Vanattica

"The King or Me" is the fourth album from Vanattica. In my opinion they were influenced by punk rock with a twist of alternative. The tracks on this album will definitely keep you listening. If I had to compare them to anyone I would say that they are like Face Down, Story of the Year or SugarCult. The song "It's all about Gun Shows and Rodeos" bring some alternative punk with some impressive vocal harmonies from their front man. The sounds stood out, and the song built up and retained the combination was exactly what that they were trying to hit. Another song of theirs that I have to say I enjoyed was "Confidential Liar". It has a really strong pace along with some catchy beats throughout. The one song which did not do very much for me was "Chasing the Horizon". It just did not grab me for anything.


The lyrics and instrumentals drip like honey from a spoon and I could without a doubt imagine them playing on your local radio station, the melody drifting sweetly through your speakers. Vanattica has found a way to bring new life into their genre of music.

There is little doubt of Vanattica has creativity and talent. It seems that everything was well thought out and well played. Their passion for their sounds is shown and felt by making this an entertaining album. Keep a close eye on these guys in the future. Very recommended. - Now Tune In

“The band formed in 2005 when 4 friends from high school decided to combine forces and save the earth. Took us long enough, we waited until college. Travis the singer and Drake the drummer are two original members. They picked up Jaron on bass and Brendan on lead guitar back in 2008.” This week’s band comes from Champaign, Illinois. The band is signed to Ignite Records and is releasing a new EP March 15th. We had an in-depth interview with the band. Read below for more information on a new & upcoming band!
-Written by Taylor Mateman
1) Where can fans get in touch with Vanattica?
The best way is facebook these days. We talk to other friends daily on there, all 2700 of them or so. MySpace is great, but it seems like it is on the way out. YouTube, Friends or Enemies, Purevolume, Reverbnation etc. If you Google Vanattica, you’ll find us.
Myspace | Facebook | Purevolume | Youtube | Reverbnation | Friends or Enemies
2) How did you come up with the band name?
Travis and Drake’s friend Tyler Van Atkins died when they were freshman in high school. They both played music with him in separate bands. Its in honor of him.
3) What is the band currently up to?
We are busy writing new songs with Loren Israel, just got signed to Ignite Records, Zun Energy Drink just jumped on board, playing a ton of shows, and gearing up for SXSW.
4) What are the lyrics generally about?
Usually they are about life the way we see it. We try to put positive spins on most songs, however its tricky when you’re singing about girls sometimes.
5) If you had to describe the sound of your band to someone that’s never heard you, what would you say?
RAMP. Rock Alternative Metal Pop. We sound similar to Four Year Strong, Panic, Fall Out Boy, Atreyu, BTBAM, ADTR. You might say nobody can pull that off, just listen to a few songs and you’ll understand.
6) What are some goals for the band in 2011?
We look forward to our March 15th release on Ignite Records. The King or Me E.P. Should be our best seller yet. We will tour and record a new full length hopefully.
7) Anything else you’d like people to know about Vanattica?
You can reach us directly at vanattica@hotmail.com but we always respond to facebook. We’re super friendly, so we look forward to meeting you.
- Band Traffic

"The band formed in 2005 when 4 friends from high school decided to combine forces and save the earth. Took us long enough, we waited until college. Travis the singer and Drake the drummer are two original members. They picked up Jaron on bass and Brendan on lead guitar back in 2008." This week's band comes from Champaign, Illinois. The band is signed to Ignite Records and is releasing a new EP March 15th. We had an in-depth interview with the band. Read below for more information on a new & upcoming band!

-Written by Taylor Mateman

1) Where can fans get in touch with Vanattica?
The best way is facebook these days. We talk to other friends daily on there, all 2700 of them or so. MySpace is great, but it seems like it is on the way out. YouTube, Friends or Enemies, Purevolume, Reverbnation etc. If you Google Vanattica, you'll find us.

Myspace | Facebook | Purevolume | Youtube | Reverbnation | Friends or Enemies

2) How did you come up with the band name?
Travis and Drake's friend Tyler Van Atkins died when they were freshman in high school. They both played music with him in separate bands. Its in honor of him.

3) What is the band currently up to?
We are busy writing new songs with Loren Israel, just got signed to Ignite Records, Zun Energy Drink just jumped on board, playing a ton of shows, and gearing up for SXSW.

