The Week of AntiTrust Begins

AntiTrust's CD release party is this Friday night @ Downtown Rafters in JC. This week Team Rock has them in the spotlight all week.

The following article will hopefully be in hard copy of The Loafer and is on TriCities.Com now.

One thing has been changed in this version of the article. I have corrected a mistake that I made about how long the studio process took. It has been changed to reflect that it took 3 days and not 3 weekends. Sorry guys.

AntiTrust to hold CD Release at Downtown Rafters May 28

By Xyon

Small towns are like gold mines. Most of the time the gold mines are full of hope and potential, but ultimately turn up dry. If and when you find gold is always in question, but when you do its concentrated in great abundance. Richlands, Virginia is such a small town and it has produced its gold in the form of the band called AntiTrust. The members of AntiTrust are Chris Robinett - lead vocals, Adam - lead guitar, Ferg – drums, Bob – guitar, and J. Christian on bass.

Sitting down with the band after their first live show in about six months proved to be very interesting. The energy coming off these guys was unreal. After taking time off to finish the long awaited CD, they were more than ready to get on stage. You could definitely see it during their performance and it bled over into the interview afterwards.

Also, they have a tremendous respect and support for other local musicians with whom they share the stage. “Could we hurry this along so we can go support our buds from downBleed?” Chris told me with a half-cocked grin as he put his arm around my shoulders. Ok, here we go.

This hard rocking band has already had its shares of ups and downs. They have had adversity thrown their way that might have made other bands part ways, but instead of giving up, they are releasing their first full length CD. What has kept this band together through such changes? “Determination,” that is what Ferg, one of the original band members, replied when asked the one word that described AntiTrust. It was this “determination” that has seen them through a few members that didn’t want to give what the band needed.

The bands needs at the beginning were basic. “I have been in a lot of bands, it seems that there is always one person who tries to lead the band, and this almost always never works.” Chris said reflecting back. He continues, “ I wanted to approach this band as a group effort where everybody has a vote. So I approached Ferg first about playing drums. We talked for a long time and we just clicked.”

Ferg knew Adam, who was playing bass for another band and the band knew they wanted him in the band. He had to switch over from bass to guitar after one of the guitarists didn’t work out and proved himself quickly. Chris continues. “Then Bob, who use to play in a band with Ferg, joined us with his guitar. The hardest part was finding a bass player. We switched Ferg to bass and found another drummer, but they didn’t work out. Now Ferg is back on the drums and we have J. Christian on bass. Unfortunately we didn’t find J until after studio work was finished so we have Ferg, Bob, and Adam playing bass for the new album. After J learned our stuff he brought a good rounding that the band really needed.”

When Ferg switched back to drums it was like “going home.” “I had been playing the drums for 8 years previous” Ferg said. “I believe that it not only affected the line up, but it gave us drive.”

Adam also would bring a drive to the group. From his angry vocals to his dynamics on the guitar, he brought an edge to the group that ebbed with strong emotion. “You know, you go out and buy the CD you’ve been waiting to get and at least 2 songs are just crap because it was rushed to get out. We want the people who buy our CD to like hopefully the whole album.”

J Christian adds another dimension to the group as he was used to playing guitar, but asked to play the bass. He took it as a personal challenge. “After playing the guitar for 10 years, I am trying incorporate the impressive guitar stuff into the bass without taking away from the bass. It’s tough sometimes not stepping over the bounds. I love a good challenge.” When asked if he regretted not making the album he just smiled and said, “Nope! I’m just glad to be here.”

According to Bob the album was a team effort. “A couple of weeks before we hit the studio we all got together to play. We, as a group, worked together on all songs from writing the lyrics to writing the music. It was a team effort and that was a key element to how the record came together.” Chris adds, “We took a long time off (5 months) to try and perfect the album because we cared about how it all turned out. We gave 110%.”

