August 21, 2009
Here it is, folks. My last entry as an HM intern. Quite sad, I must say. Tomorrow I embark upon a 19 hour drive to Ohio and return to my family for a week, quickly followed by returning to school and my senior year of college. But before all that, a very busy last day was had. I did two interviews, one with Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying about his side project Austrian Death Machine, and one with Matt Thiessen of Relient K about their new album. Both dudes were very nice and fun to talk to. For those of you that don’t know, Lambesis’ side project is inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger and each song is centered around his movies and their one-liners. He’s on his second album with it right now, Double Brutal, which will definitely be worth checking out upon its release. It is definitely funny/awesome stuff.
Talking to Matt of Relient K was also quite enjoyable, he is such a sweetheart. Their new album centers around a difficult break up he had but he spoke of how he became a stronger person because of it, and he got a great album out of it (I was given a sneak listen) so I’d say it was certainly worth it!
On Tuesday Doug asked me if I wanted anything on my last day and I half-jokingly said pizza, but he in fact did make me a pizza for lunch! It was great and i’m glad we got to spend some last bits of time together in-between all of the interviews and transcribing I had to do today.
(I have no idea how they will turn out because I haven’t written them yet BUT) I hope you all check out all of these articles in the Nov/Dec issue, which I shall be writing from the comforts of my home in Dayton next week. AND pick up the current Sept/Oct issue, Corey, Doug and myself really worked hard to make it a great one 🙂
To anyone/everyone reading this, I wish you all good luck and to keep in touch…remember, i’ll be needing a job in a year, wink wink.
And so with that I say Good Night, Good Luck, and Rock On.
-Kelly
August 17, 2009
Today officially starts my last week as an HM intern! Bah. What a shame. Why go back to school? Let’s stay here forever!
But instead of winding down, things are really speeding up! I interviewed Johnny from Advent today, he was a very nice, chill guy to talk to. Advent is definitely developing a harder, more thrash-like sound which I am digging; and it is great that the guys of Beloved are still playing music, even though Beloved itself had to disband.
I’m going to be interviewing Aaron Gillespie of The Almost (and UnderOath) tomorrow about The Almost’s new album which should be cool. I’ve been listening to UnderOath for years and years now so it will be great to talk to him, especially about this other more melodic side of him, and the new Almost album, of course.
Still to go for the week, also, are interviews with Relient K and Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying about his Austrian Death Machine side-project. My goal right now is to at least get all of these interviews completed and transcribed by the end of the week, I can write the articles from home next week if it is necessary. Of course I also have contracted this odd sore throat/cough that makes it sound like I just smoked 100 cigarettes every time I talk. JUST what I need during a full week of phone interviews, eh?
August 14, 2009
Today has been a good day, HM readers. Doug and I went to a press screening of Quentin Tarantino’s new WWII-themed movie, Inglorious Basterds this morning. With so much blood, violence and quirky hilarity, it definitely has Quentin all over it. When the last scene went to black, Doug and I high-fived. TAKE THAT, HITLER.
And once we got to the office, what do we stumble upon but the new issue of the magazine in from the presses! It was exciting to see all of our hard work come together. I’m still in awe that was given the opportunity to write a cover story. I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities that Doug has given me here. Such a shame that it is all coming to an end in a week! Well I have four stories to get to work on, so it is time to depart. I hope everyone has a good weekend.
Until Monday,
Kelly
Seeeee! New issue!
August 11, 2009
Today has been quite the productive day at HM. Our latest issue should be printing any day now, and Doug and I have figured out a large portion of the editorial content for the next issue. We really do care about all of the bands that we want to cover, so it is hard to pick one over the other for different features and stories, but there are only so many pages in a magazine! Things are still shifting around but so far I have four big stories that I will get cracking on immediately…I have to, considering I leave Texas in 11 days! My my, how time flies. Well now I am off to a Waterloo in-store for The Daze, have a good evening everyone!
August 10, 2009
Well well, another Monday has come and gone. Today Doug and I are finalizing our list of content for the Nov/Dec issue, along with some other housekeeping things. I have been doing some final tweaking to the HM podcast logos that will hopefully be ready soon…we’ve gone through many different options with colors/logos/etc. but I think we have narrowed it down to the one we want to use. I was also trying to shrink this massive stack of CDs that must be listened to for potential review in the next issue…I think I heard a few keepers today, perhaps there are more in the un-listened to stack…just gotta keep chuggin’ along.
