Sideways Reign

Translated Text:
“The solid, raspy rock voice of ‘Sideways Reign’ lead singer Justin Stang is lifting the songs on their album ‘A Stand For All Stages’ to a higher qualitative level. We want to give our full support to the social engagement towards welfare goals by this band, which shows that even tough rockers can demonstrate that they have their hearts beating in the right place.”
Sideways Reign "is a group from Union, Washington musicians from quartet featuring singer-guitarist Justin Stang, Casey Dehé guitarist, bassist and drummer Cody Goodwin The Dizzler. Although the group for over ten years running, they released their debut album "A Stand For All Stages" in late 2008 for the first time on the market, especially while aiming for the regional and national U.S. market.


After many wanderings through various countries and varying times of prosperity and adversity, the group tries' Sideways Reign "their album in the year 2011 a second lease of life renewed by an international release, which are orchestrated by Peter Holmstedt of the Swedish distributor Hemifran.


Singer Justin has a rod which people are wont to call "tough, raspy rock voice," who takes the lead on eleven original compositions in between we have some strong numbers to detect. Opener "Oxygen", "Holly & Emma," "Friends Like These", the catchy "Endless Moving" and the beautiful closing track "Love Song Suicide" show that this group is not just another "right-to-earth to ' rock group wants, but that they also have some elements of pop, blues and folk music in their tracks trying to process.


This group shows their social commitment by the proceeds from sales of CDs and their many live shows to concede to various charities including a foster child in Bangladesh and sponsoring a youth soccer team on their "Sideways Reign Foundation. These are tough men with heart pounding in the right place and getting us Rootstime always more credit. (Valsam)
- Roots Time (Belgium)

Definitely one to watch

This Seattle Washington State based four piece outfit have built up quite a following through their relentless touring so much so that sales already near 2000 copies of this self release debut album. Some excellent songs, at times a with a bleak theme, and a good mixture of rock, reggae, folk and blues and good value too with eleven tracks and most delving into the five-plus minutes category.

The band leader is Justin Stang who has a raspy vocal style, already likened to Ray LaMontagne, and he is supported by cousin Casey Dehe on lead guitar and Mike Dennis and Cody Goodwin on drums and bass respectively. They seem to take collective credit for all of the songs here.

There are some dark recesses explored here with Anna Leave Me, Holly & Emma, Friends Like These and Love Song Suicide but all have a storyline and hold the attention. Also the anti-war diatribe Liar eloquently states that side of the argument.

A couple of tracks set me thinking of Jean Michel Jarre, the opener Oxygen was merely the title as this one thumps along and is the tale of freedom from a relationship but the later, and sole, instrumental C2H2 could be a JMJ title and is very much in Jarre style.

However the tracks I liked best are those with the reggae beat Endless Moving and Settle On together with the stirring Rebels Rise

There is not a duff track on this debut album and it is well worth your consideration. Paul Collins - Maverick Magazine (UK) June 2011 issue

Translated Text:

In essence, Sideways Reign is a small family. The cousins ??Justin and Casey Stang Dehe making music since childhood. Ten years ago The group was founded with bassist Cody Goodwin and The Dizzler (drums). In addition to live performances came after the EP "Epic Scale Mt" means this debut album, "A Stand For All Stages".
Stang has provided a really nice-sounding rock singer with a good portion grater. The song is damn good over there and for "C2H2" the front man with the acoustic guitar begrudge his vocal cords a break. Dehe plays a bone-dry electric guitar, the sound refined it here from time to time with the wah wah pedal. The instrumental therefore has a psychedelic touch. "C2H2" is a good song, which is also a great pleasure Beat. Even bassist Goodwin gets time for a little bridge alone. The piece is jam character. Then Justin Stang is finally alone in scene: "Love Song Suicide" is a lovely rock ballad, in which one can enjoy his voice very well.
However, does "Oxygen" as the opener a pretty good start and it is remarkable that Sideways Reign does not even begin with a raucous rock song. After a slow start until you put in the middle of the track and a total of some coals to the listener like now the common driving electric guitar and without a plug. "Holly & Emma" live at the beginning of Dehes creaky electric guitar and a fine melody. Right in the middle changes the rhythm of the group scheme through to reggae. Those are wonderful views! And because it was so beautiful, weighs in "Rebels Rise" in this exclusive overclocking. However, it rocks something gentler.
With a great rolling groove is "Endless Moving" and therefore "Settle On" has blues roots, funky riffs and wah wah class action. Busy as bees are the musicians in the knitting of rhythm changes and mood turns. "Liar" is the first of gentleness in person and then get soft again speed boosts missed. Still find pleasure in the use of acoustic and electric guitar. The length of the tracks is remarkable and still comes on in the songs never a dull moment.
Sideways Reign builds an interesting rock house, on the many design elements you like, but it is also noted that the Quartet should be absolutely even more prominent parts included in their songwriting. Then take the stand even before such a building, more time to looking.
"Friends Like These" runs in the sand and have heard sounds like when you look at the entire CD begrudge in one pass. "Anna Leave Me" features a pounding rhythm, but otherwise can not really convince. Because somehow missing the odd spark that is needed to be captivated by the sound. Then comes the riff-monster "One Woman" look completely different, therefore. Best breaks and rhythmic playfulness can arise particularly good mood.
Overall Sideways Reigns is "A Stand For All Stages" a good foundation for the band from Washington. With some improvements on the music page you can see quite a following album equanimity. Live can determine their compositions, the band even better play to the gallery. Thus, some videos of the group show that the four regular on stage what has on the box. Finally, in 2010 twenty-five concerts in thirty-two days in nineteen American states have already a house number. - RockTimes (Germany)

