This past weekend, Less Than Drake threw on their gear and got ready to rock their first show as the premier Less Than Jake cover band. As part of my attendance to this madness, I took some time to talk to their leader, Jason Wall.

Cut & Sewn: Why did you decide to start a Less Than Jake cover band?
Jason Wall: When I was younger, when it was actually popular in the late 90’s, I was a big fan of ska music. Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Goldfinger; I enjoyed it all. At some point, my friend Jon showed me Hello Rockview and changed my whole opinion on playing music. I started watching Less Than Jake videos, reading interviews, basically imitating everything they did in my junior high and high school bands.

One of the biggest things I respect about the band, however, is their live show.

Confetti, dancing, interactions with the crowd, jokes, costumes…every show was different, fun and done to ENTERTAIN. There are too many bands that record a CD, try to just play their songs and try to create a sort of “ambiance” for the crowd. That sucks.
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This week’s playlist is provided by Goldie Jawn, an up and coming rapper out of Philadelphia. With her name growing every week in Philly, we’re were lucky to get her to talk to us for just a minute.

C&S: Pick 10 musicians that influence your music.
Goldie Jawn: JDilla, Carmen McCrae, Black Milk, Beyonce, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Jay Z, Little Brother, Ella Fitzgerald, Jill Scott.

What’s your worst gig?
My absolutely worst gig was the first time I performed. It was at this community center here in Philly. OMG, it was the summer time and it felt like I was in the middle of the Sahara Desert rocking a leather jumpsuit with 3 pairs of socks and a big wig without water. So hot. My throat was soooo mad at me cuz i did 5 songs! The water provided didnt help but I guess thats what you call paying your dues.

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Melinda Ortner started music from her father’s footsteps, now she’s recording her first full length album, making music videos and being shopped around for a record deal. After comparisons to Fiona Apple, Muse and Alicia Keys, she’s more than on her way. Lee had a chance to talk to her the other day.

C&S: So the first question has to be, how did you get started in music?
Melinda Ortner: Well, my dad was a music teacher and forced me, I was reluctant to play piano. I didn’t want to, but then I did. He made me practice. I couldn’t play with my friends until I practiced, which I’m very grateful for now. And then, I kinda dropped it. I wanted to do acting when I saw the movie My Girl. That was the moment, ‘I want to be an actress.’ Then I got recruited for the choir, because they needed girls. They didn’t know I could sing, I didn’t know I could sing either. So I said ok. And when I tried I and I thought, I’m not bad. And I went from there.

Which do you like more: singing or piano?
I like singing more, but I like doing both at the same time. That’s when I get  to my zone. But I also play a little guitar and I do play the flute. That was my first instrument.

Are you gonna bring any flute into your songs?
Honestly, I don’t think so, but after hearing things by Vampire Weekend, I could bring a whole world of sound to my music. Never know.

What music influences you?
I would say, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington are the two singers that I wanted to sound like. From there, of course, Fiona Apple and Muse were like the obsessions I had in the last two years, where all I listened to was that. I would say I’m really really inspired by classical music and I try to incorporate it into my songs. Aside from that, Radiohead, and other bands that add regular piano stuff with electronica sounds.

Keep reading for more great questions and 2 awesome mp3s. (more…)

Although they formed just six months ago, Graydon is finding its place in LA’s crazy music scene. Packing places like the Hotel Cafe, they’re putting the fans in the seats. They’re about to hit the studio to record their first album, which from what I’ve heard from lead guitar/singer Matt Miller’s solo work, will be nothing short of awesome. He took the time to talk to Cut & Sewn.

Lee Frank: How did you get into music?
Matt Miller: Growing up there was always music around my house. My family is all musical. My dad’s a musician, a guitar player, my sisters all play music, too. I guess to start my career, I was in Italy and I had my guitar with me. Some friends decided we wanted to play at a bar there. I was living there for 5 months studying. We started playing some shows there and it was incredible. We played 3 or 4 shows and by the end of the semester, bars were packed and we played for tons of people. I could just feel it, for the first time that it was something I really wanted to do for my career.

You play the guitar. Do you play any other instruments?
I play piano. And I sing, I guess the voice is an instrument.

Who are your influences?
Like everybody else, The Beatles are a big one. That’s the first band I remember growing. I remember 4th grade, my dad had introduced me to Beatles albums. I remember listening to one with a bunch of friends in my class. We were listening to Magical Mystery Tour and I think as kids that’s a little bit weird, it looks kinda like a kids CD when you look at it. But I told my friends “we gotta listen to it.” And they were making fun of me because it was before they realized who the Beatles were. I knew for the first time in my life, I don’t even care what these people think, this is it, this is the real stuff. Also, I love a lot of old stuff like the Rolling Stones. Nowadays, I love Coldplay and Radiohead. I love bands that do something bigger, they capture something bigger than a couple hits. They have vision past hits on the radio, becoming something more than that.

