Who says myspace is dead? If it wasn't for myspace I might not have heard about a smokin' sound that caters to my need to scream, jump, rock, and sing along all at once. Now, I'm not a super fan of scream metal but a lot of people are. I prefer to have some type of singing in most songs so it was awesome to meet yours and my next favorite band, ARDOR. I can't say enough good things about this band. They are magic in my speakers. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in during life right now or maybe they're just that damn good! I'd pick the latter.
If you've not heard of ARDOR, you will soon. Right now actually since you're reading this. They have an amazing summer tour coming your way and you will rock your pants off. If you're not wearing pants don't tell me about it, I don't want to know. Started by Lateral Fold's former member Brian Gerbetz, this Columbus, Ohio band will melt your face off and I'm not talking about the stunning visual front woman, Christine Varian. If she had flesh residue from giving birth to 8 kids, one arm and a boil over one of her eyebrows she would still have success. Her voice is that good. And it's not just her by any means. This archetypal alternative/metal powerhouse has crunching guitars by its founder Brian, bleeding leads by Jared Liette, and a strangulating bass composure by Corey Catlettto which adds to the intoxicating voice of Christine. Then, you get a a purposeful nervous twitch by one of Zues's favorite noisemakers, Brandon Brown, as he rains murder on the drums.
I know, you might think, "a chic singer? Does she have more going for her than looks?" Slap yourself in the face twice while holding a sharpened pencil. Christine can scream rock with best of them and so can Brian and Corey. In fact, if I closed my eyes and listened to the few tracks they let loose on the public via their myspace page (debut album not released until April sometime) I would think fists were trying to punch me and I didn't even say anything to them. Damn, I say.
This collective conscious of clever crunching chord arrangements has allowed ARDOR to play along with the likes of Forever in Terror, Sourblood & Tension Head, just to name a few, as well as score face time with popular magazines such as The Rock 'N Roll Report, ALIVE! Magazine, and Queens of Metal Publication, among others. Their talent scored them an ipod commercial for the hearing impaired. If you didn't hear me the first time I said an IPOD COMMERCIAL FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED.
So how did this band pull it together so fast and collectively since they formed midway through 2008? How did they play hundreds of venues and get posted on over 1300 radio stations? I mean, It wasn't just famous producer of OnceOver and Taproot, Steve Dwyer. No sirs and ma'ams and others who might not fit either category. Read the interview to see for yourself.
INTERVIEW
Hit Man: Up and coming bands always look at inspirations which you, no doubt, are. Ok guys and one girl, how did you do it? How in the world did you become so popular so fast in just a year and a half?
ARDOR: First and foremost, we wrote some great tracks and made high quality recordings. This is the foundation any band needs before starting to push and promote themselves. Next came heavy, heavy internet promotion through every medium imaginable: Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Pure Volume, etc. The band also gives away all of the music for FREE @ www.ardorband.com. The most important part of any new band is to get your music out there as much as possible. From there, it has been tirelessly working to promote the band and write new material, as well as being fortunate enough to meet some great people along the way that have helped push this band out to the public.
HM: Your sound caters to several things I like, all at once. It leads me to believe your influences aren't confined to one particular style. What are your influences musically and personally?
Ardor: Brandon: Personally, I am very picky with what I listen to. I like metal on my own terms. There is a lot of metal that people are surprised that I don't like. Basically it comes down to having a nice singing voice, nice screaming voice, or a mixture of both and dynamic music. I can't settle for anything that sounds boring to play. I also listen to a good amount of techno/dance music, trip-hop, and some of the more poppy rock/metal music.
Brian: I've always been one to let any and all music genres influence me; I am not biased to any particular style of music. I believe that if someone is a TRUE musician, they should listen to and be influenced by all types of music. However, if I could listen to my own music/writing style from a 3rd person perspective, I would definitely notice (indirectly) influences from such bands as Killswitch Engage, Deftones, Tool, All That Remains, and Stutterfly, as those have been my favorite hardcore bands throughout the years and the driving force behind a lot of my riffage. All in all, I would say that my influences can't 'truly' be picked apart when listening to Ardor, because my writing takes on a lot of 'random' elements, meaning; I just sit down and write, trying NOT to be so inspired by other peoples music. In lies the secret as to why Ardor's music cannot 'really' be compared to any other band. Even with the latter addition of Jared and Corey, whom have become more of the writing force towards the end of the album, Ardor's music continues to be distinct.
