Aston Fenly is a Danish-born songwriter who just moved to LA. His debut single, "Sunrise," just dropped via Universal's Denmark imprint and after taking it for a spin a few times, I'm here to tell you this one is absolute fire. It's not your typical mass-produced track, but one that reaches into your heart and take's hold of it quickly, touching on haunting subjects that most have experienced at one point or another in their life. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Aston one-on-one and dove head first into topics that challenged my mind and touched my soul. We discussed his early years as an artist, his move to Los Angeles from Denmark, and his latest single, "Sunrise". No topics were out of bounds, and we went the distance in an interview you won't want to miss!
Matthew: Tell our listeners how you got started in music?
Aston: I had a really hard time in middle school and was bullied a lot. Every single day would just be me coming home and crying and feeling very unpopular ( I am sure a lot of kids can relate to this). At one point I just thought to myself, “What do I have to do to like change how people look at me?” I really wanted to do something about it and when I did, everything suddenly changed. I switched schools, started into music, and somehow became the most popular kid in school.
Matthew: What was it like performing on stage for the very first time?
Aston: I think it was fun. I remember the first show that we had. We were like 14 at that time, and I was in a rap group with some friends from my school. We played this club, which I believe was for young people. Funny enough, they actually served alcohol and people were drunk at that party. It was just like a lot of people from our school, maybe 150 people.
Matthew: Is it different now that the spotlight is now on you?
Aston: I don’t know. I've always felt like I've always been the central part of every project I've done. When I decided to do my own thing, there seemed to be a lot more pressure on me because there was no one I could fall back on. On the flip side, it allowed me to do what I wanted on my terms which ultimately allowed for much more creativity and freedom moving forward.
Matthew: Who were some of your early influences that helped shape the singer/songwriter you are today?
Aston: I really started getting into music during my early teenage years. As I mentioned earlier, I was having a really bad time in school. I really connected to the emo rock vibe at that time and one of my biggest aspirations was My Chemical Romance. I’m also a huge fan of Blink-182’s work. But in the end, music is so personal to us, right? It's such a subjective thing. And if you encounter a specific piece of music or a specific band during a specific time in your life, maybe you’ll be more connected to the band in some unique way because their music helped you through a difficult period in your life.
Matthew: What was it was like relocating from Copenhagen to Los Angeles?
Aston: The transition was cool. I like the sun here and it helps me from being depressed during the winter. When I went home in December, it was just like one gray fog for a whole with maybe a day of two of sun with snow. There are a number of things I miss about Denmark (and some I even took for granted), but overall, it was great and I really like it here.
Matthew: You just released “Sunrise” in February. Can you tell us what this song is all about?
Aston: As a musician there is lots of downtime, downtime where nothing's happening and we're all just kind of waiting. It could be you produced an album, or you're signed to a label, and now you’re waiting to put out a video. During those times, it can get really hard for your mind to live with the fact that you are not accomplishing something which ultimately makes you feel depressed or anxious. “Sunrise” is about that mental struggle and how one deals with all of those feelings and emotions – survival skills if you will. And we all have these emotions, right? It also tackles suicide which is a topic we should all take seriously.
Matthew: I hear you your music can be heard in a few Netflix series. What series can our listeners drop in on?
Aston: My track “Blood Moon” is actually in the Netflix original called Jinn. They really liked the song and it's not even out yet – so cool. I also have some of my music sprinkled throughout their global hit series, The Rain.
A few rapid-fire questions from our Hunnypot Listeners:
Matthew: Who is your favorite rapper?
Aston: Drake
Matthew: Outside of rap, who is one of your favorite artists out there right now which you’d like to collaborate?
Aston: My Chemical Romance
Matthew: Are there any charitable causes or movements that are important to you?
Aston: Suicide Prevention, Bullying and Anti-Discrimination of all types
Matthew: What are some of your favorite places to eat here in LA?
Aston: Carousel Restaurant in Hollywood
Matthew: What book might we catch you reading during down time?
Aston: “Black Vinyl, White Powder” by Simon Napier-Bell
Matthew: Which TV show or movie are you hooked on?
Aston: A Danish Comedy film called “The Green Butchers”
Matthew: If you were trapped on a desert island and could only have (1) album to listen to, what would it be?
Aston: The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
You can check out Aston's Instagram HERE
Before he was known as INDICA, he was known at his highschool for being the all-star varsity player and although it seemed Football was his calling, he had a deeper passion for music. Born and raised in Washington D.C, INDICA has found a way to catch his fans attention through his aesthetics and sound! INDICA may be considered “Indie and Underground” but he is paving his way into the mainstream platform!
His most latest single “Hollywood on Fire” has over 33K streams on Spotify, and if you haven’t checked the music video, you have to! To start off, INDICA directed this one and like all his other music videos, you are visually greated with a black and white theme and the occasional visual distortion. The music video starts off with a news broadcast on how the fires and smoke are reaching Hollywood Mansions and Movie Studios! The opening of the video highlights the Hollywood Hills and then focuses on two individuals wearing ski masks and driving a maserati. As the video continues, INDICA highlights the flaws of Hollywood and really sets the tone of what he is really trying to say. The Pre-Chorus says it all, “Where we come to sin yeah, Where evil begins, Where people pretend!”. If you haven’t checked his latest single, do it now! And if you are in LA, INDICA will be playing the Hunnypot Live at The Mint party April 13th.
Written by Elsie Hernandez
Swedish (of course) metal band Avatar just released an epic 44 minute video. It's "The mighty tale of your favorite band and their adventures in Avatar Country". Avatar Country is the land where the band resides and also is the name of their last studio album (They have a new album coming out later this year). Crowd funded by the citizens of Avatar Country (fans), this video has everything the Avatar fans desire; Pomp, camp, and chops. So many musical chops. Glory to our king indeed.
-J. Gray
The one and only Black Label Society landed in California last Friday, bringing their North American Crusade to the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. Fronted by the unmistakable Zakk Wylde, their unique brand of Gloom/Biker Rock is undoubtedly something to experience. Having not seen Zakk live since the early Ozzy days, I was looking forward to this show. Along with Supporting acts Obituary and Lord Dying, this lineup was sure to put the structural integrity of the 91-year-old auditorium to the test.
The night began with Portland’s own Lord Dying, bringing with them their brand of doom/sludge metal. Their big fat plodding sound accompanied their enthusiastic presence and was a welcome start to the night. Lord Dying is touring in support of their latest release, Mysterium Tremendum, which explores all things death. They did a great job and I would surely see them again.
Next on the agenda was veteran Florida based Death Metal pioneers, Obituary. The medium tempo grinder “Redneck Stomp” opened the night and served as a bit of a warm-up of sorts. Then it started. Obituary proceeded to ignite a powder keg on the RMA that set the near-capacity crowd on fire. Sprinkling songs in from their storied past, Obituary did their best to satisfy all in attendance. The furious riffs and machine-gun drums instigated the fist-pumping and head thrashing that seemingly everyone took part. This place was going off and the people loved it. It was quite the spectacle by all accounts and a show I won't soon forget. I was glad to see this was a very receptive crowd for the onslaught that is Obituary. Well done.
Now, it was time for the reason everyone packed the RMA. As the background music from the PA finally faded, it was the familiar signal to all that the show was about to begin. The intro to “Genocide Junkies” began bellowing and we knew what was coming. I was so amped for this I almost wanted to yank down the massive red-velvet curtain hiding the stage myself! Just a bit of patience was all I needed, and in a flash, Zakk and the boys instantly appeared on stage and barreled into the opening riffs. Black Label Society was underway.
Throughout the show, Zakk posed next to his signature Skull-laden mic-stand, throwing around enough hair around for three people. John DeServio (bass) and Dario Lorina (rhythm guitar) were banging around in unison at the front of the stage, doing everything they could to keep up. On drums, Jeff Fabb nailed down the bottom end and completed the package. Their set included a variety of tunes, spanning the entire Black Label history and was enough to keep the most discerning fan happy. A dirty filthy dose of bad-assery that I’ll remember for a long time to come.
Black Label Society is taking this show of force across the U.S. currently throughout the spring. Treat yourself to one of the coolest packages of metal on the road today. There’s sure to be something for everyone and I guarantee you’ll leave with a sore neck. Be Well!
Hailing from New Jersey, Overkill has been churning out some of the fiercest Thrash Metal out their since their start in the early '80s. They are often mentioned in the same sentence as Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer as one of the greatest thrash metal bands of all time, and rightfully so. Predating most of these bands, they have been instrumental in spearheading an entire genre. This Anaheim show being the opening night of their Wings over U.S. Tour, in support of their 19th studio record The Wings of War, the Green Machine shows no signs of stopping any time soon. I've been anticipating this show for a good while now as their latest record is just unreal. The distinctive vocals of Bobby "The Blitz" Ellsworth, combined with their influential East Coast style on the new album, exhibits some of the most exciting metal out there today!
As I entered the theater, I could feel this was going to be a great show. Like me, the place was full of those wanting to see Overkill show the youngsters just how it's done. The night began with Hydraform, taking the stage and unleashing some very hard and groovy music. From the outset, they had the early-birds' attention and didn't give it up. Carter Pashko (lead vocals) took it upon himself to join us in the photo-pit for a chance to interact with the fans on the rail. This cool gesture cemented the direction the night was headed and couldn't wait to see what was next.
The next act to hit the stage was long-time thrashers Exhorder from Louisiana. If you take a gander at their 1990 debut record, Slaughter at the Vatican, you'll see these guys are architects of some of the most brutal and aggressive music out there. Returning from some rather long hiatuses over the years, Exhorder is back and they seemingly hit the stage with something to prove. I especially liked "Hallowed Sound," the opening song from their latest record, Mourn the Southern Skies, a fierce song with enough groove built in to keep everyone moving. To me, Exhorder's set flew by and ended much too soon, and I'm almost positive there were many converts in the crowd when it was all said and done. Well done, gents.
Next up was the reason we packed the House of Blues, Overkill. They exploded onto the stage unleashing "Last Man Standing," "Electric Rattlesnake," and the classic "Hello from the Gutter,", immediately addressing three different eras of the band's long history. Following this was the crowd favorite "Elimination," arguably their most identifiable tune from the early days. I'm here to tell you, the sheer size of the mosh pit that formed on the floor for this song was as enormous as their sound. Unbelievably delightful! Fueled by the neck-wrecking guitar work of Dave Linsk and Derek Tailer, the human swirl became more furious by the second as the crowd surfers multiplied with ease. New drummer Jason Bittner worked seamlessly with founding member D.D. Verni on Bass to cement the bottom end and create the groundwork for the unbelievably tight and clean sonic assault. Kudos to the sound guy on this night as I'm here to tell you it was impeccable!
Perhaps the biggest takeaway for me was the unique and satisfying vocals crafted by the one and only Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth. Easily one of the most underrated front-men in rock, he had each patron in the palm of his hands as soon as the lights dropped. Effortless in his approach, few can match his passion and energy and his voice has not lost a step after all these years. Overkill's music has always been some of the most aggressive and furious out there, but I'm here to say their material from the last decade could be their best so far, and well represented in the set-list for this tour!
If you're a fan of the harder side of metal, why don't you slide into an Overkill show when they steamroll through your city this spring. You will quickly learn why they have stood the test of time and remain one of the most potent forces in metal to this day. Horns up.
Be Well!
Last night Hunnypot Live got your motors runnin'. Sleazy rider, Hot Tub Johnnie, pulled a secret stash of tracks to start the night off. Big Tim cooled his engines in the hot tub and gave us a personal look in to his lifestyle brand of babes, bikes, fashion and of course music. Premier A Cappella returned to Hunnypot Live with a rolling thunder of harmonies and charmities. Zana Messia and the Midnight Mission used her loud pipes to save lives and and encourage stage dives. Super Bee Binx once again delivered a full tank of pop fuel. Oppenheimer performed catchy pop with a "blacked out" finish and Hot Tub bookended the night with shop manual music to teach everyone to dance. (3/2/20)
Unfortunately the audio recording was not saved properly and the show was lost. :(
Timothy “Big Tim” Stephens is the owner and founder of ChopperHead Magazine as we as the Big Tim Clothing brand. He created the term Outlaw Kulture which is used to describe the type of lifestyle he loves to promote. ChopperHead Magazine has now transitioned into Chopper Head America and is an annually release large format coffee table photography book. The ChopperHead America book features bikers, hot rodders, rockers, rappers, tattoo artists and beautiful women; promoting whatever it is that defines who they are without apologies to anyone.
If you live a life defined by you on your own terms regardless of what’s considered popular or trendy your part of the Outlaw Kulture family; The Big Tim Brand and ChopperHead America will Recognize, Respect & Represent You!!!
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Premiere is an award-winning all-female a cappella group in Los Angeles. Bringing a diverse repertoire and range of voices, the group sings with attitude, dynamic leads, and messages of female empowerment. Premiere has had the honor of performing at such venues as the House of Blues Sunset Strip, hosting the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival twice, signing with the AwesomenessTV Network, and collaborating with acclaimed groups from across the country. Each woman brings a unique musical background and balances commitment to Premiere with her individual professional career.
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Artist and songwriter Zana Messia - originally from the Balkans, grew up in Sweden where she escaped as a war refugee. Her music has been recorded in 6 languages, featured in film and TV, released by artists from the US, New Zealand, China, Sweden and Eastern Europe. She has been shortlisted for an Academy Award for best original song and was the featured artist in the FIFA Cup “Samba of The World” campaign.
Zana’s most recent musical undertaking is the creation of her alter-ego punk/rock/soul band The Midnight Mission, which reinterprets Zana’s songs in a raw, edgy fashion, aiming to challenge outdated labels such as genre and radio formats. Her upcoming album “11:11” is essentially an experiment. Each song is produced in two significantly different ways. The album is produced by the Grammy nominated producer/bass player Billy Mohler.
“Zana Messia refers to The Midnight Mission as her altered ego, because the project allows her to detour from writing contemporary pop songs to penning music from edgier genres like punk rock, alternative and soul. One of the band’s most eclectic compositions is a love song entitled Enuff.”
Zana Messia just released the music video for her single “L.A. Minute”, an ode to Los Angeles as the city where reality can change on a dime. This is the second single from Zana’s new double album entitled 11:11.
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Pop artist, BINX, also known as 'The African Bee' has had a No.1 song in South Africa, performed at the US Open and she is currently on standby for SXSW 2020. Her latest single 'Milk' is on rotation on Sirius XM and her music is helping to save the bees!
This will be Binx's third appearance on Hunnypot Live.
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Oppenheimer is a singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles. She Draws influences from a wide range of artists. Most Notably Dory Previn, Debbie Harry, Siouxsie Sioux and a dash of The Boomtown Rats. Her Laconic, sardonic performances belie some of the laugh out loud inappropriateness of her lyrics. Listen closely and what might appear to be another dark pop crooner is actually one of the wittiest whimsical performers on the circuit today.
Formed in 2017, this 4 piece Los Angeles band is bringing back synth pop with a twist of 90’s Nostalgia. Members consist of Freddy Hale as Front man and vocalist, Cadu Costa as Drums, Collin Keller as Guitar, and Alex Pitta as Bass. They’ve been featured on the Youtube Channel “Music Human”, which is dedicated to recording live studio sessions of local LA artists. They’ve also recently played at the Resident hosted by Breaking Sound Los Angeles and have an upcoming show at Erwin House.
Their most recent single, “American Heartache”, is probably one of my favorite songs from The Sway. The music video opens up with the boys inside a boxing ring, and they're wearing these glorious white jumpsuits. As the video progresses, they boys go from jumpsuits to fighting inside the ring against one badass chick. This song is catchy from the very beginning and it keeps you hooked with its synthy guitar riffs, punchy drums and Freddy’s amazing vocals.
I hate to say it, but, this is one of those bands that are low-key underrated. Their music is phenomenal and I honestly wish more people knew about them. If you haven’t heard of The Sway check them out on all their social media platforms and don’t forget to hear “American Heartache” on Spotify. See them perform at Hunnypot's Live at The Mint party April 13th 2020.
Written by Elsie Hernandez
On a cool and damp evening, The City National Grove of Anaheim played host to one of the most anticipated shows in recent memory. The machine known as Skillet has been grinding out some of the most energetic, uplifting, and acclaimed music now for over 20 years. During this time, they have garnered a severely loyal and rabid fan-base that routinely pack theaters and arenas all around the world. Sunday evening was no exception, as the number of people lined up waiting for the venue doors was no less than staggering. From toddlers to the tenured, the crowd was as diverse as the bands slated to play this evening. The anticipation was doing a number on me, and I, along with everyone else, couldn’t wait to get this night started.
The first band to grace the stage was Ledger. The band hit the stage promptly at 7 pm and immediately got everyone fired up. A quick seven-song set executed with all the power and energy you’d expect from a talented up and coming band. A rocking yet heartfelt set of songs coupled with the adorable Jen Ledger fronting the group made for a truly captivating set. After seeing Ledger, I now realized why darn near three-quarters of the crowd was there so early. If you are slated to attend this tour this year, arrive early and don’t sleep on this band.
The second band of the night was one I’d never heard of before, Pennsylvania based rockers From Ashes to New. They stormed onto the stage bringing their, Rap infused Nu-Metal style and wasted no time in dropping the hammer. This band launched an assault that hit all the marks. The stage, the production, and of course, the sheer bombastic nature of the live show was not for the weak. From Ashes to New meant business and delivered. I would surely see this band again, what an act!
Now, as I waited for Skillet to take the stage, it occurred to me that I wasn’t sure that I’d have enough butt left for them to kick. With the two previous completely blindsiding me in terms of the quality of their shows, I was hopeful Skillet could follow them in kind and most certainly did. The Christian/Symphonic metal quartet opened their set with their massive hit “Feel Invincible” and got the near-capacity crowd jumping in place from the get-go. Taking a quick look around, I saw hundreds of ecstatic, smiling fans seemingly having the time of their lives.
The sound and the message was loud and clear; We’re here to give you a show for the ages and from the outset and Skillet was on track to do so. The husband and wife duo John (lead vocals, bass) and Korey (rhythm guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals) hit the stage like they had tacks in their shoes. Seth Morrison (Lead guitar) was holding down stage-right steadily pumping out the lead licks the concert-goers were lapping up. As if that wasn’t all, The previously mentioned Jen Ledger (drums, backing vocals) was a show all by herself. It’s quite a sight to see a drummer keeping time with the style and conviction she displays. There is genuine anger in her sticks! I challenge anyone to show me a drummer who hits harder than Ledger. As if this wasn’t enough, we were treated to an appearance from The Cello Guy, Tate Olsen, to drive home the orchestral flavor that Skillet has embraced over the years. Unbelievable!!! As you might expect, the energy in the room was off the charts all night. Their positive and upbeat stage presence was no fluke, as they consistently fed off the equally fired-up crowd throughout their monster 19-song set list.
In a nutshell, if you’re in the mood to see an all-around excellent rock show chock full of titanic sounds and boundless energy, you must seek out Skillet on their 2020 tour. The package, including Ledger and From Ashes to New, is a well thought out bill and will no-doubt leave you screaming for more. This was a hard rock concert for the ages and it fired on all cylinders from their opening crescendo to final curtain call. This show will have lasting effects on me and will be in my memory for years to come. Horns Up, everyone! Be Well.
On Saturday February 22nd, I attended the sold out Royal Rumble 2020: Andy Frasco and the U.N. vs. Big Something at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall. These are two jam bands that have been on the road together for awhile and Saturday marked the last stop on this incredible tour. Both bands have a healthy mix of Rock and Roll, Blues, and Soul to them, but each are unique in their own way. I’d seen Andy Frasco and his band before, but this was my first time experiencing a set from co-headliners Big Something and was excited for the opportunity to finally catch them live. What took this to a whole new level was the tours unique wrestling theme, which only made the show that much more insane. Heck, they even had their own championship belts which was totally cool. I knew Andy’s shows could get wild from previous experiences seeing them on The Rock Boat and at Schuba’s In Chicago, but this show could potentially take their prescribed mayhem to a whole new level.
For the first time in my almost 40 years on this planet (and going to live shows for a good 25 of them), I have never seen a rock show opened up by a stand-up comedian. But in this case, California based comedian Kyle Ayers kicked off the show and was able to get the crowd pumped up early on. Kyle has appeared on Conan before and has written for CBS, Comedy Central, and TBS as well as contributed to various roasts over the years. Combine that with Andy Frasco's crazy and unscripted antics at his shows and Kyle was the perfect fit to open the show. At one point, Andy was watching the set from the balcony and Kyle tempted him to crowd surf from the balcony. He proceeded to jokingly call him a coward just as he began crowd-surfing himself. From there, Kyle proceeded to give Big Something an introduction that Michael Buffer would be proud of and the show continued on without a hitch.
For those who don'y know, Big Something is an unbelievable “jam band” out of North Carolina. They have released 5 studio albums but are well know for their high energy live performances (and Saturday's show was no exception). They have played with well known acts such as The B-52s, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and Umphree’s McGee and from note one failed to disappoint. High energy and top notch musicianship ruled the set. Fans knew these two bands were tight, and throughout Big Something's set, many of Frasco's band-members made it to the stage including saxophone player virtuoso Ernie Chang (sporting a Lucha Libre mask to go along with the wrestling theme). I was thoroughly impressed with Big Something’s set even though I had never heard them before. They also played a fantastic cover in the middle of their set of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”. That alone was worth the price of admission.
Next it was time for the main event, Andy Frasco and the U.N. Andy is a native Californian and has a deep love for all things music and basketball (as evident from the Lakers Jerseys he frequently sports on stage). Joined by guitarist Shawn Eckels and Sax player Ernie Chang as well as a revolving cast of musicians from around the world that make up The U.N. part of this band. Bottom line, this is a group of top notch musicians that doesn’t ever take themselves too seriously. Their only goal at lives shows is to make sure the audience is engaged and having an amazing time from start to finish. If they were ever to make a reboot of “Animal House”, Andy Frasco and the U.N. would be the new Otis Day and the Knights (In fact they even closed the show with “Shout”).
From the opening notes of “Mature as Fuck” to fan favorites such as “Smokin' Dope and Rock n Roll” to covers of the aforementioned “Shout” and even Peter Gabriel’s “ Sledgehammer“, the crowd went from 0 to 100 mph from and never looked back. For fans in attendance, there is no workout quite like an Andy Frasco show. Aside from the amazing musicianship and collaborations between both bands, they engaged fans with a host of shenanigans that had most in attendance smiling ear to ear. Their hi-jinx included crowd surfing (once even to a basketball hoop that mysteriously appeared in the middle of the crowd for a dunk), sharing the bands trademark bottle of Jameson with their faithful fan up front, an some awesome wrestling mayhem including a table bashed over someone’s head!
I can honestly say I came home from this show happy and exhausted, and this ones gonna stick with me for awhile. Please keep an eye out for both Andy Frasco and the U.N. and Big Something as they come to a town near you soon. And take my advice, wear light clothing - you are gonna get sweaty!!!
Setlist: Big Something
Setlist: Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Encore:
