Before departing Florida, I had the great honor of interviewing the boys from Magnificent Applesauce (“MagSauce” as they call themselves). It has been quite awhile since I wrote last, but this posting is special since I got to record my first podcast with three of the four members in the band.

Chad Kostella, guitar/lead vocals; Riz Blanton, drums/percussion; and Jason Sims, lead guitar/vocals, took some time out of their schedules to update everyone with what is happening in their world. Leo Sauvinon-Mota, bass/vocals, was sick and did not make the interview.

LAKELAND, Fla. – Far from being a garage band, the members in MagSauce are doing everything in their power to share their original music, represent Lakeland’s music scene and inspire other original musicians to take their own craft to a higher level.

What began as a side project thought over eight years ago has become one of the most original sounds in today’s local music scene.

“The idea began in 2002, but nothing seriously until 2008,” Kostella said, who also added that “boredom” made him want to pursue music again.

“Being out of it for so long, I got the itch,” Sims added, “It was a long time since we played in our other band, and we had the opportunity over again. Take music more seriously.” And they did.

MagSauce has been playing regularly for the past six months in Lakeland, Tampa and, most recently, Orlando. Even landing a third place tie in 97X’s Memorial Day Backyard BBQ online competition. The main reason they have been playing so much again is to fund their self produced album, which will be released later this year or early 2011, “We are going to finish a 5 – 6 song EP,” Kostella said.

Two songs, “Fight Night” and “A Song,” are their leading singles from the album and can be heard in the podcast below.

“We picked them quickly,” Kostella said. “We had ten songs to choose from, but these address what we are doing. ‘A Song’ is an up-beat song; ‘Fight Night’ is more musical.”

RE-GROWTH

“Lakeland is in a re-growth right now,” Blanton said. “We’re in a hotspot. “We got Tampa, Orlando; we are smack in the middle.” And this “hotspot” has been good to them, too. “It’s a great spot and we love Lakeland a lot,” Sims added.

Location is an important factor, but the boys were grateful with the work being done by a couple of local promoters.

“TJ kind of started it all,” Kostella said. “Gave it a spark to where we are now. He has a good equation and a good formula.” “TJ” is TJ Alcock, owner of Central Florida Entertainment, Booking and Promotional Marketing.

During the interview, Blanton stressed the help and hard work from Polk Theatre. The venue, with the help of Sarah Conness, features special local shows under the name “Underground at the Polk.”

Sims added the venue needs local support to continue, “We definitely have to keep the Polk Theatre alive.”

To find out more about Alcock’s projects and Underground at the Polk, find them on Facebook by searching EntertainingFl and Underground at the Polk.

WORD OF WISDOM

Kostella, Blanton, Sims and Savinon-Mota were all members of the popular band As You Wish, and they all had the opportunity of touring across the U.S. several years ago.

“It’s a new way of life,” Blanton said. “We went out there, did it, played everywhere.” Touring the U.S. and playing rock star might sound exciting, but not everything was perfect on the road.

“On a very serious note, no matter what you do, these are your brothers or your sisters, if there are females in your group,” Sims said, “If you mess up on a part or played the wrong note, get over yourself. It’s not an ego thing, keep creating.”

And speaking about creating, Kostella and Blanton had some pointers for younger artists trying to break into the music scene.

“It’s starts with an idea,” Blanton said, “Get your buddies together and start writing.” Kostella added, “never feel satisfed with your song. Record bits and pieces, put them together, work past your creativity.”

And to get shows around town?

“Get a halfway decent recording. Video tape yourself. Do all the promo you can,” Kostella said.

Anyone interested in seeing MagSauce live can catch then this Thursday, July 8 at Hurricane Alley in Downtown Lakeland.

These guys are a phenomenally creative group, and I can proudly say that for years they have been an important source of inspiration. Even giving me the first shows I ever played in the (863).

To learn more about MagSauce, visit their site http://www.magsauce.com or simply search MagSauce on your favorite online search engine or social media network.

Note: Since this was my first recording, there are some unfortunate sound glitches, but it is a fun interview. And the song recordings are 100 percent perfect. Enjoy.

MagSauce_Podcast_1_Final by 48StatesAway


photo credit: Courtesy of MagSauce for Metro I4 News

Wednesday, January 20, a second quake shook the already destroyed country creating even more panic for survivors and volunteers in the small Caribbean country.