Translated Text:

In Seattle, Washington is apparently awake one shot. In the wake of the new album Falling Blind I also 'A Stand For All Stages "from Sideways Reign ingested.

"A Stand For All Stages is now their second album and already has some time, but only now in the low countries. You hear very well that Sideways Reign of American Northwest same place, or not far away, comes as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and the aforementioned Falling Blind.
Unlike Sideways Reign latter group takes itself a bit and there are clear folk influences as heard in "Love Song Suicide," "Friends Like These" or the beautiful changes of pace provided opening track 'Oxygen'. The equally excellent "Holly & Emma" opens with fanfare befitting a Indian war dance and a song like 'Liar' is perfect for the hoarse voice of Justin Stang. 'One Woman' takes a subtle reference to Robert Johnson, at the crossroads sold his soul to the devil and not a one woman kinda guy "was.
Casey Dehé hereby sells us a hell of a guitar solo.
Sideways Reign fits into the ranks of the Seattle scene and at times exemplary store to rock like on "Settle On" where even the wahwah pedal is removed from under the sink. They sound in most cases a lot braver and more civilized than the rest of the Seattle crowd, though without the sharp edges of their music to all files.
Most grunge fanatics will 'A Stand For All Ages' Sideways Reign of too nice find but "Grunge doesn't always have to raise hell to be grunge. - Keys and Chords

Here’s something we haven’t heard of before – a feature with a band member that ran for the Senate. That’s right – lead singer of the Union, Washington-based band Sideways Reign, Justin Stang ran just last year for a seat to help shape this country. And looking at the band’s history, I probably would have voted for him. He and his band mates (cousin and guitarist Casey Dehe, drummer Mike Dennis and bassist Cody Goodwin) are a DIY band that continuously gives back. They run the Sideways Reign Foundation, a non-profit that awards an annual scholarship, sponsors a youth soccer team, and has adopted a State Highway. The band is also a sponsor of a child in need in Bangladesh– all of this funded by proceeds generated by the band’s live shows. Good people, no doubt.

The band has a release you should hear about too, the follow-up to their “Scale Mt. Epic EP”, an LP titled “A Stand For All Stages”. The collection holds a mix of rock, blues, folk and reggae. We asked Stang for more information: “We self produced and recorded in a staggering four days. Just about everything was done live and/or in only a few takes. This is not to mention that we also had a shoe-string budget as well. As a result, the listener gets a glimpse into what one of our shows is like, because we tried to capture that essence on the CD. It's a very straightforward and honest representation of Sideways Reign as a band.”

Needless to say, you should pick up “A Stand For All Stages”. And catch Sideways Reign live (they’ve played in five countries after all) – they’ll be playing the Western part of the states starting this month. If you’re at SXSW right now, go hang out with them. There’s a whole lot more to learn, so keep reading for all the answers to the XXQ’s. - Pens Eye View

02/25/2010
Sideways Reign
A Stand for All Stages
by Melissa Mylchreest


Sideways Reign claims to be "a band representative of the artistic sensibilities of the masses." It may seem at first a brazen claim, but I think it's actually fairly accurate. The unfortunate irony, though, is that the masses don't have much in the way of artistic sensibility.

Sounding quite a bit like the late-1990s band Dispatch, Sideways Reign offers a blend of blues, rock and reggae that is well played, but could use a boost of originality and a touch of finesse.