Dan Huff produced the CD project. “Dan was a hands on guy. We were lucky to work with him because he has worked with some big name artists, including Megadeath,” Chris said excitedly when talking about the recording process. He goes on, “We recorded the album in Hindman, Kentucky. Because of the 5-hour drive to the studio, we’d stay the whole weekend. After getting in the studio, it only took three days to lay down all the tracks. But you see, we planned it that way, hence the five months off to prepare.”

The album cover was that hardest thing the band had to decide on. Over six months ago, it seemed that the CD cover was set, but when it came down to actually deciding it wasn’t so easy. According to J, “The album cover was the lesser of all evils. With ten different album covers, we were finally at the point where we just said ‘f**k it’ and just pick one we all hated equally.” Interesting solution, but they could all agree the one they disliked the most.

I asked the band at what point did it sink in that they were on the threshold of completing and releasing their first album. For Chris it was hearing the completed album, “I heard the playback and could just feel it.” For the rest of the band it was listening to Chris laying down the vocal tracks. Bob sums up the band’s feelings by saying, “listening to Chris in the Studio doing vocals…that is when most of the band knew.”

After listening to the finished CD, I know that they did just what they said. They have completed a rock solid album. So when you are picking through the shelves, don’t overlook this little gem in the local section or better yet, see them live and purchase it there.

This Friday night, May 28, the official CD release party is going to be held at Downtown Rafters. Good friends Downfall and downBleed (their 50th live show) kick it in to high gear early with AntiTrust completing a perfect evening of metal madness. Doors open around 9pm and the show will start just after 10.

posted by Team Rock at 1:27 PM

 

Saturday and Sunday

----Ireson's Pub - (Bristol)

Saturday May 22nd
Downfall, AntiTrust and downBleed

----Heather's HideAway - (Johnson City, TN)

Saturday May 22
American Plague, Hypodermix, Allergic to bullshit, The Business Machines

Sunday May 23
Punch Drunk, Showdown

-----DownTown - (Morristown, TN)

Saturday May 22
Omega Tribe & Falic

REGIONAL SHOWS

----Blue Cats - (Knoxville, TN)

Sunday May 23
Fishbone, Living In Question, SCULLSOUP

---Orange Peel - (Asheville, NC)

Saturday May 22
FishBone, Living in Question

----Grey Eagle - (Asheville, NC)

Saturday May 22
Christine Kane

Sunday May 23
Jen Foster

----Tremont - (Charlotte, NC)

Sunday May 23
Killswitch Engage, In Flames, As I Lay Dying

posted by Team Rock at 1:48 PM

 

Featured Show Today

Cahootenanny's - (Johnson City, TN)
......Thursday May 20
......Falic, Cauda, Anti-Trust

Also of interest

Heather's HideAway - (Johnson City, TN)
......Ahleuchatistas, The Sense, Atropos
posted by Team Rock at 12:45 PM

 

Tonight at the Otter - AFROMAN

I had planned - going to this show,
But I got high...

I had wanted - to see this band,
But I got high...

I really - hated that I missed it
And I'm not sure why...

but I got high - but I got high - but I got high

I still - have time - to see this show...

Just found out - I had the wrong night - in my mind...

So everybody now - has a reason why -

- Hey Man -

to get high, to get high, to get high.

posted by Team Rock at 7:38 AM

 

The Week in Local Rock

----Ireson's Pub - (Bristol)

Saturday May 22nd
Downfall, AntiTrust and downBleed

----Cahootenanny's - (Johnson City, TN)

Thursday May 20
Falic, Cauda, Anti-Trust

----Rafters - (Johnson City, TN)

Friday May 21
Blingsight, NeverBefore, SikSouls, 13th Hour

----Heather's HideAway - (Johnson City, TN)

Wednesday May 19
Ill Gotton Ginz

Thursday May 20
Ahleuchatistas, The Sense, Atropos

Friday May 21
Descolada, Dig Shovel Dig, Running with Scissors

Saturday May 22
American Plague, Hypodermix, Allergic to bullshit, The Business Machines

Sunday May 23
Punch Drunk, Showdown

----Sophisticated Otter - (Johnson City, TN)