Many national organizations and celebrities have quickly come forward to assist non-profit organizations like the American Red Cross, Partners in Health and many others. The United Nations, United States and other countries, too, are doing everything possible to help and keep order in the midst of the unimaginable disaster.

Although it is great that nations and national organizations have taken the lead in helping Haiti’s victims, it is important to know how local businesses and individuals are helping the cause.

Soon after the disaster reached the masses, in a Twitter update, Publix Super Markets shared that Publix Charities donated $100,000. And a week later, they shared that employees and customers had collected $2 million, and counting.

Despite what some have called a “dying music scene,” Lakeland bands, with the assistance of TJ Alcock, owner of Central Florida Entertainment & Promotions, are doing what they love most to help raise money for the Red Cross and to bring this unfortunate event to the minds and hearts of most of the (863)’s citizens.

The show was scheduled prior to the disastrous events, but the opportunity to do something meaningful could have not been missed.

“We are donating our cut from the door as well,” Alcock said.

The show will take place in Lakeland’s own Mojo’s Winghouse, Friday, January, 29. And the doors will open at 8 p.m.

Like always, it is $5 to get in and this is an all-ages show.

For more information and to pre-purchase tickets, click here.

Editor’s Note: Alex Santiago’s Band 48 States Away is playing the benefit show.

photo credit: US_Air_Force

Today-together-we will be able to help some of these unfortunate persons from all over the world. 

Tonight beginning at 7 p.m., Pizza Hut (PH), with Vigor! Services and Johnson Sound are hosting the first “Rock the Hut” benefit show, which will take place at the 6858 S. Florida Ave. Pizza Hut parking lot. 

“In 2008, WFP reached just over 102 million beneficiaries in 78 countries,” and now, Lakelanders have the opportunity of helping them reach even more people in 2010.

Pizza Hut has supported the WFP for many years. But this year an employee hoped to inspire people from his community to help PH raise money for the international charitable organization. 

Earlier this year, Clint Woolley, a Pizza Hut employee and owner of with Vigor! Services, brought the idea of creating a free music event to his manager to help PH raise more money for the WFP. 

Woolley and PH management felt like having their community forming part of such a good cause would make a real difference for the WFP.

“There will be a $5 raffle to win a live Christmas tree for the holidays,” Woolley, who is also performing, said. “All proceeds of the raffle will go directly to benefit the World Food Program. 

There will also be food specials where you can get pizza by the slice or pizza slice/drink combos for around $5.”

With the assistance from Steve Johnson, owner of Johnson Sound, a local recording and rehearsal studio, Woolley’s idea finally came to fruition. Johnson is providing the PA equipment for the artists playing in the highly anticipated show. He is also performing on the three-hour-long event.

THE BANDS

Plant City’s Eden Regained will open the show at 7 p.m. Eddie Wicker, drummer for Eden Regained, is a Pizza Hut employee and plays all over Central Florida with the band.

The members of Presque Vu, who are debuting in the Lakeland music scene in this show, will go on around 7: 45 p.m. 

Woolley and yours truly, both members of 48 States Away (embedded music), will perform at 8:30 p.m. 

And Johnson, lead guitarist and vocalist from Razor’s Edge, will close the show starting at 9:15 p.m. 

In order to help Woolley, PH and the WFP, all of the bands are performing for free, which is why the show itself is free for everyone who may want to come. 

In addition to the raffle, band members will accept donations during and after their sets, and all earnings will go directly to the WFP.

THE EXTRAS

In an online message, Woolley encouraged people coming to the show “to bring blankets and chairs” since the show will be outside and winter is in full swing.

To learn more about the World Food Programme and with Vigor! Services, please visit these sites: http://www.wfp.org, http://www.freerice.com and http://www.withvigorservices.com. 
 

My son, Li Alexius Santiago, was born at 24 weeks, and he only had a 30 percent chance of survival.

The nurses at St. Joe’s NICU told us that recording our voices and playing it for the baby would be beneficial. So, my wife and I recorded him a welcome to the world message and read him children stories. A few weeks later, I recorded and added an original song to his “playlist.”

Below is the poem/song I wrote and recorded for him. Li listened to it most days in his incubator, until he came home.

“Little Li”

Wake up is morning,
Oh please, don’t cry.
Don’t feel so lonely,
I’m right by your side.

Be strong sweet baby.
Please fight for your life.
Oh, I’ll be waiting
For you to come back.

