Hollywood or Bust!

published in Shinbone Magazine, September 2008, http://www.shinbone.net/

Count to zero… revert back to where you came from: original modern rock roots and individual influences. Stand up to the pressure: it’s time to record your highly anticipated fifth album in Hollywood. This album could catapult you into a worldwide success. Factor in an endless and grueling national touring schedule and you’ve only just begun to experience the never-ending journey of the Central Pa. based rock band the Poptart Monkeys (PTM).

PTM’s current line up represents Pa. in a big way: Tyson Clark (vocals) reigns from Selinsgrove, Matt Lytkowski (lead guitarist/vocals) is from West Chester, Chris Kurtz (rhythm guitar/vocals) hails from Hazleton, Jason Massey (drums) comes from Philadelphia and Jamah Terry (bass) grew up in Evansville, In. but now lives in Lewisburg. Although the current line up has only been together five months, Clark says “we finally have the lineup that is needed to put the balls back into PTM.”

Still riding on the success of their single “Valerie,” which received radio airplay and had a video featured on MTV and Fuse, PTM recently left Pa. to record the follow up to their 2005 album “Happily Never After” in Hollywood.

The writing process began for the fifth album about a year and a half ago when drummer Jason Massey joined the band. Clark explains that they have reversed the process for the fifth album: “We’ve been writing and rehearsing until we felt we were really ready for the studio. In the past, we were always booking studio time, then crunching to write material.” Clark and Lytkowski were the main songwriters and then brought the song to the band as a whole and “bounced ideas off of each other.” Clark believes this is the “true art of music.”

This time around, PTM was prepared and ready for the studio. They headed to Hollywood on June 29, right after stepping off stage at a show with over 2,500 people in attendance. Arriving in Hollywood armed with 26 possible tracks, PTM narrowed the list down to ten. PTM worked with producer John Ryan, who has worked with Styx, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dave Matthews Band, and The Doobie Brothers.

Setting aside their reputation for power pop and punk tracks, PTM has taken a new direction for this album: modern rock. This new direction is a positive and satisfying experience for the band as a whole. It’s so good that Clark can honestly say he’s never gotten chills during a playback for a track - until now. He says “this time, I had chills up and down my arms. Hell, I think I even got chills on my eyeballs!”

Clark exclusively revealed the fifth album’s title to Shinbone: “Count to Zero.” The meaning of the title is “wiping the slate clean and coming out with a new, bigger sound and energy.” The first single will be “Choke Yourself,” which according to Clark “is becoming a crowd favorite already.”

“Count to Zero” is in the final stages of mixing and mastering and is expected to be released on Chicago Kid Records in October. With rumors flying around about a major record deal, Clark explains that “I had the opportunity to sit down with an A&R executive at a major company… and both the rep and I were impressed with each other and the music the band has to offer.” However, a major deal is something for the future and is “something that we’ll have to make a decision on if it is presented to us.”

For the launch of “Count to Zero,” PTM plans to host several CD Release shows in many different states. Usually bands only hold one CD release show, but PTM wants to “honor all of our fans, in all regions and areas with releases and parties.” They are even planning an all age acoustic show right here in Pa. so that younger fans can enjoy and experience the new music.

Starting over, regressing, and returning to their rock roots may help PTM dive into national success. Does this mean forgetting about their hometown Pa. fans? No, according to Clark: “Our local fans are the ones who have been supporting the band from the start, paying covers, buying merchandise and spreading the word.”For more information on PTM and to listen to the track “Hometown” from their upcoming album, visit their My Space at www.myspace.com/poptartmonkeys.