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Interview: Phantom Eye

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 [This interview originally appeared in GAD! issue 32.] Phantom Eye is Jesse Norris’ (TOWU, Lighthouse, Tiger Helicide) pseudonymous solo music project. Interview by Harmless. GAD!: How long have ya been making music? PE: I’ve been playing music on and off for basically my entire life. My first band where we played originals was active in the early to mid 2010’s. I pretty much stopped playing music from 2014 to 2018. In late 2018, my first like “real band” formed. That was TOWU with my friends Eli and Nick. I’ve been making music constantly ever since. GAD!: Who are your greatest musical influences? PE: For where this project is currently, I’m super influenced by the works of Alex Zhang Hungtai, especially what he released under the Dirty Beaches moniker. GAD!: What were the influences behind the initial Phantom Eye release? Musical and otherwise. PE: The first Phantom Eye release was the single We Did Our Best from the 2023 EP that came right after. For that stuf...
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Review: Comic Mischief - Tuesday Nights (EP)

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   ‘Tuesday Nights’, a 4 song live EP, is the latest release from Gadsden based indie rock outfit Comic Mischief . The opening track, ‘NSMB Wii’, is a much rawer and energetic rendition of their most recent single that I personally prefer. The chugging rhythm guitar coupled with the other guitar’s melodic lead line creates a sort of hectic feeling you don’t get on the studio version of this track. The vocals are rowdy, in a great way, and the whole band seems to be playing their heart out.     ‘Under The Rug’ sees the band returning to one of their earlier songs that was originally released in 2024 as a single and later included on their debut full length titled ‘E For Everything So Far’. Again, this live version brings a new energy to the song and is a testament to how far the band has come. I booked what I believe to be the band’s first public appearance back in 2023. I loved what they did from the start, but it’s been really cool to see the band progress a...
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Review: Lighthouse - Brighter Days (EP)

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                                                                                     Lighthouse continues its pilgrimage to the 60's and 70's rock through post-punk-tinted garage glasses. Mellow-ish rock that is unafraid to slap a synthesizer and stomp a pedal. This EP features four tracks, each written and sung by a different bandmate. "When Will I See Brighter Days" is a great opener and plays the most like your standard LH song if only by virtue of singer/guitarist Jesse handling the vocals. Standard is relative. The song plays big yet fragile. The next tune, "Sundance", is vocalized by bass player Eli. The music has a fun Doors -y vibe while Eli's voice is low and steady. I reckon like his bass.  It's probably my fave. Kinda reminds me of PiL 's Commercial Zone stuf...
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Interview: ZENCII

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  ZENCII is the musical alias of Abdul Clark based in based in  northeast Alabama. Clark produces his own experimental  rap/hip hop music and  accompanying  social media content.  Interview by Jesse Norris. Jesse Norris:  How long have you been making music? And how long  as  ZENCII if you have used any  previous  monikers? ZENCII:  Freestyling with the boys at middle school lunch tables  definitely started   it  but I realized I had something to say when I was about 17. I had 1000 other names and ideas for  projects  but when I landed on “ZENCII”, that word felt it would fit wherever my sound went. A name like “maya  bandsjalou ” felt like a box on the sound even though I might pull that one back out one day. I still think  it’s   dope . JN:  What are your main influences when you sit down to work on a new track? Your influences  don’t  have to just be musical artists. ZE...
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Review: Bebop Mutiny - Demonstrations (EP)

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      I  don’t  have many bands to compare  Bebop   Mutiny  to. That could be my lack of knowledge in the genre or just the fact that  it’s  an extremely unique piece of art. The first thing that caught my attention on the project  was  the recording quality was  pretty good  for a home studio. The second was the vocals. I gotta be honest, I  didn’t  know  Jacob Ragan  had these vocals in him. I mean, if  you’re  reading this, odds are Jacob has drummed for your project at some point in time.  It’s   not quite that  new hardcore scream. They remind me more  of like  an 80’s hardcore scream, which is meant to be a compliment. The first song, “Death” is like something from  Brand New ’s Daisy which uses hardcore influence but transforms it into a new thing with it. This is going to seem crazy when you listen to the record, but I hear the  Green Day  i...
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Review: Jonny & The Black Frames - Sin Eaters (LP)

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          Hells yes, they’re back! Hard-hitting punk rawk. Much praise was heaved in the direction of their previous outing, Revolver Junkies. And I was a one of the true-believers doing such. Gotta say, they’ve taken what they did before and launchified it to the next level. Which is crazy, cuz that’s what they did with the last album! Sin Eaters starts with the one-two punch of “Death By Industry” with its cool intro and their signature high energy surf-goth-cowboy PUNK ROCK followed by the uber-relatable sing-a-along “Friends Like These”.  As is often the case with J&TBF, there’s plenty of deathrock to be found here as well. “Mark Of The Wolf” is horrorpunk, catchy choruses and creepy fun lyrics and all. That’s not to mention the killer revival of their classic(k) hit, “If You Really Love Me You’ll Kill Me If I Come Back As A Zombie”. Another classic here is 2020’s politically-charged rowdy single “State Of The Union”. Sadly, more timely than ever. T...
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Review: Rabid Venom - Rabid Venom II (LP)

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    "Rabid Venom" is a damn-near spot-on designation for these racket raconteurs. Super abrasive intensity. Every instrument just fucking CRASHES. Ripped-throated vocals, blast beats, nasty guitar screaming at roaring bass. Lo-fi live-in-the-studio. Rocking enough for the cavemen and personal enough for the bedroom artists. Now I gotta go back and check out the first album! Fave tracks: "Cacophony", "Walking Annihilator".  -Harmless Rabid Venom on Spotify!
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