CaliAlive.com

Written by Steven Schaefer
I Rise is one of my favorite current hardcore bands out today. Worcester, Ma I Rise play a gnarly mid-tempo, yet powerful display of hardcore straight like it was the mid 90's all over again. Drawing influences from 108, Inside Out, Burn, Into Another I Rise have proven there here to stay with their intense live show and powerful lyrical content displayed in songs like "Feared, and "Rebellion." I got a chance to talk to Nicky (singer) about where I Rise is heading into the new year as far as writing a new lp this winter and upcoming tours the band has planned. This band has not one band song to date and I am eagerly awaiting new material asap. I would also like to note I Rise supports really shitty hair.

Listen to "Burn" While You Read:

CaliAlive:
First off, can you tell us where your from and give us a brief history of the band and it's lineup? How did it all get started and if any members played in previous bands prior to I Rise? Why is Alex (guitar player, brother) a dingus? (hahahahah)

We are Based out of Worcester Massachusetts but one of our members is from Connecticut. We started as a fun side project in November of 2006 pretty much put together by a good friend of mine whose not even in the band; he approached me and told me that some of our friends were tying to get a band together. I had never sung before but i thought Id give it a try. A few months ago I never would have pictured myself singing in a band so its strange looking back on it now. We started jamming and writings songs. The first song we wrote was Burn and after that we all decided to put a lot more effort into the band. I recruited my brother alex to hop on and play second guitar. Alex played with me in Youth Attack, and is also my brother literally. Ourdrummer Jake also played Bass in youth Attack for the first few releases. Danny our guitarist was in some smaller local bands. Our original bassist Joe left the band over the summer but we are still good friends with him. Our new Bassist Sean plays in The Risk Taken, and Unforgiven.

Dingus |ˈdi ng gəs| |ˌdɪŋgəs| |ˌdɪŋəs|
noun ( pl. dinguses |ˌdɪŋgəsəz|) informal
used to refer to something whose name the speaker cannot remember, is
unsure of, or is humorously or euphemistically omitting : here's a
doohickey—and there's the dingus.
ORIGIN late 19th cent.: via Afrikaans from Dutch ding 'thing.'

Alex? I think so.

CaliAlive:
So I stumbled upon I Rise from the b9 board (go figure) and immediately was drawn by the jams you had up on your myspace at the time. Saw only a demo available at the time, so I bought one and received it in the mail later that week. That demo cd did not leave my car for weeks, even it being four songs, I played it over and over. Where was the demo recorded, and who was at the helm recording it?

I Rise:
We recorded it at Getaway Recording with Jay Maas. Jay is the man and we don't want to record anywhere else. The studio is in a basement/garage and has a min ramp in the back yard it rules. Plus we work really well with Jay and really fast. We did our Split and EP there as well and we play to record our Full Length there this winter. Its the best studio. Have Heart is recording there soon as is Verse. All of the Soul Control stuff was done there, Shipwrecks EP and Full length. Jay is the man i recommend everyone to go there.

CaliAlive:
When and where was your first show played, and who else was on the bill that day? Overall, was it a good reaction being able to play near home for the first I Rise show?

I Rise:
We had jumped on a few sets in December of 06 but our first real show was on January First 2007 at the hudson roller kingdom with Death Before Dishonor. It was a good show. Our demo wasn't even out at the time we had these broke ass 2 song promos with Burn and Rise on them that I recorded on my computer. Kids were moving around and having a good time my other non dingus brother roughed me up a little haha. Also after our set i coughed blood and passed out which happens at 90% of our shows haha. But overall it was a sweet first show. What better way to start out the new year than with a new band right?

CaliAlive:
Eightfold Path Records first release was a split 7'' with you guys and a jamming Rhode Island band named Soul Control. Were you guys friends before all of this, and did you know exactly who you wanted to record, release this split 7'' with?

I Rise:
Erika is a good friend of both ours and Soul Control and since we both came out  at the same time with similar sounds she said you guys should put out a split and then decided to start a record label for a one time release and out it out herself. I had know Matt dude for a few years but i didn't really know the other dudes too well, i know do and love them all.

CaliAlive:
I recently just met Erika from Eightfold Path and she seems like a rad person with a great sense on how to start up a label and keep it running smoothly all at the same time. Why the decision to release the split with such an unknown brand new label at the time?

I Rise:
Erika's idea to release our split was great and we had a great time doing it. The label was made with the soul intention of releasing the split and disbanding but after the split came out i really wanted to start my own label and see what i can do. When i mentioned it to her she told me to just do Eightfold Path with her since there was already a foundation built. Since then we have been working on some sweet sweet releases. Unforgiven, Foundation, and a New England comp thats supposed to be out in the summer of 08 called "The Source"(This will rule).

CaliAlive:
This summer you embarked on a full US tour with friends in Verse, Soul Control, and Go it Alone. Can you tell us some of your favorite cities on the tour and a funny story that transpired out on the road if any?

