Ninja Team Go!

Interview W/(DAMN) THIS DESERT AIR

Joshua sat down with Craig from
(DAMN) THIS DESERT AIR  Wayne/NJ

www.myspace.com/damnthisdesertair

NINJA TEAM GO! Let me know who Im talkin to so I can mention it…
This is Craig of (Damn) This Desert Air here to fill-in the blanks.

NINJA TEAM GO! Your band is made up of random members from some other bands, Whats the current line up and who plays what?

Well,We’ve had a few good friends come and go and the one’s that have signed off are still close to us.  We value this band’s kinship as a reason we’re still moving forward.   To answer your question directly, none of us are currently in any other active bands.  Right now, the band consist of Shawn Reams on Guitar, Ti Kreck on Drums, Alf Bartone on Bass, Mike Wolff on Guitar and myself, Craig on the microphone.
Here is some of the other bands we’ve played with prior to (D)TDA, and they include Instruction, Merciana, The Fire Still Burns, Elemae, Ex Number Five, No Reward, Errortype: 11 and the list goes on…

NINJA TEAM GO!! Where did you all meet and how long have you guys been playing together?
I’m pretty sure we’re nearing our 3rd year of developing the band.  We started slower—a more casual “music first” beginning, to stepping the momentum up a few notches along the way.  We’re now looking forward to where we’re headed next—definitely will be our most active time yet.
About our formation—we were all in crowds at shows of bands we mutually admired back in the late 90’s, as well as shared stages in our previous bands. To be honest, each of us have so many branches connected to one another, it’s definitely a family tree of sorts.  All of our members, current and past, have been a part of the NJ/NY music scene for a very long time.  Built from post-hardcore and reaching far beyond.

Photo by “Patrick Glennon Photography”  www.myspace.com/patrickglennon

NINJA TEAM GO!! Where did you guys come up with that name?
It was a mistake actually. Our drummer Ti thought it was a line in one of our first songs, “Calling Orion.”  It was not, yet it stuck.

NINJA TEAM GO! How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
Oh, that’s easy.  Post-ProgressiveAlternativeSpaceHardcoreMetalShoegazeGrungeAmbientNewWave-Rock.

NINJA TEAM GO! What’s your writing process like?
Democratically.  No one gets away with sole ownership here.  Usually the frame of a song is constructed on guitar, and the rest of the instruments hang on that frame—then twist it, bend it, stretch it, make love to it, give it a name and warn it about the evil world outside the house.

NINJA TEAM GO! Where do you see (DAMN) THIS DESERT AIR in the future?
iPods across the globe.

NINJA TEAM GO! You guys are featured on the FAILURE tribute album how’d that come about?
Specifically, we saw a post about it on thePRP.com and contacted the label (Pop Up Records) about it, not realizing the comp was already underway and just about full of approved bands already.  Fate was on our side though, as if I’m remembering correctly, a band just dropped or was let go a day or two prior to us getting in touch. Larry Suglio over there at Pop Up heard our material and had very high compliments, leading to our immediate acceptance.  We couldn’t have been more stoked.  Failure was a big influence for most of us.

NINJA TEAM GO! You guys have been playing around the East Coast any plans to come to the West Coast yet?
Would love to.  Nothing in the works.  Make us an offer and we’re there.

NINJA TEAM GO! Is there anything worth mentioning or you would like to get across?
Look out for a single off our new EP, Distance Waits, streaming from our website very soon (probably by the time this is posted).   We’re working on details of the EP’s release currently.  We’re also are in the process of finishing up a few new songs and booking more shows on the East Coast.—and hopefully beyond—please get in touch if interested.__  http://www.damnthisdesertair.com ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________
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Interview w/ EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO

JOSH of TEAM NINJA sat down(not really) with STEPHEN from EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO

NINJA TEAM GO! What’s your lineup and who plays what?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO

Stephen Carr - Drums/Vocals/Electronics

Brandon Carr - Guitar/Vocals

Scott Certa - Bass

Steve Radakovich - Guitar

NINJA TEAM GO! How did you meet and start playing together?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO Well, I met my brother brandon when I was born and we hated each other until I could play drums and I realized that he was good at guitar so… we collaborated! Scott and I met in HS when I was 15, me and him used to play in a band together when I was the singer. Then me and my bro started jammin and Scott was the first person I asked to play for us cuz he was the best out of anyone in our school. So that’s the original EAPZ. We formed in ‘04. Steve just recently joined last October.

NINJA TEAM GO! Where did you get your name?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO I came up with the name at my first job ever working at a print shop. I was in charge of putting together the local fair booklets. And all I remember was looking at one page all day long that advertised for the Exotic Animal Petting Zoo.  When it was time to pick a band name, I thought it would be very different to call a band that, stupid and different actually.

NINJA TEAM GO! How would you describe your sound?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO I still dont know what to say for this one, ummmm post-hardcore meets space rock maybe? Yeah, I’ll stick with that.

NINJA TEAM GO! What is your writing process like?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO Our writing process consists of me and brandon arguing about literally everything until we are both 100% happy with our parts. Scott will come in and put down some low end as he does best, then Steve will kinda just play with what we all have until something he does captures my ear.

NINJA TEAM GO! What’s next?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO We figure since we have one more album left to do in our contract we’re going to take our time and write smart and not rush into things kinda like we did with the last one. But we have one finished song right now and im in love with it. It has everything that I wanna hear in a band. Just about 20 more songs left to write.

NINJA TEAM GO! Where do you see EAPZ in the future?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO Well, it would be a dream if we could tour full time and actually survive doing it but we’re not that well known yet and don’t get out much.  But we all have jobs and a house to pay for, so the band is part time as of now and we plan on just being gone every weekend like doing little weekend tours around the east coast and southern states since they’re close.

NINJA TEAM GO! West coast tour, please?

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO Yea, we really need to go to the west coast again. It’s way better out there than it is here. Kids actually come out to see us when we play the west coast instead of being at home when people dont. Haha! I just need to get this booking thing down to an art and when I know I can do it awesome, we plan to be gone a lot to the west coast… I wanna relocate there anyways.

NINJA TEAM GO! Tell us about the new material.

EXOTIC ANIMAL PETTING ZOO An album is being made that will actually give you chills, make you angry, make you wanna drink, and make you wanna smoke down… C’mon who wouldn’t wanna hear something like that?

Click pic to buy their merch!!!

Interview w/ MACHINE ARMS

Josh from Team Ninja sat down(not really) with Kevin of Pa’s MACHINE ARMS

NINJA TEAM GO! What’s the current line up and who plays what?

MACHINE ARMS The current line-up is myself, Kevin Jacobs on vocals, Brian Gildea on guitar, Jason (original name) Smith on drums, and Jim Conlin on bass. 

NINJA TEAM GO! Where did you meet and how long have you been playing together?

MACHINE ARMS We all sort of knew each other through our various other projects. Jon actually asked me to come try out on vocals, it was more of a straight hardcore band at that point. Then we sat down an decided we wanted to go back to what got us excited about heavy music. Bands like, Coalesce, Botch, Breather Resist. The heavyweights that it seems time has nearly forgotten. No gimmicks. No fluorescent t-shirts, no flat irons.



NINJA TEAM GO! How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

MACHINE ARMS Experimental/Progressive/Mathcore. Like I said, think Botch, Coalesce, Breather Resist, The Chariot, Glassjaw, Dillinger Escape Plan. All huge influences on us.


NINJA TEAM GO! What’s your writing process like?

MACHINE ARMS We usually make ridiculous mouth noises to show what we mean for a drum or guitar part, and then yell and scream until we hate each other. Then we usually have a new song. It’s a beautiful process.



NINJA TEAM GO! Where do you see MACHINE ARMS in the future?

MACHINE ARMS In the near future, I see us pulling our hair out over new material, then hopefully our first proper tour. It’s hard to get something like that together for us. We’re too hardcore for a lot of metal kids, too metal for some hardcore kids. We just make loud aggressive musis that isn’t the cookie cutter nonsense we’ve been ruthlessly subjected to for the past couple of years. I also see us drunk and broke, real far from home at some point.


NINJA TEAM GO! You currently have a new ep. How and when can we get our hands on it?

MACHINE ARMS The EP was originally going to get pressed and sold. But who are we kidding? No one knew us. So we figured we’d just put the whole thing up for stream, and give it a way for free. We had a couple shows booked as “free EP with admission price” which got a lot of copies out. If people want to get a hold of it, I say just message uswww.myspace.com/machinearmspa or email machinearms@gmail.com with your full name and mailing address, and we will get you one as soon as possible. 

NINJA TEAM GO! Any idea when your getting back into the studio to record that new material?

MACHINE ARMS As soon as we get some more material down. We are working on some stuff, and have 2 new songs done, and are nearly through a 3rd. We want to get back in there as soon as possible, the new stuff way surpasses our first EP hands down. So as soon we play this show, we’re going underground for a while (literally) to get prepared for the next release.

