Elluhhh's Journals

New! Featured Artist: Christine Bandy.

The Shakedown's newest artist of the month is Christine Bandy. A Chicago native, this is the first time the artist is releasing any images of her artwork to the world.

How did you become involved with art?

I was always into art. I can remember when I was in 4th grade and I told my mom I wanted to be an artist. I was lucky because the high school I went to had a really great art program and really awesome teachers. I was kinda a jock but I really was into art and decided more towards art for college.

Inspiration:

A lot of different people. I was really into art history so I had a good knowledge which gave me a good background. Music and movies are good inspiration to, I always listen to music while I am in the studio.

Did you always want to be an artist?

I wanted to be a chef. I did a wicked Julia Child impersonation. That was probably first but then I wanted to be an artist.

What is your preferred medium?

I work in a few. I love thick goopy oil painting. I love texture. I like working with charcoal for figure drawings. I do a lot of pen and ink also.

Do you have any plans for your art?

Well for now this year I was trying to set a few goals for my art. I’ve been doing it kinda randomly. I want to set up a website. I’m not too familiar with the art world. I would like to get it into shows, sell it eventually if anyone likes it.

Advice:

I think that its really important to find something that you love to keep your mind and passion up. There’s so many things that hold people back (parents, money), but you should find anything that fuels your passion. Its not just young people its also old people too who get stuck in a mindset.

Want to volunteer at Warped Tour?

Going to the following dates?

The Shakedown will be at the following Warped Tour dates:

Wed 07/15/09 Toyota Pavilion At Montage Mountain Scranton, PA

Thu 07/16/09 Darien Lake P.A.C. Buffalo, NY

Fri 07/17/09 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden, NJ

Sat 07/18/09 Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, NY

Sun 07/19/09 Monmouth Park Racetrack Oceanport, NJ

Tue 07/21/09 Comcast Center Boston, MA

If so!

Now you go over to our street team and sign up!

Once apart of the street team you’ll be able to sign up for a date, and you’ll be a Shakedown Volunteer!

[Sign up for each date is in the boards]

We may be adding one in Chicago! So watch out for that!

Hope to see you there!

[Click the street team link and it will take you to the page ;D]

Want prints of my Black and White film photos?

Well now you can have them!

For $3 a print and $2 a contact sheet!

I'm selling William Beckett, Alex Deleon and Forever The Sickest Kids prints!

Go here Check out the contact sheets and pick as many as you like, just remember they are NOT FREE.

Shoot me an email at JoellaMarano@TheShakedownMag.com with your order.

I must receive payment before I will ship out an order!

Get a The Shakedown bracelet for a small donation!

http://theshakedown. tumblr. com/

Yep!

Alright so pretty much we are selling these really awesome bracelets! You know you want one!

Right now they come in:

Hot Pink

Purple [which they made a mistake and the letters GLOW IN THE DARK! Which is really awesome and I am considering keeping this way!]

Black

and Teal

But there will be MANY more colors soon! and better pictures!

How much? Well you can have one of these awesome bracelets for a very nice $10 donation! I say donation because this money is going straight to the Warped Tour fund!

How can you get one? Easy!

Send me an email- JoellaMarano@TheShakedownmag.com

Include, Your name, quantity,color[s],and payment method

I will e-mail you back when I receive your order.

Payment:

Iâ�™m sorry but I only accept USD.

Shipping in the US is free.

I will ship out of the states but you will have to pay for shipping.

Payment methods: Paypal, credit card, concealed cash or a concealed personal check.

If you choose to send concealed cash or a concealed personal check you will not get your bracelet till payment is received.

The Academy Is...Give away!

My Webzine

The Academy Is... Giveaway

What's inside? That's for us to know and one of you to find out!

One lucky winner selected at random will be given a special prize pack of goodies.

