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tyrantisterror · 3 years

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Everyone focuses on the dark deconstructive elements of Neon Geneiss Evangelion, but I never see anyone talking about the comedic deconstructions, even though they’re just as big a part of the show as the grimdark stuff. So I’m gonna talk about one of my favorite comedic bits in the show, which I shall now dub:

SHINJI’S KNIFE

Much has been made of how Eva is a deconstruction of your typical giant robot anime. Well, one of the big tropes of a giant robot show is the robot’s super secret final weapon of last resort, which more often than not takes the form of some big, elaborate, cool-ass looking sword.

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FORM BLAZING SWORD and the like, right? It’s a rad as hell moment, the fist-pumping sign that the fight is finally going to end. We don’t question why this giant weapon was saved until things got dire, or where the hell these robots store such massive and elaborate weapons.

Well, Eva’s got its own take on that. It’s own funny fucking take.

What, you don’t see it? Here, I’ll get another shot for you.

Still not noticing it? Here, look.

It’s a knife. A fucking knife.

Not even a big knife. I mean, ok, it’s scaled to a giant robot, so technically it’s a big knife, but at the robot’s scale... like, that’s not even a bowie knife. It’s the size of a damn steak knife. And despite the glowing effect some of these frames have, it’s not a particularly elaborate knife. You could put that in the hands of an utterly mundane human character and it wouldn’t look out of place. It’s just... just a knife.

It’s this dinky little knife that’s stored in one of the Eva’s fins, popping out when the battle’s gone south to give Shinji one last resort against the angels. It technically performs the purpose of your giant robot super weapon, but... it’s JUST a knife. An ordinary, not all that impressive knife!

And because it’s JUST a knife, there’s no fun super move to pull off with it. Shinji doesn’t slash the air and make the enemy explode from a wave of energy it shoots out or whatever. No, instead Shinji takes this dinky knife, makes his Eva run in close, and has to shank the fucking monster repeatedly with it, all while screaming like a fourteen year old who’s been forced to stab a kodiac bear to death before it tears his face off.

Like... think about that on paper, ok? Imagine this as an episode of Voltron. The monster has our hero on the ropes, none of the other weapons have worked, the robot’s running out of power, and, in a last desperate attempt to save the day, the hero unleashes their secret weapon, and it’s... just a knife. And he has to run up to the monster and shank it to death with this dinky little knife.

It’s fucking hilarious.

The other weapons in the show are similarly humorously mundane. Like, look at this shot. Look at this fucking robot holding a tiny ass pea-shooter pistol and hiding behind buildings for cover like it’s in a shootout at the end of a Tarantino movie. It’s fucking ridiculous!

And all of this is just as much a part of the deconstruction of super robot shows as the teenagers having series-long mental breakdowns while fighting eldritch abominations. It’s all connected. Hell, it’s so important that the model kits of Unit 01 even have one fin specially engineered to replicate the scene where that dinky piece of shit knife pops out.

God I love Evangelion.

#TT Liveblogs Evangelion #Shinji's Knife

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megatraven · 3 years

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one day ill have enough money to comfortably buy a kodiac bear stuffed animal bc they are so cute and i am desperate theyre 40 inches tall!!!!!!!!!

#meg speaks #basically im once again obsessed with big stuffed animals and i need to expand my small but precious collection

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howardhawkshollywoodannex · 4 years

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Bart the Bear is the kodiac bear in The Bear (1988) and Youk the Bear is the bear cub, There are five bear trainers listed in the imdb credits, with three additional animal trainers.

#bear

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conretewings · 4 years

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random (probably very dead wrong/crackish)headcanon time: i personally doubt hazel is FULLY human, and could certainly see him being half faunus, and like Illia lacking any immediately noticeable traits

OOOooooHhh!!! To be honest Anon I kind of thought the same thing myself as a yes crack theory. I mean it would help explain how he be that big. Half bear Faunus? (Grizzly? Kodiac?) Bam there ya go. It's a fun idea to explore and I might draw/write it as an AU at some point but as canon I don't think so; we would have seen some evidence by now. Also Sienna furiously called him a human and I feel like Faunus can kind of instinctively know if someone else is also one.

