Alt77

Thankfully, even when it comes to the music industry some things never fully change. One such thing is the mysterious, alluring nature of modern Japanese music, especially the alternative variety that is not often found on the pop charts. Its history is varied, complex, and doesn't resemble the stories of any other music scene.   

This is the reason why Alt77 has asked the help of Brandon Oleksy to help us and try to make sense of it all. Brandon is an avid fan of Japanese music, as well as the owner of He's Trying Records, a company that aims to further promote Japanese artists to Western audiences.   

Take a look at Brandon's work with Japanese artists: https://hestrying.com.

Check out Alt77's interview with mysterious Japanese shoegaze artist, Cosmicdust, who is currently collaborating with He's Trying Records.  https://alt77.com/cosmicdust-intervie...

Yearly, there are thousands upon thousands of books pertaining to try and uncover the essence of rock n’ roll music. Most fail, usually settling for funny anecdotes rather than suggestions about where rock’s soul lies.

Out of all the books written about the subject, few are as well researched, as readable, or as funny as Peter Bebergal’s Season of the Witch: How the Occult saved Rock and Roll. In it, the author digs deeply into popular music’s back pages and makes a strong point for the occult leading young musicians away from the cookie-cutter direction that the industry expected them to head towards.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Bebergal on the subject. The author spoke about famous musicians’ interest in ancient symbolism, Aleister Crowley’s Magick, chemical experimentation, etc. We also discussed the impact the music had on popular culture, on the 80s Satanic panic, and on today’s tock music.

Could Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, or the Rolling Stones have really got going without their interest in the occult? Find out in the latest episode of the Alt77 podcast.

In a thrilling interview, I've recently had the chance to interview the hard rockin' duo Friendship Commanders.   While after an initial listen it would be tempting to classify them as stoner rock, or, even, sludge metal, a more concentrated observation will reveal a group whose work goes well beyond that.   In fact, the duo talked to us about what it's like to share the stage with well-known stoner groups, how they manage to harness the dynamics of playing live as a duo, and what living and working in Nashville, a veritable songwriting Mecca, is like for them.

Full article: https://alt77.com/friendship-commanders-interview-2020/

Visit us at: www.alt77.com

I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Bob Forrest.  Mr. Forrest was nice enough to show us around his office and give us a look at his record collection.   We talked about Thelonious Monster's first new record in 16 years, the excellent Oh That Monster, about his enduring love for The Replacements, his cover of a Bob Dylan lost gem.  

The singer also shared the story of John Frusciante's original audition for the band and how his friends in the Red Hot Chili Peppers eventually poached the guitarist, what it was like working with a teenage Josh Klinghoffer for the band The Bicycle Thief, and what's the state of popular music in 2020.   

For a review of Thelonious Monster's single "Disappear" check out our web page: https://alt77.com/thelonious-monster-...

The interview sees Jason DeVore discuss a wide range of topics. He talks about the difficulty of expressing a political opinion in today's climate. He also refers to the group's diverse set of influences. These helped set Authority Zero apart early on and earned them a major label record deal. He talks about his experiences with the record industry and life as an independent band. He even takes the time to answer some silly questions about tips he'd give Miley Cyrus were her to tackle a cover of Revolution.  

Full article: www.alt77.com/jason-devore-authority-zero-interview-2021