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< Back Holiday Binge Keeley Brooks Nov 23, 2022 Share Select Series to Check Out with Your Time Off If you read my recent article “Giggle ‘Til Your Heart’s Content,” hopefully you got some good recommendations to put on your list. No recommendation list is complete without film’s partner, streaming series. While there are plenty of new titles out there to watch (and our list of what released this month in our Stream This section), I figured I’d make it easy for you and give you some favorites to watch by category. So grab that blanket and settle in. You're welcome. ACTION Banshee – A 2013 Cinemax original series, this one is gorgeously shot and boasts extremely well-written characters wrapped in a fascinating story. Set in the small town of Banshee in Pennsylvania Amish Country, the show focuses on an enigmatic ex-con, who assumes the identity of the town’s local sheriff. Anthony Starr ( The Boys ) is a recently paroled master thief who assumes the identity of Sheriff Lucas Hood in Banshee, PA, where his former lover and, I must say, badass partner in crime relocated years ago and reinvented herself as Carrie Hopewell, the wife of the town prosecutor. Lucas attempts to reunite with Carrie and keep his past a secret, but then resumes his life of crime, even as he’s hunted by those he betrayed years earlier, including a mob boss who seeks revenge against Lucas and Carrie for the jewel heist that landed Lucas in prison. Also stars Ivana Milicevic, Tom Pelphrey ( Outer Range ), Hoon Lee ( Warrior ) and Frankie Faison (Marvel’s Luke Cage ). This series hands-down wins the award for Best Fight Scenes in a Series and for hosting some chicks who can both give and receive man-sized ass whoopins. With tomahawks and shit. Fights are so very real and bloody, they feel real. The entire story is so palpable, that you’ll find yourself just as drawn in as I was, and you’ll wind up binging it and wanting more. Streaming on Cinemax, HBOMax, Roku, Spectrum TV Kingdom – Frank Grillo ( The Purge movies) is Alvey Kulina, the owner of a mixed martial arts gym who trains a generation of fighters, including his sons Jay (Jonathan Tucker, Debris ) and Nate (Nick Jonas). Struggling to keep the gym afloat, the pressure is on for Alvey’s boys to come through before he loses everything. Features some fantastic drama, lots of MMA, and a very lovable Paul Walter Hauser ( Blackbird ). Also stars Matt Lauria ( Friday Night Lights ), Kiele Sanchez ( The Purge movies), and many other recognizable faces. Streaming on Amazon Prime COMEDY Resident Alien – A SyFy original, this one will have you giggling in every single scene. I love this show. Starring Alan Tudyk ( Rogue One ), who is one of the funniest men on the planet, plays an alien who crash lands on Earth and assumes the identity of extremely-small-town doctor Harry Vanderspeigle. His nefarious mission to kill all humans is threatened when he realizes one of the townspeople, a nine-year-old boy, can see his true alien form. Their relationship is hysterical and is one of the most loved aspects of the show. What starts out as a simple life gets rocky when he’s roped into solving a local murder and realizes he needs to assimilate into his new world and slowly begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his secret mission on Earth. Every relationship in this series will have you giggling and feeling great. Also stars Sara Tomko ( Journey to the Center of the Earth ), Alice Wetterlund ( Silicon Valley ), Corey Reynolds ( All American ), Levi Fiehler ( Glitch ), and Meredith Garretson ( Fosse/Verdon ). Streaming on Peacock Silicon Valley – This title you can find on HBO/HBOMax. A very funny series created by Mike Judge, it’s partially inspired by his experiences as a Silicon Valley engineer in the 1980s. This comedy follows the misadventures of introverted computer genius Richard (Thomas Middleditch) and his brainy friends as they attempt to strike it rich in a highly-tech gold rush. They live together in a Bay Area startup incubator loosely run by self-satisfied dot-com millionaire Erlich (T.J. Miller, Office Christmas Party ), who lets them stay in his house rent-free in exchange for a stake in the projects they invent there. But when Richard develops a powerful search algorithm at his day job, he finds himself caught in the middle of a bidding war between his boss, whose firm offers Richard an eight-figure buyout, and a deep-pocketed venture capitalist. Also features comedian Jimmy O. Yang, Zach Woods ( The Office, Avenue 5 ), Martin Starr ( Freaks and Geeks ), Kumail Nanjiani ( Chippendales ), and a slew of other talent. Streaming on HBO/HBOMax HISTORICAL DRAMA The Last Kingdom – Streaming on Netflix, this one’s a must-watch if you love Viking and Dane history. Five seasons follows the story of Uhtred, a Saxon child who saw his father and the Saxon army killed by Danes. That day, Danish warlord Earl Ragnar captured him and raised him in a Danish camp alongside fellow captive Brida, a sharp-tongued girl. Years later, he’s a valiant warrior who deals with another blow when his home is deliberately set on fire, killing his surrogate family, including his father-like figure Ragnar. Now exiled and alone, except for Brida by his side, Uhtred vows to avenge Ragnar’s death and reclaim his homeland. But he must choose between his birth country and the people who raised him, walking a dangerous path between the two sides if he is going to help birth a new nation and ultimately recapture his ancestral land. Stars a very sexy Alexander Dreymon ( American Horror Story ), David Dawson ( My Policeman ), Toby Regbo ( Reign ), and Emily Cox ( Jerks ). Streaming on Netflix Britannia – What started out as an Amazon Prime original was quickly acquired by EpixNow and is quite the hit. Set in 43AD as the Roman Imperial Army, led by General Aulus Plautius (David Morrissey, The Walking Dead ), invades Britain to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia. Determined to succeed where Julius Caesar failed, Aulus sets out to conquer this mythical land on the very end of the Roman Empire. Kerra (Kelly Riley, Yellowstone ), daughter of the king of the Cantii, is forced to put her differences with archrival Queen Antedia (Zoe Wanamaker, The Man Who Fell to Earth ) aside in order to unite the tribes and supposedly magical Druids and face their invaders. But General Aulus carries a secret that threatens to undermine the entire mission. Also stars Mackenzie Crook ( Pirates of the Caribbean ), David Bradley ( Harry Potter ), and Liana Cornell ( Wolf Creek ), and a host of other entertaining characters. Streaming on EpixNow HORROR/THRILLER Castle Rock, Season Two – A psychological-horror series set in the Stephen King multiverse that combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of his works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and light played out on a few square miles of Maine woodland. Season Two has its own original storyline but is based on themes, characters, and ideas from King’s famous work, Misery . Lizzie Caplan stars as death nurse Annie Wilkes, years prior to Misery taking place. If you loved the movie, you’ll love this season of the series. Streaming on Hulu Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin – This title dropped on HBO/HBOMax several months back, and though I never watched Pretty Little Liars , I got sucked into this one. Rather different than the original series, this one follows a new generation of lying teens as they are stalked and tormented by a masked assailant. It has a surprisingly solid storyline and some pretty decent acting. I’d watch it again. Alright, my fellow content lovers. I hope you have an enjoyable holiday break full of good food and company and lots of good titles to stream. Enjoy. Questions or comments? Email Keeley at the_keeleybrooks@gmail.com . Previous Next

< Back Hammond’s Hottest Musicians Unite for a Showstopping Night, Powered by Feel Alive Media Rian Nickels Sep 18, 2024 Share The Green Room brings together local musicians for a night of fun and music. Come with me to revisit the night of July 5th, 2024, for Feel Alive Media ’s first event under its new name. I, Rian Nickels, along with my partner Jay Hutchins (Which you might recognize as “ JAYD3D! ”), started this journey in 2017 under the name The Young Visionaries (Inspired by our late friend, Ally Budde). Over the years, we’ve hosted unforgettable annual music events like “ Llamapalooza ”, “ Hellaweird ”, and “ Fuzziefadoodle Fest ”; along with weekly flow events, memorials, fundraisers, birthday parties, and numerous punk and EDM events. In 2019, we took a five-year hiatus on hosting events to focus on our growing family. We’re thrilled to return with a refreshed vision, bringing you Feel Alive Media. This night at The Green Room in Covington, Louisiana, felt like a homecoming for the local punk and alternative scene, and the energy was familiarly electric. Everyone, from fans to friends, was excited about what JAYD3D! , Jean Claude Seagal , and The Gosh Darn Dangs had in store. First to warm us up for a night of music (not that we needed warming up because it was scorching Louisiana summer) was Singer/Songwriter JAYD3D! accompanied by Tim Dugas , the drummer from The Gosh Darn Dangs . Despite not rehearsing together, the chemistry between them was undeniable. Tim’s precision on the drums complemented JAYD3D!’s vocal style, adding an extra layer of texture and rhythm to the performance. To help everyone feel at home JAYD3D! started with pop-punk-esque covers of ' If It Makes You Happy ' by Sheryl Crowe and Oliver Tree’s ' Cigarettes .' JAYD3D!’s vocal delivery was gritty yet polished, capturing the emotional core of each song, while Tim’s drumming added subtle fills and dynamic shifts that energized the crowd. Credit: Rian Nickels Once they had everyone’s attention JAYD3D! moved on to playing originals like ' Funnyman ,' ' Better Than ,' and ' Dripped in Crimson .' Even with a room full of new and old faces JAYD3D! played their songs with the utmost confidence and flair. One standout moment was their cover of Colbie Caillat’s ' Bubbly .' It wasn’t just a cover—it was a communal experience. The crowd sang the chorus in unison, creating a rare intimacy between the performer and the audience. It’s these kinds of moments that JAYD3D! excels at—breaking down the barrier between stage and floor, making everyone feel like they’re part of something bigger. JAYD3D! typically ends with this cover, but just when we thought the set was over, they closed with a surprise performance of their new track 'No More Circles,' a song that blends introspective lyrics with a driving beat, leaving the audience craving more. Credit: Rian Nickels Taking the stage next was Jean Claude Seagal , a three-piece from Watson, Louisiana, with Robbie on the drums, Nick on the bass, and Justin on the guitar and vocals. To read more