Wednesday May 19
AFROMAN, Jake Palumbo, JakD, and C-4

Friday May 21
Copper

-----DownTown - (Morristown, TN)

Saturday May 15
Arythmia & Level Down

Saturday May 22
Omega Tribe & Falic

----Coconut's (Kingsport, TN)
Friday May 21
UNDERLINE

REGIONAL SHOWS

----Blue Cats - (Knoxville, TN)

Sunday May 23
Fishbone, Living In Question, SCULLSOUP

---Orange Peel - (Asheville, NC)

Saturday May 22
FishBone, Living in Question

----Grey Eagle - (Asheville, NC)

Friday May 21
Christine Kane

Saturday May 22
Christine Kane

Sunday May 23
Jen Foster

----Tremont - (Charlotte, NC)

Sunday May 23
Killswitch Engage, In Flames, As I Lay Dying

----Amos' Southend - (Charlotte, NC)

Wednesday May 19
Dexter Freebish

Thursday May 20
AFROMAN

Friday May 21
Skid Row

----Verizon Wireless Center - (Charlotte, NC)

Thursday May 20
Fleetwood Mac


posted by Team Rock at 12:57 PM

 

Gretchen Interview

A couple of months ago, I did a small interview with the band Gretchen. I had planned on writing an article and trying to get it in the Loafer. Then not too long after, I saw an article about Gretchen in the Loafer, so I decided to hold on to the interview for later use. About a month or so now ago, a student reporter from ETSU asked me if I could get an interview with Gretchen for them. We worked it out with Gretchen and talked after a show they did in Bristol until about 5am. I also gave this interview to her for further info for her to rely on. When the article was half completed (it had been scheduled for the end of the semester), her computer crashed and she was going to have to start from scratch. I haven't talked to her since then, so I assume that the article was put on hold because of
finals and such at the end of a normal sememster.

I have decided to go ahead and put my interview on TEAM ROCK - and hopefully the other article will be out soon. There had been mention of possibly getting the other article in another paper besides that East Tennessean (ETSU), so there is a chance I have just missed it.

So here is the unedited interview - conducted over the INTERNET a few months ago. Many thanks to Dave, Mia, and Stephen for making this happen. Keep up the good work! I will see you at a show soon!

Xyon

Interview With Gretchen

Q: Tell me a little back history of Gretchen – How the band formed – about Serenade, the name change, etc...

Mia: Well, in the beginning Serenade was just Dave and I, Dave on acoustic and me on vocals----beating the pavement, playing wherever anyone would let us. Dave’s brother Brandon agreed to start playing bass and the Serenade duo morphed into a “band”. When the time came to sign with Rugged Records, the owner of the label didn’t think that the name Serenade fit the style or genre of our group. We were then given three weeks to come up with a new name---which was no easy feat considering most of the other names we liked were either already taken or didn’t mean as much to us personally. The band King’s X is a fave and an inspiration to all members of the group---so after much discussion----it was decided. We would call the band GRETCHEN, after the King’s X album “Gretchen Goes to Nebraska”.

Q: What are some the details about the new re-mastered version of the album “Mouth Full of Nails” ?

Mia: Well, for one we’ve redone the artwork---the label made a lot of decisions for us with the old MFON. This new artwork is more in the direction of the band’s vision, not the record label’s.
The remastered sound is awesome---Travis Wyrick worked some more of his magic----we are really happy with the sound.

Dave: We’ve just been released from Rugged --- so we’ve been free to shop for distribution and just secured a deal that will put us back into the stores… The “MFON” will be available to stores but we’re not going to be shipping inventory unless it’s by request. When “In The Mean Time” is finished it will be shipped out as new release – and it’s at that time we’re hoping to move a few units of “MFON” as well… It will be available in some large chains such as FYE.

Q: When is the project release date?

Mia: We are going into the studio in late April. If everything goes as planned, the release late should be by late July.

Q: What are some of the details about the upcoming album you are getting ready to do studio work for?

