Name: Justin Ferguson
Band: Provider
Important Links:
Mediafire
Provider








Who is the biggest influence in your musical career?

My life is pretty much the only thing that I can write about so I guess that’s it. A lot of the things I see happening everyday are things I don’t agree with and I feel like if I don’t use this opportunity to express that then I’m wasting my time.

What was your inspiration for writing the song turn away?

The inspiration for Turn Away came out of frustration with a situation I find myself in far to often. I would go out of my way to help someone to many times to count and when I need a hand there is no one around I can count on. I think a lot of people find themselves feeling that way sometimes.

What is the new year hopefully bringing you guys?

This new year is bringing a lot hopefully. We plan on recording an E.P. within the next few months that I’m really excited about. We will continue to play shows and write tunes.

What is your favorite part of playing shows?

This is a tricky one but I would have to say right before we start playing is my favorite part. Knowing that we have 1 minute until we can show everyone what we have worked so hard on is a great feeling.

Do you any plan to be going on any tours?

We’re still a pretty new band so touring isn’t something I’m terribly concerned with right now. It is definitely something we all want to do and hopefully we will be able to get out on the road in the future.

Can you tell us some more about your recent show with Death Before Dishonor and Casey Jones?

The show was a ton of fun. The venue was a lot smaller than I had thought but that didn’t stop anyone from having a great time. The reaction we got was pretty much what I had expected for a first show. We Can’t Win played the show as well, they’re a band that doesn’t get enough credit on the island. They are awesome and every single time I see them it’s a blast.

Name: Ricky
Band: Backtrack
Important Links:
Backtrack








who is the biggest influence in your musical career?

That's a really hard question. All of us have a ton of different influences which is a good thing. I think the band as a whole is definitely heavily influenced by the NYHC scene and I'd say for Backtrack that's probably our biggest influence, and gambling.

What is the new year hopefully bringing you guys?

Today we're leaving for a European tour with Terror, First Blood, & Lionheart. After that we're doing 5 days in Canada with Gravemaker, Wisdom In Chains, and Expire. Besides that we're writing for an LP that will come out later this year on Reaper Records. We're also playing United Blood in April.

What is your favorite part of playing shows?

My favorite part personally would have to be able to play in different parts of the US and even different countries and have kids appreciate what you do and your music. It's awesome knowing that hardcore is a worldwide movement and there's kids everywhere that appreciate it like you and me do.

do you any plan to be going on any tours?

Yeah the few things I mentioned previously. Once the LP drops we'll be touring on it non-stop.

Can you tell us more about you show at Bergens point country club on jan. 8th

I answered this interview a little late because that show happened this weekend. Regardless the show was amazing. All the bands got great responses and Long Island proved that it's definitely one of the best scenes on the East Coast. It was awesome to see so many people come out for a good cause without any drama or stupid shit.

Name: Nathan Rebolledo
Band: Xibalba
Important Links: Xibalba








who is the biggest influence in your musical career?

For me personally, lyrically it is life and obstacles I encounter. As for the music we are strongly influenced by bands we grew up on and inspire us.

What is the new year hopefully bringing you guys?

Well hopefully continue to play as much as possible and a few records. We have Madre Mia/split LP coming out on A389 at the end of the month. We are finishing recording a new LP and a split with Incendiary.

what is your favorite part of playing shows?

Same reason I attend shows, To let go for a small space of time and forget my troubles..

do you have any plan to be going on any tours?

Yeah man a lot in the works.. Nothing set in stone but we will for sure be hitting the road anywhere and everywhere.

Name: Adam Vass
Band: La Dispute
Important Links:
La Dispute
No sleep records









who is the biggest influence in your musical career?

For me personally, and this is sort of goofy because we are friends now, but Thursday is probably my biggest influence. I remember trying to learn their songs on bass as soon as I got one when I was like 13 (damn, has it really been that long?), and I probably would never have bothered learning how to play without them. They also were one of the bands that eased me through the transition from listening to the radio to finding music in other sources, getting into punk and hardcore and screamo and all these sub genres that mainstream society neglected.

what is your favorite part of playing shows?