4) What are the lyrics generally about?
Usually they are about life the way we see it. We try to put positive spins on most songs, however its tricky when you're singing about girls sometimes.

5) If you had to describe the sound of your band to someone that's never heard you, what would you say?
RAMP. Rock Alternative Metal Pop. We sound similar to Four Year Strong, Panic, Fall Out Boy, Atreyu, BTBAM, ADTR. You might say nobody can pull that off, just listen to a few songs and you'll understand.

6) What are some goals for the band in 2011?
We look forward to our March 15th release on Ignite Records. The King or Me E.P. Should be our best seller yet. We will tour and record a new full length hopefully.

7) Anything else you'd like people to know about Vanattica?
You can reach us directly at vanattica@hotmail.com but we always respond to facebook. We're super friendly, so we look forward to meeting you.
- Mad Man's Blog

buzz: What do you think is the most sexual/sexiest instrument?

Vanattica: When a girl plays piano and can sing. Hot ish right there.

buzz: Have you ever had any crazy exploits inside (or outside actually) of CU?

Travis:...What a silly question. My mother will read this. Some girls are foolish enough to think I'm a rock star, so that works in my favor.

buzz: What are some of your favorite foods to incorporate (or wish to incorporate) with sex?

V: Let's keep the food out of the picture until afterwards. Maybe Jaron can take her out for a slushie.

buzz: What's your best sexual fantasy?

Brendan: I want to have sexual relations with Whitney Houston on Broadway in NYC whilst Jeremy Piven watches from a distance shouting obscenities at me to do better.

buzz: Who is the sexiest musician?

V: Erik Ron. Producer. Engineer. The legend.

buzz: What's your favorite song to have sex to?

Travis and Brendan: “The Odyssey” by Symphony X-Jaron.... “In the Middle of the Night” by Billy Joel.

buzz: Have you ever written any songs that you wouldn't show your mother?

V: No. I'm a disgrace.

buzz: Anything else that you'd like printed in the issue that deals with sex?

V: Being in a band doesn't get you chicks, being good does. Suck it. - The Buzz

Vanattica - The King Or Me EP
Release Date: March 15, 2011
Record Label: Ignite Records

When I received my link to stream Vanattica's The King or Me EP, I was already a little skeptical. They were pegged as "the next Fall Out Boy" or something like that, and that's always sort of an "um....alright then buddy" sort of statement. When I got to the stream page, I was further confused by this gem of a line: "Vanattica features the vocal clarity of Fall Out Boy with the fierceness of Atreyu."

Despite my senses telling me to throw my laptop out of a three-story window a la Florida-era Cam Newton, I streamed the EP and was delightfully rested of any unsure feelings. While that line certainly isn't any good for marketing, it isn't an awful way to describe Vanattica's sound.

Travis Leonard's vocals, while not overly bearing any similarities to Patrick Stump, indeed are very clear and just good overall. Leonard has the sort of voice that suits pop punk perfectly without being too whiny or annoying - he can soar in the choruses but his voice is deep (read: manly) enough to handle the, erm, "fierceness" of Vanattica's instrumentals.

Those instrumentals don't really sound like any Atreyu songs that I've heard but do just sound like some heavier pop punk. The guitars provided by Brendan Summers and Leonard carry the blunt force of Vanattica's sound, and the two aren't afraid to unleash the distortion beast. It's actually entirely refreshing to hear a pop punk band that can get kind of heavy (I don't want to say gritty or punk-er because of how cleanly produced the EP is) without feeling the need to insert a bullshit breakdown or unnecessary screams.

Opener "Ready Set Stop" will tell you all you need to know about the band. While The King or Me's four songs aren't identical, the band does have a fairly consistent core sound. So if this song tickles your fancy, then proceed wholeheartedly, but if it doesn't, then turn around and run, Sally. Like I said, the guitars are very prominent here, and the song hits an emotional high when Leonard belts out, "We've worked so hard for this / We can't just go / Throw it away." The line leads into a nifty instrumental portion that lends itself nicely to some headbanging.

As you might be able to tell by its title, "It's All About Gun Shows and Rodeos" is the worst song on the EP. That being said, Leonard absolutely soars in the chorus, paced by Drake Gravely's insistent drum work and Jaron Lancaster's groovy bass. So maybe being the worst song on a strong release is kind of like being the worst cookie at Mrs. Field's. Don't sleep on the track.

