Young Bloods

Music Artist of the Year

Troy L. Smith
Metromix
December 18, 2009

Story:
Joey Arena has been in nearly a dozen bands that he described as "the next big thing," until they didn't work out. He's always in glamour mode, rocking a well-styled mullet with huge diamond earrings. And Arena's very outspoken, almost to a fault, proclaiming: "I speak it as it is. Whether it comes off cocky or not, I'm not gonna bullshit anybody."

Such attributes make the 23-year-old Greece resident the perfect target for eye-rolls, smirks and Internet ridicule. Case in point: It didn't matter that Arena's band Youngbloods was dominating the voting for insider's Music Artist of the Year category online. The haters were still there. In a forum on our Web site, one not-so-fond listener posted this: "How is a band like Youngbloods even up here? I don't know anyone that even knows who they are and the select few that do don't like them." But negative feedback doesn't bother Arena.

"People who don't know me are people who don't like me," he says. "Truthfully, at the end of the day, I don't even care. You are who you are, and God bless you."

Arena formed Youngbloods — which also features guitarists Jake Butler, 24, of Spencerport, and Chris Klumpp, 20, of Rochester; bassist Thom Bulman, 27, of Walworth; and drummer Rob Bodley, 21, of Rochester — in September 2008 as the first project that was completely under his control. Since then the band has done a regional tour for Hot Topic, showcased for Portland, Oregon-based label Rise Records (Dance Gavin Dance, American Me) and opened for national acts like Hit The Lights and A Love Like Pi. But, says Arena, "it's only the beginning."

The band is putting the finishing touches on its debut album, tentatively titled Blueprint to a Fire, with Buffalo producer Chris Flury (formerly of the band Settings). Arena says the album will be released during the first quarter of next year, followed by a summer tour.

"If people think that all they do is read and hear about me now, in 2010 they'll probably want to cut their ears off," he says. "And maybe gouge out their eyes."

url:
http://rochester.metromix.com/music/article/music-artist-of-the/1670454/content - Rochester Insider Mag

After spending a decade hopping in and out of numerous local rock bands, Joey Arena believes he's finally found his niche.
The 22-year-old's latest band, Young Bloods, appears to be the one project Arena part over or get bored with. That's because this time around the band is completely in Arena's hands.
"There's no settling anymore. Everything is coming straight from the heart," says Arena, who started Young bloods in July.
Prior to that, he was the guitarist for the Buffalo-based band The Boy and His Machine. He left the group just after it played this year's Warped Tour because of "differences in the direction of the band." Arena convinced TBAHM's bassist, Andy Champion, 22, of Rochester, to begin collaborating with him on some songs that Arena had been developing on his own. The duuo eventually added friend and guitarist Chris Klumpp, 19, and drummer Alex Bochetto, 25, both of Rochester to round out Young Bloods' lineup.
Arena - who can best be described as a wheeler-dealer of sorts (he's quick to tell you he's on to tell you he's on to the next big thing) - is,as usual, excited about his new project. Having been involved in the Rochester music scene since he was 13, Arena says he's lost count of the number of local bands he's belonged to. But the lengthy list includes such current and former acts as They Sleep They Dream, Museums, Stella, After All and his very first band, Nothing to Lose, which Arena says existed for just one show. Still, through it all Arena's spirit has never waned, and Young Bloods is the first project he's had complete control of, as far as songwriting and creative vision.
"I've got a great group of guys who believe in me" Arena says. "We're working real hard, we practice all night long, and we're gonna make sure everything is perfect."
Arena's high spirits are reflected in the band's first recording, an upbeat and catchy love song titled "We Own the Night," which was mixed and mastered at Red Booth Recording in Medina, Orleans County. The song combines elements of radio-friendly pop-rock with a subtle pop-punk edge favored by such bands as Ny Found Glory and Fall Out Boy. The track will be featured on a Hot Topic compilation to be distributed at Hot Topic stores throughout the area early next year. Arena says it's just a taste of a diverse repertoire of songs hes had planned for Young Bloods.
"I've got everything from ballads and love songs to songs about Living, how ever you consider it to be," Arena says. "It's all real shit. There's no other way your going to get me."
In terms of sound, "We Own the Night" suggests that Young Bloods will have a sound that's similar to Arena's previous bands. But several things are going to be different for Arena this time, including his outlook on life and appearance. gone is the clean-cut emo-rocker from six months ago; he's been replaced by a seemlingly more mature artist with longer hair, skinnier jeans and a new tattoo of the Italian words "In Bocca Al Lupo" written across his chest. In English, the phrase translates into "In the mouth of the wolf," an Italian expression meaning Break a Leg, Aim High and Never Settle.
"I just wanna wake up every morning to put my shirt on and feel that," Arena says with conviction. "I've been doing this for so long. I've been through alot of shit with everything life has to throw at you, and it's made me a real strong person. I feel like this is it."