Christine: I think that's one of the best attributes of this band :) ? You cannot label or confine us to just one genre. We are really everything all wrapped up in one; it's a beautiful thing. Personally I love and respect all types of music, as a real musician knows no boundaries. Good music is good music, but who I come to find inspires me the most would have to be Maynard James Keenan from Tool, APC, and Pucifer. I cannot stress enough how great and articulate his music is. I truly enjoy Female Front woman also. Nothing shows power to me like a woman who can rock! Otep, Halestorm, Kittie, all are talented women. And last but not least because the list could go on and on, I love Amy Lee, Mudvayne, Chevelle, Staind, and Manson! All are artists who played a part in who I am, and how I came to be through their music.
Corey: From other people we are claimed to be a "paramore on steriods", or a "ballsier Evanescence". I would say our sound is a mix between an In This Moment and Flyleaf blended with Killswitch Engage and a pinch of As I Lay Dying for that heavier taste. Personal music tastes...I love all kinds of different music, just depends what type of mood I'm in. I'm a huge Cold fan, but I wouldn't say that I get my influences from them. When writing (personally) I tend to stray away from listening to rock music or metal music for influences, as being around it and listening to it all the time makes it just start to blend together. Getting my mind out of that feel or mood of heavier rock music tends to help me be more creative with coming up with ideas for songs. Listening to music like "The Postal Service" or "Fae", or even country (yea I said it, COUNTRY) are good alternatives.
Jared: When it comes to riffs and overall song structures, I love alternative metal acts like Tool and Flaw. I think those two bands are rooted in my general feel when creating new music. Whether or not is comes through, I really don't know lol. I am also a big fan of riffage from more hard rock type acts like Sevendust and Alter Bridge. Mark Tremonti writes some great hard rock riffs. They are simple in structure, but contain a certain level of flair and technicality that keeps them interesting. When it comes to writing solos, I tend to gravitate to two artists in particular: John Petrucci (Dream Theater) and Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth). Both have excellent feel and phrasing when writing leads. There is always evident technical playing and skill while still maintaining meaningful and fitting parts. Their attention to detail on every single note is also phenomenal. While not always playing as fast as them (namely Petrucci, that guy can shred!), I try to emulate the other aspects of their playing.
HM: Ardor means an intense feeling of love and also a feeling of strong eagerness, usually in favor of a person or cause. Also, according to wikipedia, Ardor is the second album by Love Spirals Downwards, an Ethereal band on the US record label, Projekt. It was originally released in 1994; a remastered version, with extra tracks, was released in 2007. Ardor is also a 2002 South Korean film directed by Byun Young-Ju. It stars Yunjin Kim of Lost fame. Were any of these reasons why you picked the name Ardor and have you ever heard of Byun Young-Ju?
Ardor: Brian: We have never heard of Byun Young-Ju, nor does the name 'Ardor' have ANY affiliation with the album by Love Spirals Downwards. I chose the name for a few reasons; the first being that it's spelling arrangement being short, easy to remember, and starting with the first letter of the alphabet, made it highly marketable. The second, being that the overall definition 'enthusiasm, zeal, passion, desire' describes EXACTLY who we are, and what the music is about; that we strive to positively inspire our fans with our music and lyrics, and that we have the passion and drive to push this project to the utmost level of success. The last reasoning, and perhaps the most important which up until now has been somewhat disclosed and will remain partially disclosed, is that the other definition of Ardor (intense heat, burning) relates to a personal matter involving a traumatic experience where I was involved in a house-fire at a younger age, to which still haunts me to this very day. The full details of this story, I prefer to remain a mystery, but the presence of its affiliation can definitely be recognized throughout the history of our marketing collateral; such as our very first logo containing a medical symbol, with flames inside of it. Since then, we have done away with the flames and the Ardor symbol now only contains the medical 'plus symbol' which continues to reflect part of the initial reasoning behind the name 'Ardor'. Overall, the name Ardor probably has a different meaning, not only to each member of Ardor individually, but to our fans as well; it will forever remain open to interpretation.
HM: As fast as you can come up with an acronym for ARDOR. For example, as I typed this question I came up with: Alone, Ronnie Dances Over Roadkill.
Ardor: Brandon: A Reindeer-Dactyll Ovary Rally
Brian: A Remembrance of Dying Over Righteousness
Christine: All Reason Dies Obey Redivivus (look it up or google it!)
Corey: Another Reason Dads Own Rifles
Jared: Ardorable rockstars devoir only Ramen
HM: To date, what is your coolest experience as a band?
