing a short tour in Germany. We start in Berlin and end in Dresden. I'm really excited about it. We're also trying to figure out how to revamp the MyShyTune.com website, streamline it and make it possible to sell digital downloads directly from the site. Otherwise, it's the same ol'. I've been doing various sessions around the city and making lots of music!"
Once the album's released, we'll tell you about it right here. While you're waiting, be sure to hook up with Denise on MySpace.
http://www.myspace.com/denisebarbarita
I'm pretty sure I wrote about David Fagin before because I have a promotional CD of his in my collection. But, I'm gonna give him another mention here because that same disc is on my desk once again...and...yes...it's the same album I had before. Trust me...I checked. Anyway, David's music is a perfect blend of pop and rock. If you heard any of these tunes on the radio...you wouldn't change the station anytime soon. They're well written songs that you can't help but enjoy. All it's gonna take is a single listen and you'll become a fan. Guaranteed.
http://www.myspace.com/davidfagin
As you should already know by now, we here at the SPOTLIGHT column are into rap music and we support it when we can. Right now, we're spinnin' the debut album from Mike Shaff, "High Like Me." My introduction to Mike was his CD release party, which I attended. Although, to be honest, I went to that show to see some other performers that I know on a personal basis. I didn't know anything about Mike at the time. I didn't know who he was or what he had to offer. Luckily, I was in da' house when he hit the stage with mic in hand...and a lot of other people behind him who were helpin' to pump up the crowd. It was quite an experience. Usually, I like to hear the recorded music first and then see what the artist can do on stage because I have a hard time getting into something if I haven't heard it before. Mike was a bit different. I was in the back of the room, knockin' down a few cold ones when he first took the stage and, from the word go, he tore it up. I was really impressed. So much, in fact, that I left my table and went up to the front of the stage because I wanted to be where the action was. I got a disc before I left and I wasn't really sure what to expect. I gave it a listen the next day and it was da' bomb. From start to finish, "High Like Me" has a lot of bounce. It's not an album that you can just chill out and listen to. This release will light a fire under your ass and you're gonna wanna get up and move. You'll be noddin' your head throwin' your hands up in the middle of your living room before you get to the last track. This is the disc you wanna have at your next party. You wouldn't need anything else, that's for sure.
In my opinion, the best track on the album is "Bang That Shit." It reminds me of "City 2 City" from The Kottonmouth Kings. It's one of those tunes you can listen to over and over again without getting bored with it. No matter how many times I hear it...I wanna hear it again...and, really, the whole album is like that. I can't get enough. For a debut record, it's a pretty powerful album. Mike's gonna have to be at the top of his game to top this one. I think he can do it. He has a lot of potential and, once people get a taste of what he has to offer, he's gonna do some serious damage in the music world. Keep your eye on him because he's goin' straight to the top.
http://www.myspace.com/mikeshaff
http://www.myspace.com/co2pa
In this day and age, it's getting harder and harder to come up with something that's really fresh and original. Then again, I happen to enjoy hearing a little old school music every now and then, especially if it's done right. If you can breathe a new life into something that's been done before, that's fresh and original in my book. A good example of this would be Afterdawn's "Break" EP, which is currently getting a spin in my CD player. I guess I'd have to describe 'em as a rock/metal band with a slight garage sound. They remind me of a band I wrote about back in the 90's, Stiletto, who were from Canada. I thought they had a great sound. But, as far as I know, the only release was a three song EP and they never really went anywhere. They more or less came and went in the blink of an eye. Haven't heard anything like 'em since then. Well, at least until I got Afterdawn's EP. I hope this band is around for awhile because I believe they have something special to offer the music world and I'd really like to hear more from them. They do a pretty good job with these five tunes. So, one can only imagine what they might do with a full length release. I think it will be worth checking out.
http://www.myspace.com/afterdawnnyc
SOS has been kickin' around the music scene for for more than a decade now. Actually, they formed back in 1995. Do the math. On "Adult Situations," their 5th release, they offer up a collection of tunes that one might label modern rock...especially if you're looking for a quick tag. However, if you take the time to dig a little deeper and pay close attention to the music, you'll find there's more to SOS than meets the eye...or...in this case...your ears. Not only do they rock...there's also elements of metal, punk and hardcore to be found in their music. They blend it together in a way that actually works. The album has a really good flow. It's not all over the place. It's like they cut all the fat off so they can serve you a platter of meat and potatoes. This album will fill you up...but...you're still gonna come back for more.
