Our apologies:
In our Contributors section we missed spelled Daniel’s last name, it is Ojinaga.
In our house ad (male) we misidentified the photographer. The photo was taken by Nick Nacca.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Corrections for Issue 1
Our apologies:
In our Contributors section we missed spelled Daniel’s last name, it is Ojinaga.
In our house ad (male) we misidentified the photographer. The photo was taken by Nick Nacca.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A Pre-release exclusive for Thriving Ivory
A Pre-release exclusive for Thriving Ivory:
I just came back from the most amazing concert and it was right here in our own backyard. That’s right, I saw Thriving Ivory in Petaluma at McNear’s Mystic Theater. The performance was amazing! I saw Drew (from T.I.) as I carried in a box full of MIX IT UP, hot off the press, for the select few that would be attending the concert. After unloading the 100 copies I brought, Drew got his first look at the magazine. He was very happy with the look, the photos, and the story.
As people poured into the theater I started handing out copies of MIX IT UP, just in case they didn’t get them back at the booth. Sitting back at my table with Jessica we noticed people flipping through the magazine and reading it. Jessica, being the “proud momma” (FYI-she’s a friend, not my mom) pointed out how people were enjoying it. At this point I felt a sense of accomplishment. It is really something to see your hard work, along with others, printed and in the hands of complete strangers. Looking around the theater flashes of yellow MIX IT UP from the back cover caught my eye.
The show opened with American Drag followed by Thriving Ivory. Thriving Ivory entered a black stage which soon shot beams of white light out to the audience, lighting up the stage as they started to sing. Fans screamed as Clayton’s voice mesmerized the crowd while Scott, Drew, Bret, and Paul took listeners beyond the average sound of piano, keys, guitar, bass, and drums. Thriving Ivory is among the few, that sound great live.
Thriving Ivory is not only a great band, performing songs that will take your breath away, but they are also your average guys, doing what they love.
Enter the world of Thriving Ivory…
To Clayton, Drew, Scott, Bret, and Paul, thank you for everything.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Anticipation for issue 1
For months now MIX IT UP has been talked about and in the works. What started out as an idea soon became reality. Taking the idea of starting a magazine, reading Nolo's Starting and Running a successful newsletter or magazine, and asking advice from those in the industry really helped move things along. From there things just kept falling into place. It has been an amazing few months and I, as Publisher/ Executive Editor, have learned so much on this journey.
I have learned that you have to take what you know and run with it. Don't let fear run you. Research as much as you can and know that even if you think you have researched everything, there will always be more to look up. Find out as much as possible about your subject. Take on an internship, even if its not paid. There is nothing better than real life, hands on experience. In this business, and really in every aspect of life, you have to keep after everything and everyone. Make notes of who you called, emailed, texted, Facebooked, Twittered, whatever way you communicate, that way you know when you talked to them, what you discussed and when to follow up.
Don't be afraid to talk to people once you get your idea nailed down, at least have a plan laid out. Talking will allow you to meet new people, network, and get your message out there. Believe it or not there are still people out there that want to help and provide their expertise. Be respectful and appreciative of those around you. People, especially those in the industry, are very busy but are willing to take the time to meet with you. Be prepared and DON'T waste their time.
Just a few months short of a year, a little over a week until the official release and one day short of picking up the final, printed copy of MIX IT UP (the Premiere issue), I can't believe it is finally done. All the hard work everyone has put into MIX IT UP will finally be printed and out to the public. As a Pre-Release special, exclusively for the Thriving Ivory concert tomorrow night at the Mystic Theater, some lucky fans will get their copy of MIX IT UP, featuring Thriving Ivory, early. Then, next Sunday, April 5 those attending MIX IT UP's Release party at Upper Fourth, will be able to get their copy of MIX IT UP and to enjoy a night out. Following this eventful night will be the release to the public (April 6).
I can't express how grateful I am for all of this and how amazing it is to be able to put this out there.
I hope you enjoy!
MIX IT UP
your source for work and play
Don't be afraid to express yourself.
