How To Start Your Own Punk Band

State Champs in their official music video "secrets"

Music is something alot of people seem to enjoy and have a passion for, yet everyone has different tastes in music, which often means that not all bands have the same thing. That is how different sounds and genres are created. In this post I will Over the first few steps of satrting a band(but not limited to)

1. You will need some band mates, preferably friends that have the same taste in music and is committed to making music.

State Champs in their official music video "All you are is history"

A:Vocalist.

Derick sanders, Singer of Mayday parade In their official music video "Jamie all over"

B.Lead Guitar
C.Bass player: (2nd guitar is optional).

Skyler Accord and AJ Rebollo in Issue's official music video "Never lose your Flames"

D. Drummer:.

Luke Holland in a cover of  "Veil of Maya"

Now if you have all your equipment and band mates then the next step is to practice, practice, PRACTICE! A great way to get started is to find a simple song to jam to, to find everyone's skills and limits. I prefer starting with "Gives You Hell" by The All American Rejects. It has simplicity while being a classic for the 2000s, Leading with a simple drum beat into a guitar riff, and even a small piano part ( which a lot of punk bands are starting to have keyboard players now)
Your first gig:
The first gig is always the hardest, between actually getting booked and paid or the nervousness its going to be stressful. Start by calling local venues asking for open mic nights. Or ask other bands if you could open for them. A Lot of bands would like to have a opening act, so ask around. Private parties or events are even great to try out. 
Equipment:
Depending on where you play, you will need certain types of equipment.

Small Areas (church, pavilion, and a enclosed room) 
PA system with at least 2 monitors
A mixer
1 amp for guitar
1 amp for bass guitar
A power surge protected power line for all the plugins
Set Up
-on a small area one monitor for the singers mic should be set up in the middle of stage
-the other monitor should be set up so the drummer can hear the words in the song.
-The bass and guitar on opposite sides of the singer with amps as well
Large Areas (Venues, theaters, and a stage outdoors)
PA System with at least 4 monitors
Drum mics
Large Cab amps with head for guitarists  
A larger mixer probably a 7 channel or more depending on set up

Different power sources

Ear pieces for back tracks.

Set up

PA system with 2 monitors or more on facing the crowed, 2 facing the drummer.
Hook all the drum mics through a mic input device (one that can have several inputs and one output), then plug the one output into the band's main mixer,
Microphone all the amps into the mixer. 
basically with a large area you can not run much without a mic. 
Have fun!!!!
Listen, when your on stage and you stand still and have straight faces the show is boring.Moving around and about, jumping and getting excited will allow the energy flow and naturally you will be relaxed and having fun. You Should not go 100% by this  check list its just a idea to show what the simple tools are that are used for rock shows. Every band is different and that's what makes every band unique. By the time you are playing in large theaters and venues you will be a master of putting on a good show.  

A few last notes you should maybe go by
Never say "my band" sure we all may slip up and say it, but its a team effort.
Never go cheap in equipment.
Practice as often as you can
Jam frequently, Its how songs are made
Don't turn every knob on any equipment to max, Louder does not always mean better

Also always remember to have fun, stick with the music, always split the check evenly, and never settle with anything always aim to do better, it can always be better

 

Memphis May Fire

               MEMPHIS MAY FIRE 

So it's finally time to give the spot light to the band that deserves respect to the max, Memphis May Fire.

Memphis May Fire (mmf) is a core, punk and rock band. They have incorporated intense screams, breakdowns, rifs and revolved it around faith in Christianity. They have released many songs talking of abusive people, family problems and life in general in a relatable way for. In their song "generation hate" the lyrics tell of how people feel stronger on a computer being a bully leading to a very rushing breakdown with intense lows and singing performed by Matty Muillins. They also discuss sexual temptations in their  song Jezebel, but "the answer" was a song released solely intended for Jesus. Lyrics discussing between hitting the bottom and being broken and amazing grace how sweet the sound was for them, the song obviously reached out to Jesus. They released The album "unconditional" telling of everyday life that relates and how God is still there, each song tells something different for every person to raise God's name and become interested and maybe accept God. Missionary work through around with a new crowd. 

Memphis May Fire is a very inspirational band and I believe a positive influence on to up to. Between faith and music they are outstanding musicians. They also help clear air with the adult population thing harder core music is not "devil worship" music which my self I get offended when people say that it clearly shows they are as ignorant as they stubborn. This band proves not only bands can live the Christian life but also can have fun and not be a slow and simple band, but they can express themselves and raise God's name on stage while having fun and attracting the crowd of younger people that are not into other styles of Christian music.  

