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Monday Motivation: Knuckle Puck

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

Pop-punk has been the dominating force in alternative music and youth culture for the better part of half a decade at this point, and it doesn’t take close inspection to realize signs of aging are starting to show. The generation that ushered this sound to forefront has begun to mature, as have their interests, and the time has come for the bands who want to make music their longterm career to evolve right along with them. Not everyone is up to the challenge, or at least the seems to be the case given the material released by the scene in 2015, but every so often a band comes along that isn’t afraid to embrace the constant evolution of life and depict in the music. In 2015, there may be no better example of this than Chicago’s own pop-punk heroes, Knuckle Puck.

This week, Knuckle Puck will release their new full-length album through Rise Records. The record speaks of growing up, seeing the world, and spending a little too much time in one’s own head. It’s not about hating yourself and learning to make change, or even apologizing for the times you’ve been wrong. Instead, ‘Copacetic’ deals with accepting the fact that growth is a constant work in progress, and it’s defined by small steps rather than giant leaps. It’s about learning to be patient without losing your drive to do whatever you are able to create the life you want, and it’s a message the entire alternative scene needs at this moment.

I could pick any song on this record and find a reason for the entire album to be chosen for today’s Monday Motivation post, but for me it’s “Evergreen” that seals this record as one everyone should hear. This particular segment has been bowling me over for weeks:

“As I exhale this breath of fresh air, I feel the distance tear the space between us. Cause we’re always climbing toward the sun, but the cabin pressure gets to me. And there’s so much more than we think there is to see.”

There is something about working in music that makes everyone who partakes blind to the world around them. Phone calls home become more infrequent, friends whose careers reside in more common fields become increasingly distant, and try as you might to learn how to settle down with age your thirst for adventure, or simply to always be seeking something new, only continues to grow in time. While there are certainly perks to seeing the world from this perspective it always has drawbacks, including the loneliness the freedom of expression can create. Freedom, like life, is only ideal when it can be enjoyed with others you care for, and throughout Copacetic there is a fervent belief there is more to life than shows, chords, and tours. That is something everyone in music needs to remember, as well as the fact it’s not wrong to take time to enjoy that side of life. We all need a release. Copacetic finds Knuckle Puck seeking their escape while still wanting nothing more than to be the source of comfort their fans love, and through sharing their struggle we too realize our need for a bit of peace amidst the chaos of existence.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Monday Motivation: We Came As Romans

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

If you were to ask the average alternative music to describe Michigan post-hardcore favorites We Came As Romans they would probably name a handful of notable bands from the mid-2000s who helped bring the infectious blend of screaming and singing to the mainstream. That comparison would not be entirely incorrect, but it would be a rather underwhelming way to summarize all that We Came As Romans have created, as well as what they’re doing to try and force evolution within a tired music scene. They’re nothing short of innovators, if we’re being entirely honest, and their upcoming release on Equal Vision Records may very well be their best yet.

It can be hard to find time to visit an artist’s entire catalog, but in order to best appreciate what We Came As Romans have accomplished that is exactly what you must do. From day one, even before signing their first deal, We Came As Romans have been connecting with fans through a very clear and focused message of struggle, family, hope, and perseverance in the face of a world that claims you are never good enough. With each release their story grows, much like how a seed grows from something small into something great, and every song details another step-either forward or back-that had to be taken in order for progress to be made. That may sound like a PSA about following your dreams, and in a way you could argue that it is, but the band have found a way to make that message as compelling as anything you’re likely to hear at radio today.

With their upcoming fourth studio album, which is self-titled, We Came As Romans have found themselves at the crossroads where the boys who made it out of Detroit meet the men who’ve been around the world. The story of hope, struggle, and perseverance are as present as ever, but the band can no longer deny the fact they’ve already risen to same level of success as many of their peers. Their thirst for further accomplishment has forced them to reevaluate not only their sound, but their message, and the way it needs to be conveyed in order to connect with the largest amount of people. Some may call it selling out, but I would say it’s thinking smart, and the singles made available so far have a potential for crossover success that was never even present on the band’s earlier releases.