- Troy L. Smith - Rochester Insider December 5th,2008

werd: james niche

This past summer I had an interview scheduled with a young band named The Boy And His Machine and a young man named Joey Arena.

The interview never happened and neither did the show, but now months later I finally sit down with Joey Arena.

This Rochester guitarist has been in more bands than most people have toes, but I wanted to talk to him about the latest project he has begun since his departure from The Boy And Hi...well, that is just too damn much to spell out.

Joey is well known in the music community and is most commonly referred to as cocky, but I found him to be friendly and fairly easy going. He seems to have a good grasp on what he wants out of life and what he needs to do to get there.

Don't hate, participate. Cheesy, but true.

His passion is over the top rock and roll. He likes it big and thinks he'll get there.

His new band, Young Bloods, has a song that I listened to called "We Own The Night". I have worked in rock for a number of years and am familiar with what's going to make it and what's not and in the case of this project, they have a good chance.

Joey's vocals are unique as he will tell you, you can definitely hear Rochester in his vocal chords and he knows how to write a song. Joey has a great sense of timing and melody with his writing. The little vocal effects in the segways are great too. I'm a fan of the digital era.

The group as a whole sounds tight and ready for radio. The hook is there and the production value is a sonic A+.

I'll let you get into the interview now and get to know him a bit better...


ACT:LIVE: We begin talking and he's telling me about his new project, Young Bloods.

I get a phone call…telling me they got wind of the page and the music. I don't have to mention names, do I?

ACT:LIVE: No at all, so what happened next?

Well, they said they were impressed with the music and I thought that was sweet, but we'll see what happens…who knows.

I met up with my bassist Andy, who left The Boy And His Machine with me, and we decided to pursue this, this is something good we have here together.

Everything is starting to move so quick right now for us. We have four out of five permanent members and are looking for one more. I wrote all the music and have recorded some tracks too.

We're going to be featured on a Hot Topic compilation, that's coming out pretty soon as well.

ACT:LIVE: Do you have a name for this project?

I have a name yes, it's Young Bloods. I know everybody will think it's a heavy hardcore band because it has "blood" in the name, but it's a rock and roll band.

It's a reference to that young blood, when you're full of life.

ACT:LIVE: Young blood was always a slang term for a young guy on the street where I come from.

Yeah ,exactly, my uncle used to say that all the time. My other uncle used to call me "hot shot", but using that is too cocky. (laughs)

ACT:LIVE: What are some of your influences and favorite bands? National or local.

Foo Fighters, the rockabilly side of Every Time I Die, The Misfits, Juliana Theory, Saves The Day…you put all them in the pot and mix 'em around and you'll taste what I'm doing.

ACT:LIVE: So what's on the agenda for the band right now?

Everything is under wraps at the moment, and come this week we are opening the MySpace site for the project. Then you can check out some pictures, music and links.

Right now, people don't know what's up with the project, they have just known I'm doing something, but not sure what. This interview should clear up a few things and so should the MySpace.

I have been so anal in picking the members of the band, and some people say I'm arrogant…but it's paying off. The feeling I got when we first came together was amazing.

We had played our first rehearsals together as if we had known the songs a long time, with in a matter of minutes. It was a lot of fun.

I have really had a hard time being in some of the bands I have been in because I have a certain vision, a broad vision, but every band has been so extreme one way or the other.

I want to play all kinds of music. Express myself in many ways, not just angry emo.

ACT:LIVE: You remind me of a Ben D' Angelo. He has been working hard as a soloist and an active guitarist in bands like They Sleep They Dream and The Museum. He has had a hard time with many people because of his dedication and drive, which seems to come across as an impossibility to work with for some.

He's an extremely talented guy though.

I love Ben, he's my boy.

ACT:LIVE: So, what can people expect out of the band as far as sound?

There's going to be a lot of straight up rock n roll.

Sex, drugs and rock n roll.

I'm even writing some ballads. And they aren't like love songs either.



ACT:LIVE: So, who are these mystery people you are talking to? Or are you not at liberty to say?