Come back to me boy.
Come, I’ll take you home.
Come back to me boy.
Come, I’ll take you home.

You were near Heaven
That late afternoon,
But faith and prayer
Kept us near you.

Now, “mami” is waiting
For you to come home.
We’ll all be patient.
My son, I love you.

Come back to me boy.
Come, I’ll take you home.
Come back to me boy.
Come, I’ll take you home.

Until this day, when he is not feeling well, or driving us crazy, I play and sing the song for him. And until this day, it calms him down like it would in the St. Joe’s NICU.

Creating this song was interesting because the original music was a 48 second score I wrote for a friend’s independent movie. The score, titled “Sad Love Song,” was never used, but the music served as “Little Li’s” core melody.

Below you can listen to both versions: “Sad Love Song” and “Little Li”

A year ago, one of my professors said a comment that will live with me forever: “Throughout history, kings should have had more writers and poets than architects and sculptors because books have outlasted most tall buildings and beautiful sculptures from their respective empires.”

History, for one reason or another, seems to be best kept through literature. Because of this important factor, modern societies seem to fear what literature should and should not make it to their homes and minds. But, in this country, there is one big problem with keeping literature away from homes and minds—freedom of speech.

Catherine Lavallée-Welch, associate librarian at the University of South Florida Polytechnic (USF Poly), is leading a small revolution in the mostly conservative (863), and this year, she has help from students, faculty, administrators and locals, too.

Lavallée-Welch and the USF Poly Library are hosting the second annual Banned Books “Read Out” event; which “are common” during Banned Books Week, said Lavellée-Welch.

This year, fifteen “enthusiastic readers” will be reading-out-loud from banned and/or challenged books of their choosing to willing listeners from USF Poly and Polk State University. The event is free, and it has “received shows of support,” said Lavallée-Welch, “and a lot of good comments” from people around campus.

Lavallée-Welch’s goal is “to bring attention to freedom of expression, the importance of access to information and the freedom to read. To make people, who may have never thought their freedom of expression could be endangered, realize that it’s possible it could be taken away from them.”

In a country built with freedom of speech as its number one priority, I, too, feel is important that we pay attention to what literature is being challenged and/or banned; but most importantly, why. Why would anyone want to keep others from gaining new information and expanding their knowledge? And in the long run, how does this affect freedom of speech and the United States in general?

Because I, too, have many questions about this issue, I am forming part of this event Tuesday, September 29 from 11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the terrace, outside the USF Poly Library. And, I hope to see familiar faces, meet new faces and engage in intellectual arguments about the books, the event and the people trying to ban literature.

For more information about this event, visit the USF Poly Library Blog. To see the complete 2008-09 banned books (pdf) list press here. And, I invite you read my full Q&A with Mrs. Lavallée-Welch here to get a better idea of how important this issue really is for all of us alike.

As an (863) Hispanic, I am proud of our accomplishments in Central Florida and around the country. I am also proud of what the University of South Florida Polytechnic (USF Poly) and Polk State College (PSC) are doing to celebrate these accomplishments.

From Sept. 15 – Sept. 19, both colleges shared these accomplishments with their “Diversity Partnership Multicultural Week,” which was composed of the “Lakeland Multicultural Trade Show,” “The State of Diversity in Central Florida Panel Discussion” and the “Third Annual Diversity Conference.” All of these events took place at the new USF Poly/PSC campus.

Yesterday, the “Greater Lakeland Multicultural 2009 Festival” took place at the Magnolia building in downtown Lakeland.

Today, The Polk Museum of Art is closing these festivities with their annual Family Day event. This year’s theme is “Going Green,” and it will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Admission is free.

In addition to “The Diversity Partnership Multicultural Week,” PSC is having a month-long art exhibit in their Lakeland campus. The exhibit, currently in its second year, is displaying art works from past and current PSC students.

Sergio Ayala, Cristian Bruno, Jessica Jordan and Ed Nieves are current Liberal Art students at PSC. Among these great artists, Samuel Romero, a Polk Community College graduate, is a teacher assistant at Florida Southern College, and he recently received his Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the School of Art Institute of Chicago.

Although a small exhibit, the talent is far from being small. All of these artists have unique styles from photography to classic oil on canvas, and they promise to share the colorfulness and individualities of our culture.