I've talked quite a bit of Vans Warped Tour, and I think I would like to explain what exactly it is. Of course a lot of artists go on tours, but no tour is as popular in the United States as the
Van's Warped Tour.It is  the biggest traveling music festival in the U.S.A and quite possibly the world. First introduced by Kevin Lineman in 1995, the first tour was not called "Van's Warped Tour" because Vans had not become a major sponser yet until 1996. Vans Warped Tour (VWT) At first the tour only had skate bands, but as years went on and the trend of music evolved they allowed diffrent genres to play. As more bands joined more and more people became invloved, thus rasing profits to pay for more tours. Because of the profits from more crowd, Kevin Lyman began to let parents in free and even supply a tent dedicated just for parents who do not take intrest in the festival or would rather sit in a air conditoned tent.
The unique way of setting up the festival helps people see all of thier favorite bands in one day. Having stages set up at the same time allows for people to move around, like a exihibt.
As much as the festival helps crowds meet thier favorite bands, the bands also benifit greatly. As a band it is extremly important to really get out and show the world your music. With VWT the bands can meet thousands of fans and become very famoues pretty quickly. After each show the bands have meet and greet with all thier fans.
For a chairty note VWT contributes 25 cents of each ticket to Holleywood Heart Warped Tour who helped with Hurricane Katrina reflief efforts.
Basically In Summary, Vans Warped Tour is a major touring festival that allows fans from all over the world enjoy bands, social interations, and classic music fun. It is targeted towards Teens and young adults, but all ages are welcome. It is a Tour i wish to go to soon. Tickets are cheap, considring that you watch many bands instead of just one like other concerts.

r (VWT).                                                                                                        

  

Created In Tallahassee, Florida in 2005, Mayday Parade is a punk band. Singed to Fearless Records they are one of the most recognized alterative band. They have over 65 songs, 5 albums, 12 singles and have been on tours including two “Vans Warped tours." Starting out with six band members (including Go Radio's Jason Lancaster until his departure in 2007) they released their first album "Tales Told By Dead Friends"   

with the help from producer Lee Dyess and without any help from a label.  The album sold over 50,000 copies, catching enough attention to sign to Fearless n Records 2006 along with a major label Atlantic. IN 2007 Mayday Parade released their second album “A lesson In Romantics"

In which shortly after Jason left. The band continued to support their album by the Vans Tour and like Issues they released an album containing acoustic song covers of their previous songs. The band worked on many songs after that.By 2012 they had released a total of five albums including 194 bookings and 74,000 miles logged of travels. The band was also announced to be one of the hardest working bands by Song kick. After the release of the acoustic album titled "Valdosta",

They released a self-titled album that contained 12 new exciting and rushing songs. As well as their first music video for the song "Oh Well, Oh Well." The video won a Indie Star Tv Award fo best Music Video of 2011. Even after the awards the band kept striving, in 2013 the band released information that they would be heading back into studio for their next album. The band released the first single of the album on August 27, 2013 titled "Ghosts" and to be followed the second release "Girls". They released the new album "Monsters In the Closet"

On November 18, 2013. To prove the band is still going strong they released their latest album "Black lines" on October 9th.

The band is singed to the same label that releases "Punk goes pop" so of course they do covers such as

"Somebody I Used to Know" by Gotye

“When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls

“We Are The Champions" by Queen

And "Comedown" by Bush

Brooks Betts plays the rhythm guitar                                          

Jake Bundrick He is the drummer                           

Alex Garcia is lead guitarist

jeremy lenzo Is rocking bass

And finally Derek Sanders is the lead singer and plays piano.

Mayday Parade is very admirable, Due to the facts only one has dropped out and they have stayed true to their morals. They do not waste their talents to hurt others or say hateful things to people in their past. They do not cuss and do not encourage drugs or smoking. To me these guys should be the face of music. They are well experienced and know how to create the perfect songs.

