Hey readers!
I had the opportunity to do up an entertaining interview via email with all three members of the band behind the tune "Back in Town", Dystonia, which consists of Jack Daniels aka Smokin Aces on guitar/vox, Chan Man on Bass/Vox, and Bangarang on drums! Check it out!
JGIC: What inspired you to get into music?Smokin' Aces: My pops asked me if I wanted to learn guitar at 10. I said, "Yeahhhh mannn."Bangarang: Simple answer: I love music.Chan Man: A bunch of older guys I used to skateboard with had a band. When I saw that they could play I knew that I could too.
JGIC: How did you start?Smokin' Aces: I wrote a bunch of songs and showed them to a friend who was a drummer and he told me (Chan Man) was awesome, so we decided to run with it. Bangarang: Started with piano lessons when I was in Grade 7, then I started to play on my grandfather's 1930's Gibson acoustic guitar before I knew the history and value of it, and quickly put into retirement. I bought myself a Samic electric guitar and a Yamaha bass, and took guitar lessons for a few years. Once I was in high school, I was one out of 3 students to pass a rhythm test to apply for percussion in the school band. thats when my desire for drums began. i was the lead drummer/percussionist in many school groups and symphonies as well in playing in "blue light on" which was a well known band in mississauga during that era. Chan Man: I really wanted to be in a band in high school and although I only knew how to play guitar I decided I would be the drummer amongst my friends and learned how to somewhat play them off a rental kit.
JGIC: How did you come up with the stage name "Dystonia"? Isn't that a neurological movement disorder?Smokin' Aces: I came up with it years ago, yes it is a disorder, but the names have no relation, and if someone looks us up and finds the disorder, I guess we can call that awareness. hahahahaBangarang: Dystonia was a band before I joined with them, they had a previous, well-known, and respected drummer from the 905 who is best known for playin drums in "Keepin 6". I personally just like the sound of it, rolls of the tongue in a smooth way if you ask me, with what Smokin' Aces said in his response. We are also raising awareness to a disorder not many people have heard of. lol Chan Man Eric came up with the name. When we learned it was a disorder we decided the only way to keep the name was to raise awareness if anyone asks. It's a terrible disorder to have to live and die with and I feel that more people know about it within our own circles because of this exact question. JGIC: What are your top 3 fondest moments being an artist?Smokin' Aces: 1) breaking my guitar last Halloween x3Bangarang: my top 3 moments of being an artist consist of playin with many great and established artists with my previous and current band. playing shows with ill scarlett, the reason and the gorgeous stick out the most. also being part of silverstein's first show ever (this may need to be confirmed) at the kinsmen hall in streetsville was something i'll never forget. Chan Man Number 1: Playing for Keepin 6 at the beating heart festival and seeing all the kids moshing and circle pit. Pretty sure I saw a kid on a bike in the circle pit. Number 2: Playing live for the first time ever at the Masonic Lodge, and realizing how much I loved the adrenaline. Number 3: Recording for the first time and hearing the playback. JGIC: What do you find is the toughest part of being an artist?Smokin' Aces: Dealing with "promoters" and "organizers" who really dont know how to promote or organize events properly.Bangarang: With today's easy access to musicians' music through the internet for free, it's hard for artists to make money for all the hard work and money that they themselves put into getting their music recorded and out there. It basically makes it extremely difficult to make a career out of doing something that we love. Thus, we all have full time jobs aside from our band. lol Chan Man: Getting your music into the ears that matter. Many will listen, but only a certain few will care. All you gotta remember is to have fun. JGIC: Favorite bands?Smokin' Aces: Jadakiss, Biggie Smalls, I The Breather, Susan BoyleBangarang: I have a huge variety of music that I listen to, I'm going to name the ones at the top of my list if I were to make one: NOFX, Nirvana, After the Burial, Parkway Drive, Every Time I Die, Dob, The Fullblast/Jerk Circus/Silverstein, Moneen, Thrice, Underoath, Foo Fighters, RATM, Memphis May Fire, Ten Foot Pole, The Flatliners, Off The Mark/Chasing Mercury, Billy Talent and illScarlett are just to name a few. classic rock artists are obvious, big April Wine fan, Zeppelin, Rush, Queen, The Who, Tom Petty, Thin Lizzy, and also a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. A pinch of hip hop is in there, Mac Miller, Naughty by Nature, Biggie, Tupac, Yelawolf and Classified to name a few. My favourite drummers are Travis Barker, Tony Royster Jr., John Bonham, Andy Lewis, Graham Churchill... again just to name a few. Chan Man: Incubus, Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Nirvana, Belvedere, Metallica.