I Rise:
When I think about this tour it all just sort of blends into one long day haha.  When this tour started  we had already been out on the road for about 3 weeks with Verse, Down To Nothing, and Allegiance. Some shows that really stand our are some of our Cali Dates. We played a 15'x15' garage in that i almost died in due to heat/ lack of air. I literally couldn't move at that show. I might as well of had a mic stand the whole time.  This show was at a house with sweet lemon trees and parrots everywhere. Another great Cali show was a weird backyard/street/roof/outdoors show we played with chickens running round. This show was outside of San Diego about 5 miles from the Mexican boarder. I really wanted to play mexico on that tour but due to some legal/ logistic issues we missed out so this show was cool because it was the closest we could get. Kids were trying to pay for merch in Paso's it was sweet. Needless to say i gave out a lot of merch that day for free haha. A great story is the story of Chicago.... We played a show and then went to a sweet food joint afterwards were we realized Go It Alone didn't have a place to crash so someone had the bright idea to ask some random girls on the street if they could crash there....... and of course they said yes haha. I stayed with Go it Alone that night to spare some of them that didn't want to stay with strangers. So i went to the van to get my things and noticed that all the doors were wide open, apparently  we left them open because were stupid... Luckily nothing was missing. So we got our stuff and went over to these girls apartment right up the street which was actually really nice. Me being the moron that I am i walked around the whole time using this phony greek accent and wearing only my underwear that has the penis of David on it (you know the statue). I recall at one moment one of the GIA dudes opened the refrigerator and a bunch of grapes fell out where I proceeded to make wine all over the floor. It was an interesting night. At one point i was picked up and thrown into one of the girls room and locked in there to sleep... haha. Keep in mind we are all straight edge so were just really really stupid haha. I believe the GIA dudes either stole or were given a drug rug. What a night.

CaliAlive:
I have seen Verse numerous times and in my opinion they get more amazing, flawless each time they play. Being on tour with them and seeing them play every night, does it inspire I Rise to just absolutely kill it and play the best show possible after seeing Verse exert so much positive energy from their live show?

I Rise:
Verse rules and there live show definitely inspires us as a live band, but as for seeing them every night I can't really say because I was playing drums for them all summer. Also Chris and Eric from Verse were filling in on Bass and Guitar for us. Were were like one band traveling together. We shared a van, two bands 7 dudes haha.

CaliAlive:
You recently just released your debut 7'' "Down" on the socal based 1917 records. How did you hook up with Riley and 1917 records out here in warm and sunny California?

I Rise:
When it came time for shooing a label we put alot of thought into it.  We were going to go with Columbia but then Warner Brothers and Island records got in touch too.. Riley offered us the best deal though 5 million dollar signing bonus................. Riley and 1917 Records rule/rules and we couldnt be happier. Riley herd about us through some mutual friends and lurked us on myspace. Oh the internet.

CaliAlive:
The "Down" record you just released is one of my favorite records of the year. While two songs off the demo were remastered, the new joints had the same mid-tempo feel but seem way more powerful with some nasty riffs that bring sweet music to my ears. What are some of your favorite tracks off the record and why?

I Rise:
I really enjoy them all but I especially like Burn, Feared, Down, and Rebellion. Playing those songs live really gives me a chance to loose my shit.

CaliAlive:
Rebellion, Convictions, Burn, Feared and Realism are some tracks I truly enjoy from I Rise. The lyrical content on Rebellion, Feared, and Convictions really set stone in my mind while reading the lyric sheet and listening to the record. Can you maybe give us a sample of each song and state what they are truly about?
ex: (Feared= "American Dream" what is that/it?, "I fear those who believe, they have god on their side.") Convictions reminds me a ton of 108 musically, (Living surpressed, in these bullshit lives? What do you mean you won't change for anyone or anything? Thoughts are wrong, then what is right?) Rebellion (Just society in general for being different?, the song explains to me like we are different for not being excepted by our society or whatever for displaying this type of aggressive, powerful music. feel me? is that what you mean in the song?)