I have learned that you have to take what you know and run with it. Don't let fear run you. Research as much as you can and know that even if you think you have researched everything, there will always be more to look up. Find out as much as possible about your subject. Take on an internship, even if its not paid. There is nothing better than real life, hands on experience. In this business, and really in every aspect of life, you have to keep after everything and everyone. Make notes of who you called, emailed, texted, Facebooked, Twittered, whatever way you communicate, that way you know when you talked to them, what you discussed and when to follow up.
Don't be afraid to talk to people once you get your idea nailed down, at least have a plan laid out. Talking will allow you to meet new people, network, and get your message out there. Believe it or not there are still people out there that want to help and provide their expertise. Be respectful and appreciative of those around you. People, especially those in the industry, are very busy but are willing to take the time to meet with you. Be prepared and DON'T waste their time.
Just a few months short of a year, a little over a week until the official release and one day short of picking up the final, printed copy of MIX IT UP (the Premiere issue), I can't believe it is finally done. All the hard work everyone has put into MIX IT UP will finally be printed and out to the public. As a Pre-Release special, exclusively for the Thriving Ivory concert tomorrow night at the Mystic Theater, some lucky fans will get their copy of MIX IT UP, featuring Thriving Ivory, early. Then, next Sunday, April 5 those attending MIX IT UP's Release party at Upper Fourth, will be able to get their copy of MIX IT UP and to enjoy a night out. Following this eventful night will be the release to the public (April 6).
I can't express how grateful I am for all of this and how amazing it is to be able to put this out there.
I hope you enjoy!
MIX IT UP
your source for work and play
Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Ordinary Riches
Company Of Thieves Review (4/5)
Debut albums are rarely the work of a band that has found their sound.
Often times, debut records sound like a mishmash of ideas that music nerds love about other bands and have painstakingly placed into their own songs. This results in a very uneven experience, one that even the greatest bands have succumbed to. The Beatles didn’t start breaking away from traditional blues licks until “Help!,” the first three Electric Light Orchestra records are largely ignored, and U2 didn’t really begin to flourish until 1987’s “The Joshua Tree.”
However, Company of Thieves happily defies this trend of messy debuts, achieving something even the Beatles could not do on their first LP.
“Ordinary Riches” is twelve concise tracks of immersive drumming, shape shifting guitar work and Genevieve Schatz’s commanding voice. Carefully balancing a mix of soft jazz and bluesy undertones, “Ordinary Riches” mines past musical archetypes but maintains an incredibly modern feel. This is evident on the internet smash “Oscar Wilde,” a track that revels in Marc Walloch’s climbing and twisting guitar lines that plateau with pristine apexes. Elsewhere, Mike Ortiz’s precise backbeat holds the group together as Walloch’s dreamy distortion and Schatz’s entrancing voice provide an almost sultry swagger to the song.
While there is a temptation for young bands to show off how remarkable their playing is, this mentality can clutter up the songs. Rather than following suit, Company of Thieves is smart enough to let the atmosphere build within these tracks, playing to what the songs need as opposed to impressing listeners. “Old Letters” opens with lumbering bass, swaying strings and cumbersome piano as Schatz’s whispered vocals cut through the air. Additionally, Walloch’s shimmering-to-overdriven lead work rounds out the track nicely as the song maintains a brooding sense of claustrophobia throughout its running time.
It’s not all horror movies and nightmares, but Company of Thieves excels at creating soundscapes that pull listeners in rather than act like background noise.
Yet the truly fascinating aspect of “Ordinary Riches” is how well the band seems to gel as a unit. Most contemporary bands are vehicles for a lead guitarist or an overrated singer, with the rest of the group merely there to fill their own instrumental roles. On “Ordinary Riches,” each member is recognizable as they add some of their personality to each of these songs. Whether its Schatz’s saucy delivery on “In Passing,” to Walloch and Ortiz’s stuttering rhythms on “Pressure,” each band member sounds like they have a voice in these arrangements.
Still, this is far from a flash in the pan, one-hit-wonder album that people forget about in a year. “Ordinary Riches” has teeth to it, a record that seems to lament on impermanence and frailty rather than a mere collection of sappy, Top 40 tailored, love songs.
