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Zink American Kitchen

http://harpersrestaurants.com/zink.html

Zink located right in the heart of Charlotte, Photo by cityguides.msn.com

Zink American Kitchen is a Harper’s restaurant located uptown on North Tryon. This chic restaurant and bar offers endless possibilities for holiday parties. The bar features American wines and beers to complement the regional American favorite dishes, which have all been given a modern twist. Not only can Zink cater for customers in any venue or in a customer’s home, but they also offer the option of renting out the lounge, patio, downstairs, upstairs, or the entire restaurant for events. The upstairs is the most popular space for private events. This area can accommodate up to 100 people in a seated 3-course dinner atmosphere, or in a reception style atmosphere with heavy hors d’oeuvres to allow for more mingling and socialization.

Del Fresco's "Big Meal" photo by www.delfriscos.com

Del Friscos

http://www.delfriscos.com/charlotte/

If you’re looking for a great place to have upscale holiday parties in the South Park area then look no further than Del Frisco’s. Del Frisco’s is noted for its outstanding cuisine featuring great steaks, seafood, and desserts. They offer over 1,000 selections of wine from around the world on their award winning wine list. The restaurant offers customers the option of having their event in the beautiful wine cellar, which is located beneath the main dining floor. The wine cellar space can accommodate up to 75 people for a seated dinner. Del Frisco’s also offers other private dining rooms which seat up to 35 guests and allow guests to have access to a private bar area. Guests also have the option of semi-private dining spaces, which are secluded from other guests but allows for the experience of the great energy and ambiance of Del Frisco’s. Customers can pre-select wine, appetizers, or choose a limited menu thanks to Del Frisco’s flexibility and desire to work with those who have special requests. If you want to emphasize the holidays at your party, Del Frisco’s is more than happy to add decorations in any way customers want to help them celebrate.

BlackFinn

http://www.blackfinncharlotte.com/

Black Finn, Photo by www.blackfinncharlotte.com

BlackFinn, located uptown in the EpiCentre, is a great place for a casual or formal holiday event. BlackFinn can accommodate groups of varying sizes and is always sure to throw a great party. The restaurant offers seasonal decorations and an exceptional menu which can be enjoyed in any of the four unique rooms which are available for rent. Guests also have the option of renting out the entire restaurant if desired. The roughly 3200 square foot second floor provides a four sided fully-stocked bar and several high definition televisions. This space allows for seated dinners or cocktail parties. Classic decorations and a fun environment will provide customers with a warm atmosphere for the holiday season.

Dressler's photo by www.dresslersrestaurant.com

Dressler’s

www.dresslersrestaurant.com

If you’re having a holiday party in the Lake Norman area, you can always expect great food, service, and ambiance at Dressler’s Restaurant located in Birkdale Village in Huntersville. The restaurant is festively decorated with holiday decorations to enhance the dining experience. Dressler’s offers a private party room which seats up to 45 people, or customers have the option of renting out the entire restaurant. The full menu is available for parties of up to 15 people. The entire restaurant can be rented for a seated dinner of up to 135 people, or for a party with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails of up to 350 people. The private room is recommended for those looking for an intimate dining experience.

Fig Tree

www.charlottefigtree.com

The Fig Tree, located in Elizabeth area. Photo by charlotte.citysearch.com/

The Fig Tree Restaurant at the Lucas House offers holiday charm in a unique and comfortable setting. The Fig Tree is in an older home in Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood on East 7th Street. They have exceptional food and a great wine list. All rooms in the Fig Tree are available to rent for holiday parties. Private parties with 8 to 40 people can be accommodated, and the menu is tailored to each customer. The Fig Tree works with guests to determine what they are looking for. If a set menu is preferred, customers can base their selections on what is featured currently on the Fig Tree menu, have a chef’s tasting menu, or make special requests to suit their needs. The full menu can also be made available for most groups if desired. The house is beautifully decorated during the holiday season, giving each holiday party a cheerful atmosphere.

Dolce Vita

http://www.dolcevitawines.com/

Known for live music and exciting special events, the Dolce Vita Wine Bar in NoDa is a great place to host a holiday party with no rental fee. Dolce Vita offers a relaxed and enjoyable environment for customers to discover new wines and beers. The venue can accommodate small personal groups and large corporate gatherings who desire either appetizers or a full course meal. For something entertaining and special, customers can set up a private wine tasting for their group event. “What’s the best part of having your holiday party at Dolce Vita? No fuss, no mess, and we’ll do the dishes!”

