Country? Bluegrass? Rock? Gospel, even? Well I can't comfortably pigeon hole The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band; neither can they. When looking over iTunes Genius Recommendations you get Flogging Molly, The Raconteurs, and Vampire Weekend, among others; if that isn't an indicator of their genre-defying sound I don't know what is.

An interview with LA’s own After Midnight Project at the Ventura, Calif., stop on the 2010 Warped Tour after a face melting stage show on the Skullcandy Stage. The band opens up about their humble beginnings, schizophrenia, and even the necessities of touring non-stop as they do.

You guys really put on a show with video and extensive light shows in addition to high energy stage performance.

AMP: Yeah, it wasn’t there today, we have to strip it down with Warped Tour; it’s 30 minute sets, quick change overs. With headlining shows we really put in the effort. This is only our third show with Travis and Ryan, so we are really focused on sounding tight right now. Our main thing is our live show. I [Jason] feel like if a band can’t play live they’re not really a band. I hate when I go see a band, they suck live, I’ll walk out. We have to live up to our album, and better; we put a lot of time in to that.

This is your third year on Warped Tour. What is different about this year than in past years?

AMP: We have toured for two years straight now, and this Warped Tour every time we start a show there is already a pretty good sized crowd, which we’re not used to on Warped Tour. Last year it was so hit or miss, and a lot of it was determined by how much hustling we did before hand. Now, the touring has really paid off. We met people on the Chevelle tour and the Papa Roach tour that are coming back to see us at Warped Tour now.

Backgrounds, we’ve got electrical engineer, USC film school, and school of music. Are you guys like a weird A-Team? How does that play in to your dynamic?

Spencer: I think so. You know, we’re not your typical “yeah, we play music bro.” (bro voice)
Travis: I’m that guy. (laugh) I’m the one who dropped out of high school, didn’t go to college, been playing music ever since.
Jason: Well you’re still an intelligent human being.
Spencer: Not to diss any band, but sometimes you meet that band you’re really a fan of, and you’re like, “really, that’s them? Those guys are really stupid.”

You’ve had a lot of success with Let’s Build Something to Break, any new projects to look out for?

AMP: We’re putting out a live album, digitally. There’s no release date yet, but it’s Live at Bamboozle 2010 and then a new album next year. Probably start recording in December. There are no set dates, we’ll be touring until then and then start recording late 2010.

With thoughts of recording a new album, are you guys jotting down ideas day to day or is it more like lock yourselves in a studio and churn out an album?

AMP: We have a rig on the road, so we are writing all the time, recording all the time. Back home we’ve got a full studio, so we’re always writing.

Your music has been described as “therapeutic blend of schizophrenic musical stylings.” How do you feel about “schizophrenic?” I didn’t get that from the show, you seem to be all there.

AMP: I think what they mean is I pull from Cat Stevens and Postal Service to Pantera and Deftones. I love all kinds of music. Like in the song “The Criminal,” really soft parts that are almost folky in to real hard, chugging rhythms. I’m hoping that’s what they mean by “schizophrenic.” I think it’s a bit more ADD, maybe.

How did you guys get your break? I here it was a lot of local radio support.

AMP: KROK starting playing our song on the “locals show” and Capone, in San Diego, picked up on it and starting playing us on regular rotation. From there a station in Detroit picked us up so before we were even signed we had this great radio buzz happening. So Universal saw this and signed us. We owe a lot of our success to KROK and 91X for sure. They had faith in the band, basically; they put themselves on the line to support us.

Also I understand that Craigslist played a part in forming the band? So you can now buy a used kiddie pool and find a band?

AMP: Actually, Danny, who recently left the band since he has three kids, wants to keep having kids and focus on that; Ryan replaced him; that’s how I met him. I put an ad on Craigslist and he looked like a total pedophile. (laughs) He was the last guy in line, and I’m thinking, “oh God, that creep with the big red beard is coming.” But he blew me away and he was our drummer for five years.

So between Warped Tour ending and beginning recording in December, is there any plans for a small tour in between?

AMP: Hopefully a big tour. We are looking at Bullet For My Valentine, Flyleaf, and others we are up for; keep your fingers crossed ‘cause we’ve got some cool things in the brew.

A lot of your lyrics and music originate from heartbreak and trying times. Is there any fear of running out of that material now that you have basically “made it?”

