March 2017

Artist: Western Addiction

Album: “Tremulous”

Label: Fat Wreck Chords

Format Reviewed: Digital Advance

Lyrics of Note:
Gusts of filth slit the wintry air
We stood where trains won’t even dare
When the call comes in you know
What’s going on in that home

It’s been over a decade since Western Addiction released their debut, “Cognicide,” and while a lot can change in the course of 10 plus years, the San Fran natives have maintained their melodic hardcore sound, bringing solid, innovative songwriting to every track on “Tremulous.”

Singer Jason Hall attacks each song with an audible passion, combining classic hardcore vocals with a harmonic snarl that is entirely his own. While the album lacks a single song worth the skip button’s attention, “Honeycreeper” and “Taedium” are the most addictive, both rising and falling with interesting progressions and unexpected pace changes that would fail in the hands of other bands, but work surprisingly well with Western Addiction in the driver’s seat.

Name: Nicola Tombacco

Hometown: Treviso, Italy

Current Location: Los Angeles, California

TrunkSpace: When did you know that you wanted to act for a living?
Tombacco: I’ve always loved performing since I was a kid. When I was seven or eight-years-old I used to jump on the table, right after dinner, and start reciting poems for my family. Later, once I got into high school, I had the chance to be part of the theatre group and, right from the first year, the director gave me leading characters. I was scared out of my mind. Acting on stage was only a hobby, which quickly turned into a passion and then into my biggest dream. I ended up performing for five shows throughout all my years in high school, and in all of them I played the lead. Everything changed for me once a friend of mine suggested that I go and do the four week summer program at NYFA. I did it, and it was a blast. That experience for me was the pivotal moment of my life, because right after I came back to Italy from New York I decided that acting was going to be what I wanted to do for a living. Four years ago I was graduating from high school and now I just graduated from AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts with a BFA in Acting.

TrunkSpace: Was there a particular performance or actor/actress from your childhood that you remember being drawn to and inspired by?
Tombacco: The performance that inspired me the most in my childhood was Roberto Benigni’s in “La Vita é Bella.” It was like an epiphany for me, because it made me realize how impactful and life-changing a single performance can be. I mean, he won two Oscars for that. And also walked on top of everybody’s head. Roberto Benigni was and remains my hero.

TrunkSpace: How did you decide to approach your career as an actor? Did you formulate a plan of how you wanted to attack what is known for being a hard industry to crack?
Tombacco: As an ignorant kid full of aspirations, I thought that coming to America would have been the easiest way for me to crack into the entertainment business. Now I have lived in Los Angeles for three years and I have learned a lot. At the beginning, while I was still in high school, I knew that to become one of the best, I had to be in the city where all the best are. So for me choosing a college based in Los Angeles was essential. That was the first step that I had in mind… getting a BFA in Acting and then figuring out the next steps as I went along my journey. Throughout college I learned how this business is shaped, the tactics to get auditions and get agents and managers; however, only now that I graduated I understand how things really work. So now I am focusing on getting connections in the industry, auditioning for roles that would really make a difference in my career (I don’t submit for every little project, I need good credits in order to get the O1 VISA). I joined a theatere company so I could meet even more people — and actually this choice turned out to be fruitful. Thanks to the connections that I have made, I was able to audition for a One Act written by John Patrick Shanley… and I booked it. The World Premiere will be at Theatre 68 In North Hollywood. So I keep on putting my face out there, working on projects that could reach interesting audiences.

TrunkSpace: Was that move an easy transition for you initially? How long did it take you to feel at home and find a good support group of friends and peers?
Tombacco: Coming to Los Angeles was a drastic change. For the first time in my life I was going to live by myself, away from my family and true friends, in a foreign country, ignorant of the language, in a completely different culture, where I felt alone and away from everything that was secure in my life. My family always supports me, but it’s not easy when they are on the other side of the world, when their day is your night and vice versa. It took me a long time to start trusting people, because I felt that everyone around me was so superficial and couldn’t fully understand how I was feeling. Fortunately after my third semester I moved out of campus, in a town-home, with a British guy and a guy from San Francisco. At least now I could have a little bit more freedom and I felt a little more independent, but still, I always felt like there was something missing. My mind was all focused on the school, but my heart was wandering in the air, as if it never really landed in Los Angeles with my body. It took me two years to finally feel at home, and at that time I was on my second to last semester before graduating from college. Everything changed once I started hanging out with some Italian friends of mine, who now I consider brothers. Being able to share with them all my fears and doubts, helped me feeling like I wasn’t alone anymore, because they were having the same exact problems. I had found a new family and my heart had finally landed in Los Angels as well.