“Even In The Dark” finds Schatz pondering how life continues to move when we don’t seem to see it, “Gotta listen to the laughter/Everyone must be heard/Now/Even in the dark…” Against a wall of soft acoustic strumming and a shuffling beat, Company of Thieves explores something far more poignant and interesting rather than the simple “love song by numbers” formula that dominates today’s radio.
But perhaps the group’s biggest strength is its authenticity. None of the songs on “Ordinary Riches” seem forced and derivative. Company of Thieves’ song craft is tightly refined, adding an organic quality to these tracks rather than having them feel like a monotonous workout. At the end of the day, good song craft means songs are not looked at as the sum of their parts, and Company of Thieves is incredibly talented at keeping their music spontaneous rather than methodical.
For this, look no further than pulsing bass and rich blues stomp of “Under The Umbrella.” Instead of filling the track with bludgeoning southern rock riffs, Walloch experiments with his ever changing guitar tones, which are echoing one moment and gritty the next. The song ascends on Schatz’s airy vocals, climbing until Walloch unleashes a searing wah-soaked solo that rides confidently until the track’s end.
“Ordinary Riches” will remind listeners of a time before music had to be fed through Pro Tools and processed to death. Company of Thieves relies on their ear for musical tension rather than their need to pen a cross over hit, allowing their songs to charm listeners instead of spoon feeding them.
Simply put, this is an album that succeeds because of its disciplined playing instead of its flashy construction.
“Ordinary Riches” urges its audience to remember when music took them places instead of being served to them in some sort of iTunes playlist. It displays a side of modern rock that is ethereal, evocative and nostalgic, while never really cornering itself into a restrictive and empty genre.
And to think, all of this came from a couple of rookies.
/ By Michael DiGrande
Debut albums are rarely the work of a band that has found their sound.
Often times, debut records sound like a mishmash of ideas that music nerds love about other bands and have painstakingly placed into their own songs. This results in a very uneven experience, one that even the greatest bands have succumbed to. The Beatles didn’t start breaking away from traditional blues licks until “Help!,” the first three Electric Light Orchestra records are largely ignored, and U2 didn’t really begin to flourish until 1987’s “The Joshua Tree.”
However, Company of Thieves happily defies this trend of messy debuts, achieving something even the Beatles could not do on their first LP.
“Ordinary Riches” is twelve concise tracks of immersive drumming, shape shifting guitar work and Genevieve Schatz’s commanding voice. Carefully balancing a mix of soft jazz and bluesy undertones, “Ordinary Riches” mines past musical archetypes but maintains an incredibly modern feel. This is evident on the internet smash “Oscar Wilde,” a track that revels in Marc Walloch’s climbing and twisting guitar lines that plateau with pristine apexes. Elsewhere, Mike Ortiz’s precise backbeat holds the group together as Walloch’s dreamy distortion and Schatz’s entrancing voice provide an almost sultry swagger to the song.
While there is a temptation for young bands to show off how remarkable their playing is, this mentality can clutter up the songs. Rather than following suit, Company of Thieves is smart enough to let the atmosphere build within these tracks, playing to what the songs need as opposed to impressing listeners. “Old Letters” opens with lumbering bass, swaying strings and cumbersome piano as Schatz’s whispered vocals cut through the air. Additionally, Walloch’s shimmering-to-overdriven lead work rounds out the track nicely as the song maintains a brooding sense of claustrophobia throughout its running time.
It’s not all horror movies and nightmares, but Company of Thieves excels at creating soundscapes that pull listeners in rather than act like background noise.
Yet the truly fascinating aspect of “Ordinary Riches” is how well the band seems to gel as a unit. Most contemporary bands are vehicles for a lead guitarist or an overrated singer, with the rest of the group merely there to fill their own instrumental roles. On “Ordinary Riches,” each member is recognizable as they add some of their personality to each of these songs. Whether its Schatz’s saucy delivery on “In Passing,” to Walloch and Ortiz’s stuttering rhythms on “Pressure,” each band member sounds like they have a voice in these arrangements.
Still, this is far from a flash in the pan, one-hit-wonder album that people forget about in a year. “Ordinary Riches” has teeth to it, a record that seems to lament on impermanence and frailty rather than a mere collection of sappy, Top 40 tailored, love songs.
