Fun While It Lasted joins Style in an exclusive interview to discuss their start in music, Travel, inspiration, Hate Mail, and the current state of the music industry! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream Fun While it Lasted’s latest EP, Everything’s Okat (MAT MIX), and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (01/11/25)
As the inaugural year of WSRR Radio is coming to a close we want to thank all of the loyal listeners who helped spread local and independent music nationwide by playing, sharing, and posting about WSRR. Though we never set out to make our own station five years ago, we noticed a devastating and frankly disappointing hole in the radiosphere for local bands and artists to showcase their incredible talent as the future of the music industry. WSRR has never been a business, Non-Profit, Corporation, 501c3, or any corporate entity. Music is an incredibly personal relationship we all share across the globe regardless of race, sex, religion, political ideologies, or any boundary of the corporate world. Because of this we have remained what we always have been, a group of friends and creatives working together under the WSRR branding. It’s because of our loyal listeners, our amazing sponsors who support the station with their gift donations, and of course, the talented local artists across the globe that we are able to do what we do. With that said, it’s time to find out who has been the breakout artist this past 2024! Fan voting is now open below and will continue through December 31st where we will name the WSRR Artist of the Year as voted on by YOU! Continue to share the love for your local music scene and your favorite independent artist by voting below and sharing the poll! Best of luck to ALL of our one-of-a-kind artists on WSRR!
Matt Cortez joins Style in an exclusive interview discussing his start in music, Silver Dollar, Cutest Nuisance, Synergy Music Studio, The British Invasion, and Chicago’s local music scene! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream Silver Dollar’s latest EP Lotus Flower, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (09/20/24)
Full disclosure: I first heard about Gavin Michaels‘s upcoming single Plastic Decays roughly a year ago at a private event. Upon hearing it again fully mixed and mastered, I am happy to report the psychosomatic, delusion-inducing, Mandela effect trip I found myself experiencing in an attempt to identify where this pronounced beat and melody I consistently found in my head derived from is not that at all! Unable to locate anything similar on Spotify, YouTube, or WSRR Radio, I was under the opinion that I had quite simply lost my absolute ever-loving mind. However, what I did not realize at the time was this very tune stuck in my head was the yet-to-be-released Gavin Michaels hit single Plastic Decays.
Plastic Decays, not unlike every other song by the one and only Gavin Michaels, is an absolute instant classic. With a sound I can only describe as Pop Punk Vapourwave complete with 8-bit video game SFX, Plastic Decays takes a look at the modern alteration culture of trends like Botox, fillers, and body modification that cannot disguise whats actually inside. The song serves as a great reminder for the modern generation that buying looks, ideologies, or trends is not the same as achieving happiness. Describing in an exaggerated example of how far some people will take their ideologies of achieving a “perfect look”, Gavin brilliantly includes the stand-out line of the song in my eyes, “Rip your heart out your chest because it beats too slow”.
While Plastic Decays is set for release on August 16th, 2024 on all major streaming platforms, Listeners of WSRR Radio will be treated to an early release with the song being added to our daily radio beginning August 2nd, 2024! Be sure to tune in to WSRR to catch Plastic Decays early and let us (216-859-8699) as well as Gavin (@_GavinMichaels) know what YOU think!
-Style
Mason The Bassman stops by the WSRR Studio to join Style live on air in an exclusive interview discussing his start in music, Fuzzy Vandelay, booking gigs, “America’s Favorite Band”, and Cleveland’s local music scene! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream Fuzzy Vandelay’s latest single Favorite Lies, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (07/19/24)
Eli Moon stops by the WSRR Studio to join Style live on air in an exclusive interview discussing his start in music, broadcasting, stories from gigs, and the community that makes up Cleveland’s local music scene! Check out the full interview below, be sure to stream Moon’s latest single First Round, and tune in to WSRR Radio!
Interview from (06/29/24)
WSRR Radio was established on a handful of extremely talented artists that gave us the confidence that we could sustain playing ONLY local and independent musicians. Gavin Michaels was one of the first names that came to mind. A talent unlike any other, voice, talent and stage presence that is unmatched, Gavin Michaels is a first-ballot superstar. But, If you find yourself asking, just who is Gavin Michaels, we’ve got you covered!