JGIC: I have seen one too many musicians with jealous girlfriends because the stereotype about musicians is that chicks dig them, so of course, there would be potential for groupies hanging around them. If you are/were in relationships, how would you deal with groupies?Smokin' Aces: I'm oblivious to groupies. Bangarang: It comes with the territory, have had them, it happens. It's nothing new to any band member in a relationship. hahaChan Man: Groupies are just fan friends. Never have I ever had a problem with girlfriends and groupies. And if a girlfriend was ever jealous it's their problem that they're insecure and lack trust and that would become a problem that stems further than just a few little groupies. JGIC: If you could form a “dream tour” with any musicians of your choice, deceased or living, who would you choose?Smokin' Aces: Nirvana, Foos, Dfa, White Stripes. Bangarang: To have a world tour with NOFX, Nirvana, and Motley Crue. That sounds, what do they call it now a days... epic? haha Chan Man: Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, and Sublime. Weird mix but it works. JGIC: Those sound like sweet festival lineups! Any shout outs?Smokin' Aces: My boy Ray Ray in jail, Ray Ray's mom, and Santa Claus for leaving extra coal for my bbq. Bangarang: I want to shout out Chan Man and Smokin' Aces, my bandmates: lets keep on rockin' and get more Dystonia tunes out there. I believe this band has a lot of potential and we could definitely grab attention to music fans if we keep at it. I also want to shout out my previous band mates: Mike, Brad and Alex, as well as my beautiful fiancée, Jacklyn. Chan Man: Shout out to my love, Vania Borges; my roommate, Jay Steffan; my best buds Mike Houston, Nilsson Gonsalves, and the rest of you fucks that came to Bobcaygeon this year, and to all my homies on the dock. You're my best friends on the dock right now. JGIC: Anything else you would like to add?Smokin' Aces: October 25 at Rockpile- Monster Jam 8.
I had the opportunity to do up an entertaining interview via email with all three members of the band behind the tune "Back in Town", Dystonia, which consists of Jack Daniels aka Smokin Aces on guitar/vox, Chan Man on Bass/Vox, and Bangarang on drums! Check it out!
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| Dystonia L-R: Chan Man, Smokin' Aces, Bangarang |
JGIC: How did you start?Smokin' Aces: I wrote a bunch of songs and showed them to a friend who was a drummer and he told me (Chan Man) was awesome, so we decided to run with it. Bangarang: Started with piano lessons when I was in Grade 7, then I started to play on my grandfather's 1930's Gibson acoustic guitar before I knew the history and value of it, and quickly put into retirement. I bought myself a Samic electric guitar and a Yamaha bass, and took guitar lessons for a few years. Once I was in high school, I was one out of 3 students to pass a rhythm test to apply for percussion in the school band. thats when my desire for drums began. i was the lead drummer/percussionist in many school groups and symphonies as well in playing in "blue light on" which was a well known band in mississauga during that era. Chan Man: I really wanted to be in a band in high school and although I only knew how to play guitar I decided I would be the drummer amongst my friends and learned how to somewhat play them off a rental kit.