Mia: Well the past 3 or 4 months we’ve been working really hard on new material---(sometimes practicing 3-4 times a week), in order to prepare for this next project. From our last studio experience with Travis, we learned that the material that you bring in….can come out of the process sounding totally different than what was originally envisioned. But, that is why Travis has won awards for his production work and why some of his bands go on to be picked up by major labels…..he knows what he is doing. We just bring him our raw version of the new material and trust his experience.

Q: Concerning the videos - what has happened during this process? Air time locally?

Dave: Well I wish I wish we knew… the guy that’s doing the video was basically working on it in his spare time for us. He’s a freelance videographer and has been loaded down with work recently – basically it will be done when it’s done – on his time. Sorry that’s about as far as we’ve gotten so far—we’ll keep you informed though…

Q: When you are playing in a venue where patrons are not as open to the message you are bringing to your show, how do handle that situation?

Mia: You know, it’s odd, I don’t think we’ve run across anyone who has been openly opposed to what we stand for. In fact, it has actually been the opposite. I’ve had drunks come up to me barely able to walk and say that they really admire what we do. We don’t really even say a whole lot from stage about what we believe---we usually don’t have to. There have been very few shows where people don’t come up afterwards and start opening up their lives to us and sharing their problems. We always take the time to talk to these people. They are the reason we do what we do.

STEPHEN: Generally we leave the message to the music. More actually goes on in dialogue following whatever is said or done on stage, which I think is preferred by all of us. There’s often more opportunity to share something when presented with a conflict (not necessarily a bad thing) an audience member brings to the table than us being on the offensive with a preachy agenda from stage. If we’re there and have purpose things will play out in some way – they always do.

Q: How is playing outside the area different from playing the tri-city scene?

Mia: Last year—we got to play in a variety of different states, settings and venues. In every instance the details, promoters and audiences were different. We played for 15 people and for 600, never really knowing what to expect. I guess that could be viewed as a negative, but I think it’s kind of exciting. I love to travel and look forward to meeting people from different places and backgrounds. Playing at home is great too---just a little more predictable.

STEPHEN: I think when you do well it’s definitely a confidence booster, but it tends to stretch us in a lot of ways – positively – that we aren’t challenged with playing at home. For instance you take a lot on faith going into a foreign venue, working with and for people you don’t know, and you never know what to expect from an audience. Hometown crowds can be somewhat predictable and comfortable, but on the road you never what’s around the corner.

Q: I understand the band has recently made some pretty lengthy road trips, what is the range of the band outside the Tri-Cities? (elaborate as you want to here -- maybe some interesting venues and/or certain nights that stand out in your memory...)

Mia: In 2003, we traveled from Connecticut and Ohio, all the way to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. One of the coolest moments was getting to open for STRYPER on their “Reunion 2003 Tour”. It was kind of surreal being able to play with a band that we looked up to when we were kids.

STEPHEN: Range - we’ll go as far as economically possible.

Q: I have to ask this question – Have you seen “The Passion of the Christ” yet? I would like to hear the bands thoughts and reactions to the movie.

Mia: I thought it was produced well---Kudos to Mel Gibson. I was very moved by the scene where Jesus was being whipped. I think everyone who sees the movie will be affected in some way—hopefully for the better.

STEPHEN: Well, there is finally a Christian movie worth seeing! I’d have to say that the film has affected me in many ways. Mainly it’s caused me to think more about the nature of sacrifice and my own limitations, the worthiness of Jesus, and I think I have gained a better, less vague view of Catholicism from it. And I think it’s a gas that it’s already the largest grossing independent film ever!

Dave: Religious views aside… This film is an outstanding work of art. I was blown away with everything --- The color impressionism was outstanding, the character portrayals were over the top… I especially like the parts where Mel brought in classic symbolism (ie where the buzzard blinded the thief on the cross)

Use this space to add any additional thoughts or ideas the band would like to incorporate.