"Confidential Liar" is probably the catchiest track here, and I'd highly recommend putting this song or the opener on your girlfriend's next mix tape because she probably likes dancing in the car. Closer "Chasing the Horizon" is where Vanattica flexes its versatile muscles, showing that they can do work outside of the pop punk sound. The guitars here and the general melody remind me a lot of PM Today and other similar progressive (or whatever) bands, but with a focused approach on keeping the pop punk base.

I think this one is a fairly easy call. I don't think we listen to music in a scene where Vanattica will fail to gain popularity during this calendar year. This band lies at a delicate point, with their music heavy enough to appeal to kids who like much heavier music, but catchy enough for kids who like much poppier music. They sort of fall in a perfect balance where maybe the brutal metal kids want to listen to something a little lighter and the pop rock kids want to listen to something a little heavier. Meanwhile, the pop punk kids are happy to have another sweet EP to listen to while they wait for that new blink-182 disc...because it's totally right around the corner and everything.

The hodgepodge of influences might make a listener think that Vanattica doesn't really know what it wants its music to sound like, but in reality the exact opposite is true. This band knows exactly what it wants to sound like. It's already created its own niche, it's own sound where it has the potential to thrive in 2011. - Absolute Punk

Vanattica is a quartet from Champaign, Illinois that definitely brings a lot to the table, and they reflect it on their EP “The King or Me.”

“Ready, Set, Stop!” opens up the EP very well. The first few seconds keeps you on the edge of your seat because you have no idea what kind of vocals are going to come out. All of the sudden – boom. You hear this vivid voice that sounds like a mix between Patrick Stump & Brendon Urie. The use of gang vocals was a little odd and unexpected, but later on in the album you hear some others that are put in the right place.

“It’s all about Gun Shows and Rodeos” brings out this Fall Out Boy-esque feel from the band. It has the right amount of pop mixed with heavier riffs.

I’m typically not a fan of songs that open up with the song title like “Confidential Liar” does. In this case there’s a story that flows and it makes sense so I can dig it. A little over halfway through the song there’s this teeny breakdown, that you’d expect to hear some screams after, but are given smooth vocals that balance it out quiet well.

Last but not least “Chasing the Horizon.” I’m a sucker for guitar strumming, and right at the beginning it sucked me in. Even though majority of the lyrics to the entire EP are catchy the ones here are just so damn catchy. I’d have to say it is my favorite song off the EP. If you’d like Mayday Parade, Halifax, or FOB then give this EP a try, it’s very flavorful, if you will.

As I skimmed over Vanattica’s MySpace page, I noticed two things. The band places themselves under the “original rock, alternative, metal, and pop” genres. I wouldn’t disagree that they do indeed sound like all of those, but it might spark fans interest a different way. The second thing I saw was that they’re playing in Indianapolis this weekend, where I’m located! Definitely going to try to see these guys live and see if I can place a sound with a performance. - Shake to Shuffle

Who's ready for some intense ...in your face rock performance? If the answers are "yes", then check out this band rockin' the local scene in Champaign, IL named Vanattica. Don't expect subtle guitar rock grooves when they hit the stage - Vanattica prides itself as the band with high energy that's going to blast your ears from start to finish. SouthSide was totally in the zone with Van's hardcore momentum ...feeling its riffs and chords while immersing herself in their thunderous vibe. What a rush, blogspot readers, and they're barely finishing the opening song! These guys bursted out of the gate like gangbusters reader to rockdown the Elbo Room leaving no part of the stage untouched with their exuberant presence. Too bad the stage was quite small ...she was told they do get pretty wild rockin' out at other venues. And SouthSide does love it when bands get wild upon feeling that momentum while performing. Besides the energetic tone of Vanattica's songs, let's not forget the driving force behind the band's sound - Travis (front man on guitar) on vocals. Watch out, ladies, this guy can literally steal your heart with the passion and dynamic power heard within his voice. His vocal style vividly caught this reviewer's attention especially during the live version of Ready Set Stop. There was plenty of angst in the lyrics as Travis poured a lot of himself into the words and mood of this song. Plus check out the amazing drumming by Drake and his elaborate set-up and Jaron (on bass) - sometimes these two can get a bit crazy during a nonstop action packed Vanattica show. Yet there was also a moment when a bit of pop/alternative rock sound could be heard. The feel didn't deter the band away from the energy or momentum even while kicking it old school with lots of twittering guitar riffs. What an exciting show, blogspot readers! SouthSide suggests checking out the podcast of Vanattica's appearance on Fearless Radio at www.fearlessradio.com. For more information, visit www.vanattica.com or www.myspace.com/vanattica.

http://southsideonthetown.blogspot.com/
September 20th, 2010 - SouthSide on the Town

The assumption placed upon the audience of a hard rock show often reads entirely as something along the lines of “big white dudes with tattoos.” Though sometimes true in its own regard as there is a fair share of that look amongst fans, the overwhelming presence of females at heavier shows is an oversight duly noted by participants like Vanattica’s vocalist/rhythm guitarist Travis Leonard.