I Rise:
Rebellion is about how society views most people of the hardcore and punk communities. How people Judge us for the way we dress or the way we look. Judge us for having tattoos or piercings or what ever. How they only look at what is on the outside and not whats behind our thoughts or music, you know there here screaming so the write it off saying its foul and disgusting tasteless music. They dont see the message a lot of bands have. I've gotten it my whole life from parents, teachers, judges. I Rise is not a straight edge band but I am and the views society has on the straight edge community as being terrible and full of violence when yes there are some "bad apples" that give it a bad name it is a good thing that people do to better themselves. People see us as being strange and different and they label us as being "rebellious" and they are scared of us. Well i fear them haha. I embrace the "rebellion" we are part of haha.A lot of people seem to think feared is an "anti-religion" song but it is anti- religious extremists. The idea of faith is great, to have something no matter how terrible you feel. Id love to have a comfort like that and believe me I've tried before but its just not for me. To have a problem, not know what to do, and just say t myself....It's alright God will help me though it....But I can't. It just doesn't work. I have no faith. In religious debates I've had in the past people always use the argument that if there is no god than what made us.... Well what made god. To that they always reply with "well why did something have to make god?" Well, why did something make us. Who cares were here fuck it! Live life for yourself. People can blow up abortion clinics and kill innocent people to save lives? All the while preaching how everyone should have there views. As for the "The American Dream" i'm talking about the beautiful house with the nice white picket fence and the loving family with a dog and bla bla bla. Well not everyone can attain this "dream". Sometimes abortion is the best option. Having children isn't the easiest thing to do. Convictions is about how pretty much every time I ve trying to doing something different in my life people label me as insane. Well maybe I am, but like the lyrics say lets "break these binds of sanity" I want to be different, i want to do things my own way. As for "being suppressed in these bullshit lives" I often feel restricted by school or a job and feel as though I'm being turned into a robot. I don't like the formulaic lives we as Americans are raised to lead. College, Job, Family. Its boring. "Bleak, Blacked, & Fake" is my worst of times. "Burn"is  my realization that I need change, "Down" is me changing, and "Convictions" is new self haha. The song "Bleak, Blacked, & Fake" talks about how i was feeling during a time frame were I was falling into routine and depression. Burn is pretty literal haha. I spend a lot of time by myself thinking,when I wrote burn I was reflecting on some realizations I had earlier that week. I was walking on my way to class at a school I was going to at the time. The lyrics are pretty literal haha. It was freezing out, like it had been all week, I had pneumonia at the time and every time I would try to talk outside I would cough. It was a bad time for me and it got me thinking of what the hell I was doing... I wake up every day and go to these classes for subjects I don't even like, do work, and read things I really don't care for all for some sort of "future" I was building towards. With people always demanding standards from us expecting no less than bla bla bla.. Basically I lost my mind. I didn't go back to school the next semester. Instead I went to Cali with Verse and met you haha. I'd say that was the better choice.

CaliAlive:
Now that the Down 7'' is done, what are your upcoming plans for a debut lp or touring schedule?

I Rise:
We are currently writing an LP which we will be heading into the studio to record this winter and should be out for the beginning of summer hopefully. as for touring were going to be head out for most likely and eastcoast this winter on our way to and home from This Is For You Fest. We also going to being doing a good amount of weekends. We will be heading into NY for a weekend with a band called Election Day from Syracuse NY playing a few shows with Shookones. We will also be heading up to Canada with our brothers in Soul Control in December. Sometime this winter we are going to set up a Cali weekend, were just trying to work that out now. A european tour is also in the works with Ambitions and possible some others. And then Hopefully we will be gone all summer.

CaliAlive:
So I heard that you guys are coming out this winter for a full us tour. Any truths to this statement? If so, what bands might join the road with you?

I Rise:
Nothings official yet but we would like to. We will probably just end up doing an eastcoast due to the logistics of work and school : (

CaliAlive:
On a real note, who gets the most girls in the band? What girl is not going to dig dudes who support shitty hair and mention kool-aid in their songs?

I Rise:
For a while we were tied. I think I may be in the lead. Or it May be danny. Which rules because we are the two youngest haha. Though Jake is in a pop-punk band...

CaliAlive:
When not playing show, recording, writing, what is life entail outside the band? School, jobs, sports, hobbies?

I Rise:
I go to school part time and take only art classes haha. Danny smokes weed. Jake smokes weed and plays in Four Year Strong. Alex is a tennis Coach and give private lessons. I also play tennis and enjoy skiing. I play the drums alot and also build my own drums. Danny smokes weed. I enjoy girls. Sean teaches kids with Autism and likes American Psycho. The Red Soxs. I Steal. Danny likes girls slot too, and weed. Alex and I enjoy movies. Alex Does comedy.

CaliAlive:
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time set aside to do this interview. Any last words, local bands from your area we should check out, shot outs you would like to add before jamming out?

I Rise:
This interview was awesome. Sorry if I wrote so much.
Check out all of these bands if you haven't all ready!
Bane
Unforgiven
Foundation
Verse
Four Year Strong
Ambitions
Soul Control
Sluts
Outbreak
Harder The Fight
The Effort
Ceremony
Have Heart
Outrage
Shipwreck
EarthQuake
Commit
Forfeit
Attitude
Allegiance
Down To Nothing
Maintain
108
Ritual
Election Day
The Risk Taken
Rise & Fall
Meltdown
Bitter End

And Support these labels:
Eightfold Path Records
1917 Records
Specimen 32 Records
Thinkfast! Records
Rivalry Records
Revelation Records

Check out I Rise @ www.myspace.com/irisehc