Out front at Dolce Vita, Photo by www.dolcevitawines.com

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Of a Revolution (O.A.R) recently visited Charlotte on its tour Of All Sides, its newest album.

In preparation for the tour stop/visit Chris Culos, the band’s drummer, was kind enough to answer a few questions over the phone for me. He has been friends with the band’s dynamic frontman, Marc Roberge, since early childhood and has seen the band grow since its infancy. He believes that O.A.R is still very much the same O.A.R that its fans fell in love with, but did admit to a common desire amongst the bandmates to bridge the gap between the commercialized world of pop/radio and their original dub-style rock. He says that the band focused on “having a couple songs on the record that could potentially access opportunities from the radio, film, or television.” His justification for this desire is that it would help the band reach a new level nationally and in turn allow for much broader avenue of influence.

He feels that the band has progressed musically to a point of stronger songwriting and composing, which is ironic considering several of the songs were written by Gregg Wattenburg and not Roberge. But he noted that O.A.R will never lose touch with its love and pursuit of live performances saying, “We never changed what we do live and I think that is where we excel as a band.” Truer words have never been spoken. O.A.R still puts up one hell of a show. Nothing can give a better testament to this fact than their concluding and downright awesome live rendition of their famous Crazy Game of Poker. It started with Richard On laying the foundation of slowly picked guitar, later joined by James DePizzo on the saxophone. Add on Culos’ rhythm and Roberge’s freewheeling and seemingly free styled opening lyrics, and the entire

audience was brought to the edge of their seat by the time On rips into the familiar opening riff and Roberge begins telling a tale of one wild game of poker. Fifteen minutes later the fans have gotten what they came for, and the band was surely worn out as the two-hour set came to a climactically exhausting end.

Of a Revolution (O.A.R) has drawn heavy criticism from all sides. It is not the style to which O.A.R.’s loyal fans have grown accustomed. Some even believe that their departure from the reggae inflected sound of the band’s original albums is a Lou Pearlman handshake short of crossing over to the dark side; that is the world of watered down, ghost written pop. A point from which the band can continue to grow and evolve. Did they compromise some of their musical integrity by outsourcing their lyrical authority to Wattenburg? Yes. Was the album otherwise overproduced? Yes. But everyone makes mistakes. Experience is the only thing you can grow from. To destructively criticize an otherwise intellectually creative and musically gifted group of artists for one misstep made in an effort to simply reach more people with their message is uncalled for and I admit, shamelessly, overzealous.

American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled event for girls and their families, friends, and favorite dolls! Celebrate the experience of being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions. Enjoy an elegant meal, enter to win door prizes, and learn how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles.

Not recommended for children under five. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information please click here.

TOP 25 CELEBATED CHARLOTTE STYLE

Queen City’s Top 25 most stylish honored at magazine cover party

L.A. meets New York City. In honor of the top 25 most stylish trendsetters, the modish and dapper gathered uptown at Loft 1523 for a fashion-friendly celebration hosted by Charlotte STYLE Magazine. This red carpet affair took place Friday, Oct.3, 2008 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Everyone from socialites, to civic leaders, to business moguls, to celebrities, to STYLISTAS were all in attendance celebrating the launch of the magazine.

With an innovative approach to style, Matt Carroll (Charlotte Bobcats), Morgan Fogarty (Fox Charlotte), Afshin Ghazi (The Ghazi Company), and model, Courtnee Mason dominated the top four spots on the list. The remaining 21 style-savvy Charlotteans were taken by surprise as they also received honorary recognition.

Lights, camera, action should have been the theme of the party because the L.A. style event was a night of fun, food, and fashion. The urbane atmosphere accompanied by an eclectic mix of sound surrounded party-goers as they celebrated. Honorees were greeted with on the spot interviews in attempt to unveil their personal interpretations of what defines Charlotte style. As the top 25 made their way from the red carpet to the crowd-filled loft, they were asked the most important question of the night, “What’s your style?”

“My style is something that is sexy and fresh, and make people say, ‘I want that’”, said Courtnee Mason, one of the top four honorees featured on the cover of Charlotte STYLE Magazine.

From comfortable to classic, the responses varied as did the star studded personalities. While celebrity make-up artist, Chris Lanston, with his creative flair added a dash of artistic flavor to the party along with other honorees such as Joey Hewell of J. Studio Salon and Rachel Roff of Urban Skin Solutions, Charlotte’s slam master, Bluz, stylish, yet cool brought a little soul, creating well balanced fusion of prim and proper excitement.

