GO ALL OUT!

LISTEN TO THE FASTERMORES. LISTEN TO RAZOR KiNGS.

“Every representation therefore which is consistently drawn may be supposed to be interesting, inasmuch as it gratifies this natural interest in knowledge of all kinds. What is not interesting, is that which does not add to our knowledge of any kind; that which is vaguely conceived and loosely drawn; a representation which is general, indeterminate, and faint, instead of being particular, precise, and firm.”

     -Matthew Arnold, Preface to Poems, 1853

 Listen – actually listen to what's happening on the other side of your speakers. Do it.  You should do it loud and well.   What you're experiencing is sincerity & precision.  Pay attention. Lyrics are stories, growth, and passion. Guitars grit and growl agitate chopped into delectable pieces.  Basses just roll and moan, the thick outline to the round shapes pulsing from drums.  These are two of the most genuine bands you'll encounter.  They do what they want how they want it, and it's a proven fact that that always starts a movement.  This may be largely due to the fact both of these bands have never settled for labels & categorization.  Who's to say what is punk or hip-hop?  Not you. Not me. And they'll be the first to admit, not them.  Weeeeeeelllllllllll, of course we all have our own definitions – but neither of these bands even subscribes to their own definitions.  “Music” just IS.  If Mos Def & The Roots can make punk songs halfway through their career, Doug Callahan can certainly freestyle over a rockabilly track.  The truth and brotherhood is evident in every song and recording.  That's why you should listen.  They give you a sound, and from there it's “ours” not “theirs”. 

RZR is probably the most accessible band out of the two.  Their sonic evolution has left a trail 5 years deep... and that's under the name “RAZOR KiNGS”.  I feel like Gary, Vashon, & John-Paul have always been a band – in fact they were The Gorbals, John-Paul & His Insecurities, A Mask in the Oatmeal, and Square Go.  Each band, an extension of the creator's mind. Each band a tool to get closer to the truth.  Razor Kings serves as a crossroads for the 3 multi-instrumentalists/song writers.   With the namesake serving as the pinnacle of creativity amongst the 3, and you can certainly hear it on their first full length, “Truth Hurts”.  It would be tedious and trite for me to give examples of how & why, but there is mental relief in their words, “...but don't lose faith in the things you cannot see because one day all your dreams will reside in present day you see. I know nothings wrong but something just ain't right.”  It's the quintessential quest for more with RAZOR KiNGS, and it's only a matter of time honestly.  Those of us fortunate enough to have been around these guys for years know the time they put into their music will carry them beyond us. 

 “GOKiNGDOM.net” is a social movement site – Gary wanted to create a hub for musicians; a one stop pop & lock for bands venturing up and down the east coast.  Get there.  You can also find “Truth Hurts” on iTunes, Amazon or any other major internet music distributor.   Razorkings.net is the almighty Razor King connection site. You'll find their myspace, twitter, facebook, youtube, etc there.

The Fastermores “turn aggression into fun” according to their website's bio.  That probably is about as close to a description you can get for them.  Doug started writing music years ago with punk and ska bands.  Eventually, and with more intense wordplay, he began playing solo shows. He grew out of love with girls, and in love with friends. You can hear the camaraderie become the most important thing. In “Vices” he wails,

 “My friends and I, we live and die for times when time slows, til we're all arm in arm singing songs we don't know. The hours pass we pause and laugh for the shit we've been through. The night is ours, and for a moment, yeah the world is too.” 

 It was one of those things where, as a listener, you could hear the weight of the words he began to say and you found yourself believing in them too.  I think its because words meant more and more to him – almost to the point where he didn't need any music behind him at all.  Some of their songs are bare bones, only hitting the whole notes; and Dougie's spitting over it the entire time.  The fact of the matter is that Doug is a monster of a wordsmith, and his pieces lend themselves well to music.  There is something to say about the musicians he plays with as well.  I don't think Doug could have done so well without their help.  That is, The Fastermores couldn't be Doug, and then some backing session players.  As a unit, the band is stripped down and optimized to leave the fastest best impression you've ever heard.  I've heard them grow as a band – I've heard them get better, tighter, more comfortable. Zern's playing has always been a literal mix between punk and hip hop – always the head nod beats.  But I've seen him get more animated at shows over time, hitting the cymbals harder and giving himself whiplash now.  This has to have something to do with the fact that Zach the wild man on bass has been at it since day one.  It's like the kid is a maniac, hitting himself in the head screaming the words (without a mic, just throwing his head back closing his eyes and screaming to the ceiling).  I love it. I love them. The Fastermores embody everything you want to be in life.  The double dog dare. 

Doug recently set up plans to move to Richmond, which is why I'm writing this – a forecast.  I really hope The Fastermores get a foot in the door around here.  Richmond's scene certainly needs it.  So many bands around here are really talented, but forgettable.  I think The Fastermores will smack Fist City in the face and tell it to wake up.  You can find them at myspace.com/thefastermores

It should be known that both of these bands know each other.  They go hand in hand.  There's a little family down there in Virginia Beach, and they are just 2, of like, 5 bands that are changing the scene – each with their individual strength.  The only thing tying them together is friendship. I mean, no one in that little family sounds like the other. It's a movement of diversity.  Musical incest.  When shows are played together, it's really eclectic.  That may be why they're great; family competition, the perpetual desire to go bigger like a skate session. Razor Kings, The Fastermores, J. Karner & the Petersen Brothers, Counterfeit Molly, Spies, Ten O'Clock High, LEHI, Mike Federali, A Mask in the Oatmeal, Speakeasy have all pushed each other. The relationships amongst them are like living in a fun house.  One big ass building, and every room was different.  Every room was your favorite. Some have dispersed and moved, but family had a great name for a while.