Send an email to theshakedowncontests@hotmail.com

Please include: Make the subject TAI Giveaway or The Academy Is...Giveaway

Name:

Age:

State/Country:

**All enteries for this giveaway MUST be given in by December 1st 2008. A winner will be selected and notified by December 3 2008. Two other people will be selected if the winner fails to respond or no longer wishes to recieve the prize. The winner will be selected completely at random.There is NO entry fee. If you asked by ANYONE claiming they are with this webzine for any money or any payment please contact me [Joella Marano]. Thank you and enjoy!**

I've been listening to Remember Maine...

for the past 48 hours or so.
Why?
I don't know.
I remember when I saw him play all these songs.
Oh memories.
If you haven't heard of Remember Maine before it's William Beckett from The Academy Is...! Check it out.

Anyway. This weekend was parents weekend at my college.
OH JOY!
ahah not. I love my family to death. Buttttt they can be a little very annoying.
I don't know.
I got to play tour guide though around Chicago.
Last week I shot Cobra Starship. I was excited that people knew my webzine!
This week I am shooting Panic At The Disco on the 22nd at Allstate Arena.
If you're going let me know!
I got some kickass shoes. I need to post a photo of them.
I love them to death.
Me and my girl Kathryn made cookies at like 12 this morning.
We bought chocolate chip cookie dough mix and added coconut to it.
Delicious! Let me tell you.
I'm so tired I don't remember what time I went to sleep last night.
I have French Revolution today. I love it!
Me and my roomie are watching Desperate Housewives right now.
Sooo I'm going to go do that.
Have a wonderful Monday!

My interview with William Beckett

About to be taken down off my website. So again, giving it a new home here. Enjoy!

William Beckett

William Beckett, lead singer of the Chicago band The Academy Is... . Born and raised in Barrington IL, he now resides in Chicago,IL making music with fellow band members and stirring up a scene at bar Angels and Kings. You may have seen him on this years Warped Tour or previous years. Now him and the guys are about to set out on a tour across the UK and North America with We The Kings and Hey Monday. Every Sunday you can check out William and the boys on their web show TAI TV [www.theacademyis.com] but be sure to watch out for your date of Travis and Bill's Bogus Adventures and pick up the new CD Fast Times At Barrington High.

When did you realize you wanted to be a singer?

The first time I fell in love with it, it wasnâ�™t singing at all really, because when I started writing songs I didnâ�™t have much of a singing voice and I wasnâ�™t much of a guitar player either. I think it was I grew up loving music and being really really into a lot of the grunge music and Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam and those bands I was really really into. And I would always go to the radio; the radio was basically like my go to spot to go to for new music. Because the internet didnâ�™t explode yet. But then something happened. Something I like to lovingly call â�œshit rockâ� itâ�™s like that Creed, Nickelback all of that bullshit started happening and I lost all like hope into going to the radio for new music. Thatâ�™s when I stopped listening to radio and went to a lot of the punk venues in our area and the indie venues and saw bands who had no shot in hell at being played on the radio at that point. But these bands had great music, great substance in their music. Like Alkaline Trio early on, Saves the Day early on, and The Get Up Kids and these bands. Weezer even before they blew up on radio. Even while they were on the radio because they were still fucking bad ass. So I got into that side of the music. Going to see shows of some of my favorite bands in front of like 10 to 15 people and singing every word and just being like woah I think can do this too. I can definitely start writing my own songs. Basically I started writing my own songs because there werenâ�™t any songs on the radio that were moving me or touching me anymore had to make my own. So I started writing songs in the basement. And one day my sister came down into the basement and was like hey what are you singing? What are you playing? What is that? And I was like I donâ�™t know itâ�™s just a song I wrote, so I played it for her and from that point on I would pretty much play her some songs in the basement and she would tell me what was shit and what was good, what was special and what wasnâ�™t. My first performance was probably the one I fell in love with the most. It was in my friend Melissaâ�™s house in her basement it was like a few of my friends were over and my friend Adam our bass player now was there as well and I would sing some solo acoustic stuff called Remember Maine. Is what it was called and I put an album out.

