Thursday, Sep. 03, 2009
Can You Handle the Truth?
Madeline Haze - photo by Erin King
If you like your rock 'n' roll with a dash of musical progressive sophistication (think Alice in Chains meets Dream Theater), and a hefty dose of anti-new world order conspiracy theories, then The Madeline Haze, a Columbia-based three-piece rock act, may be your ticket. The trio will perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at The Beach Wagon in Myrtle Beach to benefit H.E.L.P (Help Eliminate Lousy Politicians), a local non-profit government reform group, with a focus on rescinding certain local taxes and overturning local anti-motorcycle laws, and ousting those who responsible for them. Also on the bill local rockers The Aftermath, Sean McKenna, and Atlanta-based rock band The Issue. Trevor Tarleton of H.E.L.P. and Michael Knarr, founder of Polygraphradio.net, are both scheduled to speak briefly between bands.
Less than a year old, The Madeleine Haze has been making fast progress among the ranks of original rockers, pulling off impressive out-of-the-gate activity. The band secured manager/booking agent (David Lane, formerly with the Sound Garden), released a decent debut EP "Maxims and Arrows," and has played regularly in the Columbia area and in neighboring states. The band will cross a good part of the U.S. on a mini-tour with 17 shows in September alone on The Madeleine Haze Truth Tour. With stops in Austin, Texas, Chicago, New York and the upper Midwest, the band is doing that which most all young bands dream of - and all since forming nine months ago. How'd they do it?
"We started playing out in December (2008) and things really started taking shape," said TMH guitarist/vocalist Zack Goebbel. "We've been getting a little bit of road experience, too. I had a lot of songs written originally for an acoustic project and then I met up with Ben Carter (drums) and Brian Lamb (bass). Once those guys were added, the music took on a new direction - got harder - and we all shared the same political views and we decided it was time to take them to the masses." While much of the band's material and the tour itself is aimed at exposing alleged government conspiracies (including alleged Sept. 11 cover-ups), and exposing the military-industrial complex, it's not all about the evils of the Feds - sometimes the tour focuses on the evils of local government.
At Sunday's show U.S. government conspiracies will take a back seat to local issues, in particular those of the new biker and bike rally laws instituted in 2008 by the Myrtle Beach City Council.
The band's music covers a wide variety of topics, including the activist material and more typical fare. "A lot of stuff on our first album comes from my struggles and inspiration and my past relationships and experiences," said Goebbel. "Two tracks on our next record come out of a very intense personal experience."
Goebbel wasn't exactly reluctant to discuss his personal political views, but it seemed like he'd rather talk about the music, which, perhaps unfortunately, comes second to what is considered by many to be outrageous, ridiculous and controversial political positions. The band is embarking on the "Truth Tour," which it hopes will spark volunteerism and political activism among its peers - all while promoting various Sept. 11 conspiracies and local and national corruption issues. Behind the youthful idealism and activism lies some very interesting and original material.
"We all have a lot of different [musical] influences," said Goebbel. "Ben pulls from reggae and funk and borderline hip-hop stuff - Sublime, 311. I'm influenced by Alice in Chains, Dream Theater, Rush - the progressive stuff - also the heavy stuff like Pantera. Brian too, he likes Mudvayne and stuff like that - it's a real interesting mix. The greatest compliment we ever got was when somebody said 'you guys sound like The Madeleine Haze.'"
The Beach Wagon is at 906 S. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. Check out The Madeline Haze at www.myspace.com/themadhaze
jade amulet reunion
Having not performed together since 2003, local power pop outfit Jade Amulet, with a nearly original lineup, will reunite for one show only set for 8 p.m. Saturday at The Basement in Myrtle Beach. Also on the bill are The Baboon Brigade, and Gray Click. "We were together for about a year," said Drew Jacobs, bassist and vocalist for the group. Jacobs also performs with S.A.V.A.S., Wicked Gift, The Wicked Awesomes, and Drew Jacobs and the Beard Syndicate. "We never actually broke up - it was more like we dissolved. A couple of the guys moved away, stuff like that. I'd always wanted to revisit [Jade Amulet.] It was a really fun group with good tunes. The reason it has taken so long for a reunion is that most of us never stopped playing with different projects."
Performing with Jacobs is his wife, Ashley Lewis (keys/vocals), Nathan Troutman (King of Prussia, The Envelopes - guitar/vocals), A.J. Rownd (bass) and veteran The Drag drummer, Chris Tucker. Forrest Coleman, now living in San Diego, is the only original member not able to perform at the reunion. "The music is very poppy - the keyboards have always been a focal point," said Jacobs.
The Jade Amulet show is all ages with a $5 cover charged at the door. The Basement at Crazy J's is at 819 Main St., Myrtle Beach.
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