Chapel Of Thieves: Where Everyday Should Be Halloween

Los Angeles and Orange County, California. What comes to mind? Sunshine, bikinis, beaches? For the band Chapel Of Thieves, it means dark, brooding lyrics that are written best when raining. "Ryan, our bass player, and I write most of our material when it's dark or raining. We can't write when it's sunny outside. I vacationed in Cabo last summer and I took a journal and thought that I was going to get some writing done. It was over 100 degrees everyday and I couldn't write," said lead singer Elysia.

The band released their cd "Haunted Hearts" in 2007 and their sound at times is very dark and melodic with lyrics that may have you doing a double take. Songs such as "Swamp" and "Haunted Hearts" are dark and sometimes creepy but at the same time very gripping. "It's hard to pinpoint our sound. We don't want to sound exactly like anyone and I don't think that we do. I can hear a little Siousxsie and the Banshees in us. Lyrically, we are inspired by artists such as the Smith and Morrisey, the Cure, Joy Division and alot of stuff that was coming out of Manchester during that era. Ryan and I are huge AFI fans and also Interpool. I think because of that, our earlier writings had more of a punk edge and feel to them," said Elysia.

My first listen to the brought to mind several things. Their drummer Woody provides an amazing back beat that is evident throughout every song. He is ferocious! Elysia's vocals are eerily similar to Kate Pierson of the B-52s, almost to the point that I had to ask her is they were related! She told me that her vocals have also been compared to Dolores from the Cranberries. She also provides the keyboards for the group which at times sounds like an eerie organ from a horror movie, but it works with their sound.

So, why the dark lyrics? "Well, Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I just like dark stuff. I love vampires and, I know this will sound weird, but I love stuff about serial killers. I have this strange fascination with all of that. So does Ryan, we have very similar interests," said Elysia.

What does the future hold on store for this young band? "We are in the beginning stages of writing and getting ready for our new cd. I'm going to say maybe in April or May is should be ready. We want to do it ourselves. We have had some interests from some labels, but we want to do this on our own. We want to incorporate more vocal patterns and harmonies into this new cd. We're all really into Tom Waits and we want to add more influences like that to our style," said Elysia.

The band plans on hitting the road and venturing out to the East coast to support their new cd. "It's really the best way to expose people to our music. Nothing beats performing live in front of people and making new fans," said Elysia.

Well, I for one hope that they do make it to the East coast, since I am a residence of Virginia. They are a unique group that stands out in this complacent music industry that has turned into a cash cow and doesn't really look ahead towards the future. The band shows a lot of promise and their determination will set them apart from the rest.

Adriana and Ghost In The Graveyard: The Legend Of The Rocket Queen Revealed

The 80s. It was a decade of excess. Most people tend to dwell upon the bad elements that were left behind by the 80s. True, we had our fair share of bad fashion and bad music, but what decade hasn't? My memories of the 80s are very fond and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Such is the case for a woman whose voice has been somewhat of a mystery for over 20 years.

I am talking about Adriana Smith, a/k/a the Rocket Queen. Adriana is the front person for a new band called Adriana and Ghost In The Graveyard. They are a four member band that hails from California that is dead set on putting the swagger back in rock and roll. I guess I should go ahead and tell you readers the story behind the moniker Rocket Queen that she has. I spoke with Adriana and she explained the story to me.

Well, Adriana was very fortunate to be in LA for the early part of the eighties where the metal scene was unbelievable. There were many upstart bands trying to get their big break and she soon found herself smack dab in the middle of what was soon to become one of the most influential juggernauts of that scene. " I remember walking down Sunset Strip with my friend Adriana Barbour and I would help her look for Duff McKagan who was in Guns and Roses because she had a really big crush on him. I never didn't purposely find my way into all of that. It seemed like everyone we knew back then had a band. I just knew that we were part of something special. I ended up dating Steven Adler who was the drummer of Guns and Roses, " said Adriana.

After an intense night of mixing their historical debut "Appetite For Destruction" and some legendary partying, Axel Rose had the idea to record someone having sex and put it in to the song "Rocket Queen." Well, one thing led to another and Adriana and Axel did the deed. The next morning, when the fine line between reality and a hangover started to settle in, she realized what she had done. She felt awful about what had happened and did not want Steven to find out about it and asked that it be left out of the song, but it was too late. The guys did lower it in the recording but left it a mystery as to who it was for over twenty years.

So, how did the secret see the light of day finally? "Mark Canter got in touch with me and told me he was working on this new book called "Reckless Road: Guns 'N Roses and The Making Of Appetite For Destruction." he was looking for a friend named Pamela who used to dance. Actually, we both used to dance for the band. He suggested that I tell my story and finally gain some closure to it. I was ashamed for what I had done and to this day, I still felt really guilty about it. So, I decided to come clean."

So, Adriana has a new band that she fronts called Adriana and Ghost in The Graveyard, which was named by her daughter. So, what made her venture into music after being around it for all that time? "I actually moved to LA to be a songwriter. I was actually working as a telemarketer a few years ago when I just decided one day that I had had enough. I'm done with this and I want to pursue my dream. It's something that I had always wanted to do, but I got steered in the wrong direction along the way. Doug Tilley, who is our bass player, I met him in a treatment center and he was in this band that played country cover songs. Well, I became the singer of that band and we got paid to do covers but it really wasn't what we wanted to do. Enter a old friend by the name of Dave Wagner and he was our missing link. He played guitar and had his own studio and things just clicked between us. Dave's son Zack is actually our drummer."