As always keep those thoughts coming!! ❤

#hazel rainart #rwby #anon #ask #crack theory

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bugcasino87 · 2 years

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Fairy Land 2

Fairyland 2 English

Fairy Land 2 Slot

Fairyland

Racing silks of Mr Derrick Smith and Mrs E M Stockwell

SireKodiacGrandsireDanehillDamQueenofthefairiesDamsirePivotalSexFillyFoaled14 January 2016(1)CountryIrelandColourBayBreederTally-Ho StudOwnerEvie Stockwell, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue MagnierTrainerAidan O'BrienRecord13: 5-0-2Earnings£647,483Major winsMarble Hill Stakes (2018) Lowther Stakes (2018) Cheveley Park Stakes (2018) Flying Five Stakes (2019)

Fairyland (foaled 14 January 2016) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies in Europe in 2018 when her wins included the Marble Hill Stakes, Lowther Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes. In the following year she won the Flying Five Stakes and ran well in several major sprint races.

Fairyland 2 PCS Foot File,Colossal Foot Rasp and Dual Sided Foot File Professional Pedicure Rasp Tools Stainless Steel Feet Corn Callus Remover Brand: Fairyland. 4.6 out of 5 stars 297 ratings 19 answered questions Price: $11.96 ($5.98 / Count) & FREE Returns Return this item for free. Princess Butterfly is attracting rainforest critters, Birthday WRCs, and reg. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!!! In Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series, the Fairy Queen is an essential part of the plot making key characters extremely powerful. The character Erza Scarlet from Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail rightfully earned the alias 'Titania' due to her overwhelming power being well known throughout the series' fictional land of Fiore.

Background(edit)

Fairyland is a bay filly with a white star bred in Ireland by the Tally-Ho Stud. In October 2017 the yearling filly was offered for sale at Tattersalls and was bought for 925,000 guineas by Michael Magnier(2) of behalf of his father, John Magnier's Coolmore Stud organisation. The filly was sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Like many Coolmore horses, the official details of her ownership changed from race to race: he has sometimes been listed as being the property of Evie Stockwell (John Magnier's mother), while on other occasions she was described as being owned by a partnership comprising Stockwell, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

She was sired by Kodiac, a sprinter who won four minor races from twenty starts and finished second in the Hackwood Stakes and fourth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.(3) His other foals have included Tiggy Wiggy, Best Solution (Grosser Preis von Baden) Gifted Master (Stewards' Cup) and Kodi Bear (Celebration Mile).(4) Fairyland's dam Queenofthefairies, a half-sister to Dream Ahead, did not race, but produced at least two other winners including Now Or Never (Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial). She is a distant female-line descendant of Cantrip, a full sister to the Epsom Derby winner Aboyeur.(5)

Racing career(edit)

2018: two-year-old season(edit)

Fairyland was ridden by Ryan Moore when she made her racecourse debut in a six furlongmaiden race at Naas Racecourse on 7 May and started at odds of 3/1 in a ten-runner field. She raced close to the leaders from the start, took the advantage a furlong from the finish and won 'comfortably' by one and three quarter lengths.(6) Nineteen days later the filly was stepped up in class and matched against male opposition in the Listed Marble Hill Stakes over the same distance at the Curragh in which she was partnered by Seamie Heffernan. After tracking the front-runners she took the lead in the last quarter mile and drew away to win by two and a half lengths and a neck from her stablemates Van Beethoven and Land Force.(7) The second and third placed horses went on to win the Railway Stakes and the Richmond Stakes respectively. Heffernan was again in the saddle when the filly was sent to England to contest the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and started the 5/2 second favourite against seventeen opponents. Racing on the far side of the straight course (the right-hand side from the jockeys' view) she finished a close third behind Main Edition and La Pelosa, both of whom raced on the opposite side of the track. In the aftermath of the race she was reported to be 'under the weather' as many of the Ballydoyle horses were affected by a viral infection.(8)

