By Evelyn Miska

The last year hasn’t been an easy one for the members of Hawthorne Heights. Coming off of a two-year legal battle with Victory Records, things were looking up for this group from Ohio but the sudden death of guitarist Casey Calvert shook band members and fans alike. Rather than find a replacement or end Hawthorne Heights permanently, JT Woodruff (vocals, guitar), Micah Carli (lead guitar), Matt Ridenour (bass) and Eron Bucciarelli (drums) found strength in those that had previously found solace in Hawthorne Heights’ music: the fans. With support pouring in from across the globe, the band rallied and turned difficult times into something positive. The release of their third full-length album Fragile Future is a step forward, both musically and emotionally and one has to hope things continue on the upswing for the band.

Some might say that tragedy brings people together and Calvert’s death is, in many ways, proof of that. It was only a matter of hours before the news had spread across the world and it wasn’t only social networking sites such as MySpace that were providing the information but also more traditional forms of media such as The New York Times. Even though fans were still reeling from the shock, many chose to reach out to the band and offer their sympathy. “News had spread across the world and within hours we were getting phone calls from everybody with support. Even from people who don’t like us, they would actually preface their statements with, ‘I don’t like this band but I’m really sorry for their loss and hope they can get through this.’ I couldn’t have gotten through it so well without that,” Carli says. Whether the outpouring of support was due to the suddenness of Calvert’s death or the loss of a talented musician or because he was so young, the members of Hawthorne Heights are extremely grateful for the encouragement. “People who didn’t even know him really felt the injustice of somebody so young dying for no reason whatsoever and it really struck a chord with a lot of people and we’re very thankful for that support,” Carli says.

Finding themselves short a guitarist, the band decided not to attempt to replace Calvert and instead tackled getting accustomed to playing as a group of four instead of five. As they headed into the studio to begin recording the tracks for what would become Fragile Future, the band was also dealing with the resolution of the counter-suit Victory Records had filed. Nonetheless, Bucciarelli feels that the band was entering the process with good preparation under their collective belts. “Well, the ink hadn’t dried yet on our settlement with Victory Records so, that was probably the biggest challenge. As far as actually making the record, we were probably the most prepared we’ve ever been with all of our songs, so we knew exactly what we wanted. It was just a matter of working out the logistics of getting into the studio and making the CD,” Bucciarelli says. However, the entire process had a new feel to it without Calvert in the picture and that required some adjustments. “I’d say the actual process of recording was just new and different for us this time, having lost a member, so we were kind of going through things for the first time in a new way which was difficult,” Carli says.

Despite the challenges Hawthorne Heights was faced with, Fragile Future came together and contains a track written in honor of Calvert, “Four Become One.” Following the August release of the album, the band began touring in support of the new songs and the album’s reception has been positive. “It’s been good so far. Every night kids are singing along just as much to the new songs as they are the old songs, which is awesome. It’s very encouraging,” Bucciarelli says. While some artists can have trouble introducing new material to audiences, the Hawthorne Heights fans were receptive of the new songs and positive about Fragile Future. “Sometimes people like to hear what they know, so they want to hear the old hits and things like that. We try to give them some of those but, obviously, we’re very proud of the new record we put out, so we’re playing a few songs off the new record on this tour, but the kids are getting into it. I think it’s being well-received,” Carli says.

With excited audiences and a new collection of songs, Carli and Bucciarelli are enthusiastic about the tour around the United States, but the poor economy has impacted the tour in a variety of ways. “The tour’s been going good so far. It’s pretty tough touring with the economy sort of in shambles like it is; not as many people are coming out but I think our fan base is getting a bit more selective,” Bucciarelli says. The band has also changed the way they approach touring and have made efforts to scale back the cost of the entire process. Carli explains, “We’ve had to make some cuts cost-wise, like we’re sharing a bus with Emery to cut down on that cost. We’re sharing crew members and just trying to be as smart as we can.”

In addition to cutting costs of the tour itself, Hawthorne Heights has been doing a number of intimate in-store performances in conjunction with Ovation Acoustic Guitars. Not only does this give the band a chance to play an acoustic set, something they don’t typically do, it allows fans who might not be able to pay for a show ticket to see the band live. “It’s good because it enables us to play in front of a whole different group of people that might not be able to some to the show because they don’t have the money. So, they can go there and see us for free. It’s good because we can still play for all of our fans on some level,” Bucciarelli says.

Concern for their fanbase has extended beyond the artistic sphere for Hawthorne Heights and the band became politically involved this year. Facing a critical presidential election, the band made the decision to participate in the Rock The Vote movement and encourage young adults to not only register to vote but also go out and do it for this election. Bucciarelli explains, “It was a totally critical election and we wanted to help that cause as best as possible. Rock The Vote is pretty much a non-partisan organization but we felt it was important that everybody gets out there and uses the most important right they have.”

The band’s strong connection with younger audience members has been in part due to Hawthorne Height’s participation with tours such as the Nintendo Fusion Tour and Warped Tour. As these events become more than “just” a concert with the addition of non-profit stands, innumerable merch tables and video games to try, those causes, styles and fads are able to reach a wider audience. The release of games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band have been met with huge success and, though wildly popular, have also received some backlash from professional musicians who feel that the games make some people think they actually could play real instruments without the years of practice and training. Bucciarelli and Carli don’t entirely disagree with that sentiment. “It’s definitely not right and I’ve heard of people who are really good on Rock Band going out and buying a guitar thinking they’re going to know how to do it and obviously it doesn’t transfer,” says Carli, although he does admit that he likes those games himself and isn’t convinced that they’re damaging in the long run. Bucciarelli also enjoys such games and feels they offer some new opportunities to music fans. “I think it’s cool because it gets people interacting with the music in a way they never used to be able to do. Before it was just playing air guitar or air drums in your bedroom and that’s about it. So, in that sense, it’s cool that people can actually interact and play their favorite songs a little more extensively than in the past,” Bucciarelli says.

Ultimately, that’s what everything comes down to for the members of Hawthorne Heights: the fans. Whether the band is encouraging fans to vote, creating new opportunities for live performances or trying to scale back tour costs, these four truly follow the “pay it forward” idea. While they may not be exactly the same group that released the hit “Ohio Is For Lovers,” Hawthorne Heights has grown and learned from difficult times and is looking forward to new things to come.

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Learn more about Hawthorne Heights by visiting hawthorneheights.com.
Add Hawthorne Heights on MySpace by clicking here.

By Sherri Gibbons

The holiday season is fast approaching. Everywhere you look, you can see couples holding hands, gazing into one another’s eyes, sipping hot chocolate and… well, gettin’ busy. We want to make sure that our readers are getting some action this holiday season, so we asked Dave And Ethan for some dating tips to pass along to you. So who are Dave And Ethan and why should you rely on their dating tips to get you some ass?

In March of 2008, comedians Ethan Fixell and Dave Ahdoot posted a video on Youtube requesting double dates. The initial proposal resulted in over 1500 emails from pairs of girls across North America, leading to over 200 double dates, and a series of videos charting the boys’ experiences. They now have a bi-weekly live show at the People’s Improv Theater in NYC, and have embarked on a college tour, performing at schools including Florida Atlantic University, Lynn University, Dartmouth College, and many more.

Ethan: Dave and I have been on over a hundred double dates in the short time we’ve achieved internet stardom.
Dave: More like internet semi-stardom. We’re like YouTube C-Listers.
Ethan: Whatever. And while the results of these attempts at romance have been disastrous much more often than not, we realized that the many horror dates we’ve already endured can actually now benefit you.
Dave: That’s right. We can now translate the knowledge we’ve gained from our experiences into life lessons. In this chapter, we’ve put together a useful list for women of some of the most crucial Do’s And Don’ts of Double Dating. Ladies, pay very close attention:

DO wear something comfortable, yet appropriate.
DON’T wear a kimono if you’re not Japanese.

Ethan: You might think you look cute in that kitschy hipster revival mess you’ve created, but when it comes to dress, try to keep it relatively conservative for your first double date.
Dave: And we don’t mean “8th Century Japan” conservative.
Ethan: Right. Don’t go for some crazy ethnic outfit just because you think it will set you apart. It’s best to just wear something simple. Something that’s understated, but makes you feel attractive. Jeans and a cute t-shirt make a classic combo. Or, if the meeting place is a bit more upscale, there’s nothing wrong with an elegant skirt and high boots.
Dave: Yeah, but you have to be careful with the length of those skirts. You don’t want to put on an all-night vagina show, either.
Ethan: As aggressive as Dave likes his women, he was scarred by a recent double date in which one of the girls apparently chose not—or forgot—to wear panties.
Dave: It looked like an Amazonian rainforest down there, dude.
Ethan: Dressing like this will inevitably send the wrong message: that you accept money for sex. So avoid looking slutty. Unless, of course, you are indeed a slut.
Dave: Feel free to dress slutty chic, though.
Ethan: What’s “Slutty Chic?”
Dave: You know, like, torn fishnets paired with pearl earrings. Tastefully slutty.
Ethan: OK, Dave…

DO choose the perfect wingwoman to accompany you on your double date.
DON’T bring a wingwoman who at one point had a penis.

