Posted 10:26am on 02/25/10
Wickedgoodscene.com's newest project Destination: Rock Show went behind the scenes of the SPW Video Shoot for 'Semi Precious Weapons' to interview our boys. Check it out:
"We recently put our heads together to create a new web series based on the culture surrounding local music called Destination Rock Show. Through a friend of Sidehatch we got the opportunity to hang out with Semi Precious Weapons on the set of their first major label video shoot. Lucky for us the shoot was exactly what we were looking for. The inspiration for the video was their life and experiences together as a band, which translates to: a rock and roll party at an intimate venue in New York City.
What are Semi Precious Weapons? In the words of lead singer Justin Tranter: “filthy, violent but beautiful rock and roll.” Picture four dudes from Berklee; now picture one of those dudes in skin tight leggings, high heeled stiletto boots, flashing his nipple while shouting obscenities and how he’s going to sleep with your girlfriend after the show… More on this later. First let me tell you about their video shoot.
We arrived on set; where they were shooting at the Studio in Webster Hall. A cool 300 capacity venue our friends KID:NAP:KIN recently rocked. We were greeted by Matt from Interscope who explained how they were currently shooting in a decked out men’s room. I thought to myself….ah, ‘filthy glamour.’ Since we were all feeling pretty famished we went out to grab a quick bite before meeting up with the band. When we came back we were hustled through the crowd and squished into the green room, amongst suit cases spilling with batty get ups, makeup artists, feathers, sparkles, masks and champagne bottles plastered with Justin’s face, hairdressers and friends of the band primping to rock out in full glam.
The band piled onto the couches to answer a couple questions with us. I didn’t even have time to think as Matt introduced me to them. Wait, have I ever interviewed a band before? Who are all these fantastically dressed people hanging out in here? Didn’t I prepare a bunch of questions for these guys- where did I put those? Fallon was standing there, flip cam in hand, waiting for me to start so I had to say something. Eek! “How is it playing at Radio City Music Hall?” “Magical.” So we were off, our first webisode for Destination Rock Show. It was great hanging with the guys; Justin, Dan, Stevey and Cole; they were fun to talk to, sweet, genuine and undeniably charismatic. We chatted with them for a couple minutes before they had to shoot the next segment in the “gentlemen’s room.”
While they finished shooting in and around various parts of the venue we checked out the bands on the bill for the night in the Studio. When the set wrapped up everyone was cleared out except for those “who had the look.” “You know who you are.” Now the only inhabitants of the venue were folks of truly unique creativity and flamboyancy.Dan came by to make sure we were sticking around to party. We assured him we were pro at rocking out. No extras were hired, the band called up their friends and said ‘hey we need to show everyone what a rock and roll party with SPW is like, get here!’
While the cameras, track, and lights were set up we were left to party to some good jams, hang with some of the band’s friends and really just have a good time. For the remainder of the night we were encouraged to rock out like our lives depended on it, no, really rock out, ‘not like some NYU dorm party.’ Everyone was dancing like mad. At one point, while a member of the crew kept pushing us back into the crowd away from the camera track, we found our selves jumping (via fist pump) and rocking right in the thick of everyone with Justin smack dab in the middle of us. Everyone was awesome, each person added to the aura with an extravagant outfit or unrivaled dance moves. There were ladies in giant feathered wings, go-go dancers (male and female) in underwear, boas, faux fur, fauxhawks, masks, make up for all genders, sparkles, sequence, you name it. Glam rock is back.
When was the last time you saw a band that is trying to change the world’s view on music, fun, sex, gender, rock and roll, and glamour? Unless you have been transporting to and from Brit rock shows in the 80s featuring AC/DC, you haven’t seen anything like this. Watching Semi Precious Weapons on stage is like a rock and roll Altoid; curiously strong, you want to spit it out at first, but it’s just so good you have to keep sucking it. Sitting in the orchestra section at Radio City Music Hall where SPW opened for Lady GaGa, the night after the shoot at Webster Hall, we witnessed the initial disorientation first hand. The facial expressions on the folks around us were priceless. They sat there with their jaws on the floor, speechless, once in a while you’d hear a “what-the-f is this?!” from one of the dudes whose date was out perusing the GaGa merch. The outrageous behavior of SPW is an absorbing dose of the car crash effect. You can’t turn away. You MUST watch; and then, miraculously, you realize you’re getting your face melted off by unrivaled raw intensity and glam slammed like its 1983.
The band recently signed to Perezious, HausOfGaGa, Streamline, Geffen, Interscope records. They are a filthy glam rock band out of New York City who just recorded their self-titled EP at Ocean Way Recording with producer/engineer Jack Joseph Puig. You can get your hands on three songs off their EP released January 19th; the remainder of their “You Love You” album is set to drop later this spring.
Semi Precious Weapons are…
Justin Tranter: vocals
Cole Whittle: bass
Daniel Crean: drums
Stevey Pyne: guitar
On The Inside With Bass Player Cole Whittle…
CK: How will touring Europe, Japan, AUS & NZ be different from touring in the US? Where are you most pumped to play?
CW: In the nicest way possible, touring overseas is exciting because the rest of the world isn’t as boring. We want screaming kids that still love exciting music. Japan is gonna be troublesome because Stevy may assemble a harem and disappear. Also, the UK is filthy fun and Aussies are big sex.
CK: What do you like best about touring together?
CW: We are like a family, the way real rock & roll bands should be. Touring is like a bad beach vacation.
CK: Do you guys have any pre or post show rituals you would like to disclose to our readers?
CW: Before the show every night, Justin sings opera and ghetto rap while doing splits. Dan barks like a small dog. Cole does muay thai and drinks whiskey. Stevy plays guitar. Truth.
CK: What is one thing EVERYONE needs to know about SPW?
CW: Something everyone should know about SPW is that we expect you to like us, but if you hate us, we still expect you to like something f-ing exciting. We hope you all get laid!"
Hey there divas! It's Friday and you know what that means, right? FAB FRIDAY YA'LL! Today we're featuring, LaQuan Smith, who has been recently titled, "The New Wave of Fashion" LaQuan is a 21 year old designer born and raised in Brooklyn NY. His brilliant designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Aubrey O'day, Amber Rose, and other celebrities but most important he has designed for our boy and resident diva, Justin Tranter! He has been designing and shooting his own clothes for 8 years and has a serious knack for designing high-end beautiful clothing. Persona magazine recently covered LaQuan's beautiful A/W 2010 Collection and this is what they had to say, "An enthusiastic crowd of downtown fashion “It” boys and serious fashionistas gathered in an intimate location in midtown Manhattan to view Queens native, LaQuan Smith’s F/W collection during NY Fashion Week. A refreshing, bold and exuberant collection, Smith’s Fashion Week debut was a flawless blend of daring pieces and wearable garments. His “Water Goddess” collection was made up of mermaid inspired silhouettes, oceanic influenced prints, leggings reminiscent of fish scale, blue neoprene jackets and sand colored pieces made this collection the embodiment of daring yet accessible fashion.
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