As the night went on, attendees and honorees, clad in their finest, sipped on custom-made signature STYLE-tinis accompanied by chocolate covered strawberries as they gathered around for the award ceremony and the big reveal of the magazine’s cover.

Some of the other well known award recipients consisted of chic business owners like Tye Coe, owner of Charlotte’s first studio style boutique, Glamour Puss and Arezo Hafezi of Modern Salon and Spa as well as civic leader, Harold Cogdell of The Law Offices of Harold Cogdell Jr.

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Photo by Rich Hovis Photography

1- NoDa Art Crawl - This is not a particularly new function in town; it’s been around for at least a year or two and possibly more. If you want to maintain your status as a stylish member in the QC, I’d recommend a visit to North Davidson Street on either the first or third Friday of any month.

2- Plaza Midwood -Take your pick of a few joints. They are all in style and you are assured a good time. If you are looking for good eats, then you’ll want to hit up the Penguin. The Penguin has the best service, burgers and fried pickles in Charlotte, but not a lot of space; it’s always jam-packed. Philosopher’s Stone occasionally has really good live music and a nice ambiance. Combined with “corn hole out back” it makes for a winner. Thomas Street Tavern has ping pong for those in search of a little activity.

3- A Carolina Panthers home game- Whether you are a football aficionado, or just there for the scene, be sure to root for the home team.

Photo taken from http://www.realpagessites.com/nikkojapaneserest/page9.html

4- Sunset Club- South End’s hottest hot spot is back in the swing of thing with a new look, a new feel and an even longer line at the door. Come prepared to rub shoulders with who knows who…

5- Nikko- You cannot mention being seen, heard, wined and dined without mentioning the city’s hottest spot for sushi, socializing and STYLE. At Charlotte STYLE, we are slight sushi enthusiasts to say the least so for us, Nikko can best be described as sushi with a super hot twist. With a Live DJ to mix on the weekends, a lunch crowd to satisfy the fiercest of people- watchers and a bar that serves up ridiculous chic, self-indulging drinks…there really is no other place to be “Scene N Heard” in the QC.

Charleston Fashion Week opens its Emerging Designer competition to Residents of SC, NC, and GA.  A panel of five prestigious judges will award nine aspiring designers with the opportunity to show their collections during Charleston Fashion Week in March 2009.  The winner will be recognized at the finale gala on Saturday March 28th.

An application along with qualifying and submission information for the competition can be found online at Charleston Fashion Week’s Official Web site www.CharlestonFashionWeek.com.

Charlotte STYLE Magazine Launch Party and October Cover Party

Celebrating the 25 Most Stylish People in Charlotte

Honorees:

Matt Carroll, Charlotte Bobcats

Afshin Ghazi, The Ghazi Company

Morgan Fogarty, Fox Charlotte

Courtnee Mason, Model / Stylista

And More…..

Date: Friday October 3, 2008

Time: 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Special Presentation at 10:30 p.m.

Location: Loft 1523 (Located at 1523 Elizabeth Avenue)

Dress Code: STYLISH and Red Carpet Ready

Tickets:

Thank you Charlotte!

All Ticket Sales Are Final

K. Davis and B. Wright

When I walked into the private lounge at the Ballantyne Resort, she greeted me with the type of southern hospitality that, as a native New Yorker, I haven’t felt in awhile. She had this glow about her, a very humble yet genuine charm. She introduced herself and asked for my name. She offered me a bottle of water and other refreshments before we began our afternoon chat about her clothing line.

After we sat down and she started talking about this fabulous new line at Belk, I couldn’t help but notice how polished she looked from head to toe; the pleated blouse she had on was fierce, the high waisted pants fit her frame just perfectly and she had on this cute pair of black patent leather baby doll shoes - all from her new collection. I’m was totally jealous and commited to working out as soon as I got home (which mind you when I got home I ate a nice piece of chocolate cake that I baked earlier in the week, shame on me!).

After the chat session was over she gladly posed for a picture with me. On my way out the door I gave her the message my E-I-C wanted to me to relay. Kristen smiled and replied “tell her thanks so much and I never get tired of hearing it.” I can see why Joy adores her. And if you ever get a chance to meet her you’ll know why too.

Here is a snippet of our tea time conversation.

Brie: So how excited are you about the launch of the new line?

Kristin: I’m excited! I’m kind of nervous. It’s daunting, I have to say. I mean I knew intellectually that it would be, but now that it’s actually here and the fact that we have all this stuff made and there’s so many different areas – the accessories, the jewelry, the shoes, the belts, the bags - it’s a little overwhelming and I feel nervous. But I’m excited!