NINJA TEAM GO! Any plans for a full tour yet?

MACHINE ARMS Nothing official, we definetly plan on it soon. We have other things to get in order before we start that self-destructive pattern known as touring. Our live show is what we’re built on though. It’s hard to capture our live intensity on record. If not by the end of this year, early 2010 we will be on the road.


NINJA TEAM GO! Is there anything worth mentioning or would like to get across?

MACHINE ARMS We have no gimmick. We don’t want you to think a certain way, dress a certain way, or be a certain way. We make music we like and don’t compromise that for anything or anyone. There’s a mistake that seems to be made over and over by bands, and that’s prostitution. It may sound cliche, but unfortunately this statement ends up being a lie in most bands cases, but we don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. We love what we do.

And one last thing, we want to thank you guys for showing interest in us and trying to help spread the word about our music. It’s always great to see people selflessly trying to help the music scene. Instead of the usual trying to help themselves in the music scene. Keep doing what you’re doing guys. Love Kevin, and the rest of Machine Arms.

Interview w/ I AM THE OCEAN

Josh from Team Ninja sat down(not really) with I AM THE OCEAN.

NINJA TEAM GO! Who are the members and who plays what?

I AM THE OCEAN We’ve had 3 different guitarist and we’re on our second singer. But all the previous members still have involvement with the band here and there. Also everyone in the band and who’s been in the band are part of the same family and extended family of friends. But to answer the question Dreu Hudson sings, Adam Virostko and Zach Hutchings play guitar, Taylor Orton plays drums and Jeremy Conder plays bass. We’re fortunate to be joined on tour with the beautiful Scribble Jackson.

NINJA TEAM GO! You stole Zach Hutchings(aka Binks) from FEAR BEFORE! How did that happen?

I AM THE OCEAN Last fall we did a 7 week tour with FEAR BEFORE. While we were on the tour we plotted that Binks would be ours at any cost. We drugged and brainwashed him! The hypnosis was triggered while we were recording in Portland where Zach is from and was at the time. The trigger? Oh Don Piano.

NINJA TEAM GO! How would you describe your music style if you had to explain to someone that didn’t know?

I AM THE OCEAN We’re a pretty diverse and heavy rock band. Quite a bit of melody and quite a bit of jammin.

NINJA TEAM GO! Where does your inspiration come from?

I AM THE OCEAN We like lots and lots and lots of bands, books, movies, and foods. Also lots of beers and lots of herbs.

NINJA TEAM GO! Can you describe what your writing process is like?

I AM THE OCEAN Someone (usually one of the guitarist) has a riff idea that gets jammed and played with. Eventually it develops on it’s own and is added upon. A part becomes parts. As the song develops we try to demo it and figure how we can improve it and what’s working and not working within it. Also lots of beers and grinch involved in this.

NINJA TEAM GO! I know you guys are going to release a new record. Any idea of the official release date?

I AM THE OCEAN The record is called “YOURS” and it’s looking like August for release.

NINJA TEAM GO! You are currently on tour. Any idea when the west coast tour will start?

I AM THE OCEAN We plan to hit the west coast as the record releases. We’ll be touring like mad from that point on. Did you know that a Six Flags season pass is only 70 dollars and is valid at any Six Flags location in the United States as well as Canada and Mexico? That’s one hell of a deal, especially if you travel the country!

NINJA TEAM GO! Where do you see I AM THE OCEAN in the future?

I AM THE OCEAN Hopefully we get to do this for a good while. Hopefully we get to meet and hang with even more awesome friends.

Interview w/ LOOM

Josh from Team Ninja sat down(not really) with John from LOOM, hailing from Salt Lake City.

NINJA TEAM GO! What is the current lineup and who plays what?

LOOM The current line up is Kim Pack on violin and some vocals, Mike Cundick(Dork) plays guitar and does vocals, John Finnegan(me) plays the bass, Jarom Bischoff on drums and vocals, and last but not least, Josh Devenport on main vocals. And he’s the wizard behind the light board!


NINJA TEAM GO! How did you guys meet and for how long have you been playing together?

LOOM I’ve known Dork and Josh for awhile just through different bands. LOOM has been together for about 3 years though.


NINJA TEAM GO! How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?

LOOM I usually just tell people that were loud and we will rock you!!!




NINJA TEAM GO! Where do you get your inspiration from?*

LOOM Beer and weed!


NINJA TEAM GO! What is your writing process like?*

LOOM Beer, weed and RA-CHA!


NINJA TEAM GO! You are currently on tour. Any idea when the west coast tour will start?