TrunkSpace: What has been been your biggest break in terms of a particular role or project thus far?
Tombacco: There’s two projects that right now have the potential to be gold mines. One is a feature movie that I am working on as a Supporting Lead and the other one is a One Act World Premiere. The movie is being produced by the Artistic Director of AMDA — while I was still in college, one day, I received an email from the producer, asking me to do a screen test for a project. They were looking for an Italian actor that looked like the protagonist. The protagonist is one of those brothers that I mentioned before, and we look alike as well…what a coincidence, uh? The movie hasn’t been released yet though. The One Act is opening in two weeks and it’s called “Poison” by John Patrick Shanley. It will run for 26 performances throughout March and April. This is probably the biggest opportunity that I have, because it could potentially attract important audiences, so I just have to bring my A game and things will unfold by themselves.

TrunkSpace: Is there a specific type of role you’d like to take on or a specific genre that you feel more at home in?
Tombacco: My dream role is Rodolpho from “A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller. That character just speaks so much to me, and the story itself is incredibly relatable. My strongest suit is comedy, although recently I have found a deep affection towards dramas.

TrunkSpace: What would you say is the greatest strength an actor/actress can have outside of acting ability itself?
Tombacco: Perseverance. Acting isn’t easy, especially with all of today’s outlets, competition is tougher then ever. I believe that if an actor will never give up, he or she will make their dream come true. Because when one really wants something and one puts all of himself into it, the whole universe will revolve around that dream.

TrunkSpace: What is your ultimate dream when it comes to your acting career? Where would you like your path to lead?
Tombacco: I want to win an Oscar for Best Leading Actor and Best Movie… exactly like Roberto Benigni did. I want to work on a project that the whole world could see and learn and get inspired from.

TrunkSpace: What advice would you give another young aspiring actor/actress who is considering moving away from home to pursue their dream?
Tombacco: No one is born under an unlucky star; it’s only that some people don’t know how to look at the sky. So if you really want to see your dreams come true, you have to believe in yourself more than anyone else that you love. Because you will be alone on your path, you will be crossing a desert with your passion only, and love for yourself as food and water. So never give up, and when you think that the path gets too steep for you, don’t worry… it only means that after that moment, things will finally start to go downhill, for a while. It’s a roller coaster. You just gotta be willing to enjoy the ride and have faith in yourself. And also one more important thing. It doesn’t matter how you look, which language you speak, how old you are, there will always be a special space reserved for you at the end of the path… and no one can take it because there’s your name on it. So if you see other people succeeding while you aren’t, don’t feel discouraged but be excited for them. Your path is your path. It’s written for you. Whether you achieve your goal or not is just on you. So don’t focus on other people, focus on yourself.

TrunkSpace: Where can people (and casting directors) learn more about you?
Tombacco: To learn more about me visit my website (www.nicola-tombacco.com) or my Facebook Fan Page (Nicola Tombacco) or follow me on Instagram or Twitter (@nicolatombacco)

Artist: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Album: “The French Press”

Label: Sub Pop Records

Format Reviewed: Digital Advance

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever may be a mouthful to say, but the latest EP from the Melbourne-based quintet, “The French Press,” is an earful of groovy goodness. Filled with catchy tunes and summer-inspired surf guitar that crashes in and out of the songs like gentle waves, the six-track offering is an oyster packed with pearls.

“Julie’s Place” strikes a rhythm built to stream from earbuds on a barefoot beach run while “Sick Bug” seems inspired by the surroundings of a 90s dorm room where R.E.M. posters hung proudly over double bunks. Fran Keaney’s vocals have a calming effect, an unintended audio-therapy session that can be revisited over and over again. The only negative to “The French Press” is that there isn’t more of it.