Leonard gave praise to the resiliency and loyal nature of the hard rock audience, citing the previously mentioned, “big white dudes,” as a misconception that should be replaced with a less gendered ideal.

“The one thing I can state about the make-up of [heavier] shows that we have been a part of is that there is a really hardcore following amongst fans. People are at every single show, sporting tattoos of bands that aren’t even signed yet and enjoying their time. It’s a smaller following, but a strong one,” he explained.

As a band that straddles the line between several genres, Vanattica splits time between playing with more pop, indie-based acts and a harder, metal crowd. Though each may share differing perspectives upon the personal and musical style of others, the powerful effect of the hard rock scene in CU is working its way towards deserved public recognition. This shouldn’t come as a down-sight to any other type of music, however, but rather act as a boost for a commonly misunderstood group.

“No one should be scared to go to a show because of any sort of misconstrued reasoning about the rest of the audience or the band for that matter,” Leonard noted, sharing experiences with both local CU acts and touring hard rock and metal bands as examples.

The Scarborough Affair’s guitarist Jarod shared a similar sentiment when speaking on the preconceived notions of heavy metal.

“People usually associate hard music with hard lifestyles such as drugs and alcohol abuse. We feel it is important to portray positivity in our lyrics and performances by giving our fans a chance to release from the everyday stresses in life,” he explained.

With three heavier shows in the span of one week, Canopy Club offers the opportunity to experience a new perspective on the often overlooked sides of rock music and its active fans.

On Friday, Slam Fest 2009 makes its way to the stage headlined by Vermillion County’s The Scarborough Affair, and also features the likes of Buttugly, Facepuncher, Trash City Rockers and Andy V. Self-described as a “heart pounding adrenaline rushing heavy music that remains aggressive throughout,” 4-piece, The Scarborough Affair speaks to the metal fan with the fast tempo and highly distorted tone of their music. CU’s own Buttugly brings a similar appeal, highlighted by songs like “Witches Brew,” which can be found on their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/buttugly65.

Saturday, Vanattica joins headliners Verdict, along with Jonesful and Feast By Fire for a solid line-up of rock from all angles. Known for an extensive and supportive fan base, the one-two punch of Verdict and Vanattica is sure to fill the Canopy Club with both sound and audience.

Rounding out the trio of shows is the return of Vanattica for a headlining show on Thursday with Missing The Point, Greenwood and Eureka Sky. A varied showcase touching on indie rock appeals with soaring vocals and hints of everything from heavier rock to reggae, Thursday night at the Canopy Club could easily span the bridge between genres.

Coming from different sides of the spectrum, both Vanattica’s Travis Leonard and The Scarborough Affair’s Jarod were quick to note the importance of a love of music and performing as the most important of all.

“The bottom line is always music. We look to play because we love it and at the end of the day, we just want to inspire people,” Leonard said. - the217.com

It’s been a good mix of talent, dedication to fans and a lot of luck that got Vanattica out of CU and onto the Warped Tour stage.

When the hard rock band formed in 2004, the college freshmen decided to put some music together and recorded their first album in a basement in 2005. Little did they know that four years later, the group that was once dreaming big would be living big — performing on the same stage as some of their role models had for the past several years.

“When we started the whole project, we weren’t one in a million, we were one in a thousand,” said frontman Travis Leonard. “We had no chance but a better chance than most.”

Leonard admits that their growth and success is largely due to networking and good luck. The band got their first break when a producer put a little faith and money in the boys who showed him that they were serious about getting into the business.

“It came out of nowhere,” Leonard said. “It’s a lot of persistence and getting your name out there and shameless self-promotion.”

Currently making the transition from local band to gaining national recognition, the boys hail from the CU area, having attended Mahomet-Seymour and Unity High Schools.