The exhibit’s official opening night was this past Tuesday, Sept. 15, and it is scheduled to be opened until Thursday, Oct. 15. The gallery’s show time is from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

I invite you to visit the event and support local talented artists from Central Florida. And if you have a family, then I will see you today at The Polk Museum of Art’s “Family Day 2009: Going Green” event.

Like always: Be blessed, balanced and beautiful.

With the anniversary of the September 11 attacks just passing, I am sharing this because fear can only control us so much. Yes, it can keep people in line, and yes, it can make people act in irrational ways, but I welcome to you to read and think about the power of positivity.

I want you to keep in mind that mankind’s good nature and nature’s rule over our planet is a much stronger power than inflicting fear in people’s minds, hearts and lives. With this thought, I leave it up to you to decide how you want to lead your life and the lives of your loved ones.

Do not let men or his word accompany you because he does not know any better than you do. Do not fear heat and torture; fear the vanishing of love. Do not declare yourselves just to be able to wake up in the morning and not have to feel guilty for being a human being. Feel the strength of beauty and the energy that environs it; just like electrons to atoms. If we let each other rule our minds, we will never find peace.

Do not fight your causes for the wrong reasons and use “Holy Names” to express your hatred. Love! Because without it, you are Hell. Love! Because without it, you are ignorance. Understand love and you will find self; after self, comes self-respect; and after all findings, you will understand, live and adore for the right reasons.

Let us forget for a minute about death and concentrate on the walks, the laughter, and not the traditions in specific, but the actions because even then we were all still men.

An important part of my poetry writing has always been to seek different ways of expressing the style; mostly breaking all rules. The following poem is one of those experiments. At this time, the poem is untitled, but its meaning is very loud and important for me. And who knows, you may even connect with its message.

I feel cold inside, so I went outside to thaw my soul.

Angst and rage should not define me, but today, they do. I am sick of excuses and the constant fake declarations of peace. In a crowded war, there is no room for excuses.

Since when is making, keeping oneself dumb and uninformed acceptable? Why do people create ungrounded excuses for the random? Is this on purpose? Should we all be dumb or just “the unthinking majority?”

Can all knowledge really be lost in the idea that “I do not know because I do not care?”

Now, I am dumb-founded. In a place where knowledge should reign, excuses and bad behavior seem to rule. In a place where the future should matter most, planning for some reason is avoided.

Cultivating minds is the biggest firing of the century. Sharing knowledge is looked down upon. Growing healthy minds is unlawful. Making people capable is incapable.

Since when is knowledge frowned upon? And most importantly, why?

I have forgotten and lost some of my writings – and unfortunately this was one of them – until now. I think that as we move forward and pay attention to recent events these words could apply to many different situations in our modern lives.

I just hope I am wrong.

The first time I saw a local show I was in eleventh grade and I had just recently moved to Lakeland. At Evolution Records (downtown), Leon’s Worth, The Colorside, and Farewell to Fashion were shaking teens at this great small spot. I remember the energy and talent these guys had; it was incredible. That night, I talked to some of the guys (Shayne Soderstrom and Clint Woolley) from The Colorside, and since then the fever had begun.

Several weeks later, I saw this band called As You Wish. Local boys who really had their act together. They toured, they had merchandise, and they had a whole lot of fans. That was the first time I realized that I was in a subculture of artists who were reaching for the stars. Needless to say, I quickly found some musicians in my school and us too were making noise.

After The Colorside broke up, drummer Clint Woolley and guitarist Mark Hanifan revamped Death After Texas who with As You Wish gave us (Inception) our first chance in the local music scene. All of these guys eventually became some of my closest friends and until this day I appreciate them as musicians and friends.

The rest is history: Bands have come and gone, members have shifted around, some have quit, and some are still making it happen. Our music scene have come and gone, but these guys will always have my respect and love because they shared their music and love, and embraced me as one of their own.

As a thank you to these guys, I would love to share their musical path; both past and present. I am hoping that our readers experience what I experienced years ago, and to perhaps come out and enjoy what we are all doing today.