Ardor: Shooting the music video for "A Love Like Mine" was a huge life accomplishment for everybody in this band. It was definitely a step above our experiences in previous bands of playing shows and recording albums. Although I think the tour this summer will quickly lead to some unforgettable experiences that may top the video shoot, lol.
HM: Taproot isn't quite the same style as yours. How did you manage to gain the attention of Steve Dwyer? That's pretty impressive. Or was it just a matter of having enough money to pay the guy what he wanted?
Ardor: Brian: I met Steve Dwyer in years past, when playing sold-out shows in Toledo with my former band 'Lateral Fold'. Dwyer was the drummer for the popular Toledo based metal band 'OnceOver' and has been associating and working with Taproot for years (Toledo, OH and Ann Arbor, MI where Taproot is from, are close neighbors). I cannot pinpoint the exact time he became my friend, I think it was more or less a gradual thing over the years. Dwyer and I have learned to respect each other as human-beings and as musicians, and Dwyer has always been intrigued with my writing. So when I approached him with the idea of starting Ardor, he was more than happy to help produce it.
HM: You have your debut release in April, if I understand correctly. What kind of inspirations decided the lyrics and what kind of mood does it set? Your songs on myspace make me want to punch stuff and actually helped me deal with a personal issue a little better.
Ardor: Christine: Ahhh, the sweet sounds of letting aggression go!! Aka METAL!!! Well with the lyrics I really tried to touch base on issues I think most people could relate to the most. As this is our debut album, I thought it would be best to put a little bit of everything, and all of these issues are real in my own life. Issues such as depression, striving to try your best no matter what, feeling the everyday struggle of life, overcoming obstacles, addiction, etc. are all included. Every song defiantly has a different feel and meaning. I really think people can appreciate an album where you don't have to skip over songs but rock to every track!!
HM: Another issue I have is with Ramen noodles. Truthfully. Is anyone else upset that the price of Ramen noodles went up?
Ardor: Haha, not so much right now. But come tour time, those extra few cents are going to start adding up!
HM: Ok, here is where you can tell people some of the best links to get to know you and hear your stuff. Pitch away but watch the face.
Recently, via an associate of Mos Def, of all people, I was asked to check out a rap artist known as JC. I figured since Mos Def has a style of his own I'll send JC a message and see what new things he might be able to bring to the table. So, I downloaded his free mix tape called "Last House on the Left" and got busy listening to it.
Since it's a mix tape I won't add or take away any points for the beats. I focused on these things: style, lyrical content, flow, originality, and sensible lyric structure. JC has a good voice. At times I was hoping to hear what kind of singing voice he has but didn't find any tracks where he was actually singing. Reading some of his tweets on his twitter page I laughed a few times and thought he made some good points about certain situations. It was like he really thought about things before talking about them. I like deep thought in anyone's conversation, especially in songs. I went into JC's lyrics with this mind set. .
JC's lrycis had similar messages to one another. An occasional line here and there was funny and sometimes you would find a good point. I can see how a lot of people can relate to what he has to say. Maybe it's because of the beats but I did find that his style wasn't all that original, at least compared to the underground stuff that I hear. When I listen to music, especially rap, I like to find stand outs. Don't get me wrong, he does what he does very well and in Texas he might be totally original. Of course, this can be said about every genre of music. .
So, to me, although his flow is good, his voice is solid, and sometimes he encompassed that deep thought I didn't find it to be totally original. JC did pull together his messages and if an associate of Mos Def says to take a listen then of course he has talent that appeals. And he's not bad, not bad at all. It will be interesting to see how far JC will go. So take a listen for yourself and help him along the way. He has his mix tape available for free download here INSTERT LINK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HIS MIX TAPE HERE. You can also follow him on Twitter here at INSERT HIS TWITTER LINK HERE. .
So let's get inside J C and get an inside scoop of this hot Dallas Rapper.
Please give us a little background on yourself.
J.C.: I'm from Dallas. I've been trying to put it down for the streets for the longest and make some good music. I'm trying to show people a new side of everything. I've been rapping since the 8th grade.
What and/or who are your major influences?
J.C.: Myself!
To be mentioned by an associate of Mos Def is incredible. Do you know him or is this just a sign of how good your stuff really is?
J.C.: Naww, I don't know him, just promoting on the internet. What do they say? Word of mouth is a mutha f*****.
Was there ever a time in your life you were most deaf?
J.C.: Hell yea, Everyday of my life; Times when I'm getting money. Reppin' for what I stand for.
What about least deaf?
