February 2012
14 posts
PropertyOfZack Contributor Blog : : JR Wasilewski
JR Wasilewski of Less Than Jake is back to do a new Contributor Blog for PropertyOfZack, and it’s one of the best he’s ever written. In his new blog, JR discusses the challenge musicians and artists face when releasing new material after a band has already gained notoriety from fans. Bands often find themselves struggling to make music that they think their fans would like to hear instead of continuing to make the music they were made to, which brought them their fans in the first place. JR faces the topic head on and we’re beyond happy that he chose this subject to write about. Check it out below and enjoy!
I don’t have enough tattoos to fit the mold of what many would picture as a true punk rocker. I grew up a little too middle class to say I can fully relate to the plight of the working class. I have, at one time or another, spoke my mind and thusly altered what people think of me. My closest friends think I’m kind of an asshole, but I never say anything behind someones back that I wouldn’t say to their face. Good or bad, right or wrong; I am who I am and no matter how hard I try, I can not be something I am not.
In the same way we can’t be something we’re not, as musicians, we can’t try to make our music something that it’s not supposed to be. I realize this may sound very Yoda-like but seeing that little green muppet isn’t the one saying it, let me try to explain.
I had a great conversation with a young man who fronts a popular rock band while in Australia for the Soundwave Festival in 2011. It’s fun to talk to someone when there is a mutual level of respect for each others work. It makes conversation easy and honest. We talked about mutual friends, the deals they signed, the records they wrote, the career choices they made and their inevitable consequences. When I asked him how things were with his band’s new material, he seemed oddly stressed. I could understand why based on my own experiences, but in my opinion, his band has already done the hardest work: they built a strong, loyal fan base.
Eventually, he said “When we’re writing, I keep asking myself ‘Well, what do they (our fans) want?” My response was, “Have you done anything differently (with your writing style) up to this point?” He replied, “No.” My response?
“Afraid to change, right?”
“sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think ‘i’m not going to make it.’, but you laugh inside remembering all the times you’ve felt that way.” - charles bukowski
PropertyOfZack Playlist : : Less Than Jake Tour
The next Playlist in our ongoing series features Less Than Jake, Plow United, and Flatfoot 56. All three bands are hitting the road together, and we couldn’t be more stoked to work with them. Check out the Playlists and listen to the songs while reading everyone’s thoughts!
(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
The Downtown Struts - Swiss Army Life
The Brokedowns - Apocalypse Seaside Heights
The Business - Suburban Rebels
Knucklehead - Jacob Burke
Devo - Mongoloid *Song is currently not on Spotify
Justice - Fish on the Hook
Stiff Little Fingers - Wasted Life
Beastie Boys - Sabotage
The Arrivals - Water Water Everywhere
Jimmy Cliff - Viet
(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
Larry and His Flask - Beggars will Ride
Little known fact: Sean Rule from Plow United wrote the accordion part for this song. Even if that weren’t the case, it would still rule. This band, I tell ya.
The Holy Mess - A Soulful Punk Tune About a Working Class Dreamer
I don’t know what this song is about and I suspect the band doesn’t either. As with every Holy Mess song, there is military precision underneath the chaos.
Be My Doppleganger - Cha-cha-chump *Song is currently not on Spotify
Total random find, and proof that Last FM is better than Pandora. The Skabs - End Wave Only ABC No Rio in the early 1990s could have made this band exist. One time at Stalag 13, they played this song twice. They played it once in the middle of the set. Then they were finished, and everyone wanted them to play another song, but they didn’t know any more. So they played this one again. At least I think it was this song.
Black Landlord - Dear God *Song is currently not on Spotify
It’s Max from the Goats! If you live in Philadelphia, this means something.
The Tom Robinson Band - Winter of ‘79 *Song is currently not on Spotify
This song came out in 1978, but is set in 1979, when, guess what, everything has gone to shit and Britain has become a police state. Yeah, that didn’t happen.
Luther - The Door is a Penthouse *Song is currently not on Spotify
I wish I owned an El Camino so I could run this song off of my computer onto a tape deck, and then drive around listening to the tape.
Vanbuilderass - Choices *Song is currently not on Spotify
Before there was electricity there were candles, and before there was Discount there was Vanbuilderass.
Orphaned Land - Sapari *Song is currently not on Spotify
Do you remember when Sepultura came out with ROOTS? Well this is like that, but now. They are from Israel but are loved all over the Middle East, even in places where they aren’t supposed to be, like Tehran and Damascus. They started out as a pretty standard swords and sorcery-type metal band, but then decided they wanted to engage with the cultural reality of the Middle East. That is awesome, and they
are awesome.
The Monochrome Set - Jet Set Junta
These get my vote for best lyrics in lyric history.
(Click on image to listen in Spotify)
I approached this by choosing 20 total tracks that include one song from each of the bands we have on our forthcoming US Tour (Samiam, Flatfoot 56 and Plow United) as well as songs from people and friends we’ve been lucky enough to share a stage or two with over our 20 year career. Eclectic would be an understatement. Thanks to Zack and PropertyOfZack for always supporting our band.
Less Than Jake - My Very Own Flag
The first song we ever wrote. It might as well be the first song in the list, right?
Flatfoot 56 - I’ll Fly Away
Great young punk band. We’re stoked to have them on this run with us!
Plow United - The Narrow Sparrow
The fact that Plow is playing shows with us is just insane to me. I hope they stay together forever.
Samiam - Ordinary Life
When my old band, Spring Heeled Jack, signed to Ignition Records in 1997, the only other bands they had signed were Anthrax and Samiam. I love this band and this song reminds me of a strange and exciting time in my life. Having them tour with us is full circle for me, personally.
Snoop Dogg - Ain’t No Fun (If The Homies Can’t Have None)
We toured with Snoop in 2004 on The Projekt Revolution Tour. Totally awesome? You bet. He preformed this song every day and brought 50 ladies on stage with him to dance during it. This song rules and so does Snoop.
Bad Religion - Infected
In 2002 ourselves and Hot Water Music toured with Bad Religion in the US and Canada. It was one of the best tours of our career with some of our best friends.