AMP: It’s funny, I always think of that. For me, as long as you’re on the road, and you’re away form somebody you love, you’re always gonna have those giant fights. There is so much heartache to go around. I don’t care how big you are or how rich you are. If you’re away from people you love, whether it is your mom and dad, you can put it in to a song. Put that in to music and lyrics that fans are going to be looking for.

What is the songwriting process for the band? Is it therapeutic together?

AMP: On this album, I [Jason] was the songwriter, except “c’mon, c’mon” which Spencer and I wrote together; which is one of my favorite songs. We’ll see what happens with the next album. I think everyone will be writing and see what happens. We really can’t lose. We all work so closely. Jason will bring in a song and we’ll feel like, “yeah, it’s killer.” If not then we’ll [all] work on it and make it cool for the band to play.

You kind of talk about the “shark pool” and the “leeches” you find in LA. Is there any personal battle with having to play “the game” but not be part of the “machine?”

AMP: You kind of have to be “not part of it” because there is a feeling that if you’re from LA you’re supposed to have a typical look, like a Motley Crue kind of thing. What we focus on is every show; if you come to it, you’re gonna remember it. We put on a big production so that when you leave you’re thinking, “wow, that band was really rad. We’ll go check them out next time.” So we did that for four years non-stop. We had residencies at the Viper Room, the Key Club, and all different venues and just built, built, built, built, built, knowing how hard the competition is. Everyone comes to LA to “make it,” but they don’t really know what it takes to get there. Just like becoming an actor. There is a HUGE pool of actors, and you’ve got to get in line first.
I think we stand out by not caring about all that stuff. We let the music speak for itself. The focus is more on the performance than developing a style; I mean we don’t show up in pajamas, but still, ya know?

So no clothing line, vodka, or dubs you’re coming out with?

AMP: (laugh) no, no. That comes later down the line.

I have to ask, anything you have to have when setting out on a tour like Warped?

AMP: Just the standard stuff I guess, clean underwear. Oh, trimmers, gotta trim the chest hair, and socks. Brand new socks. Usually deodorant but I [Jason] forgot it for this tour.

When can LA look forward to seeing you back home again?

AMP: September 4th at the Key Club. It’s a headlining show so get your tickets now. We get to play our full set, some stuff no one’s ever heard before, we’re gonna make it a really cool show.

All photos courtesy of Wesley Bauman for Disarray Magazine

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Wesley is a writer/photojournalist originally from Oregon who makes his home in Ventura, CA. He is currently a contributing photographer for the VCReporter and maintains an active blog (http://www.wesleybauman.wordpress.com/) where he writes on political and social satire regularly.

Gorgeous Got a Gun performed at the Music Box last week as part of the Bikini Rock Fashion Show hosted by Swoop Magazine and Graffiti Beach. As soon as the band performed, they immediately drew a crowd. Attendees made their way towards the stage to watch the band exude infectiously energetic, catchy tunes without coming off as cliché or corny. The vocals reminded us of Monique Powell and Stefy Rae with a tiny hint of Gwen Stefani. It didn't hurt that front woman Veroica Torres sported a fashionable feathered skirt, which seemed almost perfect since the event was, after all, a fashion show.

This band is definitely one to watch as they deliver fast-paced guitar riffs courtesy of Ernesto Rivas, explosive drum beats a la Josh Zeigler, bass thumping beats from Jimi Blaze and overall edgy songs that will make your body move. Check out the band in action below:



Here's some footage of the band from the Bikini Rock Fashion Show:



For more information, check out:
www.gorgeousgotagun.com
www.myspace.com/gorgeousgotagun
www.facebook.com/gorgeousgotagun
www.twitter.com/gorgeousgotagun
www.sonicbids.com/gorgeousgotagun
www.youtube.com/gorgeousgotagun

Were you at this show? What did you think of the band? Let us know in the comments section! 