Brie: Take me through the process from the time you decided, Oh my gosh, I would love to have a clothing line, or were you approached with the opportunity to create a line?

Kristen: Yes. I thought to myself, wow, I really admire Sarah Jessica for doing a clothing line, that makes sense to me. I thought, you know, it’s a lot of work, there’s a lot of famous people doing it, I don’t know if that would be for me. And then Belk came to me through my agent and my agent called me and said ‘Do you know Belk?’ and I said, ‘Do I know Belk??? Yeah!’ I said I’ve been shopping there since I was eight and if I were to do [a clothing line] that is where I would want to do it – in the South with an established store, that knows what they’re doing, knows their customer base and is solid. There is a tradition involved [at Belk] where you’re part of that tradition where you’re not a new venture figuring it out as you go. I mean, I’m figuring it out as I go, but they know what they’re doing (laughs). So I said yes based on the fact that they were them and I knew them and I trusted them and also because I felt like I understood the aesthetic [in the south] because I’m from here and it is different than the rest of the country in a lot of ways, I felt like I could function here knowing the aesthetic and wanting to modernize it a little bit.

So that’s how it happened. It’s definitely not like I felt the internal need to have a clothing line. It was more like ‘Ooo, I could do this” and then after awhile I was like ‘Oh my gosh, what did I get into’ and now that [the line] is coming out and people are buying it and liking it, it is exciting, it’s a very exciting thing. And a lot of that is because it has been a great collaboration; [Belk] is really respectful of my opinions but at the same time I can go to them and I can say I need you guys to educate me, what are you’re top sellers, what are your age ranges who will be buying suits at Belk’s. And they know their customers. So you’re not with a company where it’s overwhelming or its hard to figure out or something like that they understand their customer so they can say to me ‘these are our top selling suits’ and then I can say ‘ok I would want to update it in X way’ or ‘ see I wouldn’t be caught dead in that suit so we have to leave that one out (laughs) but I love this suit so let’s try to work with this shape’. I can go to them for basic knowledge about retail. ‘Cause obviously I don’t [know]

Brie: Except that you go shopping so you know about retail from that side…

Kristen: I have to say I’m not the biggest shopper. I mean I do think that’s one of the big misconceptions about actresses in general. Part of it is because there are certain actresses that shop a lot and are photographed shopping a lot but my friends, we hardly ever shop, and part of the reason that we don’t shop is that we’re so spoiled by mailed free things. Why do you need to shop? You don’t need to shop (laughs). So I did almost feel a little out of touch I have to say, I had to kind of put on my baseball cap and do a little research in terms of department stores specifically. I mean if you’re only going to Barney’s you’re not really in touch with the variety of department stores [and knowing] what are the brands at department stores now. Before the deal was announced I went in my baseball cap to all the Belk’s around Columbia [SC] and looking around at who was there and what ages they were and I saw a lot of mothers and daughters which is how I grew up shopping there and I got a lot of information. We do have people shopping who are in high school and we do have people like my mother’s age shopping in my department so now I’m like oh my gosh, we have to try and please everybody. I want to please everybody and that’s the wonderful thing you can get from a department store that you wouldn’t be getting if you were at a specialty store.

Brie: Tell me your one STYLISH accessory that you cannot live without.

Kristen: Wow, for fall?

Brie: Sounds great…

Kristen: Okay, because I have to narrow it down because this is super hard (laughs). I’m going to go with patent, patent leather. Because [in the line] we have all these skinny belts and I wasn’t a skinny belt person I was a wide belt person. There is something about a pop of shine that can be so helpful. It’s a tough [question] though; because there’s some other things I can say obviously but I’m gonna go with patent. When I was packing, every single shoe that I brought for this number of events were the patent ones. Details are what make things unique and special and different and that’s what we try to incorporate. Even if you had jeans on, we have the little patent flats, its fun! But that was a tough one, that’s the toughest question I had all day (laughs)

Want to know more about Kristin Davis’ line at Belk? Log on later this month as Charlotte STYLE Magazine gives you an inside look at what’s hot and what’s hotter in her collection.

Virginia Coalition has been on the road more often than not for the past ten years.  In doing so, the band VACO, as fans like to call them, has built a loyal following and reputation of energized performances and true musical talent. More than that, their sincerity and genuine good heartedness has won people over throughout their travels. The band has grown more reflective in their new album Home This Year.  I was fortunate enough to sit down with them before their show at the Visulite Theatre on August 15, 2008…

What do you think of Charlotte?

