In Your Own Backyard
Words: Megan Leppla

Baron Von Bear – Orlando
Photo: Amber Sanford

What They Sound Like:
As I take in an earful, I close my eyes. I can’t help but feel that their songs sound as if I’ve heard them before as a soundtrack to many familiar happy movies. Their songs certainly put a smile on my face. A more refined version of the band we see now has been working over the past year to assemble a group they are proud of. With three demos and an EP in the works, these guys have been focused on working as a team and learning from one another to produce a polished sound. More recently, the band opened up for Voxtrot in Orlando. I was able to later catch up with them to better understand the inner workings of this band, Baron Von Bear.

In Their Words:
REAX:  Any plans for touring in the near future?
Baron Von Bear: Right now we’re just trying to cover the main peninsula that is Florida. Hopefully late this fall/early winter we can branch out a little further into the Southeast. We’ll play wherever we can!
REAX:  What do you hope to express with your music?
Baron Von Bear: We want our songs to make people happy. We want people to hear our music and want to take walks in forests or ride bikes.

Why You Should Check Them Out:
Another strong and creative indie rock band to take on the Orlando music scene, Baron Von Bear seems to have placed themselves in a conducive environment for rocking and rolling. It appears they love exploring Florida, and have hopes of gaining a few fans and friends in the process.
www.baronvonbear.com

Radio Reset – Tampa
Photo: Megan Leppla

What They Sound Like:
Poppy beats worthy of the MTV mainstream set Radio Reset to a fast pace that is kept steady by their business savvy mentality. These guys know what it takes to be heard, and they aim to deliver. Around for roughly a year, they’ve already done much to be proud of (a music video, an EP released, and a full length on its way). Radio Reset attributes much of their success to their good friend/producer Matt Ericson. When we sat down for an interview the boys were more than eager for the opportunity to be heard.

In Their Words:
REAX:  What kind of a mindset do you get in when you're writing?
Radio Reset:  Recently, I've been trying to play the guitar a bit more and I've been writing about some more personal experiences then I usually do.
REAX:  What are your thoughts about being signed to a major label?
Radio Reset:  I'm very skeptical. We focus more on promoting ourselves. We have a few songs on iTunes. I think it would make the most sense for us to sign to an indie label first.

Why You Should Check Them Out:
Their familiar sound of catchy hooks and bouncy beats can be easily distinguished from other similar sounds by their vocals. Their lead singer, Andrew, has the looks of a baby-faced boy and sings about broken hearts with a voice to match his youthful persona. If you’d like to see them for yourself, Radio Reset has several shows lined up in the Tampa area in the near future.
www.radioreset.com

Weaksauce – Clearwater
Photo: Megan Leppla

What They Sound Like:
A live show to truly rock your socks off, this band is all about having a good time and expressing their love for life on stage. Perhaps this is the cause for their rock steady fan base that keeps coming back for more. I can remember seeing this band over a year ago at a battle of the bands where they took command of their audience and left the crowd compelled by their playful onstage antics and powerful music.

In Their Words:
REAX:  What distinguishes your band from the others around in the local Tampa scene?
Weaksauce:  About the scene, and especially this scene in particular. It’s like where we pride ourselves is our live show. If you’re not playing live, you’re not making new fans.
REAX:  What live shows do you have coming up?
Weaksauce:  This show on July 28th A Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus at the State Theatre, we’re trying to create this… event! It’s a circus! Especially in this scene, no one has really done anything like that. Be there!

Why You Should Check Them Out:
I can’t help but wonder why after six years of catering to the local Clearwater music scene this band has yet to take off. Sadly, it seems ska music has a bit of a glass ceiling. Most people are quick to dismiss it, leaving listeners divided by those who love it and those who hate it. This has kept such music away from mainstream entirely, and perceived as more of an underground scene. The boys of Weaksauce don’t seem to mind, and prefer the quality of their fans versus the quantity.
www.weaksaucetheband.com

Primates – Gainesville
Photo: Tony Vargas 

What They Sound Like:
A repetitious melody begins to lull its listeners. The Primates pride themselves on their relaxed sound, and seem to take the world at a drastically slower pace then the alternative Gainesville genres of hardcore and mosh music. Proclaiming to “put peeps to sleep,” the band Primates certainly make for a different kind of live show.

In Their Words:
REAX:  How would you describe your live show?
Primates:  Bring oversized tee's and sleeping bags
REAX:  What have been some of your struggles as a band?
Primates:  Time management, definitely! All four of us are students with jobs which makes it difficult to get as much time during the week as we'd like to get together.
REAX:  What can you say about the local Gainesville scene?
Primates:  It’s great; we love living here and love the people. It’s a good feeling to live in a town so enthusiastic and full of good energy. Everybody contributes to keeping a great scene in Gainesville.

Why You Should Check Them Out:
Being only eight months old, this band has much ahead of them. Currently they are eagerly awaiting their next chance to get into the studio and do some more recording, but in the meantime their debut EP is out and ready for your listening pleasure. Primates offers a different spin on the typical sound to come out of your local Gainesville pubs, but I’m still trying to decide whether it is a noble act of originality or a dull act needing refinement. These guys will be playing at 1982 on August 12th with their good friends from Creepy Youth Choir.
www.myspace.com/weareprimates