Double Bind

From Rivot Rag Magazine Volume 1 Issue 2
Jack Rudzinski wrote:
I went to this cool event a few weekends ago that the boys from “Exposure” put on behind Fontana Hall at USF. A bunch of local bands played in the Fontana Hall parking lot, one of them being Double Bind. Actually, they were the first band that played. I got there a bit late and Double Bind was already playing. I only caught like the last three songs. But what I heard, I liked.
After their show, I chatted briefly with Javier “Mitch” Laureano, their guitarist and vocalist. First he explained to me what the heck Double Bind means. It is a condition that is a “multiple personality crisis”. Mitch’s father has a Ph.D. in philosophy and his mother is a psychiatrist, so obviously they had an influence on the band’s name.
Mitch being from Puerto Rico, also was telling me how the Metal music scene just isn’t happening in Puerto Rico, and he is trying to get his band recognized here in Florida. Anyway, he told me they were playing the Brass Mug the very next day, so I decided to check them out.
Double Bind is a three piece outfit that consists of Mitch on guitar and vocals, Reuben Garcia and his mohawk on bass, and Isaias “Chino” Gonzalez on drums. They started off the evening with “50 Bullets”, followed by “24/7” and then went into “Liar”.I liked the chug rhythm in “Liar”. The fourth song was “Schizophrenic”. That one started off a bit different from the previous three songs. It went from a more laid back feel then launched into a burst of energy, went back to the opening and then ended with a fast paced groove.
“Faces of You” was next. I really liked that song. The bouncy bass and playing, the wah wah guitar solo and the way Chino played the toms after the solo was tasty. They ended the evening with “Pobre”. That song was my favorite, and judging by the moshing that took place, it was the audience’s also.
Double Bind’s music can be described as rhythmic, bouncy melodic, dynamic and crunchy. They are a mix of Metal, Grunge, with a splash of Tribal. If you get a chance to see them live, I recommend to do so. Also check out their web site: www.doublebindrules.com
- Rivot Rag magazine

Band: Double Bind
Album name: 3 song demo
Label: independent
Website: www.doublebindmusic.com
email: doublebind@hotmail.com
Style/comparable mainstream bands: grunge / punk / garage / gwar / new metal
CD Review: Weird and Interesting singing/music. Bad recording.
Very weird grunge/garage/rock. "If I had a gun would I use it?"
"Now they say that I'm insane"
Rating (1-10): 7.5
Reviewer: Mike Krilivsky, SBE Records - SBE Records

Double Bind is a great band out of Tampa, Florida that write songs that are heavy and worth listening to. Pobre is a great representation of their style. It is a heavy song that grabs you and doesn't let go. The lyrics are in Spanish, so i'm not sure what they are saying but that doesn't matter. The only thing about the recording that bothers me a bit are the drums. There is this constant "ping" to the drum sound that can be a bit annoying. Double Bind is currently in the studio recording a new cd that should hopefully be out soon. I have yet to hear any bad songs from this group and I suggest you go out and see them play if you are in the Tampa Bay area. They put on a great show and Pobre is always a crowd favorite. - The Music Review Bastard

UM: Unsigned Muzik
JL: Javier Laureano


UM: Double Bind was formed in 1998 by vocalist/guitarist Javier Laureano and drummer Lazaro Diaz, had you worked together before this and have you played in many bands before?

JL: We have never really played in any other bands before. We try to concentrate on writing good songs and hopefully getting the recognition we have worked so hard for. Maybe in the future we will have time for side projects or get into porn or something.

UM: You had several line up changes before recruiting bassist Peter Norvaisas, did you find it hard to find the right band members?

JL: It is extremely difficult to find the right band member, because its like a marriage. You have to be compatible and have the same interests. That has not been the case before. It's hard to deal with people's egos and it is really hard to find bass players period. Everyone seems to be a guitar player because they want the spotlight!