-Itâ�™s a very good album-

Oh thanks I canâ�™t singâ�¦or play guitar.

-Oh yes you can-

No! Well I can sing nowâ�¦but I couldnâ�™t then. But thank you very much for saying you like it anyway. So I played my songs and seeing the response from my friends-the people I know. But their seeing apart of me I havenâ�™t been able to show them before, and knowing me and knowing this is real what I am singing is real and knowing I am putting myself out there. Seeing that they were responding to these personal songs and personal lyrics that was the ultimate high and from that point on I just fell in love and I knew and I had to make music and perform it in front of people.

How do you think youâ�™ve grown since from The Academy EP to now Fast Times At Barrington High?

A lot has changed in that period of time, especially our focus and our goals. We had a guitar player and a drummer who when the EP came out didnâ�™t write on any of them, we had them leave the band and made a record and we went on tour almost immediately. Then our friend Tom was in the band for a minute then he left-you know- we asked him to leave the band as well. I think now we all having grown from that point up to right now we definitely found ourselves. On Fast Times we definitely found the sound we want to make on this record. I mean every record is going to be different because it is a recording of that point in your life. Itâ�™s recording the feeling and the emotion and the music that reflected that at that point in time. Thatâ�™s why none of our albums sound the same itâ�™s a progression from each point, and they sound different and we try new and different things and we are still very young. I think on this album we are really coming into our own, me as a song writer and a singer and as a lyricist especially and the music is really incredible. I am so proud to be in a band with these musicians. We have essentially made the album we all wanted to make from the start but we just didnâ�™t have either A. We didnâ�™t have the focus, but we had the musicianship like on Santi. I didnâ�™t have a clear focus because I was going through a lot of personal struggle and a sort of identity crisis and when on Almost here we had- I had a focus a thing I wanted to talk about a time in my life I was very forward to talk about. But we didnâ�™t have the musicianship. So on this album we have the perfect marriage of both musicianship and story and focus and lyrics and not to call it a concept album but I think every good album is.

What do you think about all this â�œinternet garbageâ� that goes on these days?

-laughs- There is a lot of garbage that goes on, on the internet and off it. The thing about the internet is, itâ�™s definitely a double edged sword. Itâ�™s definitely a useful tool for like finding a new band and exploring musically and also to educate yourself. You can go to websites that arenâ�™t wikipedia. You can look at the websites that are actually real and citied facts. As opposed to man made factsâ�¦whichâ�¦well I suppose itâ�™s all man made facts.

-I get what you mean. An 11 year old didnâ�™t write it.-

Well itâ�™s a double edged sword, itâ�™s essentially an open forum itâ�™s a free range were people can be whoever they want to be, and these communities and message boards and myspace and facebook profiles you can essentially tailor-make who you are-how people view you, and pick and choose what people know about you. There is also a very very very dangerous aspect of the internet. Where especially for young people become to dependant on the internet a few things happen, 1. They donâ�™t know how to socialize in real life with other people which is very very dangerous to strip young people of social skills which is a lot of kids just stay on the internet all day long and talk shit on message boards. They do this on the internet alone, and you can say whatever you want on the internet and there is no responsibility there is no backlash there is no consequences. However thatâ�™s nothing like real life, in real life there are consequences when you do something that affects people or is just a straight up lie, there are consequences and you do have to communicate and socialize with people, you need to have principles and standards. A lot of this comes down to these parents who let their kids have free reign on the internet all day long. So like anything it is good in moderation, used as a tool and not used as an alternate reality.

The following questions were asked to see how siblings respond to the same questions asked. Remember to check out Courtneys interview to see how she responded!

Whatâ�™s one thing about Courtney no one would expect to know?

How sensitive she is. She has a very very big heart; she is tough as nails as well. Which is great but it is just a defense mechanism. She is a lot like me in that way, we both have extremely big hearts, and I wear mine on my sleeve. Hers comes out in very very special times.

