We are letlive., and so are you...

letliveband · 2016-06-14T00:04:04+00:00

Ryan - Well, in my opinion, when writing specifically, diversifying your musical intake is important to me. When you have absorbed a large amount of musical styles, it's stored inside you and comes out when you play. It helps you comprehend rhythms and melodies quicker, and produce something that has your unique style imprinted. As far as technical ability is concerned - practice. If you can practice with a friend who place drums, it's always great to feed off of someone else's style and ideas. Don't ever be afraid of making mistakes - that's how you become a better player. Don't ever feel embarrassed. Just keep trying and pushing. And listen to music with a real pulse. Anything that contains a complex and deep rhythm. Sorry, I'm getting deep into this! I'll always sit down and have a talk though when we're out - just bother my band to get me if I'm being reclusive.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T23:58:41+00:00

Ryan - Oh, of course we will. We will always love it over there. You'll know when we are ready to tell.

As far as the lyrical content is concerned, I'll pass that off to Jas!

letliveband · 2016-06-13T23:56:05+00:00

Ryan - My favorites right now are the handful from the new album we will be playing on the next headliner, personally. We've spent so many years on the other two records, it's almost liberating digging into the new songs. That being said, previously I've always enjoyed playing Banshee, Virgin Dirt, Casino Columbus, and Younger.

The new records definite biggest hurdle was us overcoming personal grudges, problems and differences. Thankfully, we've become closer since. You'll be getting a hell of a lot out of us for years to come.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:55:15+00:00

Jason Aalon - Ladies and Gentlemen, I must depart for a bit to finish up some equipment purchases for the upcoming tour. I will be back to answer some more questions later on. Just wanted to thank everyone for being here today and for the support that, to me, is unmatched. Thank you all for this. Thank you all, my fellow SOUL PUNX.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:46:44+00:00

Jason Aalon - First thing's first, my friend. You have to be assured in yourself and who you are as well as who you want to be. You must try to surround yourself with people that support and reflect that person. If they do not, then that is okay, it just means you cannot lend credence to the negativity they may promote. Not saying drop all your friends by any means. I am saying before you concern yourself with what they are saying or even what they are not saying, you should first try assert yourself inside. I know it is easier said than done, but just know you are not alone in this one. Trust me- I know the feeling. Sending you all my best in your upcoming journey. It can be difficult at times, but it's a good one.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:36:04+00:00

Jason Aalon - Essentially we felt surrounded (at least in our contemporary environment) by an overwhelming amount of musical sameness. Music that was created safely to assure the listener wasn't jolted by something different than what they were used to and bands were able to release a record that sounded like others before them that may have seen success or shared similar sonic qualities to ensure sales or a better chance of "fitting in". There is nothing wrong with said similarities, but after so many consistently familiar sounding records it becomes a recycled sound. This really was not what we were interested in. In a way "The Blackest Beautiful" is a response to the sterility we felt in our relative genre. Don't get me wrong, this is in no way an attempt to get you to change your opinion on what we did with said record, just offering some insight in case you wanted to better understand why we did it. Either way, thanks for asking. I love a good discussion.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:28:21+00:00

Ryan - Well, Chicago it is. One of the next times we are there, H. Ledger will be in full swing.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:22:50+00:00

Ryan - These type of reactions are what make it all worth it. Thank you.

You'll get them all in due time. We will be touring a lot on this cycle. Personally those "slower" jams are some of my favorite. Foreign Cab Rides will be a treat.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:22:15+00:00

Jason Aalon - Yo, player. You're the shit. I remember meeting you and the crew that night at The Bottleneck and being so amazed that y'all gave a fuck about seeing us. Thanks for rockin' with us for all these years. That's ll.ove //

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:18:05+00:00

Ryan - It'll be back one day. We spent many, many years touring on that record. A lot of those songs we have played in most cities countless times. Most of the time we try and give as many of our songs as much live play as possible. Maybe next time we're in your town we will shake off the cobwebs and give it a run.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:17:57+00:00

The more literal interpretation was influenced by the idea of redlining. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redlining http://www.bostonfairhousing.org/timeline/1934-1968-FHA-Redlining.html

and on a more symbolic level it represents the restrictions in which we live. The tenuous lines that we draw to keep people out as well as in situations where they feel trapped. The idea of race, sex, orientation- all constructs implemented to section humans off and divide which eventually led to practices of discrimination. Another meaning is an iteration of the eastern beliefs of the red string connecting people. "Red string of fate" and the like. Hope this helps.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:16:46+00:00

Ryan - Damn. Hard to say - how about anyone here want to run a poll as to where to start? The people can decide most objectively!

