Sitting in Charlotte with his first off-day in over two weeks, Hed(pe) MC Jahred Gomes is resting up before their next gig when I give him a call. The long standing Southern California rockers are out promoting their new record, New World Orphans, which is the third record they’ve done since joining Suburban Noize Records, home of the Kottonmouth Kings. During the interview, we discussed the political nature of the new record, as well as the band’s love for the Midwest. Here’s the interview with Jahred from Hed(pe):

MyCityBuzz: What do you think was the major musical style that influenced New World Orphans?
Jahred Gomes: On a record, we never try to have one major influence that wins out over another and we like to be known for combining different musical styles. But if I had to say if there was one influence that won out over another this time, it leaned towards the American Hardcore bands, like Minor Threat, Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies. I think the guitars are a little more thrashier than that though, more metal. I think we did a good job putting the emotions of what we wanted out in the music.

MCB: Do you feel that the new record is the most political sounding record the band has had yet?

Toronto group Rock Plaza Central has found a new label home with Canadian indie pioneers Paper Bag Records, and are set to release their third album on June 16th in the US. At The Moment Of Our Most Needing, Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone is the follow-up to 2006's critically acclaimed Are We Not Horses?. Unlike its predecessor the album steers away from a concept but is heavily influenced by William Falkner's Light In August.

In 2003, Chris Eaton, author of The Inactivist and The Grammar Architect (Insomniac Press), booked a show at Toronto's fabled Sneaky Dee's. Without anything but his guitar and some songs ideas, he asked members of the other bands on the bill to join him on stage with old friend Donald Murray and drummer Blake Howard. Without even knowing each other's names, something clicked. Two weeks later, they were in the studio.

Rock Plaza Central's profile grew quickly after a pair of glowing reviews from Pitchfork Media. Their independently released disc, Are We Not Horses?, made many top ten lists for the year, including #8 for CMJ Editor-in-Chief Kenny Herzog, Pitchfork staff writer Stephen Deusner (receiving an 8.4-rated album review on the site) and Americana-UK lead writer David Cowling. In early 2007, they received additional attention for their cover of the Justin Timberlake song "SexyBack".

While you could expect usually 8 to 10 members on stage for performances, the group has had more than 30 members from a wide range of influences come and go since their 1996 inception. These resources have allowed World/Inferno to cobble together sounds all the various influence over the years. Not only being punk/cabaret/you name it, the group is definitely original in creating new ideas for their high art. A lot of their material from the latest album, 2007’s Addicted to Bad Ideas: Peter Lorre’s 20^th Century dealt with the concept of discussing the actor’s life. It is rumored that the band’s next record will be a punk version of the play A Prairie Home Companion. Talk about diversity!

The band is very involved in the New York art scene, performing at their Public Theatre’s Under the Radar Festival in 2007 and 2008 and various other festivals around the country.
World/Inferno is currently on the road with Detroit hardcore bands Easy Action and Gut Bucket. World/Inferno’s tour runs through the end of April before lead singer Jack Terricloth has a solo run. The band hits Pontiac this Thursday, April 9^th when they head to the Pike Room at the Crofoot complex. It will be a good chance to see one of the most entertainingly challenging bands out there as The World/Inferno Friendship Society comes to town.

The World/Inferno Friendship Society plays Thursday, April 9^th at the Pike Room. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.ticketweb.com. Additional dates and info can be found at www.myspace.com/worldinferno.

The Devil Wears Prada plays Clutch Cargo’s on Thursday, April 9^th. Tickets are SOLD OUT, but some may open up to the public prior to the show. Additional info and dates can be found at www.myspace.com/tdwp.

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Friday, April 3^rd:
AT&T Block Party - Riverfront: Plenty of stuff is going on at the always majestic Detroit Riverfront, and it all starts Friday night. Pharrell Williams and N.E.R.D. headline the show, still out promoting their Seeing Sounds album from last year. (Waiting to see how Pharrell has to clean up songs about coke and groupies for the PG-rated show.) Teen-bopper mainstay Jesse McCartney and Kanye West label signee Big Sean open up the show. On the AT&T Local Stages, Twistin’ Tarantulas and Stellar Drive perform while Paxahau approved DJs headline the VitaminWater Revive Stage.
The event is free and open to the public. Events end at 10pm.
O.A.R.- The Fillmore Detroit: The Ohio based answer to Dave Matthews has created quite a popular niche for themselves in the twenty-something crowd. This show brings them to Detroit for a invite only sponsored by the River (93.9). Tickets are available through the River and their contest. No tickets are available online.