Gavin Michaels, “was born in the pouring rains of Seattle WA, and recently moved to the equally dreary Cleveland OH to bring his signature flavor of emo/pop-punk to the Midwest.” In his own words.
Heavily inspired by the Punk Rock scene, Gavin strives to create shows that are exciting, engaging, and reflect the uniqueness of every particular audience.
“In college, I tore up the Seattle music scene with several pop-punk bands, and grew significantly as an artist. When 2020 hit, I took that time to focus inward, and developed my own music. What initially started as indie-acoustic venture, (A Song for the Insecure) eventually grew into to lofi-pop EP (Butterflies), and finally to the powerful pop-rock single Goodnight Seattle! With the return of live music in 2022, I’m focused on making music that’s not only a good listen, but meant to be experienced.”
Gavin Michaels new EP, Along for the Ride, drops May 27th and features three tracks that, “lie somewhere between The Killers, Panic! at the Disco and Green Day.” The EP is set to explore identity, anxiety, and the never-ending struggle to grow as a person.
Look for Gavin Michaels on Spotify and YouTube and catch his music played live on WSRR Radio!
This article originally written for StylesRebelRadio.com and CBW Radio.
Join Style, Shayne, and Julez as they celebrate this milestone LIVE on air Monday March 4th at 5pm eastern on WSRR Radio and Simulcast on the Style’s Rebel Radio Youtube Page! Help join in the fun by leaving a voicemail on The Rebel Hotline (216-859-8699) recollecting your favorite moments, memories, and more! Hear your message played live on air as Style, Shayne and Julez share their own favorite memories from Guests, to topics, to Conspiracies, and much much more. Have a question about The Rebel Radio Show or the process behind it? Feel free to use the hotline to leave a message asking those questions or just tell us what you’ve thought about the show so far!
In addition, The Rebel Radio Show will be holding a $1 raffle for the limited edition 200th episode WSRR T-Shirt! Anyone who Venmo’s the official WSRR account $1 gets entered and a winner will be chosen live on air! Enter now by sending you dollar to @WSRRRadio on venmo or visit the Support page and scan the QR code!
The Rebel Radio Show is only possible because of dedicated listeners and supporters like you, we thank you and hope you will join us LIVE, March 4th, on WSRR Radio to celebrate 200 Episodes!
-WSRR
Many people may be familiar with Jeff Strich’s morning radio work, however those who have followed the Clevelander may also recall a number of podcasts he has hosted. While it has been some time away, Jeff is eager to get back behind the podcast mic with his brand new show Strictly Strich produced by StylesRebelRadio.com. The series will follow an open format and long-form discussions ranging from a variety of topics chosen by the man himself or potentially the listening audience. With a “New name, New Podcast, New Attitude” Strich hits the ground running Sunday 01/21/24 at 10am Eastern on StylesRebelRadio.com and Spotify!
While there aren’t a lot of albums I’m determined to get my hands on a physical copy of in 2024, Last year’s debut album from The Daze, Methomania, is one that has made a permanent home in my car’s CD Player. The Daze is a band of up-and-comers out of Jefferson Ohio who have quickly taken the independent music scene by storm. Methomania perfectly encapsulates the band’s alternative rock and grunge roots while showcasing their versatility both instrumentally and in vocal dexterity.
Methomania kicks off with “Falling for Nothing” which is hands down the perfect introduction to the rollercoaster ride of rock the next 40 minutes are about to entail. With a bassline equal parts simple and hypnotic, Falling for Nothing takes mere seconds to get you on the edge of your seat and waiting for the crescendo of Guitar and Drums to kick in. Common practice with album etiquette typically sees your into track be a familiar single, hard-hitting radio play heavy track or a fan favorite. Falling for Nothing, Previously released as a single, definitely ticks all those boxes. Not to mention, It can be heard at the end of every Rebel Radio Show, Live Mondays at 5pm on WSRR.
In an ambitious and bold move The title track, “Methomania”, follows with a jolt of hard rock, kickass grunge that’ll send you back to 1994 MTV complete with radio-esc distortion that ties it all together. Lead singer Eddie Grier does an impeccable job of maintaining cleverly crafted, audible vocals with vivid symbolism. According to the singer, Methomania (An ancient Greek/English word relating to alcohol dependence) details the generational trauma inflicted by a father who finds himself at the bottom of bottle after bottle being passed down to his son. The song is a self-relectant cry for help from the son in overcoming these demons, to not find themselves in the same situation and depths they witnessed their father succumb to.
