MAR/APR 2013

Queens Edition.
donner social cut the brakes
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Richard J. parker Beechers fault

queens history queens food

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Me and Rob Blair of Only Ones clothing, two original Queens kids.

Ive spent most of my life in Queens. Ive lived in Rego Park, Queens Village, Bellerose and Floral Park. I have memories of going to high school in Bayside, playing punk shows in Middle Village, delivering pizza in Whitestone, visiting extended family in Jackson Heights, and going to college in Flushing. This borough is essentially repository of memories for me. Its also the most diverse area in the entire nation, with the highest concentration of different cultures in one area. This logically translates Queens into a place with a multi-faceted personality: get fancy in Malba, get grimy in Jamaica, get historic in Kew Gardens, etc. Its great for the same reasons New York City is in general: its beautiful, dirty, rich, poor, sleazy, bourgeois, everything. This diversity also carries over into music; weve built acts as diverse as The Ramones, LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Cyndi Lauper, Nicki Minaj, Sick of It All, Nas, and Simon and motherfucking Garfunkel. Damn, right? This issue is dedicated to an overlooked and underrated borough. Im glad its this way; people dont expect much from it. Its this fact that strips us of entitlement and reputation, ultimately driving us to be better and exceed peoples expectations.

BEER KHALIQUE Editor-in-Chief + Creative Director

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Back in Queens the realness is foundation / if I die I couldnt choose a better location. -MOBB DEEP

an Adam Friedman joint

QUEENS
evin James is a liar and a scoundrel. In a world where kids learn geography from war and syndicated sitcoms, Queens reputation has been unfairly associated with this portly pretender from Nassau who dares call himself King. Even the sad laugh-track that follows each of James pratfalls or shlubby mugging seems to be mocking the borough. One thinks back to Joe Pesci in Goodfellas (set in Ozone Park): Am I here to fuckin amuse you? Whats offensive about King of Queens isnt that its merely unfunny; its that the shows bland, white-washed vision of generic suburbia profoundly clashes with the boroughs dynamic, polycentric, and achingly beautiful reality.

In a way, Queens is the nexus of the universe, with the Unisphere at its heart in Flushing Meadows Park. A remnant of the 1964 Worlds Fair, the 35-ton steel globe was meant to symbolize the ushering in of a Jetsons-esque Space Age that never truly arrived (at least not to Flushing), but its come to stand for the veritable world that is encapsulated within the unassuming geography of Queens county. While Manhattan boasts of their city of the world status, the United Nations should really be in Queens, one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse places in the world, with no one group holding a majority and 48% of its population foreign-born. This constant influx of new immigrants means Queens is always reinventing itself, graciously providing haven for an infinite number of languages, cuisines, and ideas about what constitutes a worthwhile use of public access television. Queens existence dispels the myth of the Tower of Babel, proving that madcap multiculturalism can forge strength and distinction rather than collapsing into a haphazard pile of empanadas and yarmulkes. This spirit of cross-cultural community harkens back to the days before county lines were arbitrarily slapped on a map by a crazed Dutchman. Before A Tribe Called Quest repped Linden Boulevard as their indigenous homeland, tribes such as the Reckonwackys, Canarsies, and Matinecocks coexisted together. Hundreds of years ago, Native Americans from as far away as Ohio and the Great Lakes schlepped out to what is now Jamaica Avenue, but was once an important trade route for furs and other goods; surely, some of the vendors in the charmingly chaotic Jamaica Colosseum Mall will still gladly trade wampum for a Gucci bag of questionable authenticity. It wasnt until 1614 that the first Europeans discovered the borough, and yet another 400 years would pass until white foodies on Yelp discovered Flushings Chinatown. Diversity is even in the boroughs name - namesake Queen Catherine of Braganza was a controversial symbol of cultural subversion, hated by the Brits for her mixed marriage despite introducing them to the exotic custom of drinking tea (it caught on). The Flushing Remonstrance, a 1657 petition demanding religious freedom, further enshrined pluralistic values and helped inspire the Bill of Rights. It was also around this time that famed Flushing resident John Bowne opened his house to Quakers in an act of civil disobedience, and was subsequently deported to Holland despite being English and not speaking Dutch. The awkward interactions he inevitably suffered as a result were not in vain, and his house still stands as the oldest house of worship in the city; today, its only a few blocks away from the oldest Hindu temple in the United States, where a statue of the god Ganesh miraculously drank milk from his stone
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Queens existence dispels the myth of the Tower of Babel - proving that madcap multiculturalism can forge strength and distinction, rather than collapsing into a haphazard pile of empanadas and yarmulkes.
trunk. Perhaps religious tolerance and lactose tolerance go hand in hand. It was in Elmhurst that Malcolm X settled down for the final chapter of his life, with generations of black folks helping to hold Queens down through various waves of white flight (also, white driving, white running, and for racial Xtremists, white street luging). In this borough of infinite possibilities, hip hop was perfected before it launched into a global cultural phenomenon. Before Nas dropped the Nasty, the Queensbridge Projects own Juice Crew famously waged war on the Bronx and Boogie Down Productions with the audacious claim that Queens invented hip hop. While this braggadocio is patently untrue (MC Shan later denied ever making this statement), you have to admire the
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chutzpah. Looking over the impressive list of hip hop pioneers who have repped the borough, the number of different styles is remarkable. From the party raps of Run DMC and Kid n Play, to the general weirdness of Nicki Minaj and Das Racist, and the gritty realism of Mobb Deep and CaponeN-Noreaga. Theres unofficial poet laureate Nas, who poetically observed The Queens courthouse next to the cemetery / niggas rap sheets look like obituaries, and Queens-born Waka Flocka Flame, who likes yelling his own name a lot. Aside from hip hop, Queens has nurtured other cultural eccentrics, visionaries, and weirdos as well. Take for instance the Corona man who was hoarding 3 million bees in his apartment, surely a genius work of outsider entomology. Or the art museum