Umm…Sucks. I hate it and…Get me out. No, I’m kidding. North Carolina is always awesome because the fans are so responsive. But it’s always cool to come to Charlotte because most of the state is much smaller towns and a little off the beaten path; so to speak. But when you’re in Charlotte you get a definite big city feel and it’s a little different crowd. You know?

Yeah, for sure. Who, would you say are your biggest influences musically?

Andy- Well, I listen to everything from classical to country. So I’m really all across the board.

Paul- Ben Folds, Billy Joel

Jarrett- anything without a saxophone,

Andy- Yeah definitely no saxophone.

How did the band form?

Andy-We all knew each other from the ages of 13-14. Basically, we just wanted to make noise and impress girls.  And here we are.

What are the plans for the immediate future in the next year or so?

Andy- Um, immediate future?  Pizza, cheesy bread, and Oreo pizza.  Have you ever had Oreo pizza?  It’s great (music from soundtrack begins to play and Andy freestyles) Ooooo…I’m so hungry I could taste it; all I ever wanted was Oreo dust on my pizza crust.  Yeah Yeah Yeah.

Andy- My plan is to keep touring promoting our new record.  It’s opened up so many new opportunities for us.  I also hope that we never loose our sense of humor.  And obviously, want to keep on being [difficult] as long as possible. HaHa

You guys are known for the great energy of your live performances as well as your raw musical talent. What are the things you would like to be known for, and what do you think is the central theme or message in your music?

Andy- Musically I think we would like to be known for drawing on the world around us for our inspiration.  We create positive energy out of some of the painful aspects of life.  As a band we would like to be known for loyalty to friends in pursuit of our dreams.  To sum it up, “we took some lickins and kept on tickin’.”

I heard from a friend that there used to be one more member in the band.  This could be entirely untrue, I don’t know.  What’s the story there?

Andy- First of all you should find that friend and slap them. 

Paul- But seriously, the truth is they are terrorists apparently being held in Guatanimmo Bay.

Andy- We have been doing this for ten years.  That’s a long time to be on the road.  We understand that this type of thing is not for everybody.  People have their own lives.  They get married.  They want to settle down.  We understand that.

Jarrett- I don’t think we could have ever made this record had we not been through people joining and leaving the band. 

Paul- We’ve adapted to circumstances and we have grown from that personally and musically.  We are a closer group and a better band.

What do you feel is the most outstanding characteristic of the band?

Paul and Andy (in unison)-Um… That would be Jarrett.

Jarrett- I would say that the most outstanding characteristic is our ability to go on stage and, regardless, create excitement and an energizing performance.

Andy- At this point we have been at it for so long I think it would have to be our tremendous confidence in what we do.

Your new album has a much lighter feel, is this reflective of your lives at this point?

Andy- Yes.  This record is all about songwriting.  We came together, and all met in a lighter spot.

Who wrote the songs, everyone?

Andy- Yeah, that’s the most important part.  

Bebe at Northlake Mall launched their fall fashion line August 20, 2008 with an exclusive RSVP only screening. The trunk show featured a special guest DJ and fashion show. Check out STYLE’s exclusive photos by Marco Dayne Photography.

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Photo by www.condocando.com

What’s open now?

Whisky River

Open Tuesday through Sunday, Dale Earnhart Jr.’s bar is already quickly becoming a favorite of the NASCAR fan and casual bar-hopper alike. With live music on Sundays, a rock and roll DJ, and a mechanical bull, Whisky River is making noise on the Charlotte social landscape.

 Suite

Open on a limited basis, it offers exclusive service and a more refined crowd; for a price.  This nightclub is consistently at capacity, so plan ahead if you want to enjoy your night.

 Howl at the moon

 This dueling piano bar is a source of likely entertainment and good times all around. It has a slightly different crowd Suite and whisky River. It even claims to be “the most fun you can have with your clothes on!” I’m not too sure, but will give them the benefit of  the doubt.

What to expect?

Bowling Alley This will not be the chili-cheese fries and beer joint from the Big Lebowski, nor will it be much of a family establishment. It will be adults only by nightfall.

Movie Theater Also an adult-only joint by night, will feature wine and dessert bars along with a cultured atmosphere

The Charlotte EpiCentre stands to make some waves in Charlotte’s social current. With three bars/clubs already open and many other stores and attractions in the works, Charlotte’s heart beat is in its geographical center. Located at 210 E. Trade Street it is only a few doors down from Time Warner Arena (formerly Charlotte Bobcats Arena) and has an escalator connecting pedestrians directly with College Street.  It is currently open for business on a limited weekly schedule with Suite, Whisky River, and Howl at the Moon. Soon to debut are the Fudge Factory, a movie theatre and bowling alley. Eventually there will be 50 retail tenants and space is sure to come at a premium.