So, the band ventured into the studios and recording their first cd entitled "Wars In The Graveyard" which definitely encompasses that edge that seems to be missing in rock today, or as Adriana calls it "It's swagger". One can hear so many influences both lyrically and musically on the cd. who does she site as her musical inspirations? "Well of course Axel has been a major songwriting influence. He is so misunderstood at times. The stuff that he puts to pen and paper is amazing. I listen to so much different stuff that it's hard to name all of my influences. My mom was a dancer and I have been dancing since I was 3, so I have been around so many types of music. There are metal influences such as Guns and Roses and Judas Priest and Zepplin. I listened to alot of goth and draw from Bauhaus and the Cure and Siouxsie and The Banshees, The Cramps and the Cocteau Twins. I also love oldies like Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins. I love Debbie Harry and , oh my god, there's Elton John. I could go on and on."

You cannot help but to be drawn to Adriana's personality. She is very outspoken and she just has this quality that exudes from her. She is a delight and just radiates such a good feeling. True, she has been through alot in her lifetime, but as she says she fell on her face and pulled herself up and decided to get it right. One of the main turning points would have to be the birth of her daughter. "Oh definitely, it just solidified my purpose her on earth. everything with me revolves around her. I feel she came into my life to show me a different path to take. I wouldn't be who I am at this point in my life if it wasn't for her. She believes in me and she supports me."

I ended this amazing talk with Adriana by asking her what cd would she want with her if she was trapped on a desert island. Now, with vast taste in music I thought this may be a tough one for her to pick out, but I was wrong. "Without a doubt, "Houses Of The holy" by Led Zepplin. It just covers all the bases, it's spiritual, it has great harmonies, it has blues, it just has it all."

Our interview had come to an end and I have to admit I was somewhat sad. Adriana has this spirit about her that just rubs off on you when you talk to her. It was so much fun talking to her and she is such an amazing woman. I encourage you to go their MySpace, www.myspace.com/adrianaandghostinthegraveyard, or to the band's website which is www.therocketqueen.com and check out their music. It a brash mix of old school punk and metal with a twist of personality.

M Lazar and September Mourning: Full Senses Overload

Enigma. Webster defines it as an inscrutable or mysterious person, something hard to understand or explain. Such is the case with an artist known as M LaZar. She is a multi-faceted person. She has been modeling professionally since the age of 16. She has done major ads for Draven Shoes, Manic Panic makeup, Samson Audio, Loaded and Sourpuss Clothing and much more. One look at her ads and you cannot help but to be captivated by her stunning beauty. She is delicate, yet still displays a composed attitude throughout her work.

She also is a writer and interviewer. She has her own column in the music industry magazine MUEN as well as columns for Medazzarock.ch and BITPOM.com. She is a music correspondent for Gorilla Wire TV and she has her own show which is entitled Things That Rock. She definitely has gotten her fingers wet in many aspects of the entertainment business.

Then there is the M Lazar that fronts the band September Mourning. There is a beast unleashed on stage. M combines a blinding fury of industrial sound along with sexuality and sometimes growling vocal stylings to presents a barrage to the senses. She and her band present them in a way that is fresh in this somewhat stagnant industry. I spoke with M recently about everything going on in her hectic life.

"Well, the band has just posted a new song on MySpace called "The Bleed" and we are about to go out on the road with Hansel Und Gretyl. Our sound could probably best be described as industrial but with great pop hooks. I like blending sounds together to produce something new. I was always that kid in art class that had to blend all the charcoals together to see what I could form new. I approach music making the same way," said M.

So, with all the modeling going on and the band, what is her main focus right now? "Well, I love modeling and I am at a point in my modeling career where I can actually handpick who I model for. It has to be someone whose causes I support or whose product I use or wear. Right now, everything is about the music. That's my main objective. Modeling is good PR for the band and I will use it to help promote them. My goal is to get our EP out and to bring our music out on the road," said M.

Musically, she draws her inspiration from fellow artists who seem to share her flair for creating very lyrically rich and profound songs. "I'm very influenced by In This Moment, Nine Inch Nails and Glassjaw. I love Killswitch Engage also, they have amazing song hooks. Lyrically, a good song is a good song, but the context needs to be personal. You need to have felt those emotions before you can help the listener truly buy into it."

So, with her foot firmly planted in the modeling industry along with her take no prisoners approach to her band September Mourning, where exactly does she see her endeavors heading? "This is definitely the last time that I am changing bands, I do know that. There is so much potential here and I am working with alot of amazing people both in front and behind he scenes. There are alot of great people who are behind us including a great management team. I'm really excited about what the future holds for us," said M.

I closed the interview by asking m what cd would she want by her side if she was stranded on a desert island? "Wow, I can't pick just one. I can narrow it to two though. It would have to be Jimmy Eats World "Clarity" and Glassjaw's "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence". Both of those are amazing!"

I have to admit that M is a very intelligent young woman is is very headstrong and knows what she wants. Her aggressive nature comes across in her work and her music. Check out her band September Mourning and be on the lookout for their EP which is due out shortly. Check them out and prepare to have your senses stimulated.