located in the half-abandoned Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens Village, where surrealist works by resident schizophrenics sit guarded by free-roaming roosters. Even the street gangs have some of the strangest, most awesome names in the city, such as the Get Touched Boyz, Adore My Beauty, and Cheese Block (who will surely jack cheddar); one of the most feared mafioso in recent memory, John Gotti, struck fear and whimsy in the hearts of his enemies with his fashion-inspired Dapper Don persona. Queens other various villains and douchebags share this sort of cartoonish quality, from The Donald to the Jerky Boys. Entire neighborhoods pop out as singularly otherworldly as well, such as the anarchic Willets Point community of chop

shops and scrap yards that has fiercely withstood development plans for over 40 years, attesting to the strength of community in the shadows of a billion dollar ballpark named after a shitti bank. Meanwhile, next door to the apartheid-esque enclave of Breezy Point (the whitest neighborhood in the city) is Jacob Riis Park, a portion of which has been extremely queer and extremely naked since the 60s, remaining proudly clothing-optional in a clothingmandatory world. Even if the controversial natural gas pipeline proposed to run under Riis becomes a reality, it wont prevent the queens of Queens from laying pipe there the old fashioned way. Other realms remain wild in the more classical sense: over 300 species of birds and sea turtles flock to gorgeous Jamaica Bay every year, nesting and mating in a marshy wonderland where the eggs aint the only things getting laid. In 2011, coyotes mysteriously appeared in Queens, in a Woodside cemetery of all places; nobody knows how they got there, but they somehow make sense. In a place like Queens, no species seems invasive, just complimentary. Finally, no article on Queens would be complete without completely gushing over

the amazing food and its infinite varieties. Queens is why Im fat. Walking down the stretch of Steinway Street in Astoria known as Little Cairo, the savory smells of merguez sausage mingle with clouds of hookah smoke; its at its best at sundown during the month of Ramadan, as chefs know to step their game up for crowds of fast-breaking Muslim hunger pilgrims. In Jackson Heights, the Nepalis have perfected the art of the dumpling with the momo (sorry kreplach), while the Columbians on Roosevelt Ave have perfected the pollo with green sauce galore. From the poppy shmears of Forest Hills to the melt-inyour-mouth beef rendang of Elmhurst, Queens has something for every palette; theres practically a million fast food franchises too, though be forewarned, the KFC in Flushing stands for Korean Fried Chicken and will make your curse the Colonel in his plantation grave. When Mayor Bloomberg descended upon the Rockaways for a St Paddys Day parade earlier this month, the famed sodashirker and Wall Street jerker was greeted by a raging chorus of boos from restless Queens natives. Many were still fighting against plagues of mold, decay, and infra-

structural carnage months after Hurricane Sandy, which was fast becoming a distant memory in the champagne-rotted minds of Bloombergs Manhattan elite. His presence takin to Darth Vader casually making the PR rounds through an Endorian village; he shouldnt be surprised if he winds up with Ewok shit in his face. This incident highlights not the ongoing battle fought by Queens against the outside world that consistently underestimates it. Poor Rockaways residents were surely used to government negligence, so it was only natural that they would set out to save themselves and on their own terms. If they needed any more motivation, rumors of developers surveying the ruins with dollar signs in their eyes are still circulating, threatening to turn their unapologetically Queens community into another gentrified bore. As they shield the rest of Queens from the existential enormity of the Atlantic Ocean, their collective boos were a proud battle cry on behalf of themselves and their borough. Kevin James, watch your back.