“Pop-song for Heartbreak” is my personal sleeper pick off Methomania. In a showcase of versatility striking similar to Nirvana’s Spank Thru (Originally written in the style of a pseudo-pop song by Kurt Cobain prior to the formation of Nirvana), “Pop-Song for Heartbreak” is unapologetically upfront and literal. Equal parts real and catchy, this track fits a wide variety of playlists and provides a perfect crowd interactive experience when performed live.
“New Wave War” follows up the punk ballad with a rallying cry to a generation. This single perfectly encapsulates the band’s chemistry as the bass, drums, and lead guitar play off each other masterfully. A welcome addition to any workout or hype-up playlist, New Wave War is reminiscent of the outspoken alternative newcomers of the early 2000s. If you’re looking for the perfect track to complement Muse’s “Uprising” or All-American Rejects “Move Along” then look no further.
Another dark horse pick that could easily be considered an instant classic, “Pushing Triggers” provides all the evidence needed to prove that Grunge is not dead. Quite simply put, With a guitar riff that gets stuck in my head at least once a week, the track title Pushing Triggers tells you exactly what you need to know and expect heading into it.
“Hymn Of The Abyss” takes a meta look at itself as well as the album as a whole. As described by composer Eddie Grier, the track is a diatribe about the anxiety and fear of releasing his personal work to the world in this album. With this in mind, “Hymn Of The Abyss” I believe single-handedly remedies itself by expressing to the listening audience just how much dedication went into this album and that it is honest through and through. Grier also explains the original working title for the track was “I Don’t Wanna Be Here” however he found it “too generic and sad”. Ironically enough very similar lyrics can still be heard in the song’s chorus.
It’s been said the final track on an album should be reserved for a longer ballad or experimental song. I believe the last FOUR tracks of Methomania could fit into this camp, but none more than “Rain”. The track utilizes a very literal title, heavily featuring rain-backing accompanied by soothing rhythmic guitar and bass. The perfect track to throw on for a long drive or even the score of a cinematic sweeping establishing shot for your next big jungle movie. Rain is, for lack of a better explanation, “A Vibe” in every sense of the word and offers the flexibility for listeners to find their own experiences or serenity to its rhythm. Similarly “Lose This Feeling” is coated in relateability creating less of a song and more of a personal experience for the listener.
“Shoreline” continues the trend of using water as a visual representation of doubt, fear, anxiety, and general depression one must overcome. The Waves in the song represent the highs and lows, the ebbs and flows, one may battle in their own mind. While the track begins in a seemingly dark fashion depicting a man who is overtaken by these thoughts and is ready to act upon them, the song continues to unveil the continuous questions he faces from himself during the process. The “Shoreline” itself comes as a form of redemption. While the man is still unsure of exactly what is going on in his life or why his mind is trapped in such a dark state, he begins to realize if he remains contemptuous of being alone in his agony things will never improve. Rather, The man has to take charge of his situation and realize he is the only one who can change the future by controlling his perception of his past. The Song as a whole provides an empathetic look into the struggles of depression and anxiety. As a listener, this creates a beautiful reminder that even though it may feel like it at times, you are alone in your struggles.
The album is wrapped up with the lullaby-esc tones of “Bleed Me Out”. A calm, emotion-filled outro that magnificently encapsulates the journey we have just taken. The ballad is composed in such a way you just want to lay back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Often times debut albums focus too much on just “how hard can we rock” and leave you at the end of it full of unspent adrenaline that fades into silence with the end of the final track. The Daze winds down Methomania gracefully as if you are attending a live show approving the late hours of the night every time you listen.
There is a common saying that “rock is dead”, and I find that statement to only be as true as the stations you listen to. If all you listen to is mainstream corporate radio, unfortunately, you will only hear the same “Top 40” rock ballad you’ve heard for the past 40 years. Not only is real rock still out there, but Methomania proves that subgenres like grunge are still alive and well. I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t yet got a chance to listen to Methomania to stream it now on Spotify. More over than that, support your local and independent artists like The Daze by purchasing a physical copy or listening to WSRR Radio for more of the music that keeps rock alive.