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About the Author

Formerly an editor and writer at Citysearch, The Examiner, LA Youth Newspaper and proofreader at The Los Angeles Daily News, Christy Buena decided to start Disarray Magazine because she missed writing what she wanted. From hiring writers, to contacting publicists and making assignments, Christy is responsible for the editorial strategy of Disarray Magazine.
Questions, comments or suggestions? Contact Christy@disarraymagazine.com
Twitter.com/ChristyBuena

We were able to snap a few shots for Iglu & Hartly fans:

We caught the band at the Sunset Strip Music Festival where they performed "In This City" at the Viper Room:

EXCLUSIVE Backstage Access & Interview! Check out Iglu&Hartly warming up before their performance:

After attending the successful Bikini Rock Fashion Show at the Music Box recently, we had to speak with Graffiti Beach Founder Melanie Michaud about her company, her pop-up stores and the process for aspiring models and upcoming designers to get involved in her fashion shows.

1. What inspired you to start Graffiti Beach? Can you tell us a little bit about it? When did you start Graffiti Beach?

I launched Graffiti Beach about 6 months ago. However, Graffiti Beach has been a long time in the making! I have been thinking about all of the elements that I have wanted in Graffiti Beach since I was young. At a very early age I remember watching my father who was an emerging musician at the time, trying to break into the industry. Seeing his struggle and my passion for the creative industry inspired me to create a company that supports emerging fashion designers, artists and musicians. Graffiti Beach is a mobile community of up & coming talented creators that can come together and showcase and sell their products to the public market. I handpick each venue that I feel has a great environment for these creators and set up a theme and date to launch a 1 to 3 day event. Typically I will throw an event at a Hotel, Lifestyle Center or an Art Gallery. Each 'Pop-up' event has a fashion show, live art, music performances and other creative elements that are emerging in the industry. All vendors create 'Pop-up' shops, which are temporary small shops where they can sell their products directly to the public at wholesale prices. Currently we have at least one Pop-up event per month.

2. If a company wants to be involved in your "Pop Up stores," what do they need to do?
They can email me at GraffitiBeach@live.com and include a link to their website or blog.

3. What do you look for when selecting clothing companies for your Pop Up stores and fashion shows?

First and foremost, positive and ambitious people that love the creative industry and truly believe in what they do. The next most important thing is who myself and my Trend Team think are cutting edge and very talented. We believe that the people that are in Graffiti Beach are what keep our customers coming back for more!

Graffiti Beach Trend Team - I select 1 to 2 college students from each school in Southern California that serve as a Trendsetter and can scout emerging talent. They assist with all of our events, blog and each add a special element to Graffiti Beach.

4. How often do you showcase fashion shows?
At least 1 time per month

5. How much preparation went into the Bikini Rock Show?
The idea for Bikini Rock was something that myself and the Founder of Swoop Magazine had talked about for at least a year. We really started getting all of the details together 4 months out.


6. What are your goals and what lessons have you learned so far? 
My biggest 'Aha' moment while launching Graffiti Beach is that your brand truly survives based on the people that stand behind it. It really means everything to have the right people on board!

7. Do you have any advice for beginning entrepreneurs? 
Your brand is only as good as the people you have that stand behind your brand. You can't do everything so find people that are truly passionate about what they do!

Our next planned events are - July 24th - Summer Sancturary - Pool Party/Pop-up at the Angeleno Hotel in Brentwood 11am to 5pm.

The next day (July 25th) we will be debuting emerging designers on the runway for Venice Summerfest on the Venice Boardwalk. more details are coming soon, check out www.GraffitiBeach.org.

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For our review of the latest Bikini Rock Fashion Show, check out:

Live Review: Bikini Rock Fashion Show @ The Music Box 

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About the Author

Formerly an editor and writer at Citysearch, The Examiner, LA Youth Newspaper and proofreader at The Los Angeles Daily News, Christy Buena decided to start Disarray Magazine because she missed writing what she wanted. From hiring writers, to contacting publicists and making assignments, Christy is responsible for the editorial strategy of Disarray Magazine.
Questions, comments or suggestions? Contact Christy@disarraymagazine.com
Twitter.com/ChristyBuena

Skimpy bikinis and buff bodies graced the runway at the Bikini Rock Fashion Show held at the Music Box last week. Presented by Swoop Magazine and Graffiti Beach, the event integrated fashion, charity, art and rock n' roll with musical performances by Kevin Sousa, Gorgeous Got a Gun and Iglu & Hartly. A portion of the proceeds will go towards Jeanne's Journey and Fertile Action. Upstairs, vendors were on hand at the venue's rooftop offering accessories, clothing, skateboards, eco-friendly swimsuits, jewelry and more. For those with enough energy to party the night away, the fashion show event turned into the official Electric Daisy Carnival after party featuring Chuckie and AfroJack, where Lil Jon made an appearance.