So, who is the man behind this $200 million construction project?  Surely it is an elder investor with more money than a Byzantine Sultan and the experience to feel assured of his investment, right? Well, I soon found out as I had arranged an interview and tour of the facility with the proprietor, the man in charge, of the EpiCentre construction project.

Afshin Ghazi is a self-made man in just about every respect. He came to Charlotte from Kentucky with only $10,000 to his name. Now he is one of the most respected and successful members of the community. I was looking to make a good impression. Consequently, I spent a moment deliberating my outfit before arriving. I didn’t want to show up looking like an unprofessional bum, of course but at the same time I didn’t want to overdress and look like an overzealous snob. So, the Charlotte STYLE fashion consultants suggested I opt for safety in numbers as in “Brooks Brother” linen khaki pants and simple collared shirt. It was classy, yet casual Refined without being haughty And noticeable but not flashy. Perfect.

 A young-looking guy in plaid cargo shorts and white shirt approached me with a friendly smile and two impressive looking German Shepherds in tow. I felt relieved when it turned out that this was the man himself. Ghazi. He flashed a friendly smile and gave a congenial welcome and was a casual and personable guy who just happened to be overseeing a $220 million construction project. Don’t get me wrong; he was very much in charge and had little time to spare. But, he spent several minutes listening to and answering questions attentively. 

    I took several things away from my interview with Mr. Ghazi.  The first lesson I learned was one that everyone is reminded of several times during their life.  That is to say you should never assume anything about a person before meeting them. People in this country and all over the world have amazing stories of success and human will.

Afshin Ghazi is no exception to this, but ironically this means that he is quite exceptional indeed. The world is filled with exceptional people doing exceptional things. Some people build multimillion-dollar retail outlets and elevate the social fabric of the city while others wake up everyday, put on their shoes, a friendly smile, and simply do their best.  I was pleasantly reminded that one does not exclude the other, and in this case both are certainly true, as.

Ghazi is a man with a vision. We should consider ourselves fortunate that this vision includes our city and the further development of it.  It is people like Afshin Ghazi and their dreams and ideas that make this city what it is and will become.

Fashionistas and Fashionistos alike showed up on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Charlotte’s newest and very chic boutique, Glamourpuss for their Grand Opening/Launch Party. With Stylist Tye Coe and the rest of the posse, the boutique which is located in swanky SouthEnd, served “Glamtinis”, hors’ devours and an awesome selection of clothing, funky accessories and a wicked eyebrow wax!

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Hailing from San Diego, California, rock band My American Heart has been touring the country on the Stay Classy USA Tour with more heart for their music and their fans than your every day music artist. Bass player Dustin Hook’s performance antics kept the crowd wildly entertained, and I was exceptionally impressed with singer Larry Soliman’s ability to emit such strong vocals because he was a small guy. I also found myself taking blurry pictures that was the result of me inability to stop dancing during the concert long enough to hold the camera still. My interview with Soliman reveals the band’s favorite clothing brands, band member habits, and the passionate humility which drives My American Heart.

D: Will you introduce yourself for the readers?

L: Hi, my name is Larry; I sing for a band called My American Heart.

D: Where did the concept for the band originate?

L: Well, we were fourteen and wanted to be in a band. We listened to covers and played them. Me and Jesse are the only originals, that’s my guitarist, and we wanted to play covers. We entered a Battle of the Bands and actually won. I mean, everyone does battle of the bands, but this was against forty-year-olds.

D: And you were fourteen?

L: We were fourteen, and we won. Everyone was so pissed off; there were, like, sixty bands, and we ended up winning the whole thing. It was ridiculous.

D: Where was it?

L: San Diego. It’s where I’m from and where the band started.

D: What cover bands did you play?

L: We did Saves the Day, New Found Glory, MXPX, and the Ataris. That whole fourteen-year-old kind of deal, you know?

D: Did you listen to any other San Diego bands in the area?

L: Yeah, that’s what inspired me to be in a band. There was a band called Counterfeit that broke up, there was a band called Noise Ratchet that broke up, and a band called No Knife, who is getting back together, and they are just amazing.

D: Bands in this genre tend to have a younger fan-base. Are there any ways that you guys have tried to market yourselves to an older crowd?