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PEOPLE

Richard J. Parker
HOW ONE MAN IS HELPING REVITALIZE THE QUEENS MUSIC SCENE.
TAKING BACK QUEENS has been around for ten years. This past January TBQ had its Ten Year Anniversary show. You only just started booking shows again about three months ago after a seven year hiatus. Why such a long break? Why now? I had actually started booking shows and working with bands as a way to kill boredom when I dropped out of college after the Fall 2002 semester. January 2006 was my last show, and at that point I was about to start going back to school full time and just didnt want there to be any distractions if I was going to make a serious go of it as a student (especially since I had fallen behind). I stayed connected to the scene, though, for about another year, writing album reviews and conducting interviews with bands for a webzine, until the ten day span at the end of that year where High School Football Heroes, Race The Sun, and Arcade Academy ALL announced hiatuses/ breakups. Watching three of my favorite local bands call it quits made me wonder if caring about them in the first place was all for naught. I mean, thats a LOT of Friday and Saturday nights to give up in your late teens and early 20s to follow a band whose everlasting legacy is maybe a demo and a handful of shows. I then tried my hand at interning for an independent record label that released the kind of music I like -- only to find out the people who work at this label are the kinda people who go out of their way to insist they USED to listen to that kinda music and now think its absolutely beneath them and youre supposed to outgrow that shit (even though that shit is paying the rent on their Williamsburg lofts, but I digress). I thought if I tried to do anything industrybased as a career, Id grow as jaded as these guys, and I guess I like the music I listen to way too much to see that happen, if that makes sense. I should also add that around this time, pop punk as I know and love it was pretty much dead and buried. It seemed more kids were starting screamo or indie/electronica bands with keyboards and whatnot and, you know, that stuff can be cool, but it really lacks that raw youth energy I grew up with going to see Epitaph/

INTERVIEW BY KEITH SMITH

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Fat Wreck Chords style pop punk bands in church basements. I stayed the course til around January of last year, when Larry from Hopeless Otis started promoting shows in Brooklyn and invited me down to one. I got there early and he had this explosive pop punk band, Gone By Friday, that opened the show and just blew me away. I got to talking to them, found out they were from Queens, and were basically playing that style of music that got me into going to shows in the first place (bands like Blink-182, Lagwagon, MxPx, Ataris, etc.), and I just felt reborn. They got to telling me how there was no allages scene left in Queens and theyd heard stories of how it used to be. I thought to myself, Well, (and no offense to Larry) but heres a band that is waaaaaay too talented to be playing in front of 10 bored adults in a hipster bar in Brooklyn. If this were 2003, Id have died to work with a band that sounded like this; in my hometown no less! So after a few months of getting to know GBF better and scouting other bands at shows in the area, the bug started to come back. So I decided the next thing I produce is gonna be for my enjoyment, my benefit. I wanna put something into the world again where Im not just a gun-for-hire and have to wait months to see it again (Im terribly

anxious as it is). So still not having a job, but a lot of free time on my hands (and a Spotify account) I decided that I wanted being punk rock to be my job. Like, how awesome would 8 hours a day of just listening to music and going to shows be? And I tell you, its just as awesome at 29 as it was when I was 19. Maybe even better now because I think I understand people and how to deal with them a little more than I did. I think its really great that TBQ is promoting as well booking shows to keep the underground music alive in Queens. Who else is part of the TBQ staff ? Well, I retain Larry and the Gone By Friday guys as my immediate booking consultants. They talk me out of doing a lot of stupid things with lineups and, being in bands, theyve already done a lot of the research I needed to do to really find myself caught up again. Then theres Lorina and Pierce who help me with various logistics who volunteered their time on an on-call basis. They help run our social media accounts, work the door, print things out, run to the store when I realize at the last minute I forgot something super important (like getting singles so you can give change after charging an $8 cover -- I seem to always forget this). Past that theres my best friend Christine who gives up her Saturday nights

just to sell pizza and soda even though she couldnt care less about the music. And then we have Hal, Amelia, and Chris from the Windows of Opportunity organization, who actually run the space at the Hollis Woods Community Church full-time. A percentage of the draw of each show is donated to WOO in lieu of a fixed rental -- and goes into things like soundproofing the room, upgrading PA equipment, and some decorative changes coming soon -- so the three of them have been quick to lend a hand and contribute. During shows, Chris runs the mixing board, Amelia stage manages and troubleshoots any maintenance/ building problems, and Hal plays the responsible adult so I dont always have to. [laughs] Youve been gaining quite momentum? Yeah, so far so good. We havent sold out the place or anything, which is still a bit of a white whale for me (I want a turn-away crowd dammit), but Ive been happy with the turnouts. I think theres been a general unrest, for lack of a better term, on the part of the musicians in Queens who have the tools to be breakout artists but are otherwise geographically undesirable. Queens has never really had a dedicated church basement/legion hall scene like Long Island does, and we dont have too

Habits performing at a recent TBQ show.