Artist/Band: PEP

Members: Karys Rhea (lead vocals/guitar/percussion), Ilana Webber and Morgan Lynch (backup vocals/percussion), David Origlieri (guitar), Teddy Williams (bass), Sharif Mekawy (keyboards), and a rotating cast of talented drummers…

Website: www.pepisaband.com

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Latest Album/Release: Our debut LP… Presenting PEP! will drop in May or June of this year. Our last EP, Renditions, was released last summer, and our first EP, My Baby And Me, was released in 2014.

Influences:
Rhea: Oh man, this could take a while!

In the beginning, we were mainly influenced by 50s/60s doowop and soul (Dion and the Belmonts, Jackie Wilson, Ben E. King/The Drifters, Elvis, The Beach Boys, Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Buddy Holly, etc.) and classic girl groups like The Shangri-Las, The Angels, The Marvelettes, The Ronettes, The Supremes, Martha Reeves, Mary Wells, Little Eva, Lesley Gore, etc. But as the band developed we started incorporating 70s funk and Motown elements into the music. (James Brown is king.)

Being a drummer myself, I’m also very much influenced by the rhythms and Latin/African percussion that was present in so much of 80s mainstream pop music. I get a lot of my ideas from Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Madonna, Billy Idol, Prince, and Paul Simon.

People also tend to hear a hint of 90s pop in our music. Having grown up in the 90s, I definitely have a soft spot for Mariah Carey, TLC, and the Spice Girls.

In terms of the newer stuff we’ve been writing that has yet to be released, perhaps my biggest influence at the moment is HAIM. Oh that one song by Lenny Kravitz, “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over,”continues to inspire me every time I hear it.

TrunkSpace: How would you describe your music?
Rhea: A friend of ours coined us as “doowop dreamsauce,” but we usually describe our music as “nu-wop,” which is like 60s pop but with an update. I think retro pop is probably the most inclusive way of describing us.

TrunkSpace: Your debut album is due out March 16^th. Are there collective butterflies in anticipation of releasing the material to the public?
Rhea: Actually our album will be officially out a few months later but the release show is March 16^th and we’ll be selling advanced copies of the album there. I think the butterflies came when we finished the album years ago. At this point, we want to get it out there so we can show the world the new stuff we’re working on!

TrunkSpace: Doo-wop is such a great genre, and yet, it has sort of faded into history. Did adapting and modernizing the sound come from a genuine love for the doo-wop artists of the past?
Rhea: Absolutely. It’s not only the songs of that time that we love, but the way the songs were recorded. That production process is nearly impossible to authentically replicate. Believe me, we tried. But we couldn’t do it justice and realized that our adaptation of that sound is best demonstrated through our melodies, arrangements and instrumentation rather than through those classic production techniques.

TrunkSpace: The doo-wop vocal delivery is, at times, a sort of hybrid talking that seems to be an art form in itself. Artists like The Angels and The Shangri-Las used this to great success in the 60s. How do you think they’d view the music of PEP today?
Rhea: It would be wild if The Shangri-Las and The Angels listened to our music and recognized how much they’ve influenced the direction of our music. The Shangri-Las have a special place in our heart because of their subtly dark and borderline psychedelic vibe in an otherwise up-beat and innocent genre. The spoken-word element in some of their tunes inspired “Get Physical,” which is the first single we released off the full-length.

TrunkSpace: There was a time when oldies stations played the music of the 50s and 60s. Now oldies is 70s and 80s and the great music of those earlier decades is disappearing from the mainstream. Do you hope that what PEP is doing musically will inspire fans to trace the sound back to its roots and discover the music our parents and grandparents listened to as teenagers?
Rhea: If our younger fans were inspired enough by our music to go explore their grandparents’ old record collections, they would find so much to appreciate fromm that era besides the songs themselves. Album art was really something back then – everything from the fonts and colors to the printing techniques and photographic style…

TrunkSpace: There’s a taste of 80s pop in a lot of what PEP is doing as well. How do you strike a balance between the two genres to create something that is an homage to those great periods in music without sounding dated?
Rhea: I think combining different genres automatically produces something new. Incorporating multiple time periods into your songwriting naturally adds an element of originality to your music (whether or not it’s good!).

TrunkSpace: The band also seems to take their look and branding very seriously, once again, striking a balance between the past and the present. How important is creating a look and visual feel to PEP?
Rhea: It’s definitely important, but it happened naturally. We didn’t sit down and say we wanted to create a brand to go along with the music. The aesthetic became part of the music organically. Admittedly, now we try to milk it to the fullest.