After a break of two months, Fairyland returned for the Lowther Stakes at York Racecourse and started 6/4 favourite ahead of the Princess Margaret Stakes winner Angel's Hideaway. Ridden by Moore she led for most of the way and after being headed by The Mackem Bullet inside the furlong she rallied in the final strides to regain the advantage and win by a nose.(9) After the race O'Brien said 'I'm delighted with her. She did get headed so it was great to see her battle back... She's a lovely filly and (the Cheveley Park Stakes) is the way we'll be heading... she's a big, rangy filly – she looks more like a three-year-old than a two-year-old'.(8)

On 29 September Fairyland, ridden by Donnacha O'Brien, started at odds of 6/1 for the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Her ten opponents included Pretty Pollyanna (winner of the Prix Morny), So Perfect (Grangecon Stud Stakes), Lady Kaya (second in the Moyglare Stud Stakes), Signora Cabello (Queen Mary Stakes, Prix Robert Papin), Queen of Bermuda (Firth of Clyde Stakes), Angel's Hideaway and The Mackem Bullet. After tracking the leaders she took the lead just inside the final furlong and kept on strongly to win by a neck from The Mackem Bullet with So Perfect half a length away in third place.(10) Aidan O'Brien commented 'We thought she would come forward from York and she did. She's a lovely, big filly and has loads of speed. Donnacha gave her a peach of a ride. We always thought she would maybe get a mile but she's not short of speed and has a lovely mind. We probably wouldn't run her again this season'.(11)

2019: three-year-old season(edit)

On her three-year-old debut Fairyland was ridden by Frankie Dettori when she was one of fifteen fillies to contest the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on 5 May. Starting the 15/2 fifth choice in the betting she raced in mid-division before keeping well under pressure to finish fifth behind Hermosa, Lady Kaya, Qabala and Angel's Hideaway. In the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh she never looked likely to win and came home sixth behind Hermosa, beaten more than eight lengths by the winner. Fairyland was dropped back to sprint distances for the King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot and finished fifth behind Blue Point, Battaash, Soldier's Call and Mabs Cross. On her next race she contested the six-furlong July Cup at Newmarket in which she ran third to the colts Ten Sovereigns and Advertise.(12)

In the Nunthorpe Stakes at York of 23 August Fairyland failed to recover from a poor start and trailed home tenth of the eleven runners in a race won by Battaash. The filly maintained her busy schedule in the Haydock Sprint Cup on 7 September when she ran sixth to Hello Youmzain beaten just over three lengths by the winner. Eight days after her defeat at Haydock Fairyland was partnered by Ryan Moore when she started at odds for 12/1 for the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. Soffia (Sapphire Stakes) started favourite while the other seven runners included Mabs Cross, Soldier's Call, Houtzen (P J Bell Stakes), Invincible Army (Duke of York Stakes) and So Perfect (Lacken Stakes). After settling just behind the leaders Fairyland overtook the front-running outsider Caspian Prince approaching the final furlong and kept on well to hold off the late challenge of her stablemate So Perfect to win by a short head.(13) O'Brien commented 'Her best run of the year was back at five at Ascot in the King's Stand. The ground was too soft for her at Haydock and she got upset in the stalls and banged her head before that at York. You would have to be delighted.'(14)

Fairyland ran in France for the first time on 6 October when she contested the Prix de l'Abbaye over 1000 metres on very soft ground at Longchamp Racecourse but never looked likely to win and came home tenth behind Glass Slippers.

Fairyland 2 English

Pedigree(edit)

Pedigree of Fairyland (IRE), bay filly, 2016(1)Sire Kodiac (GB) 2001Danehill (USA) 1986DanzigNorthern Dancer (CAN)Pas de NomRazyanaHis MajestySpring Adieu (CAN)Rafha 1987KrisSharpen UpDoubly SureEljazzi (IRE)Artaius (USA)Border Bounty (GB)Dam Queenofthefairies (GB) 2007Pivotal 1993Polar Falcon (USA)NureyevMarie d'Argonne (FR)Fearless RevivalCozzene (USA)StufidaLand of Dreams 1995Cadeaux GenereuxYoung Generation (IRE)Smarten UpSahara StarGreen Desert (USA)Vaigly Star (Family 1-b)(5)

References(edit)

^ ab'Fairyland pedigree'. Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.