What I love most about We Came As Romans is that they’ve always stayed true to themselves, regardless of how fans reacted. Their early work may have been derivative of far more successful bands, but it allowed the band to connect with a group of music fans who were already looking for the next big band. As the group developed, so did the taste of their fans, and by sharing their journey through their music listeners were able to feel as if they took each victory lap, as well as every blow, right along with the band members themselves. This new album is the biggest leap the band has asked fans to take, and I for one think people would be fools not to follow along as they have in the past. The band may sound more marketable than before, but their message is the same as it has always been, and it’s one we need now more than ever.

For more information on We Came As Romans’ new album, or to pre-order a copy for yourself, click here. The record hits stores next Friday, July 24.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him onTwitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Monday Motivation: PVRIS

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

A lot of people believed 2014 would be the year of PVRIS, and in many ways it was: The band charted around the world with their breakout single “St. Patrick,” they single-handedly ushered in a new era of pop-friendliness for their label Rise Records, as well as a new audience to the world of female-fronted alternative rock, and they were one of the biggest stars of the long-running traveling music festival known Vans Warped Tour. There are numerous accomplishments and accolades that could be added to that list, including the release of the band’s incredible debut album, but suffice to say last year was a good year to be a fan of the biggest band to ever call Lowell, Massachusetts home.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say 2014 was merely the teaser for everything that has happened and will continue to happen to PVRIS over the course of 2015. Having now solidified themselves as a alternative force to be reckoned with in the worlds of both pop and rock, the band recently completely a stateside headlining tour that was praised from coast to coast. They’ve also appeared at some of the biggest festivals around the world, and can currently be found once again appearing on Vans Warped Tour, albeit to immensely larger crowds. The band even released a new song, a cover of Sia’s hit “Chandelier,” this past weekend. You can stream that track above.

There is never a time when a music writers likes to admit they missed the initial bandwagon on a popular band, but that is certainly what happened with me and the rise of Pvris. Their name was one I heard in conversation with industry friends both online and in real life for the better part of a year before I actually took the time to check them out. It wasn’t until I heard “St. Patrick” pouring through the open window of a car driven by college kids with seemingly no grasp for the rules of the road on Storrow drive in Boston that I actually made it a point to see what all the fuss was about. The hook stuck with me, despite having heard it through the stereo in a car I was in while driving over 40MPH through the city, and isn’t the sign of having discovered something truly special in the overwhelming world of up and coming music then I don’t know what is.

If you haven’t taken the time to stream White Noise, the full-length debut from PVRIS, then I highlight suggest you do so in the coming days. This band could be where Paramore is today in just a few years, if not bigger, and right now they are doing everything a band trying to navigate the often treacherous waters of the modern music should be in order to ensure a long a successful career. They’ve made a name for themselves on being unique, and that is what we should all aim to do in our own individual careers. Be yourself, always. 

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Monday Motivation: Veil Of Maya

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely  anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

When I finally got out of bed, just after 6AM EST, the first thought on my mind was music. I need a good soundtrack in order to have a good day, and I’ve tried very hard to force myself to check out new music as a way easing into the unpredictability of the week ahead. Today, the one new record I kept coming back to again and again was Matriach, the latest record from Sumerian Records’ metal band Veil Of Maya. It’s the fifth album in the band’s critically-acclaimed catalog, and it arrives in stores nationwide tomorrow morning, May 12. You can stream the lead single, “Teleute,” above.

There is something about chaotic metal like that performed by Veil Of Maya that aides me in gathering my thoughts and focusing on the tasks that must be accomplished in my immediate future. I think that occurrence is the direct result of hearing how well the band manages to channel its numerous ideas and influences into a coherent piece of art, but it could just be the fact I feel so energized when this record plays that I feel like chasing King Kong through Peter Jackson’s dinosaur-filled version of Skull Island. Either way, it moves me, and that impact is a positive one.

If you want to learn more about Veil Of Maya, or if you want to be a good music fan and purchase Matriarch, you can do so on the band’s official Facebook page. Comment below and let us know what soundtrack is helping you start the new work week.

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