Ram's Head LIVE! Review

Tonight we take a look at one of Baltimore's hottest, or as they like to say "spiciest" live rock bands Wasabi.

We had the pleasure this weekend of seeing our first live Wasabi show at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland. One thing became obvious right away. When you go to a Wasabi show, you are going to have a good time. The three brothers exude energy on stage and leave little doubt that they are having a great time.

Their stage presence reminds me a lot of New York rockers ZO2, who we love. They are so clearly enjoying themselves that you find yourself smiling in the crowd. Wasabi is musically solid and the set we saw featured a mixture of original tunes combined with a pretty diverse selection of cover tunes including a rocking version of "99 Red Balloons" and a nice cover version of "Crazy Train".

The brothers unabashedly claim an influence from Kiss and cite the iconic band as being an inspiration to them when they were as young as 8 years old. Baltimore music fans may recognize them from their occasional appearances on Baltimore's rock station 98 Rock, where they are notorius for bringing in Japanese food.

The band's original tunes are very strong. and each one seems to have a personal story behind it. The band's opening tune "Booty Rockin" got thigs started featuring not only a great rock tune, but some cool stage effects as well. The emotional tune "Coming Home" was a great song in the middle of the set and was dedicated to U.S. military personnel about whom it was written. It is the band's newest tune.

I don't want to give away too much more about the band yet, since they will be the featured band on Episode 7 of Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews Behind the Bands, which is being edited right now. I will tell you that you won't want to miss the interview. The guys are entertaining both on and off stage.

Here is the opening song from the set we saw at Ram's Head Live on 9/23/11. You can see the entire set on our YouTube Channel at the same link.

Read the article on Mid-Atlantic Rock Review's website here: http://midatlanticrockreviews.com/page10.php

The House That Rocked, revisited

Here are some more excellent videos from Wasabi's Ram's Head LIVE! debut.  Check them out!  Brought to you by the fine folks of Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews.

The House That Rocked

A huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who braved the storm and rocked with us! It was truly an amazing show from where I was standing.  -Jay


Here are some videos from last night's show at Ram's Head LIVE!  Courtesy of K-Rock and Sheila Mid-Atlantic Rock Reviews:

Coming Home

Wasabi bass player and vocalist, Jay Hitaffer, talks a little about the inspiration that went into writing their latest anthem, Coming Home.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We were coming home from a show in Gettysburg. As we drove through the battle grounds, through the memorials and gravestones, it became extremely silent. I remember hearing Kemo say, "It takes a lot of sacrifice to be this free."

Over the next hour, we spoke of the first Hitaffer, who came over to fight in the Revolutionary War; of our Grandfather who stormed the beaches of Normandy; of my Grandfather In-law who served during the Korean War.  We talked about all the men who served during the war in Vietnam, including our Father, our Stepfather and Kemo's Father In-law.  We also spoke about our Stepbrother, who is currently serving somewhere in Iraq or Afghanistan.  And we spoke of the countless friends who have dedicated themselves to protecting our freedom.

We couldn't believe how many people we love were and are involved with the United States military, and it struck a chord of pride inside all of us! It was time for us to dedicate a song in honor of those courageous men and women who lay their lives on the line so we can be free.

The ideas started flowing, and all I could see was a soldier on a plane, getting ready to take off…coming home.

It was hard to imagine what I would be thinking if it were me that were away for such a long period of time. I know that when I'm away from my wife for even just a little while, all I can think about is holding her hand and seeing her smile. It's the thought that gets me through most days. The next thing I knew, I felt like I was there on that plane...coming home.

This is what flowed from my pencil, and I hope you like it. We'll be debuting it at our show this Friday at Ram's Head LIVE (September 23, 9pm). We hope to see you there!!

Coming Home

lyrics by Jay Hitaffer

As this plane leaves the ground

Thoughts go spinning all around

I can't believe I'm headed home

A Flash of all my Memories

Old Faces I can't wait to see now

Finally I'm headed home

I'm Headed Home-To the Land of the Free

I'm Headed Home- Where My Heart will always Be

I'm Headed Home- My Sea to Shining Sea

I can't wait to kneel and kiss the ground

When I get Home.

I think of Faces that I left behind

Still fresh in my heart and mind

I can hardly wait to hold your hand

I hear your voice here encouraging me

I've been dying to hear the real thing

And hold you in my lonely arms

I'm Headed Home-To the Land of the Free

I'm Headed Home- Where My Heart will always Be

I'm Headed Home- My Sea to Shining Sea

I can't wait to hold you in my arms

When I get Home.

When I get home

I'm going to make the time

To find every lost moment

That I left behind

When I get Home

I'll feel alive again

I can feel it now

Like the way I was back when

As your plane leaves the ground

Thoughts go spinning all around

I can't believe you're coming home

A Flash of all these Memories

Old Places you can't wait to see now

Finally you're coming home

You're Coming Home-To the Land of the Free

You're Coming Home- Where Your Heart will always Be

You're Coming Home- To your Sea to Shining Sea

I can't wait to fill your lonely heart

When you get Home.

Twenty Questions: Anthony

Happy Friday, Wasabi Peas! 

Today, we're going to take a closer look at the brothers behind the music with a new installment we're calling TWENTY QUESTIONS. 

First on the roster is Mister Sticks 'n Skins himself - Anthony Hitaffer!  Take it away, Anthony!

Anthony's got the Beat to move your Feet

What’s Wasabi up to these days?