L: Well, you can’t really help who likes your music, and you can’t limit yourself. It can be anyone, even a child. I listened to Al Green as a kid, and he makes really mature music, you know? I mean, my mom listens to that. I want to be a band that appeals to everyone, and I’m not trying to limit myself.

D: You guys were on Warped Tour a few years ago right?

L: Yeah we did it the last three years in a row besides this year.

D: Why didn’t you guys do it this year?

L: We didn’t want to become known as a “Warped Tour band”.

D: How did that experience help or hinder the band.

L: It was…hell. It’s hot everyday, you have to deal with huge crowds all trying to get somewhere. It’s ridiculous, but it does open your eyes and make you work really hard. I’d rather play club venues, personally.

D: Yeah, I went and did some press for it, and it was exhausting. I don’t know how bands do it every day. Well, there were a few rumors that I found on a couple of websites about Boys, Grab Your Guns! being a pretty painful experience for you guys with a couple of different stories. Can you clarify what that song is about?

L: I wrote it, and it’s more of a metaphor or joke against our old guitarist who gave us death threats and what not, as well as his bitterness against us, but the thing is we didn’t kick him out; he quit. After that he made it a huge deal and when that happened, I lost tons of friends, and then I figured out who my real friends are so I’m happy for that. That song is about mocking him and his death threats, basically.

D: Sometimes, you do have to go through the bad things to find out what really matters.

L: Exactly.

D: How does someone in the crowd stand out to you when you guys are performing?

L: I guess the first thing is when people are singing along, and that’s awesome. But when I see someone that doesn’t know the words and is trying to sing them, but after you’ve said them, it looks really weird and funny, you know? And then you think about it, and you’re like “wow, that’s embarrassing” but they’re really into it so it’s okay.

D: They’re trying.

L: Yeah, and they’re trying and feeling it right now. And I love it. I give a little smirk, but I’m like, that’s awesome.

D: I would probably start bursting out laughing.

L: Yeah so you know what I’m saying, right? I’ve done that once, and I realized how embarrassing that really is. But, it’s about trying to sing it and not [caring] what anyone thinks about you.

D: Are there any band member habits that get irritating while on the road?

L: Sometimes we don’t stop for a while, and people pee in bottles, and they don’t throw away their bottles when we get out of the van. That really bugs me. I also don’t like when people’s stuff is scattered throughout the van. I’ll find Jesse’s clothing everywhere, and it really annoys the crap out of me and angers me. When people put on Miley Cyrus or anything like that, I’m just like, “Are you serious? This is being played in the van right now? Why are you in the band?” You find out that people have secret obsessions, you know?

D: That’s really funny. Well, one of our emphases is in fashion over at Charlotte STYLE Magazine. Do you guys have any clothing brand loyalty?

L: That’s a really good question. We’re obsessed with Top Shop in the UK, so whenever we go there, it’s an obsession. They’re like Urban Outfitters, but way better. They’re like the H&M killers. Their clothes are so awesome. But me personally, I wear these jeans called Nudie. They’re my favorite jeans ever. They’re really expensive, but the wash is amazing, but you can’t wash them for six months, that whole ordeal. I really like Marc Jacobs too.

D: You guys helped with the record compilation, Punk Goes Crunk. Can you tell us a little bit about that and why you guys chose Tupac’s California Love as your cover song?

L: Well, we were recording at our old guitarist’s house, and we were originally going to do Q-Tip. We listen to hip-hop. Not so much rap, but I grew up listening to Tupac and Dr. Dre. They were just like, “Let’s just do Tupac’s “California Love” since we’re originally from California, and I feel like we rep it really well. It’s a good song, and I’ve never rapped before so it was really fun.

D: It’s fun to listen to in my car when I’m jamming on the road. I like it.

L: That’s funny! It’s a little funky in the beginning, but it’s good. I like it.

D: It’s really good to hear that [Punk Goes Crunk] came out because I’m a big hip-hop fan as well as alternative and pop and a whole bunch of things. People tend to have that stigma, you know, “How can you have Tupac and Boys like Girls on your ipod next to each other?

L: It’s about being open-minded, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

D: And my last question. When everything is all said and done, what does My American Heart want to be remembered for?

L: Personally, I’ve never really thought about that. I don’t want to put a label on what people want to remember us for. There’s “Yeah, they had a good show. That’s awesome” or “Oh, they have good music”. But I’d rather be remembered for who I am personally, rather than a band as a whole. I want people to remember us as human beings. Even if we had a bus, we wouldn’t stay in a bus. We’d come out and hang out. I’m not in a band to meet girls or become famous; I like music, and that’s it.