^'Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1) 2017 – Catalogue'. Racing Post.

^'Kodiac – Record By Race Type'. Racing Post.

^'Kodiac – Stud Record'. Racing Post.

^ ab'Morel – Family 1-b'. Thoroughbred Bloodlines.

^'Coolmore No Nay Never Irish EBF Fillies Maiden result'. Racing Post. 7 May 2018.

^'Marble Hill Stakes result'. Racing Post. 26 May 2018.

^ ab'Fairyland wins the Lowther Stakes in a photo finish'. ITV Racing. 23 August 2018.

^'Lowther Stakes result'. Racing Post. 23 August 2018.

^'Cheveley Park Stakes result'. Racing Post. 29 September 2018.

^Porteous, Lewis (29 September 2018). 'Fairyland Proves Tenacious in Cheveley Park Stakes'. The Blood-Horse.

^'July Cup result'. Racing Post. 13 July 2019.

^'Flying Five Stakes result'. Racing Post. 15 September 2019.

^'Fairyland flies fastest to take Flying Five Stakes'. RTÉ. September 15, 2019.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Fairy Land 2 Slot

External links(edit)

Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Fairyland

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fairyland_(horse)&oldid=983142032'

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tastelikecoke-blog · 6 years

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Commission for my friend Bears! She is Yan Kodiac

#commission #comission #commision #ahrt #art #Yan Kodiac #thicc

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e-z-like-a-sunday-morning · 7 years

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Tales Of New Orleans: I Broke The Ladle In Two Against His Face

Tyger was spending most of his days around the city, looking for traces of Nahla, his girlfriend of ten years, who had run away to go do heroin somewhere.

I was going out busking every morning playing with the brass bands in Jackson Square, when they would let me, and with various other musicians who were pottering about the place. I was sort of studying under this bass drummer called Styx, who had spent 15 years in prison for possession. We would get baked together and then he would teach me about drumming.

Sometimes, I would dance to the brass bands, and there would be crowds of people watching me as I spun around, two stepped, made a character of myself in the summer time sun. One time, a little girl started dancing with me and taught me how to do cartwheels whilst dancing. I got some strange looks the first time I did that in a club.

But when I wasn’t busking or dancing, I would get back to Tyger’s house. Tyger would still be out, and I would open the unlocked door to a raucous cacophony of barking and howling from his five dogs. And then I would walk in, and Doofy would sniff around at me, try and follow behind me, looking for an opening to attack. Not in a funny way. I mean I had a few seconds to get this dog locked on the other side of the house before he had an opportunity to lock my throat between his jaws.

Needless to say, I learned quickly. But not quickly enough.

Eventually Doofy decided that he wouldn’t attack me, but would use my poor leadership as an opportunity to climb up the animal ranks by attacking Kodiac, who was an old girl, normally protected by Tyger, but who was woefully unprotected by me. Doofy was scary and I was still convinced I could get him to be loving by smiling at him, which so far had not proven effective.

So I would walk in, act nervous, Doofy would snoop around, and then he would pounce on Kodiac, all howls and viscous teeth. And then Little Boots would join in and start going at Kodiac too.

It felt like Kodiac almost allowed herself to be attacked, like she would rather they hurt her than kill me. She was old, with wise, blue eyes, like a human. It felt like she could talk. Maybe I’m just being overly sentimental.

It was horrible. They would literally try to tear her apart. It happened three times. The first two times I managed to throw Little Boots in the other room and then drag Doofy away, to lock him in the bathroom. Eventually he tore the bathroom door down. Needless to say, Tyger was not happy about that.

The third time, I came in, knowing that how I acted over the next few seconds would decide whether or not this poor dog got hurt again. I should have just walked straight by and ignored them. They’d been hanging out just fine before I got there, but something about my hesitating at the door just immediately put them on edge. The looked at me for less than a second, and then Doofy and Little Boots both pounced on Kodiac with more viciousness than I had ever seen.

