THE VERONA PLAY
Check out photos from the opening night of 'The Verona Play,' now in production at the Majestic Repertory Theatre on Main Street.
Check out photos from the opening night of 'The Verona Play,' now in production at the Majestic Repertory Theatre on Main Street in Las Vegas till February 26.
The play adapted and directed by Lysander Abadia is produced by Sam A. Murphy and Lysander Abadia.
The play features Maurice Palmer as Valentine, Flynn Dexter as Proteus, Sam A. Murphy as Julia, Dakota Cobb as Sylvia, Gavin Jules as Antonio / Duke / Thurio / Eglamour, and Salem Xavier Grey as Speed / Lucetta / Host.
All proceeds from the production will be donated to Gender Justice Nevada (genderjusticenv.org)
SILVERSCAPE
Silverscape live from The Bunkhouse
SILVESCAPE LIVE FROM THE BUNKHOUSE
SILVERSCAPE IS :
lead vocals, guitar - B'yana Hinton
lead guitar - Merald Knight IV
bass - Jay Yaskin
drums - Anthony Braun
"This 'sexy alternative rock band' debuted in June &have since shaped the scene with their passionate riffs, smooth beats,&soulful vocals backed by power."
Glass Pools
Photo by Krystal Ramirez
On the eve of Shayna Rain's EP Release / Tour Kick Off on Sept 21st at the Bunkhouse Saloon, VIM Magazine interviews Bryan Todd of Glass Pools.
VIM: Greetings Glass Pools? How are you all? You're set to tour in support of Shayna Rain in September. What can we expect from you guys while on tour? Performing any new songs? What's the set list going to consist of?
GLASS POOLS: We are not touring with Shayna Rain. We'll only be playing the EP release.
VIM: You were all recently on the radio on 107.5 fm and on Neon Reverb on KUNV 91.5. How was it like to hear yourselves on the radio? What songs did you all perform?
GLASS POOLS: We did not perform on the radio. Hearing yourself on the radio is a bit surreal. It's kinda like that scene in 'La Bamba' where Ritchie's mom is working at the diner and she tells all the patrons to be quiet because her son's on the radio. It's like that, but totally different.
VIM: Brian Henry created some visuals for your song, "Stumbling," how did that collaboration come about? Are you looking into collaborating with other artists in the future?
GLASS POOLS: Brian is a friend of ours, who happens to be a really amazing visual artist. Previously he had created a whole set of projections to be play during our live shows. We asked if he'd put something together for one of our songs on the EP. The next day, we had a cool video. The guy's a mad genius. We'd love to collaborate with other artists in the future especially in the video realm. Anyone with a camera and an idea for one of our songs should definitely pitch us.
VIM: Your self-titled EP is now available on Spotify and Itunes. Give us a run down of each song and let us know how each song came about. What were the highlights of recording the album? Mikayla Whitmore did the cover and disc artwork. It's a striking image.
GLASS POOLS: Mikayla posted that photo to her Instagram in late December, and when we saw it we asked her right away if we could use it for an album cover. Emily (Sully, drummer) had just started playing with us, we didn't have an album, or even a name at the time, but we had a rad cover. Tracking for the EP took three days, which for six songs is pretty fast. There's something interesting about working under sucha time constraint, there's always things you'd like to retry or redo, but at some point you start to think of it as a snapshot of a certain band, at a certain place, at a certain time. Each song is unique in style, but they all sound like they come from the same band. We're proud of the songs and what we've accomplished, and very excited for what the future holds. We're writing songs and refining our live-show, hoping to do another release in the next 6-8 months.
VIM: You guys made it to round two of the Battle of the Bands for the Life Is Beautiful Festival. How was that experience like? You guys made it to round two of the Battle of the Bands for the Life Is Beautiful Festival. How was that experience like?
GLASS POOLS: Have you ever seen the battle of the bands scene from 'Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'?
VIM: What's up next for Glasspools*? Any side or individual projects from the band members?