J.C.: Times I was broke, had to get something going. I had to focus and make plans to get out of those type of situation. You're least deaf when you can't survive, you know what I mean?
Who have you performed with or collaborated with?
J.C.: Producer-wise: DJ Endo, Money Mitch, Kay-oh, & QuestBeats. Rap-wise from Dallas: Duckett aka Rapta, Lil' Tony, Relentless, & Prablum Chyld. I like to collab, but, at the same time, I don't need any help, I make hits.
To date, what is your most memorable musical experience?
J.C.: Every time I'm in the studio creating music from scratch, smoking my kush. I make a lot of music in my mind; and freestyling on tracks.
What are some of your best successes, to you?
J.C: I'm really never content, so times I was successful, I didn't dwell on it long. I'm always trying to do new and better things, but at the same, anytime I've made myself happy I felt successful; and anytime I'm getting money, I'm successful, because I'm surviving.
Research shows that rap and hip/hop is the most crowded genre, mostly due to ease of production. I find it fun to write and rhyme and that's probaby another draw. So to be able to stand out and get attention is no small feat. It seems you're on your way to doing that. What advice can you give up and coming rap artists who are trying to make it?
J.C.: Do YOU! Stay focused, don't change for nobody; and remember where you come from. That's with anything in life; you know what I'm saying?
Here's where I let you pitch yourself. A strong following is often reflected online. Tell your fans-to-be where they can find more information about you and how to contact you and where they can listen to your stuff.
J.C.: Follow me on Twitter @jc100grand & on MySpace www.myspace.com/dahustlajc
Ok, brace yourself. The final questions are always intense. Ready? If you had a chance to visit a deceased rap artist who would it be, what do you think they would be wearing and would you all talk about smokin' weed at any point in your conversation?
J.C.: I'd go holla at Pac, Big, and Pimp C. Smoke some kush with 'em and chop it up about the rap game and life.
Thanks JC. It was cool meeting you and I had fun with the interview. I wish you much success.
J.C.: I appreciate y'all for the interview. Get at me on any kind of music level. Download Last House On The Left - http://www.zshare.net/download/7265825122099f34/ .
Be on the lookout for First House On The Right, RealLiveDopeBoy, Still In The Dopehouse, Genius At Work, Dope City the album, and The Paper Boy mixtape-album.
Ok all you arts and science enthusiasts, have I got a cool experience to share with you!
As you know, I like to promote artists of all genres. Well, in an effort to see what the city of
Louisville, KY, had in the way of artists I spent a Saturday scoping downtown and was able to visit the Louisville Science Center thanks to the freindly and intelligent Danielle Waller. I heard that they had local art there so I was on a mission to see exactly what it was. What I
actually experienced was one of the coolest places I've been and not just because of the immensely spectacular Titanic Exhibit.
This four-floor building held many surprises ranging from nearly 150 learning and activity stations to a four story IMAX Theatre. I'm talking about teaching laboratories, a fun way to learn about the human body with trivia game consoles, arcade style bacteria smashing and my favorite, the x-rays. Yes, people in positions doing everyday activites with a screen that shows an X-RAY of what happens while you do it, none of which made me queezy.
This largest hands-on science center in Kentucky also had an awesome variety of interactive ways to learn about industrial technology, building your own bike, skeleton weight lifting, a huge wall screen map that told you of different places around Kentucky, wildlife, a machine that showed you pictures of what you'll look like every couple decades, a kids zone that made me wish I was 10 again, 3 or more different educational and breathtaking movies on their IMAX screen, info on chemistry, telecommunications, physics, manufacturing, oh I could go on and on. So I will.
Their exhibit, The World Around Us, combines natural and earth sciences to create a fantastic range of interactive and multimedia activities. Three awesome ecological galleries that cover the atmosphere, terrashpere and aquasphere will excite you if you're an environment buff.
For history fans their Discovery Gallery has natural history collections that includes cool, interactive learning experiences with the mummy, polar bears and Gemini trainer.
The World We Create is a fascinating exhibit
that introduces you to a mixture of manufacturing, transportation, chemistry, architecture, physics, engineering and communication. You can actually indulge all your senses in this fun environment and also compute and design stuff. There's even physical science exploration. True! Here you can build with blocks, conduct chemistry experiments, design a bike, delivering high-tech packages and more. No pyromania exhibits though, thankfully. This was a lot of fun!
