Within the past year, SHINEBOX have become one of the areas favorite live bands, so much so that many have asked for more info. Well America... ah... Augusta, here's your chance!

LL-Thanks for sending the cd. It has to be one of the best lokal debuts I have heard in a while. I do notice it fits in with a lot of music regional, especially Edwin McCain & lokally Inside Blue. Do you think you might share some similar influences?
SB- Yeh,Iguess we probably share similar influences,although we are still trying to find out just where this cd falls as far as a particular style.If you listen to the whole cd youll find that no two songs are the same style.We did this just to try to offer something for everybody.

LL-What were you gunning for when you went in to record this CD and do you feel you accomplished these goals?
SB-To tell you the truth,I dont think we knew when we started.It just took on its own character as we went along. I am real pleased with our first attempt at recording,we had a great engineer who really help us produce a well rounded project.

LL-As much as I dig the cd, I've heard many people say that it does not come close to touching your live sound. Do you feel this is an accurant and fair summation?
SB- I would like to think that this is a true statement,simply because the crowd is what drives us,the peoples energy makes us take the extra time to speak and make sure the fans and the club owners know just how much we appreciate them. SB-Like most bands we had to start with covers,because that seems to be what pays the bills,we had a cd project to pay for. Now that its finished we are setting up some all original showcases in Atlanta.We will still play a blend of covers and originals depending on the gig.

LL-How has that (cover/originals) amount changed since then?
SB-well we are constantly writing new material,but I feel in some places you gotta play something the people know,along with the original music to keep them interested.

LL-Now I'm familiar with some of Jason's past musical projects such as MOTHER MAY EYE & TRUE. What are some of the past credits of the rest of SHINEBOX?
SB-basically we all played around in many of the same bands,and finally found the three of us that could get along.

LL-So how did SHINEBOX find each other?
SB-Well that gos back to the last question,we actually kept stealing band members from one band to the other til we found a group that worked.

LL-So what was the first song written by SHINEBOX?
SB-Eden was the very first song we started playing.

LL-Getting back to the cd, how was the time in the studio? Any problems working up songs or recording?
SB-It was a real cool experience,we all learned a lot. It is really great working with someone like Jimi byrd. Some of Jimis other projects include Billionare who has gone on to be signed to a major label.

LL-Is there a song on the cd that you felt might garner more attentions than the rest?
SB-If there is one song that should get attention,I would have to say it would be "CHOICES".We put this song on the cd in a raw and personal acoustic format to really get the words across as if jason was playing it to each and every person who listens to it.This song is very powerful,if you listen to the message behind it.

LL-Are you happy with the response to the cd so far?
SB-Yeh ,I just wished we had more dates available to support it.

LL-Any July shows coming up?
SB-We will be playing in Atlanta at Smiths Old bar.Locally we are still trying to set up some dates. We were having a problem with some schedules but its all cleared up now. We are looking forward to playing.

LL-Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Please feel free to add any info which might be useful.
SB-Stoney I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and interest in the local scene ,you know its just hard to get people behind local acts.I hope this is all you needed we appreciate it . Doug

Talking with CHAINED TO CORE!

"ChaineD to CorE started June 29th 1998, at about 3 in the mourning, with Brin's and Rick's twisted minds thinking alike. On October 31st 1998 we added jack to our arsenal. We took the next 5 months and found Skot. then one day Kris was like I need to get away from this punk crap and we added him".

LL-For such a young band you guys rock! What are some of your influences?
CTC- StainD, Deftones, Slayer, MetallicA, elvis (ask kris), alice cooper, koRn, Fear Factory, Black Sabbath, Glam Metal.

LL-Who all is in the band?
CTC-BriN (vocals), RicK (guitar/vocals), JacK (drums), SkoT (bass), KriS (guitar)

LL-What brought you guys together?
CTC- Well what brought us together was Rick's and Brin's hate for boy bands. We just wanted to start something heavy, and fun.

