Friday, February 20, 2015

Pheaturing Matt Borck From YUCA



Hey, everybody, wel ome to the Phile. How are you? So, today is the 20th of February. It's my 27th anniversary today working at Disney World. Yep, they haven't fired me yet.  America's weather is officially the most bizarre on the planet right now. Large swaths of the continental United States from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast are being plunged into the coldest, most desolate depths of Hell this week, carried on the back of the so-called "Siberian Express," a wave of frigid Arctic air from northern Russia. People caught in the grips of these historically low temperatures are being advised to stay indoors and solemnly contemplate the nauseating emptiness of existence. It's TV reporter forced to stand out in the cold seriously questioning career choice"-degrees.  Eddie Murphy came this close to performing a Bill Cosby impersonation for a sure-to-be-legendary 'Celebrity Jeopardy' sketch on this past weekend's "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary show, but ultimately declined because he thought "the laughs are not worth it" and that he wouldn't "kick a man when he's down," according to the sketch's author, comedian Norm Macdonald. "I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions," Cosby later said through a spokesperson who may or may not have been under the influence of will-bending drugs. Okay, I'm good on I'm good on Why Isn't Eddie Murphy Doing What We Want Him To Do? stories.  Texas... along with its massive allotment of 38 electoral votes may not simply get handed to the Republican presidential candidate du jour for much longer. According to a new Gallup poll, the longtime GOP stronghold currently maintains a mere 3.9% Republican advantage, knocking it out of the "leaning Republican" classification but not quite making it enough of a swing state to justify candidates giving a shit about any of its voters. Possibly one day, though. Swing state means everyone's banging everybody, right?  Actress Allison Williams... notable for having her ass eaten out on HBO's "Girls" several weeks ago came mildly to her father Brian Williams' defense in a recent interview with Seth Meyers at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. "He's a really good man. He's an honest man. He's a truthful man. He has so much integrity. He cares so much about journalism," she said before launching into an irrelevant story about a dance recital or something. Is Brian Williams really the father of Allison Williams or did he lie about that too?  Nearly 200 patients at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center were reportedly exposed to a deadly antibiotic-resistant "superbug" between October 2014 and January 2015, in case you were wondering how the beginning of the end of the world was going to go.  Sunday is the Oscars and I was thinking may this year's Oscars feel shorter than the length it took to film Boyhood.  So, did you see that Fifty Shades of Grey movie? Disney... the greatest company to work for ever is rereleasing some of its classic animated movies with scenes based on the Fifty Shades movie. Check it out...


Hey, I didn't mention this last entry but I am so excited that Spider-Man is gonna be a part of the MCU finally. If you don't know what I'm talking about Marvel Studios announced that it has come to a deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to bring the comic book character Spider-Man into their cinematic universe. Many excited fans are speculating that this means the classic superhero will play a major role in next year's scheduled Captain America: Civil War. Others are simply relieved that, with the franchise rebooting yet again, they won't have to see anymore of Paul Giamatti as Rhino. Well, I am glad to tell you that they already started to film a movie with Spider-Man in it and I have the screen shot to prove it.


Haha. That is stupid and clever at the sometime. Wanna see something else that is stupid?


Haha. I'm cracking myself up. Okay, let's see who has a one-way ticket to the end of the line.


Lesley Gore 
May 2nd, 1946 — February 16th, 2015
You would cry too, if it happened to you.

Louis Jourdan
June 19th, 1921 — February 14th, 2015
He escaped Nazi-occupied Paris and starred in dozens of critically-acclaimed, classic films alongside some of the most famous and beloved actors of all time. But you probably remember him from Octopussy.




This is a dumb one... if you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Okay, so you know I live in Florida, right? A lot of interesting stuff happens in Florida that wouldn't happen anywhere else so that's why I have a pheature on the Phile called...