I dont think Im that cool. If anything, its the fact that Ive never been cool that caused me to gravitate to most counter-culture things like punk rock...
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many trendy bars on every corner with live music every night like Brooklyn. Yet were spitting distance away from both areas? That doesnt make sense to me. Punk rock is finding a place with four walls, a ceiling, and making shit happen. And of course, a positive attitude and a sense of pride when you play in that space, as that shits contagious and its the only way you can convince the kids in Queens that those shows are the place to be. Do you attend all the shows you book? Is it important for the bands who played at the gig to stick around and support the other bands? Absolutely. I feel if you book/promote a show, it should be a given that if you werent on your own guestlist youd be the first one standing in line, cash-in-hand, waiting to get in. Youre leading by example and if you wouldnt be caught dead at your own show, then maybe you shouldnt be booking them when theres how many kids who would love to have your resources to give it a shot? I recently heard that the best compliment a pro wrestler can get is a return booking. The person who passed on this advice, he equated the way a wrestler conducts themselves in the locker room and in the ring to the way someone might approach the act of having sex. If the wrestler is unprofessional, doesnt protect his opponent, doesnt shake hands with the boys in the back, and is doing business for himself... yeah, he might get that one payday and move on like a cheap one night stand. But if that same wrestler is a professional, keeps his mouth shut and ears open, helps the other guys look good the best he can, hell be thanked with an invitation to come back. So ultimately, a wrestler has to ask themselves are they just looking for a quick fuck or a meaningful relationship? And I think you can apply all of that to bands in the scene, definitely. What do you do when something unexpected happens? I think this is what actually separates a lot of promoters truthfully, how they handle a crisis. Ill say one thing, you need to remain as cool as possible. I mean, Ive lost my shit and freaked out, but 99% of the time it does nothing to solve the problem so Im trying to learn to think on my feet and have some of those answers ahead of time. Since we now run shows every other week, I

try to actually play back the last show in my head and ask myself, What did I do when I found this out last time? and then take the steps to be prepared. But yeah, this is live entertainment and any number of things can go wrong. Remember, man makes plans... and God laughs. I read recently that youve embraced Spotify over this past summer. You wrote that it has, about 60 percent to do with getting back into shows just because any band youve never heard of is right there. Do you feel the shows you book are more or less a real-life Spotify for the kids who attend TBQ shows? Absolutely. Or at least, they could be. Not to get ahead of myself, but my hope is that if TBQ delivers with a consistent enough track record, kids will be open-minded and just trust us when it comes to premiering new acts. You really never know who will be a hit and who will tank. But to quote an old mentor of mine, I never ask myself, Will everyone get this? but rather I tell myself, The right people will. What do you see in the future for TBQ? Any secrets? Any Latency exclusives you can

drop? Well, the Gone by Friday dudes were really good about keeping things going in my absence with their QueensFest shows over the last couple of years, so I would absolutely love to keep that tradition going with something the likes of which nobodys seen here before. Were trying to maybe find 1-2 more spaces to run all-ages shows regularly to complement the church (since we can only get in there 1 day a week, and not every week), but a lot of that right now is just in the talking phase so dont be surprised if six months from now nothings come of that. Im in the planning stages also to resurrect my record label, Uninspired Records, as a distro that exclusively sells and makes available all the records from bands that have played for us so if you hear that name, thats us as well just under an extended brand. And lastly, starting in June, were starting something called the Guest Booker series. Basically, were giving the keys and resources to the church to someone who isnt me and letting them manage their own budget and lineup for the evening. It will start with a couple of other promoters we trust, to give them the chance to bring their network of bands to the church for the first time. But our long-term goal with this is to actually allow kids who maybe have ideas for really good shows but dont know how to go about the logistics of setting it all up that opportunity. If someone can rise to the occasion and do a better job than Im doing with all of this, thatd be fuckin awesome! Any last words? Im not that cool. I dont think Im that cool. If anything, its the fact that Ive never been cool that caused me to gravitate to most counter-culture things like punk rock and pro wrestling in the first place. I borrow a lot from other promoters and try to take a little of this, a little of that. Literally, ANYBODY can do what Im doing. I talked before about the economy of punk rock and, just like in real life, youre only as valuable as what you can offer people. Dont just be a ticket stub who takes. Find a way to give. If you can do something to help the scene youre passionate for, do it. Youre only stopping yourself.

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5 Spots in Queens That Make Mouths Happy

When I was younger, I wasnt the hugest fan of Queens. It seemed that the other boroughs (well, Manhattan and Brooklyn at least) had a monopoly on excitement. As I got older though, I became a little more willing to navigate my home borough. And it seemed like everyone else was more than willing to explore too. Restauranteurs have seen the light when it comes to Queens cuisine. As one of the citys most diverse boroughs, theres never a short supply of amazing food. It seems like a new restaurant is opening every minute, and believe me, I want to try them all. But Im gonna limit this list to only five, to make my life easier and to make it possible for me to get a seat at all the others Ive not mentioned. AL E WI F E Long Island City

Id gotten the chance to sample Alewifes wares at a beer event hosted by Great Brewers, the geniuses behind Get Real NY, an awesome cask beer festival. Ever since, this spot has been on the tip of my tongue to try out. I went with a girlfriend a couple of weeks ago for a quick nosh before a concert I was attending later that evening, and after our food came, I didnt want to leave. Duck. Confit. Poutine. Three of my favorite, favorite words. OH! And you see that beautiful fried egg sitting atop that mound of molten mozzarella, gravy, and garlic rosemary fries? When we cut into it, it oozed its golden bounty all over those fries... and all was right with the world. Let us not forget, the Harissa Hot Wings in all of their smoky, spicy glory. Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili sauce, made from piri piri peppers. I love seeing cool condiments/ingredients melded together with traditional dishes... And whats more traditional than hot wings? I love spicy, flavorful wings, so this is a nice change from the usual Buffalo sauce. Coupled with friendly service and an amazing beer menu, Alewife has all of the ingredients of a great beer bar. B I AN G! Flushing