Growling and howling, gnashing teeth, Little Boots biting at Kodiac’s leg, Doofy ragging Kodiac’s entire body about, her neck clenched between his jaws, blood dripping onto the floor.

It’s so horrible to see that side of creatures that sometimes are cute, sometimes like to be stroked. The noises were the worst. Not quite howling. I don’t know the right word for it. I mean, I guess you would call it barking, but it doesn’t do justice to the emotional impact of seeing two creatures try to kill another that they have lived with their whole life.

They were both locked on so tight, I couldn’t pull them apart. They were going to kill her. So I sprinted to the kitchen and came back with a ladle, and started laying into them. One good whack on Little Boots and she let go, lost her thunder.

But Doofy was going for the kill. He paid no attention as I beat him in the face, again and again with this ladle. Eventually, the ladle snapped and fell to the floor, bent all out of shape, Doofy’s blood all over it. He just kept thrashing Kodiac about, oblivious to her pathetic whimpers and cries. She was tiny compared to him, couldn’t even dream of fighting back.

I looked at the shattered wooden handle in my hand, and I didn’t half feel like jabbing it into that mean sods eye, but I didn’t.

Little Boots was starting to get her confidence back up. She was about to go at it again, so I had to do something, perhaps lock her in the other room, then come back to deal with Doofy. But right then, one of my hands was gripped tight around Doofy’s collar, and was all that was stopping him from dragging Kodiac away. If I let go to deal with Little Boots he would have free reign to do what he wanted.

But, probably he wouldn’t kill her, just wanted to show who was boss, and might calm down if I let go, let him win the fight. Besides, the look in his eyes was terrifying, and I was scared he was gonna turn on me.

So that’s what decided it in the end – cowardice. I let go of him, to drag Little Boots to the other room, leaving that poor dog to her fate.

I ran back as quickly as I could. Doofy had dragged Kodiac beneath a cage. We had a cage for holding humans in the living room for some reason. Something about performance art, according to Meg.

Doofy dragged Kodiac under there, ragged her about a little, and let her go, as I had predicted. But I still felt like a failure and a coward.

Some of you may be shocked to hear about what probably is animal abuse, beating a dog with a ladle until his face was bloody, but I don’t know what else I could have done, other than not letting the situation get as out of hand as it did. Please forgive me.

Looking down at that bent and broken ladle, it was a symbol of my weakness, my inability to be the Alpha male. It should have been a warning. There should have been a voice saying ‘Is this the right place, the right people for you, E.z.? Is this the man you’re meant to be?’ but instead, all there was, was anger, and a determination to be stronger.

Tyger came back some time later, and was pissed. He loved his dogs, couldn’t bear to see them hurt, unless he was the one doing the hurting, and blamed me for my inability to control them.

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fredalsheim · 6 years

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Tag in Alaska beim Lachsfang _____________ Mit @michelle_friedrich09 und @manuela_friedrich ______________________________ #grizzly #brownbear #kodiac #bear #creek #salmon #fishing #canada #alaska #animallovers #dirkfriedrich #dfphotography #instagood #instalove #instagram #bestoftheday #picoftheday #photooftheday #eos70d #animalwelfare #beautyofnature #natgeo #nationalgeographic

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weatherman667 · 6 years

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I was tagged by @allhellforabasement (which apparently won’t resolve, which is shitty).

1. Name: Sean

2. Nicknames: None current, used to be Fish and one I would rather not repeat.

3. Height: 6′3″

4. Orientation: Straight

5. Nationality: Canadian

6. Favorite Fruit: Pomegranate, though they are too much work by themselves.

7. Favorite Season: Fall

8. Favorite Flower: Sunflower

9. Favorite Scent: Jasmine Tea

10. Favorite Color: Blue

11. Favorite Animal: Can’t decide between the Vancouver Island wolf and the Kodiac Bear.

12. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate: Tea with nothing in it.