Thirty-one year old Amie Carter took a bunch of unknown drugs and/or alcohol and strolled naked down an Orlando street until she faced off with a couple driving a Lexus. That's when her sense of self-romance struck and she began to masturbate, much to the horror of the of those inside the luxury vehicle, as well as those now stuck in traffic behind it. After she "finished," she climbed onto the hood of the Lexus, stomped on the roof, and then threw her cell phone at the car behind her. When cops arrived on the scene, it was easy to finger the culprit: they found Carter totally nude. In the police report, officers wrote that "Carter appeared to be under the influence [of] a heavy unknown substance." Add a heavy dose of self-induced oxytocin to that mystery cocktail. They also wrote that "she appeared in an altered mental state, displaying extremely irrational and volatile behavior." Volatile, sure. But irrational? I mean, she really didn't have much of a choice. Once you've walked down the street, you kinda have to masturbate and then jump on a car, otherwise what's the point? Carter was arrested and taken to Orange County Jail, where she was charged with criminal mischief and exposure of sexual organs. I find this all to be very circumstantial. Maybe she wasn't masturbating. She didn't have any pockets, isn't it possible she was just looking for her keys? I hope she gets off.


Does this look like the face of someone who just masturbated?



Today's guest is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian rock band YUCA whose new album "Rebuilding the Fallen Empire" is available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Matt Borck.


Me: Hey, Matt, welcome to the Phile. How are you?

Matt: Thanks for having me on Phile. I am doing absolutely awesome... thanks for asking. So, how are you?

Me: I'm good. Okay, so, I went to watch your video on YouTube and instead I got the words "video has been removed because its content violated YouTube's Terms of Service." Man, good job. What was on that video?

Matt: I know, how badass is that, hey? Even YouTube can’t handle what YUCA through at them...  LOL. All joking aside, I still have no idea why the video was removed and what sucks the most is the video was climbing in views extremely fast. What can you do?

Me: What song was it for?

Matt: The video was for our brand new single “I’m alive she said”. How’s that for hype hey? "Brand new single from YUCA gets banned from YouTube!”

Me: I have this great idea for a video now... static, then those words, and then the band breaks through the screen and rocks. Whatcha think? I was kinda expecting that.

Matt: Haha. That’s awesome... I love it.

Me: Okay, YUCA is a trio, right? Who else is in the band with you?

Matt: YUCA is a trio and when I’m on stage over my left shoulder is Andy Boldt on bass and keeping my heart pumping in time every night is Dave Atkinson on drums.

Me: How did you all meet?

Matt: Online dating for lonely musicians. Joking.

Me: I have to ask about that tattoo down your arm, Matt. What does it mean and what exactly is it?

Matt: It has a very personal meaning for me. But the story behind it is that I fell in love with this artist’s work years ago when I was a skateboarder. I followed his career and art since then and always said that If I was ever given the chance, I would be honored to have a piece of his artwork on my body. That dream came true and it blows my mind that I have a tattoo done by him.

Me: Okay, let's talk about your band... YUCA. What does the name mean?

Matt: YUCA's name originated from an aggressive and absolutely majestic fish we had called a Malaysian Flowerhorn. When we were choosing a name for the band we felt the name YUCA just perfectly fit the band... “Aggressive, majestic, powerful and if you stick your hand in our tank we’d bite it off!”.

Me: Okay. You're from Canada, right? What part?

Matt: Yes we are from Canada and we are from the very best part... British Columbia!

Me: So, I ask every Canadian musician I interview on the Phile what they think of one of my favorite bands Barenaked Ladies. Do you like them?

Matt: I have never met them but I have heard that they are nice guys and as fellow Canadians we are stoked at how successful their career has been.

Me: YUCA's music is very Coldplay and U2 sounding, are they influences of yours?

Matt: I have always loved U2 since I was young and I’ll never forget hearing Coldplay’s “Parachutes” album when I lived in England and falling in love with them too. I don’t really listen to either band much these days but it’s always amazing how much of your influences bleed (unintentionally) into the music you create. Just wait till you hear my Cypress Hill and Beastie Boys influence come out!

Me: That'll be cool. What other music do you listen to?

Matt: Now and growing up?

Me: No, right now.

Matt: I love new music. In fact, I am very addicted to finding new music that moves me, I always have been. It can be hip hop, alternative, pop, dance, metal... as long as it moves me in some way... I love it! Right now my top three bands I have been listening to are: The Big Pink, NIN and La femme. When I was younger I was heavily influenced by the music my parents listened to so I grew up singing along with the greats like The Beatles, Elvis, The Stones, etc. I am forever grateful to my parents for introducing me to brilliant artists and bands since I was very young.