about Jean Claude Seagal ’s background, you can check out Mixed Alternative Magazine’s Jean Claude Seagal Interview . Credit: Rian Nickels Their set was a nostalgic trip back to the grunge era, with influences that ranged from Nirvana ’s brooding angst to Silverstein ’s post-hardcore melodies, with a hint of Staind ’s reflective alt-rock. Jean Claude Seagal brings an edgy 90’s grunge sound -that punk fans have been missing dearly- to 2024. They opened with ' If I’m Not Here ,' immediately drawing the crowd in with thick, distorted guitars and a bass line that rumbled through the room. Robbie’s drumming added a steady backbone, while Justin’s gravelly vocals poured out raw emotion. You could feel the years of practice and passion in their performance; every chord, every drum, and every bass strum felt purposeful and deeply connected to their message. Credit: Rian Nickels A highlight of their set was when Mike Spoon from The Gosh Darn Dangs joined Justin for a collaborative performance of their track ' By the Way ,' a Louisiana punk crossover of the century. Their vocals blended seamlessly, with Mike’s raspy tone providing a perfect counterpoint to Justin’s more melodic delivery. The energy was palpable, and the chemistry between the band members reflected the close-knit nature of the local punk scene. There’s something about Jean Claude Seagal that resonates deeply with fans of 90s grunge; they evoke that same sense of youthful rebellion and introspection but with a fresh, modern edge. Credit: Rian Nickels Finally closing out the night was The Gosh Darn Dangs , a four-piece alternative band from Hammond, Louisiana, known for their quirky, high-energy performances and folk-lore-type storytelling. I previously covered The Dangs for an acoustic busking performance in downtown Hammond in May with former members Kris and Jake, and I was excited to cover them again for a complete band set. Mike Spoon (vocals/guitar), Tim Dugas (drums), Lexy Bowers (vocals/keys/theremin), and brand-new bassist J Rees stormed the stage in true Gosh Darn Dangs fashion. Mike and Lexy’s entrance in matching cat maid outfits and Justin Tatman, the vocalist from Jean Claude Seagal, attempting to speed run Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers on the original Nintendo console set the tone for a playful and friendly set. Credit: Rian Nickels To warm up the crowd to their overall playful vibe, they launched into their song 'paradewindy320,' a humorous, fast-paced song about the frustrations of modern life – like needing the WIFI. Though they faced technical difficulties with Mike’s microphone, Lexy quickly stepped up to lead vocals, turning what could’ve been a setback into a unique, unforgettable moment. Her performance was captivating, especially on tracks like 'Defender of Mankind,' a poignant song that nods to her name, Alexandria, and delves into themes of protection and resilience. The band’s well-loved song, 'Going 100 MPH in a 30 MPH Zone While Wearing Sunglasses at Night,' brought the house down with its mix of reckless energy and nostalgia for youthful misadventures. Then they wrapped up the night of music with their song 'Not Gonna Die Today (A Song to Die To).' The Gosh Darn Dangs are more than just a band; they’re a spectacle, blending musicianship with performance art in a unique way. They offer a distinctive sound that isn’t found anywhere else, and if you haven’t yet experienced their music, you’re in luck—their upcoming split EP with Jean Claude Seagal , titled Defending The Daydream , is set for release in October. It promises to capture the essence of both bands and is sure to be a must-listen for anyone in the alternative scene. Credit: Rian Nickels As the night ended, it was clear this event was about far more than just the music. The energy in The Green Room wasn’t just from the amplifiers or the powerful performances—it was the bond between the bands and the audience that made the night truly special. The deep friendships between performers like JAYD3D! , Jean Claude Seagal , and The Gosh Darn Dangs mirrored the connection between them and their crowd. From Mike Spoon’s unexpected vocal duet with Justin Tatman to Lexy stepping in with her soulful voice when technical difficulties hit, these moments exemplify this community's collaborative and supportive spirit. This was more than a concert; it was a gathering of like-minded people who have weathered highs and lows together. The smiles exchanged between band members, the shared singalongs, and the laughter in the room told a story of friendship, resilience, and passion for punk and alternative music. Each performance felt like a love letter to the local scene. Credit: Rian Nickels Feel Alive Media 's return felt like a revival for the musicians and all of us in the music community. It reminded us why we gather in the first place—not just for the music, but for the sense of belonging that comes with it. Whether you were an old friend or a new face, July 5th was proof that the music scene in Louisiana is alive, well, and more connected than ever. Here's to many more nights like this, where the lines between performer and audience blur, and we all feel like family. *All photos courtesy of Rian Nickels - to see more, check out Rian's site below. rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Got a show you'd like Rian to cover? Reach out to us at: mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next

< Back Fresh Blood on the Horizon: October Horror Releases Keeley Brooks Oct 4, 2022 Share It's fright time! Halloween season is my absolute favorite time of the whole entire year. I actually consider it a holiday because, well, that’s the kind of thing I like to do in my world. And, in addition to the leaves changing color and the weather cooling down, even if just a tiny bit (I’m lookin’ at you, Deep South), it’s also the time for two of my other favorite things on the planet: candy and movies. Because I’m a giant grown-up. Yes, yes, I love the decorations and the trick-or-treaters, the dressing up and (sometimes) the parties, but it’s also the time of year when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, signaling, at least to me, it’s time to start switching from a fight-or-flight mode to more of a rest-and-digest mode. And lucky for your little eyeballs, that means consuming a whole bunch of entertaining content to gush about to you. The month of October is the perfect time to grab some snacks and veg out with your peeps in front of your favorite classic scary movies for thrills and laughs, or in front of newly released scary movies for, you know, thrills and screams. And nightmares. I’m just kidding. Here’s a list of some new, noteworthy horror flicks releasing this month, streaming and in theaters. Among the Living – From Dread comes a story about a brother and sister stranded in the aftermath of a deadly outbreak. Brother fights to protect sister while searching for refuge from an infected population with, yep—you guessed it: an uncontrollable thirst for blood. Looks like a bloody good time to me! Currently available in theaters and streaming Terrifier 2 – Cult horror icon Art the Clown is back with a vengeance after being resurrected by a sinister entity. He returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teen and her younger brother on Halloween night. In theaters October 6 Deadstream – Shudder fans, unite! This feature directorial debut from husband-wife filmmakers Vanessa & Joseph Winter follows a disgraced internet personality attempting to win back his followers by livestreaming one night alone in a haunted house. This gonzo horror-comedy is full of bodily fluids, gore, and ghostly creatures, a la Sam Raimi. Streaming on Shudder October 6 Significant Other – Starring Jake Lacy ( White Lotus ) and Maika Monroe ( It Follows) , this trailer offers the creep on a Blair Witch standing-in-the-corner level. The story follows a young couple on a backpacking trip through the Pacific Northwest, whose trip quickly goes south when they discover they are not alone. Streaming on Paramount+ October 7 Hellraiser – Produced by Clive Barker and directed by The Night House’s David Bruckner, this reboot has already received raving reviews for being both gory and elegant, poetic and “super violent.” Staring Jamie Clayton ( Sense8 ) as the new Hell Priestess, Pinhead, leader of the Cenobites, Adam Faison, and Goran Visnjic ( ER , Timeless ). Streaming on Hulu October 7 Werewolf by Night – When the leader of a monster-hunter guild passes, leaving the throne open for a new leader, his widow assembles a group of the most ruthless monster slayers for a ceremonious hunt to determine their new leader. Enter Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal), a reluctant hunter harboring a few shocking secrets, and what ensues is nothing short of a 100% Rotten Tomato score. Streaming on Disney+ October 7 Halloween Ends – Alas, the final installment of the Halloween reboot trilogy is finally here. Set four years after Halloween Kills , which released in 2021, Michael has disappeared, and Laurie is living with her granddaughter and writing her memoir; then, all hell breaks loose, but not by whom you’d think. In theaters and streaming on Peacock October 14 V/H/S/99 – Brad Miska and Bloody Disgusting’s franchise that horrified audiences and physically made them sick when the first installment dropped in 2012 is back and invites you to get ready to party like its 1999. This one assembles directors Johannes Roberts, Maggie Levin, Flying Lotus, Tyler MacIntyre, and Vanessa & Joseph Winter for five new horror tales that each highlight a hellish vision of the year 1999. Streaming on Shudder October 20 Matriarch – Shit gets super weird in this folk horror tale starring Jemima Rooper (TV’s Flowers in the Attic ) and Kate Dickie ( The Green Knight , Peaky Blinders ). After an overdose, Rooper’s character moves home and in with her estranged mother (Dickie) and soon discovers everyone around her is protecting an unspeakably dark secret involving not only her mother but also Rooper’s terrifying destiny as well. Streaming on Hulu October 21 Resurrection – Who doesn’t love Rebecca Hall ( The Night House ), especially in a creepy psychological drama? Margaret (Hall) leads an orderly, successful life perfectly balancing the demands of her career and solo parenthood. Everything is under control, right up until her careful balance is upended by the return of an unwelcome past shadow (played by Tim Roth), who carries the horrors of Margaret’s past with him. Streaming on Shudder October 28 Currently Available Honorable Mentions: Interview With the Vampire – Anne Rice’s beloved vampire story is back and in tv series format with some reimagining. Simply put, it is spectacular, and seeing Game of Thrones’ Greyworm in vampire form is absolutely beautiful. Currently streaming on AMC+ Dahmer – Evan Peters brilliantly plays convicted serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer with unnerving finesse in this TV horror series that tries to figure out how Dahmer was able to evade detection for more than a decade after murdering 17 teenaged boys and young men. Yes, it’s gross, and indeed, it’s heavy, but it’s absolutely worth the watch just to see Peters in action. Currently streaming on Netflix Raven’s Hollow – Oh, Edgar! This gorgeously photographed, artistic Gothic period horror film follows West Point cadet Edgar Allen Poe (eek!), and four other cadets, on a training exercise in upstate New York when they come upon and are drawn by a gruesome discovery into a forgotten community reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow. Currently streaming on Shudder and AMC+ Barbarian – I’ll admit, if Justin Long ( Jeepers Creepers ) is in it, there’s a hot chance I’m watching it. I don’t care what this guy is doing; I’m always laughing. When a young woman discovers the Airbnb she booked is occupied by a stranger, she decides to stay the night anyway, then discovers there so much more to fear than just an unexpected house guest. Currently in theaters and streaming on HBOMax and Disney+ Creepy Mention Coming Soon: Wednesday – Netflix’s anxiously awaited update to The Addams Family focuses on the fam’s daughter as an older, updated version of the character. What excites me most about this series is its director. It will be the first-ever TV show directed by one of my personal favorite horror masters, Tim Burton. Mark your calendars. Stars Jenny Ortega in the lead and includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christina Ricci, and Luiz Guzman, to name a few. Streaming on Netflix November 23 Keep Your Eyes Peeled: The Last of Us – Holy shit. What a heavy hitter. Who doesn’t love a heart-pounding zombie apocalypse? This HBO series adaptation of the video game franchise stars Pedro Pascal ( The Mandalorian ) as an apocalypse survivor out for redemption in a world riddled with mutated humans into zombies called “clickers.” Also stars Bella Ramsey ( Game of Thrones ), Nick Offerman ( The Resort ), and Melanie Lynsky ( Yellowjackets ). Releases in 2023 … stay tuned! Previous Next

< Back Branded for Exile: A Force in Louisiana Metal Nicole Brice Dec 11, 2023 Share “Born in the Flames” by Branded for Exile is a non-stop ride of aggressive guitars, tight production, and loud ferocious metal sure to get your pulse going. Louisiana metal has a unique vibe and sound unlike anything heard in other states. Hinting at darkness, the sound evokes visions of living in the humid swamp areas while also providing a gloomy backdrop for life. Louisiana metal is fierce, loud, and strong, but in a state oversaturated with metal bands, one band from Ascension Parish is standing out with their groove-metal style. Powerful metal outfit Branded for Exile has just released a new album, and metal fans, it’s intense. “ Born in the Flames ” features crushing riffs, melodic hooks, and powerful lyrics in a high-energy way, making for one hell of an enjoyable 37-minute listening experience. Click the album cover below to check it out! Released October 28, 2023 Branded for Exile hails from Prairieville, Louisiana, and is known for blending many styles, textures, and influences, ranging from Metallica to Killswitch Engage and everyone in between. Their music is best described as an amalgamation of aggression and emotion, resulting in a truly dynamic and cohesive sound enhanced by each member’s own set of skills: Shannon Guillot is the vocal magic; Scott Hood carries the bass; Blake Cage and Cody Derouen mix it up on guitar; and Zack Leblanc is the rhythm working the drums. Mixed Alternative had the chance to catch up with guitarist Cody Derouen and vocalist Shannon Guillot, where we chatted about their new album, the future direction of the band, influences, and much more. Take a moment to indulge in our chat, and then be sure to stream their new album on your favorite streaming service. “ Born in the Flames ” is a non-stop ride of aggressive guitars, tight production, and loud ferocious metal sure to get your pulse going. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today! Let’s dive right in with your new album, “ Born in the Flames ”. The mix sounds amazing. Tell us a little more about that. Cody : [ Jason Ogle ] recorded the bass, vocals, and the guitar, but the drums were done at OCD [Recording and Production] by Duane [Simoneaux]. MaM : Shannon, your vocals are on point. When I first listened to the song “ Silver Tongue ”, I thought about how your voice is very reminiscent of David Draiman from Disturbed because of the range of your screams. Have you gotten that comparison before? Shannon : When we first went in to record that song, to me, something was missing. It was our weakest song, so we changed some of the vocal parts to make them heavier, and it fit better. MaM : If Pantera and Disturbed had a band baby, it would be Branded for Exile. Do you agree? Shannon : Alright! Cody : I will take that! (laughter) MaM : See, this is the thing, your voice … it has hints of Phil Anselmo at times, too. Shannon : … and I am not surprised that you said that. Growing up, two of my idols were Sebastian Bach formerly of Skid Row and Phil Anselmo . There are some parts on the album that I call ‘Phil-isms’. I intentionally did it the way I felt Phil would do it. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : Your music is so high-energy and in-your-face, and your sound is so different. I feel you guys stand out here locally because of it. “ Numbered Days ” is just a badass song. Tell us a little more about how it came together. Shannon : The funny thing is that ‘ Numbered Days ’ was written in 2013. Me and the guitar player, Blake, … started [the band] Wicked River Rising and [wrote] some songs, but things didn’t work out, so we split up. … [W]hen we got Blake in this band, we still had those songs we had written, so we decided to see if we could still use them. Three of those songs … ended up on this album. MaM : Let’s get into a little band history. Cody : Well, we’ve always known each other, and Shannon and I have played in various bands since 2003, but I was an outsider. I was never from Ascension Parish or the Baton Rouge scene. I started playing in the band Knever with Jeremy Pourcy and John Maher, and at the time, Shannon was with Black Market Halos . We were always crossing paths … playing shows and we had a brotherhood between bands in the early 2000’s. Fast forward to 2019, Knever tried to get back together a few times, but we just couldn’t make it work. John calls me up one day, though, and asks me about Shannon, and then tells me to call him, so I did. That was the beginning of the first incarnation of the band, and Scott Hood, who plays bass—Shannon already knew him from playing in Black Market Halos and Soul Erosion. Eventually, Blake Cage came into the mix from Absolum, and we all meshed. Now, as far as the drummer goes, that’s a different story. We auditioned six people. Shannon : We went a whole year without a drummer. We just could not find anyone, so we got together to practice without one for a bit. One day, a friend sent me a video on Facebook of a drummer I should check out, and I liked what I saw, so I hit the guy up. I ended up sending him some music with no lyrics, and he wanted me to send something with my singing on it. We ended up going to Jeremy’s house [Pourcy], and we put vocals on three songs, and then I sent it to him, and he said, ‘When do you practice again?’ That was it. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : How did the name for the band come about? Shannon : I came up with the name from a song I wrote, and to me, Branded for Exile stands for all the people who grew up like I did. The Metalheads, the outcasts … the ones with the long hair … the ones with tattoos … we are all ‘branded for exile’ in a way. Originally, though, we wanted to call the band Undaunted, but another band already had that name. Everyone liked [Branded for Exile] and agreed upon it, so here we are. MaM : Take us through the songwriting process. How do you approach new material? Shannon and Cody : Someone comes in with a riff. Shannon : Yeah, we’ll start with the riff, and then I freestyle lyrics to it until we get everything together. By the time that is done, I usually have the lyrics written. I like to write straight off the vibe. When we have another practice, I’ll sing the lyrics exactly as they are written to make sure I don’t have to alter them in any way, and then boom—it’s a song. Cody : As far as the music is concerned, everybody plays their part and knows their roles. You can’t have five Alpha guys trying to write one song. Somebody must step back, and another must come forward. With each song, you can tell who came forward to add their special touch. Sometimes you’re the writer and sometimes you’re the producer. Sometimes, you have to just sit back and let it happen. We live by the rule that the song is not finished until it’s recorded. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : If you guys could tour with anyone in the future, who would it be and why? Also, where do you see yourselves headed in the future as a band? Shannon : Shit … (laughter) Shannon : I think I would want to play with Killswitch [Engage]. That is my wife’s favorite band. … but it’s so hard to even imagine being able to play with so many great bands … that’s a tough one. Cody : Since I grew up on 80’s thrash, it would have to be Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax , or Megadeth . Shannon : I know there is going to come a time when I won’t be able to play music anymore, so I just want to put out as much as I can. I want to add to the legacy. I want to get older and have my grandkids go, ‘This is my Grandpa’, ya know? When I was younger, I chased the music dream. I wanted to be a rockstar, but it just didn’t pan out that way. MaM : … but what if it did happen now? Cody : I love these guys and they’re like my brothers, but I don’t know if I want to be over 50 and out on the road touring. If I was still 20 or 30, then yeah, because we did chase that dream, and I did give it 100%. I don’t think that I’m going to look back and think that I didn’t give it enough effort. If something were to happen, whatever it is, I would hope it would benefit all the bands here in Louisiana. A high tide raises all ships. If we get out there and our name gets out there, I just hope that it helps somebody else younger. To learn more about Branded for Exile and to check out “Born in the Flames”, hit one of the links below. Facebook Instagram Distrokid *cover photo by Chad Besse www.cmdbphotography.myportfolio.com chad besse Nicole Brice loves discovering new music. Got something you think she’d like to hear? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next