“We’ll always claim we’re from Illinois because everyone’s been pretty good to us here,” Leonard said. “Local venues gave us breaks, and we owe them a lot. We’ll always come back.”

Leonard, guitarist and vocalist for Vanattica, has wanted to be in a band since the mid-90s when one of his favorite soundtracks was released.

“I knew I wanted to play music when the Batman Forever soundtrack came out,” he said. “I used to play it forever and lock myself in my room and sing every song.”

One thing that the band really feels strongly about is its devotion to the fans. Having been in the same position as many of their supporters, they make sure they get back to everyone who tries to contact them.

“I think it’s really important to have a base with your fans,” Leonard said. “We were in the same boat, and they never got back to us, and that was so irritating.”

Leonard is working hard to perfect the art of time management. Not only does he front an up-and-coming band but he also throws discus for the University track and field team, all while working on his master’s degree.

“I’m really good at time management. School in the morning, track in the afternoon to night and then basically practice two to three times a week at night,” he said. “It doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for a killer social life.”

Their goal for this year is to really work with the production company to try to get signed. Currently with a two-song demo, Vanattica wants to get a record deal to cut their first full-length album.

“We aim to inspire — it’s our motto basically,” Leonard said. “Inspire people to have a good time and do good things.” - the217.com

CU locals Vanattica have received a great deal of press in the last several months for their catchy blend of alterative rock and high energy performances. buzz caught up with the act as they prepared for a local in-store performance.

buzz: We last spoke in December 2008. What has Vanattica been up to in the last six months?

Vanattica: We played a lot of shows regionally this spring, and since then, we’ve been been getting ready to record in July in Cleveland. We’re looking forward to then tour from August into the coming school year.

buzz: You have an in-store performance at Hot Topic tonight, June 18. What is in store for this event?

Vanattica: We’ll be at Hot Topic in the Market Place Mall in Champaign from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. signing autographs, shooting the breeze with fans and playing a six-song set. One of those songs will be a cover, and we’ve never played a cover live — all we can say is that it is definitely nothing like anything Vanattica has ever played before. It’ll be a fantastic adaption, and the only hint we can give is that the ladies love him...

buzz: You mentioned that you are working on an album this summer. Can you give us any details about the recording?

Vanattica: It has been like a lightning strike lately. We were called by a manager out in Los Angeles who had randomly heard one of our songs from an e-mail we sent out. So we can’t share much about the process of that, but in the meantime, we will be recording with Standby Records out in Cleveland, Ohio.

buzz: Do you have any favorite summer stories as a band?

Vanattica: I’m not sure it is necessarily a summer story, but our lead guitarist broke his hand this spring, and we made him play every show after that one-handed. We had a lot of people approach us and say they couldn’t believe he could play better with one hand than they could with two!

Don’t forget to catch Vanattica at Hot Topic in the Market Place Mall from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 18. This will be one of the last times to catch the act before they head to Cleveland for a steady set of recording time. - the217.com

Travis Leonard, Brendan Summers, Drake Gravely, and Jaron Lancaster make up one of Champaign’s best rock bands, Vanattica. Although they formed in late 2004, they didn’t play their first gig until June of 2006. This made the rapid increase in their fan base even more impressive. This past summer, they played the east coast leg of the 2008 Warped Tour on the Playwork Productions stage. Their favorite bands to play with in the area include Verdict and Trash City Rockers. They are currently working on a long EP/short LP that will be available later this summer. They have already recorded 4 songs at Philadelphia’s Playwork Productions and will be recording some more tunes in Cleveland with Standby Records this June. Check them out at the High Dive for the Rock Against Rape concert on April 4th. - the217.com

By JONATHAN SWIGART
Citizen Editor

When Travis Leonard and his bandmates decided to help those in need this holiday season and for the next year, the best way they could think of is to do what comes naturally: Entertain.

That is why Leonard, a Mahomet-Seymour graduate, and the rest of the band members in Vanattica will be sponsoring a concert series to raise money for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.

The “Rock Against Hunger” series, which kicks off this Thursday at the Canopy Club in Urbana, will feature Vanattica teaming up with other artists such as AM Taxi and Withnail.

For every $1 donated at the shows, it will purchase $10 worth of food for the foodbank.

According to Leonard, the charity was just as easy to determine how they wanted to be more involved.

“It was about time we started giving back to the community from which we've received so much love in. We were all raised in central Illinois, and that's why we love this charity,” he said.