Another amazing exhibit was The World Within Us. According to their site, it “lets you get to know the amazing body that's yours for life. Learn more about how your body works through hands-on exhibits that will give you a new appreciation for the parts most people take for granted. How does your voice work? Just how large is a large intestine? You'll never see your body in the same way again!” Well, they were right. In a salute to my mother, a nurse, I would soon head to this amazing exhibit where I'll also see how healthy and unhealthy lifestyle choices affect my body, as if the reflection in the mirror wasn't enough. And I sure wasn't going to miss the recommended highlights, “Out of Control: Slide behind the wheel of an orange Volkswagen and experience the difference between driving sober and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Time Machine: This photo booth takes you into the future so you can see how you might look in 20, 30 or 40 years. Amazing Beginnings: In a reverent, awe-inspiring display, eight human embryos and fetuses show how you grew from two autonomous cells.”
Before I could get into more meat and potatoes of this fine facility I had to check out their intense Titanic exhibit. If you have never seen this historic adventure you should head out to wherever it's going next. Seeing this with my own eyes was simply awesome. Very educational, very breathtaking and it had cool, detailed touches to boot. Before entering we were told that the cases which held the artifacts were on an alarm system. I was also handed a mock boarding pass with the name of one of the passengers that actually rode on the Titanic. At the end of the exhibit I was to find the name in the list of survivors or the list of those who perished that tragic night. Sad to say, my guy and his family didn't make it. I also have to mention that they had an actual large piece of a freshwater iceburg there as well. It was so cold. It was to let people get an idea of how cold the water was when the Titanic went down. In fact, the water was colder than that iceburg.
The exhibit walls had pictures of those on the massive boat and brief stories of others. The belongings in the cases had photos and stories of those whom they belonged to and there was even a pair of phones that had recordings of what eye witnesses who survived had described about the tragedy. Intense! There was a volunteer there as well who was stuffed full of information that the exhibit did not display. To me, it was icing on the cake. So, of course, I had to check out the four-story IMAX screening of James Cameron's deep sea dive to explore the Titanic.
Inisde this 250 capacity theater it was difficult to find a seat but it was well worth it. The screen was in your face like a dog wanting a cookie. The way it added to the historic allure of the Titanic Exhibit was incredible. I could not imagine going there ever again without also partaking in an IMAX adventure. I even think only one kid cried. That's impressive due to the number of families with children that were there.
This wonderful Titanic piece catered to my assistant, Stephanie in major ways. It is her favorite historical story so I let her write an article on the exhibit for you to read at the end of this article. Yes, I'm that kind.
After the movie was over I spent a lot of time in the health science section, “The World Within Us.” It was the most interactive learning experience I've ever witnessed (and that includes the game, Charades, and the kids game, Memory. Ha.) Huge displays in vibrant colors really grabbed my attention. Computers with Trivia about what you just saw were there as well to test your smarts factor. Devices that let you see pieces of bone construction via magnifiying glass, a machine that showed you what vision is like with several different diseases, a lot of different interactive ways to see your heart at work, and the list goes on and on. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the skeletal movements as I simulated weight lifting and enjoyed destroying bacteria via an arcade video game machine.
I witnessed the aging process of my associate, Stephanie, as she sat in front of this screen that took her picture and showed her what she would theoretically look like every 20 years until age 85. According to the machine she wouldn't gain much weight, she would get glaucoma judging by how one of her eyes looked and that she would actually live to age 85. Theoretic flaws aside, this was unique entertainment. We also saw the KidZone where little ones could play and learn. I'll just say that Ronald McDonald would be jealous. I also witnessed some cool nature and wildlife history of Kentucky and was in gemstone heaven in their surprisingly varied gift shop. Come on now, a gemstone vending machine? Yes! Fifty cents in, a handful of gemstones out. $2.00 later and we needed a bag for them. Those clever little vendors and that wonderful machine! Before you think I'm some dork I'll have you know I'm a gemstone fanatic.
Finally, after so much fun, I found the only spot that had local artwork. It was hanging on the wall along the hall by the IMAX theater entrance. More than a dozen paintings decorated the wall all by the same artist, Margaret Oechsli, PHD . She uses a process called Photomicrography. As I understand it, it's photography through a microscope. Her unique artwork includes different medicines with cool pieces such as “Dots Going For The Walk,” “Vagueness of Being” and “Almond Default” which all are priced at $1500. Amazing idea, her artwork! She crafts it very well. Sadly, that's all they seemed to have in regards to local art. Well, it wasn't really sad. the rest of the museum was just too cool for words.