TrunkSpace: With such a unique sound, does the band have a difficult time booking shows and finding yourselves on bills that include bands that would attract a similar audience?
Rhea: Definitely. I think the fact that we’re making pop music without electronic components makes us less trendy and harder to match with other bands. I keep a list of bands on my laptop that we’d love to share the stage with at some point.

TrunkSpace: If you do find yourselves on stage and staring down an audience that may be there to see a different style of music, how do you attempt to win them over?
Rhea: I think we let the songs speak for themselves. And hopefully the rhythms naturally get people moving. No amount of funny or intelligent banter will make an audience like your music, so there’s really not much we can do besides have fun with each other on stage.

TrunkSpace: What can fans expect from PEP in 2017?
Rhea: We’re playing an acoustic show for Sofar Sounds on March 11^th (location TBA) and our release show is March 16^th at Rough Trade. We have a music video premiering March 9^th, as well as a few homemade lyric videos. Our second single and music video will premiere sometime in April, with an official album release date to follow! After that, we’re hoping to get right back in the studio and put out the next single as soon as possible!

Brewer: Peak Organic Brewing Company

Beer: Fresh Cut

Alcohol Content by Volume: 4.7%

Fresh cut grass is one of my favorite smells in the entire world of smells. It’s nostalgic and a staple of summer, instantly jump starting the pleasure center of my large emoji brain.

Fresh Cut, the beer, is now one of my favorite pilsners in the entire world of pilsners. It too is nostalgic, filling my mouth with reminders of some of my earliest beer experiences. Golden and inviting in my go-to pint glass, it’s a refreshing swig from start to finish, and according to the label, filled with pure organic ingredients to boot. Not too shabby!

I look forward to nestling a bottle of this in my neck koozie come May so that I can combine my two favorite fresh cuts into one singular experience while mowing the lawn on the first hazy, lazy Saturday afternoon.

DRUNKEN EMOJI RATING

Name: Rolando “Rolo” Mallada

Website: http://rolomallada.tumblr.com/

Hometown: Montevideo – Uruguay

TrunkSpace: How would you describe your art style?
Rolo: I’m a son of the “Cliffhanger Age.” I was enormously influenced by Bachalo, Madureira, Ramos, Campbell, Meglia and Mignola. They were my teachers and from there my style was molded to where it is today. But if I had to describe my style? I’d say it’s cartoony with fine details.

TrunkSpace: You’re handling art duty for the TrunkSpace exclusive series “Preston-Digitation.” Can you tell us about what you were looking to bring to the series visually?
Rolo: Visual dynamism, good storytelling, charismatic characters. It’s all I always seek when I work on a book.

TrunkSpace: The series is a hero book, but based in the world of magic. Does that give you a lot of room to play with interesting set pieces and characters?
Rolo: Of course! Let’s do the math: World of magic + hero theme = lots of fun!!! Seriously, the mix of these two themes gives me the opportunity to draw super interesting things that any artist would be happy to do.

TrunkSpace: “Preston-Digitation” is also part of a bigger shared universe that TrunkSpace is involved in, including “Imprinted,” which just finished up issue 1 at the site. How much of that shared universe were you involved in?
Rolo: Beside “Preston-Digitation” work, I did some nice character designs for two other books from the TrunkSpace universe, including “Imprinted” and a book they have yet to announce.

TrunkSpace: What is your favorite character to draw in “Preston-Digitation?”
Rolo: Karnoth the squirrel is my favorite. I always enjoy drawing bad guys too… Qara Oyugun in this case.

TrunkSpace: In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of your job as an artist when you’re given a script? Is it character development? Is it pacing? Is it something else entirely?
Rolo: Undoubtedly the character development and the design of the pages (developing the storytelling) are the most important aspects when I receive a script.

TrunkSpace: You were the head artist on the Sesame Street comic book series for Ape Entertainment, which was geared towards little kids. You have also worked on some more mature reader titles. For you, what is the most fun to draw… comics geared towards all-ages audiences, or something a bit more mature?
Rolo: It all depends on the story. If the story has a rich narrative and interesting characters, I enjoy it the same way no matter what audience it is intended for.