Growing up did you get along or was it more like sibling fighting?

We had a little bit of that back and forth back and forth. Our parentâ�™s got divorced when we were really young. She was born and I was four. So from that point on it was my mom with us, and she was working and doing a bunch of things like going to school and support us essentially on her own. So me and Courtney had a strong bond from that point on. Where I was just the only male figure in her life for a while, except my dad who we didnâ�™t really see that often. But when we did it wasnâ�™t that most fun. So we got a long early on. Then I got older and thought I was cooler and thatâ�™s when all the bullshit started and the bickering back and forth. And than as we got older and more mature and grew out of our like teenage wasteland, we are now closer than we have been in a long time. She is doing her thing and kicking ass in whatâ�™s sheâ�™s doing. She had to do what she had to do to follow her dream and I had to do the same thing. We have that in common.

Do you ever look to each other for inspiration?

Yeah, especially now that she is coming to her own as a really talented photographer. But even while I was writing songs in the basement, I respected her opinions more than anybody. I would show her the songs. She loves music and she has a very unbiased ear. Unlike other people who love music and have an opinion set in stone for reasons that arenâ�™t very musical. She has always been there to see if something is worth continuing whatâ�™s good about it, whatâ�™s shitty about it. From an early age when I was in high school it was the same as that but now that she has come into her own as an artist and she is definitely incredibly talented in her photography and she is so young and things are getting started for her. Hopefully us working together in the further on some more stuff.

The photo your sister has of you with the writing on you. Is that something you wrote or did she write it?

Thatâ�™s something I wrote. It was according to her, she came with the concept and I thought it was brilliant. And she was like I want whatever it says to be something thatâ�™s from you and something youâ�™ve written and I didnâ�™t want it to be something I had already written. Plus itâ�™s a striking image I wanted it to be more of a protest more of a call to arms, a statement. So I had this thing where I did not want to become just another chapter in this machine that is our society on a lot of level. We are supposed to do the rubric of what is a successful life. It isnâ�™t for everybody I donâ�™t think. So I wrote some of that down and then it was written on my face and on my chest and then she took photos, and it looks pretty great.

Do you find it easier or harder to work with your sister versus another photographer?

Itâ�™s different. We get frustrated with each other easier because we know what makes each other tick and we know whatâ�™s up. Thatâ�™s one thing about it, we would be working on the shoot for the cover of our album and the layout and it was extremely positive and motivated and forward thinking. I think it was so quick and forward thinking because we think alike. We know each other so well, that we are there and we finish each others sentences and we know what has to get done to make the shot as best as it can be. Iâ�™ve got a pretty abroad understanding of photography and framing and film and I know a thing or two and what itâ�™s about. Iâ�™ve worked with a lot of photographers and professional photographers for things like magazines that are nationally distrusted. She is definitely the most fun to work with. I say that now but you never know, we may have a huge blow out if I piss her off and she will be like â�œFuck you Bill Iâ�™m not taking this photo for youâ�.

-Iâ�™m sure she would still take the photo-

She would still be in a piss. Sheâ�™s stubborn. We Beckettâ�™s are quite stubborn

-Itâ�™s not always a bad thing-

No not always, But you know, not never.

Do you ever get phone calls from your sister asking like â�œWow Bill is this trueâ�?

Nope. I donâ�™t. Because she understands the nonsense that comes with this territory that I do. She knows, we talk on a regular basis there is nothingâ�¦well I am assuming that just because I havenâ�™t gotten a call like that she knows its nonsense. For instance, me being in a gay love affair with Gabe from Cobra Starship or Travis from Gym Class Heroes. I donâ�™t think she takes it very seriously. I donâ�™t, I actually think its quite funny.

-I donâ�™t think people really take that seriously-

Oh you would be surprised. You would definitely be surprised.

-People..take-

Yeah

-Iâ�™m sorry-

Its okay it doesnâ�™t matter to me itâ�™s amusing.