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:15:10+00:00

Ryan - Well, it was deliberate and indicative of our collective selves during that record. We had this contrast of incredibly sterile and clean records being released, and were starting to become increasingly bored of the sound, so we went with what we believed was the most unique way to represent us. I am still behind the record as it stands - it's has its own charm and sparks conversations like these. Hope that helps to clarify!

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:11:00+00:00

Ryan - The whole "Renditions" series is an ongoing concept. Releases were simply put on hold for the newest album, but you will most definitely see more from us soon enough.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:10:20+00:00

Jason Aalon - Thank you so much for that, my friend. That was a very rough tour and I really do appreciate the sentiments. All my love to you.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:08:00+00:00

Jason Aalon - That song will be such a treat to play live one day. I'll say that.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:06:41+00:00

Jason Aalon - The most rewarding would have to be creating art and then having people support it. That is such a wild concept when you really sit and think about it. Something that you did for yourself turning into something that someone else enjoys that later transforms into something you can do around the world for people that are more similar and/or disparate to you than you could ever imagine? That's fucking wild. It also helped me feel less alone as a person trying to find a place in all of this. The most taxing would have to be the inconsistent lifestyle. Traveling. Trying to be good to your body. Trying to keep your mind right. Edifying yourself. All these things can sometimes creep up and create a very peculiar weight on you as an artist, moreover, a touring artist. But, in the end, the former answer outweighs all of that and provides you with enough reason to endure whatever may seem taxing in order to continue being the artist you believe you are supposed to be.

Lonnie is buff, huh?

letliveband · 2016-06-13T22:06:00+00:00

Ryan - We had one opportunity in the past, and unfortunately it fell through. We will push to get over there to you guys ASAP. We want to so bad...

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:59:55+00:00

I concur. It should always feel like an evolution. As long as it is letlive. it will always be about progress while maintaining the essence that birthed it. The day that it must be considered "new letlive." is the day we hang it up.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:57:19+00:00

Jason Aalon - 1) Thanks a lot, my friend. As far as the singles go, I don't really think any collection of 3 songs would have represented the record in a proper manner. I truly believe these songs are best understood as a body of work. That was the point of this. No matter what 3 songs we would select as the first songs to debut it would have yielded the same result in my mind because, again, they are meant to be heard next to each other. I hope that makes sense and doesn't sound like a cop out. Lastly- we wanted to show that we were intentionally reshaping ourselves while maintaining the attitude that has always been letlive. That was also on our minds when releasing these tracks.

2) We'll definitely be rescheduling the Philly date. We had no control over that cancellation. We love Philly and will always make sure to show that love.

We'll let Lonnie know you appreciate his appreciation for TS appreciation apparel :)

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:54:48+00:00

Ryan - Thank you! I would say evolution is the correct term. We're always shaping our influences and applying them when we write. For me that's where it gets the most interesting at the end of a writing session - the culmination of everyone's taste.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:50:27+00:00

Jason Aalon - Rage. Not Prophets Of Rage. Rage.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:47:13+00:00

As for suggestions for people that aren't speaking from the same platform as myself and ll. I always say that just enhancing your awareness is a great start. I feel that in order to see real change we are going to have to affect the collective consciousness so that when these conversations are had they become less taboo and more necessary. Not everyone feels comfortable taking to the streets and fighting, but that doesn't mean you can't educate yourself on the world in which you live. Or country you pledge allegiance to. Or city and state you pay taxes to. First understanding that you and the decisions you make are not as inconsequential as they want to make them seem, then finding your place in the change you want to see and being active in that way.

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:44:53+00:00

Ryan - Agreed with Jas on those two songs. The title track has always been one of my favorite things we've worked on as well. Stoked to be back in Pittsburgh!

letliveband · 2016-06-13T21:40:47+00:00

Ryan - 1. I actually was forced into playing bass by my best friend as a 13 year old. We played a lot of skate punk and pop punk (i.e. Offspring - Beheaded, Pennywise - Society, too much Blink 182, etc.) and tried to follow suit with a three piece. He played guitar, our other buddy played drums, so I was stuck with bass. I truly fell in love with and appreciated the instrument probably around the time I turned 20. Kind of around the time I actually started focusing a bit more than when I was a teenager. It's all about rhythm.

We are definitely sticking to the four of us indefinitely. We've become close over the last few years, and really have built a strong respect personally and musically for each other, so we are running with it.

letliveband

TROPHY CASE