I wish I could have stayed there longer. We spent over four hours there and didn't even get to experience a good third of the place. Danielle Waller says that the ROBOTS exhibit starts in about two weeks, an exhibit based off the animated movie ROBOTS. How cool is that? When I go back to write on it I will partake in the rest of the adventure that is the Louisville Science Center . Next time I will focus greatly on the exhibit. This article was to let you know about this entertaining complex. Maybe one day they'll have a mime display. It would be more acceptable than a drunk driving display. Yikes! To see for yourself all the other things this place has to offer and its rich history visit the site at www.LouisvilleScience.org and when you visit, let them know that Daniel sent ya!
So to Danielle, Josh, Kelly and the rest of the staff, thank you for your hospitality, your energy, and passion. It was one of the coolest places I've been. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon!
– Daniel C. Morrison
aka the Hit Man for Arts and Entertainment Connexions
Shout! Radio Services
DanielsDoorstep.com
A Walk Through The RMS Titanic Exhibit at The Louisville Science Center
Written By: Stephanie Pacey
Titanic's story is still heard even from the dark, abysmal silence of the bottom of The Atlantic. It has been almost ninety-eight years since that fateful night that the White Star ocean liner set sail on it's first and last journey to its watery grave. Today, the luxury ship sits over 12,500 feet below the ocean's surface as a massive tomb for over 1,500 souls and millions of memories.
The Louisville Science Center's exhibit on this tragic loss is beyond what you would call “informative”. Unlike most historical walks through time, not only do you learn about things you wouldn't possibly know, you actually enjoy learning little known facts about Titanic, and are able to recall them later on. They incorporate every way of learning that is known in society into one massive place. Everyone knows the story of Titanic, even today's middle school students know a little about the ill-fated, maiden voyage of the largest and most luxurious ocean liner ever made at the time. Whether they learned about it in school or watched the movie, they know the basics. What the exhibit in the Science Center had to offer was above and beyond.
At the beginning of the exhibit, you are told by one of the many workers donning lab coats that the artifacts actually come from excavations of the wreckage, and because of their delicate condition, they are encased in glass that will sound an alarm if it is touched. You are also told to look out for “major butt”, who ends up being a passenger from Louisville named Major Archibald Butt. So in finding the amusement of this tragically, yet humorously named man, you remember the name later on at the end of the exhibit. They give you a faux boarding pass with a name of a passenger on it, why they are travelling, who they are travelling with, and what they do for a living.
As you walk through, there are framed pictures and facts along the walls, and encased artifacts such as: American currency, bank notes, dinnerware, pots and pans, hair brushes, toothpaste containers, Gillette razor blade wrapper, a champagne bottle with liquid still in it, a marriage certificate, the list goes on and on. There is also a part in which you see a menu of what types of food was served to each class rank. There is also a fun fact stating that one ticket for first class would be around 100,000 dollars today. The most aristocratic passenger was John Jacob Astor who was a businessman in New York. Mr. Joseph Bruce Ismay was the owner of Titanic and was on the ship when it hit the iceberg. He was also the man behind how fast the ship was going and how many lifeboats were on the ship on its maiden voyage. He survived by getting on collapsable lifeboat C. Mr. Thomas Andrews was the ship's builder, and spent his last hours telling people to get on the lifeboats and to put on a lifejacket. Sadly, he did not survive.
Near the end of the exhibit you come to an actual freshwater iceberg that you touch to feel how cold the water would have been for the 1,500+ souls that didn't manage to get on a lifeboat because there weren't enough to rescue everyone on board. You also get to see some AuGratin dishes found stacked neatly in the rows they were in when the ship sank. At the end, you walk to a wall that has the classes, and a list of who survived and who perished. You are to take your boarding pass and try to locate the name on it to see what happened to them that cold night on April 14th, 1912. You could also go to their IMAX Theater and see “Ghosts of the Abyss”, a short film by James Cameron, the director of Titanic starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. It takes you on an exploration of Titanic's wreckage and stars Bill Paxton who is a guest on the quest. There is also two special guests called : Jake and Elwood, two ROV “bots” on the boat that become part of the family.
I knew a great deal about Titanic when I went to see this amazing exhibit, and I can say with confidence that it was the best learning experience about the ship and its passengers I have ever witnessed. There is nowhere else I can think of that related so much in a few hours as the Louisville Science Center did. They make learning a lot more fun and easy than, say, reading a book, or an article (just kidding..) I would love to go back to see their next exhibit on Robots that starts March 20th.