“Even In The Dark” finds Schatz pondering how life continues to move when we don’t seem to see it, “Gotta listen to the laughter/Everyone must be heard/Now/Even in the dark…” Against a wall of soft acoustic strumming and a shuffling beat, Company of Thieves explores something far more poignant and interesting rather than the simple “love song by numbers” formula that dominates today’s radio.
But perhaps the group’s biggest strength is its authenticity. None of the songs on “Ordinary Riches” seem forced and derivative. Company of Thieves’ song craft is tightly refined, adding an organic quality to these tracks rather than having them feel like a monotonous workout. At the end of the day, good song craft means songs are not looked at as the sum of their parts, and Company of Thieves is incredibly talented at keeping their music spontaneous rather than methodical.
For this, look no further than pulsing bass and rich blues stomp of “Under The Umbrella.” Instead of filling the track with bludgeoning southern rock riffs, Walloch experiments with his ever changing guitar tones, which are echoing one moment and gritty the next. The song ascends on Schatz’s airy vocals, climbing until Walloch unleashes a searing wah-soaked solo that rides confidently until the track’s end.
“Ordinary Riches” will remind listeners of a time before music had to be fed through Pro Tools and processed to death. Company of Thieves relies on their ear for musical tension rather than their need to pen a cross over hit, allowing their songs to charm listeners instead of spoon feeding them.
Simply put, this is an album that succeeds because of its disciplined playing instead of its flashy construction.
“Ordinary Riches” urges its audience to remember when music took them places instead of being served to them in some sort of iTunes playlist. It displays a side of modern rock that is ethereal, evocative and nostalgic, while never really cornering itself into a restrictive and empty genre.
And to think, all of this came from a couple of rookies.
/ By Michael DiGrande
Monday, March 9, 2009
House Hunting
House hunting
It was just a normal Sunday. I slept in from the late night adventure of watching a friend’s kid the night before. The vibrations of my phone woke me as it skipped across my desk. As I stretched out I found it almost impossible to leave my warm, comfy bed. Once I got up I realized it was already 10 a.m. I wanted to hit the gym before a friend came into town but all I could think about was getting back in bed and sleeping. About 10 minutes later I forced myself to get up and head to the gym.
The day was starting off overcast and cold. By the time I got to the gym I was awake and ready to pump some iron. Today’s workout, chest, legs, and abs. I got in a good half hour workout and my abs were killing me. This new machine (new to me), the one were you grab the bars (shoulder width apart) and crunch down to your knees as them come up. Man that is rough. When I got out of the gym the sun was shinning, the sky was blue, and the chill had blown away. I made it back home where I showered, shaved, and got dressed for the day. At this point my stomach was ready for some food.
My friend was arriving soon, a half hour to be exact, and I was trying to figure out what we could do for the day. When she arrived I still had no idea what we were going to do but all I could think about was food. We headed over to Applebee’s and ate. We decided to do some house hunting.
House hunting is not what I consider the typical 24 year old Sunday outing. It was an interesting afternoon. I felt all grown up looking at houses I can not afford. It felt as though I was on the verge of starting the next chapter in my life, a family. We looked like a young couple ready to find our first home to start a family in. The thought of owning a home has never really appealed to me. I still have that travelers itch and find myself needing to see a part of the world every year, sometimes twice a year. The thought of spending $300,000+ on a house is crazy. Today, however, that thought was not so crazy. For the few hours of house hunting this thought felt real. It really is a trip to be looking at houses and picturing you owning and living in it.
I am sure the real estate agent was thinking, this couple can not be serious buyers. On the other hand, he could be thinking, they just might be the sale I’ve been waiting for. Either way the real estate agent was very nice and provided us with all the information we needed, he even offered to answer any questions we might have.
Walking around the neighborhood, touring the various houses we found ourselves accompanying older couples and their families. Some houses were completely furnished and set up for our viewing; others were bare, only showing the sheet rock and basic layout of the house. Having a house all put together with furniture and laid out really does make a difference, you able to picture yourself living there.