Past:

As You Wish (http://www.purevolume.com/asyouwish)
The Colorside (http://www.purevolume.com/thecolorside)
Death After Texas (http://www.purevolume.com/deathaftertexas)
Inception (http://www.purevolume.com/Inception)
Your Ex Hero (As You Wish, Death After Texas, and Inception members: http://www.purevolume.com/yourexhero)

Present:

Magnificent Applesauce (As You Wish members: )
Joon & Walking Catfish (Shayne Soderstrom, The Colorside: http://www.myspace.com/musicofjoon & http://www.myspace.com/hiddenlakesmusic)
White Hot Snap Shot (Mark Hanifan, Leon’s Worth & Death After Texas: http://www.myspace.com/whitehotsnapshot)

48 States Away (Your Ex Hero & Inception members: http://www.myspace.com/48statesaway)

I would like to share that there have been countless bands in this town that have befriended me and have helped me through out the years, and for that I am thankful. But, these bands and people mentioned above have affected me in a very personal and professional level which is why they will always be a pivotal part of my life as a local entertainer.

My early love for music, art, and poetry eventually served as a platform to begin writing songs, and ten years later, I had written three albums and lord knows how many works of poetry. The reason I do not know how many I have written is because the majority of my poetry has been written on napkins, baking papers, random computers–and my new favorite–my cell phone. (I do not really write them in my cell phone. I record them as they come).

If you noticed the trend, my writing is very much personal. And when it is not personal, my brain tends to insert itself into someone else’s brain and handles the issues that the person is having or going through at the time.

(If I lost you, do not worry, I have been known for losing myself as well).

The point is that I am very explosive with my writing and seldom do I try too hard to change or update what first comes out of my brain or lips. I do not over edit my work because I believe that the moment of the inspiration is what truly moves a reader rather than trying too hard to achieve a place in history or in literary academies. I write what I live, experience, love, and hate. Hope my readers do not mind.

So why am I sharing this with you? Simple. This opportunity of sharing my thoughts, works, and music in this wonderful site is my stepping stone into my dreams of becoming a writer. I will be using this medium to not only share my music and what is happening in the local music scene, but I will be also sharing my poetry, essays, as well as other poets from around the (863).

Alright, enough with the bore. I am leaving you with my latest work which I recited on my cell phone and later transferred to paper. I wrote/came up with this as I picked up trash one morning at a local parking lot. Yes, picking up trash. (We dreamers have to do what we must to keep our dreams alive!)

The title is Francis Bacon’s Bon Mot Mind and I hope no one gets too offended with its language.

First was Pep Boys’ parking lot. Man we had fun. A whole bunch of teenagers making noise in the middle of a crowded parking lot. I still wish we could play those type of shows, but the support disappeared. Really, the support always disappears. Let us see: We had Evolution Records, Woodpecker Records, Frenzi, Johnson Sound, Dirt Star, Downtown Lakeland, Florida Southern College, and Rage of the Needle, which are all dead and have been for quite some time. These places were the best! All ages, cheap to get in, and a surprise was always in store. (Once in a while an amazing touring band would stop by and rock everyone’s faces off!)

As we all grew up, the venues did too, but their fate seemed to be destined. MB3 at Carpenter’s, The Mad Hatter, Lillian’s Music Store, and Winners Circle all had a great chance at becoming something, but once again they all died, and so did the local music scene. Seeing all these places disappear kept my head running¾why, why are they all disappearing? And it finally hit me, we did not have a real music scene. We did not have people that were interested in music making and changing their surroundings like many musicians had done in the past. We just had a whole bunch of teenagers competing for popularity. Whatever band had the most amount of friends had the best shows; and that really made me want to quit music. Actually, I did. Most of us did.

But not for long.

Now, a new wave on musicians and venues are running in Lakeland again. All of us hoping to finally bring local entertainment into mainstream Lakeland. All of us just wanting to have a good time, share our thoughts and talents, and engage people a little while trying to sell enough merchandise to keep it all running along. From the death of several promoters and venues, we now have Conness Productions and Central Florida Entertainment booking hundreds of acts around Central Florida. In Lakeland, we have Doc’s Place, the new Winners Circle, DC Sportsbar, Mojo’s, and even the Polk Theater is becoming more supportive towards the local music scene by including us to their event cycles.

There is new hope that we can all have a stage or two to play and share, but that cloud of the past still hunts me at times. I guess all I can do is stay optimistic about our current music scene and keep hoping that Lakeland will finally understand and support its own musicians and artists. Until then, feel free to catch me and my friends making noise in one of the live venues around town.

Be blessed, balanced, and beautiful.

For information about what is happening around Lakeland, please visit these sites:

http://www.myspace.com/sarahsmiles321
http://entertainingfl.com/
http://www.docsplacelivemusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mojoslakeland
http://eventful.com/lakeland/events