[We laugh for a few seconds]

So William can you leave our readers with a some William advice?

Itâ�™s difficult for me; I donâ�™t really like to give advice. I like to make confessions rather than broad statements of conformity. Iâ�™m not trying to make people believe what I believe or like me for the things that I say or the songs that I do. Iâ�™m making the songs and saying these things because itâ�™s therapeutic and real itâ�™s whatâ�™s true about me and how I feel and when people respond to that and feel something from that. Thatâ�™s amazing and it makes me feel less alone. It makes me feel like Iâ�™m not alone with how I feel and something I am going through. I have a blog now that is called TheWilliamBeckettBlog.com and I go on there and make my little confessions. I donâ�™t necessarily think that I am a good role model. But I would rather people read my blog than be on some message board aboutâ�¦I donâ�™t knowâ�¦How hot the Jonas Brothers are.We definitely have fans that are like Jonas Brothers fans, and I love them. A blog is a place to go to know more about me and what Iâ�™m about.

-Iâ�™ve seen youâ�™re blog before and I mean you have a few â�˜crazed fansâ�™ in those comments-

Yeah thatâ�™s fine, but I donâ�™t read after the first few comments and Iâ�™ll skim through sometimes if there is anything interesting or challenging. I love it when people think and when people talk and people challenge what people say. I donâ�™t want people to like, if I type something up on the internet and itâ�™s like this is the way you should think. I donâ�™t want to see pages and pages of agree and I definitely think thatâ�™s great but I donâ�™t want people to follow everything I say. I like to see young people, and people generally discussing and challenging each other and talking about something other than text messages and myspace friends. Not that myspace is bad, we love myspace. But itâ�™s good to get the mind working. Itâ�™s a place to go to see another side of me and put two cents in. To show people I am not jut a face on a magazine I am a human being. With a heart and a pulse and ten toes and two misshapen eyes.

So I was reading your blog and I saw a conversation with you and Nick Scimeca you posted with a possible Remember Maine comeback. Is it true?

Well we are talking about stuff. He sent me some tracks that are totally Remember Maine unrelated. It wouldnâ�™t be called Remember Maine if we did it because itâ�™s so different its more hip-hop/pop related which I am totally interested about. We also talked about doing some more ambient stuff, along the lines of some Radiohead stuff, just to fuck around. Something to do to collaborate. I donâ�™t know we will see what happens. If you frequent my blog than you will see as soon as we have something for the people to here, because it will be up there first!

My interview with Courtney Beckett

Since it's about to come down off my website. I figured I would give it a new home here so people can still enjoy it.

Courtney Beckett

Her last name may sound familiar; that's because this months featured Artist and featured Musician are brother and sister. Courtney Beckett [sister of singer William Beckett] is this months featured artist! Born and raised in Barrington IL she now resides in California.
At an early age Courtney found her love for art and photography. Now a student at The Brooks Institute of Photography in California she is continuing her studies and expanding her portfolio. You can check out her portfolio and all her works at http://www.cbeckettphotography.com . Enjoy!

First let's get to know a little bit about Courtney!

How did you first get into photography?
I knew I wanted to go into photography when I met my mother's wedding photographer. I was seven years old. He was the nicest guy so I wanted to be just like him.

What kind of people inspire you?:
People who have good morals inspire me. They make me feel like I should improve myself constantly. That way I'm constantly growing.

What kind of equipment do you use? Would you recommend it to other photographers?
I am very comfortable with Canon products. They have never let me down.

Do you prefer digital or dark room?
Two years ago I would have said dark room but now that times have changed, honestly digital is the way to go. It's the only way I can keep up with competitors and keep my clients happy. I will never throw out my dark room supplies though. I will always love fine art black and white photography.

What are your future plans as a photographer?
After I get my degree, I plan on continuing my career in the music photography world as well as the advertising world. I hope also to dive into celebrity photography. All three industries interest me not only because there is a good chance of being successful, but also the amount of fun I'll be having while shooting. Most importantly, I aspire to be happy.