LL-So the Martinez Community Center show was your first show, were you nervous?
CTC- Well actually it was our second show, if you count the Lakeside battle of the bands. We weren't nervous we were just really anxious to play.

LL-Outside of music, what elements contribute to CTC writing process'?
CTC- Relationships, unfortunately school (very little), news, public relations, angry next door neighboors.

LL-Who do you dig lokally?
CTC- THiNFiN, Youth @ Risk, Final Darkness, Solemn, Reprisal, In Full Effect, False Sight, The Punkadelics (kris' old band), Pink Eye, dieAgnostic, Tommy Hangover, Uncle Woody.

LL-What kind of contribution do you feel CTC can make to the lokal music scene?
CTC-We bring the younger crowd, that will stray away from the lokal scene if we weren't here. Well maybe that's an exageration, but i think we bring an added element of the energy of youth back to metal. We keep it real.

LL-You could sacrifice anything, why Telletubbies?
CTC- We'll let Brin answer that: I almost choked on a teletubby shaped Burger King chicken nugget, other than that I am just sick.

LL-What influence does school have on your music?
CTC-Well we get really bored and we think about our music so we write songs during school. Our song "escape" is about getting out of school.

LL-For someone yet to hear CTC, how would you classify your music?
CTC-Deftones meets Fear Factory with a touch of old metal. But the best classification would have to be GET OFF YOUR BUM AND COME SEE US YOURSELF!!!

More Mayhem @ the Martinez Community Center

I get so many invites to Lokal shows and between work, practice & giging, I can't always make it to all of 'em. Jim & I try to varoom on down to the MCC for all the shows. Just because we're a couple of old farts doesn't mean we don't know a good thang when we'ze sees it! This particular night, I dragged my daughter Alexis(like I had to twist her arm!) and Jim would arrive later. We already knew FALSE SIGHT, REPRISAL, YOUTH @ RISK, SHELDON, & MUR were scheduled to play but imagine Alexis' happiness when we found out her fave lokal band GEARBOX would be in the house!

We unfortunately missed the nights opening band FALSE SIGHT but many had good things to say about the band and described them as heavy with rapcore style vocals. I had though later in the evening that we would catch them as well as MUR with IN FULL EFFECT the following weekend but it was not to be as we were performing ourselves that night. We were able to catch a brief glimpse of REPRISAL and man were they a heavy, snarling, growling young band. What we heard though was tight and on target and just increases interest in catching them at another show.

Next up was MCC vets YOUTH @ RISK. They should honestly change the name of the place to YOUTH @ RISK CENTRAL they play there so much! As much as I dig this band & the guys in the band, YOUTH @ RISK seemed to play less than usually inspired. A pretty good showing but I've seen better from these guys. Recommendation: Recharge & ReAttack!

Next up was South Caronlina's SHELDON. I must say, this foursome made a new fan that night. SHELDON plays with aggression but also scattered tints of melody to create a lethal combination of classic rock & punk as well as new rock. The vocals were sung in a wide variety of ways and the band had all the energy and aggression of a young Mike Tyson. I heard the cd later that night and the difference was like night and day!

GEARBOX exploded onto the stage amidst a room of ceiling high flames and odd pyro which was probably illegal in most of Georgia but nevertheless, awe inspiring. The crowd was mostly into this highly energetic young band though probably lost in the mature lyrics of the bands originals. These guys seem to get better as time goes by!

Well Alexis was getting tired as it was well past midnite & had no patience to wait to hear MUR. I'm sure we'll get the opportunity to once again catch this talented band in action.

I want to throw extra props to some of the other bands we met like the INSUBORDINATES & more! The hospitalty we've received from these lokal artists makes what we do even more worthwhile!

CD'S GALORE @ THE RED LION

What a month for lokal cd releases! How about the double pounding Red Lion combo of SUPERCHIEF & THE RIFF RAFF KINGS releasing cd's within a weeks time!

First up was a quiet evening of supa SUPERCHIEF country rock classics. The band played choice cuts from their newly released cd like "Spark Plug" and "Man's World". Unfortunately the masses were not out on this momentous evening so we had the pleasure of being privvy to a near private show. Not only that but we were also handed a copy of the new cd which we grooved back at headquarters and have been grooving to ever since. See Viewz for a closer look!

The RIFF RAFF KINGS show was the opposite due to the massive amount of people in attendance. Opening band WORMBELLY kicked off the evening with some cool alterna pop grooves that included an extra "dancing" band member. After a worthy showing, the stage was cleared for some kickin' jams!

Throughout the evening we ran in to the cream of the Augusta music crop, many of who were purchasing RIFF RAFF KING cd's, t-shirts & other cool RRK gear! You could hardly get to the merchendise area!

Once the band got kicking there was no turning back. The guys sprinkled new tunes among classic faves like "Microphone Check", "8th Wonda's" & much more. I was excited to see my fave RRK song "That Girl" included on the cd! Before cutting out we had a chance to chat with Matt & the boys and they seemed to be very pleased with the outcome of the band's very first release party!

DORIAN TAUSS BENEFIT w/ EDWIN McCAIN

Every day we music lovers beg for shows like the Edwin McCain show to come to town. We don't usually wish them to be under dire circumstances.

Dorian Tauss had been the chief engineer at Studio South on Peach Orchard Road, working with many musician's as well as a handful of regional acts like 3lb. Thrill and an unknown studio employee by the name of Edwin McCain. Many in this town are vaguely aware of even the existence of Studio South, not to to mention the legendary recordings of Mr. McCain that also included lokal guitarist Steve Mitchell (Knuckleheads, BTU's, Steve Cheeks, Steverinos, etc.). Many are not even aware that other lokal favorites had recorded at Studio South like NERVOUS BOY, SYMON SEZZ, and MEDICINE SHOWE (kingthursday) among others. So for those in the less than knowledgeable state, there was a curiousity of this man who garnered the attention of the cream of the crop in lokal musician's including Steve Cheeks, Kat Turner, Billy S., plus members of Kingthursday & Tommy Hangover.

During a chat with Edwin, I discovered some other unknown facts that you may find to be quite interesting. Instead of just telling you about the show, we'll add facts, comments and some of the discussion we had the opportunity to have with Edwin. Just the way it happened.

5:00 P.M.-Jim & I show up for what thought was the photo & autograph sessions. We were mistaken, that was still two hours away! Luckily CoConuts was opened and we walked in to find Chuck & Rob of 95 Rock chatting away. After smoozing with these dazzling radio personalities, we are introduced to Edwin McCain, who by the way, still prefers to do his own soundchecks, and precede to take part in a little press coverage stuff.

What did we learn from this little preview? Well only that UNCLE MINGO was chosen to take part in this special event due to their relationship with Edwin. Strange twist of fate is that in his early days, Edwin used to beg the Uncle Mingo guys to let him open for them, CONSTANTLY! Maybe that explains why he opened this night!

9:00 P.M.-Edwin goes on for a brief acoustic interlude of his usual thought provoking music. I only wish I had known he was opening. WHile I was locked away at rehearsal, Jim was having the backstage time of his life! By the time I arrived at...

10:00 P.M.-Jim was all but a part of team Edwin & team Mingo! We originally found him holed away sidestage keeping a watchful eye on some monitors and keyboards. It wasn't long before we made our way out back where we found a ton of familiar faces including Steve Cheeks, Kat Turner (with husband in tow!), a cop who'd handcuffed himself to his girlfriend and the man who brought us the Daizy Dukez song!

Eventually Edwin took the stage with Uncle Mingo and a grooving jam was had by all. A ton of cool prizes were given away and a ton of money was raised. Other highlights of the night included Doug (Tommy Hangover) giveing a producer hell for being out of business cards and me finding a late night drinking buddy who was also willing to buy the drinks!

Before I left, I had a quiet discussion with Edwin outside and we discussed his dislike for recording and his immense love of performing. I think it's easy to tell the passion that Edwin exudes when performing that way outshines his studio performances.