13. Average hours of sleep: 6-7 hrs

14. Dog or Cat person: Used to be dog, but moving more towards cat.

15. Favorite Fictional Character: I can’t exactly fit my waifu list here, so Jude Mathis.

16. Number of blankets you sleep with: 1

17. Dream Trip: Used to be Iceland, but that was before the troubled times, so now my second Japan gets promoted.

18. Blog created: In the before time. Most of my early followers are inactive, (or at least deathly silent).

19. Number of Followers: 595

20. Random Fact:

I tag @femininenotfeminism@, @battlemage15, @dainslefsblog, @ask-atherian-films

#@battlemage15 #in the hope it resolves this time #tag

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readablenoise · 4 years

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Running With The Sound: An Interview with WD-HAN

The Tampa Bay based trio bring the infamous ‘wall of sound’ back into the rock genre, with passion, love and starlight in their wake

Florida- There is a sound stirring. Somewhere, in the far off distance, something has re-awakened.

As dormant as it may have been, it's power is immediate; visceral. Like a great thunderclap ringing through the night, or perhaps like the literal clap of thousands of open palms and readied feet, waiting for the right power to carry throughout the area walls.

It isn't the trailer for a new film, but the definition of arena rock. Iit has always been there, powerful and omnipotent, it's an art form that while debtatable, cannot be denied for the level of skill it requires. To compose songs built for the amps, not Spinal Tap loud but resonant in it's immediate response, and most important of all, sounds that can carry universal feeling. These are the sounds that shaped your youth; the ones you watched on the media of your choice in live concerts and left running in the background as you mouthed every word, or else simply sat in front of the TV and just wondered how that was possible. To create something so vibrant, so powerful that you can feel the bass heavy thumps from the amps in your chest, just as if you were at the barrier.

Whether it was U2, New Order, Muse, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Killers or any of the other rock giants, the inspiration level stemming from your speakers or otherwise even more magical, in person, is irrefutable. This is live music at it’s best; and yet one of the most notable points of interest is there have arguably been no bands formed within the last 10 years that have been able to accomplish this task.

Arena brand rock has somehow become a less purveyed form, partially due to level of ambition associated with it; legend has become legend and while many bask in the light from the trailblazers, most neglect the fact that the stairs to that pantheon are still there. Waiting for those with musical hearts of reckless abandon, arrows shot toward the moon and happy even just to remain in the same gravity as the stars themselves.

And it’s here, we enter WD-HAN. The best band you haven’t heard of...yet. For the pun worthy remark that the name is cleverly an abbreviation for “We Don’t Have A Name” and the sheer fact that the Tampa based trio are ready to burst into their own, with songs that once listened to even once, will have you asking “How have they not played Staples Center yet?”.

With humbleness and a love for what they do, in addition to the already lovely and potent chemistry of vocalist/guitarist Spencer Barnes, drummer Lea Campbell, and bassist Cal Henry, it results in something truly special. With two albums under their belt and a third soon to be released, their tracks bear the hallmarks of the greats, and all the heart and thunder of Greek heroes. We speak with the act on their inspirations, the current state of rock, and their sparkling future...

First and foremost, the question that must be asked. Does WD-HAN still not have a name, as abbreviated?

Spencer Barnes: Ha! It's one of those mysteries that may never be solved... What we know for now is that the official name of the band is just WD-HAN and it stands for "We Don't Have a Name." I have no idea if that means we have a name or not. We're just going to keep playing music and let everyone else decide.

Your music is a perfect mix of something like Neon Trees, that grime of The Black Keys and bombast of The Killers, accessible in the best of ways with a touch of complimentary pop. Do you feel pop in any genre should cease to be a dirty word, and more a recognized/respected as a style that has just as much potential to explore and grow in?

Spencer: I really don't agree with any sort of musical snobbery, for a couple of reasons. First, being an artist means being able to find the beauty and worth in things, and though I might not seek out pop music that often, in its time and place it can be a ton of fun! Second, listening to as much different music as possible forms the bows in my songwriting quiver. For me as a lyricist I think good pop music is a distilled and sometimes impatient version of what's good about songwriting. It is popular music after all, so I see it as something I can learn from and becomes part of a balance in my songwriting.