The other day as I was listening to iTunes Radio, searching for new songs and bands. As my searches were played I cam across this song that started with a really well constructed intro with a guitar riff leading into the drum beats which created this rhythm that was so catchy. As the vocalist finally made his intro lyrics I first examined his voice: a punk voice with great vocal capabilities. I also noticed that with the higher vocals he had a scratchy patches in his voice which made it sound so awesome and punk. After the first chorus I had to find out what song it was and more importantly who the band was. As I glanced over at the screen I read "Secrets" as the name of the song and the band was the  "State Champs"
The State Champs are a punk/pop band from Albany, New York. The band was formed in 2010 by the two founders, Tyler Szalkowski and Derek DiScanio. Along with William Goodermote (bass)  and Matt Croteau (drummer) they signed onto the record label "Pure Noise". They have released two full albums since then along with four Eps. The band has toured a lot during the year 2014 and have toured along bands such as
Motion City Soundtrack,
Bayside
We Are The In Crowd,
William Becket,
Set It Off
Candy Hearts
The Wonder Years and
A Loss for WordsThey opened for All Time Low's Future Heart tour spring 2015 and opened for 5 Seconds of Summer June 2015 in Australia. On July 15, the band announced their second album, Around the World and Back, would be released on October 16

Even though the band has not released much through the years the stuff they have released is beyond great addition's to the history of punk music. Songs such as " Secrets", " All You Are Is History" and the slower song " If I'm Lucky" all on the same album these songs would be a great representation of todays punk/pop music. I am very happy to hear about this band and their songs are more then professional

 

 

ISSUES, Still going hard

                                                                    ISSUES                                     

 

The first song that I ever had listened to by the band "Issues" was "Boyfriend ",

Album Art Idea for Issues cover of " Boyfriend"

a Justin Bieber cover that they had recorded for their record label's famous "Punk Goes Pop" album and performed very well I personally thought. Between the clean vocals and the hard guitar riffs and drum beats they still kept it how the song intended to be a popish feeling. This new ( to me) band seemed familiar with days of listing to their songs i had to know who the vocalists were I knew them from somewhere.

I soon found out that Tyler Carter and Michael Bohn ( previous member's of Woe, Is Me ) had started a new project known as "Issues " in 2012.They were the vocalists that sounded so familiar, but Tyler and Michael were not the only Woe, Is Me vets. The other's were Corey and Ben Ferris were original members of Issues, until Issues began to record their debut EP
"Black Diamonds" and they were not able to attend recording sessions ( And that's crucial ) and decided to leave the band. Ben left in September, and Corey made his departure in November. Still needing to cover Instrument's parts for the new EP Skyler and Tyler Accord filled in for the EP only to be asked to be a permanent part soon after bassist Jake Vinston left.

While performing as a opener on their first tour the band released The debut EP " Black Diamonds on November 13, 2012,With "King Of Amarillo" as the lead single. The King Of Amarillo was one of the songs used in the " battle of the bands" between Woe, Is Me and Issues ( See Woe, Is Me ( Rise and Fall) blog )

The first single the band released was titled " Hooligans" ( Amazing single I loved it ) After the release another member departed the drummer, Case Snedecor. Only to be quickly replaced by his understudy Josh Maneul and from what I've heard from live concert reviews and studio recordings he has replaced Case seamlessly. The band Soon Performed in the legendary " Van's Warped Tour" in May 2013 with the new drummer

In 2014 ( Busy year for them) The band released the acoustic version of thier previous album " Black Diamonds" Touring frequently after with bands such as Beartooth, Of Mice & Men, Bring Me the Horizon on their " American Dream Tour" Then on February 18th 2014 the self titled album was released and performed it at the 2014 Wembley Area In London as a opening act.

After announcing on a interview from " Alternative Press" that work on the secondary album would begin on January 23rd 2015 they finally announced their second album is waiting for a release date. They have been nominated for 3 awards; winning one in 2015 Artist of the year. And Tyler has been nominated for best vocalist in 2015

To me " Issues" has brought a new sound as well to the world. They seem to be updated in the world's music today.

Tyler Carter has introduced rap in his music without converting to hip hop completely  by showing off his amazing singing capabilities in every song. He is sticking to his Roots.








Tyler Accord has mixed in his beats and synth sounds seamlessly into each song bringing the band to new heights and its almost like a new genre completely he has indeed brought very crucial pieces to the band to make issues one of my favorite bands.











Josh Manuel has played the drums with full passion and heart with each songs. His drum styles and riffs are original and very tasteful.














AJ's guitar skills have worked into each song and has kept the band as heavy as I have always loved and Skyler has done the same as a team AJ and Skyler keeps the band even between Core and Pop.