LOOM We will be back on the west coast in june! Check our myspace for dates. (mysace.com/loom801)


NINJA TEAM GO! You were touring with I am the Ocean. How did that go?

LOOM It went great! All the shows were really good. Those guys are our best friends so it was a constant party. RA-CHA!



NINJA TEAM GO! Where do you see Loom in the Future?

LOOM Later on, I see us being in the future!


NINJA TEAM GO! Is There anything worth mentioning that you would like to get across?

LOOM Yeah, we’re really really high!



LOOM P.S. Here are some alternate answers.

We don’t actually get any inspiration from beer or weed. John was just hella stoned when he wrote them(answers). Most of our songs are just about us being in a band. We get inspiration from the road, our friends, our love for music, and having a good time.

Writing a song takes us too long. I’m sure we do it the same as every other band. One of us comes up with a riff, we all give our input whenever we feel like it, and we build from there. Then we go back through the song and try to find some transitions that work. Sometimes, we have those nights where everything comes together and we pump out a song, but it’s rare.   -LOOM

Interview w/ THE WILDERNESS

Josh from Team Ninja sat down(not really) with Chad from THE WILDERNESS out of the SLC.

NINJA TEAM GO! So, what is the current line up and who plays what?

THE WILDERNESS Chad Pinckney (Vocals), Zach Anderson (Guitar), Dan Bump (Guitar), Tyler Osbourne (Drums)and we recently got a brand new bass player named Walt Hill from a band called Deadlip. Before that we had a bass player named Aaron Sniff and he did a tour with us in March.

NINJA TEAM GO! How long have you been together and where did you all meet?

THE WILDERNESS Zach and Dan have been friends and playing music together for 10 years. They had a bunch of instrumental recordings of what would later become The Meadows(recently shortened to Meadows then changed to THE WILDERNESS, due to copyright issues.) Tyler and myself were playing in another band together and Zach found our other band on the internet and was diggin’ it. He sent me some Meadows demo tracks and I really liked what he was doing so I recorded vocals over a couple songs and eventually Me and Tyler joined Meadows full time.

NINJA TEAM GO! How would you describe your sound if you had to describe it to someone who has never heard you?

THE WILDERNESS We’ve got our license to Rock and a permit to Roll.

Interview w/ Neon Navajo

Josh from Team Ninja sat down(not really) with Earl from LA based alt-electronic thrashers NEON NAVAJO.

NINJA TEAM GO!  Who are the band members and who does what?

NEON NAVAJO Miller on Keys, Rhett on Skinz, Earl(me) on the bottom end. We all do vocals.

NINJA TEAM GO!  Where and when did you guys meet and where did you begin practicing?

NEON NAVAJO I first met Rhett at a party in the valley. He was super drunk and i never wanted to see him again. After hanging out a few more times i felt bad for him and started sticking up for him when people were making fun of him. Don’t fuck with the boy, i love him. I first heard about Miller from some of our mutual ex-girlfriends. When i played a Foo Fighters song on an acoustic, it reminded her of him haha. I first saw him at a Cattle Decapitation show in canoga park. Rhett asked me to join the band at a Dragonforce show, and i said: “Maybe?”. After listening to some songs on Myspace, i was in like Quinn.

NINJA TEAM GO!  How would you describe your music style?

NEON NAVAJO Fucking spiritual. Reminders of bad mushroom trips in the woods. Flashbacks and Deja vu. Space?

NINJA TEAM GO!  What is your writing process like?

NEON NAVAJO I put in as much input as i can, sometimes writing shaping lyrics. I always write my own basslines, but i don’t mind direction because i kinda feel my way around it. Miller writes most of the songs alone at home, which i respect, and he’s yet to put a song together that i don’t like :)

NINJA TEAM GO!  Where do you get your inspiration from?

NEON NAVAJO My inspirations are too broad to list. To put it shortly, my inspiration comes from relations, not as in intercourse, but relations between objects, situations, people, the world, etc.

NINJA TEAM GO!  Where is Neon Navajo going? Where do you see yourselves in the future?

NEON NAVAJO World domination? On tour with groupies and cash?

NINJA TEAM GO!  Is there anything that needs to be said or deserves mentioning?

NEON NAVAJO Our mommies, daddies, brothers and sisters… and Isabelle.

NINJA TEAM GO!  Are you working on a new record? If so, when do you expect it’s release?

NEON NAVAJO Hopefully a rad seven-inch with weird colors/designs (hatchet or arrowhead shapes please!). Maybe a split with some other crazy fools…