Who Really Sees It?

A recent article from The Boston Globe explored tobacco signage and advertising within convenience stores and not surprisingly, found that big tobacco is up to some questionable practices.

It's a known fact that smoking rates are higher among low income neighborhoods and it's no coincidence. As the FDA takes on more and more responsibility in terms of tobacco r...

Point-Of-Sale Ads Directly Influence Teens

In a new study conducted by Dr. Lisa Henriksen, a Stanford University School of Medicine researcher, it was found that point-of-sale advertising is the driving force behind coaxing teens to try cigarettes. Point-of-sale (P.O.S.) ads are marketing tools you see in stores that sell the advertised products; posters, lights, cardboard cut-outs, etc.

The study did make note of big toba...

Its True

Lynda Mitchell is 52 and she is dying from smoking. She lives in the U.K. and grew up in a household where smoking was the norm; her parents routinely smoked 60 cigarettes per day. It's not overly surprising that Lynda would be a prime candidate to contract Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) but what is surprising, is that Lynda has never smoked a cigarette in her life.

Littlefoot

For the 5 members of Littlefoot, being in a band has nothing to do with ego, an agenda or even a common vision. Instead of accepting their differences as a set back, the band embraces them and uses them to fuel their passion for what they do: rock.

Littlefoot originated as a supergroup comprised of members of different Tri-Sate area punk, hardcore and ska bands. As f...

New Tobacco Ad Rules

Everyone knows that tobacco products are addictive, this should be no surprise by now. Once someone starts using, they're almost guaranteed to be hooked, but with everyone aware of the effects of tobacco use it has to make you wonder: why do people even start in the first place?

Tobacco companies have always been amazingly good at dressing up their product. Whether it's ma...

Regarding Butts...

These days, it seems like anything you can buy comes in two versions: regular and “green.” With so many products being made using environmentally friendly items, being planet-conscious is as easy as checking the label at the store. However, that’s not the case for ALL products.

As the state of Vermont celebrated Green Up Day (a statewide effort ...

Brothers

Artist: The Black Keys

Album: Brothers

Release Date: 05/18/10

The blues/classic rock/funk duo hailing from Ohio is back. In their 8th studio album, it’s more of the same from The Black Keys and that’s a very, very good thing.

One of the best things about this band is how consistent they are. Unlike ma...

Any Port In A Storm (Special Edition)

Artist: The Dirty Heads
Album: Any Port In A Storm (Special Edition)
Release Date: April 27th, 2010

For anyone who can't stick to just one genre of music, there's bands like The Dirty Heads to keep you happy. Combining reggae, rock, punk and hip hop, this band is truly a mish mash of style, inspiration and good times.

Let's go right ahead and...

Thatswhatshesaid

Don’t even try to pretend like you’ve never made a “That’s what she said!” joke, we all have. NOVA up-and-comers Thatswhatshesaid (the band), are making kick @ss tunes that VA can’t get enough of.  Whether you dig honest lyrics, catchy melodies, a wide range of vocals or all the above – Thatswhatshesaid has got it all.  Believe it or not, t...

New Study: Smoking Lowers IQ

Smoking is kind of a funny thing in that everyone has heard and fully understands the risks associated with smoking but people choose to do it anyway. The general theory on why people keep smoking (other than becoming addicted) is denial. If you can convince yourself that the hazards are old news and it "couldn't happen to you" then maybe you can justify it.

Now let&...

Rescue The Hero

When you see a live band that you’ve never heard before, it’s not typical to be instantly hooked – but that’s totally what happened when I saw Rescue the Hero at last month’s Syke show (Down N’ Dirty Fest @ Jaxx).  It’s also super rad that when asked about the best show they’ve ever played, these guys sa...

Down N' Dirty Fest

Duuuude. Okay so, the Down N’ Dirty Fest on Saturday lived up to its name – if you’re 1 of the 5 people in Northern VA that wasn’t there, then sucks to be you.  There were 17 bands and 13 of them were local favs.  Plus, The Right Coast (my new favs from PA – those guys are amazing), Sparks the Rescue, The Dangerous Summe...