D: That’s so good to hear. You meet so many people in my industry in the media, and you know that’s what they are in it for and it’s really hard to listen to sometimes.

L: Yeah, and those people you don’t want to be around. I just want to be that guy that everyone can be around.

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Out of all of the bands on the Stay Classy USA tour, I’ve been listening to The Graduate for the longest, and I won’t deny that lead singer Corey Warning had me head over heels for his vocal range, our refreshing conversation, his gentlemanly manners and, my favorite, the performance itself. The use of tambourines, the incredible energy emitted from the crowd, and the band’s hydro-drum combination is something you’ll just have to experience for yourself. Below is my interview with Corey that includes future plans for The Graduate, his favorite song, and his most embarrassing moment while performing.

D: Will you introduce yourself to readers?

C: Yeah, I’m Corey Warning, and I sing for The Graduate.

D: How did the current tour that you guys are on get the name Stay Classy USA?

C: I have no idea actually. I’m assuming that it’s from Anchorman, which is a little bit dated.

D: What specific themes do you guys cover in your music?

C: As far as lyrically, I tend to write things that are pretty personal. I try to take things that have happened to me in my life and put them into a way that people can relate.

D: Anhedonia is the name of your first full-length album. Why did you guys choose to name it that?

C: When we were writing the album, I had a bad case of writer’s block, and a lot of times I would try to write about what I was feeling, and I just felt really empty. I didn’t know what to write about. We came across the word Anhedonia from our producer’s wife, and we started working on the title track. It just seemed to fit the song and overall for the album.

D: So what is your favorite song that you’ve written?

C: I think “Anhedonia” actually. That one broke me out of my funk so I think it’s a very rooted song.

D: After you broke out of that, how long did it take you to finish the album?

C: I think most of the album had been written already. There were just a few stragglers to finish up. I still had a little bit of trouble getting the rest of the album done. A part of the problem was just lack of material going into it and trying to rush and get things right there on the spot.

D: Did you guys have a timeline?

C: Kind of. We had an idea of when we wanted to get the record out.

D: Have you had any embarrassing moments on stage?

C: Yeah, sure. I mean aside from missing notes here and there which is always embarrassing for me; I think probably one of the worst times, we played at a show in Delaware, and we do this drum-off thing at the end of our set sometimes. Me and Max get on some extra drums, and every now and then we’ll throw water on them. It’s really fun, and it looks really cool. Well, this time didn’t look really cool. We were playing, and it was a hard-wood floor stage. We did the water thing, it got all wet, and we weren’t really thinking about it. I ran to put the drum away, and I went to come back to the mic and just slipped and fell flat on my back on stage. Max had to turn around so he didn’t start laughing too hard.

D: Did the whole show stop at that point?

C: Yeah, there was a collective gasp, and an “Oh my gosh, he just fell flat on his back”. I just pulled the floor tom down and started beating on it on the ground.

D: So you tried to pull it off like you meant to do it?

C: I don’t think there was any way to play it off because it was so obvious. I think that’s why it was so embarrassing. There was no way to play it off. Other than that, I’ve forgotten lyrics a couple of times.

D: Like when the fans are singing the lyrics and you forget them?

C: Yeah, exactly.

D: Describe your perfect concert.

C: I would say the perfect concert would be a concert where we get a sound check, we get food, and there are a lot of kids who knows our words. I don’t really know how to put this [answer] because every concert is really great, and they are all really different. That’s what I like about it because if every concert was the same then that would be really boring.

D: So it differs from every city?

C: Oh yeah. Every night there’s always a different situation. We’re playing on a different stage with different equipment every night. The crowd always has a lot to do with how our set can go. We’ll play some cities where we’ve never been, and there are people who are really open to music. It’s not necessarily people jumping up and down and clapping. I think you can just feel the vibes off of the crowd, whether they’re really into it and paying attention. I think some of the best shows are when I can look out into a crowd, and no one’s really moshing because we’re not that kind of a band, but if I can look out into a room and see that everyone’s really paying attention that always gets us really motivated.

D: What are the future plans for The Graduate in the next year?

C: We’re going to finish out the rest of this year touring and promoting Anhedonia, and then hopefully at the end of this year we’re going to get serious about writing the next record.

D: When everything is all said and done, what does The Graduate want to be remembered for?

C: I think that I would like to be remembered as a band that was writing songs, this is cheesy, but from our hearts, and not just a band that was fitting into a trend.