Me: When did you decide you wanted to be in a band and sing?

Matt: I’ll never forget that day because until then it was a “what if” and an “out of reach dream”...  but moving back from England I remember sitting in my living room with a cup of tea and my love. Fear turned to courage and “what ifs” turned to belief and it was then that I decided it was time to stop making excuses and start pursuing the dream I had since I was a kid. I’ve never looked back...  don’t ever plan too.

Me: Good for you, man. Alright, let's talk about your album "Rebuilding the Fallen Empire." What Empire would that be, Matt?

Matt: This album title means so much to me. “Rebuilding the Fallen Empire” to me represents rebuilding fallen dreams... the dreams that we had since we were young and innocent. The dreams we had when we didn’t think about what others thought... when being cool overrides what we are passionate about. The dreams we had of becoming presidents, world changers, firemen, rock stars, doctors, teachers, artists, researchers, students... the list goes on and on. Rebuilding the fallen empire is a statement, a movement and journey.

Me: Where did the album name come from?

Matt: My heart.

Me: I have to say, I listened to your version of "Roar" by Katy Perry and really dug it. Are you a fan of hers?

Matt: Who isn’t a fan of Katy Perry? Pop music is the guilty pleasure in all true music fans. I became even more of a fan of hers after my niece got me to watch the making of her "Roar" video. In the video Katy Perry is honest and shows a rash on her thighs from dancing, how tired she is and so on. What massive pop star lets the world see their true self? Not too many. I liked her music even more after that.

Me: That was surprising you did that song, but it's great. It needs to be a single or on a future YUCA release. Any plans for that?

Matt: No, too much copyright crap to deal with... LOL.

Me: You guys performed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics... that must of been pretty cool.

Matt: We represented British Columbia’s Music for the Olympics and it was absolutely incredible... a moment that I will never forget and cherish forever. Who gets to say that they represented their province and performed on TV, radio and live while the world watched? So awesome!

Me: Did you get to see any of the events there?

Matt: Nope none.

Me: You also had a song on the video game for the Olympics for Playstation 3 and Xbox... did you all get copies. Have you played the game?

Matt: We did get copies and yes, I played the game. It’s very cool to hear your song being played over and over and over and over and over as you constantly bail cause you suck at video games... haha.

Me: Matt, you opened for a lot of bands, and one of the bands who played with is The Killers... I love that band. Did you get to meet them and hang out?

Matt: I was able to sneak a peak of them as they chilled in their dressing room before they hit the stage but no didn’t get to meet them of hang out. I did get about 5 feet from Brandon Flowers... enough to see his amazing moustache. I love their drummer... he just makes their music for me.

Me: Is there a band you would love to open for?

Matt: There are tons of bands that we would love to open for... you ready? MUSE, U2, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, NIN, Lenny Kravitz, Kings of Leon, Black Keys, The Cure, Coldplay, The Stones How crazy would that be hey? I could go on forever.

Me: Good choices, Matt. Okay, so, on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to Tabletopics. Ready? If possible would you live year round in your favorite season?

Matt: Without a hesitation... YES! It would be summer all year for me!!!!!!

Me: Matt, thanks for being on the Phile. Plug your website and I wish you continued success.

Matt: Take care. Jason, thanks so much for having me and from all of us in YUCA we thank you for your support and for sharing our music with your fans! Here’s our shamless social media plugs: YUCA’s website: yuca.ca/ ,Twitter: twitter.com/YUCAmusic,  Facebook: facebook.com/YUCAmusic,  iTunes: itunes.apple.com/ca/album/rebuilding-the-fallen-empire/id717956553, YouTube: youtube.com/yucaband, Bandcamp: yuca.bandcamp.com, Instagram: instagram.com/yucamusic.





That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Matt Borck for a great interview. The Phile will be back tomorrow with two jazz musicians... Connie Crothers and Jessica Jones. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.



















Not if it pleases me. No, you can't stop me, not if it pleases me. - Graham Parker

























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