While we're on the subject, SOS guitarist Mike SOS also sent me a copy of Seizure Crypt's new release, "Under The Gun," probably because he's also a member of that band. This release is a bit more...shall we say...crazy. High quality hardcore punk. It's an insane, nine track shot of rapid fire, musical madness that comes at you from all directions. Repeated listens might actually cause you to have a freakin' seizure...and I mean that in a good way. This is the kind of album that will crack your skull in the mosh pit.
http://www.sosnyc.com
http://www.myspace.com/sosnyc
http://seizurecrypt.com
http://www.myspace.com/seizurecrypt
Third time's the charm, right? Yeah...well....when it comes to Steve Cone...the first and second time were pretty damn good as well. I did a review of his previous release, "In My Bones," and that release, in my opinion, is a perfect example of what BallBusterMusic.com is all about. I mean, sure, we review music of all styles, but, at the heart of it all, this is a rock/metal website and "In My Bones" is, like I said, a perfect example of what we feature here. Also, I didn't realize this until just now...but...I have another Steve Cone release in my collection, "Distortion," and I noticed that my write up for that album was pretty much the same as the one for "In My Bones," which goes to show that...not only do I repeat myself from time to time...but...Steve has been putting out rock solid records for quite some time now...and what's cool about that is the fact that, for the most part, he does everything on his own. He's a true solo artist in every sense of the word.
His current release, "Crazy Eights," is a collection of songs from his previous releases that are now out of print. There's an explanation as to what this disc is all about in the back of the disc, which you'll see when you pick up a copy...and I really suggest you do because this is hard rock/metal at its finest. Once again, pretty much everything you hear on this album is done by Steve, with the exception of the drum tracks, which are provided by Erik Fehrenbach. The bottom line, really, is you can't go wrong with a Steve Cone album. I think his musical well is far from running dry. It was mentioned on his website that he's already working on a follow up to this release and I don't even have to hear it to know it's gonna be good. When it comes to guitar driven rock 'n' roll, Steve Cone is an artist you can have faith in. He's not gonna disappoint...and you can take that to the bank.
http://www.stevecone.net
http://www.myspace.com/stevecone
The last time I caught up with Xhibition, I conducted an interview with two out of the three members of the band. That conversation can be found in the Voice Of The Underground section. At the time that interview took place, Xhibition was more or less a studio project. Although, the eventual goal was to take these songs to the stage. According to a recent press release, that goal is about to become a reality. Drummer Don Hosler and guitarist Bill Burns have announced the addition of BC Rivers (vocals), Steve Stoner (guitar) and Marty Kidd (bass) to the Xhibition line up. Rumor has it that this line up will re-record their debut release, "Taking Back The Power" in the near future, which would make the original recording a limited edition collector's item. So, if you don't have the original album...there's no better time than now to grab a copy. The original release is a collection of 16 songs that have an 80's rock vibe with a modern rock sound. In other words, it doesn't sound dated. It's straight forward, good time, rock 'n' roll. It's the kind of music that will put a smile on your face while you're bangin' your head. It's what havin' fun is all about.
http://www.myspace.com/xhibitionpa
I might as well end this column with a bang and the best way for me to do that is to introduce you to Neverborne. They formed as a studio only project. However, they grew into something more and their music couldn't be contained to a studio or a compact disc. It had to be unleashed for a concert audience...and that's the way it should be. To be honest with you, it's always a suprise to me when I can get into a band that even mentions death metal in their bio. I've always made it a point to let people know that I'm really not into that style of music. Now, Neverborne might be inspired by melodic death metal and metalcore. But, I hear something more. Their five song EP, "In Absence Of Fear," only has a running time of 24 minutes. But, the music is so strong and powerful...and EPIC...it feels like you're getting a lot more than five tracks. The music is aggressive and it has a huge sound and the vocal style is more hardcore than death metal...at least in my opinion. With this kind of music, it's usually the vocal style that I can't stand. Luckily, Neverborne found the right balance. It's brutal without going too far and, hopefully, they won't change too much in the future because I really dig what they're doing on this EP and I'm pretty sure that you'll be into it as well.
http://www.neverborne.com
http://www.myspace.com/officialneverborne