TrunkSpace: You were once responsible for art duties on the most popular digital comic book of all time in “Pocket God.” What was that experience like for you?
Rolo: It was a very nice time. I enjoyed and learned a lot with “Pocket God” and with all the nice people that I shared that work with. I fell in love with all of the characters. It was hard to leave the book after so many issues.

TrunkSpace: What is the craziest/oddest thing you’ve ever been asked to draw as a commission?
Rolo: I reserve the answer. I don’t want to be smutty. (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: If you could grant yourself the ultimate comic book industry dream job, what would it be and why?
Rolo: I don’t know. Maybe do some big original project with Joe Hill or Stephen King. That would be a dream job for me.

TrunkSpace: What else can fans of your work look forward to in 2017?
Rolo: Variety, and more interesting and stranger things (insert 80’s music here, please!) will be coming out soon. There are some awesome secret projects waiting for the opportunity to show themselves. Who knows, maybe this year is the time?

CHECK OUT PRESTON-DIGITATION BY CLICKING ON THE COMIC PAGE BELOW

Name: Morgan Hammel

You don’t have to be in a funk just because it’s Monday. Instead, get funky!

TrunkSpace brings you another edition of Musical Mondaze. This time out we’re chatting with Jesca Hoop, a singer/songwriter whose musical diversity is a breath of fresh air. Constantly challenging herself creatively, she has an uncanny ability to connect with people in a way that makes it seem like we as listeners are all on the journey with her, a feat that she accomplishes regardless of the musical style she is dabbling in.

We sat down with Hoop to discuss her latest album “Memories Are Now” and the path that lead her to its inception.

TrunkSpace: Your latest album “Memories Are Now” has become like a collection of lullabies for us in that, no matter what mood we’re in, the tracks are able to bring balance and a sense of calmness. There is a physical feel, something quantifiable but not necessarily quantifiable, to the album as a whole. Is that something you set out to achieve when working on a new album and in choosing the songs that will appear on that particular record?
Hoop: Hmmm. I would say that in general my motivation in writing songs and curating an album is based on a range of emotions and raising of particular energies. I do aim to connect physically, to move parts internally in the listener by shaping penetrative and cleansing resonances.

TrunkSpace: When you look at “Memories Are Now” and compare it against some of your earliest work, where do you see your biggest growth as an artist?
Hoop: I think there are considerable milestones of growth within the writing. I am particularly proud of “Pegasi” and “The Coming” as pieces of songwriting. In those songs, I feel I am communicating very clearly while still staying true to what makes me uniquely me. I feel that that has come from years of standing my ground as an artist. This album sees me in my art on my terms… and celebrates.

TrunkSpace: In writing the album, where were you finding your song-by-song influences? Musically, there’s some really interesting dynamics, particularly with “Cut Connection” and “Songs of Old,” which seem to have a very Irish folk feel.
Hoop: This album seems to return to a connection in one sense or the next. The universal need for it. Every song is asking for connection and through connection…transformation.

TrunkSpace: You’ve never shied away from experimenting with varying styles. Does that keep the process of songwriting fresh for you?
Hoop: Styling for me comes from my curiosity of what the human voice can do and what my particular voice is capable of. There seems to be endless potential and untapped territory. Generally, I look to the genres in order to help raise certain energies. I handpick elements from here and there that in combination create a certain feeling… it’s not about genres… it’s about opening the world of music, its many instruments and combining sensibilities to come up with something that is more about resonance, timbres and emotional energies.

TrunkSpace: How about lyrically? Were you drawing from experiences in writing this album or were you approaching the songs from a storyteller’s perspective?
Hoop: “Memories Are Now” all comes from a directly personal place but at the foot of a universal bridge. Again circling back to connection, I aim to relate through music and to reach others through storytelling to increase human dialogue, if not just internally, by communicating my experiences and perspectives. I feel that those who can communicate their experiences and do, serve the greater good. Communication makes contact makes a connection.

TrunkSpace: A lot of times when you hear an actor or actress asked about his or her work, they’ll say that they can’t watch it. Do you think that applies to musicians? Do you ever sit down and listen to one of your earlier albums or do you avoid it?
Hoop: I have a natural resistance to watching or hearing live footage unless it has been recorded by someone I trust. The experience is important to me and the feeling I take away from a show is a great deal of the reward. I don’t want that spoiled by a poor mix or bad lighting. I have a natural resistance in order to preserve the experience.