Dave: Raise your hand if you’ve ever made out with a transsexual.
Ethan: Come on, man, how could I have known? She had huge breasts.
Dave: Pecs, Ethan. She had pecs.
Ethan: Awesome, thanks for reminding me.
Dave: For all the gentlemen out there: you need to screen BOTH dates thoroughly before meeting up with them. Have a few phone conversations to check for any audible presence of an Adam’s apple. Sift through all available photographs for any traces of potentially Photoshopped goiters.
Ethan: Yeah, who knew you could simulate a facial waxing with the simple point and click of a mouse?
Dave: Ethan also made out with a Frida Kahlo look-alike.
Ethan: Okay, are we done with this one now?
Dave: Her unibrow was thicker than Bert’s from Sesame Street…
Ethan: We’re moving on.

DO greet your dates with handshakes or hugs hello.
DON’T greet your dates with tongue.

Ethan: No matter how attracted you may be to your date, it’s never a good idea to attempt to make out with him before you’ve even introduced yourself. There’s nothing less appealing than an overtly desperate girl.
Dave: Oh, I can think of something less appealing…
Ethan: Dave…
Dave: I’d take an overtly aggressive girl over a chick with a six-inch unibrow any day.
Ethan: Great.
Dave: Hey, let’s play a quick game of “Would You Rather:” A hot, horny model, or a mannish wildebeest? We know which one Ethan would choose…
Ethan: We got it, Dave.
Dave: Seriously though, this rule applies way more to Ethan than it does to me. I didn’t even think we should include it in the book. I’m down with feisty women. In fact, for those ladies reading this who I might ever happen to meet, please feel free to greet me with all the tongue you want. I also accept massages and feel-ups.
Ethan: Well, I guess some of us are bigger man-whores than others, Dave.
Dave: And some of us are bigger pussies than others, Ethan.

To keep conversation flowing, DO reveal your general likes and dislikes.
DON’T reveal your pure, sheer hatred for Jews.

Ethan: For the record, I still think that girl just thought your name was “Mike.”
Dave: Really, Ethan? Then what did she mean when she referred to my “big ‘Mike’ nose?” She said “kike.”
Ethan: For the record, I did not hear that part.
Dave: Racism simply isn’t cool. You should always be open to meeting people of all races, creeds, and colors. Remember, our very President is half black.
Ethan: Huh? What does that even mean?
Dave: It means that if you meet someone of a different race, and partake in a mixed marriage, your child could also become President.
Ethan: I’m not even responding to this.

DO gently decline a kiss if you feel that you’ve had too much to drink.
DON’T vomit in our mouths.

Ethan: Girls, we’re begging you: take great care over how much alcohol you consume. Binge drinking is one the number one ruiner of dates. Dave, remember when that chick from Philly passed out on you?
Dave: Yup. Mid-make-out. What a turn-on. I felt like I had mouth-raped a corpse.
Ethan: Horrific. Always know exactly how many drinks it takes for you to be buzzed, tipsy, drunk, and downright wasted. A buzz will get the conversation flowing, getting tipsy can lead to some heavy flirtation, drunkenness might result in mistakes being made, and sloppy messes are what prevent second dates from happening.
Dave: Unless she’s really, really hot. In which case, I’d probably give her another chance.
Ethan: The Mouth-Puker was super hot.
Dave: Well, yeah. I mean, that girl puked in my mouth. That’s where I draw the line.

DO at least offer to pay for the meal.
DON’T rob us. Literally.

Ethan: We’ve entertained some low-class ladies in our day, but none beat the bitch from Philadelphia who ran off with my Baume & Mercier watch and a bottle of scotch while I was still asleep.
Dave: Her classy “Seek and Destroy” tattoo should have tipped you off, man.
Ethan: I didn’t see that until she was at my apartment.
Dave: And that is exactly why I encourage my dates to get naked prior to inviting them back to my place. Well, that, and because those loose, flowy sundresses that are popular these days can be so deceptive…
Ethan: Anyway, we do believe in chivalry, and that men should pay for drinks, dinner, and entertainment during dates on which they have invited women. But appreciation for this privilege should also be shown by the females in at least a feigned attempt to contribute financially.
Dave: Yeah, just pretend that you want to pay. It makes us feel less like bank tellers.

