Sugar Stains - Whiskey Tango

Written by Courtney Ludwig on Sunday, 27 March 2011. Posted in Tucson Music Scene

East Tucson, a newly remodeled Whiskey Tango and under new ownership once known as Fenderskirts, has only been open for a few months and is home to sports and great music.  Thursday night was a great example of this by having one of Tucson’s up and coming all female bands, Sugar Stains, show us what they accomplished by filling the room with fun and enjoyment to start the evening.

Erica Rios (Bass), Amy McDaniels (Drums) & Amy Mendoza (Vox) Originally formed an all female Ramones Tribute band, although they have a love for the Ramones, they got bored with the tunes quickly, the band added Holly Dodge (Guitar) after some gypsy left her on there doorstep and poof there became the start of Sugar Stains and their name like there music is sweet yet in your face and reflects all four of their personalities. 

Each of the girls definitely has personality that compliments the band as a whole, with Amy Mendoza dressed like similar to a naughty catholic girls like that of Alicia Silverstone in the Aerosmith video “Crazy”, Holly Dodge a female style like that of Green Day, Erica Rios reminds me a bit of Joan Jett and Amy McDaniels has the surf girl edge to her.

Sugar Stains’ music, all original with the exception of a cover here and there, (then again I think all original bands do that from time to time to keep the crowd’s attention and throw a twist into their set), has amazing feel and vibe similar to that of L7, Civet, The Runaways and a female version of the Ramones.

I not only got the opportunity to watch the show and photograph but I also had the chance to interview these girls and here is what they had to say, keep in mind these girls are not only musicians, wives, mothers or girlfriends but they have a comedic side to them as well.

Courtney Ludwig: When & why did you start playing?

Sugar Stains: Erica: 7 months ago (in a band full of bass players she's our baby), Holly: a Tucson music vet, she’s been playing in punk bands for years, Amy McDaniels: Amy’s a musical vet from So Cal, she’s been playing covers and original music for years, Amy Mendoza: Also a musical vet from Cal, been playing since the age of 18 in cover and original projects.
 

Courtney Ludwig: Which famous musicians do you admire & have you learned from?

Sugar Stains: Erica: Um as far as a musician, I just started playing the bass about 7 months ago, so I really don’t have a favorite bassist yet, But I do enjoy, Geddy Lee (Rush), and the bassist from sublime.

Amy Mendoza: Geezer Butler, Mike Watt, Kim Gordon, Dylan, L7, absolutely love Black Sabbath…my first rock album was given to me at age 10…. "We sold our soul for rock n’roll"
 

Courtney Ludwig: Being that you perform in public, describe those occasions

Sugar Stains: We just launched our gig schedule, but from our experience we tend to surprise people. Most folks expect some bohemia barefoot cutesy docile acoustic chick show, and are usually surprised when they realize we can actually play our instruments. We also like whips, and cookies and shit

Courtney Ludwig: Where have you played?  Do you have any upcoming shows?

Sugar Stains: We recently started playing out; we spent a ton of time solidifying our original tunes to make sure we weren’t rushing out to randomly play half-assed at shows. We have some gigs set up at ECLIPSE: 4/16 with Pork Torta and The Fisters, also 6/4 we are playing at the Rock opening for Daisy of Love alum ‘Daisy’ with her band Beautiful Disaster, definitely a show to not miss.

Courtney Ludwig: How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

Sugar Stains: We pretty much point at each other and laugh really hard. Then at practice we talk about it over and over again. We also film it and obsessively replay missed notes, out of tune guitars, wrong beats and off key singing.

Courtney Ludwig: How often & for how long do you practice?

Sugar Stains: We practice once a week for a few hours. Hard to find time, some of our members are involved with other projects and life in general.

Courtney Ludwig: What advice do you have for those that want to start a band?

Sugar Stains: Do it, don’t think about it, don’t talk about it, do it....

If you missed this show for sure you need to go to their next one, check these girls out and like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Sugar-Stains/164822913544646, on Reverbnation:http://www.reverbnation.com/SugarStains or in person.

The Danger James Project

Written by Courtney Ludwig on Wednesday, 23 March 2011. Posted in Tucson Music Scene

Growing up with famous parents who met while in a band themselves that toured the world, Jordan & Josh Phillips learned a lot about music and being musicians, also growing up with Jimmy Greenspoon (Keyboardist for Three Dog Night) and listening to the sounds of Paul Simon, as kids they would listen to Paul's Tapes and sing along with his music.

Jordan, the singer in the band considers himself to be a Slam Poet/Storyteller that tells of real life in his words. The band, The Danger James Project, is not a cover band trying to cover anyones style, yet trying to make a mark in the crowds of either 2 people or 200 hundred people.  The band focuses more on their words rather than promotion and merchandising.  They are real musicians playing real music that comes from within.  Continuing to evolve, they are, as a team, always looking to change and make their music better.

    "People that you would not think would enjoy our music do, because of the strong musicianship we have"

The Danger James Project has only been together for about 8 months with members: Gabe (bass), Jordon (vocals), Josh (Drums) & Chris on guitar, but Jordon, Josh & Chris have been friends for over a decade.  Their music says it all about who they are and where they have come from and the route they are heading down.

Many of their influences include, Rush, Victor Wooten, Getty Lee, Stanley Clark, Andy McKee, Dennis Chambers, Paul Simon, hall & Oats, Cyndi Lauper, Atmosphere, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Chad Sexton, 311, Tim Alexander, Primus, Incubus, Sublime, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, all southern rock & blue grass.

    " Some people get shocked when we play the music we do considering who our influences are" ~ Josh Phillips (drummer - The Danger James Project)

The Danger James Project is very selective on where they play there music, knowing that as musicians they have to pay there dues, they are really trying to make a name for themselves rather than just being yet another band in Tucson as there are already so many. Like the music they play there shows are also very different each time, they are not structured and may call out songs they will play at one show and the next may have some spoken poetry in between or the band may do a cover although still keeping it original.

    "We are a musicians band, and musicians enjoy coming out and enjoy listening to us" ~ Gabe (bass player, The Danger James Project)

Jordan writes a lot of the music and the band will take the words and tweak them to fit each and all of their styles as a group.

I had a great time listening to this band and all they offered, they have a following and people really enjoyed the show, I think as a band rather than an individual doing all of the work they have something really special, very different to those rappers of today where the beat they a rapping to is all electronic and the words they speak are very generic and repetitive.

The next show for The Danger James Project will be the 420 Festival being held at The Hut on April 20th, 2011 from 6:30-9:30pm, you can also check them out on Reverbnation:http://www.reverbnation.com/danjorjames