TrunkSpace: Where are you the most critical of your own work? Is it in the early stages of songwriting? Is it in the studio? Is it in releasing new music to the masses?
Hoop: Early stages of songwriting definitely. It may take a lot to get me to the core of a good idea and in the early stages and I may not necessarily trust that the wobbly legs of a new idea will eventually hold up a workhorse.

TrunkSpace: You have been performing and touring longer than many artists will ever hope to achieve. Does the grind of it… the constant traveling and living out of a suitcase… does it get easier or more difficult as it becomes sort of second nature?
Hoop: You realize certainly how very little stuff you need, that’s for sure. I love to travel. I love teamwork and I love playing for audiences. There are challenges to road travel as it relates to health and fitness in particular, but the challenges, for me, are all manageable by devising a program for health and fitness that fits within the varying modes of travel. Rituals become highly valued and help create home wherever in the world you are.

TrunkSpace: There’s something special about life on the road… that whole gypsy soul aspect of it. Do you crave home when you’re on the highways and byways, and then instantly want to get right back out there when a tour comes to an end?
Hoop: I certainly experience a good deal of wanderlust though I love many of the benefits of being in one place for a length of time. I love family, food, culture and my fitness practices, which increase when I am at home.

TrunkSpace: Is there a particular tour that holds a special place in your heart and if so, why?
Hoop: The Sam Beam And Jesca Hoop tour. It was super fun lighthearted and easy. I get a whole lot out of the collaboration and the company, travel, shows and music is my pure joy.

TrunkSpace: When you look forward, what is one thing you hope to achieve in your career that you have yet to accomplish?
Hoop: Sold out shows at 3000 cap.

TrunkSpace: What is your advice for any young artist out there trying to find his or her way as they attempt to discover their voice as an artist?
Hoop: Avoid “X-Factor” at all cost. Stop listening to the top 40 for a while. There are no two voices the same. Search yourself for something extraordinary and seek to deliver it. When you sing, listen for the sounds that are unique to you and expand upon those… until they are recognizable to others. Be willing to be vulnerable in your practice to reach your true voice and remember that the voice is our most powerful instrument for communication and its primary function is to connect.

Artist/Band: Owl Paws

Members: Derek Ted, Lucas Siobal, Timothy Vickers, Wayne Mills

Website: www.owlpaws.com

Hometown: San Francisco

Latest Album/Release: Newest single “Animal Brain.” https://soundcloud.com/owlpaws/animal-brain

Influences: Lots of things you’d expect (modern artists like Radiohead, Bjork, Fleet Foxes, Circa Survive) and a lot of old jazz and modern electronic music. And Nirvana and 00’s radio rock. (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: How would you describe your music?
Ted: I usually say something like high energy emotional folk songs. It’s hard to describe without sounding like an oxymoron because a lot of the songs start out as a mellow folk song then we tap into the pulse of it and that gives it a lot of life and energy.

TrunkSpace: Your music has a great feeling of ease to it… as if it could pull you out of any funk and remind you what’s great about the world again. That’s not an easy thing to achieve… to bring emotional tone to music. Is that something you consciously try to bring to your songwriting?
Ted: Thank you! I don’t think any of the songs are started with anything in mind but channeling something that is needed to say on a therapeutic level for myself. When I write songs its usually some kind of coping mechanism for my life or something I need to get out of my brain, then I bring it to the band. Once the band is forming it into a full arrangement, I think more thought goes into how the other parts make you feel and the overall aesthetic and to bring it to life.

TrunkSpace: The band met as students. In a lot of ways you’re growing together. How has that maturing in terms of life lessons and experiences been reflected in your music?
Ted: It’s been really important for us. We have been friends for seven years and are like family to each other. I think the closer we are, the stronger our bond is and it makes creating and collaborating more special. I don’t know what I’d do without the dudes. They are my best friends and nothing is better than doing what you love most in life with the closest people to you. As cheesy as it sounds, we’ve all gone through a lot of shit together and I feel like we all use the music to get through it.

