A Squared + MOKB Showcase

our debut album, "Action Figures" is out now, and available at all online retailers and select record stores. recorded by John Taylor at Lovebird Recording. recorded and mixed by Dave Jablonski at Calamity Kit. mastering by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering.

On rare occasion, music is able to speak for itself, without the aid of a narrative.
The music Johnnytwentythree presents on its new album JXXIII serves as a sweeping soundtrack for modern life in America. Full of haunting melodies, somber passages of tranquility, and raging, symphonic bombast, Johnnytwentythree invites listeners to reflect on the effects of the post-9/11 world.
Formed in 2003, Johnnytwentythree wanted to transcend the influences of its collective members and create an original sound. Many will liken Johnnytwentythree to such post-rock heavyweights as Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Mogwai, and Sigur Ros, finding similarities in the use of dynamics and minimalist melodies to create a powerful, symphonic sound.
While similarities exist, in live performance Johnnytwentythree employs another element uncommon in modern music: film. The musicians of Johnnytwentythree (brothers Mike and Joseph Maier on guitar and bass, respectively, Joseph's wife, Brianne, on violin, and Brian Tyree on drums) collaborate closely with projectionist Steve Imwalle to enhance the music and elevate the Johnnytwentythree live show to another level. During performances, Imwalle shows his original projections on screens around the stage, providing stunning visuals as the band hovers in the darkness.
"Steve is present from the beginning to end of writing a song," according to Johnnytwentythree drummer, Brian Tyree. "Sometimes we write based on something he brings in, and other times he'll put film together based on something we've written….The whole process is very much a collaborative effort….Steve [is] very passionate about the music and film blending together seamlessly."
Having spent several years honing the material that would become JXXIII, the members of Johnnytwentythree chose Rove Studios in Shelbyville, Kentucky to commit the material to recordings. Working with engineer Paul Oldham in his country home, the band found the setting relaxing, allowing them to further refine the material for maximum impact.
"It's a great place to be when you're working on something like this though," guitarist Mike Maier agrees. "[It is] a beautiful farm, removed enough from everything." Working over the course of several months, Johnnytwentythree emerges with an impeccably crafted album.
On opener "Red Bird," the military drums and droning guitar and violin replicate airplanes overhead set an ominous tone for the album. While there is a sense of trepidation pulsating through this music, Johnnytwentythree harnesses this into a virtually endless series of anthemic climaxes. Anyone seeking a quick fix of easily digestible, unobtrusive pop music need not inquire. Johnnytwentythree challenges the listener with wave after wave of raw, bristling emotion.
While challenging at times, JXXIII also exhibits a danceable side on "Ghost Soldiers" and "Fall of Swords." In these more accessible passages, Johnnytwentythree channels triumphant elements of Arcade Fire as minimalistic melodic lines from the guitar, violin, and bass are uplifted by the repetitive, pulsating disco beats. Album closer "A Minutes Warning" provides the sensation of waking up in a post-apocalyptic dawn.
The synergy of music and film that is at the core of the Johnnytwentythree live experience is found on JXXIII, as the enhanced CD features film clips to accompany "Last Exit" and album closer "A Minutes Warning" as well the opening track, "Red Bird," which was recently nominated to be shown at the Planet Ant Film and Video Festival in Detroit. Tyree sums up the band's confidence in the strength of the project: "We released an album that we're really proud of, and we want as many people as possible to hear it. It's time to hit the road."
As the band sets out for a series of live dates throughout the region in the coming months, the band is aware of how its music will best be related to audiences. "In the ideal environment, the films are our front-man," says Mike Maier. "[They are] the character of the band that helps people get what's going on with the music- providing some concrete images to help people get an emotional context."

my name is ryan. i sing and play guitar in the band thunders. i had this plan to release a solo record. not sure if i'm still gonna do that anymore. here are some songs.

Black Heat is Cru Warren of Models and Mark Tester of We Are Hex + the Won't Stop.
We are using our collective arsenal of keyboards and technology to make a bunch of songs that we bounce back and forth to eachother via the Internet waves.
Sometimes other people help, too, particularly in the yet-to-be-realized-but-tried-a-few-times live incarnation of Black Heat.
A lot of songs coming soon. Spread the news. Don't be a square. Dance music is hip to be in to now, right? It's cool for kids to like this kind of thing now, right? So you should like this, no? A million dollars.

Andy D fancies himself the anachronistic love child of Punky Brewster and Lee Van Cleef – the perfect amalgam of a fictional rogue and a real-life badass. He plays music this like he lives life and it sounds like Andrew WK meets Grand Master Melle Mel or Like Prince if he couldn’t sing that well and if he weren’t a hyper-talented multi-instrumentalist. This is what his music is all about: part epicurean hip-hop-dance songs and part sincere dance rock songs, being eclectic and catchy is the only goal. “God Loves Drunk Chicks” is a infectious dance ditty lamenting date rape culture and “Just Push Play” is a witty indictment of “the next big thing” trend in the music industry and pop culture in general (both tracks are from the debut album Choose Your Perversion). This is rap but not hip-hop. It rocks but it's not rap-rock. These songs are meaningful party songs but maximized! Andy D bends the genres but his influences are pretty apparent. And people take notice where ever he goes. From rapping about having sex with Werewolves to singing about knife fights in a roller rink, no subject is taboo in an Andy D song; and he gets raunchy with it. Half of the fun of Andy D is hearing what he will say next… the other half is dancing. Welcome to your new addiction!

After years of working for other people, companies and projects we formed A Squared Industries together as a way to pool our unique skill sets as well as experience, talent and motivation in just about every aspect of the music industry.

Our bread-and-butter is booking and promoting live concerts for artists that ‘matter.’

Working together with other promoters, artists, venues, bands, photographers, lifestyles accounts, tastemakers, bloggers and concertgoers here in Indianapolis we work hard to make Indy a destination for musicians and artists and to ensure that music lovers here attend not just another show, but come to something that is truly an event.

We have branched out and now we not only book and promote our own shows, but we also are hired to promote others’ events. We run an independent record store, we own and operate an independent record label, and we ourselves are accomplished vinyl DJs - check out our monthly party at The Lockerbie Pub in Indianapolis on the 1st Tuesday of every month!