New Beginnings For The Montgomery Drive

Drivers,

The wait is over. It’s 2013, and the time for action is now!
For the majority of 2012, I worked night and day to complete my studies at Full Sail University. This past September, I successfully accomplished this ambition, graduating with a Masters in Entertainment Business.

Since then, I’ve taken more time to concentrate on this project.
This year marks a new beginning for Montgomery Drive, and things will begin changing drastically.

I will no longer be updating this blog. 

The Montgomery Drive has officially moved to MontgomeryDrive.com

The new site is up and running and my latest release, Life On A Seesaw will now be available through numerous retailers including: Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and other various outlets.

Furthermore, I’ll be leaving for my Northeast US tour on January 16th, 2013 with new merch. Over the next year, I will be recording and releasing a lot of new material.

Thanks for visiting.

Check out MontgomeryDrive.com

-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive

Sohns

Drivers,

A little over three years ago I had the pleasure and privilege of booking and performing alongside Texas' own: Sohns. At that time both of our projects were on the Kentucky based nonprofit label Mayday! Mayday! Records. On that tour Sohns had ventured all the way down to the murky swamps of South Florida with their very close friends and fellow San Antonio natives: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy. Initially, upon hearing Sohns I was completely and utterly blown away. The vocal range was something that was unlike almost anything I had ever heard ranging in spectrum from insanely high pitched yelling and screaming to extremely guttural growling and chanting. The music commanded me to instantaneously start banging my head to the rolling beats and hum along with the edgy guitar and bass riffs as they all intertwined together weaving into the bands eclectic sound. 

At the time of our meeting the band was comprised of Alex Mendez (vocals), Marcos Gossi (guitar), Wes Dunn (bass), and Lawrence Mecado (drums). The year is now 2012, and many things have changed…including Sohns. Although the band's lineup has changed, now consisting of Alex Mendez (vocals), JC Rodriguez (guitar), Luis Enrique Farklas Trevino (bass), and Lawrence Mercado (drums), the band continues to break new ground with their explosive tunes. 

Ripe/Rot 7” is the story of Vincent Calloway as told by Sohns. 

Stream the album via The Flannel Gurl Records BandCamp page or below.

This is the bands first release on their new label; the one and only Virginia based Flannel Gurl Records. Check out the video for the song “Abomination” off the Ripe/Rot 7” below.

Sohns just wrapped a summer tour with The Reptillian that took the bands through the east coast, parts of Canada, and back through the Midwest. Watch the video flyer below for exact dates. The video is for the song “Soul Salvation” off the Ripe/Rot 7” and was filmed at one of the band’s shows in San Antonio.

If you’re a fan of heavy music, high-pitched vocals, or parties…this band is definitely for you and certainly worth the listen. Enjoy the tunes and pass them on.

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive 

Algernon Cadwallader

Drivers,

Rumors have been swirling for sometime but its official…Algernon Cadwallader has been laid to rest. The Philadelphia three-piece that was comprised of Tank Bergman, Peter Helmis, and Joe Reinhart announced the unfortunate news through the official Algernon Cadwallader Blog shortly after midnight on August 26th, 2012. Tank Bergman wrote:

I've had an amazing past 5 years touring and writing music with my best friends Peter and Joe. So here's the news: I'm having a kid and got a nursing job! I'm stoked about a little Tank running around with drumsticks. Unfortunately I'm unable to tour anymore.

You can read the full statement here. Since the bands formation in 2007, they released two full-lengths: 2008's Some Kind of Cadwallader and last year's Parrot Files in addition to releasing several 7"s.


The three friends crafted an excellent sound utilizing Kinsella esque vocals, beautiful harmonies, and amazing energy that all coincide with each other perfectly to create one of the best emo bands of our time and possibly all time. Taking off where Cap’n Jazz left off, Algernon Cadwallader takes the sound and expands on it making use of lots of finger tapping and noodling techniques to construct their melodic tones and tunes. In addition to creating music the trio created numerous other things. Peter Helmis created all the bands t-shirt designs. Joe Reinhart recorded and mixed all the band’s music in his studio The HeadroomPhiladelphia. The trio collectively printed all their shirt in their own warehouse in addition to personally booking all of their tours. Furthermore, the three members of Algernon Cadwallader own a record label, Hot Green Records.

The catalog left behind by Algernon Cadwallader will undoubtedly be one that is sought after and treasured by many for years to come. The fantastic music by Tank Bergman, Peter Helmis, and Joe Reinhart will continue to influence many musicians and speak to its multitude of listeners. 

Although the news of Algernon Cadwallader's end comes following weeks of rumors, the breakup is a definite loss for the music community. If you haven't already heard the bands excellent tunes I would highly recommend the song: "Some Kind of Cadwallader" as a great starting point. Check out the song and watch the video of them performing "Serial Killer Status" above.

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive

No Use For A Name

Drivers,

Almost a decade ago I attended my first Warped Tour. The event that year was spectacular, boasting a lineup including Shai Hulud, Thursday (who were touring in support of Full Collapse), Taking Back Sunday (who were touring in support of Tell All Your Friends), Hot Water Music, and a slew of other artists. One of my personal highlights of the day was after frying all day in the sun, cooling off in the sun shower while watching No Use For A Name perform in the early afternoon. The punk band from San Jose, California played an excellent set and even had a small meet and greet following the performance. The group was extremely gracious and friendly taking pictures and signing autographs for everyone.

