Montgomery Drive

Drivers,


Simply put, "Montgomery Drive" refers to the street in Miami that I grew up on. This is a place where I spent countless hours wandering and searching throughout my life during both good and bad times. In 2004 I began writing music as "Montgomery Drive" but it wasn't until late 2005 that I actively began recording and performing under that name. When I began "Montgomery Drive", there were never any set goals or things I was hoping to accomplish besides self-expression. Since that time, I've been fortunate enough that my music has provided opportunities that have allowed me to travel to various parts of the world and perform for different audiences both near and far. This past March I traveled to Japan a week after the Earthquake/Tsunami with Unfair Roots as the first group of American Musicians to tour the island following the disaster (watch the full video playlist below). 




Although the primary goal of "Montgomery Drive" will always remain self-expression, I would love for people across the globe to feel personally connected to it. Even though this is something I'd like to accomplish, it is not something I would compromise my artistic integrity to gain. Furthermore, the connection with my audience is the best reinforcement and show of appreciation I can ever and have ever receive. "Montgomery Drive" is my outlet, a vessel I utilize in order to deal and/or cope with life and the experiences involved. For myself, it serves as a very therapeutic way of expressing very personal matters. It is extremely important to me that anyone who connects and/or enjoys the sounds of "Montgomery Drive" can easily find, own, and share those sounds with anyone.

As of this writing my discography includes four releases. These releases include: The Elephant Never Forgets, Fair Root/CounterfeitMatt Split, Crybaby, and Life On A Seesaw. The Elephant Never Forgets is a collection of early recordings and b-sides from 2004-2008 that was a limited release on cassette through the Kentucky based indie label Mayday! Mayday! Records. Most of the tracks included on that release are one-track live recordings that were later rerecorded for future releases. The Fair Root/CounterfeitMatt Split was a release through After Sweet Kiss Records to coincide with a Winter Tour in 2010 featuring Fair Root (aka Unfair Roots), CounterfeitMatt, and Myself. Crybaby was a completely instrumental release that was self released on cd and released on cassette through the Boston indie label BEAR Records. Lastly, the Life On A Seesaw recording was a self released EP that was released to coincide with the March/April 2011 Japan Tour. Although I just finished the tracks for my next two releases (both of which are splits that will be coming out later this year) Life On A Seesaw is my latest release that is currently available. As for the next two releases, the first split will feature Heffa Peppa, Rosetta Setta (MD), The Mad Skeleton (FL), and Myself. The second split will feature Love Ocean (MI), Ascia (CA), Colk (CA/JPN), Yui Daiki (JPN), and Myself. In addition to those splits I am currently finishing writing new material for some other special releases. As new albums are released I will add them to my site so remember to come back and check out what's new, subscribe to my YouTube page, like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and keep smiling there's much more on the way.

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive

The British Paraorchestra

Drivers,


Music is one of if not the most important forms of communication that exists. At an independently organized TEDx Event in Brussels in 2011 Charles Hazelwood said,  "music is the most universal language that we have, way more so than any dialect or tongue. You can play a melody to a child in China and the same melody to a child in South Africa, and despite the huge differences between those two children, they will still draw some of the same truths from that melody." Charles Hazlewood is an award winning conductor who founded the British Paraorchestra to give musicians of disability a platform to collaborate and perform. The father of four who's youngest child was born with cerebral palsy stressed the importance of the British Paraorchestra and its platform for gifted musicians of disability to the audience in Brussels. In making this point, Hazlewood compared great orchestras from the 1960s to those of today noting how these orchestras had gone from virtually no females to having a fantastic healthy balance of the sexes. According to Hazelwood, "There's a very small community of disabled musicians out there, and that's the tragedy of it…Those known on the professional circuit you can almost count on the fingers of two hands. You can't tell me there aren't thousands more similarly gifted disabled musicians in this country - but where's their platform, where's their infastructure?" 

As the event continued to move forward, Hazlewood mades excellent points noting the Paralympics and how the validity of the disabled athletes involved is never questioned and the same should be the case for disabled musicians. Charles Hazelwood is determined to give gifted musicians of disability a platform, and with the British Paraorchestra it seems he has and is. At the TEDx Event in Brussels, he introduced for the first time ever, the first four members of the British Paraorchestra as they made their debut featuring Clarence Adoo, Lyn Levett, Baluji Shrivastav, and Llyod Coleman. 




Clarence Adoo, who formerly played trumpet for Courtney Pine until 1995 when a terrible automobile accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down, plays music on a laptop computer by utilizing a custom designed blow tube as a computer mouse. Lyn Levett, who has severe cerebral palsy and can only communicate by pressing an iPad with her nose, creates remarkable electronic music. Lastly, there is the sitar player and composer Baluji Shrivastav who has been blind since eight months, and Lloyd Coleman who is both deaf and sight-impaired. All these members make their living solely from music. At this point the British Paraorchestra  is only made up of these four members but it is the hope of Charles Hazelwood that the British Paraorchestra will continue to grow closer to hopefully fifty members. Furthermore, Hazelwood is set on launching the British Paraorchestra in juncture with this years Paralympics which will be taking place in London.

It will be exciting to see whether or not Hazelwood is able to successfully in launching the British Paraorchestra at the Paralympics this coming year. Personally, I feel this is not only a notable and fantastic undertaking on the part of Hazlewood but also a fantastic and wonderful opportunity for gifted disabled musicians that should have been available long ago. Regardless of the outcome in the actual launch, the British Paraorchestra is the first orchestra of this kind and should be cheered, promoted, and supported vigorously. Everyone is capable of making music, and anyone who enjoys doing so should never have difficulty or be hindered in joining a group/band/orchestra especially because of something like sex, race, religion, or because of a disability.


-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive

Dreamseekers

Drivers,


Welcome to 2012. It's a new year, and as we continue to move forward the landscape of the entertainment industry will always shift and change as new developments and services become available. Recently, I read an article published on SESAC discussing the launch of a service called "Dreamseekers". This service which will come from a partnership between Myspace and Billboard will offer artists the chance to get "discovered". Through this subscription based service costing about $100 a year, artists will be able to upload music as well as gather analytics on their various social networks, blogs, airplay, and sales. These subsequent results will be published in a "Dreamseekers" chart that will be featured in Billboard. 

Is Dreakseekers worth the price? Personally, I don't feel it offers much besides the chart that they will be featuring in Billboard. There are currently numerous websites and services that track analytics the same way for far less and in some cases for free. Furthermore, in the past few years Billboard has fallen victim to decreasing subscribers and major losses in terms of revenue. To make matters worse, the other partner in this service is Myspace which has over the last few years become as outdated as the Eight-Track. With the public launch of other social networks like Facebook and Twitter, Myspace quickly became obsolete. Even as this shift occurred I as well as many others continued using Myspace as a platform for music that was until a few years ago. As more and more users switched over from Myspace to Facebook and Twitter, the idea of using Myspace became a thing of the past. Since switching over, I have never felt more connected to my audience. In addition, Myspace is completely flooded with spam and bots that make the social network more of an aggravation than a thing of enjoyment.

Dreamseekers is certainly a great thing in the aspect that it utilizes all the analytics to promote undiscovered artists on a chart that will be featured in Billboard. For the time being, Billboard continues to be the primary source consumers and industry professionals alike use to monitor success based upon mainstream charts. The thought of paying $100 or so a year to have the "possibility" of rating high enough to be featured on the chart may be good, but its only a possibility. If millions of artists utilize this service it becomes extremely unlikely that all these artists will be featured. To conclude this entry, I'd like to say for some this service may be good and extremely beneficial but for the majority of artists I'd say it seems foolish to utilize a service that can be attained cheaper and in some cases free.

-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive

Clocks Are Devils

Drivers,


As of today I put the entire Clocks Are Devils discography up on our BandCamp page for download for free. Unfortunately BandCamp allows only 200 free downloads per month. So, if you'd like to download the albums you should get on that now otherwise you'll be stuck streaming them until next month. At this point you may be wondering who Clocks Are Devils are…don't worry, just keep reading.

Clocks Are Devils was a band I founded along with my friends Louis Salgar and "Firebird" Mike Rodriguez, but before we start that story let me give you some background info. In 2004, I founded a band called The Great God War with "Firebird" Mike Rodriguez and Albert Diaz. The Great God War evolved over time eventually settling with a lineup consisting of "Firebird" Mike Rodriguez, Albert Diaz, Louis Salgar, and myself. We were loud, angry, pissed off kids having fun. Our group went from practicing in Albert's garage to opening for groups like Ion Dissonance, Dead to Fall, and The Absence. As time went on the decision was made to end The Great God War and work on new projects.

From the remains of The Great God War, rose a new juggernaut that became known as Clocks Are Devils. Consisting of "Firebird" Mike Rodriguez, Louis Salgar, and myself. Clocks Are Devils spread like wildfire leaving a trail of empty bottles and broken hearts. Formed in the fall of 2006, Clocks signed to the Kentucky-based indie label Mayday! Mayday! Records less than a year later. Shortly thereafter, Clocks released a short run split cd with 8085. The split cd was highly received and critically acclaimed leading to a tour featuring both Clocks Are Devils and 8085.

Following the success of the split cd and subsequent tour, Clocks Are Devils immediately began working on new material for a highly anticipated full length and accompanying tour. After writing all the material, Clocks began recording the new record in the fall of 2008 while simultaneously playing local concerts and touring. After finally completing the full length and having the cd mixed by John Nuñez (Torche and Shitstorm) and mastered by Rory Willis (Bears!) Clocks Are Devils began dissolving. There weren't any fights or any arguments, to put it simply other priorities and responsibilities began making getting together difficult. It was eventually decided that Clocks Are Devils would perform for the last time August 11th, 2008 at Sweat Records.

After Clocks Are Devils ended we had originally planned to release the full length, however coordinating things together became very difficult due to everyone's schedule. Eventually I decided to just put the previously unreleased full length onto BandCamp. Until today, this album has only been available for streaming, meaning the only way you could have had the release in your hands was if it was  given to you directly from one of us. However, that changed today and now you can download it all right here. 

-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive

Mondo Cane

Drivers,


On the long and winding road that is The Montgomery Drive I am constantly searching out new music to enjoy along the journey. In all my time searching and listening, few artists have stuck out like the legendary Mike Patton. Coming across as a modern day renaissance man, Mike Patton leaves his mark in all forms of Entertainment. Known to most as the vocalist for the the band Faith No More, Patton has also lent his vocal stylings to a variety of projects ranging from groups like Mr. Bungle and The Dillinger Escape Plan to acts like Lovage and the one and only Peeping Tom. Aside from his musical endeavors, Mike Patton has bestowed  his trademark voice to video games such as The Darkness (both games 1 and 2), Left 4 Dead, Bionic Commando, and Portal. Furthermore, Mike Patton has utilized his vocals and musical talents in films like I Am Legend (voicing the creatures) and Crank 2 (composing the film score). Along with Greg Werckman, Mike Patton has also founded and operated his own independent record label based out of California known as Ipecac Recordings. Through Ipecac Recordings, Mike Patton has released both his own projects and other artists' releases always utilizing original packaging that leaves listeners engaged and intrigued.

On my trip in Japan I picked up a variety of releases that were either unavailable in a physical format or harder to get back in the states. One of these releases was an album by Mike Patton called Mondo Cane. Of all the music I've purchased this is one of the few albums I can repeatedly listen to and continuously enjoy time after time. The release features covers of 50's and 60's Italian pop songs performed by an orchestra comprised of over 60 musicians and Mike Patton on vocals. As released through Ipecac Recordings, the release features stunning and colorful packaging featuring the rainbow colored world centered around the strikingly white colored Italy. The bulk of the songs are in Italian however select songs include phrases in English. As the album progresses it flows beautifully, gracefully transitioning from soft and soothing ballads to faster more aggressive overtures. Whether your looking for songs to help you relax, or tunes to analyze and/or rock out to, Mondo Cane offers a little bit of everything for everyone. For some listeners, the thought of listening to songs in a  different language may not be very appealing; however, I challenge you naysayers to listen carefully to Mondo Cane and not be blown away (Listen Here). In addition, Mike Patton's Mondo Cane debuted at #2 on the Billboard Classical Chart, as well as #7 on the Heatseekers Chart.

-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive

The Cassette House

Drivers,


Over the years I've had the opportunity to perform in a multitude of different show spaces.  Whether it was inside a little red shed in Virginia, a basement in Pittsburgh, or a ritzy club on South Beach these places always had various characteristics that made them all special in their own ways. Tucked away in the heart of Brevard County there was a DIY venue known as: The Cassette House.

Although I had previously known and performed with many of the local mainstays (Cassettes on Fire, Worst Friends, and Gillian Carter) of the Brevard County music scene at other venues, it wasn’t until this past summer that I actually had the pleasure of playing at The Cassette House. After relocating to the Orlando area in late August, I was finally close enough to spend some quality time at The Cassette House before they closed their doors earlier this month. At this apartment I was bombarded by amazing artists from both near and far, finally getting a taste of the wonderful scene the residents had crafted for themselves and Brevard County as a whole. 

Through sheer passion and determination, the residents of The Cassette House had created a place both locals and touring acts enjoyed and longed to play. For many out of state and international artists, the thought of travelling to/or through Florida is as unrealistic as the thought of snowstorms wreaking havoc in Miami. With that being said, The Cassette House established and built a reputation that encouraged many of these out of state and international artists to not only come to Florida but to drive the extra hours all the way to Central Florida just to experience its spectacular shows and magnificent demeanor.

In having free shows but encouraging donations to pay the artists, The Cassette House maintained outstanding crowds and extremely positive atmospheres. Everyone who entered the apartment went home happy. The artists were compensated and provided with couches/futons for the night while patrons were given memorable and intimate concerts. I was privileged enough to perform at the second to last show and to attend the final concert at The Cassette House. I’ve compiled a playlist of videos of all the bands that performed at that final show which you can below. 




Although it is very unfortunate to see such a historic place come to an end, it is also exciting to see what type of influence this monumental place will have left on the Brevard County music scene.

The Cassette House had a huge impact on not only myself but also numerous others. Personally, I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege and pleasure to have shared in some of the wonderful experiences that took place there and will always cherish those memories. The Cassette House may be gone, but its Legacy will live on.  

-Marshal

 Montgomery Drive

S-Explode

Drivers,


Since I began performing and touring I have encountered countless artists over the years. The genres are always different, and the members and their personalities are always as intriguing as their sounds. From the swamps of Miami to the highways of Japan there are millions of undiscovered artists simply waiting to be heard. No matter what your preference I hope to expose you to some of the most amazing sights, sounds, and tastes of The Montgomery Drive.

For the first post in The Montgomery Drive I felt it would be best to share one of the most unique bands I have ever known and seen. This past March following the Earthquake/Tsunami Disaster, I traveled alongside my friends Unfair Roots to Tokyo, Japan. After arriving as the first Americans to tour the island following the disaster, we met and played with some of the sweetest and most diverse groups I’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage with. Our dear friends and hosts on our journey were a band called “S-Explode”.

Hailing from Saitama, “S-Explode” fuses a multitude of genres together creating a complex blend of sounds and tones that can only be described as a sound all their own. The band is a four-piece consisting of Hiroyuki, Kenta, Naoto, and Tetsu. Hiroyuki is the vocalist, singing and screaming while dancing, jumping, and swinging across the stage. Kenta is the guitarist, banging his head and swinging his guitar around effortlessly while playing complex scales and intricate riffs. Naoto jumps around the stage, bobbing his head as he lays down flawless bass lines full of thick groovy scales and crunchy fills. Lastly, Tetsu (or “The Beast from the East” as I called him) plays the drums utilizing odd time signatures and insane drum rolls. Every night watching “S-Explode” was an experience and adventure. There are not many bands that can have this effect. In our time together I came to feel very much in the company of brothers connecting not only with their loving personalities but also to their mind-blowing sound. On my journey I took numerous videos documenting our tour together. To check out a video of their set from the last show we played together in Tokyo watch below.

-Marshal
 Montgomery Drive