Tuesday, January 27, 2015

A Wilhelm Scream, Anti-Flag and Pennywise Join Forces for Homeless Benefit in Tampa’s Ybor City

Nuno Pereira, Mike Supina, Brian J. Robinson of A Wilhelm Scream
By Anita Stewart for Rock at Night and The G Clef Report
Justin Sane of Anti-Flag
Justin Sane of Anti-Flag
It was a wild and crazy night at the Cuban Club in downtown Tampa’s Ybor City on Janary 17th, 2015. A Wilhelm ScreamAnti-Flag and Pennywise joined forces to do a benefit show to help The Refuge. On this chilly night, especially for Floridians, the outside courtyard of the iconic Cuban Club was packed with revelers ready to listen to some great music, interact with the bands and stay warm by dancing in the mosh pit.
 The theme of the night with everyone Rock at Night spoke to was how the Music Industry has become corporatized and what musicians and artists need to do to move forward and go beyond their creativity with the music they produce while at the same time maintaining their integrity. 
The crowd was mixed regarding why they were there to hear these three bands. Some had listened to the music of these bands for years, others felt strongly about the political message through the music, others just wanted to be there to hear the music and have a good time.
The Refuge is an organization in St. Petersburg, Florida that provides hope, help, spiritual support and necessary resources to the large homeless population in the Tampa Bay metro area. Reverend Bruce Wright has made it his life’s mission to help the growing number of needy people including veterans, the elderly, the sick and even families in St. Petersburg despite constant opposition from the city’s leaders and business owners. Reverend Wright is also a member of the Green Shadow Cabinet and serves as the “President’s Commission on Ending Homelessness, Chair.” See more about what he does here. He is also involved with the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. Contact him directly if you would like to offer help, donate or volunteer at The Refuge.
HEAR THE INTERVIEW WITH REVEREND BRUCE! 
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Rock at Night got to talk to Mike Supina, the guitarist from A Wilhelm Scream from Massachusetts. 
HEAR THE INTERVIEW WITH MIKE! 
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Trevor Reilly and Mike Supina of A Wilhelm Scream
Trevor Reilly and Mike Supina of A Wilhelm Scream
Rock at Night’s longest interview of the night was with Justin Sane, one of the original members of Anti-Flag from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Justin spoke to us about how he saw the current policial scene and how Anti-Flag’s music addresses the political issues of the day: 
“In all honesty it has been a little disappointing to see within our own political punk scene…I feel that there has been a vacuum of political music…after many years of push, maybe political activists and people in music are a little worn out…but it is not a time for us to let up and stop bringing the truth to people’s ears…party politics are not what we need right now, I think it is more important to focus on humanitarianism and taking care of the needs of the all the people and finding commonality so that we can work together to find solutions to the crisis that our world is in right now.” 
The new album, American Spring will be out in May of 2015. 
HEAR PART OF THE INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN!
Audio Player
Chris Head, Justin Sane, and Pat Thetic of Anti-Flag
Chris Head, Justin Sane, and Pat Thetic of Anti-Flag
Jim LIndberg of Pennywise
Jim LIndberg of Pennywise
Nuno Pereira of A Wilhelm Scream
Chris Barker of Anti-Flag
Chris Barker of Anti-Flag
WATCH Anti-Flag at The Cuban Club concert!

PLEASE CHECK OUT ROCK AT NIGHT’S PHOTO GALLERY FOR MORE PHOTOS OF ANTI-FLAGand A Wilhelm Scream!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Blue Meridian’s 20th Year Reunion Show with Friends and Special Guests, Elevators



By Anita Stewart for ROCK AT NIGHT and THE G CLEF REPORT
Donovan Lyman of Blue Meridian
Donovan Lyman of Blue Meridian
Rock at Night was glad to be on hand in beautiful downtown Orlando’s, The Social to check out this show on Friday, December 26th, 2014. The vibes were awesome and the music was great! Blue Meridian’s Donovan Lyman returned to Orlando and reunited with one of the original members of the band, Manny Rivera, and friends Kenny Beaumont of the band Cider and Erik Lievano of the World. Friends and family came to join in the fun evening. Blue Meridian played music from their older albums and had the crowd grooving, dancing and singing along.
Rock at Night got to interview Donovan Lyman, the original leader of the band and main songwriter who is now living in Los Angeles; he gave us a brief history of the band, described the old music, his move to California, his travels through Europe and filled us in on his more recent music and what he is doing now. Read that interview HERE
Donovan Lyman of Blue Meridian
Donovan Lyman of Blue Meridian
Rock at Night also got to speak with Manny Rivera, the lead guitarist on Blue Meridian’s first three albums, about the reunion. He told us how he felt about getting together with the band for this gig, why he did not join the exodus out west and about his new music with the local band, Halo MiloListen to the interview BELOW:
Audio Player
Blue Meridian
Blue Meridian: Photo by Anita Stewart
John Terry, a personal friend of Donovan Lyman’s and previously an entertainment writer for the Orlando Sentinel spoke to Rock at Night about the emerging music scene in Orlando in the 90’s, about old and new trends and genres, Orlando venues, Blue Meridian’s rapid rise and nostalgic memories of the band’s beginnings. Listen to the interview BELOW:
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Elevators
Elevators band at The Social, Orlando: Photo by Anita Stewart.
Fresh faces and just beginning to emerge on the music scene in Orlando are Elevators (not “THE Elevators”). Comprised of two brothers, Ryan and Matt McIntire on guitar and drums respectively, Andy Wabbe on bass with one of those brothers married to Niki, the band’s headliner, their music is a power-thumping, high energy mix of pop, punk and garage rock, guaranteed to get you out of your seat! Listen to the interview BELOW:
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