That being said, A Stand for All Stages does have its high points. Lead singer Justin Stang boasts a gravelly, gritty, cigarettes-and-whiskey voice, which effectively livens up limp lyrics. And, while the band's bar-chord-driven tunes are fairly predictable, there are some shining guitar moments: The bluesy, electric solo in "Oxygen" stands out, as does the soaring instrumental "C2h2." The lone acoustic tune, "Love Song Suicide," showcases a refreshingly different sound, which the band ought to consider pursuing.

While at times a bit clunky, Sideways Reign does display musical skill. Perhaps even more of the masses will appreciate the band as its artistic sensibilities develop. - Missoula Independent

STOLI HEADS TO WA STATE TO KICK OFF THE SIDEWAYS REIGN TOUR

January 26, 2010 | by Skope Staff

This week we have a band coming out of Washngton state by the name of Sideways Reign. I caught wind of these guys after being told of their first nationwide tour that they are kicking off this week. Sideways Reign will be playing venues from San Francisco to NYC meeting up with old fans and making new ones along the way. I have also been taken back by the lead singer, Justin Stang, who is not only very talented but a great guy as well. All the dates are posted on their Myspace page but before you see the boys live get to know them better here.

Stoli: Where are we speaking from today and what do you have going on today?

Sideways Reign: We’re currently out in WA state, braving the rainy season and rehearsing for the upcoming tour. Tonight we may sneak into a local open mic to see how some new songs are working out on stage and in front of a crowd.

Stoli: How did you come up with the name of the band, Sideways Reign?

SR: We’ve joked about the ridiculousness of the weather we get here (Western WA) for some time-as we get all kinds of rain- and sideways rain had become a way of life for the band. It was something we were familiar with and represented our WA home that we love. We changed the spelling to Reign, to at the same time jest at crooked governments- Like music, hopefully someday, we’ll be the only Sideways Reign in government too.

Stoli: There are four musicians in the band. How did you all come together and did you have a similar vision for the music you wanted to create?

SR: Casey (Dehe, guitar) and Justin (Stang, vocals, guitar) are cousins and had been jamming for quite some time. When Justin moved to WA from New York, they met Mike (Dennis, drums) through mutual friends and began what is now Sideways Reign. Cody (Goodwin, bass) was originally a singer-songwriter (and fan of the band) that switched instruments, became the bass player and rounded out the line-up. In terms of the vision for music, we all wanted to make something original that we were passionate about and the songs to be written and arranged to allow each member to input their own style and creativity on their respective instrument. In that way we all certainly shared the same musical vision…

Stoli: What is the music scene like in Union, WA and what are some of your favorite venues to play out there?

SR: Union is a very small, quiet and peaceful town in Western Washington on Hood Canal; however, despite it’s size it has a disproportionately large number of artists and musicians making the community thrive. There is always a little buzz pulsing through the artistic community and countless jam sessions, concerts, open mics and art exhibits have sprung up as a result. The first place we played is in Union, called The Robin Hood Pub, and holds a special place for us. We play there every year as sort of an anniversary party for the band and it’s always one of our favorite shows.

Stoli: Your last album was ‘A Stand For All Stages’ was out in 2008. Are you working on a new album and how has the band evolved since that first full album?

SR: We have most of the material written for a new studio album and are working to start recording before the end of 2010. Since the ‘A Stand For All Stages’ album, I think we have become more focused and concise in our music. We’ve always been minimalists with our studio production and now are translating some of that to our song writing process.

Stoli: How do four guys work to agree on matters of music and keep everyone on the same page?

SR: We’re all so close as friends and family, it makes everything music related very easy to talk about. There are occasional minor disagreements, but the big picture always remains that if we weren’t in a band together, we’d probably be hanging out every day anyway.

Stoli: You guys are doing very well without a major label. Do you plan on staying independent or are you keeping options open?

SR: Thanks! We love the idea of independent music and are very happy with what we’ve been able to do so far on our own, but we are always keeping our options open for the best interest of the band…especially if the creative process we have remained intact.

Stoli: You are heading out on tour next month. Are you excited to venture out of WA and how do you decide where you want to play?

SR: We are very excited about the tour next month, covering the entire US in five weeks. Being our first major tour we will get to see so many new places and love the fact that we get to play a show everyday. To determine our route and venues we find a few shows we all want to do and then fill in the gaps along that route. On this tour we are aiming to play smaller more intimate venues to really make a great connection with our audience, many that may be seeing the band live for the first time.

Stoli: If you had to choose performing live verses recording in-studio what would you choose and why?

SR: Performing live, no question. The energy and buzz of a great show is certainly one of our favorite parts of being in the band. While the studio is lots of fun creatively, there is less of the exciting atmosphere that only comes from the relationship between performers and the audience.