Wasabi has been busy getting ready for our next really big show at the Ram’s Head Live in downtown Baltimore on September 23, 2011 from 8pm-1am. We have been working on some new songs as well.

What’s it like to be in a band with your brothers?

It’s always crazy being in anything that involves your brothers, especially something that all of the members are passionate about. Being a brother band makes us unique in the way that we have a way of communicating on stage that most other non-brother bands do not. Above all, I feel that being in a band with my brothers is a lot of fun, as long as we are not trying to kill one another.

When did you start playing the drums?

I started playing drums my junior year of high school. I originally wanted to play the guitar, but seeing as we already had four family members who could play either guitar or bass guitar, Kemo decided to teach me the drums instead.

What’s your favorite part about playing music?

I love the feel of the crowd. I am not a studio drummer by any stretch of the imagination. Wasabi performs our best when in front of a large crowd of raving fans.

You come from a very musical family, just how far back does the talent gene go?

A far as I know, the music gene goes back only as far as my parents. My parents met while my father was in the U.S. Army over in Japan during the Vietnam Conflict. While serving in the military, my father also played guitar in a rock/blue grass/country western band. My mother was the sexy singer/go-go girl.

Not only are you a musician, you’re also an artist! Tell us about your artwork.

One of my other passions is comic book art. Do not get me wrong, I do not see comic books as merely a form of entertainment. To me, comic books and graphic novels are the best form of literary expression.

Have you decided if you’re going to publish your comics?

I would love to publish my own comics. My only set back besides the immense competition in the comic book industry is the fact that I am a lone author/writer. While most comics are developed by teams of artists and writers, I am the only mind and muscle behind my comics. None the less, I will always be trying to get my comics published until the day I die.

Will you ever do a comic book about Wasabi?

Sure, if there was a demand. I think the story of Wasabi would make a much better novel or TV movie though. This band and its members have been through a lot of crap to get to where they are today. We have had to fight for everything we have ever gotten.

Anthony's Original Artwork

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Flight! No doubt in my mind. I have dreamt about running in a field and just taking off into the sky. I don’t know how much it would help me if I were to go into the crime fighting business. But to tell you the truth, if I could fly, I really wouldn’t be spending a whole lot of time with my feet on the ground.

You’re currently earning a degree in Art History, correct?

Actually, it’s in Art Education. I am studying to be an art teacher at the University of Maryland in College Park. Most people who know me well are probably laughing at the idea of me being a teacher. However, I believe I could be very happy as an art teacher, and then eventually a professor.

What made you want to be an art teacher?

I think I got bitten by the teaching bug when my brother David suggested it to me one day. I was already teaching martial arts at a studio in Rockville, where I loved the teaching aspect required of me as an instructor. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the financial management part of the business.

Okay, back to the music: Do you have a favorite drummer?

I do not have a specific favorite drummer. To me, no drummer is really better then the other and therefore cannot be classified as my favorite drummer. If I had to pick a few drummers that immediately come to mind, I would have to say: Eric Carr, Peter Criss, and Eric Singer of Kiss, Neil Peart of Rush, Ricky Rocket of Poison, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the FooFighters, and Roger Taylor of Queen (just to name a few).

If you could tour with any band in history, living or dead, who would it be?

Now that is an extremely tough question. I would have to say either Kiss or Queen. Kiss because I have loved them ever since I started liking music, and Queen because Freddy Mercury was in my opinion the most talented front man of any band ever to grace the stage of a rock venue. Shoot, I forgot about Radiohead and the FooFighters.

What’s the one album you can’t live without?

The soundtrack to the anime Cowboy Bebop by Yoko Kano. That soundtrack literally changed my life. I never knew that I liked jazz, blues, and opera until I listened to that soundtrack. Yoko Kano is a genius. I listened to that album everyday for about five years strait, no joke!

What’s the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

Without a doubt Kiss. Those guys wrote the book on how to put on a great show. You want to see how it’s done, go see a Kiss show. You will never look at any other band the same again.

What’s the one band/musician you think the world could do without?

Wow! Ouch! I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes now. I don’t know about the rest of the world, but I could probably go the rest of my life without hearing another Flaming Lips song. I’m not saying that they suck or don’t have any talent or anything like that. It’s just that they are not my flavor type when it comes to music. I am sure the millions of fans they have would disagree with me though. My apologies to the Flaming Lips.

What do you think the music industry needs more of?

I think the music industry needs more bands that don’t sound like the same generic band. It’s as if one producer in the music industry will find something that everyone likes, so the rest of the producers just copy off of him/her and milk anything else that slightly resembles that original something. Heaven forbid the radio stations play a barrage of music that is motley in assortment. Variety can be dangerous I guess.

If you had a motto, what would it be?

“Never compromise, not even in the face of Armageddon.”

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Hopefully on tour either in the U.S. or on an international tour. I would really like to travel the world spreading the good word that is Wasabi’s music.

Okay – Batman or Superman?

It really depends on the question. Who would I rather be? I would have to choose Superman because with those types of powers, I could do a lot of good around the world. If you were to ask me whom I feel is the better hero, I would have to say Batman. Why, because unlike the practically immortal Superman, Batman risks his life every night he patrols the streets. If you were Superman, what else would you do if you weren’t a superhero, bag groceries at the mini mart? On the other hand, Batman is a billionaire; he could just be a player his entire life and never bat an eye at any crime he saw. But he chooses to do something in the face of evil. That is why I prefer him over superman. However, MoonKnight is still my favorite. Oh! You can’t forget about HellBoy and Rorschach too. They kick serious butt.

Awesome!  Thanks so much!