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+++ Oktober +++ |
By: Savanna Carel
Oktober isn't the normal cookie-cutter punk rock you hear today. In fact, they're not the typical punk rock you hear any day. With vicious guitar riffs and searing vocals to match, Oktober's sound is definitely one to devour. This punk four-piece has a refreshing sound that you wont hear anywhere else. But the road they've gone down to get where they are today wasn't exactly the easiest. They've worked hard to get where they are today, and appreciation is one thing these guys live by.
Members Jason Marino on lead Vocals and rhythm guitar, Johnny Lincoln on the drums, Justin Stewart on lead guitar, and the newly acquired Chris Wagner on bass; capture the energy of true rock & roll. Their live shows are packed with constant energy on stage as they rip through every song with steady perfection. Even Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game' sounds better when these guys cover it!
After forming the band in 2001, Oktober immediately hit the public's eye, playing live shows in and around Arizona, wowing the crowd with their original sound. In October of 2002, they released their EP, "Wasted Summer" and earned some air play on radio stations in Arizona, California, and Texas. Over the past two years Oktober has played over 130 shows for thousands of fans in venues all over the southwestern United States. This past summer, they shared the stage with the likes of Sum 41, The Used, Bad Religion, and Pennywise to name a few when they played the well known Vans Warped Tour during the Phoenix stop, and also graced the stage at EdgeFest, a local music festival in Arizona featuring over 30 top national bands.
Sometime in January, Oktober will be hitting the studio again to finish recording their demos for labels that have sparked some interest in the band. Their version of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" will be hitting radio stations sometime in spring, and the band is hoping for a 2004 release of their new album, hopefully with the backing of a major label, but no date has been set as of yet.
If I cant convince you all to listen to this band, then go convince yourselves, and listen to Oktober. If you're in Arizona, go to a show... you wont be disappointed. If you're not in AZ, go to oktoberonline.com and check out the music section for a sample of "Wicked Game", or maybe even purchase your own copy of 'Wasted Summer'. And be sure to be on the lookout for Oktober in a town near you.
The Media Fix: What would you say your favorite thing about being a member of Oktober is?
The Media Fix: What are your aspirations for Oktober -are you satisfied with being a local band, and out of the mainstream, or are you looking into a bigger label and to conquer the music scene?
The Media Fix: You guys seem to be very down to earth. What is it that keeps you guys so well grounded?
The Media Fix: What do you guys want people to walk away with, after seeing you perform?
The Media Fix: Which of the bands do you most enjoy sharing the stage with and whom would you most like to perform with, in the future?
Click here to visit their official site for more info, tour dates, music, etc
Jason: For me, it's a release, a way to share my personal life in an artistic way with others. It's therapeutic.
Johnny: I love just being able to rock. Getting on stage and playing my heart out and having people appreciate it, that is the best feeling in the world.
Justin: I would have to say that my favorite thing about being part of being the band would be Johnny's hairy chest, and trips to La Tolteca for $.99 Coronas before practice. But seriously, it's all about being part of a band that's serious enough to where we can really make some great music, but at the same time, everyone is laid back enough so that we can chill and hang with each other and just have fun.
Bighead (Chris): All the sexy men! I've never been in a band with so many hot dudes...
Jason: Well, it's good to be able to play locally, and if that's as far as it ever goes, I am okay with that. But my aspirations are for us to take it as far as we can. If that means major label success, so be it. Would you rather sit at a desk, pump gas or play rock n roll for a living?
Johnny: Oktober is four guys coming together that absolutely love to play music. Bottom Line. That's it. We love to do it. We love playing shows, recording, touring and practicing. If I had an opportunity to play for a lot more people and reach out to more fans I would definately jump on it.
Justin: I honestly believe it's all about concentrating on where you are in the moment. I like to be in the moment and act on that. Right now, I am really satisfied with what we are doing, but I believe we have great potential for much bigger things.
Bighead(Chris): I agree with you guys...If we are a local band forever then so be it...we'll be the best local band in town and we'll love every moment of it...but if we get picked up...come on!...thats like every bands dream!
Jason: It's all a façade. Kidding. We know that what we are able to do musically is a gift. We are lucky to have the talent to make this form of art. Keeping it in your head that this is a privilege, not something owed to us, that is what does it for me.
Johnny: We're just guys in a band. We've had success, but nothing to freak out about. I think we'll alwats be the same guys no matter what happens. Just four guys coming together to play music, and loving every minute of it.
Justin: The fact that we all earned our place here and that we never had it handed to us, we worked hard for it, so you appreciate something when you earn it. And I think that is really important and something we all respect about each other and it reflects in our personalities.
Bighead (Chris): I think it's just our personalities...no one acts that way on purpose...and plus I think we would rather have people say, "Hey Oktober kicks ass"...instead of, "I heard those guys were a bunch of dicks!"
Jason: Multiple orgasms...but that hasn't happened yet. Seriously though, I want people to walk away knowing that we just gave them everything we had of ourselves. I want them to appreciate the fact that we worked hard to entertain them. If they take something away from it that is more on an emotional level, all the better. Those songs that we write are pure emotion and truth.
Johnny: I want people to feel like they just had their faces blown off! Just kidding, wait actually i kinda want to blow people away. I know we are capable. We go onstage and give them everything we have for 30 minutes to an hour, and i really want them to appreciate it!
Justin: I guess I just want them to feel that their time was well spent. I really want them to have enjoyed it and fell that they got something out of it. If nothing else they had a good time and heard some good music.
Bighead (Chris): Probably just, wow! "They totally rock...I would love to see them again... and have their babies...
Jason: That is a tough one. We have had a blast with so many bands, each one for a different reason. Authority Zero, we can't say enough about them. They have been strong supporters of what we are doing, and we owe many thanks to them. They are great to play with, but difficult all the same. Their fans are very much "their fans," so they just want you to get out of the way and let Authority hit the stage. HAHA. My favorite band isn't local though...Death On Wednesday (Orange County, CA) was my favorite to play with, because they made me push harder to be better on stage. They were so good that you just had to step it up a notch if you wanted to share the stage with them. They broke up in November though, RIP.
Johnny: I would definately have to agree with J and say Authority and DOW. Those guys just make me want to play better, harder and faster. Like the intensity goes up, and you just want to prove that you can hang and that you belong. I also love playing with 2 Dimes and Point 9 Percent. My roomate plays in Point 9 and when we play together we totally feed off of each other. It's almost like we put on a special show for each other...ha, that sounds kinda gay. But seriously, we do things that other people wouldnt notice that we freak out about. And 2 Dimes, well I just love the guys so it puts a smile on my face. Good Times all around!
Justin: I would have to say I enjoy playing most with Authority Zero because they are all really laid back, but at the same time they take the music real serious, and they fucking rock, so it pushes us to put on a good show. And 2 Dimes, those guys are just a blast to hang out with, back stage, wherever, they are just cool. Just a fun group of guys.
Bighead (Chris): I wish I could've had the joy to share the stage with Authority Zero in the past, but alas I have never...BUT! I have rocked with several other bands and two come to mind! Two bands from California called LimitPoint and Never Heard Of It...in my opinion they're the biggest unsigned bands right now...just awesome! LimitPoint taught me to utilize the entire stage to rock out on...and i'm talkin' EVERYTHING to rock out on!
Jason: He really means EVERYTHING. HAHA.
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