UM: You say that you create your music by “combining each of the members' different tastes”, who are your influences?

JL: I (Javier) am the main songwriter and I like Nirvana, Chevelle, Deftones, Incubus, Tool. Our drummer will pretty much listen to any type of music except country. And our bassist likes death metal!

UM: What were your reasons for moving to Florida?

JL: There is no scene whatsoever in Puerto Rico and we saw how so many bands from Florida have been signed so we decided to move here.

UM: You have been constantly headlining gigs, did you have to work hard to get a good following and to get to the position where you are now?

JL: Absolutely. It is very hard to find a consistent fan base. We are now looking for management or a booking agent to assist us.

UM: Trios are commonly known as ‘power trios’, do you think that you have to work harder musically to fill out the space?

JL: In the studio we try to double guitars and have many back up vocals, but live we actually sound heavier because of the energy we bring, so I would say it's actually easier for us.

UM: “The band's name fits the music perfectly by having strongly noticeable mood swings” - do you mean musical mood swings or personality mood swings?

JL: The music changes constantly and all the songs are different. Just like someone with Double Bind. It's a metaphor. However, many artists today use the same writing formula for every song and in some cases for every album. Either way it gets boring. Its like the same song over and over but with different lyrics. Just turn on MTV and you'll know what I'm talking about. Oh wait, they don't play videos anymore do they?

UM: You say, “The majority of the lyrics reflects and criticizes the harsh reality of life and its perils.” How do you see the world around you and turn it into something creative, would you say you are angry, political or both?

JL: That's an interesting question. I like to write about life in general. I go by facts and try to give the listener a different perspective. We are not really trying to be political and some of the songs might give you the idea that we are angry but in actuality its more like an education for most people who need to broaden their minds and be aware of these issues. Just think about it. If only you knew 10 years ago what you know now. What would you have done differently?

UM: You’re lucky enough to have signed a publishing deal; do you think that it is a better and more realistic idea for bands to aim for publishing/distribution deals rather than aiming for a major record contract?

JL: Definitely. Being in a band is like playing the lottery. Your chances of being successful are slim to none. I think that getting a publishing deal is a more achievable goal for a band, although no one should be satisfied with just that once you get it.

UM: You’ve been going for seven years, so you must really love what you do but what is it that drives you to write and perform music and can you see yourselves staying together even if you don’t get a record deal?

JL: This is what we love doing. I wouldn't give up my dreams for anything or anyone. If we don't believe in ourselves why should anyone else? Some people retire after working their entire lives doing something they don't really like. To me that is like being a prostitute. The safe way.

UM: How long did it take you to record you first full-length album ‘Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Casebook’, are you perfectionists in the studio and how do you go about the recording process?

JL: It actually only took about 2 weeks to record. We know the songs so well it was an easy process for us. We had about 50 songs to choose from so we decided to diversify and make the album interesting. It has heavy songs, melodic songs, acoustic songs and even a funk song. We would consider ourselves perfectionists because if something doesn't sound right after a couple of takes, we continue to try until it sounds like we originally envisioned it when we wrote it. We use a "click track" to record and every one of us follows it and lays down their own instrument one by one.

UM: Do you have many band arguments and if so, do you think that this makes you more productive?

JL: We always argue about everything! The drummer and I are best friends so its mainly us two doing all the talking and then asking the bassist for his input afterwards. It does make us more productive though because it brings the best out of us. I usually strive to keep the band melodic because melody is the most palatable sound for the listener's ear. The drummer likes to bang away in his drums and prefers heavier songs, as does the bassist, but we always find a way to meet in the middle. A happy medium.

UM: What do you think about the Internet, do you think that it really is a revolutionary recourse for unsigned bands?

JL: Yes and no. It is very cost effective and you can reach many people, however it takes away time and time is money.

UM: Would you like to tell us about anything else?

JL: George Bush does not like Double Bind! - Unsigned Muzik