< Back Atlanta Rhythm Section brings a local twist to their popular hits at Mars Music Hall Bud Gambrell Jul 3, 2024 Share Huntsville, Alabama June 28, 2024 On Saturday, June 28, 2024, the Atlanta Rhythm Section returned to Huntsville, Alabama, for a sold-out show at Mars Music Hall in The Von Braun Center . Rob Aldridge and the Proponents from Muscle Shoals, AL, kicked off the night with a high-energy set that ignited the crowd with their rock n’ roll brand. They are a must-see band if you get the chance! Their energy is intense! When it came time for ARS to take the stage, they did so without lead singer Rodney Justo , who was absent with illness, but local favorite Dave Anderson stepped in and did a killer job. Dave has been a member of the Atlanta Rhythm Section since 2006 and never misses a beat with his performances. After a trip through time with nothing but hits, the crowd sang in unison to a spectacular night of music. This concert was a treat for this fan and many others in attendance! See this tour when it comes to your town! *All photos by Bud Gambrell bgambrellphotography.com Bud Gambrell Photography Bud Gambrell Photography is a locally owned and operated photography business in North Alabama. Call or email us today for an appointment. Questions or comments? Reach out to the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next

< Back Judas Priest: Probst Arena at Von Braun Center Bud Gambrell May 10, 2024 Share Judas Priest roll into Huntsville, AL with the Invincible Shield Tour. For many concert goers, such as myself, Tuesday, May 7th gave us a chance once again to witness the metal monsters Judas Priest . This concert was a huge accomplishment for me since I have been listening to this amazing band since 1978. As a teenager, I would listen to Stained Class , Hell Bent for Leather and Unleashed in the East in my room as my parents would yell to turn it down. My friends and I got to see Judas Priest Live in the early and mid-80s. For Tuesday's concert, though, I was back as not just a fan, but as a photographer. Being in the pit taking pictures of Rob Halford was an apex moment for me and Judas Priest did not disappoint! All these years later, Rob Halford can still carry every single note high and low. In many cases of rock singers, that does not happen. Rob Halford is still the reigning Metal God. The show was spot on. The band covered songs from every era old and new. They even played three songs from the new album, Invincible Shield . If you haven’t heard it yet, go get it! If this tour comes to a town near you, do yourself the favor of buying the ticket. This show is definitely one you do not want to miss. *All photos by Bud Gambrell bgambrellphotography.com Bud Gambrell Photography Bud Gambrell Photography is a locally owned and operated photography business in North Alabama. Call or email us today for an appointment. Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next

The Nine Lives of Paul Sanchez < Back The Nine Lives of Paul Sanchez C.G. Smith Nov 30, 2022 Share You Never Know “Ram Das and Alan Watts would tell the story of the Chinese farmer ,who one day his horse runs away, and his neighbor says, ‘That’s too bad.’ And he goes, ‘Well, you never know.’ The next day the horse comes back leading five wild stallions and his neighbor says, 'That’s wonderful!’ and the guy replies, ‘Well, you never know.’ The next day his son’s trying to break one of the stallions and he falls off and he breaks his leg. His neighbor says, ‘Oh, that’s terrible!’ And he goes, ‘Well, you never know.’ The next day the army comes through conscripting young men for the service, and they take all but his son because he’s got a broken leg. His neighbor says, ‘That’s wonderful!’ And he says, ‘Well, you never know.’ That’s life. What looks like a wrong turn sometimes is the greatest thing that could have happened.” – As told by Paul Sanchez. ________________________________________________________________ It has been said that the best art comes from suffering. Others claim it comes from the joy and happiness that make art what it is. New Orleans songwriter, actor, and producer Paul Sanchez, formerly of the hit band Cowboy Mouth, is well acquainted with both. From his early experiences living as one of 11 siblings in a poor, working class family in the rough Irish Channel neighborhood of New Orleans in the 60s to playing in front of tens of thousands of people on stage, Paul embodies a life lived. He grew up in New Orleans, then lived in New York in the late 80’s and has since traveled all over the world. But he still loves coming home to the Crescent City. “One of the things that makes New Orleans special to me in my travels is that it's an entrée to anywhere in the world. When you say you are a musician from New Orleans you get a respect before you even play a note that most musicians have to earn,” says Paul. There are many glimpses into this incredible life throughout the extensive catalog of music he has written, produced, or simply been a part of over the years. His lyrics can be beautiful and dark, sometimes silly, and other times dead serious, but they always tell a story. Sanchez has 11 albums out with his former group Cowboy Mouth and another dozen or so on his own and with other musicians. This includes the musical project Nine Lives , based off Dan Baum’s New York Times best-selling novel by the same name that may soon become a television series. To be this prolific you really need to have something important to convey in your music. “I don’t really think about what I’m going to write … before I start writing,” he says when asked about his process. “Often, I am writing so fast that I don’t realize what it is I have written until it is finished. Sometimes not until years later. When my ex-wife left me, I looked back at the songs that I had written while we were married and realized most of them were about being lonely and [feeling] unloved. The songs have always known me better than I have known myself. It feels like they are written by someone else who has whispered them to me as if in a dream, a gift from the universe. I hear a melody and words and I follow them to, what seems to me, their natural conclusion.” Paul’s first gig was filling in for a friend at a French Quarter venue at the tender age of 16, and since then he has performed all over the world from intimate gigs in private homes to multiple Jazz Fests to stadiums with tens of thousands of people. He started singing after his father passed away when he was only five years old. “My father was sort of the heart of the family, and when he died, [for the first six months] my mom [would spend] all day at the graveyard. I had five brothers and five sisters and most of them were still at home when he died. A little boy singing was prettier than a house full of people crying, so everybody encouraged me to sing. [Early] on I knew my singing made other people feel better. I didn’t know if it made me feel better, but it made other people feel better and that’s been sort of the inner quest [for] the rest of my life.” Paul wrote his first song before ever playing the guitar, and at a young age formed an imaginary band with a friend and called themselves The Possibilities. He wrote their theme song at age 6 after hearing The Monkees and Herman’s Hermits. “We’re the Possibilities,” (very 60s, he interjects), “Yes, we’re The Possibilities. We may have no style but we’re gonna try to get up high, ‘cause we’re The Possibilities, and that’s what we have: a possibility.” In his teens, Paul started learning guitar, and at 16 he played his first gig. He was then was in a band called The Backbeats, whom he formed with Ellen DeGeneres’ brother Vance. In 80s he moved to New York’s East Village to join the anti-folk scene there and learned a lot about songwriting and performing from the people he met there. credit: Billy Nova, a.k.a. William Moeller “I’d gone up to New York to be the next Bruce Dylan or Bob Springsteen. I read this tiny ad in the Village Voice that said, ‘If you want the real thing, come to The Fort at Sophie’s.’ So, I walked across the island, not knowing how far of a walk that was going to be, and in 1986 how dangerous it was. I walked into this little bar where they’d moved the pool table and the singers were just standing under this light. There’s a guy with a clipboard, Latch – who’s still a friend, so I walked up to him and said, ‘Hey man, I’m from New Orleans, can I play?’ He pulls his glasses down and he goes, ‘Are you good?’ I went, ‘I’m pretty good.’ He went, ‘I didn’t ask if you if you were pretty good, I asked you if you were good.’ One of my friends was standing with me and he goes, ‘Hey man, this guy’s f*ckin’ great.’ Latch looks over at my buddy, doesn’t say a word, looks back at me and goes, ‘So are you good?’ I went, ‘Yeah, I’m good.’ He went, ‘Okay, you can play.’ I loved that. It was his first lesson: if you can’t own it, you can’t be it.” When asked if he wrote many songs while in New York, Sanchez says he, "worked a movie up there-- A Kiss Before Dying with Matt Dillon and Sean Young (she was crazy as a road lizard)--was staying at a friend’s place on 14th St. My friends were kind of, big people, and they were fuckin’ and I was sleeping on the couch against their bed, and it was obvious, so I was getting divorced and was depressed so I split, and I thought I’m just gonna do a shot at every bar between here and Houston St. and think about where I went wrong. I didn’t know how many bars they had in New York – it rivals New Orleans. So doing shots of Wild Turkey and on the return trip home, sometime around two in the morning I decided to call my ex and explain my side of things one more time. After she hung up on me, I went back and grabbed my guitar, drunk as shit and went on the roof of the building and wrote Light It On Fire.” Many of us remember Paul from the New Orleans rock group Cowboy Mouth, which he co-founded, toured the world with, and released many albums with over 16 years. In 1992, he met a woman who gave him her card. Paul replied to her with some demos for “Jet Black and Jealous” he had made in New York in 1987 on a Tascam four-track cassette recorder. “So, I sent them to her, and she goes, ‘I love this, I want to put it out. What I’m hearing on this record is this guy’s singing songs like he believes nobody’s ever gonna hear them.’” And that’s how Sanchez began doing solo records and in 2006, when the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina washed away everything he owned, he decided to quit Cowboy Mouth and focus on his own material. Since then, he has released nearly 20 records either solo or with other musicians. credit: Joanna DeGeneres Paul suffered years where he couldn’t sing because of dystonia, which is a movement disorder that causes the muscles to contract involuntarily. With singers, it’s a chronic voice disorder characterized by spasms of the muscles in the larynx, which control the voice. “The four years I couldn’t sing were very humbling, but I took it as a grace. I took it that the universe was trying to teach me something I needed to know. I’m only at the beginning of the trail of realizing what that is and then incorporating it into the music. I’m singing different[ly] than I did before. It’s like a stroke victim learning to walk again, you know? [With t]his neurological condition, the neurons in your brain are … misfiring. From the throat surgeries, the breakup, the traveling 400 miles a week, etc., they thought I was in trauma, and they said, ‘Let’s shut this guy down.’ The way his dystonia therapist put it to him was that he had a traumatic event in childhood that began a loop of “I’m not worthy” talk, and then a second trauma in adulthood altered “I’m not worthy” into “I don’t even want to be me.” When his therapist asked why he thought this was happening, Paul said, “I think I have a profound desire not to be Paul Sanchez anymore. My brain doesn’t want to be that guy anymore. I’m now teaching my brain that it wasn’t the music; it was life.” Thankfully, a voice coach helped get Paul singing again and back on stage for our entertainment pleasure, and we are so glad he is feeling better and singing/talking again. As for influences, Sanchez credits The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen early on, connecting to the mythos of their escaping poverty through music. “[They were] all were very open about their own influences and as a fan, I listened to the people they talked about, and my musical education is a result of doing so, from Woody Guthrie to Frank Turner.” “One of the most revealing interviews I ever read was Bruce Springsteen. Back in the ‘90s he took four years away from music to go into therapy ‘cause he had wanted to commit suicide. So, after four years off course he went back to music, he made a record, he’s going on tour, and Rolling Stone sends a respected writer … to interview him. At one point he says, ‘So Bruce, are you still going to do four-hour concerts, because you know everybody loves those?’ He said Bruce grinned said, ‘Well I love ‘em too, but I found out through therapy that I also stay up there that long because it’s the only place I don’t feel worthless.’ What struck me was, he didn’t say, ‘It’s the only place I feel worthwhile.’ He said ‘It’s the only place I don’t feel worthless.’ That to me was more honest. For me, I grew up in poverty, and an abusive situation, and music was my place not to feel worthless. It’s healing. That’s why you go back to it.” Today, while many of his influences circle back to his originals, Paul says he gets inspired by songs he hears. “Alex McMurray, Davis Rogan, Jim McCormick, John Rankin, John Thomas Griffith—great songwriters inspired me to try to write great songs.” And besides the music Sanchez creates, he’s also an actor. “Acting, for me, is completely different than making music. Making music is an expression of who I am, my essence in words and melody. When I am acting, I memorize the lines and then I say them as the director would like them to be said. More often than not, a director will come up to you right before a scene and ask, ‘Can you say it like this?’ Being a musician, I try to mimic the tone and inflection, the rising and falling of his or her voice. More often than not the director is thrilled because what I’m doing is saying it like it has been in his or her head for months. I’m not trying to put my stamp on it; I’m trying to put their stamp on it because it’s their show, not mine.” He even spent some time filming the hit HBO series Tremé , which Sanchez says was a joy. “David Simon and Eric Overmyer are true music fans, and they treated the musicians like gold … [and gave] great advice.” Paul says the show was so real, it felt like the writers were eavesdropping on the lives of him and his friends, adding that the writers love NOLA and it showed in the series’s writing and direction. He says they created a historical document of the culture and music of New Orleans that’ll be invaluable in years to come. And he has many interesting stories from his time filming. “We were filming a [funeral] scene in a church Uptown. [It] was packed with musicians, mostly hired extras, and I sat next to John Boutté. On a break, David Simon sat and talked to me and John. I mentioned that it was amazing to see so many musicians gathered [in one place] and how they were committed to realism no matter the cost. David Simon responded with, “It isn’t the money; it’s the emotional equity.” I was so struck by the phrase that I turned it into a song with Alex McMurray called “Emotional Equity,” which appeared on my release, Paul Sanchez and The Rolling Road Show - Reclamation of The Pie-Eyed Piper.” Paul notes that the NOLA music scene is far more diverse now than it was in his youth. There wasn’t much of a scene for singer/songwriters when he was young, and he credits Tréme with bringing a new perspective to the music scene. He adds that NOLA provides a unique place for artists of all ages, noting that you may not get rich, but you’ll always be playing music. He’s been around the world and performed in some amazing places, with some amazing talent, so I asked him to share some of his most memorable experiences. “When I was in Cowboy Mouth, we played a music festival in Atlanta, Midtown Music Festival, opening for Cheap Trick. The audience in front of us was 50,000 people, [and] the crowd literally disappeared down the street as it sloped down from the stage. Ellen DeGeneres had Cowboy Mouth on her show after [Hurricane] Katrina, and it was pretty special. I knew her when she was starting up: she opened for a band I had with her brother Vance DeGeneres, [which is] pretty funny looking back ‘cuz we were the hot new-wave band in New Orleans at the time, and she was just looking for a gig. It was wonderful to be on her show. It’s always wonderful to see someone you know live a dream. I feel the same way about Darius Rucker. He has always been so generous to me. In 2016, he brought me on tour to write songs. The songs were never used, but he also brought me on stage to perform during the tour and most notably for me, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. There’s no way a Channel Rat like me gets on that stage without somebody like him putting me there." When asked if there an album, performance, or project he is most proud of being involved with, Paul speaks of his project Nine Lives: A Musical Adaptation Live , which is an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Dan Baum. It follows the lives on nine people in New Orleans from 1965, when Hurricane Betsy ravaged the city to 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed it. Speaking of Nine Lives , it may have a new life of its own, possibly becoming a television series soon. After a disappointing experience with trying to get it on Broadway, there’s a new team of people involved with doing it right this time. “ Nine Lives has been a very interesting journey. It started in 2007. My friend Colman deKay goes, ‘Hey man, I read this book called Nine Lives , a bestseller, and I think you and I should turn it into a musical.’ I thought he was insane. I can’t write a musical. He went to bed and I started flipping through the book. I found the scene where John Guidos goes to his first drag party with his clothes in a Schwegmann’s bag and I fell right in, and I wrote “Feels Like a Lady.” I took it downstairs to him and I said, ‘What do you think?’ He goes, ‘Oh boy! Let’s finish it now!’ And we did. Then he wrote to Dan Baum and said, ‘My friend and I have written some songs out of your book, and we’d like to turn it into a musical.’ (After some initial skepticism), he loved it. I wish I could’ve brought it to fruition in his lifetime.” The Nine Lives record was actually made from a grass-roots organization called Threadhead Records, where people could donate money as little as $5 to help New Orleans musicians get back on their feet after Katrina. This was well before Kickstarter or Go Fund Me. Paul and his friend John Boutté did a fundraiser one night and a chance meeting helped get the funding for the record. “This guy from California walks up and says, ‘Hey man, you guys are great together; you should do a record.’ I look at him and go, ‘I just lost everything I own. I can’t afford rent, let alone a record.’ He went, ‘Well, how much do you need?’ I told him and he said, ‘I’ll get back to you.’ Being in the music business I thought, ‘Yeah right.’ Two weeks later he calls up and says, ‘Okay I have a check, where do I send it?’ I didn’t know what to say. He didn’t say, ‘I need you to sign a contract’; he didn’t say, ‘I need to hear the music’; and he didn’t say, ‘I need to own the music.’ He said, ‘Where do I send the check and promise me on your word as a gentleman that when the CD comes out, you’ll pay us back from CD sales.’ They started this thing called Threadhead Records and in four to five years’ time, they put out records by sixty artists who didn’t have the money to do it. In my opinion, it both saved and changed the face of the New Orleans Music scene for generations to come, because they gave so many artists the chance to record.” And the story for how the funding for Lives came about is quite interesting, and it involves the infamous Pepsi Challenge. “Pepsi had this challenge where they were going to give away $50,000. We were the ninth-place contestant and we got $50,000, and then Threadheads raised another $150,000.” Paul’s industry friend, Michael Cerveris, brought the idea and the songs to his people in the theater scene, and they ended up with a playwright named Lisa D'Amour. D’Amour had gone to Dominican High School in New Orleans. She was not a true New Orleanian, although she claimed to be. She worked on Nine Lives for a year and a half and ended up trying to cut twenty of the original 39 songs, writing ten of her own. She wanted to start it all off with a slow, mournful dirge called “I Feel Like I Wanna Die Today” instead of Paul’s original upbeat song. “I’m like, ‘You don’t get New Orleans at all baby. We dance in the face of death,’” Paul laughs. After he parted ways with D’Amour over creative differences, she took all the same characters and turned it into a show called Airline Highway and it ran in Chicago from December 2014 until February 2015, then on Broadway from April 2015 until June 2015 before it closed for good. “So, mid-pandemic the rights have lapsed, they don’t own my music anymore, and I get an e-mail saying ‘Hey, we found this great director who wants to do it and we’d like to pick up our option to the music again.’” After more communications and some further attempts to change Paul’s vision, Nine Lives was shelved once again. “These are my songs, and I don’t want some stranger changing them and writing lyrics for them. I told them the same thing I told my ex-wife: you can’t have my songs. You can have the clothes off my back, you can have my last dollar, but you can’t have my songs.” Once the producers let the rights to the book lapse, and Chris Joseph, who started Threadhead Records, got wind of it, he bought the rights from Dan’s widow and put Paul on as a partner. Bohemia Production Company loved it and wanted to produce it as a dramatic series that leans heavily on music. “I didn’t have a problem with that, because music is used so interestingly in television shows now. So, I said, ‘Great, run with it.’ [T]hree days later, the creative director was having drinks with an old friend who is a writer, and he says, ‘Hey, I think we’ve got our next project. It’s about a book that’s about New Orleans after Katrina.’ He said his friend put down his drink and went, ‘Please tell me it’s Nine Lives , because it’s my dream to write [it].’ Extremely serendipitous.” “For me it’s really great that it has a possible life as a tv show, because so many people are invested in it emotionally. It also captures a period of time in New Orleans that I was born and grew up in which made writing the songs possible. I didn’t have to write a Katrina Record post-flood. I wrote this thing called Nine Lives , where I was speaking through nine different people’s voices – actually like twelve to twenty different people’s voices. I was speaking about my feelings about the flood, but I didn’t have the soul crushing experience of it being [in] first-person. I didn’t realize that until later.” Nine Lives as a television series is still very much in its infancy, but its future looks very, very bright. “The vibe I’m getting is that they see it and hear it the same way we do. The fact that the writer, Frank Everleigh, lived here, the fact that he’d been through that experience of having been ostracized by his community, and the fact that I’m very passionate when I speak about it, well, they were really taken with that. They really want to have my voice in on the script. So, I’m excited to have some input on the script because the Broadway writers weren’t like that.” I smile and tell Paul that that is why the first option isn’t always the best one ... because you never know. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Send an email to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next

< Back Brilliance for a New Era: Lori Bequette Nicole Brice Nov 6, 2022 Share A Fresh Approach to Pop Art & Surrealism Sometimes an artist’s work catches my eye, and I am instantly hooked. This go-round one artist has truly exemplified what it means to learn from the greats to make new interpretations of mediums made famous by those before her, and eye-catching her work is , indeed. May I introduce, Lori Bequette. Lori is based out of Baton Rouge, LA where she lives with her husband and 4 y/o daughter trying to balance motherhood with creating art. Growing up, Lori cannot recall a time when she was not fascinated with or not actually creating something. “I think a huge part of my entire identity has been always knowing that I am an artist. It has always just been there, ya know?”, says Lori upon being asked when she knew she had the itch to create. In recent years, Lori’s path has taken a detour due to her duties as a mother, but that has not stopped her from doing what she loves. “I went from painting everyday to not painting at all. Having a supportive partner, and allowing myself to create again, has been detrimental to my mental health, and I honestly assumed I would be rusty [when picking up a paint brush again], but instead picking up my brushes again was like riding a bike, and in many ways, I felt like my skills had somehow ‘leveled up’. It felt SO GOOD to be painting again.” Lori’s work is so stunning that you can’t help but stop to take notice and admire the detail she puts into each painting. With a knack for capturing life in vivid detail, Lori’s pieces jump right out at you. When asked who or what inspires her style, Lori responded, “This is hard for me to answer. I am self-taught and have never taken any classes or courses, so my style and techniques were developed by me. I take inspiration from an enormous variety of artists and turn to diverse styles and mediums to guide and influence my creativity. I especially love when I find a new artist with work that leaves me questioning my own interpretation of a message or story.” Lori’s work is ever-changing and geometrically guided with influences from both Pop Art and Surrealism. Often incorporating abstract components, her paintings usually begin with a face or character where she builds upon that concept to tell a story. “I’m often blending nature and animals into my work in an unusual way. The hexagon is a shape I implement quite regularly. It’s such a precise and symmetrical design, yet like a puzzle, forming a more fluid shape or figure.” When asked which famous artist she would like to spend the day with, living or dead, given the chance, she replied, “Well, that does not seem fair, BUT I am going to choose Rene Magritte. He had such talents, and I mean, he had the ability to forge other artists’ work to sell when he struggled with poverty showcasing a wide skill range. He was able to aesthetically play with illusion within his own work by giving ordinary objects new context and meaning. His pieces were always thought provoking. I would love to tour his mind.” Lori doesn’t credit one specific person with giving her the want and need to create, but instead says, “I don’t think there’s just one person. My family, my friends, even strangers whom I never met on social media have always supported me in my adventures. My husband has always been extremely supportive in me pursuing my dreams and I feel lucky to be able to work from home. I gained support early in life from teachers who recommended I be evaluated for creative giftedness, but I remember just loving that. With support from teachers, I found school to be less exhausting than others. I do have ADHD and am a victim of childhood abuse and trauma, so having the opportunity to have a safe place to withdraw and create was a relief at times. It goes without saying that art, even in my 40’s, is still a tool to withdraw and escape because we all need that. I need it.” To check out Lori’s amazing masterpieces and to see about purchasing some of her work, you can visit her on social media via Facebook and Instagram. Lori Bequette Art | Facebook Lori Bequette (@art_bylori) • Instagram photos and videos If you would like to have your art featured, hit me up at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com Previous Next

< Back Team Gwen: Erica is the Next Voice You Need to Win! Nicole Brice Oct 29, 2022 Share More Than a Petty Betty Erica Calle possesses a timeless beauty. One which invokes memories and feelings for years gone by. With her big tulle skirts, pageboy hairstyle, and Riot grrrl personality, Erica channels all the old Hollywood glamour into a complete package for 2022’s local music scene. Credit: Gary Governale Known locally as the frontwoman of Petty Betty , a popular novelty band in South Louisiana , Erica is known to bring “ it ” when belting out tunes such as 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'Zombie' by the Cranberries . With a booming and boisterous voice combined with a larger-than-life persona, Erica truly exemplifies what it means to be a star. Surrounded by some of the most talented musicians on the scene, Erica credits the men behind her as the ones to inspire and push her to the limits vocally. Credit: Gary Governale The band, Petty Betty , is comprised of Tony Busby (guitar), T-Mike Galliano (bass & vocals), and Chris Lyons (drums), as well as the gorgeous Erica Calle (lead vocals). Petty Betty is a music group native to Baton Rouge with over 50+ combined years of experience in music & entertainment. With upbeat lyrics and catchy music, they bring the party when they perform. Erica started singing when she was very young, but says, “Starting out, I wasn’t any good and I sounded like a drowning cat.” Credit: Gary Governale Well, folks, those days of sounding like a drowning feline are sure over because this leading lady has some of the best pipes in and around Baton Rouge , AND she even auditioned to be on the national TV show The Voice at 22 years of age. At the audition, she made it through the first round of the pre-auditions and ended up getting a nasty cold but managed to push through, which afterwards damaged her vocal cords. She was unable to sing for a while after that, but by doing karaoke, she was able to retrain her voice to do what she wanted. Once the pieces fell into place, Petty Betty was formed. Inspired by Blues and Swing music, Erica credits her look and vocal stylings to the music that she adored as a child, such as Cab Calloway , Buddy Guy , Etta James , and Ella Fitzgerald , and she has said, “I was born at the wrong time.” Credit: Gary Governale When we asked Erica who she is digging these days musically she replied with, “ Kaleo ! I just LOVE their music!” When asked about her personal style, Erica said, “Thankfully the group of guys that I work with each bring their own unique style and ideas that makes for an amazing blend. Personally, I love Rockabilly but sometimes will add a Stevie Nicks look to my wardrobe so I can change it up a bit.” Credit: Gary Governale “Bettie Page definitely influences my stage look, but I try to look towards the strong female lead singers such as Jinjer , The Pretty Reckless , Bishop Briggs , and Halestorm as far as their energy/persona. I like to blend vintage and current rock vibes for my look.” Credit: Gary Governale Petty Betty has quite a following, and you can rest assured that if they are playing a show, it will be packed. The energy from every member of the band radiates throughout all performances with none being stale or boring. Their on-stage energy is so infectious that you’ll end up wanting to be on stage just to experience the party with them. When asked if Petty Betty has plans to record any original material in the future, Erica has said, “We would love to pursue some originals! I wake up in the middle of the night to write down lyrics that just pop into my head, and we’ve played around with a few song ideas, BUT we would really need to slow down to focus on it properly.” Catch Petty Betty LIVE in and around Baton Rouge and be sure to visit their social media accounts to show some love. October 30 - 52nd Annual Parish Fall Fest in Denham Springs 2-4pm November 4 - TrickShots Sports Bar in Denham Springs 9pm November 5 - Boudreaux & Thibodeaux's in Baton Rouge 10pm November 12 - Mike Bruno's Harley Davidson in Baton Rouge 1-4pm November 12 - Big Mike's Sports Bar & Grill in Denham Springs 9pm Erica Calle - YouTube Petty Betty LIVE | Facebook Petty Betty fan club | Facebook Petty Betty (@pettybettylive) • Instagram photos and videos *All photos by Gary Governale * www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next