Cal Henry: Yes, absolutely! Artists are artists and they should create what they want, regardless of what genre it is. The world needs more art!

You have a new single out, what influenced that track and what has been on your playlists as of late?

Spencer: The new song is called Summertime Star Sign and it's the story of me losing a loved one and not getting a chance to say goodbye before he passed away. Actually, more like not making the chance and not realizing I didn't have more time to see him. This song is really me saying goodbye. It's a sad subject, but the song is hopeful as well and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it.

My favorite band at the moment is Young the Giant. They're incredible and I think their songwriting and production is so dynamic.

How long have you been together as a band, and how did you get acquainted with one other?

Spencer: We all met in high school, and have been playing together since. I think my first gig with the band was in 2007? Wow, it's been a long time! For us, though, this isn't something we're doing for a while in college, and we're not all playing in 6 bands hoping one of them makes it. We'll be playing together as WD-HAN until we physically can't anymore.

Lea Campbell: We originally met in high school and have been together ever since! About 12.5 years. Wow, I feel old now!

Spencer, you're from Australia. A question we are always interested to know is how a scene has influenced a person as it's where you grow as a person that is a big part of the design in the art you create. The Aussie scene has yielded quite a boastful arsenal of artists with that big, crisp sound that is also present in your music. How does the scene there compare to here, and what have you taken from it?

Spencer: I grew up in Melbourne, which has an amazing music scene. However, I was pretty young when my family moved to the US so I didn't get much chance to experience it. The music scene I did get to see first hand was Florida in the mid 2000s, which was huge in the metal genre. At that time, more than anything for us it was an exercise in persistence and belief in what we were doing vs others, as our style of music wasn't that common in our area. Nowadays, the music scene in Florida is amazing and we've been able to meet and play shows with a ton if incredible bands. It's a great place to be from as an artist!

Lea and Cal, the same question to you both; where did you grow up, and what were the moments that made you want to become an artist?

Lea: I'm originally from Michigan but did most of my growing up in San Jose, CA and Clearwater, FL. I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical household with a dad who plays guitar and drums. A set of drums appeared in our house one Christmas when I was 14. I immediately began jamming with my dad and eventually joined WD-HAN

Cal: I was born in New Jersey and moved to the Tampa Bay area when I was six. So most of my growing up was done here in Florida! I decided to become a musician after hearing Jimi Hendrix. Playing our first show was another big moment for me, that adrenaline rush was something I hadn’t experienced before and I wanted to do it again and again!

One of the reasons for this project is to not only reinforce how strong Florida's music scene truly is, but to bring it more together in support of local bands supporting other local acts. What are some of your favorite local acts right now?

Spencer: Honey, What?, Kodiac, Lions After Dark, Napoleon the Wilderness, The Bad Verbs, Highland Kites...so many and they seem to keep coming up more and more now.

Cal: Ashley Smith and TRO, HoneyWhat and Tides of Man. We have some good friends in those bands and they’re great musicians too!

There is a growing, and more acknowledged presence of women in the music industry, especially behind the kit with an example of Leah Shapiro, Kim Schifino, and yourself Lea. Who were some of your female inspirations in music, and who are some of your current favorites?

Lea: Aw, thank you! It is a HUGE honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as those guys! I have been inspired by so many badass musicians out there, guys AND girls. Brad Hargreaves (Third Eye Blind), HAIM, Alanis Morrissette, Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries), Dead Sara, Emma Richardson (Band Of Skulls), Juliet Simms, Wendy Ann Melvoin (Prince), Hayley Williams (Paramore) and SO MANY MORE!

And following up with that question, what would be your advise to any female musicians who are just starting to either get into music, or the scene in general?

Lea: Pick up an instrument and start playing it! Don't be shy. You can even learn some of your favorite songs on YouTube! Then start playing with friends or find some other musicians. Chances are, they would be stoked to have you jam with them! Share your recording or videos on social sites and just get crankin!!!