And finally, DO mind your manners and act ladylike.
DON’T take birth control at the dinner table. No explanation needed.

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Learn more about Dave And Ethan and follow their dating shenanigans by visiting daveandethan.com.
Add Dave And Ethan on MySpace by clicking here.

By Evelyn Miska

For the five members of People In Planes, the end of 2008 has and will continue to be a busy time. September brought the release of the band’s third full-length album. November and December will be spent touring the U.S. and the U.K. With so much in the works, People In Planes won’t have much chance to stop the chaos, and they certainly aren’t complaining. Lead guitarist Pete Roberts is looking forward to the next month as it offers the chance for the band to play in a number of venues they particularly like. Even if the end of the year is full of work for People In Planes, they’re excited and happy to see 2009 in with such a successful year behind them.

Beyond The Horizon is the band’s second release since signing to Wind Up Records in 2005 and although they weren’t newbies, there were still aspects of the recording process that were slightly problematic. Roberts explains, “It was long-winded. The bulk of the work was done with Dan Austin in a very portable studio that we carted round half of South Wales. You know, sort of record some drums and bass and a rhythm guitar in a studio, then edit it up on laptops in my bedroom and do some over-dubs, and then back to a studio for more drums. The laptops would struggle to handle it a lot of the time and we figured out we couldn’t record loud guitars in my bedroom because the neighbors would complain, so we’d move down to the local rehearsal room for a few days.” Additionally, People In Planes had the chance to work with four producers while working on Beyond The Horizon, including Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Natasha Schneider and Alan Johannes. “We did three sessions in America prior to starting with Dan and I’d say the most significant of these was with Natasha Schneider and Alan Johannes—a.k.a. Eleven. Natasha was a genius and it’s a tragic loss to us all that she passed away,” Roberts says.

Roberts has been pleased with the response so far to Beyond The Horizon and critics have had some good things to say about it. Roberts explains, “The reactions have been great. Lots of people are using the word ‘masterpiece’ which is absolutely fine by me! It bloody took long enough! Great works are usually treasured or completely slated. For example, they provoke a passionate response one way or another. We hope that our album gets released in Russia.”

As if preparing for the release of their third full-length album wasn’t enough, the members of People In Planes who are all originally from Wales, decided to make New York City their permanent home. While the decision may have been based on the practical matters, Roberts remains happy with the decision. “Our label and management are both based in New York so they were always trying to get us to find a place there. Every time we came to start a tour in the States or do pretty much anything promo-wise, we would come to New York first. We became very familiar with the place and feel quite at home there,” Roberts says.

Now that the band is centered in New York City, they have the advantage of having a real home base as they tour North America through November. The band will also be spending much of December touring throughout the U.K. While one would imagine that the band will be happy to be home in the U.K. as the holidays approach, Roberts is especially looking forward to touring in the U.S. and working with the Toadies. “We just met the Toadies when we started the tour and have got on with them like a house on fire. I don’t know what it is about those Austin bands, they’re all so bloody friendly. There must be something in that barbeque sauce which induces their affable nature,” Roberts says.

As with most artists and bands that come to the U.S. from overseas to build a music career, People In Planes do see some contrasts between the industry and their reception in the U.S. and the U.K. Roberts explains, “They’re pretty compatible and comparable, but obviously there’s a big difference in size, so for an underground band like ourselves there’s basically much more opportunity for us to play here.” With increased opportunity to play comes increased audience exposure and Roberts has found U.S. audiences to be interested in the band’s sound. “I guess people always warm to our alternative sound and say that we don’t sound really like anyone else, but also we’ve got a lot of solid songs now which we didn’t have so much in our previous band. We’ve done very little touring back home since we became People In Planes so it’ll be nice when we go back there in December,” Roberts says.

While there may be some differences between American and U.K. audiences, Roberts isn’t picking favorites. However, he does admit to liking some of the East Coast venues that they’ll be performing in on the tour. “A lot of these venues are the same ones we did on the Stereophonics tour a few weeks ago, particularly in the North East. The Metro in Chicago is always great and we’re looking forward to The 9:30 Club and Webster Hall again. The only thing which really makes a venue stick out in my memory at the end of a tour is the crowd. Often it might be the shittier clubs, but if the crowd is up for it, that’s what makes the electricity,” Roberts says.

With eight years as a band behind them, the members have learned a great deal about the industry and music business in general. Roberts points out that though music often inspires pleasant feelings for the listener, musicians can’t forget this is a business and it’s essential to always remember that. Roberts explains, “Never trust anyone. They may have good intentions but this is rock and roll, baby, and that expression basically vindicates you from any wrong-doing and nullifies any need for accountability. As long as you’re solid as a unit that’s about all you can hope for. It’s a jungle out there, and there’s some sort of a war going on. A war of attrition which can’t be won. Oh yeah, and if you don’t believe in what you’re doing, don’t do it.”

So, with a tour in the works and a new album under their belts, the year has ended well for People In Planes. While one can assume that 2009 will include more shows and additional work for the band, Roberts cheekily shares the band’s plans for the future, “Become the resident band on a cruise ship and get off on some remote island in Polynesia and live on coconut and wild rice for the rest of my life.”

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Learn more about People In Planes by visiting peopleinplanes.com.
Add People In Planes on MySpace by clicking here.

By Evelyn Miska

Any band that’s together for an extended period of time can face the challenge of how to stay true to the group’s vision and ideas. Having been together since 1996, this difficulty is one that Welsh band Stereophonics has grappled with over the years. While it can be easy to let criticism get the best of you, bassist Richard Jones maintains that this is something to avoid as much as possible. “One of the most important things has been not to let criticism get to you and stay true to what you believe in. As soon as you stray off that path, people can see right through you and it’s game over,” Jones says.

Staying true to their sound is part of what has kept Stereophonics together over the last 12 years. Although the band is writing new material and has spent time in the studio recently, Stereophonics also decided that now was a good time to release a compilation of their greatest hits. The decision seemed appropriate on a number of levels and was something the band had been discussing for some time. Jones explains, “We’ve been putting off a release of a greatest hits/best of [album] for around five years now. We felt that we needed to express different sides of the band before releasing one. And this year it felt like a good time to compile a collection. Our record company for over 10 years was bought out by a major and we decided that it would be a good starting point for them and also remind people of our body of work because they might have known only one or two albums by us.”

Should anyone think they are resting on their laurels, the band included two brand new tracks on the greatest hits collection, A Decade In The Sun. Even more exciting for fans is news that the band has written a considerable amount of new material and has plans made to record an entirely new album. “We continuously write while touring and also, over the last year we’ve been in and out of various studios working on different tracks. We should be going back into the studio to work on the next new album around the spring time, with a vision to release later next year,” Jones says.

While most fans will have to wait until the new material comes out, longtime U.K. fans can look forward to the band’s upcoming tour in December. Jones is excited at the prospect of putting together a set list that looks backwards. “It will be great to put together a greatest hits set list and re-play some of the songs which have been neglected for a while,” Jones says. The U.K. might not be everyone’s ideal December destination when other options may include warm, sandy beaches, but even this is something Jones sees as an advantage of sorts. He explains, “It’s always good to tour in winter in the U.K. - I think people get cabin fever in the dark winter days and go crazy when they go and see a band.”

It’s that sort of “going crazy” that makes playing in the U.K. especially fun for the members of Stereophonics. However, that doesn’t mean they limit their tour destinations, although touring in the United States can sometimes be difficult for the band and there are some clear differences between performances in the two places. “Just the simple things, like people don’t know our back catalogue as well in the U.S. versus the U.K. where they know most and react to that. We’ve had some of our best performances in the U.S. but also some of our worst audience reactions,” Jones says.

Poor audience behavior hasn’t stopped Stereophonics from exploring new sounds, staying fresh and trying new things. Both Kelly Jones (vocals, lead guitar) and Javier Weyler (drums) did some solo work in 2007 and other band members have kept busy themselves. “Both Kelly’s and Javier’s solo work was recorded while making Pull The Pin. Another project at that time, for me, was creating a family,” Jones says. While independent work may interest some members of Stereophonics, it isn’t for everyone. Jones explains, “I’ve never felt the need to release a solo album being in a band where the creativity is a group decision. If that process changed, then perhaps I would think about other projects.”

With the greatest hits album due for release in early November and another album in the early stages, there are many things for which Stereophonics are grateful. However, the ongoing changes in the music industry make for tricky times and Jones is aware that the nature of music is rapidly changing. Jones says, “The best part is that we’ve got a strong fanbase which we can say we’ve built on the back of hard work. The difficult aspect is the uncertainty of the industry at the moment. I don’t think anyone knows where it’s heading at the moment and there is nothing worse than being adrift at sea without a compass.”

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Learn more about Stereophonics by visiting stereophonics.com.
Add Stereophonics on MySpace by clicking here.