Down N' Dirty Fest

So you know how January is sort of one of those boring months where there’s nothing really exciting going on (minus the occasional 2 hour delay because there’s a frozen puddle on a sidewalk somewhere in VA)??  Well, Syke’s all about making this weak excuse for a month AWESOME.

With the help of our ...

The Gloom

It would appear as though a new dance rock era is upon us – with bands like MGMT, Foxy Shazam, and even the Yeah Yeah Yeahs causing a commotion over the past couple years.  Of course, Virginia locals – The Gloom – caught the wave just in time and are bringing their own unique mix of “hipster disco” to the floor.  The...

Commends

Although they’ve only been together for a little less than five months, the members of Commends are no strangers to the Northern Virginia music scene.  All the guys have been in other popular local bands before this one; you might know vocalist Anton and bass...

The Inevitable

I suppose it was only a matter of time. Sly marketing has been the surprisingly spry crutch of the tobacco industry for decades despite a general knowing better. People get smarter - nay, more EDUCATED - but big tobacco also wises up as the sand trickles down the glass and they learn to combat new evidence with new marketing. The fact that not only do people still smoke but new smokers light ...

The Storm Came and The Rock Reigned

After two days of crappy weather, flickering electricity, being stuck in the house and just plain suckage –Syke’s Hampton roads friends were ready to get out and have a good time.  Naturally, they hit up Club Relevant for Syke’s Falling Forward CD Release show in VA Beach (well, that is, if they were cool enough to know where the party w...

oh Sweet Irony...

How do you market a product that contains thousands of harmful chemicals and is SUPER addictive? You cover it up! Flashy ads and hot models are a sure fire way to draw attention away from the facts and steer it towards impulse. That sounds like fun, let’s try it…

SYKE. But thanks for the idea big tobacco.

Our latest ad takes a ste...

Tomorrow's Ours

With a name like Tomorrow’s Ours to inspire their determination and creativity, it’s no big surprise that this 5-piece pop punk/screamo band from Fredericksburg is hitting VA with an intense energy.  They’ve been together as a full band for less than a year (although th...

Vote for Syke's Band of the Month!

So in between procrastinating your homework, refreshing your Facebook page and ooVoo-ing to your heart’s content, I’m prettttty sure you have a minute or two to help out one of the 3 stellar bands competing in this month’s Syke Band of the Month competition. Seriously though. 

This month we’ve got Tomorrow’s Ours  o...

Falling Forward CD Release Show Video

DId you really let yourself miss the Falling Forward CD relase show on September 26th? REALLY? Check out this little sampling of the awesomeness you missed out on...

Sign up for the Syke Mailer! It's FREE

What would you say if I told you that people all over VA might be checking you out right now? Seriously. If you attended the Syke rock show at Jammin’ Java on July 5th or 13th, your mug could very well be all over the Syke Mailer.

Don’t have a Syke Mailer? Whaaaaa...

The OK Corral

If you’re going to stand out against a mass of talented musicians in the NOVA scene, then you need to make sure that your band isn’t doing the same old things that everyone else is. Meet The OK Corral from Springfield, VA.  With soulful vocals and ...

So Long, Flavor Country

Our long battle to get restrictions on tobacco companies has finally paid off as the FDA announced an official ban on fruit-, candy- or clove-flavored cigarettes. This is a huge milestone for youth because the number of young people who begin smoking will dramatically start to decrease.

According to research, flavored cigarettes have been found to be more appea...

Falling Forward CD Release Show!

All the cool kids know that Syke’s new compilation CD Falling Forward: Tracks from VA’s Up-and-Coming Bands is FINALLY here! This past Saturday was the first ever CD release show at the Old Firehouse in McLean, VA and, for those of you that were there, was an AMAZING event!

