Studio: Perry Studio

By Sam Blier

What happens when you just can’t find what exactly you’re looking for? You build it yourself. Singer/songwriter, musician and recording engineer Justin Perry did just that. Recognizing Worcester’s lack of exceptional full-service recording studios, he built Perry Recording Studio using the following guiding principal: Modern techniques=faster production=less time/money. And really, what starving artist doesn’t like that equation?

Perry Recording Studio takes advantage of some of the latest recording technologies: virtual guitar amplifiers, electronic drum sets and cutting-edge production and mixing software form the base. The combination of these tools allow artists to begin recording almost instantly, saving the time it used to take to set up, test and tweak infinite combinations of amp and microphone configurations.

Being a musician himself, Justin understands what it takes to make a great recording session. To that end, he’s made all of Perry Recording Studio’s 1,000 square feet feel more like a comfortable lounge than a stark, cold audio lab. After all, it’s hard to be creative when you’re uncomfortable. And speaking of creativity, when inspiration strikes, Perry Studios has just the right instruments. “We’ve got gear ranging from top of the line Korg keyboards to a whole slew of guitars and amps,” says Perry, and adds with a chuckle, “I even have didgeridoo.” And before our interview continues, Justin admits, “I have to also give props to my fiancée, not many girls would allow a recording studio to be built in their home!”

Blue Movie and Opening Night (a couple of local bands who have already recorded at Perry Recording Studio) are Justin’s typical clientele, musicians on a budget who aren’t willing to compromise on quality. Adding to the studio’s appeal is the full breadth of its offerings. Artists can get their recordings produced, mixed and mastered on-site. Also a professional graphic designer, Justin can even create album artwork to complete the package.

Whether you’re a band or solo artist, cutting a demo or just recording a song to impress your friends, Perry Recording Studio has literally everything you need and the expertise to make it sound polished and professional. “I like surprising the bands I record with what I can do with the tracks after they have done their part …the more I get to tweak things to sound awesome, the more fun I have …I just love hearing it all come together.”

To learn more about Perry Recording Studio, visit www.perry-studio.com.

 

Here are bands and artists you may not have heard of yet…but they have major potential and you get to read about them here, right before they make it big! And “Graduates” are musicians we highlighted in past issues whose careers, as we predicted, have really taken off!

Band: Age of End

By Rebecca Carter

In less than just two short years, Age of End has managed to tour across the country, share the stage with some pretty big acts and record and release a full length album. Formed at the end of 2008 by Mark McKellar (guitar), Steve Madigan (bass), Chad Hickman (vocals) and Alex Wagner (drums), Age of End is a self-described combo of hardcore, metal, progressive and hard rock.

“Vocally, there is a mixture of beautiful, stuck in your head melodies, as well as ‘from the depths of hell’ screaming, that balance out the sound,” described Mark. “The structure for most of the songs on the album is far from the typical, overused, and mass manufactured, verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-double chorus-end. Age of End breaks all the contemporary rules, and gets as much out of every part, every riff, as possible. Only then will a song begin to take shape.

”The band’s debut album, The Rhythm of Slaughter, was released independently in January of this year and like all good rock before it, takes on the monotony of modern life. “The Rhythm of the Slaughter comes from an expression that was ripped from the Bible. It talks about people being led like lambs to the slaughter,” explained Mark. “The idea is simple. In today’s world, too many people are forced to live their entire lives heads down. Go to work, punch in, punch out, go home. This is the lifestyle that so many people have to live, just to provide for their families and loved ones, and it’s slowly slaughtering the human spirit.”With The Rhythm of Slaughter complete, the band has plans to continuing touring New England and beyond throughout the rest of the year and are even working on demos and new ideas for a follow-up album.

For more on Age of End, check out www.myspace.com/ageofend

 

Band: Stone Crusher

By Tom Cadrin

Metal is as Metal has been done. That seems to be the mindset of three-piece Whitinsville metal outfit Stone Crusher. With riffs hearkening back to the days of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and all that was manly about head banging with a cranium full of knee-length locks, these guys bring the pain. Without reservation, these boys from the Blackstone Valley create music with intentions to “restore order in the constant battle of good and evil.” There is something to be said about taking one’s chances at a mission dating back to before Christ ~ and Stone Crusher is taking their turn.

The toughest challenge for any three-piece band is orchestration. Even if the ideas being presented are more original than Virgin Galactic, if they aren’t presented well, no one cares and the ideas will simply sound terrible. Stone Crusher handles this potential issue well. With solid rock riffs backing a lead singer whose pushed falsetto rivals that of any major label metal band, the band’s knowledge of the Classic Metal sound allows them the freedom to push the presentation while still maintaining everything metal.