Question: What do you get when you mix passion, positive reinforcement, solid lyrics, soaring rhythms, heavy rock and neck strain from saying "whoah, I like that"? You get TRUST DIVIDED. I'm talking about the newest band from Louisville (or Jeffersonville, IN more appropriately.) Before I get to the review of their awesomeness at their live performance where they opened for music legends Nonpoint and Cold let's get a little inside info on this talented group of rockers, shall we?
TRUST DIVIDED is comprised of a group of experienced and serious minded musicians, two of which met through the U.S. Coast Guard in Louisville. Knowing that it takes hard work and dedication TRUST DIVIDED set a course that has picked up a quick, steady pace that resonates well with the public and seasoned bands such as REV THEORY. So much so, in fact, they quickly scored a gig where they get to open up for them. In just four months they have recorded five songs in a respected, high quality studio, garnered a wealth of positive feedback and easily have booked many concerts.
What is extra cool about Bradford and David is the fact that they are in active duty. "Due to The Military we find ourselfs having to transfer every three to four years, which makes this even more of a challenge for our band," says David. "Our goal was to come out very professional with a good sound that we hope people enjoy listening to."
I, personally, find that remarkable and inspiring. I've listened to four of their songs and agree that TRUST DIVIDED has a powerful sound with positive lyrics. But to see them in action is a real treat.
What adds even more flair to their dedication is the fact that all of the members are married, getting married, have children, and have children on the way. David says, "When we put a song together we always keep that in mind because we want our children to be able to listen to our music. We dont have as much time as most other bands so we are doing everything we can in the little time that we do have. "
Isn't it cool to see this kind of heart and determination with talent to boot? I think so. Therefore, I pulled out my unique list of interview questions and had them get to it. Bur first, here's my review on their live performance at Phoenix Hill Tavern in Louisville, KY where they opened for Nonpoint and cold on 2/25/2010...
Boy, have I got a story to tell you. You might recall my article on Trust Divided, a local band from Jeffersonville, Indiana making some noise in the Ville. These guys are a blast to listen to live. They somehow managed to score an opening gig for National Acts Nonpoint and Cold in probably not even 6 months of dedication to their craft and belief in their talent.
Not only does David hang with the best of entertaining with his sweat inducing drumming, lead singer Bradford pours out emotion and stage presence with lyrics that, if you recall, have powerful messages. Sprinkle deep cutting guitar riffs and sweltering leads by Jamie and Chad and mix it with the rumbling bass skills of Bryan and check your pants when the show is over!!!
Not only could these boys compete and provide a spectacular, much deserved opening for two very well known acts they also offered a very warm, positive feeling with their humble nature as individuals who are very grateful for smiling faces, positive atmosphere and blistering music. If you've never been to their site to check out their smokin' sound head now at myspace.com/TrustDivided.
Thanks guys for living up to your potential, it was an awesome treat!
-Hit Man
Hit Man: What made you choose the name Trust Divided?
Trust Divided: Individually, we all have reasons for the name, but as a whole, we selected the name because of how much we base our music on trust. After a few months of playing together, we realized the effort and reliability each individual put towards this band. And trust me; it takes a ton of hard work and dedication when you're involved in music. Each of us plays a vital role in creating our music, so we chose the name in resemblance of dividing that trust equally amongst each other, our families, and God. None of us can do this on our own. That is why we put a big emphasis on trusting each other, God, and those who support us to give us the strength to pursue not only a career but a dream in playing music.
HM Being part of the Coast Guard is awesome and I want to thank you for serving our country and helping those in need. Is pursuing a musical career something that spawned early on or did it happen during your active duty?
TD For Bradford and David, they both agreed it was an interest of theirs way before they even decided to join the Coast Guard. David describes that since he can remember, he had a passion for music due to the impact his father had on him. Charles Payne was a professional drummer for 50 years and for a few of those years, David was a roadie for him and was inspired from there on. Bradford was always involved in singing in the choir throughout high school, but was never really inspired to pursue a career in music until his senior year when he learned how to play guitar and joined his first band.
HM I totally believe in music as two major identities. One: it is a great way to express feelings whether good, bad, love, hate, etc. Two: Lyrics are often times the most important instrument in a song. You believe in this theory. What ways do you hope your lyrics will influence people?