AJ

Skyler

Michael for sure plants the band in a heavy genre and its a perfect mix as it always is with them.



Michael has been with Tyler for the longest time and I Think of them as Brothers

Tyler Carter and Michael Bohn

Remember When

Woe, Is Me ( Rise and Fall)

 I've listened to Woe, Is Me for almost two years now and I still cannot seem to get enough of their music. They stand out more than most bands because of their amazing breakdowns, lyrics, incorporation of dub step and the perfect ratio of clean and unclean vocals. Their first year as a band (2009) they signed to Rise Records and its subsidiary, Velocity Records and recorded  their first album "  Numbers[s]"  



Number[s]

With a number of ten songs,  it was released on August 30th 2010. 

 Lexington Music Press gave the album a 7.5/10, but Corezine gave the album an 8/10. The album I thought personally was very exciting and exhilarating.  "If Not, for Ourselves" was my favorite track. It had everything I loved, from the crescendo of the clean vocal climax to the break downs, and it was completely different from most bands I thought.They had nice kickoff for a start, but soon after Number[s], the lead guitarist Tim Sherrill was soon replaced by Geoffrey Higgins and finished their second release which was just a single " Fame < Demise " on March 21st 2011. The band also released a cover of the popular pop song Tik Tok by Ke$ha which the band I thought nailed.Tik Tok ( Ke$ha Cover) Woe, Is Me

Genesis[s]

After the release of the " Fame <  Demise " Woe, Is Me vocalist Tyler Carter decided for personal belief's and he was not fulfilling his dreams with Woe, Is Me. He left the band. But I must give all respect to the band for not giving up on their own dreams, soon after Tyler' departure along with several over band members (  Michael Bohn, Cory and Ben Ferris,) (that also left to later join Tyler in his career as a musician) they discovered more then capable musicians ( Doriano Magliano, Hance Alligood, Brian Medley, Andrew Paiano and Austin Thornton) to fill the past band mates shoes to create a song introducing their new vocalist Hance Alligood " vengeance " the song was used to focus the bands harsh feelings for Carter's leaving. The song included lyrics such as "Maybe one day I'll probably make more of an impact than you'll ever fake"," Well you can huff and you can puff and try to blow my house down but I take comfort in the fact that I have stolen your crown." and because Tyler's motto  was " Never Lose Your Flames" the last fighting words in the song was  "You've lost your flames in the darkest of night your ambitions are falling out of sight selfishness owns you I hope you can see,The family you loved is now the enemy." These lyrics sparked a war with a Tyler and his new band " Issues . Soon after the release of "Vengeance" the band released their second album "Genesis[s]"

The album featured 11 songs had many different reviews and many different thoughts and ratings. Hance Alligood impressed many ( including myself ) by his clean vocal ranges that could have saved the band from being wrote off as a "once was great" band . The band also backtracked and reissued the first album " Numbers[s] " with the new member's of the band taking their predecessors spots in the first album's songs.The band also had cover tracks on "Number[s] reissued and Punk Goes Pop such as We Are Who We Are ( Ke$ha Cover) Woe,Is Me,TGIF (Katy Perry Cover) Woe,Is Me,Hot And Cold (Katy Perry Cover) Woe,Is Me,

 On April 19, 2012, It was announced Woe, Is Me would accompany several other bands (Attack Attack! with We Came as Romans, The Acacia Strain, Oceano, Like Moths to Flames, Close to Home, Impending Doom, Abandon All Ships, Secrets, Volumes, For All Those Sleeping, The Chariot, Glass Cloud, At The Skylines, Texas in July, In Fear and Faith, and Hands Like Houses.) on the "Scream It Like You Mean It 2012" tour (July–August 2012)  Even after the tour the band yet again lost a original member this time the founding member
Austin Thornton Woe, Is Me's drummer. After Austin's departure Kevin Hanson was the last original member of the band.They later released a new song called "Stand Up," which was announced as the first single from the EP, Then Woe,Is Me created the last song titled American Dream. On September 18th Woe, Is Me dissolved.

Out of all the struggles between departures and criticism Woe, Is Me stayed with it for nearly 4 years! That's something I would respect them for. It's not easy to keep motivation for almost 4 years after  odds seem to be against. And because of their music, strives, motivation, and dedication to not giving up they was indeed a great band and I love their music.Woe, Is Me If Not, For Ourselves ( a link to one of my favorite songs with Tyler Carter)