“It feeds hungry people in the area that made us who we are today. Its always been a collective goal of the band to inspire people to make the world around you better.”

The effort itself is being sponsored and run by Vanattica, who teamed up with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) directly.

The hope is to use some of the national success the band has been having to bring more awareness to hunger and specifically to central Illinois.

“We always love spreading awareness about different problems that we've gotten ourselves into, so hopefully this event will bring in a new crowd of future donators and supporters for the EIF,” said Leonard.

Aside from playing the shows, the band is also using their merchandise as a way to raise money, offering merchandise to anyone who brings in a donation of $1 or more.

Though the event doesn’t begin until tomorrow, Leonard is already looking to the future.

“As long as the band is together, we'll always do charity work. We've played a dozen or so charity events over the last few years with Children's Miracle Network but this is the first one we created.”

Leonard said he would like to see the event grow into an annual event to draw more donations to the cause and to bring more nationally-known musicians to the area.

“The gift we've all been given in this band is the gift of music. I've always heard that everyone is good at something, I think we found our niche in music. We can use music as a media to spread awareness, cheer, glee, laughter, etc. Why not (have) a charity event, right?”

The shows will be held on Dec. 3 at the Canopy Club in Urbana, which is 18 and over unless accompanied by a parent and the Cowboy Monkey in downtown Champaign on Dec. 12, which is a 19 and over show. Both shows begin at 9 p.m. with doors opening at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

For more information the band, the acts playing with them and about their effort to Rock Against Hunger, visit their fan page at www.myspace.com/vanattica.

To make a donation directly to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, visit their Web site at http://www.eifoodbank.org. - The Mahomet Citizen Newspaper

Local musicians ready to 'Rock Against Hunger'

When Travis Leonard and his bandmates decided to help those in need this holiday season and for the next year, the best way they could think of is to do what comes naturally: Entertain.

That is why Leonard, a Mahomet-Seymour graduate, and the rest of the band members in Vanattica will be sponsoring a concert series to raise money for the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.

The "Rock Against Hunger" series, which kicks off this evening at the Canopy Club in Urbana, will feature Vanattica teaming up with other artists such as AM Taxi and Withnail.

For every $1 donated at the shows, it will purchase $10 worth of food for the food bank.

"It was about time we started giving back to the community from which we've received so much love," Leonard said. "We were all raised in central Illinois, and that's why we love this charity."

The effort itself is being sponsored and run by Vanattica, who teamed up with the Eastern Illinois Food Bank directly.

The hope is to use some of the national success the band has been having to bring more awareness to hunger and specifically to central Illinois.

The shows will be held at the Canopy Club in Urbana, where admission is 18 and older unless accompanied by a parent, and at Cowboy Monkey in downtown Champaign on Dec. 12, which is a 19-and-over show. Both shows begin at 9 p.m. with doors opening at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

For more information the band, the acts playing with them and about their effort to Rock Against Hunger, visit their fan page at www.myspace.com/vanattica.

To make a donation directly to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, visit their Web site at http://www.eifoodbank.org.

JONATHAN SWIGART
See details in this week's Mahomet Citizen - The News Gazette

CU musicians talk about their most beloved/feared Hallmark holiday: Valentine’s Day.

buzz: Who is your ultimate dream date and why?

Nate Jones of Brother Embassy: The ultimate dream date has got to be Janet Jackson. I wouldn’t even have to get physical with her, just hang out for a night. We would probably go to Skateland or something. It would be cool if she can roller skate.

Jesse Johnson of JET W. LEE: Oh gosh ... I would have to say Emily Haines, who is the singer of Metric, a band from Canada. I saw them not too long ago and I was in the front row, and she bent down between lyrics and said something to me, and I have no idea what she said. I think she is the best looking female singer ever, and her voice is very breathy — very sexy voice I would have to say.

Ryan Groff of Elsinore: Zooey Deschanel. She is by far my dearest Hollywood crush and pretty much my dream girl. She’s got this classically beautiful look as an actress and musician. She is pretty much a complete portrait. I like that she’s always extremely busy and never afraid to show some skin. For a date, I’d probably take her to hear some music, we’d sing some out-of-tune karaoke and then get veggie burritos.