JGIC: How did you come up with the stage name "Dystonia"? Isn't that a neurological movement disorder?Smokin' Aces: I came up with it years ago, yes it is a disorder, but the names have no relation, and if someone looks us up and finds the disorder, I guess we can call that awareness. hahahahaBangarang: Dystonia was a band before I joined with them, they had a previous, well-known, and respected drummer from the 905 who is best known for playin drums in "Keepin 6". I personally just like the sound of it, rolls of the tongue in a smooth way if you ask me, with what Smokin' Aces said in his response. We are also raising awareness to a disorder not many people have heard of. lol Chan Man Eric came up with the name. When we learned it was a disorder we decided the only way to keep the name was to raise awareness if anyone asks. It's a terrible disorder to have to live and die with and I feel that more people know about it within our own circles because of this exact question. JGIC: What are your top 3 fondest moments being an artist?Smokin' Aces: 1) breaking my guitar last Halloween x3Bangarang: my top 3 moments of being an artist consist of playin with many great and established artists with my previous and current band. playing shows with ill scarlett, the reason and the gorgeous stick out the most. also being part of silverstein's first show ever (this may need to be confirmed) at the kinsmen hall in streetsville was something i'll never forget. Chan Man Number 1: Playing for Keepin 6 at the beating heart festival and seeing all the kids moshing and circle pit. Pretty sure I saw a kid on a bike in the circle pit. Number 2: Playing live for the first time ever at the Masonic Lodge, and realizing how much I loved the adrenaline. Number 3: Recording for the first time and hearing the playback. JGIC: What do you find is the toughest part of being an artist?Smokin' Aces: Dealing with "promoters" and "organizers" who really dont know how to promote or organize events properly.Bangarang: With today's easy access to musicians' music through the internet for free, it's hard for artists to make money for all the hard work and money that they themselves put into getting their music recorded and out there. It basically makes it extremely difficult to make a career out of doing something that we love. Thus, we all have full time jobs aside from our band. lol Chan Man: Getting your music into the ears that matter. Many will listen, but only a certain few will care. All you gotta remember is to have fun. JGIC: Favorite bands?Smokin' Aces: Jadakiss, Biggie Smalls, I The Breather, Susan BoyleBangarang: I have a huge variety of music that I listen to, I'm going to name the ones at the top of my list if I were to make one: NOFX, Nirvana, After the Burial, Parkway Drive, Every Time I Die, Dob, The Fullblast/Jerk Circus/Silverstein, Moneen, Thrice, Underoath, Foo Fighters, RATM, Memphis May Fire, Ten Foot Pole, The Flatliners, Off The Mark/Chasing Mercury, Billy Talent and illScarlett are just to name a few. classic rock artists are obvious, big April Wine fan, Zeppelin, Rush, Queen, The Who, Tom Petty, Thin Lizzy, and also a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. A pinch of hip hop is in there, Mac Miller, Naughty by Nature, Biggie, Tupac, Yelawolf and Classified to name a few. My favourite drummers are Travis Barker, Tony Royster Jr., John Bonham, Andy Lewis, Graham Churchill... again just to name a few. Chan Man: Incubus, Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Nirvana, Belvedere, Metallica.
JGIC: I have seen one too many musicians with jealous girlfriends because the stereotype about musicians is that chicks dig them, so of course, there would be potential for groupies hanging around them. If you are/were in relationships, how would you deal with groupies?Smokin' Aces: I'm oblivious to groupies. Bangarang: It comes with the territory, have had them, it happens. It's nothing new to any band member in a relationship. hahaChan Man: Groupies are just fan friends. Never have I ever had a problem with girlfriends and groupies. And if a girlfriend was ever jealous it's their problem that they're insecure and lack trust and that would become a problem that stems further than just a few little groupies. JGIC: If you could form a “dream tour” with any musicians of your choice, deceased or living, who would you choose?Smokin' Aces: Nirvana, Foos, Dfa, White Stripes. Bangarang: To have a world tour with NOFX, Nirvana, and Motley Crue. That sounds, what do they call it now a days... epic? haha Chan Man: Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, and Sublime. Weird mix but it works. JGIC: Those sound like sweet festival lineups! Any shout outs?Smokin' Aces: My boy Ray Ray in jail, Ray Ray's mom, and Santa Claus for leaving extra coal for my bbq. Bangarang: I want to shout out Chan Man and Smokin' Aces, my bandmates: lets keep on rockin' and get more Dystonia tunes out there. I believe this band has a lot of potential and we could definitely grab attention to music fans if we keep at it. I also want to shout out my previous band mates: Mike, Brad and Alex, as well as my beautiful fiancée, Jacklyn. Chan Man: Shout out to my love, Vania Borges; my roommate, Jay Steffan; my best buds Mike Houston, Nilsson Gonsalves, and the rest of you fucks that came to Bobcaygeon this year, and to all my homies on the dock. You're my best friends on the dock right now. JGIC: Anything else you would like to add?Smokin' Aces: October 25 at Rockpile- Monster Jam 8.
Bangarang: Our next show as of right now will be the "Monster Jam" Hallowe'en party, as Smokin' Aces touched on. Every year, it's a blast and I highly recommend everyone come out. "Peace, love, rock and roll".
Chan Man Check us out on October 25 at the Rockpile for Monster Jam 8!
JGIC: Thanks guys, for taking the time for this interview! Glad I got have the whole band on board!
Tune into Jamsterdam Radio, as I heard from a little birdie Dystonia's new single will be released! Pretty stoked about that!
@JerZGrlinCanada
Tune into Jamsterdam Radio, as I heard from a little birdie Dystonia's new single will be released! Pretty stoked about that!
@JerZGrlinCanada
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