TrunkSpace: The Owl Paws’ base of operations is San Francisco, a city that is synonymous with folk music. Has that history played a part in influencing your sound?
Ted: Yes and no. I think in this modern era the folk scene in San Francisco is very under appreciated on a large scale. There’s a lot of us out there working hard to get our music out, but it’s definitely not like it was in generations previous. Living in the city and being in the same places that all of these past folk heroes and history makers has definitely been influential but currently in SF more people would rather go out to DJ night or dance party than a folk show.

TrunkSpace: Does being in a city that has such a large acceptance for folk music mean that people are more open to trying out a new act that they’re not as familiar with because they’re familiar with the sound itself, or is it more difficult because you have to cut through all of the noise of other acts also trying to make a name for themselves?
Ted: Right now it’s extremely hard to make it out of the city with your art. There’s so many people all writing songs and pursuing their music but very few opportunities available to make it out. Most people honestly don’t like folk music and would rather dance/rock out or hear a sick beat than listen to lyrics or a mellow song. Luckily in our younger years we took advantage of all the opportunities we could and would busk in the BART stations. We’d spend about 20 hours a week down there singing in the tunnels to make money for ourselves and practice constantly and that helped form us into what we are today.

TrunkSpace: Often times folk music gets wrongly associated with singer/songwriters and not full bands. Have you found that to be the case for Owl Paws in terms of booking and promoting the band as a folk act, even with the added “rock” (folk-rock) to the genre label?
Ted: Sometimes yes, but that’s something we’ve been striving to do… push our sound to places folk music hasn’t gone before. We want to deliver a high energy performance that is created from thin air. We love playing completely acoustic in the right environment because we can roll up with only our instruments and still play our whole set. No amps, just us moving the air.

TrunkSpace: Upright bass. Awesome sound. Awesome presence. But, given the size alone, it has to make things more difficult in terms of loading in and out every night?
Ted: It definitely can make things more difficult, but Tim, our bass player, is a huge ass dude and is always down to carry it. He’s a trained jazz player and has been playing his bass to pay rent and survive since I’ve known him and has been physically carrying his instrument from gig to gig through the city for years.

TrunkSpace: What is the ultimate goal for Owl Paws? Where do you want to see things go?
Ted: We want to be able to share our music with as many people as possible and get by performing and writing. We would love to be able to tour the US and be able to get our music out there on a larger scale. Right now we all sacrifice a lot to be able to focus on our music and want to make it so we could just be touring and writing constantly and being able to eat and pay rent with less stress than we currently have. (Laughter)

TrunkSpace: When you look back at those ultimate goals, what do you think it’s going to take for the band to get there? How much of it is hard work and how much of it is being in the right place at the right time?
Ted: I think we are getting close. It’s a lot of hard work and being in the right place at the right time, but there’s nothing else I’d rather do. I think opening any possible door and striving to make your art the best you can is really all you can do if you want to succeed.

TrunkSpace: What can fans expect from Owl Paws in 2017?
Ted: A new EP, “smoke rings & diamonds,” and a lot of new music videos and live sessions! Stay tuned!

It’s that time again. Let’s sit back, relax, and take a trip down memory lane with those individuals who inadvertently played a role in our childhood.

But wait! It’s not only people who have staked claim to our nostalgic hearts. Food is one of the greatest triggers of memories, after all, and with St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, TrunkSpace has decided to spotlight something so seasonally nostalgic that it has our retrospective brains salivating: The Shamrock Shake.

The creamy mint-flavored beverage was a yearly pilgrimage for many of us throughout our childhood and adolescence. In fact, one of our very own TrunkSpacers shares a seasonal birthday with the Shamrock Shake and as such, it has been tied to not only his food memories, but to those of family as well. That’s a powerful drink!

We reached out to McDonald’s corporate headquarters to get some additional insight into our favorite St. Patrick’s Day beverage and this is what we learned.

TrunkSpace: How did the Shamrock Shake come to be? Was there a specific person responsible for its creation?
McDonald’s: The Shamrock Shake was introduced in the U.S. in 1970. Hal Rosen, a Connecticut McDonald’s Owner/Operator came up with the idea in 1967 to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day. Since then, the Shake, made with creamy vanilla soft serve blended with Shamrock Shake syrup, has captured the hearts of fans from all over and is now celebrated seasonally across the nation.