Falling Forward features 13 of the area’s best bands, 9 of which played the release sho...

Hello Conductor

If it’s time to switch up your play list, and you’re looking for something a little more unique, you definitely want to load it up with some Hello Conductor!  This Richmond-based quartette fuses several different musical elements and styles (most predominantly rock and indie) to create a progressive sound that will keep you hungry for more.

Hello Conductor actua...

Autostrada

If you’re in the mood for something with a little more bite than your favorite pop band, but aren’t necessarily down with conventional hardcore or screamo, then Autostrada’s heavy alternative fusion  is the perfect catch for your end-of-summer playlist.   With a unique sound and poignant lyrics this quartette is sure to pea...

Spending Monday night with (who else?) Hey Monday!

There's always something magical when not one but two, local bands make it big and then come back to their hometown to perform - especially when it's on a national tour. The outrageous levels of anticipation and excitement for the Jammin' Java stop of the "Let's Make a Mess Tour" were apparent as soon as the Syke crew rolled up to JJ (an hour before doors opened) to...

Jammin Java July 5th: If you missed it...sucks to be you!

For all those awesome kids that decided fireworks on Saturday weren’t enough excitement for one weekend, the Syke show at Jammin’ Java on Sunday provided the explosion they were looking for.

McTwist started things off with some sweet original tunes and a few rockin’ cover songs. McTwist’s guitarist/singer, Chris, was one of our lucky Syke t-shi...

Rosy Likes Red

While the band Rosy Likes Red adopted their name from a short story by Connor Kaos (RLR’s lead singer and founder), their success will certainly not be short-lived.  Drawing inspiration from some pretty unlikely sources – like 19th Century Romanticism for starters – this up-and-coming pop-punk quartette puts a modern spin on some of thei...

Trustfall

For twins Max and Spencer Ernst making music is nothing new – they’ve been performing live for almost a decade, and writing songs for even longer.  In September of last year Max and Spencer picked up Pat Shine on guitar and Greg Mallick on drums, formed Trustfall, and have been causing quite a stir in the DC Metro/NOVA music scene.  While many NOVA bands are going in a p...

Honour Crest

For those of you 7 Cities kids that caught Honour Crest this past weekend at Peppermint Beach Club (with Sky Eats Airplane, In Fear and Faith, The Word Alive, and Eyes Set to Kill) you know exactly why they’re Syke’s Band of the Month – not only is their set tight but they definitely know how to bring it!  While the band has been in existence for a few years, the origin...

Ari, Hydie & Ace

What’s better than learning the truth about one of the ridiculously hot Syke Nine girls? A triple dose of Syke sexiness! Prepare yourself for hot girl overload…

First up is Ari.

Facts are facts and Ari is DROP DEAD gorgeous. However, like her fellow Syke Nine girls, Ari has a little secret. She represents Arsenic, which is one of the most deadly chemic...

Diesel Pigeons

Flying into the Northern Virginia music scene at an intangible speed is Diesel Pigeons.  With polar opposite influences (ranging from pop punk to metal to blues) this quartette has managed to create a synth-driven force blasting to the top of our radar. They’re so good, in fact, that they are the first ever winners of Syke’s Band Of The Month Voting Contest! 

Rude Zombie

Just when you thought you might have to pack up those plaid pants, suspenders and ditch your dance moves Virginia Beach band Rude Zombie is breathing new life into the ska scene!  In fact, their name even refers to the idea that ska music is making a comeback – the term “rude” (at least in this sense) is often associated with ska music, and while pop culture co...

Syke No.9 vs. Camel No. 9

Sex sells. Advertising wizards exploit this every chance they get. When something is packaged in a sleek and sexy manner it’s hard to say no, let alone look away.

The flip side of that coin is that the same tactic can be used to mask the truth about harmful products, like tobacco. To prove this, Syke #9 was designed to hide harmful ingredients with sexiness, just like tobacco....

