Published: December 12, 2009 1:07 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight December 2009 Edition
rebel inc.
Rock/Alternative Music Artist/Band of the Week December 13, 2009 - December 19, 2009
rebel inc.
Think of this next band as Rock/Alternative music with a social conscious. When you hear the music from this band, what fans will get is pure hardcore rock music that speaks about social change. What makes rebel inc. so appealing is that they come out sounding like pros who know how to please their fans. For those music lovers looking for something that stems from the heart and soul, then rebel inc. will fit this bill. Check them out in this recent spotlight with our Webzine in this exclusive spotlight.
Isaac: What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?
Kevin (guitar): rebel inc. The name is a paradox in the sense that corporate rebellion can be sold to the people. The name seemed to stick upon conception.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Kevin: I feel our music is a mixture of various genres of music, Rock, Alternative, Rap, Funk, and Punk just to name a few. Our influences derive from all artists who speak of social change. The obvious connection most make is to Rage Against The Machine, but artists like Bob Dylan, MC5, Public Enemy, and even Marilyn Manson have influenced us as well.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Kevin: Adam (vocals), B-Lock (drums), and I went to elementary school together in metro Detroit. We have had many fights in the 25 years we've known each other. Kenny Lee (bass) answered an ad we had for a bass player in July of 2008. Two weeks later he was crammed in a van with us on tour. I guess you can say we really met Kenny Lee in the van.
Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Kevin: That is a good question. Adam and I have been writing for over 10 years but never seemed to get the project off the ground. The train really started in the summer of 2007 when we moved to Baltimore. I think the two of us mostly share the same social/political views which have inspired us to write.
Isaac: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
Kevin: Nope. We are members of the starving musicians club. I highly recommend it.
Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
Kevin: I made the switch from a Strat to a Telecaster just for this band. I never liked Tele's, but the sound seemed to make sense for this project.
B-Lock: I am by no means Brand loyal; however, I do know what works for me.
Kenny Lee: If it sounds good and plays good, I don't care what the name on it is!
Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Kevin: We have played in over 10 different states including a sponsored Base tour with the Iraq Veterans Against War (IVAW). That was an amazing experience to be around those men and women who risked
their lives for us. The most memorable for all is probably playing TNT's in Michigan. There is no feeling like playing in front of friends and family after so many years. We have played a lot of bad places and I am sure we will continue to do so. It is hard to think of the worst one.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Kevin: The songs off our EP. It is hard to not play "909 Revolution" when the crowd starts chanting it. It gets even better when they are singing it with us. We play all original songs mainly because we have so much unpolished material that we are working on.
Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Kevin: I write most of the music and Adam and I co-write the lyrics. We have a great working relationship and have for over 10 years. The main theme is Fighting tyranny and taking control of your life. I hope that we inspire people to do just that, but I can settle for someone thinking it is just a cool song. I am sure we will have a wide variety of topics covered when this train runs out of tracks, but for now these topics fit and probably will for quite some time. People seem very angry right now and are responding to our music.
Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Kevin: Every song has a different story of how it was conceived. Sometimes it is a guitar riff and other times it is a strong vocal idea. We just work around a strong core idea.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Kevin: Very very LOUD! Kenny's bass amp goes to 11. We generally get together 3-5 times per week.
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Kevin: I think our music has become more natural over time. In the beginning we tried to force things a lot more. Now we just sit back and let the songs write themselves. In the end you are left with a song with a lot more feeling
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Kevin: Our biggest challenge has been balancing performing and writing. As a musician, you want to play live anywhere at anytime. As an artist, you want to write and be creative. Finding the balance between the two can be tough. I am not sure we will ever find the answer to this question.
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Kevin: We are not seeking fame nor fortune. As a band, we want to play in front of the whole world and inspire social and political change. It would be nice to have the band fuel itself in an effort to achieve these things.
Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Kevin: Practice a lot and buy ear plugs because there are a lot of shitty bands that you will be forced to share a stage with.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Kevin: You need to be in South Baltimore between 5 and 7:30pm mon-fri. Adam sells them out of the van. Actually we do have a website www.rebelincmusic.com and a MySpace www.myspace.com/rebelincmusic where the songs can be previewed. We are also on iTunes and cdbaby.com if you cannot find the van.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Kevin: Our friends and family have been highly supportive. I cannot think of anyone more important than them.