My favorite part is just having fun and being involved in something collaboratively with other people. Getting together with like minded kids and just having fun, stage diving and singing along. Obviously I have some responsibility to also play my instrument, haha, but just having a good time with the kids in my band and the kids at the show is a very rewarding and cathartic experience.

do you any plan to be going on any tours besides your Austrillian?

Right now, we don't have a ton of plans. After our Australian tour, we have some time off to write and record the rest of the new full length. We're going to play SXSW in March, but I don't know yet if we plan to tour around it. In April, we're planning a headlining East Coast tour, but I don't know how much I can talk about it. We haven't been to that region in almost a year so we're really excited, and we'll be bringing some very good friends with us.

do you plan on releasing any new 7" or 12" within this new year?

Yes, we have a one-sided 12" split with Koji due out sometime soon. We recorded our songs last April and its just been a scheduling game trying to get it out, but I imagine it'll happen early spring ideally. We'll also be releasing our 2nd full length this summer, but I'll say autumn just to be safe. We recorded 6 songs for it so far but we plan to have it be pretty long and the rest of it is slowly coming together. The tracklist and album art are all pretty much in place, its just filling in the puzzle pieces now.

what was your inspiration to write Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair album?

Somewhere was the first thing we did after I joined the band so to me, it was trying to make something memorable, but not necessarily intending it to be our breakthrough record. My band before this was still burning cds in the basement and playing for 5 people on tour, so I had no idea what would come of this band and how far it'd take me. Hell, I'm writing this interview from Australia, and four years ago I never could've expected to be here. The interesting thing with our band is that everyone is so different and we all find inspiration in different places, but personally mine was just to held create something that meant something to someone.

what was your inspiration for writing the song Castle builders?

the record was getting kind of dark in the early stages and we wanted there to be some light at the end of the tunnel, so there are songs like this and last lost continent that are supposed to bring in some more hopeful themes to the record. what do we have to complain about, after all? life isn't so bad if you step back and realize whats really important, and that's what these songs were more about. i can't really say the same about the new record though, this time its pretty dark thematically but we're leaving out the hopeful parts.

Name: Brandon Wells and Jaramia Bond
Band: Havenside
Important links:
Havenside







Who is the biggest influence in your musical career?

Brandon: Madball, The Ghost Inside, Hoods, Terror, and many more.
Jaramia: Bury Your Dead, Acacia Strain, and many more.

What is the new year hopefully bringing you guys?

We hope to be touring throughout most of new year in support of our current release "Recognition" as well as start writing new material for our next album.

What is your favorite part of playing shows?

We love the crowd interaction and meeting new friends as well as other musicians. And eating at random taquerias, haha.

Do you any plan to be going on any tours?

We have some tours in the works for 2011. We will keep everyone updated on our facebook/myspace/twitter ect.

What was you inspiration for writing the album Recognition?

We're inspired by life. We've all been through hardships and trials. The passion and aggression shown through our lyrics and music is all derived from personal experiences. We have worked to get where we are now and plan to continue working hard to get as far as possible. We feel like this album has been a step in the right direction and has proven to everyone and even ourselves, that we can keep progressing. It seemed so fitting that it was called "Recognition."

Full name: Neil Patel & Ned Russin
Record Company: Back To Back Records
Important links:
Back To Back
Back to Back store






Can you give us some background information about Back To Back records?

Back to Back was Ned's idea. We talked about it when we first hung out. I always wanted to do a label as well and we were on the same page on everything we wanted to do so we rolled with it.

What is your biggest influence in your career with owning a record company?

We both just want to put out records because we love hardcore and want to set music in stone. Me and Ned have both into hardcore since we were young and we both figured eventually that we would something more than to just go to shows. So I'd say the main influence is hardcore, as cheesy as it sounds. Going to shows, listening to 30 years worth of music, making friends and everything else in the community just made us want to do more than go to shows.

what is your plans for the future months with the bands?

Not much as of now. We're planning on doing a split release with Lockin Out Records for the United Youth 7". You can hear some United Youth songs at http://www.myspace.com/unitedyouthwb

Can you tell us more about some of the upcoming tours and releases on the label?

Stick Together just started a tour with Dead End Path that lasts for about 3 weeks. We just released their "No More Games" EP and they will have that on this tour. Check them out! If you can't see them on tour and want the record you can get it at www.backtoback.bigcartel.com