TrunkSpace: We had our first Shamrock Shake in the early 80s. Has the recipe changed at all since its initial inception to how it is served today?
McDonald’s: Initially, the individual franchisee determined if the shake was green mint flavored or green vanilla flavored. Today, the famous shake is made with McDonald’s vanilla reduced fat ice cream, Shamrock Shake syrup, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

TrunkSpace: Why did McDonald’s choose to focus on a St. Patrick’s Day seasonal item when as a company McDonald’s doesn’t focus on many other holidays when it comes to seasonal items?
McDonald’s: While the Shamrock Shake has an impressive fan following, it also has a heart-warming legacy that has strong ties to St. Patrick’s Day. Beginning in 1974, proceeds from the Shamrock Shake helped raise enough funds to open the first-ever Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. It started when Philadelphia Eagles tight end Fred Hill’s 3-year-old daughter, Kim, was being treated for leukemia. During this time, he and his wife, Fran, noticed that many other families had to travel long distances for their children to receive medical treatment and couldn’t afford hotel rooms. The Hills knew there had to be a solution. Fred rallied the support of his teammates to raise funds. Through Jim Murray, the Eagles’ general manager, the team offered its support to Dr. Audrey Evans, head of the pediatric oncology unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Evans had long dreamed of a place where families with sick children could stay close to each other and the medical care and resources they needed. Murray called Don Tuckerman, a friend from the local McDonald’s advertising agency. “What’s your next promotion?” he asked. “St Patrick’s Day,” Tuckerman said. “Shamrock Shakes.” It was perfect: The milkshakes were green – the Eagles’ color! With the support of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc and regional manager Ed Rensi, Tuckerman launched a week-long promotion around the Shamrock Shake, with all profits to be donated to the cause. Enough funds were raised to help buy an old four-story, seven-bedroom house Evans had found near the hospital. It opened in 1974 as the first Ronald McDonald House. Now, 42 years later, once again, proceeds from the Shamrock Shake will support RMHC, which serves 7 million children and families around the world each year.

TrunkSpace: There were some great Shamrock Shake television commercials in the 80s, but we don’t recall much in the way of advertising for the Shamrock Shake since then. Has the product become so engrained in the customer base that there is no longer a need to advertise for it?
McDonald’s: We know people love the Shamrock Shake; many have grown up with it! It has such a passionate following and has cemented itself in pop culture that fans look forward to and expect its return every year.

TrunkSpace: McDonald’s has introduced many new products throughout the course of its lifetime. Some find their audience while others do not. As a company, at what point is a new product considered a success? Is the popularity of a new product instantly clear or are they allowed to find an audience? For instance, was the Shamrock Shake considered a success right out of the gates?
McDonald’s: The Shamrock Shake has been around for more than 40 years and has become increasingly popular each season. But, as a restaurant company we are always looking to raise the bar. We continue to listen to our customers and re-evaluate our menu to evolve based on their changing preferences. We know our customers love the combination of chocolate and mint flavors. That was the inspiration this year behind introducing chocolate in four seasonal McCafé beverages that build on the fandom of Shamrock season. The new seasonal beverages line-up includes the Chocolate Shamrock Shake, Shamrock Chocolate Chip Frappé, Shamrock Hot Mocha and Shamrock Hot Chocolate.

TrunkSpace: Is the Shamrock Shake served internationally?
McDonald’s: The beloved Shamrock Shake is served in the U.S. and select stores in Canada and Ireland.

TrunkSpace: As adults, for us, the Shamrock Shake is a bit like the adult version of a Happy Meal. It has that same nostalgic feel to it. Can we assume that the Shamrock Shake isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and that one day when our kids are grown up with kids of their own, the Shamrock Shake will still be available to be their Happy Meal?
McDonald’s: There’s a lot of enthusiasm for the Shamrock Shake each year and we will continue to listen to our customers to evolve our offerings based on their preferences.

TrunkSpace: Some beverages pair well with particular food. What does the Shamrock Shake pair best with from the current McDonald’s menu?
McDonald’s: The Shamrock Shake pairs well with a variety of our menu items. You can pair the seasonal beverage with our improved Chicken McNuggets, our beloved French Fries or with our new Mac sandwich sizes.

For more information on the Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit www.rmhc.org.