What is the most surprising influence each of you have?

Spencer: I don't know that I have many really surprising ones! I do like a lot of the old crooner music, like Sinatra, Davis Jr., Martin.

Lea: Beyonce. Of course.

Cal: Biggie, Jay-Z and Lupe Fiasco

Arena rock is an avenue we're seeing less and less of due to a variety of reasons: the decline of rock radio stations, the desire to follow in the footsteps of it's forerunners or a diversion to the mainstream.

Spencer: Wow, what a question! I think when I'm performing I'm not necessarily thinking about how I fill the room, other than I want the people there to get something from me. It doesn't have to be a literal listening to every word, but I want them to feel what we're trying to say as a band. A concert is amazing because it's a conversation, it's an ebb and flow. I play that way whether it's 50 people or thousands.

Cal: Wow, thank you for comparing us to U2! That's incredibly high praise. We all have a shared reality of the kind of music we want to make and have made in the past. We all love Rock music. Each of us have a good idea of what interests the others so when we’re all excited about a song it’s a good sign. I love playing and creating music with Spencer and Lea. And we just create the kind of music we love to play.

I personally don’t have the idea that rock is dying. There are so many great bands still making incredible music today. For example I’ve been listening to Third Eye Blind’s new album, “Screamer” every day since it came out. They started in the 90’s and are still going strong! Their first album was the first CD I ever got

What would be a dream band to tour alongside, or a producer you'd like to work with?

Spencer: I'd love to tour with Young the Giant or Third Eye Blind. I just think what they do is amazing and it'd be a hell of a show every night for us to share the stage with them! As far as producers, we have been really fortunate with the ones we have worked with so I've got no complaints. I would love to work with Jeff Bhasker and Alex Salibian, producers of Home of The Strange for YTG, though!

Cal: There are so many! Beck, Third Eye Blind, Walk the Moon, John Mayer, Oh Wonder, Young the Giant, Coldplay... Ryan Tedder would be amazing to work with and Justin Meldal-Johnsen too! And of course Alex Arias!

You've toured Asia to a great degree of success. Having been, how do you feel music is received there, and how does it differ from the US?

Spencer: We’ve specifically been to Taiwan three times and I can't even describe how amazing that island is. The people there are incredibly kind to any foreigner and their reception of us was no different. If we looked lost in the street, within 30 seconds someone would ask if we needed help! When we played music, that carried through and they were so appreciative. We were the ones honored to be there, and they were treating us like U2 had come to town. It was surreal.

Is there a country you'd like to tour to in the future?

Spencer: Anywhere and everywhere. I can't wait to tour Europe, but if we get the opportunity to play anywhere that it's reasonably safe to do so, I'd do it.

Lea: I would love to tour in the UK! What history!

Cal: Italy - the food over there is incredible!

What's your favorite song you've written thus far and why?

Spencer: That’s cruel! Seems funny, but my favorite is usually the one we most recently wrote. Right now, Summertime Star Sign would be it, just because it's such a personal story for me.

Cal: It’s hard to choose just one so I’ll bend the question a bit and say our three latest recordings. Summertime Star Sign just came out and the other two will be following shortly! We worked with Alex Arias to come up with what I feel is our best work yet. We weren’t rushed in any aspect of making these songs and they represent us really well.

And finally, we always like to wrap our interviews with a question that has proved difficult for the bands we've interviewed but we have fun asking: if you could each pick one lyric to describe yourself as a person, what would it be?

The lyric could be your own, or from a different artist entirely.

Spencer: I think I can answer this for the group -

“Wonderboy, what is the secret of your powers?”

- Tenacious D

Listen and purchase “Summertime Star Sign” here: https://fanlink.to/summertimestarsign?fbclid=IwAR1Z9JC1gLE88UbG5UiHpOzJbwlTJwTYOktmeGQk3xRB8OetN2dDuHMBkW4

Find more information, upcoming tour dates and all things WD-HAN here: https://www.wdhan.com/

-Jenelle DeGuzman

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