Apathean are quite possibly one of the heaviest bands in the Riverside area, with a unique blend of fuzzed-out guitar distortion, high-pitched lyrics, chaotically pounding drums and turbulent bass lines reminiscent of Dillinger Escape Plan. They started in 2012 and have released an EP, a record, a live cassette and a single, which is a respectable amount of work for a group that has only been around for two years.
I have known this band since its beginning and have seen its members develop and grow immensely. Recently, I had the opportunity to see them live again, and just like their early days this band delivered their signature, controlled, tumultuous sound coupled with wild moves by guitarist Ashtin Arner and the 50s-looking dance moves of the cross-dressing lead singer, Kevin Martin, a third-year UCR student studying computer engineering. The band has proven their willingness to experiment with their sound; in between songs, Arner introduces snarling noise loops while Jason Perkins drums off restrained pieces, which perfectly illustrate his ability to hold back his aggressive jazz-influenced style when he is not massacring his drum set. After their set, I was able to catch up with the band and ask them a few questions about what they thought of the Riverside music scene.
Arner said the Riverside music scene is “very eclectic,” and mentioned local bands Moxiebeat and Planet Vegeta as ones that are particularly exciting. He also mentions “it’s awesome when we get to play with a lot of different bands, and a lot of very good different bands.” Martin, said, “There’s a lot of people who are pushing to make a lot of interesting stuff,” and mentioned local Riverside label Family Time Records as something that is particularly exciting. This record label has been releasing stuff for a few years now, and featuring local acts from the Inland Empire and Los Angeles. It is run by Sam Woods, who plays guitar and sings in local band No Paws.
“The music scene is good if you look at it as a whole,” Perkins said, and you get “interesting collections of musicians coming together.” Riverside can sometimes feel like Los Angeles’ forgotten cousin; the second largest city in the U.S. about an hour away and can distract attention from amazing local acts. Apathean wish there were more people making music and more places to play in Riverside, but for what we do have, the band felt overwhelmingly positive. Kevin said the places available for shows “are super, super wonderful” and Ashtin says he likes Family Time Records for their unity and “a lot of the effort we love seeing.”
If you are interested in supporting a local band that is heavy and experimental, I recommend seeing Apathean at one of their local shows as well as checking out other local bands. Riverside can only have a musical community if we make it a community; the capacity for UCR students to get involved is immense. Currently, there are only a handful of do-it-yourself venues in Riverside, but community-fueled spots like Blood-Orange Infoshop are some of the best places to get involved.