Xian Famous Foods (which already has locations in Flushing as well as Manhattans East Village), is already super well known for its incredibly delicious hand ripped noodles, spicy lamb burgers, and very cheap price tag. But when they decided to open up another spot in Flushing, they decided to expand their menu a bit. And when I say a bit, I mean A LOT. Numerous spins on their fresh hand ripped noodles abound, along with dumplings, meaty skewered morsels, and even some desserts. This is my FAVORITE appetizer on the entire menu. Quail Eggs on Sausage and Toasted Mantou (bun, basically) seems simple upon first glance, but it is really a taste bud powerhouse. Ill set the stage for you: slices of steamed bun, toasted so that the outside is crisp and the inside is fluffy; house made pork sausage seasoned with cumin and other spices is juicy, but never greasy; a single, perfect sunny-side up quail egg. Think of the best breakfast sandwich youve ever had, then shrink it. This stuff is really hard to share. This is a bowl of Biang!s Stewed Pork Biang Biang Noodles. If you dont like spicy food, you can probably just skip to the next restaurant. However, I dont mean spicy like, Oh wow, lets eat these *insert absurdly spicy chilli pepper* wings and melt our faces off. This is a whole other level of spicy. The pulled pork belly and noodles are cooked in this aromatic sauce, with hints of cumin, star anise, and other lip tingling spices. I love that Biang! and Asian cuisine in general sees meat as a flavorant, instead of the main ingredient. The rich pork belly and the chewy, toothsome noodles work in tandem instead of overshadowing one another. Look, I know. Flushing is far. But seriously, you only have to take the 7 to get
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there! And its not far from the Main Street station! Stop being lazy, and get hungry for Biang! SING L E C U T B E E R SM ITHS Astoria

Okay. So this isnt a restaurant. Its a brewery. Queens first brewery since prohibition, in fact. Brooklyn has the famous Brooklyn Brewery which gets yakked about all the time. But, Im willing to go out on a limb here and say that SingleCut has some excellent brews...and one or two of them can beat Brooklyn Brewery any day. Thats right. I SAID IT. QUEENS REPRESENT! Ahem. Anyway, I was the last to know about this place, but I knew that could be quickly remedied. The brewery is about an easy 10-15 minute walk from the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard Station stop on the N train, and is worth the hoofing it takes to get there. It looks fairly innocuous on the outside, but on the inside... Beer crafting, drinking, and learning ensue! I got one of their beer flights so I could sample everything they had to offer. I could go on forever about all of them, but let me highlight a surprise fave. I hate IPAs. I feel like every incarnation of India Pale Ale that Ive ever tried has has been in a competition to see which one has the most bitter, obnoxious, hoppy flavor. Blech. The Billy 18-Watt I.P.A is probably the first Ive had that has had a well rounded flavor, with a kiss of savory bitterness. Of all of the beers I sampled, the Billy 18 was the one full pint my belly chose to claim. Trista, one of the SingleCut Beer Reps, was super friendly to me and my crew and she even gave us a tour of the brewery. We talked about beer, cooking, and about her lady-centric beer group, Pint of Reference. I loved that she gave her time, her enthusiasm, and her extensive beer knowledge to us and everyone else at the tap room. Never really have gotten that at Brooklyn Brewery... Just sayin. In short, obey your thirst, and make the trip to SingleCut. Trust me. L E GE NDS B AR & G R IL L Jackson Heights

Do not let the name of this place or its old school bar facade fool you. This, my dear readers, isnt just any bar and grill. This bar just happens to be the home to a huge as hell mesquite pit smoker that makes some of the best BBQ in the city. And it turns out slabs of meat that look like that. You get pulled meat (I always get pulled pork), smoked kielbasa, brisket and pork shoulder, lovingly placed on your plate by a middle aged, charming, largechested Dominican woman named Marilyn. I dont know who this Jimmy person is, but I sure do love his junk. M .WE L L S D I N E TTE Long Island City

Last, but certainly not least, the fabled, the legendary, M. Wells. Cruelly ripped from its first location near the Hunters Point Avenue stop on the 7 (lease issues iends and countrymen, meet the Paris-Brest. Named after a series of famous bike races in France, this light choux pastry was filled with a hazelnut pastry cream and topped with salted caramel brittle AND toasted hazelnuts. Now, the only time Ive ever seen a proper Paris-Brest was in my old dusty French cookbooks, and I think I might have seen Julia Child prepare one on television. I was pretty much eating culinary history... And it tasted really damn good. So, Ive only given you five places, but there are so many others to try and explore. Just save me a seat, wont you? I still want to be able to get into these joints.