For me, the minute I walk into a house I can tell if it has potential or not. If it is open and bright then it has that homey feeling. For instance I walked into one and I could see straight back to the backyard. The light from the living room on my left was combined with the light shining down from the open staircase above and it just felt like home. The next thing on the check list is bedroom size. I am one who is really picky when it comes to bedroom sizes. I can not stand having a hole in the wall room, which is usually what you find now a days. The bedroom should be big enough to have a queen size bed, dresser, and a few other pieces of furniture all while being able to have room to move around.
It seems as though house hunting is like dating. You see what catches your eye, check it out, and decide what you like and don’t like. Every house is different and just because it looks good on the outside doesn’t mean it will look good on the inside and vice versa. Some houses have the large living rooms with the open kitchen. Others have the small bedrooms with large bathrooms and closets.
After seeing a few houses they all started to blend together and it’s hard to figure out which ones you liked. Just like the dating scene sometimes it takes time before you find the right one.
Happy house hunting….
It was just a normal Sunday. I slept in from the late night adventure of watching a friend’s kid the night before. The vibrations of my phone woke me as it skipped across my desk. As I stretched out I found it almost impossible to leave my warm, comfy bed. Once I got up I realized it was already 10 a.m. I wanted to hit the gym before a friend came into town but all I could think about was getting back in bed and sleeping. About 10 minutes later I forced myself to get up and head to the gym.
The day was starting off overcast and cold. By the time I got to the gym I was awake and ready to pump some iron. Today’s workout, chest, legs, and abs. I got in a good half hour workout and my abs were killing me. This new machine (new to me), the one were you grab the bars (shoulder width apart) and crunch down to your knees as them come up. Man that is rough. When I got out of the gym the sun was shinning, the sky was blue, and the chill had blown away. I made it back home where I showered, shaved, and got dressed for the day. At this point my stomach was ready for some food.
My friend was arriving soon, a half hour to be exact, and I was trying to figure out what we could do for the day. When she arrived I still had no idea what we were going to do but all I could think about was food. We headed over to Applebee’s and ate. We decided to do some house hunting.
House hunting is not what I consider the typical 24 year old Sunday outing. It was an interesting afternoon. I felt all grown up looking at houses I can not afford. It felt as though I was on the verge of starting the next chapter in my life, a family. We looked like a young couple ready to find our first home to start a family in. The thought of owning a home has never really appealed to me. I still have that travelers itch and find myself needing to see a part of the world every year, sometimes twice a year. The thought of spending $300,000+ on a house is crazy. Today, however, that thought was not so crazy. For the few hours of house hunting this thought felt real. It really is a trip to be looking at houses and picturing you owning and living in it.
I am sure the real estate agent was thinking, this couple can not be serious buyers. On the other hand, he could be thinking, they just might be the sale I’ve been waiting for. Either way the real estate agent was very nice and provided us with all the information we needed, he even offered to answer any questions we might have.
Walking around the neighborhood, touring the various houses we found ourselves accompanying older couples and their families. Some houses were completely furnished and set up for our viewing; others were bare, only showing the sheet rock and basic layout of the house. Having a house all put together with furniture and laid out really does make a difference, you able to picture yourself living there.
For me, the minute I walk into a house I can tell if it has potential or not. If it is open and bright then it has that homey feeling. For instance I walked into one and I could see straight back to the backyard. The light from the living room on my left was combined with the light shining down from the open staircase above and it just felt like home. The next thing on the check list is bedroom size. I am one who is really picky when it comes to bedroom sizes. I can not stand having a hole in the wall room, which is usually what you find now a days. The bedroom should be big enough to have a queen size bed, dresser, and a few other pieces of furniture all while being able to have room to move around.
It seems as though house hunting is like dating. You see what catches your eye, check it out, and decide what you like and don’t like. Every house is different and just because it looks good on the outside doesn’t mean it will look good on the inside and vice versa. Some houses have the large living rooms with the open kitchen. Others have the small bedrooms with large bathrooms and closets.
After seeing a few houses they all started to blend together and it’s hard to figure out which ones you liked. Just like the dating scene sometimes it takes time before you find the right one.
Happy house hunting….
Fashion Advice
Do you have a question for our fashion expert Michelle Wilson? Then ask away. Michelle is a recent college graduate who owns her own clothing boutique with her twin sister Cristina. Fashion what she lives for.
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