On: September 18 at 10:33 AM
Photos by ghostPhotography.
To be honest, I expected to hate The Beaches of Normandy. I assumed they'd be just another obnoxious hardcore/metal band.
I’m glad to say that they proved me wrong. Art Soto and the rest of the band are pretty awesome guys; you can check them out when they open for Dance Gavin Dance Sept. 19 at Sidelines, 2801 McHenry Ave. The show starts at 6 p.m., cover is $12 and Your Own Destroyer and We're Not Friends Anymore also are on the bill.
Here's what Art had to say about the band, its future, boobs and groupies in a recent online interview:
Q: Who all is in the band? How old are they and what do they play?
AS: Jayr Pabelonio (Vocals) 22, Corey Lee Earls (guitar) 20, Anthony Peter Chavez (drums) 21, Brandon Stewart (Bass) 21, and Art Soto (Guitar) 18.
Q: Where are y’all from?
AS: The Beaches of Normandy is from Tracy CA!
Q: How did the band form?
AS: Corey and original members, Kyle and Justin, got together and found Jayr who knew Brandon that played bass. Justin and Kyle left the band. Anthony then filled in on drums and after a while I (Art) jumped in for rhythm.
Q: What style of music would you classify the band as?
AS: Haha, this one’s a hard question. We really have no idea. I guess we’re more technical metal with a hardcore influence. Lol or you can just say HYPHYCORE! :D If you think about all of our music from before to now, it’s really different...
Q: What are your influences?
AS: Music and our local scene in general. We want everyone want to know the different kind of music that is out here.
Q: Nowadays music scenes are so watered with cookie cutter bands. What would you say separates you from everyone else? What makes your music unique?
AS: We try to blend in a lot of different influences to make our own unique sound. Check out A Boy Named Sue. You get a mix of the Stockton/ Lodi Screamo and the Modesto Metal Hardcore scene. :] and a little bit of the Yosemite Bear Scene :D
Q: Do you have any favorite venues in the area?
AS: Probably the Rock and Eureka. The owner Joker from the rock is doing his best in the scene and it sucks because sometimes not a lot of kids show up. The Rock is huge and it holds a lot of people. There is lots of room to move and they are very supportive and will give you a chance.
Q: How would you describe the local scene? Do you have any complaints about it?
AS: The young kids that we can mold into our drones. Jk. It’s pretty friendly! It just seems like all the venues are disappearing. Also, a lot of the kids who come to the shows go too far and ruin the venue.
Q: Do you think the scene has become more about appearance and attitude than the actual music?
AS: Whether or not it’s about fashion or not, we’re glad that kids come out to shows and hopefully the scene turns around to be more about music.
Q: Does the band have a particular message it’s trying to send through the music? What are your songs about?
AS: There is no message really. It’s really all about just having fun. Our songs are about random situations that happen.
Q: Switching gears just a little bit, I noticed something quite common these days on your MySpace page. What is it with bands and putting pictures of girls with the band name written on their boobs on their MySpace?
AS: Well, it’s a lot better than putting guys up there! :D Haha, you know it’s a way to show love and support. So, why not?
Q: While we’re on the topic of girls, do you guys have a lot of groupies? Do you have a large female fan base?
AS: No, because we don’t really consider anybody groupies. Who do you think we are? VAN HALEN?! :]. It’s like everyone in the scene is our friend :D
Q: Aww, that’s cute. Anyway, what’s your live performance like?
AS: Everything that’s wrong with society plus breakdowns :]
Q: Do you guys have any plans for an EP or a full length album?
AS: We most likely with be recording at Castle Ultimate in the near future.
JH: Any final thoughts?
AS: If you can’t hit the back... then beat up the walls...It’s as simple as that. Nothing more, nothing less.