I'm not at liberty to say, unfortunately. They are friends of mine - Act:Live Vol.1 issue 39, Sept. 16th,2008

MUSIC INTERVIEW: Youngbloods
No strings attached

By Frank De Blase on September 2, 2009

Young bloods is a new local rock act fronted by Joey Arena (second from right), formerly of They Sleep They Dream. PHOTO PROVIDED
If you're putting together a band now, you've got to hit the ground running. The same hyper-speed star-maker machine that gets your music to millions of ears and on the right desks is the same machine that'll chew you up in lieu of the next big thing coming up right behind you.

Rochester's new power-pop/rock band Youngbloods is barely one year old. But in its quick shift from solo acoustic act to full-blown band, Youngbloods has a new way-cool CD on deck, a new video just filmed at the White Lady Castle last week, a new booking agent (TKO, which handles Papa Roach and Buckcherry, to name a few), and a fall tour that'll take the band up and down the coast.

The band - made up of guitarists Chris Klumpp and Jake Butler, and bassist Thom Bulman - is fronted by ex-They Sleep They Dream guitarist Joey Arena, who has put down the guitar and picked up the mic. We sat down to discuss the band, and what to do with your hands when you're used to cradling a guitar.

CITY: So first show, no guitar. What'd you do with your hands?

Joey Arena: Played air guitar and tried to hold onto the mic at the same time. A lot of people said they could tell I was still a guitar player.

Where'd this music come from?

It started out just me on the acoustic, messing around. I didn't take it too serious at the time. It was material I'd been sitting on. I just wanted to write it.

They Sleep They Dream was done at this point?

Yeah, They Sleep They Dream was done. I was in The Boy And His Machine in Buffalo at the time - a typical-sounding pop/punk band. It was nothing special to me. They were so cubed in their sound. So I just started writing my own stuff, demoed it with the acoustic. A couple of friends in the industry took a listen to it and motivated me to pursue it on my own.

When did you decide to flesh it out into a full band?

Probably when I got booked for a show that wasn't suitable for an acoustic, and after they put a fire under my ass to get a band together.

Is it easier to find a band to plug into already-written material compared to hashing it out with multiple composers in rehearsal?

It's easier in that sense, but it was also harder because you've got to find people who want to play what you write.



And find those willing to contribute less?

I take opinions, but the band supports me. They must really like the music. They don't complain about it.

Perhaps that's because you write for them, you write to their strengths.

Yeah, but I've also filtered through a lot of people as well. I've had three drummers so far. I already expected to go through members just because of how this band works. It's not so much of a dictatorship...it's just that I have what I'm going for, and that's what it is. If you want to play with me, great.



Did any of TSTD's style or dynamics follow you to this project?

Yeah, I think so. After the first full-length with the band I started writing a lot of material. We were a very open-minded band and that creativity is still there with Youngbloods, but I'd like to think the music sounds more mature in a couple ways. Like the structures, and just more well-written stuff.

Do you still rely on the guitar to write even though you no longer sling it on stage?

Absolutely. I always write the hook on the guitar - or what the vocal melody will be.

So guitar is still there as a ghost. Will you ever put one on again?

Definitely down the road.

Wouldn't that be a step backwards?

No, not at all, because it will fill the music out. I'll still keep the two guitar players and pick up the acoustic to kinda fatten up the music a little bit.



Why is the drum slot so hard to fill?

With the new style of the music, we'll be running samples and a lot of synth-heavy stuff through the house, so the drummer has to play on click. A lot of drummers can't or aren't willing to learn.

Most musicians that have a favorite band can't help but hint at the influence, if not just flat-out pursue it. You're a big Misfits fan but it doesn't show up in Youngblood. Why?

I listen to the Misfits, I love the Misfits, but I don't want to play the Misfits. What I love is the origin of the band, their mindset and originality. They just did what they wanted to do. People won't hear it, but the Evil Elvis thing comes out sometimes in my voice in the studio, but then the producer makes me go back and fix it.

Young bloods
myspace.com/youngbloodsband - City Newspaper, Sept. 2nd,2009

Young Bloods on-air interview on 98.9 Kimberly and beck in the morning. The Number 1 ranked morning show in Rochester NY. www.rochesterbuzz.com - Aired on Last Wed. of August 2009 at 8:30pm on 98.9 the buzz

“Oceani,” by Young Bloods (2009)
“When (frontman) Joey Arena and his crew brought me this song, it was in an early state. The chorus vocal-melody and lyrics were different, and many of the final guitar riffs did not exist. We added cymbal (and) sample beats to give the song a digital vibe, and it really helped it groove. He came up with the final chorus hook right in the studio. He has a real talent for writing memorable melodies. That whole band is really tight.” - Brian Moore (2009)