Location: Plymouth Meeting, PA Genre: Hard Rock Members: Ryan Smith (vocals & guitar), Brian Chmielewski (guitar), Matt Alderfer (bass), and Keven Koniewicz (drums) Started: Early 1999 Influences: Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, Metallica, Korn, Velvet Revolver, Cky Available Online: Epitome of Pain (2004), Worthless (2004), and My Mistakes (2004) Website: www.hypeunit.com Comments: I have to admit – this isn’t…

How I Became a Pirate Bronx, NY AX: Where are you guys from? Kevin: We’re from the Bronx (the one from the movies) and I must say everything you have heard is more than true. It’s actually an understatement; I’ve been stabbed by my own grandmother because I bought her whole milk instead of 2 percent. AX: How would you…

The House Lights www.fakechapter.com How would you describe the word music? Maybe a way of expressing oneself, or possibly a creative way to speak. So many ideas and suggestions could be given for an answer, but I think that Kyle of The House Lights said it best when he described music as an “escape from life”. When Kyle said it…

Hardly the Hero Bethlehem, PA www.purevolume.com/hardlythehero Hardly the Hero is a rock band from Bethlehem, PA. They’re a bunch of down-to-earth, easy-going guys, who make music that has a lot of potential, and who I look forward to watching grow in the Lehigh Valley music scene. Hardly the Hero was started in 2003, and is the collaborative work of Joel…

Granian New York, NY www.granian.com Historically, when bands have been compared to the likes of matchboxtwenty (are we still doing the apathetic non-capitalization, non-numbers thing?) and John Mayer, the noses of rock snobs and mere melody mortals have spontaneously and disgustedly turned upwards accompanied, at times, by the inexplicable urge to barf buffet leftovers all over said bands’ collective discographies.…

Full Out Freak Hoboken, NJ www.fulloutfreak.com Described as “Straight Melodic Pop/Rock” Full Out Freak is just the band to check out for a high energy show with a comfortable feeling of true-to-life lyrics and energetic band members. Started in 2003, this northern New Jersey band matches the intensity of rock bands like Vertical Horizon and Third Eye Blind with their…

Fighting Zero Wilkes Barre, PA www.fightingzero.com I had the opportunity to interview Scott VanFossen, the founder of Fighting Zero, back in January 2005, while he was a member of An American LIAR. Scott later left AAL to more fully pursue his work with Fighting Zero. Now, with a fuller line-up (Scott on guitars and vocals, Zhach Kelsch on drums, and…

Fighting Zero Wilkes Barre, PA www.fightingzero.com The name should sound familiar. Scott’s the lead guitarist of An American LIAR, AX’s main feature band this month. If you haven’t read their story yet, shame on you! Don’t forget to check it out. But, we’re not here to discuss that now. AAL’s multi-talented lead guitarist is also the creator of another project,…

Easily Amused www.easilyamusedband.com Sunny Hill Lane by Easily Amused is driving me crazy, literally. Somewhere between the dueling guitars, thrashing drums, and four-part vocals, they’ve hooked me with that back-of-the-class high school mentality I’ve strived so hard in recent years to lose. My mind is on overdrive. I’m laughing at my own fart jokes. My exuberance is uncontrollable. Dear god…

The Domino Theory Malvern, PA www.dominoxtheory.com AX: Where are you from? DT: We’re all from the town of Malvern, PA. AX: How would you describe your music? DT: Let’s see… we’ve never really been sure how to describe it, it’s really just political minded punk mixed with some strong straight edge hardcore influences… sometimes we throw some emo riffs in…