Stoli: How do you guys manage your personal lives while still giving your all to the band?

SR: We all have very supportive and understanding families, when it comes to the band and we’ve all had to make a number of sacrifices in our personal life to have the proper time and energy to give 100% to the band.

Stoli: What do you guys use as transportation for the tour and do you enjoy roughing it?

SR: We have a 1997 Ford Clubwagon Van, which is a major upgrade from our last van. We now have enough seats and seatbelts for everyone, which is what we’ve always wanted. I think we like roughing it…we all have tents etc. and don’t mind it at all. In fact, we camped outside the studio in Seattle when we recorded “A Stand for All Stages”- which is another story altogether. We’re also staying with a lot of friends and family on the road, so it will be worth roughing it to visit with the folks we haven’t seen in some time.

Stoli: Justin’s voice is very catchy & stands out. Do you create instrumentals to enhance his vocals?

SR: Not intentionally…We rehearse quite a bit and most of the songs evolve there from the initial song to the final product. We try different melodies and arrangements and go with the parts we feel are working the best for each song. We discuss what is working (or not) and then we build from there. Occasionally we will try to make the vocals stand out, but its more for the lyrics or rhythm at that part than anything else.

Stoli: I really love the song, “Fire, Lies and Wine.” What does that song mean to you and when did you record that track?

SR: That track is from our first recording, an EP called ‘Scale Mt. Epic’. For us the theme is generally that no matter what negativity life can throw at you, things will be alright if you can focus on the love you have for another…

Stoli: What is coming up for Sideways Reign and where can readers get more from you guys?

SR: For certain the big thing right now is the tour. We will be shooting a daily video blog tracking our path across the US while we’re gone and keeping all of our fans up to date. After that, we have a live album recorded that needs some mastering attention so it can be released this summer. We always have good band related news, tour dates, info and contests at www.sidewaysreign.com or www.myspace.com/sidewaysreign and recently, we’ve been getting into twitter at www.twitter.com/sidewaysreign. Thanks, and we hope to see you on the road in February! - Skope Magazine

By Nick Morgan
Ashland Daily Tidings
February 06, 2010

At the dawn of Sideways Reign's tour across the United States, the acoustic rock band is already brimming with excitement over new experiences. In its first week on tour, Sideways Reign has already toured its first TV studio while performing for KATU's A.M. Northwest, and taken in a newsroom for the first time while performing its song "Oxygen" for the Tidings Café.

These are only the beginning of many experiences in a rock 'n roll roadtrip over the next five weeks that began in the group's hometown of Union, Wash. One of those shows was in Ashland at the Caldera Tap House Wednesday night with Ashland psychadelic funk group Karrgo Bossajova. The band will head south to Los Angeles, then to the East Coast, north and westward back to Washington.

"It ends up being on the map a giant circle," Sideways Reign vocalist and guitarist Justin Stang said. "We're really excited to be out on the road and playing shows in as many new and exciting environments as possible."

The band will play some 25 shows in support of their latest CD, "A Stand for All Seasons." The disc blends influences of blues, folk, rock and reggae into a well-crafted collection of songs with lyrics written to connect with the listener with relatable themes of love, heartache and fighting the system.

The group's Tidings Café performance of "Oxygen" is a pared-down representation of that same sound. Lead singer Justin Stang and lead guitarist Casey Dehe strum nearly identical Taylor guitars in a warm, bright, synchronized fashion while Stang sang with a thunderous raspy voice that shook flimsier items in the room and instantly demanded attention. Stang and Dehe said they don't play Taylor guitars because they're the same; they play them because they're the best.

"It's just the superior guitar," Dehe said. "I remember thinking, 'Hey, if we're going to do this and we're going to be professional, we've got to act professional and have professional gear.'"

Currently, the band is putting everything they have into becoming professional musicians. What started as jam sessions between close cousins Dehe and Stang almost a decade ago has evolved into a full band with Cody Goodwin on bass guitar and Mike Dennis on drums, and now the band is pooling its resources to evolve beyond a do-it-yourself group.

"We saved money, and we're starting to try to find people in the various sections of advertising, marketing, press, public relations, Web site design that can really help develop our marketing so that we can continue to focus on creativity and music," Stang said. "If we were spending all our time making T-shirts in the garage to sell at shows, we wouldn't have a lot of time to rehearse or play live gigs."

After months of planning and saving for the tour, the band is just excited to see the product of their work.

"You know, the five weeks and 10,000-plus miles of driving and five weeks of sleeping on couches and floors and playing music every night, that's the easy part, that's what we're looking forward to," Goodwin said. "It's the three months of trying to figure out logistics and dates and money and time off work and everything like that, that's the hard part."