On the runway, our favorite lines included Lolli Beach Candy, B.Swim, White Laundry, Sambaii, Teeki, Bettinis, Islay and clothing from Jedidiah. From solid dark prints to white bikinis and stripes to yellow bikinis, the runway was filled with colors that pop perfect for summer.


When it comes to "Going Green," Teeki swim wear has stepped up to the plate with "bikinis made with real water bottles." Designer Lindsay Hemric noted that her bikinis are eco-friendly and don't sag when wet. Hemric said it took trial and error to discover that recycled water bottles worked perfectly. She tried bamboo but the fabric was too flexible. Teeki bikinis are available at www.teekilove.com where bottoms and tops both sell for $50 each.







Also on the runway, Sambaii offered skimpy Brazilian cuts, which oozed sex appeal down the catwalk. Sambaii swimwear can be purchased at www.sambaii.com .




In case you missed it, here's the entire Bikini Rock Fashion Show - Runway Styles

Upstairs, vendors featured on the runway offered attendees the chance to purchase hand crafted accessories from HerrDogHouse Boutique, Bloom Jewelry, G.A.Y. sandals, Morning Glory by Melanie, Ladie B, and Islay among others.

Also on the rooftop, Yoga Vista offered coupons for a free first time Yoga class while Dino Mayorga showcased trucker hats and original works of art.



Here are some shots of the vendors upstairs. 


Bikini Rock Fashion Show Party People



Were you at this event? Let us know all about it in the comments section! 

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About the Author

Formerly an editor and writer at Citysearch, The Examiner, LA Youth Newspaper and proofreader at The Los Angeles Daily News, Christy Buena decided to start Disarray Magazine because she missed writing what she wanted. From hiring writers, to contacting publicists and making assignments, Christy is responsible for the editorial strategy of Disarray Magazine.
Questions, comments or suggestions? Contact Christy@disarraymagazine.com
Twitter.com/ChristyBuena

Combining fashion and philanthropy, Povertees, teamed up with First Class Marketing to host a fashion show and pool party in Beverly Hills last week. The successful and widely attended event was sponsored by Amp Energy, California Pizza Kitchen, Togo's, Blue Ice Vodka and offered an open tequila and vodka bar all day. That’s correct, all day. Whether you were outside by the pool, enjoying beautiful views overlooking L.A. or inside the spacious mansion, one thing is certain, if you attended the event you either had a great time or you were too intoxicated to remember.

Don’t fret. If the day was a blur, let me fill you in. Inside the multi-million dollar Beverly Hills mansion, bikini clad women and shirtless men sprinkled throughout the home, sipped free (bottomless) cocktails, mingled and caught a Unified People photoshoot in action. The models weren’t the only ones taking photos, though. Party-goers enjoyed the summer bash and posed for photos snapped by Doug Hac, Markus Biegel, Steve Buena and Brandon (Brando). Providing the soundtrack for the day was Arkah and Joey Flashback, among others.

Finally, it was time for the Povertees Fashion Show to begin. The unpretentious and tipsy crowd looked on as models strutted runway-style wearing pocketed tees, hoodies and tight fitted dresses. For those who don’t know, Povertees is on a mission to help the less fortunate by offering "pockets of hope, healing and revival". They sew hand-made pockets onto T-shirts and sell them for $15 to $18. A portion of the event’s proceeds will go towards the Povertees Missionary, where they provide blankets, food and clothing to skid row's homeless community.

Povertees mastermind Matt Donahue, explained his goals for starting the organization. "As poor college students, we don't have millions of dollars to relieve poverty, but we can give our time and our hearts to this cause. Our hope is to transform the streets of L.A. one friendship at a time."

To spread the love of Jesus to the homeless of Downtown Los Angeles. [They] buy fabric and American Apparel shirts from Downtown LA, sew hand-made pockets onto the shirts, and then sell the shirts called “PoverTees”. The profits from shirt donations are used to buy more fabric and shirts, but more importantly the profits go directly towards helping the homeless. Any profits not used for production expenses go towards buying food, clothing, and blankets that we bring to the homeless community in LA. The main goal of our trips to LA is not just to bring food or clothing, but to build close relationships and to show people that the love of God has no boundaries.