The epic attitude put forth by Stone Crusher echoes best when lead singer Chris Dow pushes his seemingly endless range with power. A slow and vibrant vibrato, Dow’s caw could break through enemy lines and crumble any opposing forces with great ease, crushing bones and stones as if they were but mere twigs on the tree of nothingness!

Yes, Stone Crusher sports a brand of metal that has existed since the late 70s, but the distinct quality and purity found within this tried and true genre brings dignity to those perpetuating the flame.

Head to myspace.com/stonecrushermusic to feel their power from the comfort of your home.

Band: Trailer 4

By Alex Kantarelis

Psychedelic pop rock band Trailer 4 is making waves across the Massachusetts and the North East with their unique blend of rock, reggae, and 90s pop music.

The band got their start in 2007 as an acoustic project at Franklin Pierce University, practicing in their doublewide trailer (trailer number 4, of course). They started playing “in trailer,” and eventually graduated to small clubs and bars.

The band really took off this past fall, when founding members Russel Viola, Skye Perry, and Jeff Anderson were joined by bassist Mike Gadman and drummer Jared Lajoie. The new and improved band took their sound on the road and began playing much more often. “Once we added the bass and the drums we really started playing much more serious shows, all over Boston, Philadelphia, and New York, and playing much bigger venues,” Perry said.

Trailer 4 has achieved quite a bit for a band that started playing parties in their trailer, recently playing at UConn with Immortal Technique. Remembering the old days, guitarist/vocalist Russel Viola said, “I had no idea that we would get so serious about it at the time. We all partied together, and when you get 3 guitarists in a room you want to jam. We started playing all around campus. We decided that people like this stuff so we started playing out all the time.

”Recently, they recorded their first CD, which came out in February, called Seahorse Parade, and are set to continue playing bigger venues all across the northeast. The goals just become more attainable for the guys. “I don’t necessarily care about being famous, but I want to have a sustainable living with my four best friends. See the world together, play our own music, and hope that people like it. I don’t’ care if we’re just eating beans and rice. I want to have those hard times to write about on the road. My main goal is to just be able to [tour”], and survive, and play wherever we want,” Viola said. “Right now we just love making music together and we want people to enjoy the music that we make as a band,” Perry said.

Be sure to look out for Trailer 4, as they will only get bigger with each show they play.

www.myspace.com/trailer4houseband

This just in! Right before we went to press, the guys found out that they’d landed a development deal with Nashville Producer Rich Herring. They’ll be recording three of their tunes with him in Nashville in the very near future ~ Congrats, guys!

 

Graduate: Sadplant

By Jillian Locke

“We’re just three jackasses that skate a lot and play punk rock,” says Ben Social, vocalist/guitarist for Sadplant, this band of lost boys (and girl) of punk rock. The oldest of the group, Ben really is the modern day Peter Pan of punk.

Inspired by Black Flag, Minor Threat, Motorhead, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, The Ramones and so many others, Sadplant pumps out the same raw, angsty, “f*ck you and your mother too” sound that made their predecessors legends. Taking their name from an old school skate move that Ben describes as “an inverted hand plant on the ramp, done upside down ~ a shout-out to the old school skaters, ‘cause you have to be in the over-35 demographic to even remember that trick,” Sadplant is comprised of three high school friends who still skate, still play punk rock, and, sans drummer Dave Timeless, still don’t work.

“I haven’t held a job since late 2001,” Ben reflects. “It took me my whole life to figure out how to slack off and do it full time and not work. Obviously, there’s no money in punk rock, but I couldn’t imagine not doing it, so the fear of that is what drives me.” Along with fellow unemployed bassist Wapples (Amy), Ben Social and Dave Timeless spend their time recording, playing local shows, and skating the half-pipe at their home in the woods. “It’s not without certain sacrifices ~ clearly you gotta sacrifice a lot to be a douche in a punk rock band your whole life. But, I have no regrets in my life.

And a genuinely cheerier bloke I’ve never had the pleasure to speak with. During the interview, Ben and Amy were en route to Florida to skate, because the winter weather was bringing Ben down. They’ll be doing their thing down south for about a week, and then they’ll head back north for a slew of local shows, one of which took place on April 2nd at London Billiards/Club Oasis for an 18+ crowd. There, they sold copies of their latest slice of punk rock heaven, The Kids Are Alright, which, along with their five other albums, was recorded at their studio in their house in the woods.

They’re truly living the dream, and couldn’t be happier about their residency in punk rock Never-Never Land.

Listen to tracks at myspace.com/sadplant, and then shoot over to mediafire.com/sadplant to download some for free!