For those who missed Sideway's Reign's Ashland performance, their album is available from their Web site www.sidewaysreign.com, CDBaby or iTunes Store.

Check out Sideways Reign's special acoustic performance of "Oxygen" at www.dailytidings.com or check out the Tidings Café group on ConnectAshland.com at www.connectashland.com/group/tidingscafe. - Ashland Daily Tidings

"Expect the unexpected here from a Washington-based band known as Sideways Reign. A Stand For All Stages is music for all faces. This group of musicians blends an interesting variety of rock, blues, folk and even some funk. The meaning behind the band name relates to their “Pacific Northwest roots and as a reference to the political tyrannies that they stand firmly against”. Down-to-earth rock for every class of people sums up the premise of Sideways Reign and their Stand For All Stages.

Sideways Reign is made up of Justin Stang on vocals & guitar, Casey Dehe on guitar, Cody Goodwin on bass and Mike Dennis on drums. There were many elements about this record that really stood out to me. The first was Stang’s graspy & gritty vocal style that seemed to add more edge & substance to the album. The second element I picked up on was the fine guitar playing here. There were some killer-cool guitar solos that just rocked the spot. The switch between electric & acoustic guitar added a nice overall dimension to the recording. The third and final element that took me by surprise were the unexpected time changes. These time changes happened sporadically throughout the record and occurred at times that you wouldn’t expect. Slowed down rhythms, fast, more up-beat paces and mid-tempo numbers were all touched on and all intermingled with here. It made for a unique listen and it was quite surprising at times. Like I said earlier, definitely expect the unexpected as you will get a full plate of it.

I’d like to talk a little bit about the latter end of this album due to its funky-rock-fresh demeanor. Track nine, “Settle On”, offers up a bangin’ drum beat while the guitar was funkin’ out & rockin’ out. The next song, “C2H2”, has a great beat going with a little taste of funk once again on guitar & bass. There was no singing here; this was just one awesome jam session where all four members went all out. “C2H2” is one of my favorite tracks on the album due to the live feel and impressive musicianship. Sideways Reign ends with some harsh words that will make you think: “I’d rather be dead than in love with you”. Wow—who is this person Stang speaks of? Is she a bitch, is she freakin’ off-her-rocker-crazy, self-centered, materialistic or maybe some or all of the above….who knows!? I do know the inquiring mind would love to know more about this person.

Overall, I enjoyed the different takes on music and musical styles Sideways Reign delve into. The only one issue I had, at times, was that certain songs seemed to sound kind of the same. This did not happen all the way through the album; it just hit me at certain moments. For more on Sideways Reign and their latest release, A Stand For All Stages, SKOPE out www.sidewaysreign.com."

By Jimmy Rae
8-28-2009
- Skope Magazine

"Their lead vocal man is good enough to front The Great Crusades, a gravel-saw rasp from the testosterone basement and their lead guitar man spits lovely combinations of the liquid and the lethal, they are top draw Americana. It's only the challenging number of time changes, elaborate arrangements and apparent refusal to admit Mr Catchy that stop them from troubling Simon Cowell. Sideways Reign are, all of 'em, outstanding and often astounding musical technicians, pure listening pleasure and "A Stand For All Stages" is funk-hard-rock masterclass from top to bottom. Even so, I'd love to hear them stoop to a bit of cheap, nasty, simple hook-riff and raise their profile.
IS IT ANY GOOD? It's brilliant, if you like music, you'll love this." - Unpeeled.net

"It's only about two miles out the Skokomish Valley Road, but five sharp turns combined with the valley's pitch-black darkness, can make finding the Skokomish Valley Grange trickier than it seems.
The first clue that you've made it, according to last minute directions from a friend, is a fire station that sits just past the hall and actually comes into view first, unless of course there are dozens and dozens of vehicles parked out front for the concert that you've come to see and feel and hear. In that case, you know that you've come to the right place right away.
On this night, it's the local boys from Sideways Reign...that have brought you this far and they will not disappoint." - Shelton-Mason County Journal

Washington-state acoustic /blues rock band Sideways Reign put out a good effort with their latest A Stand For All Stages. “Oxygen” starts with a softer guitar driven intro, and frontman Justin Stang sings with a cool rasp, but the song picks up a few times with a solid blues breakdown in between. Although the record is good and has some nice chops, the songs seem to mesh together, with the exception of closer “Love Sung Suicide.” Overall, this is one good record from a band that can actually write good songs, they just need to mix it up alittle more. -Richard Daugherty
- Origivation Magazine