Stay tuned for the release of our next CD tentatively entitled: “In the Mean Time…” July 2004 available at FYE, Best Buy, Virgin Superstores and others. We appreciate all the support that we’ve received from our fans. We couldn’t do this without you!

Come to our website at Gretchenland.com and sign up for our email list/forum and become an official Gretchen E-team member!

posted by Team Rock at 8:37 AM

 

Live and Local - May 13-15

Rafters - (Johnson City, TN)
Friday May 14
Battery

Heather's HideAway
Thursday May 13
Ahleuchatistas

Friday May 14
The Invisibles, Spandex Makes Headlines

Saturday May 15
Omega Tribe, Then A Cold Winters Kiss, Stickhorse

The Downtown (Morristown)
Saturday May 15
Arythmia & Level Down

Notable Regional Shows

Ziggy's (Winston Salem, NC)
Thursday May 13
Jackyl

Friday May 14
David Allan Coe

Tremont (Charlotte, NC)
Thursday May 13
Stretch ARM Strong, Between the Buried and Me, Terror, Glass Casket

posted by Team Rock at 7:45 AM

 

SOUNDEVICE & GRETCHEN

Saturday Night
Ireson's Pub
Bristol, TN




posted by Team Rock at 6:45 AM

 

Most Likely a Sold Out Show

Should be a good crowd tonight for Trapt, Smile Empty Soul, Finger Eleven, and Strata. This show is most likely sold out or just a few tickets still remaining.

Rafters - tonight. Get there early! Brought to you by Ansley Roberts
posted by Team Rock at 10:05 AM

 

Three Milestones Come Together On One Night

Three milestones come together on one night on May 28th at Rafters: 1st - antiTrust new FULL LENGTH CD (*Official* CD Release Party), 2nd - downBleed will be performing their 50TH live performance, and 3rd - This will mark just over a year for TEAM ROCK so the guys in the bands graciously has allowed us to tag our name to the event as our anniversary party. Vinny, the owner of Rafters has also agreed to have some beer specials that night to further celebrate the event. antiTrust's CD is already available to purchase from the band, but the 28th was the earliest date the band could get in Johnson City at the time they were planning everything.

*edit - There will more than likely be two celebrations parties for Team Rock as 2 of their members will be out of town for this show, but this show will be the first as there are just too many good things coming together for one show. I will post this still as being tentative until the other members of Team Rock are confirmed as can go ---- Like we need another reason to party!

Xyon
posted by Team Rock at 2:06 PM

 

Last Friday Night

Last Friday night I went to Downtown Rafters where I saw 4 great area bands. The bands were: Downfall, antiTrust, downBleed, and Solar 7.

First up was Downfall. Downfall kicked the show into high gear early. They reminded me of an old school progressive band with a harder sound. Kinda like the Dead Kennedys with a flavor of Motorhead. They ended their set with some old school favorites that got the crowd up off their collective asses (mine included) and even had Doug and Dawg from downBleed as guest back up vocals.

Next up was antiTrust. This was their first show since taking time off 6 months ago to finish up their first full length album. If these guys were rusty you couldn't tell it. They must've had a lot of practice under their belts because they seemed to just pick up from the last time I saw them in Richlands, VA (where the band is from). There were a few changes to the group - Ferg moved from Bass back to drums - addition of a new bass player (J), who brings a heavy influence of Eddie Van Halen style guitar to the bass. The group needed a bass player - J Played guitar, but made the change over nicely.

downBleed rocked the house next with a mostly full set. It was cut short by a couple songs because one of the members became quite ill before the night was over but was too professional to let it show. And you couldn't tell it to watch them play - they had an awesome set and the whole crowd was extremely pleased.

Last, but certainly not least was Solar 7. I hadn't seen previously seen these guys play and I didn't know what to expect. They sounded really good and I look fwd to the next time I see them.

Speaking of next times....downBleed, Downfall, Solar 7, and Self-Centured on Saturday May 8th at The HideAway in Johnson City.

Xyon
posted by Team Rock at 1:58 PM