TD We definitely believe that lyrics play a key role in each song, but we don't believe they make a song. Everyone in this band agreed that in order to create/write great music each instrument is equally important, because each instrument compliments one another. However, we believe that lyrics can be the deciding factor on whether that person is drawn to our music or pushed away, which leads right into answering the second question. There's a hope that lyrics will give people a since of good and pride about themselves, an inspiration if you will. We base our lyrics on biblical principles, and by doing that, we want to provide to those listening a sense that there is hope in this world. A hope that encourages and gives them faith to believe they have a purpose-driven life. We want to be that spark that lifts people up and inspires them to live a Godly life.
HM Have you ever actually tried to divide trust?
TD Basically, with this question you have divided us all, so now you've been marked ?haha. We're just kidding, but seriously, yes, in the past we have, and for each of us it never turned out good.
HM What's one thing you would never trust?
TD Well, we each of us had our own, so we figured we would write down a few: Temptations of this world, public restrooms, rotten tomatoes, Satan, and a flat tire because it won't fill up with air.
HM What is one of the coolest experiences you've had so far in life with music?
TD This differs for all of us, so I will list them individually.
David: Being able to see his father play with a variety of professional acts and the opportunity to play with Rev Theory.
Jamie: Gaining support from his loving wife, getting lessons from his mentor Jeff Guernsey, and meeting Joe Satriani.
Bryan: Cherishes every chance he gets to play.
Bradford: Meeting Ben Burnley from Breaking Benjamin, Jon Sumrall from Kutless, and basically just having the opportunity to perform on stage and influence others with music..
HM Your success is happening faster than anyone I've met so far in the local scene. Do you think this has something to do with having no interest in the women, drugs, alcohol, etc.? What I mean is, looking at music as fun is number one but having a mental focus directed towards business instead of mostly pleasure seems to a better idea. Am I close to right?
TD Yes, as we mentioned before, we all are married or going to be married and have families. This has a big impact on how we live our lives and how we present ourselves as musicians. We place God and family first before everything else and we don't want anything to hinder that relationship with either one. Don't get me wrong, we love to have fun and some of us do drink, but we all have seen or been apart of bands where the drugs and alcohol ruin the music. All we can say is, it is awesome to know that each member has his priorities straight and is willing to put time in the business side of things. The more dedicated we are, the more it will be worth it in the end.
HM As fast as possible, list a few things that rhymes with trust.
TD Well, for some of us it was, but for others it was very entertaining.
HM What song in your repertoire means the most to you and why?
TD This question also is different amongst us.
Bryan - Loves all of them?. lame. Jamie - Autumn Falls - The passion this song puts forward in all aspects of the music and the lyrics, of course, I wrote this song while my wife was with me and that had a huge impact on me for this tune as well.
David - Autumn Falls because he knows that if that was his wife he would be willing to give up his life just to see her again.
Bradford - Cleansed because this relates to how miserable our lives can be when we try to handle everything ourselves whether it be struggles, temptations, etc. It is a song that is really about finding the Savior who gives us that hope and encourages us to lead a great life even though we struggle day to day.
HM What are some of your biggest influences as far as bands, singers, etc.?
TD There are a variety of influences, so here we go: Danny Carey, Jeff Guernsey, Charles Payne, Neil Peart, Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett, Jim Morrison, Dimebag Darrel, Creed, Breaking Benjamin, Demon Hunter, Rob Zombie, Chevelle, Brandon Boyd, Alter Bridge
HM Which band would you like to slap someone for saying you sounded like?
TD Slipknot, Chris Daughtery and Foreigner
HM Ok, here's where I let people know where to go to get more information on Trust Divided and where they can hear your music. Plug away!
HM Now, final question. If a boat was sinking while you were playing and there was no way you could get out, what song would you play of your own or someone else's and do you think you would miss soft drinks as a spirit?
TD The Doors - Riders on the Storm or Cleansed so hopefully God will lift the boat high above the water. Yes, would definitely miss soft drinks?.gotta have my Dew!
HM Thanks alot guys! I almost broke wind laughing so hard at some of the answers. It was fun and a pleasure. I look forward to all the noise you make in Louisville until the government pulls you away! Now readers, treat yourself to one of their awesome youtube videos.
Who says myspace is dead? If it wasn't for myspace I might not have heard about a smokin' sound that caters to my need to scream, jump, rock, and sing along all at once. Now, I'm not a super fan of scream metal but a lot of people are. I prefer to have some type of singing in most songs so it was awesome to meet yours and my next favorite band, ARDOR. I can't say enough good things about this band. They are magic in my speakers. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in during life right now or maybe they're just that damn good! I'd pick the latter.
Ok all you arts and science enthusiasts, have I got a cool experience to share with you!
Mr Versatile