Fast forward to this year and the band was still going strong and in the midst of a tour until July 31st. It was on this unfortunate day that Tony Sly, the vocalist-guitarist of No Use For A Name was found dead from undisclosed causes. The punk-rock hero from the Bay Area punk scene was only 41 years old. He will be best remembered for leading No Use For A Name. The San Jose resident was also working an his solo endeavors including an upcoming tour with Joey Cape of Lagwagon. The news of Sly's passing was made public through the San Francisco label Fat Wreck Chords that had handled No Use For A Name's catalog since the early 1990s. Sly's last performance with No Use For A Name was in June in Montebello, Quebec, Canada. His last solo gig was in Gainesville, Florida on July 29th - just two days before he died.

It's unknown whether No Use For A Name will attempt to con tune on without Sly. Tony's brother Mike has set up a memorial fund which you can check it out here to find out how to donate and help.

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive

Suis La Lune

Drivers,

In the summer of 2010 I had the pleasure of booking and performing with a band called Suis La Lune. At the time, the band was touring across the United States with Pala and my good friends Fair Root. The show took place on June 27th at one of Miami's most iconic venues Churchill's Pub. The concert featured performances by all the touring bands as well as Capsule, Baboons, and Montgomery Drive. To this day it continues to be one of my favorite concerts I've ever been a part of in terms of booking, coordinating, organizing, and performing.

Check out one of the videos from the 2010 Churchill's Pub show below:

Fast forward two years and the emotional hardcore heroes from Sweden are back with a brand new album available through Topshelf Records. The new album titled Riala is by far one of the strongest, most melodic, infectious, and catchy emotional hardcore albums of 2012. From start to finish the album flows beautifully begging for another listen. Furthermore, Riala has been the album I consistently find playing in my head and hence has been stuck in my stereo since its May release.

Check out video of the Riala Release Show below.

-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive

Tomahawk

Drivers,

After a 5 year hiatus the experimental metal/alternative rock super group Tomahawk will be returning this fall with the album "Oddfellows". Tomahawk, the band comprised of Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas ), Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard), John Stainer (Helmet, Battles) and now Trevor Dunn, also of Mr. Bungle and Fantômas, will be releasing the highly anticipated album through Ipecac Recordings. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Ipecac Records please refer to my previous entry Ipecac Recordings & Fontana Distribution for some background on the label and their current distribution deal. Formed in 2000, Tomahawk released their first album, the self-titled Tomahawk in 2001. Prior to their hiatus the super group released Mit Gras (2003) and Anonymous (2007). Tomahawk toured extensively playing in numerous countries including the United States, Australia, Europe, and Japan. They generally headline shows but have been the supporting act for bands such as Tool. In July 2011, Mike Patton announced to Rolling Stone magazine that the fourth Tomahawk album was in the works. While working on the new album they released the Box Set titled “Eponymous to Anonymous”. All of these albums including the Box Set were released through the label Ipecac Recordings.

Click Below to Watch The 40 Second Teaser From Ipecac Recordings

Oddfellows was recorded at Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville and co-produced by Tomahawk and Collin Dupuis (The Black Keys, The Nocturnals). According to the guitarist Duane Denison, the LP is “dark and claustrophobic here, light and spacious there”. Tomahawk is scheduled to perform their first show in nearly a decade this October taking a part in the 2012 New Orleans Voodoo Music and Arts Experience. Additional dates will be announced soon. In the teaser it notes that Oddfellows will be available in Fall 2012 however it has since been announced that the album is in fact slated for a January 2013 release.

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive

The Telephone Guitar

Drivers,

As many of you already know I am always actively searching for new and different instruments to mess with and utilize in order to expand and shape my music and sound capabilities. In my years traveling and hunting I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see and play all sorts of different instruments both near and far but I had never seen anything like my latest acquisition from Rainy Day Instruments. While surfing the net hoping to find something to grab my attention I found myself coming across the site Etsy. Etsy is a social commerce website that is focused on handmade and/or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. After scrolling through numerous pages in the music section of the website I found what would later become my newest and most prized instrument. It was a Handmade Epiphone Telephone Acoustic/Electric Guitar and the only one in existence. 

The instrument itself is an Antique Playschool Phone (from the 1950s), which is securely attached to a new Epiphone Gibson Special neck. In addition, the instrument has a Piezo pick-up installed inside allowing the guitar to resonate through an amplifier. The "Telitar" as I've been affectionately calling her has an excellent sound and great playable action. The tone is slightly tinny but extremely warm and sounds very smooth acoustic and even better through an amplifier or PA. Rainy Day Instrument’s Marc Potter built the instrument. As per my request he was kind enough to also install strap buttons onto the instrument before shipping it. 

Aside from my "Telitar" being the only instrument of its kind in existence it is a priceless piece of art. Not only is the “Telitar” art that can be visually enjoyed and admired, it is a fully functional guitar with a unique and vintage look that makes it special. 

Many have understandably questioned whether or not the “Telitar” is in fact real. Doubt no longer. The "Telitar" is real and included here are pictures from the initial Etsy listing and a picture or myself with it as added proof. However, if that’s still not enough you’ll just have to make sure to come out and catch me on tour to see/hear it for yourself. Until next time…

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive