Black Alt Magazine

Christopher Chu...I see you. You see, Chris here is the frontman of POP ETC , a band currently based in New York and formally known as the Morning Benders.  Chris founded the group around ten years ago and despite changes in the line-up, it's still going strong. I first learned about POP ETC ("pop etcetera", by the way) while watching the second season of Lovesick on Netflix and I heard a song that I would later discover was called "Running in Circles."  It didn't take long to scour the net to track it down and find its creators. I'll admit I didn't become a fan of theirs right away because without seeing them, I thought they were another Thriving Ivy/Jonas Brothers-type of deal and I'm really not about that life. I just wanted to buy the "Running in Circles" mp3 and have done with it. But when I discovered they were mostly POC...it was all over.

So Jules posted a vid by Suld , a Mongolian folk metal band.  They combine throat singing and traditional Mongolian instruments with a hard rock sound, and after hearing two tracks, I promptly bought the whole damn album . I can't wait to bump this in my car, y'all.

Fans of the YouTube cult hit MisSpelled will recognize Chelsea Erin Jones as the edgy, hardcore Quinn, the witch with the ability to manipulate time.  Fans will be happy to know filming resumed this month, and that we can expect new episodes this summer . It was a great honor and pleasure to welcome this curly-haired goddess to our Bar . Welcome to the Bar!!! What are you sippin’ on? Thank you kindly! I'm sipping on some Jack on the rocks. Though, my favorite drink is a good shot of Kraken Rum. I love me my rum. My kind of woman!  So you’re an actress, and a pretty damn good one if I dare say. How did you get into that? How did your family react to your decision? Oh, geez, thank you. Well, as it turns out, it's kinda my family's fault. My dad is an actor and musician, and my mother is obsessed with theatre and the arts. My brother got bit by the acting bug early on, and I was pretty quick to follow. We used to put on tiny productions in our living room for...

Actress, singer, and writer Lindsey McDowell is the mastermind behind the cult web hit MisSpelled , whose flawless casting, quirky premise, and laugh-out-loud hilarious script garnered an army of fans overnight . It was the utmost honor to complete this interview with her October 16, 2014 . Lindsey McDowell, it’s amazing to have you At the Bar. What are you sippin’ on? Midori Sour! In addition to being a writer, you’re a singer and an actress. How did your family respond to your desire to study and pursue that? They had a very different reaction when I was fresh out of my freshman year at Howard VS. being 3-14. It was a lot of 'cute' and keep practicing at those ages. I don't think even I got super serious about acting until I was 18. When I was 18 they were supportive and I was in shock. My parents are so conventional when it comes to academics and 'the sure route' in life. My sister left the nest for LA too. She loves films and making films and I t...

(h/t Jules) And y'all already know how the Bar loves the hell out of Inuk singer Tagaq. This post originally was due a while back, shortly after the album actually dropped.  Here is the trailer for Animism , set to an excerpt from the track "Umingmak". And to my delight, there's a longer version, set to the track "Tungijuq" (it's the official music video).

Trish Doan was the bassist for Kittie , a band I adored as a teenager.  It was an immeasurable honor and privilege to complete this interview with her on April 1st, 2014, before her death on February 13, 2017. So, Trish…HUGE honor having you at my bar!!! What are you sippin’ on? I'm honoured to be here! Well, it's currently a Wednesday afternoon, so I could go for a drink! I'll take a vodka/orange juice please. A long time ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kittie alumna Fallon Bowman ( twice , in fact).  Now, for those who are unfamiliar, what can you tell them about Kittie? Well! Kittie is a four-woman metal band hailing from London, Ontario. We've put out six great records and done many tours around the world. Kittie consists of sisters Morgan and Mercedes Lander (singer-guitarist and drummer), Tara McLeod (lead guitarist) and myself (the bassist). Not only are we bandmates but also really great friends. I joined the band in 2005, departed in late 2...

Previously:  At the Bar with Big Phony I'll be honest...I don't typically bother with current artists because I've lost faith in "modern" music for the most part. But this is one artist I simply cannot ignore and have to give credit where credit is beyond due. As many of you may know singer/songwriter, Big Phony (real name Bobby Choy) recently unveiled an outstanding double release.  First there's Bobby , an acoustic album written in the classic Big Phony style, with his signature soft, moody vocals, accompanied by his lingering, evocative guitar. Next there's Long Live the Lie , a nostalgic, experimental foray into electronic new wave. And though Bobby was successfully recorded on a laptop with "a cheap mic" and a "$40 guitar", Long Live the Lie took some doing, including flying out to Taiwan and Los Angeles to collaborate with Enik Lin of iAMMEDIC .  The result was an impressive collection which got Big Phony fans doin...