Saturday, April 4^th
Big Dance Saturday - Riverfront: This all day version of the free concerts hopefully should provide some good weather before the games get going around 6pm. 90s R&B crooner Keith Sweat kicks the show off at noon followed by Gavin DeGraw. After the NCAA Pep Rally at 3, the Pussycat Dolls headline a 4pm show. I know they sell records off how little they wear, but they may want to bundle up (or for some guys’ sake- hopefully they don’t). Singer-songwriter Stewart Francke and Detroit funk warriors Hotsauce headline the other stages.
The event is free and open to the public. Events end at 8pm.

Sunday, April 5^th
My Coke Fest - Riverfront: After the teams for the NCAA Championship have been decided, Sunday offers us a Ryan Seacrest hosted event (don’t know if I can contain my excitement). Before she goes and releases what could be the final Black Eyed Peas record, Fergie headlines this show at 8pm. Sticking out just a little bit on this bill is Staind, whose rock ballads will begin at 6:30. Playing earlier is Gym Class Heroes, who will make 2 trips to Detroit in as many weeks (also playing April 11^th at the Palace with Lil Wayne) and is guaranteed to not play their cover of Lamb of God’s “Laid To Rest” for the kiddies in the crowd. Local heroes the Muggs headliners the smaller stages for this evening.
The event is free and open to the public. Events end at 9pm.
For More Information on these events, check out ncaa.com/finalfour

Well, the culmination of the band’s hard work has resulted in the band’s first release, Only Way To Be Alone, back in November. The band has crafted their singer-songwriter charm on this debut album. The album is lead by the dual vocal stylings of Keith Goodwin and Tim Arnold and is very evident on songs like “That’s Whats Wrong” and “Tell Me.” Probably the catchiest song on the record is the lifting single “Weak Man,” which features fellow singer/songwriter Anthony Green.

Normally when a band wins a battle of the bands competition, they get $100 to share between them or get an hour of recording time in a local studio. But with the 10-band competition for the Battle For Music As A Weapon IV, the winning band gets a spot opening the 2nd stage on the Detroit date for the Music as a Weapon Tour rolling through here on May 2^nd at Cobo Arena (featuring Disturbed and Killswitch Engage.)
As part of a four show deal, 10 bands per night will get a chance to show off their talent for a spot on the bill. The first show took place this past Saturday in East Lansing, but the second of these concerts is taking place this Friday (March 27^th) at the Eagle Theater in Pontiac. The winner gets a spot on the Ernie Ball stage, playing alongside second stage acts such as Suicide Silence and Bury Your Dead.
The March 27^th show features local metal acts such as November Fire, Leviathan, Shudder and I Have Seen Fire. Bands will get a 20-minute set to wow the fans in attendance and every cut-throat moment will be for a chance to be seen on an arena level. If you're looking to sign up, sorry, the deadline for band demo submission has already passed and the lineup for Friday night’s show is all locked in. There will be additional shows on April 10^th at the Machine Shop in Flint and April 17^th at the Hayloft in Mt. Clemens. So make sure to head to the Eagle Theater and check out the bands duking it out for a chance to go on tour with Disturbed at least for one evening.

The Battle for Music As A Weapon takes place at the Eagle Theatre in Pontiac this Friday, March 27^th. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Additional information can be found at www.fusionshows.com.

Right before doors opened up for the Taste of Chaos show in Detroit, amid the growing cold and rain descending on the city, I hopped into the Toronto based Cancer Bats’ tour van. Found along with energy drinks and backpacks was one of the band members, getting a few more minutes of sleep buried in his sleeping bag before hitting the stage. After he gave us permission to do the interview in the van, I interviewed lead singer Liam Cormier and drummer Mike Peters before the gig and discussed life on the road, the band’s relationship with their Canadian fans and what sort of musical influences they bring to the band. Here’s my interview with Liam and Mike from the Cancer Bats:

MyCityBuzz: How has the Taste of Chaos tour gone so far?

Liam Cormier: It’s been cool. We’re normally the first band to go on, so the kids are showing up. But they seem to like it, they come up to us after the show and say things like “the band’s so cool, I only heard you guys on MySpace for the first time last week,” so we’re getting the exposure that way. But they are always coming up with other band’s merchandise after the show. We look at them like “it’s cool, but we got CD’s for 5 bucks, pick one up.” Money’s not really punk, but high fives aren’t gonna pay for a tank of gas. But if it did, our gas tank would be really fuckin’ full right now.

MCB: You guys have been on the road for most of the past year behind “Hail Destroyer,” any fatigue setting in?

Mike Peters: I pulled a hamstring, and I have no clue how it happened. (laughs)

LC: Like anything else, it's been the same on tour in 2008 and in 2007. My main goal is just not to get sick. That and trying to sleep as much as I can; try and get the full 8.

MCB: What were the major influences for the “Hail Destroyer?”