Is there anything you have to do that's almost ritualistic before a shoot?
Before every shoot, I sketch out my ideas in my sketch book. I look through books, magazines, articles for inspiration. I rip out ads and paste them into my book for ideas. It's a great way to stay organized and creative at the same time. I always draw a lighting diagram too. This way, I'll have an idea before I go in to shoot.

So you did the Fast Times At Barrington High album cover, How does it feel to know your art is being massed produced and globally distributed?
It feels really cool. It's my first mass produced image, so it's exciting for sure. I look forward to working with The Academy Is... again. I'm also excited for their new album, it's supposed to be great.

What is the biggest roadblock you have had to over come?
Fear. As cheesy as that sounds, fear is a huge road block for me. I was really afraid to go into photography because the risk and the competition. But now that I have overcome that fear, I'm so happy that I didn't chicken out because I love my job.

The following questions were asked to see how siblings respond to the same questions asked. Remember to check out Williams interview to see how he responded!

What's one thing about William no one knows?
Well I don't know if no one knows this yet, but he was, and still continues to be the best brother I have ever had. He has been the biggest inspiration for me to follow my dreams. This is true for many people. He has inspired people all over the world, and I hope one day I'll do the same.

Growing up did you two get a long or was it the usual sibling fighting?
Well for the first 7 years of my life, we fought like cats and dogs. You know, the usual thing. But after that we got along unusually well. We went through a lot together so we were basically each other's best friend for a while, until we went our separate ways.

Do you ever look to each other for inspiration?
Like I said earlier, he is one of my main inspirations. So yeah I always look to his writing to inspire me. He doesn't look to shabby in front of a camera either.

The picture of William you took with the writing on him, Was that something you wrote?
No. For that concept, I had asked Bill to choose any thing that he had written that he felt strongly about for us to use for the image. He wrote it very recently so he felt it was appropriate, especially with the new album coming out. That image is emotionally significant for the both of us.

Do you find it harder or easier to work with William versus a model?
Well knowing Bill my whole life makes it easier to work with him than any other individual. I know how to talk to him, and how he will react to certain things I say. I know his expressions. These things are an advantage over just meeting a subject right then and there. I really enjoy photographing Bill because it's easy, fun, and it's an excuse for us to hang out. We don't get to see each other very often, due to our busy schedules.

Finally leave our readers with a piece of advice you have.
My advice is.... never let any one tell you you're not good enough. Every one is capable of doing great things, and if doing what you believe in is a great thing, then let's do it.

Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant again.

Seriously come on. Someone buy this girl some condoms or something.

Oops! She did it again!

Lynne Spears apparently hit the roof when she found out and family and friends are urging Jamie to end the pregnancy. It's already difficult being being a teen mother to one kid, but to two?

Morning sickness while breastfeeding?!

When Jamie missed her period and a home pregnancy test kit came back positive, she "cried her eyes out," a source tells the mag.

Jamie apparently thought she couldn't get pregnant while she was still breastfeeding, but didn't she learn anything from her big sister?

We need to better edumicate the children of America about reproduction, y'all.

The family was trying to keep it a secret to everyone, including the baby daddy - but too late!

Well it's expected...I'm in college.

I started to notice today that I stopped caring about my hair and make up.
I haven't been putting any make up on and I barely brush my hair.
I usually look in the mirror and go...okay.
Is it bad?
Is it good?
I don't know.
The thing I find the oddest though is the fact that I feel more confident when I don't care then when I did.
I used to spend hours in the morning and through out the day fixing my hair and doing my make up.
But I still always felt insecure.
Now I feel so secure and so myself, and I don't really do anything.
Maybe some cover up and eyeliner.
Not the whole get up.

Who knows.

I have such a busy schedule this month.
Interviews galore.
Shows out the ass.

I need some people who live in Chicago or can get to Chicago with no problems for a photo shoot.
I pay in food and my company.
Sorry.