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DONNER SOCIAL
by KASHANA YOUNG

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The first question is kind of obvious, but how/when did you meet? Well, Josh and I met through a friend when we were thirteen so that was seven years ago this past October. Aw, networking at a young age! And when did you both start working together professionally? [laughs] I guess you could call it that! I suppose we started working together professionally in our first band, Sounds Children Make when we were fourteen. That sounds cute and profound all at the same time. Are you guys a couple or just partners? Well... were a couple... of partners. So do you both have backgrounds in musical theater or just Elanna? Elanna definitely has MORE experience in musical theater but shortly after we met, the Stockholm Syndrome kicked in. like a good Mormon, Elanna was just doing her musical theater duties by converting anyone who got within a 5-foot radius of her. Josh has also been known to work backstage. Well as musical theater artists we do take a pledge to convert the masses. So, why electropop? Some would put that genre in the complete opposite end of the musical spectrum to theater. Although whatever genre people may classify us in may seem far from the musical theater realm just in a sense of the basic sound, weve definitely brought the theatricality that we learned from doing theater into our music. We also tend to focus on melodic themes and storytelling which are both characteristics of musical theater. So the two may not be as separate as one may think. Thats understandable but to be honest it doesnt really answer my question... Our music takes the influences of the lyrical side of musical theater (the story and plot if you will) and expresses it in the form of electronic music. Just as a string and horn section would embellish the storyline in a musical, electronic music is the medium that we chose to tell our stories. Okay. How do you guys feel about being compared to bands like The Postal Service and Depeche Mode and being described as inhabiting post human musical environments and having an allergy to funk?

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Sure, as Ethan Hein mentioned, we share similar qualities to those bands but we feel as though we have created our own identity within the genre. Were honored to be compared to some of our favorite bands. Well in another interview you stated that cannibalism on the Oregon Trail during Manifest Destiny inspired your name, Donner Social. Can you expand on that? Well, during Manifest Destiny there was a group of pioneers called the Donner Party who were traveling west from Missouri to California. As they traveled, they became trapped in heavy snowfalls in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Most ended up dying of various causes and many of the survivors had to resort to cannibalism to keep themselves alive in the extreme circumstances. The name Donner Social is a play on words that contrasts the dark reality of the incident with the levity of a social affair. This parallels the content of our music; although many of the stories we tell are dark, theyre always highlighted by lighter melodic themes. Plus, were both huge nerds and have ALWAYS had a love for obscure references. Its a cannibalism and crumpets kinda thing. [laughs] I am a fan of just about anything macabre and morbid. So with all this in mind, what can your fans expect from your full length album? Camps on fire, star-crossd lovers and souls lost to radio waves. [laughs] I think setting fire to camps may be a felony. Now on a somewhat non-musical note, Elanna, I read online that youre a working actress. Have you done anything interesting lately?

Weve definitely brought the theatricality that we learned from doing theater into our music. We also tend to focus on melodic themes and storytelling which are both characteristics of musical theater.
Josh and I are both working on various other projects, but were diligently trying to get our album out in the next month. We are also proud to be on The Delis 2012 list of top 300 emerging artists in NYC. Im sure your fans are waiting on the edges of their seats! Thats all Ive got for you guys at the moment. Any last words? We are thrilled at the exposure Donner Social has been receiving and are grateful for the continued support of our fans. Awesome thanks! Thanks to you and Latency!
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Beechers Fault
by William Helms
Niki Klaczany/Abel Fermin
SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE CONTRIBUTING FOR THE SADLY defunct publication, Ins&Outs Magazine, based in Long Island City, I had written a lengthy article profiling four different artists who resided in Long Island City and Astoria. At the time, all of the artists I spoke to revealed their thoughts on the Queens/Astoria/Long Island City scene, and they generally had the same response that they didnt feel as though there were much of a connected scene like in lets say, Williamsburg, for example. But interestingly enough, there were a few under the radar groups, including Astoria Music and Arts, that were attempting to not only create a scene but bring awareness to the areas artists and it was through them that I had first heard of local band Beechers Fault. (Disclosure: Because of Ins&Outs Magazines involvement with Astoria Music and Arts, I was involved with a few of their events namely an event at the old Wonderland Collective and covered several artists connected to the group.) Named as part of the final eight in the Deli Magazines Artist of the Month for the month of February, they came in 2nd place after a lastminute sprint to the finish, the duo of Ken Lamken and Ben Taylor may be among the first acts from Queens to make a significant name for themselves in quite some time, thanks in part to a sound that can be described as one of Lamkens friends described it, as if Franz Ferdinand took a Xanax or alternately as Taylor himself described it as raw folk meets hook laden synthpop. And although those descriptions do work, I dont think they work as well as the philosophy that influences their material. Were trying to maximize creation and limit imitation. So many bands these days can be described as saying oh, they sound like ________, Taylor says. People usually list several bands when trying to describe our sound but then say that we dont really sound quite like any of them. I love to hear that because it means we are doing something a little new. Im not saying were doing anything revolutionary or game-changing, were just trying to move indie music in different directions instead of beating the same dead horse. Certainly, from the artists that have been a part of the Astoria scene, I doubt that theres anyone who sounds exactly like them or has their lyrical concerns. Personal relationships do inform their work but as Taylor told me, Id say that relationships are more of an afterthought than the focus of the album. Lyrically its more about figur16 LATENCY MARCH + APRIL 2013

ing out the 21st Century world as a curious but confused 20-something. After listening to their Misbehavior EP, theres a sense of both men being kind of world weary but still maintaining a youthful hopefulness. But lets rewind the tape a bit . . . Like countless bands before them, Beechers Faults story will sound a bit familiar. Lamken had cycled in and out of several bands and creative projects when a few mutual friends had introduced him to Taylor. And as it turned out,

both men were seeking musicians to start a band. With a shared love of Wilco, Radiohead, the Postal Service, Bob Dylan, the Talking Heads, the Beatles, the Police and others, Lamken and Taylor decided to take a go with it as a band. As Lamken recalls, I knew this [Beechers Fault] had a lot of potential. After our first meet-up, we moved very quickly with writing and it was not long until we had recorded our first EP and moved to NYC.

When the duo arrived in the five boroughs and in turn, Astoria they initially didnt have a band name. They were just known as Ben and Ken. As Lamken told me, We knew we had to come up with something quick to avoid sounding like a mime act. The name Beechers Fault was decided over a few drinks with friends. We liked it and we stuck with it. The band which has been around a little over two years has developed a reputation for their live shows being somewhere between a dub step festival and a library, as Lamken joked, in venues across Astoria, the greater metropolitan area, and the Eastern Seaboard. And in some way, the
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band may represent a new development in the still fledgling Astoria scene perhaps the very beginning of people taking Queens seriously and considering it a viable arts scene. When asked about the state of the Astoria scene (and perhaps that of Queens in general) both Lamken and Taylor praise the fact that its comprised of a bunch of musicians doing what they love playing and writing music, and performing. But as Lamken admits that he feels that the only thing hurting the Astoria music scene is that it is very small and a bit disjointed. If there were enough bands to be able to play Astoria band line-ups in NYC on a consistent basis, I feel

Making it, is whatever you want it to be. Once you decide what it is, achieve it by being true to yourself.
it would have a bigger impact. As they make a bigger name for themselves and for their fellow musicians from Queens, the duo offered some interesting bits of advice. Making it, is whatever you want it to be, says Taylor. Once you decide what it is, he continued, achieve it by being true to yourself. Produce something that is 100% you or 100% your band. Lamken added, Do not stop pushing. With hard work you will begin to achieve the sound you want and have the fans you need. Local musicians should take heed.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

4.20.13 4.26.13 4.27.13 5.4.13 5.9.13 6.7.13 6.8.13
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Gettysburg, PA Stamford, CT Norwalk, CT Astoria, NY New York, NY Parkville, MD Bel Air, MD

Garryowens Pub Seaside Tavern ONeills

SingleCut Beersmiths

Mercury Lounge Bowmans Sean Bolans

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Four guys from Queens

CUT THE BRAKES

By Keith Smith Photos by Hingwa Moy
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Cut The Brakes is based in Queens, NY. Who is CTB and how did you guys start? Rob Cut The Brakes is myself Rob Menzer [vocals, guitar], Mike Ferraro [bass, vocals], Jay Cadena [drums] and Kevin Ultsh [guitar, vocals]. Originally CTB was known as Summer Fades To Fall when I first joined. Mike and Jay were the original members. Our name changed around the time of our first show. We played without a bassist for a while with me just on vocals until we lost our other guitarist John. We became a three piece after that with me on guitar and Mike switching to bass. Kevin used to play in a band called No Symmetry but left after a disagreement and joined us shortly after we recorded our first EP. Kevin Brooklyn is better.

Brooklyn does have its perks, I must say. Did you guys prefer playing as a three piece as opposed to a four piece band? Rob Absolutely not. Kevin joining this band made it complete. Mike I like us as a 4 piece because it gave us a way better sound. You definitely get a fuller sound out of a four piece band. You guys released a six song EP, Now Come Back Boomerang, this past July. I was really impressed with your sound. How long did you guys spend in the studio recording it? How was it put together? Rob Thank you! Wait til you hear whats next. We wrote that album over the course of a few months and recorded it with our friend from Giants At Large, Matt Lagattuta. Mike It took about three days total in the studio. Pretty much a different instrument each day, bass and guitars were done in almost one day. Kevin I cant answer this, but for our

Were not whining about heartbreaks... more about hating everyone.

live shows, I wrote lead parts that arent on the EP. I love bands that play their songs differently than they appear on the record. It shows real talent to the audience and your fans. It also makes every show unique. The song This Semester has great gang vocals. This song really stands out

from the rest of the EP. Whats the story behind this song? Rob Its funny you ask about that one because we havent played it live in a long time. Even more so that weve been moving closer to that kind of harder sound lately. This Semester is simply about my frustration with school. I actually wrote it about midway through my freshman year at FIT when I was getting used to it still. It seemed that I couldnt please anyone with what I was doing and I really had a serious issue with self doubt at the time. Combine that with my frustration with school in general and you get This Semester. Growing Pains, my man. This March you are releasing a split with two other bands, Sunning and Shirts vs. Skins. Ive always been a huge fan of splits. What should your fans look forward to with this new release? Kevin We experimented a lot with different effects, structures, riffs, and vocals. Our lyrics got a lot darker and less straightforward and we took