After the jump the internet, belly dancing, and Little Richard. (more…)

A few days ago, we showed our interest in sMACdown, the upcoming Mac ‘n Cheese competition in Brooklyn. Midge Pingleton wrote us answering some questions we had on our minds about it.

Cut & Sewn: How did you get into food blogging?
Midge Pingleton: I started the food blog when I started culinary school mainly as a way for showing my family back home in Buffalo and friends who might be curious some of the stuff I was learning in school as well as what I was discovering for myself.   It’s funny for me to look back now at my very first blog to see how much more interesting my dishes have become and how my photography has continued to suck all the way throughout.

More questions after the jump. (more…)

The Main Drag hailing from Boston is the latest to talk to Cut & Sewn. Playing a vast variety of instruments, including synthesizers and glockenspiel, they have a sound that many bands wish for. Their last album, Yours As Fast As Mine has earned them Salon’s Best Unsigned Artist as well as reaching #78 on the CMJ top 100. The track A Jagged Gorgeous Winter is being used in Rock Band 2. Enjoy the interview and mp3s at the end, too.

Lee Frank: I’m talking to Matt Boch and Adam Arrigo of The Main Drag. What instruments do you both play?
Matt Boch: Adam and I are both multi-instrumentalists. Most notably we’re the singers in the band, but we both play guitar, keys, bass, xylophone, and I play the trumpet on some songs.
Adam Arrigo: Yea, we’re the front men. We don’t need the other people. Wait, I’m kidding.

How long have you guys been playing music?
I first started taking piano lessons when I was 3 and I’ve played music ever since. Since then, I’ve played rock music.
I’ve been playing guitar since I was 8.

Where did the name “Main Drag” come from?
It could be a lot of things. It could reference the main drag of a town. But maybe someone could interpret it as a Death Cab for Cutie lyric, but that’s not really cool anymore.

So you don’t want them to attribute that to them anymore?
I used to like that band.
No more? You don’t like Narrow Stairs?
No, I really hate it.
We’re indie snobs over here, I guess. The earlier stuff is always better. That’s why we’re not making anymore records.

Who is the heart throb of the band?
Jon Carter.
Oh yea. Absolutely.
He has that cool laid back guitarist vibe. You that manly attractiveness that no one can resist.
He gets really sweaty on stage, too, which I’ve talked to some girls and they found that to be a turn on.

What bands are your influences?
I’d say Broken Social Scene, John Vanderslice.
The Notwist, Neutral Milk Hotel.
Hot Chip, Of Montreal.

What do you think of the current state of the record industry?
It’s a mess. I think that there was some arrogance on the part of the major labels. They thought their continual sales wouldn’t be hampered by new technologies and they were unwilling to flex even late in the game when they saw that the technology was actually changing the industry. As a result, the forecast isn’t great for the record industry as a giant corporatized institution. However, I think the opportunities for the individual musician have never been better. Over the next twenty years, we will see more bands with fanbases and more total number of bands with pockets of fans all over the country. The recording tools have gone from being multi-thousands of dollars just twenty years ago to under $1000 you can make a record that sounds pretty great. Music as an industry is always going to exist and there’ll always be opportunities to have people hear your music and make money by playing live shows, selling merchandise, and selling music. But the current state of the industry as a whole is somewhat depressing. That said, I can point out a huge number of artists that I have respect for that are on major labels that continue to play that game pretty well. I’m a huge fan of the new Lil’ Wayne record. He has his game. There’s money to be made and he’s making it. Obviously, I don’t think the same sort of strategies work with our type of music and we want to be more ad-hoc about the development of our band and fans and push forward. We just aren’t really a perfect fit for a major label given how we sound and what our ethics are like. And indie labels are like ‘you guys are a little too pop, you should talk to the major labels.’ We find ourselves somewhere in between, but we’re finding success in that place.

The interview continues after the jump as well as 3 tasty mp3s.

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Gray, the leader of the Cut & Sewn crew, flipped the Viva La Hova mixtape my way. I like mashups, I like Jay-Z so I was eager to check it out. After hearing it, I started telling my friends and let Mick Boogie know that I liked what he was doing. I asked him some questions, here’s how it went:

Lee: How’d you get into music?

Mick Boogie: I grew up playing instrumentals and finally got into deejaying when I went away to college. Music was always supported and encouraged in my household.

How did you hook up with Terry Urban?

Terry and I were deejaying in the same clubs in Cleveland and became really great friends… so I started involving him in my projects as well. He is a real talent.

How did it work mashing up an album with another person?

Great. We’ve done a lot of work together, so it’s easy. We bounce ideas off of each other, divide up the work, and make classics!

What do you think about Jay-Z starting up a label with Apple?

I think anyone doing anything next level and progressive regarding media is not only exciting, but essential, in these current times.

More with Mick Boogie after the jump. (more…)