It's Casual
It's Casual in 2008
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California
GenresHardcore punk
Years active2001 (2001)–present
LabelsFriendly Hills Recording Company
MembersEddie Solis
Websiteitscasual.tv

It's Casual is a two-piece Los Angeles hardcore punk band formed in 2001. Founded and fronted by Eddie Solis, the band has released the three studio albums Buicregl (2002), Stop Listening to Bad Music (2004), and The New Los Angeles (2007) all on CD and LP. It's Casual has performed with groups such as Story of the Year, Fu Manchu, Mastodon, High on Fire, and Zeke.[1]

History

Early years

It's Casual was formed in 2001 in Los Angeles, starting with Eddie Solis on guitar, a bassist, drums, and a second guitar player.[1] The name was inspired by a line in The Wild Life, Cameron Crowe's follow up to Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Solis soon met W.C.E., the drummer for Co-Ed and realized they had similar interests, such as Black Flag, The Melvins, and arena rock like Kiss and AC/DC. W.C.E. pitched the idea of a two piece band and It's Casual reformed with W.C.E on drums.[1] The band has a hardcore punk and doom metal sound,[1] with Solis on vocals and guitar[2] and W.C.E. on drums.[3]

The New Los Angeles

After returning from a summer tour in 2006 the band began working with producer Sergio J. Chavez (Motörhead/Helmet) for a third album, The New Los Angeles.[3] In January 2008[4] the band had supporting slots for Fu Manchu on their North American tour.[5] The New Los Angeles LP was released in Fall of 2008.[5]

Mastodon handpicked It's Casual to open for them in Athens, Georgia in October 2008, and the band played in-store at Criminal Records the day before in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][6]

During this time Solis casually befriended the Los Angeles music video director Robert Schober, also known as Roboshobo.[7] Schober has previously directed videos for Mastodon, Metallica, and The B-52s.[8] He began listening to The New Los Angeles. Four months later he offered to film a music video for the album's title track.[7] The video was released in June 2009,[9] and first premiered at The Viper Room Lounge.[8]

The band has released a split 7-inch from Basement Records with the hardcore band Bullet Treatment,[10] and has also announced production on a new album[6] titled The New Los Angeles II: Less Violence More Violins, which is purportedly inspired by the California education budget deficit.[5]

Shows

The band has performed with bands such as Story of the Year, Mastodon, High on Fire, Fireball Ministry, Zeke, 16, Visual Discrimination, and Mondo Generator.[2][9] They regularly play at venues such as The Viper Room and The Relax Bar, which is booked and managed by Solis as a metal venue in Hollywood.[11]

Style

The band has drawn favorable comparisons to Black Flag,[12] Motörhead, and Discharge,[9] and Solis has described the sound as "L.A. hardcore" and "L.A. skate rock."[5] Themes include "municipal outrage" at freeways in Los Angeles and daily incidents and observations from living in the city.[5] Solis has also cited Kiss as one of the band's onstage influences, quoting "For me, Kiss plays very loud and they engage with the audience," and similar to Kiss, they have a wall of amps behind them on stage as both a practical and visual part of the show.[13]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Buicregl (2002) CD/LP
  • Stop Listening to Bad Music (2004) CD/LP
  • The New Los Angeles (2007) CD/LP
EPs
  • It's Casual/Bullet Treatment Split (7-inch vinyl)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Yeti (January 21, 2009). "The Third Degree with Eddie Solis (Part 1)". City of Devils. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  2. 1 2 Ritchie, Ryan (February 12, 2009). "It's Casual Tonight at Detroit". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  3. 1 2 "Artist Profile - It's Casual". HotHouse Studios. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  4. ↑ "The Third Degree of Eddie Solis (Part 3)". City of Devils. February 19, 2009. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ryder, Caroline (November 4, 2009). "Red Line Fever: It's Casual". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  6. 1 2 Debenedictis, Matt (May 7, 2010). "It's Casual Continue the Social Commentary Bus Rides". NoiseCreep. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  7. 1 2 Debenedictis, Matt (May 14, 2010). "It's Casual Found Video Director Through Chance Coffee Conversation". NoiseCreep. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  8. 1 2 "The Viper Room's New Monthly Metal Night Debuts Tomorrow". Apeshit. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  9. 1 2 3 Roberts, Randall (July 14, 2009). "It's Casual's Video for "The New Los Angeles": Roboshobo Moves from Metallica to the Streets". Los Angeles Weekly. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  10. ↑ "Bullet Treatment / It's Casual 7-inch Split". Scene Point Blank. 2009. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  11. ↑ Cubarrubia, Eydie (August 11, 2008). "It's Casual: The REAL Los Angeles". Podbop. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  12. ↑ "It's Casual: The New Los Angeles". Music Emissions. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  13. ↑ Debenedictis, Matt (May 10, 2010). "It's Casual Have Some Kiss In Their Roots". NoiseCreep. Retrieved 2011-09-12.

Further reading

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