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influences from totally different bands. Instead of pop punk we went more 90s hardcore and experimental. Mike Were not whining about heart breaks. . . more about hating everyone. Rob Its very much us maturing. I can safely say that people are going to be surprised with what they hear. Thats interesting. You have mentioned that CTBs sound is changing to a more melodic, post-hardcore sound. So youre working out guitar parts and getting an idea of what kind of sounds you want? Mike We kinda are. Once Kevin joined, we realized more what CTB actually is going for. Rob Having two guitars really changes things up. We never even thought about leads on the Boomerang EP. It also helps that Kevin brings an amazing range of ideas to the table. Since hes joined, our writing has gotten more complicated and interesting. Were getting closer to the sound we want but were always gonna experiment with it. Mike Our music changed. Our writing changed all for the better. Progression makes the sound more mature. I think that its always great to see where a band came from to where they are now. Time changes everything. Where is your favorite place to play a show? Kevin The Place in Brooklyn. Mike Its between Even Flow and The Place for me.

Rob Honestly my favorite place to play is The Acheron. Jay Barclays Center. I love the Acheron. Is that bar in the little room off to the right even legal? What does CTB have planned for the summer of 2013? Rob I think its legal. Its not even two rooms anymore, so its in plain sight. So I hope so! Mike Hopefully this summer we can finally go on tour. Or at least get some out of state shows in general. Rob Thats one of our bigger goals. Weve been wanting to go on tour for a while but cost has been an issue for us. Mike And a lot of writing. Rob: Possibly even a new EP. Kevin Or maybe even a full length.

Listen to Cut The Brakes here >

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The overhead for a tour is definitely an issue for any band aspiring to get bigger. Which coast would you prefer to do a tour on the most? And why?

Mike Id love to tour the west coast. Ive always loved it over there and the weather beats what we get here. Any last words? Kevin Going west you start running into a lot of awesome music. The east has some great bands too. Its a tough choice. Jay Trueyeahmantrill Rob I really want to do the whole country but if I had to Mike I love you! Check us out... Blink-182 had the best choose, definitely the east coast. Theres so many states to reunion of all time! stop in and I want to go to as many places as possible. Jay Neither really. I really want to go overseas to see how the Kevin #true Buy us a van Rob Come hang at a show and witness this for yourself. lifestyle is different. I would do the west coast too. What local bands or artists get you guys excited? Mike Gone By Friday! I love those guys. They always put on an amazing show and get the crowd going. Kevin Haverford. They have a unique sound that is different than any other emo band out there. Great musicians.

Rob They havent been around, but Cue The Sun always gets me hyped. Theyre a really energetic, unique band. Im also really excited for what The B-List has been working on. Jay Basal Gang. Their musicianship amazes me. Super energetic and tons of fun to see live.

Left to right:

Jay Cadena Mike Ferraro Rob Menzer Kevin Ultsh

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SNAPSHOTS

Okay, so this one was taken in Rhode Island - but Latency cant resist a cock this big. Submitted by Eric Harlacher.

Words of inspiration scribbled on a wall in Chelsea. Submitted by Monique Henry.

Sweet and full of soul, seen at a cafe in Union Square.

A mural on Amsterdam & 135th in Harlem. Submitted by Daniel Kennedy.

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Have a New MARCH + APRIL 2013

York picture youd like to show off? Submit it and be featured in next months issue.

SEE YOU NEXT MONTH! Who we are

Abeer Khalique Editor-in-Chief + Creative Director

Jenny H. Lando Chief Operations Officer

Michael Esposito Copy Editor

David Antunes Visual Designer

Julieanna Gray Columnist

Monique Henry Columnist

Keith Smith Writer

Kashana Young Writer

Adam Friedman Writer

Andrew Bilder Writer

What we do
Latency Magazine is a monthly online publication that explores arts and culture in New York. It is produced by a collective of individuals from all over the city. Our goal is to espouse you to up-and-coming talent as well as interesting things. We are always on the hunt for content and feedback, so feel free to get in contact with us at anytime if you thiink we should know about something cool. We are friendly, well-adjusted and brush our teeth twice a day.

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CREDITS
Donner Social images courtesy of Matt Holmes. Cut The Brakes images courtesy of Hingwa Moy. Beechers Fault images courCREDITS tesy of Klaczany, Fermin and William Ruben Helms. Richard J. Parker images courtesy of Nicole Corrigan and Mike Richard J.Niki Parkerv: . Cut Abel the Brakes images: Donner Social images: Copyright 2013 Latency Magazine. Hawkins. Copyright 2013 Latency Magazine