< Back Eric Johanson: A Distinctive Blues Musician with an Intoxicating Sound Bud Gambrell Jan 30, 2024 Share NOLA blues musician Eric Johanson takes his distinctive, intoxicating sound on the road, kicking off his “Don’t Hold Back” tour in North Alabama. New Orleans blues musician Eric Johanson recently embarked on his maiden headlining tour, kicking off his first show in Decatur, Alabama. Eric’s style of music cannot be classified into one category, as he is about more than traditional blues. His songs are steeped in the blues, but he also includes the influence of rock, funk, soul, and a little bit of Louisiana style. Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, Eric now calls New Orleans home and uses his travels abroad to gather the many influences that give him a distinctive and intoxicating sound. With the release of his new album, “The Deep and The Dirty,” the power trio sets out to make a name for themselves. Opening Night of the 2024 “Don’t Hold Back Tour” kicked off this past Saturday, January 27, at The Princess Theatre in Decatur. The power trio gave all that they had to please the undersized crowd. Led by guitar slinger Eric Johanson, the band laid into two sets running just over two hours. Eric hit the road in support of his 2023 release “The Deep and The Dirty ”. While playing plenty of tracks from the new album, the evening had a generous helping of tracks from Eric’s previous releases. While Eric was in town, Mixed Alternative had the chance to sit down and have a chat with this brilliant guitar wizard. Read our conversation below! MaM : Your current tour, “Don’t Hold Back”, starts tonight in Decatur, Alabama. How do you feel about your upcoming tour which is your first headlining tour? EJ : We've certainly had headline dates out there, but this is the first time we're hitting a lot of these venues in a row to headline, so it's exciting! It's really good to be getting back out there and playing for the people. It's always nice when you headline the shows. You can play more material and stretch out. Credit: Bud Gambrell MaM : Since this is your debut headlining tour, is there anything that you are out to accomplish? EJ : We're just wanting to get out there and see folks that maybe heard us online and haven't gotten a chance to see us yet. The live show is really what it's all about for me. It's where the music takes on a life of its own. And you know we never play things the same way twice. There's always improvisation involved and we try to change up the set so we're hoping to see some familiar faces and also turn on some new folks to the to the live experience. Credit: Bud Gambrell MaM : Is there anything that you can tell a newcomer, like myself, on what to expect from an Eric Johanson show? EJ : Well, my music is heavily [influenced by the blues], but it kind of is a little broader than that. It has elements of rock and funk and has that Louisiana influence, and also a little bit of the jam band-like The Allman Brothers-type vibe in there. I don't like to keep it in a box but basically, it's a power trio and we perform mostly all original material from the albums that I've released. Credit: Bud Gambrell MaM : What can we expect to hear on the setlist? EJ : I'll play stuff from all three of the studio releases. I play a couple of things that came out on the ‘Covered Tracks’ releases sometimes, but honestly, these days, a lot of times, I don't write out a set list and we just kind of go with the feeling. I've found that it keeps it more on the edge of our toes to just come up with the next song based on what the moment feels like and the energy that we're getting from the crowd. So a lot of the time I'm really coming up with the set on the spot, but it's always a mix of the original tunes from my three records and you know occasionally we'll throw an old blues tune in there or an old New Orleans tune. MaM : This is a return trip for you to The Princess Theater. I understand the last stop had an interesting mishap. EJ : Yeah, the last time I was there something happened with a breaker or something and the PA went out for a little bit, and I actually ended up just sitting on the edge of the stage and singing acoustically to the room for a couple of songs while they got the PA back up. (laughs) And it actually was a cool moment and a testament to the sound of the room itself. It is a great-sounding theater. Credit: Bud Gambrell MaM : 2024 is looking to be a bright year for you: You just released the tour dates for Europe, as well as a new music video for “Just Like New”, and you are kicking off a tour tonight in support of the new album “The Deep and The Dirty”. In 2023, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart. How did you feel when you received the phone call giving you the news that it debuted at #1 ? EJ : It feels good! I mean you don't want to get too hung up on things like that, but it definitely is a nice feeling. When you're working on a record you just want to make the best thing that you can make. I want to make something like the music that I want to hear but I can't find or, you know, just something I would want to listen to. You really don't know how people are going to respond to it. So, when you get the news that it's not only sold well but that it's debuting at the top of the genre, it kind of gives you some … feeling like [you’re] onto something. You know what I mean? You just don't know. All you can do is what you think sounds good and it's been great to see other people getting into it. The album is not traditional blues, it's experimental. But I like to think that it's organic, it's raw, it's honest. And if people will respond to that it’s everything. It's great to see it charting and it's been great to hear peoples feedback and reactions to it. We're still excited, man! It's been out for about half a year now and so a lot of people these days get turned onto music through word of mouth. People are still discovering it all the time and it's just cool to see it kind of having legs. MaM: You've been in the music business for several years now, and obviously the music business is evolving. What are your thoughts on the state of the music industry today, especially with the invention of digital music. Where do you stand on all that? EJ : Well, it's kind of a mixed blessing because you don't really make any money from the streaming. I mean, some people will make the argument that you can, but it's such an enormous amount. Millions of people have to be streaming the music for you to make minimum wage. It's basically just a way for people to discover music, but it's not really a money maker for most of us. But that said, you know it really allows for a whole lot more people to find music that they might be interested in. … Back in the day, if you weren't on the radio, if you weren't on MTV, then only your buddies that passed on a tape were going know about your music. I think it's good that there's so much diversity of music out there and that there is a way to put your art out there no matter what. It kind of is what it is. Thankfully, there are still people that are buying physical copies of music, whether it's with vinyl coming back or whether it's people that are buying CDs. Some people buy CDs, and I don't even know if they're playing them in a CD player or if it's just something to sign. But thankfully there are still people that do that because the merchandise table on tour is really how it all works. Without that, it's pretty hard to tour. I would prefer that there was a way to still encourage people to buy records. These days it's hard to even figure out how to buy a record on iTunes. It's all just streaming now, but you know there's not a whole lot that you can do to turn back the clock on that. I just try to look at it as it's a way that people can discover new music and hopefully, they'll come to a show and … buy a T-shirt or vinyl or a CD or something. For more on Eric Johanson or to catch a show on his “Don’t Hold Back” tour, visit the power trio online at www.EricJohanson.com , where you can find tour dates, news, and shop the online store. *All photos by Bud Gambrell with Dragonfly Imagery www.dragonflyaerialimagery.com Dragonfly Aerial Imagery Dragonfly Aerial Imagery is a locally owned and operated photography business in North Alabama. Call or email us today for an appointment. Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next

< Back Mindy Scurto and Captive Frame: Reigniting Shoegaze Nicole Brice Jul 31, 2023 Share 90’s alt rock with dark and dreamy layered vocals I recently came across the music of an indie band called Captive Frame. With numerous releases on their Bandcamp page, I was drawn to their sound because it reminds me so much of one of my favorite shoegaze bands, Scarling . When most think of shoegaze, they instantly think of bands such as My Bloody Valentine , Cocteau Twins , or The Jesus and Mary Chain : distorted guitars, feedback, and dreamy layered vocals encasing you in soothing waves of sound. With an insanely creative cover of Nirvana’s “ Something in the Way ,” Captive Frame has found a way to showcase the perfect mix of distortion and feedback making the well-known tune feel reinvented. Other tunes such as “Walking Away” and “Seven Mondays” take the listener through an atmospheric journey of texture and sound. With so many songs to experience on their Bandcamp page, you truly need to experience their music for yourself to understand the beauty of Mindy Scurto’s voice. It’s soft, it’s haunting, it’s seductive. Captive Frame is the brainchild of multi-talented female vocalist, Mindy Scurto, who is currently based out of Florida, and her husband, Joe, who plays lead guitar. Originally from Maine, Mindy is a graphic designer by day and a talented musician by night. Coming from a metal scene in New England, Scurto founded her own graphic design company called MK Studios, where she has taken on numerous projects for her band as well as others to give them the identity they all visually need. In addition to graphic design, Mindy also paints and loves to engross herself in fine art. With a history of over ten years in the business, Scurto formerly managed a music shop in her home state where she worked exclusively with Autistic children teaching them music and integration. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Mindy at length about her music, her life, and her passion to create as well as the current state of her band. Take a moment to learn a little more about this creative woman who knows how to captivate with not only her voice but also with her outgoing personality. MaM : Tell us a little more about the band beginnings. MS : Captive Frame started a long time ago back when I was living in New Hampshire. We had a band before that was called Zounderkite and then another one called Cactus Hag. We toured all over with Cactus Hag and had a lot of fun, but my health got really bad and we ended up moving around New England a good bit. After I was misdiagnosed with diabetes, they essentially told me I was going to die, and at that point I decided we needed to get the hell out of New England because I had developed neuropathy. I couldn’t play anything, and I couldn’t do my art. In the middle of the pandemic, we decided to move to Florida in the southwestern part of the state, and that is where we currently are now. Photo provided by band MaM : So, what year was it that you could say that Captive Frame really got started working on material? Was it 2012? MS : No, it was more like 2014. I remember I was still working at the music store, and I found DKFM, which is a shoegaze radio station, and I was just blown away. That kind of gave me the idea for the band and then Joe, my husband, who is a huge Siouxsie and the Banshees fan, heard this line in the song “Unrest” where she says something about a captive frame, and that really resonated with him. It symbolizes being stuck and the line really stayed with us. When we moved to Florida, we got with a producer and we had this plan and then ended up knocking out an album in a year. It just poured right out of us. MaM : What is going on currently with the band? Any new material coming? MS : We have the live line-up finally and we’ve only practiced twice, but the guys we have are really serious about the music, which is great. We’re not used to people taking the music seriously because we’ve been in some bad situations with band tyrants, and it just really messes up everyone’s time. The chemistry of this group is so right, and we are a super tight family. Currently practicing and working on songs. Cover art for Captive Frame's upcoming self-titled release MaM : Who makes up the current line-up of Captive Frame? MS : I sing and then my husband, Joe, is the lead guitarist. Eric is the rhythm guitar player and then we have Richard on bass and Ghimel on drums. Photo provided by band MaM : I truly love your sound and it reminds me of the band Scarling. Have you ever heard of them? It was a side project of Jessicka from Jack Off Jill. MS : Oh, no shit! That’s so funny. My old roommate from college was a Jack Off Jill maniac. That’s a great compliment. Thank you. MaM : What would you say the future holds for Captive Frame? MS : It would be really cool if we could get signed and we would love to travel, so we will see. To hear Captive Frame’s music, hit one of the links below and be sure to follow them on social media, too. They are working on so many things, so stay tuned! Bandcamp: Music | Captive Frame (bandcamp.com) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/captiveframe/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captive_frame/?hl=en Nicole Brice loves discovering new music. Do you have something you’d like her to listen to? Hit her up at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next

Shawn Williams: Sulking in Love < Back Shawn Williams: Sulking in Love Ryne Hancock Sep 27, 2023 Share “Sulking in Love” features powerful ballads as gateways to the darkness that lurks beneath personal distress. New Orleans native and singer/songwriter Shawn Williams loves the nighttime. “The nighttime is when we are mostly alone by ourselves, stuck with whatever’s going on, whether it’s sadness or happiness,” she once wrote on her website when describing the inspiration behind most of her songs. For 13 years, Williams worked as a radio personality and program director at various stations in Atlanta, New York, and New Orleans before she decided to strike out on her own in 2017. As a hauntingly soulful singer/songwriter with a throaty rasp and sardonic lyrics , Shawn brought forth her brand of Americana, which, according to her, is a mixture of alt-rock, country, and serial killer blues , with her first album “Shadow.” Her next album, “Motel Livin,’” which garnered favorable reviews from local music outlets like OffBeat Magazine , released in 2018. Since breaking out on the New Orleans music scene six years ago, Williams has been a mainstay on the popular local WHIV-FM country music show “NOLA Country Radio.” She has also been featured in the aforementioned OffBeat Magazine , Ireland’s Lonesome Highway , and Europe’s Country People Magazine and was nominated for three “Best of the Beat” awards last year. credit: Christopher Bryson Recently, Williams released her third album in four years and fifth album overall with “Sulking in Love,” which was produced with assistance from Mark Howard, who was at the helm on albums such as the Neville Brothers’ “Yellow Moon” and Peter Gabriel’s “Us.” “Sulking in Love” is layered and textured in sound and is like a cross between Lucinda Williams and PJ Harvey but reads more like the tale of a woman ready to move on from a relationship than anything else, hence the title of the album. “Sulking in Love” showcases “cut-throat guitar melodies fused with pure muscle jazz” as Williams’ powerful ballads build on danger, tension, and the Crescent City after dark. Her powerhouse vocals matched with her Cajun folk twang creates a sultry atmosphere for listeners to experience. “Sulking in Love” is full of surprise moments like, for example, the big solo on “Givin’ Up,” which features the guitar framed by what sounds like a vintage Mellotron, which is pretty cool. A few weeks ago, Shawn took time from her busy tour schedule to talk with me about her music, the Americana scene in the Crescent City, and the trials and tribulations of being a working musician in New Orleans. MaM : You worked as a radio programmer before hitting it on the road as a singer/songwriter. With the way radio is set up now, most notably in the country genre, what positives or negatives have you seen in terms of radio play for americana/country? Shawn : I've been writing songs since I was 10 and playing guitar since I was 14. In any genre, it's hard for artists to get mainstream/commercial radio airplay unless you're backed by the big labels and big money. What's great about New Orleans is that people support their local, independent radio stations, like WTUL, WWOZ, and WHIV because they play local artists … artists like Lucinda Williams or Ryan Adams who don't get mainstream support but are still big. MaM : Two years before the pandemic, you had two albums out. After we all went on lockdown, you then released your third album, "The Fear of Living, The Fear of Loving." Would you say the pandemic was the fuel behind your creative input now that you have released three albums in four years? Shawn : That third overall album was fueled by a breakup, drinking (because what else was there to do at that time?), dark times, and by the song "Change . " I first wrote "Change" and I was like, “What the hell? What else am I going to do? Let me record a whole album on my phone," which I never wanted to do because of the quality, but I went for it for fun. I wrote all of the songs within a week , played all of the instruments—some of which I've never played before—and made my album how I wanted it to sound in every aspect. I actually had a Kickstarter going at the end of 2019 to record a third album in a real studio, but when the shutdown happened, that idea got nixed. When things picked back up, I started recording the fourth overall album in 2021 and released it in the summer of 2022, and then a few months later I started recording my fifth overall album and released it a few months later. MaM : In the short time I've followed your career, you've been traveling over to Pensacola, Fla., mostly to do shows. Is it due to the pay for gigs there as opposed to gigs here in New Orleans, or the Americana scene here in the city? credit: Jessica Moody Shawn : It's due to pay and the change of the music scene in New Orleans since the shutdown; although, leading up to it, the [NOLA] scene was already beginning to derail. All the clubs on Frenchmen Street other than Checkpoint Charlie (which rarely has music anymore), unfortunately want the same sound, the same five cover songs, and that's just not me. They rip off musicians. I don't want to have my players put up with working their butts off for no money and no respect. Now I'm just playing select venues and shows, places in the city that I want to play and that respect the music and the musicians, and spending the rest of my time on the road. MaM : On your album you have a song called "Society." From what I've gathered , you've never been big on political songs. What inspired you to write that one? Shawn : Yeah, I don't think I really have any politically driven songs, other than a few lines in some songs. Last summer, I was living in my RV on a farm and staying in Pensacola for the summer while touring and doing some shows on the coast and up north. Prices doubled in places to rent in New Orleans, and I couldn't afford anything. I was pissed that I couldn't go back to the place that I was born because of gentrification and the mayor killing our city and culture. And that's how the song began, as you can tell in the first couple of lines. It also touches on the city’s crime, but how crime begins at the top and with our leaders. I also have some lines in there about the pumps, Sewerage and Water Board, and the 5G towers all around the French Quarter. MaM : One of the members of the famous Neville family, Omari, is featured on "Sulking in Love." What was it like working with New Orleans music royalty? Shawn : It was killer!!! And I've never felt so fortunate to get to work with some badasses. It was my first time meeting Omari Neville , who plays on percussion and drums on this album, Daryl Johnson, who’s worked with The Neville Brothers, Emmylou Harris , and the Meters, who plays bass and percussion plus provides backing vocals, as well as Michael Chaves, who is on the guitar, keyboards, harmonica, and tambourine. L to R: Michael Chavez, Mark Howard, Shawn Williams, Daryl Johnson, Omari Neville (from artist website) It was important to have some New Orleans musicians on the album because the city is important to me and [is] a part of my sound and myself. They were all fun and easy to work with … [we] definitely vibed quickly. I’m thankful to have Omari as part of my band and live shows now! MaM : What do you expect your listeners to get out of this new album? Also , are there any upcoming shows in New Orleans on the horizon? Shawn : Like I hope for with all of my albums, I hope they get rawness, vulnerability, and are able to connect with the album. Plus, appreciation to the guys and how incredible they did on the album! On October 1, we'll be playing at Toulouse Theatre with our friends Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue opening up! "Sulking in Love" is currently available on most streaming outlets. For more on Shawn Williams, her music, and her tour schedule , visit her online at www.ShawnWilliamsMusic.com or at any of the below-listed links! Facebook: @ShawnWilliamsMusic Bandcamp: shawnwilliamsmusic.bandcamp.com *cover image by Shannon Moon Previous Next