Travis Leonard of Vanattica: Jessica Biel. I know Justin Timberlake got his hands on her before, and that’s okay with me, because I think Justin and I would be great friends. Why Jessica Biel? Oh, she’s fine. You know her movies Summer Catch and Chuck and Larry? She was just perfect. She’s got a nice booty, big teeth — she just looks like a ton of fun, someone you can take to go paintballing and hang out with your friends. For the date, I’d take her to the gun range. For the first date, you really have to push it, and if she wants to go to be with me, then it’s real.

buzz: What do you think about how the mainstream music scene portrays love and sex?

DK: I have a problem the mainstream music scene’s taboo against beauty. I’m a sucker for old 1930s and ’40s love songs. There are a lot of songs that romanticize “getting laid,” and don’t talk about how cool love is. Also, most music that talks about love is too formulaic and contrive. The people who write these songs don’t actually feel what they are writing about, and so it’s hard to relate when you are the listener. When I write songs, I try to be as honest as possible so that people can relate to my music.

Ben Campbell of World’s First Flying Machine: I don’t really care about how the mainstream music scene portrays sex. I mean, it doesn’t portray sex; it suggests sex. As for how it portrays love, I guess that is a more interesting question. I don’t think it portrays love either. I just feel like it doesn’t get anywhere close. It’s not like they try and they get it wrong, it’s like they are so wrong that they’re not even trying. And they’re not, they are just trying to be entertaining.

Sokolski: Sex and rock n’ roll are inexplicably linked; there’s no getting around that. There used to be a difference between being sexy or pretty and looking like a porn star. The objectification gets tiresome. There is stuff in rock n’ roll that’s beautiful, but it tends to be from the not-mainstream stuff. Music has been tremendously evocative of love and has done a great job with romance, but after all these years, you see so much sexism that it’s disheartening. The bottom line is that lots of guys join bands so that they can meet women.

Mangan: I’m definitely digging Lady Gaga in terms of her subject matter. I guess too much of mainstream music makes it sound really, really easy, and it’s not. With Lady Gaga it’s more of an attitude of let’s have some fun, which you know has a time and place.

buzz: If you were trying to woo a girl, what would you do?

DK: Sniff this rag. Have you had the roofie-shake? Does this duck tape work? That’s probably enough.

Johnson: I think the smoothest thing is if you make eye contact. Just start out with saying hi, and you need to say something funny, but not stereotypical. Once I got her laughing I would — this might be really creepy — I would try to put my arm around her. Then gradually try to get closer to her. I would try to talk about music, because that’s what I really want to talk about. I wouldn’t say that I’m in a band or anything like that, but I think not lying and being pretty honest is the best way to meet people.

Leonard: Let me tell you my recipe for success. One: you got to be real nice — show her you’re a gentleman. Two: you have to show her you love your mom very much, and if that isn’t enough, number three really brings them overboard. All I have to say is that I’m the lead singer of a band — it almost always works. I had this girl asking me if I meant that I was just the lead singer of some garage band, and I had to say no, it’s more of like a basement band.

buzz: If your band was writing a love song to another band, who would it be to? What would the song sound like?

DK: Karen Carpenter and Mama Cass. It would be called “Hey Fat Girl, Why Don’t You Give Karen A Sandwich.” It would be in the genre of Screamo Christian Rap, and the chorus would go “The chicken sandwich that killed Mama Cass is the same sandwich that can save Karen’s ass.”

Campbell: Well, they’re not a band anymore — Tall Tale. Our bands grew up together, and we started around the same time sort of at the same pace, and we were really sad when they broke up and therefore they in a way broke up with us. It would be one of those lost lover songs because the lover died tragically. It’s not, “I want you to come back to me” as much as “I’m sad you’re gone.”

Leonard: The band and I would write a song to another local band who’s pretty big, and we love playing with them. They’re Verdict. They play heavy metal, but a couple weeks ago we just had a show with them, and because we love them so much, we did step aerobics on the stage while they played, and they ran across the stage naked for us. It was really funny. We were dressed like ’80s muscle heads, and it was like a Tai Bo video. So, this is our love song to you, Verdict: Verdict, you guys are so awesome/You run across the stage naked/Verdict, you guys are awesome/We’re all straight but we act so gay.

Groff: On this tour, we’ve been playing with a group from Baton Rouge known as We Landed on the Moon!. It’s our third tour together, so that’s a lot of time for us to really fall in love with them. Our love song would sound like Marvin Gaye — just very Motown, smooth horns and lots of those vocal love and lust sounds, those oo’s and aah’s.

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