Our favorite outfits include:






Party photos below:



More photos can be found here: 
Photos courtesy of Doug Hac: C'est la vie | Facebook Album
Photos courtesy of Amp Energy CSUF: Povertees/ Beverly Hills Party!!! | Facebook Album
Photos courtesy of Povertees Group Album: Povertees Event Photos | Facebook Album
Photos courtesy of Disarray Magazine: Povertees Fashion Show | Facebook Album
                                                           Povertees Beverly Hills Pool Party | Facebook Album

For more information about Povertees and to get involved, visit:
http://www.Povertees.org

Were you at this event? What did YOU think? Let us know in the comments section!

There's no doubt Australia has produced its share of rock bands and among them are Men At Work, AC/DC and Silverchair. We can now add Rapids to the list. When our friend and mixtape junkie Rich Noguchi, enlightened us about Rapids, we immediately took a liking to the group's upbeat bass lines, catchy choruses and guitar riffs that beckon you to dance. "I like them because they don't necessarily fit one particular style of genre and it seems like they are making an effort to being open to new creative ideas. Creativity doesn't necessarily mean complexity, and they do a great job at developing music in an innovative way that takes on the minimalist approach," Noguchi said.

The band is comprised of Jamie Timony (Keys, Vox), Will Shepherd (Bass), Remy Hii (guitar) and Angus McLaren (Drums). We can blame these guys for getting us hooked on the track, "Get Better Than That," which is infectiously catchy and will surely get stuck in your head for hours. The accompanying music video is equally enjoyable featuring vivid colors, artistic shots and cool, calm and collected rock stars.

We were able to talk with Rapid's front-man Jaime Timony about the band's beginnings and future plans.

1. How'd you decide on the band's name? 

It’s funny, the idea of choosing a band name always sounds fun and exciting, but when you’re actually trying to decide on one it can be such a tedious process. You can always find a reason why a name sucks. ‘Sounds too much like this’, ‘It’s too familiar to this other band’s name’ etc. Our name got birthed after Jamie and Will set off on an afternoon trek around one of the mountain ranges just outside the Gold Coast in Queensland. With limited hiking experience and a bag full of packed sandwiches, cigarettes and thermos coffee, they found themselves following a path which wasn’t really a path, and that lead to whatever you call something that’s neither quite as big as a river nor small as a creek. Lacking the desire, or ability to cross the rapids they figured they could make a compromise and so the band was named rapids.

2. How did you all meet and how did you develop your sound? 

We all met at different points over about 8 years. Will and Angus went to high school together in Victoria. Then moved to the Gold Coast for a period of time and it’s there that we met Jamie, followed later by Remy who was living in Brisbane. We developed our sound by simply standing in a room together and trying things out. Inevitably you develop your own sound over time as you get to know each other and the way each other work. Having a united taste in music also helps.

3. Are you guys working on any projects at the moment? 

It has been quite a busy few weeks for us as a band. Just a couple of weeks ago we flew down to Melbourne and tracked down 2 new tracks with our friends in their freshly made home studio affectionately named ‘The Manor’. We recorded our last EP with those guys and we’re stoked to working with them again. Since then we’ve been focused on mixing the 2 new tracks with Eric J Dubowsky at Sydney’s BJB (Big Jesus Burger) Studios and now we’re in the final stage of getting the tracks mastered. We’re pretty happy with how they’ve turned out, so I suppose from here we’ll be doing our best to get the tracks out there on the interwebz.

4. Where can fans catch you guys live? Any tours/shows coming up? 

Our next show is on the 19th June at The Annandale, a long standing live music venue in Sydney, playing along with some wicked Sydney bands including Deep Sea Arcade, Made in Japan and The Spirits. We also have a couple of exciting shows coming up at various venues around Sydney. But we are really excited about our residency at Oxford Art Factory (Sydney) in August. We are also playing the Oxford Art Factory’s 3rd birthday party on the mainstage with some killer local bands. Should be a great night.

5. Are there any bands you admire and wish to work with? 

There are plenty of bands who we admire, respect and are influenced by. We’re a big rap for the likes of Foals, Late of the Pier, The Scare, Animal Collective. Lately we’ve been getting into Chillwave a bit too with Caribou, Toro Y Moi and such. Every day it feels like you find a new band you dig that’s better than the last one you discovered and you want to start writing songs like them.