GLASS POOLS: Keep on keeping on. More music. More shows. More videos. More money. More problems. More. More. More.
Also check out our interview with Shayna Rain here.
SHAYNA RAIN PAPER FLOWERS
On the eve of Shayna Rain's EP Release / Tour Kick Off on Sept 21st at the Bunkhouse Saloon, VIM Magazine interviews Shayna Rain.
VIM: You recently performed with your band in support of Rusty Maples at the Bunkhouse, what were the highlights of that night for you?
SHAYNA RAIN: The highlight of that night was seeing Rusty, they're such a good band. I feel lucky to see them each time that I do.
VIM: What were some of your early influences growing up? Do you have any local favorites?
SHAYNA RAIN: My influences growing up are a little different than my influences now. When I was a kid I learned a lot of Carole King songs and listened to the oldies station on my radio and try to sound like any singer that came on. I was also really really into pop singers, and I would record myself singing Britney Spears or Alicia Keys songs on my karaoke machine. I could do a pretty good Britney Spears impression.
VIM: You have a new EP coming out in September? What can you tell us about it? Is it already completed?
SHAYNA RAIN: The EP was recorded and mixed at naked city audio here in Las Vegas. I'm really excited about it being mastered at West West Side Music. Deja Entendu was mastered there and that's one of Zellers (drummer/producer) and I's favorite albums.
We let Zeller produce this one and I'm really really happy with the way it sounds. I really enjoy singing over electronic music. I have always thought because my voice is a little on the softer side it fits my tone more. Zeller and I working on electronic type songs together actually came about when we worked on a benefit show for someone and no one else in the band was in town. We had to make it work, and he and I have always wanted to work together, just us and his beat machine, and it turned out really great. So, once the whole band got together we started writing more like that. Paper Flowers is something I'm really excited to show everyone, it's my baby. I care about that song so much. I started singing the melody randomly one day while I was knocking on doors for politicians, and I recorded it on my phone so I wouldn't forget it, then I showed him and was like "what are these chords?" He put a piano part to it pretty fast and we went from there. I would also have lessons with Brittany Rose and she would help me with harmonies and the intro to that song. It's been a lot of craft that I'm excited to show what we've pieced together.
Although, the EP isn't just electronic.
There's two electronic songs on the EP and two rock songs. One of them is titled "Before My Body," I wrote it after I watched a documentary about the Golden Gate Bridge. They filmed people jumping off the bridge for a year and then interviewed those peoples families. It's nuts.. Anyway, it's really depressing. Part of the lyrics are "The stories I can no longer tell are tied to my feet, oh watch me sink. I'd watch myself die if I could so I could see my body slowly let go of my mind, I'd watch you back away from my blood and I'd tell myself that's not what I would've done."
VIM: Your first show was three years ago. Looking back now, what have been your favorite shows and performances? Where would like to perform next?
SHAYNA RAIN: The first show was one of my favorite shows. I took a picture of the crowd that night and I still use it as my header for some social media pages. It warms my heart thinking about how supportive everyone was. Both of my parents were there, my dad flew out just to see us, it was rad. Nick is also in that photo but in the crowd he's giving me the "number 1" finger sign for some reason and it's funny now because we're dating and I asked him about that and his answer is, "it's because you're number 1 babe, I just knew it then." Haha! He's full of shit but he's cute.
Some of my favorite shows since then.. Our release last year, a lot of people came out to that. I'm always taken aback and surprised whenever a good amount of people show up. Like this amount of people want to see us? Crazy.
And some shows on tour..
I'll never forget we had like zero dollars going into Colorado and we had two shows that day, hoping we would sell a good amount of merch to continue the tour. At the first show this man tipped us a very generous amount and asked us to never give up, it was the sweetest thing. It really lifted our spirits, the next show Colorado again lifted our spirits. The place was packed and they were so supportive. Needless to say we were able to finish the tour because of those people and I think that's why those are my favorite. The people made them my favorite.
I would just like to build more of a fan base.. I don't really care so much where it's at as long the people are listening.
VIM: You’ve been singing since you were 6 years old, what do you consider to be your biggest inspiration? What’s next for you?
SHAYNA RAIN: Yup, six years old. I started singing the day of my grandpa's funeral. He was my hero, I felt like I needed to show him that and I never told him so I went into this room that had a piano in it and attempted to sing a song. I've never had a hero since, but I've sang since. It's what got me through his death.
My influences change, but at this time I would say one of my biggest influences is Justin Vernon. He has such an incredible ear- have you heard how amazing his harmonies are on his songs? Have you seen him live? I wish he had a school so I could learn his techniques because he is so talented. He just released a new song under Bon iver called
'10 Death Breast' you should listen to it.
Also check out our interview with Glass Pools here.
Musicians & Artists For Music & Memory
VIM: Hello! How are you? Your band and Artifice are putting on a benefit for Music and Memory, which is the subject of 2014 Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary Alive Inside. Can you tell us more about Music and Memory and the impetus for wanting to reach out and assist that cause?
LIZZY MINX: We saw the film at a showing at Tropicana Las Vegas in 2014 and it touched our hearts ever since. To see people afflicted by Alzheimer’s and not very responsive or themselves at all, and then to see their faces light up after hearing a song that triggers their memories is truly a sight to behold. It shows the true power of music in a very real way. Immediately they change, and as a musician to see such a transition happen with something you’re driven to do, makes you want to do whatever you can to see if you can help or heal people.
VIM: There is a fantastic line-up on board for the benefit that includes Kat Kalling, Ghost State, We Are Pancakes, Candy Warpop. That lineup is almost like a mini-festival of sorts. What are you most looking forward to about that night?
LIZZY MINX: We’re really looking forward to getting the word out about Music and Memory, and seeing a great turn out to support these great bands and Body Art by ‘Zann’ who are donating their talents to make a difference in other people’s lives.
VIM: In the Pet Tigers bio it says that you cover(vocals, keytar and trumpet) and Jeremy Keith covers the (drums). How did the band get started and who would you consider to be your main influences?
JEREMY KEITH: We were both in different bands and Liz’s drummer was leaving and it was inevitable. We started playing ever since then. Our musical minds synched up easily. We are both heavily influenced by a lot of different genres, from Hip Hop, to Rock to Pop. We both enjoy 80’s music such as Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, Erasure and Cyndi Lauper and are also influenced by bands such as Phantogram and Stevie Wonder.
VIM: Your band has quite a resume having performed on Fox5's Gibson Showroom series, Neon Reverb, a Midwest Tour playing Summerfest Music Festival and Wine Amplified Music Festival, among others. Is there a venue or festival that you would like to perform at?
LIZZY MINX: Absolutely, we’ve been wanting to play Brooklyn Bowl here in fabulous Las Vegas! One of our favorite bands is actually coming through in September and it would be a dream to open for Phantogram as they support their newest album ‘Three’.
VIM: Tell us about Pet Tiger’s album, “Short Leash.” How was the recording process? Name three key tracks and their inspiration.
LIZZY MINX: Jeremy and I had a blast recording Short Leash with Nik Hotchkiss at ‘Philosoniks’. The songs and writing came so organically and we just really enjoy playing and writing together. Nik, who recorded, engineered, mixed, mastered and co-produced this album made it so fun and easy. We loved it and are going back into the studio this summer.
‘Just Fine’
This song is about leaving a bad relationship and being just fine. Its that epiphany finally that you can release yourself.
‘Revolving Door’
This song is about realizing you were more invested in a relationship then the other person and the pain of letting go is so strong for you, though you know the other party has already moved on and the realization of this.
‘Come on Over’
This song is about being in love with someone so much you just want to spend all your time with them, and how important time with someone you love is.