August 4, 2009
Drum roll please…yes, the Sept/Oct issue is finally finished! (See Corey, I followed through on my promise :D) Dougie sent everything off to the printer today and we are good to go! But of course, much like superhero, a writer’s work is never done. Today I caught up on a few other things while Doug did final touch-ups on the issue…catalogued subscription cards, alphabetized CDs and started to design the HM podcast logo, as well as starting looking for artists for us to profile in the Nov/Dec issue. Well Doug and I are going to have a quick editorial meeting about the next issue before we take off for the day, so i’ve gotta go!
July 31, 2009
Wow, I can’t believe July is already over! Time is flying by. I now have about three weeks to go with this internship, but Dougie and I are a dynamic duo now that Corey has left us 🙁 Yes Corey, I will certainly make sure the issue gets out! Haha. I hope you are having a safe drive back to Illinois. Moving along, today so far I have laid out the Columns spread and am polishing off the reviews, along with everything else that needs polishing off. I would say we will finish but I don’t want to jinx anything…
Also, Wednesday night, Corey’s last night, the three of us went to the August Burns Red show. I only got there in time to see August Burns Red play, but what I got to see was really an amazing show. All the kids in the crowd were so into it and the band was feelin’ it, with every song more thundering and beautiful than the last. Sweat was oozing from every single pore of every single person there, and it was awesome.
July 28, 2009
Whatta week! We have gone past deadline for this issue, unfortunately, so Corey, Doug and I are working like mad men to get everything done. I think we have some great content coming out in this issue, however, so it will be well worth it in the end. Hopefully we will be done tomorrow? I finished doing some layout/design work today, which is always fun for me and a nice break from writing, so that has been cool. I can’t wait for everyone to see the new issue!
Hello everyone, it has been quite awhile. I apologize for slacking in regular updates, it has been a little crazy around here. Two weeks ago, Doug was gone at Cornerstone and I just did some work from my apartment so that my car could have a break from the hour daily drive to the ranch. That week, Corey and I went to Warped Tour and it was excellent! We were able to have some impromptu interviews with Thrice and A Skylit Drive, as well as get some up close photos of my Daytonian brethren The Devil Wears Prada, A Day To Remember, Alexisonfire, Gallows, Aiden, and many more. Here are some of my best pictures:
Pretty rad, huh? The heat was sweltering and I almost passed out once, but overall it was a good time. THEN, this past week, a skunk attacked the ranch and we were trying to cover our faces as we simultaneously attempted to get the smell out with Febreze, candles and anything we could get our hands on. I also had an interview with Rob from Pillar in anticipation of their next record, be sure to check that article out i the next issue. This week things continue to be crazy as we inch towards deadline, at the end of next week. Expect panicked updates from both Corey and myself. But alas, now I must depart. I have to try to figure out how to use this record player that converts songs to MP3s…it will be in the product reviews of the next issue.
Until next time,
Kelly
Whoops, forgot to write an entry for Tuesday…well to recap, I had my interview with John from Skillet. The phone connection kept cutting out because he was on the road, somewhere in Kentucky, but other than that the interview went great. All Skillet fans should be really pumped about their next album, i’ve gotten to hear it and it sounds top notch.
Aside from Skillet, Corey and I are working out our schedules for Warped Tour next week, trying to decide what shows we want to go to and who we will be interviewing. I have a potential interview with UnderOath in the works but we’ll see if that happens or not. Either way i’m pretty pumped to go to the 15th anniversary Warped…I went to the 10th when I was in high school…my my, i’m getting old.
Welp, today was a pretty successful Day 2. Got all prepped for my Skillet interview tomorrow, so talking to John should be pretty interesting. Their new album, Alive, comes out in August, so be sure to look out for that. Also, Doug has informed Corey and I that we will be going to the San Antonio Warped Tour date next week! Should be a great time, I hope all of you are going to make it out for that too. On a funny note: I received an autographed picture from Season 6 American Idol contestant Phil Stacey. Unless he reads this blog I have no idea how he knew who I am or that I was an HM intern as I only started on Friday, but nonetheless the photo reads:”Kelly- You are my favorite HM intern ever! Phil S.” This job certainly has its perks and quirks.
Until tomorrow,
Kelly
Friday, June 19, 2009
Well hello. Kelly here. Today is my first day as an HM intern, and I must say it got off to a pretty good start as I was assigned the next issue’s cover story as my first assignment (how many other interns can say that??) so be sure to look out for that soon. Doug and Corey have been great, and all this Monster we have around sure keeps me alert (shameless product plug) so I can’t wait to get going again on Monday!
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