6. What inspires your sound? 

We try to keep our inspiration coming from all aspects of our lives; not just music but work, friends, television shows and movies, and people we interact with on a day to day basis. We appreciate both pop sensibility and the more experimental side of music creation and do our best to fit somewhere in between those two where we can.

7. What are your musical goals and what lessons have you learned so far? 

We’d be so happy to be a band who could tour and make records for a living. We’ve learned that having the respect of your peers is very important. You never want to be considered a fake or a douche and it’s that desire that keeps you double checking everything you do to make sure it’s authentic and that it’s coming from your heart. If people don’t like it then, at least you know you’ve done everything in your power.

8. What's the best piece of advice someone ever told you? 

‘buy a guitar’ – Will
‘Rick K. And the Allnighters are the best band in the world’
‘Can we use the other band’s drum kit’ - Angus

9. What do you guys do when you're not making music? 

We all work our respective day jobs and school studies to get by and then try and suck as much fun out of the rest of the day as we can. We’ve nestled ourselves the party house in our group of friends, so there never seems to dull moment in the office – We have the pleasure of living in a slightly non-conventional an office space, which our love grows for everyday.

10. We're asking every band we talk to: What's your favorite restaurant? 

We can’t get enough of a little cafe just on the outskirts of Erskineville (inner-west Sydney) called Sofia’s and is always our 1st preference for breakfast and lunch.. They do good coffee too and we all know good coffee is good soul food. Delhi O’ Delhi in Newtown (also inner-west Sydney) is an Indian restaurant which we tend to frequent on special occasions with a nice bottle of red or two.

11. Anything else you'd like to add?

Our last EP is free to download via our myspace. Our first film clip is also up on our myspace and youtube as well, check it out!





For more information about the band, check out:

Rapids Fan Page | Facebook

Rapid's Myspace Page

Like what you hear? Let us know what you think in the comments section! 

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About the Author

Summer is in full swing and with this season’s trends comes many options. You'll find yourself asking where do I start? For starters, strip down to stripes and pair it with bold colors that silently scream, “New style with a classic look!” And let’s not forget about the safari patterns mixed and matched to create a look so daring that only someone with an imaginative eye can construe its outspoken statement.

The denim on denim look has crept its way back in and this time around it made a serious name for itself.

How chic is the beach look? Opt for cute bathing suit tops thrown together with tube dresses, flowing shirts, linen or cardigan pants and a hat to top it off.

Studs have transcended from a winter style to this summer’s leading accessory. Whether it’s on your clothes or dangling on your jewelry, it can easily change a plain ensemble to an outfit deserving of a second, third or fourth look.

It definitely takes somewhat of a skill to apply these looks accurately to your everyday wear, but it can be done. Every outfit, no matter how beautiful it is, in need of one main ingredient, and that’s confidence!

The stripes for instance, have taken over. They have been combined with many colors and styles, both night and day! In order to achieve that classic yet new age look, one must be in tune with their own personal originality, which usually leads back to confidence. Additionally, the safari patterns are definitely a “risqué” look when put together, but the bigger risk comes from not trying it at all. If you really want to catch the eye, be sure to not only mix patterns, but colors as well! This wouldn’t be an example of less is better!

This seasons denim has its special little way of not being at all forgotten and standing out amongst many styles. Denim shirts with denim jeans and skirts! It’s a very cliché look, however, many have found different ways to conceive a distinctive way of wearing this style. When wearing this,different colors of the denim should be considered.

Be whimsical and purchase summer dresses. Every lady should have one if not two. How easy is it to throw on a summer dress and be off with your day?! You will definitely thank yourself in the long run!

For those who have a knack for layering, don’t forget the little beach look! In case you’re wondering, “YES”, this can be worn off the beach! This is what makes it so appealing! Bikini tops under a low cut shirt or a dress can make you feel as though you’ve taken the beach home with you!

These are but a few styles that have graced summer this season, but are also the looks that many will make their own! Now how can you keep up with all these looks? Well it’s simple, think outside the box, and be open to peculiar. Treat fashion as it is, fine art in the form of a beautiful creation, and you to will find your distinctive style!