Hotspur Double Header

The Syke show last Friday night was INSANE! It was Hotspur (Early Show) vs. Evil Hotspur (Late Show) and Syke got to hang for both!! The highlight was definitely ‘Evil’ Hotspur who took the stage in full costume and makeup. Priceless.

Local favorite, Trustfall, opened the show and killed it. They have a unique sound that kinda reminds me of Incubus (who is,...

Meet Poly

Meet Poly. She’s a sassy, explosive, pin-up girl with a killer attitude and a Jersey accent and her looks are the BOMB.

    Poly has an undeniably aggressive sexiness about her, and for good reason. Poly represents one of the most dangerous chemicals in cigs: Polonium 210. The chemical is more toxic than hydrogen cyanide and when tobacco plants decay, polonium ...

Meet Ami

Meet Ami. She’s ALWAYS sweet, clean and innocent…or at least, she appears that way…

    As you probably guessed, Ami represents Ammonia. Yup, the same stuff janitors use to mop up puke – THAT stuff is in cigs. It’s used to add flavor to smokes and helps the nicotine absorb into your bloodstream. So Ami makes cigs more addictive than to...

Syke #9 SEIZED!!!!!

Have you checked out the Syke #9 site recently?

We just shot and uploaded 2 new videos! The first video is the ‘FBC Seizure Statute’ vid.

...this one might seem a bit familiar.

Wonder why?

Well, why don't you go ahead and take a look:

Ex Astris

Ex Astris might not have their full lineup set in stone but that hasn’t hindered their chances at becoming one of 7 Cities’ newest shining stars.  While the story of their start is somewhat of a joke (and involving lyrics inspired from a can of some other energy drink), their abundance of talent is not.  With Andrew as the lead vocalist, Tavish on guitar, Mark o...

Girls Get All the Action

If you like to get down with the metalcore kids but want something just a little softer on the ears you’ll be excited to rock out with Richmond, VA’s newest pop rock phenomenon Girls Get All The Action.  Vocalist Chris Baldwin and guitarist Jason Thompson started writing music together for GGATA back in July of 2008 but didn’t complete the band until October.  Hail...

Meet Nikky

Syke #9 claims to have 9 special ingredients. Each of these ingredients is one of the amazingly harmful 4,000 found in cigarettes. Each of our Syke Nine Girls are named after one of these chemicals, all part of our big joke. Ready to find out what chemical one of the girls represent?

    Meet Nikky. Hot, right? Of course she’s hot! If we’re gonna make so...

Syke #9 is all about EXPOSURE

For some reason, the folks behind Camel No.9 think they can increase profit by making smoking appear to be glamorous and sexy. We all know that sex sells but SCREW that. It pisses me off that the tobacco companies can get away with hocking a product that at the end of day is meant to kill you. Why get mad when you can get even?

That’s why we created Syke #9. Our goal here ...

Just when you think you’ve heard it all…

Here’s the deal Virginia. Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard of Syke. Whether you’ve been to one of the Syke Rock Shows, seen the commercials or choked down some of the drink itself.

The thing is, Syke Energy Drink is a joke. It was never available in stores and it was only given away at shows. What the heck, right?

Syke Energy was designed to expose just how ridiculous some REAL companies actually are. If industries like big music, big fashion and big tobacco can get away with polluting their products and people’s images of them then screw it, why can’t we? If big tobacco can pack smokes full of crap like nicotine and ammonia and nobody gives a flying $%@* then why wouldn’t someone be able to put a bunch of harmful junk in an energy drink?

Well we found out. When we pretended SYKE was a real drink that had all these harmful chemicals in it, people went nuts. Stores wouldn’t touch it and health folks warned us we would cause mass hysteria. Think that’s a double standard? So do we.

SYKE is a movement. The energy drink itself will still exist and be given out at shows and by our street team (BTW, street team members get into Syke shows for FREE).  But more importantly, Syke will continue to support the local music scene in VA by sponsoring shows featuring awesome local bands. Look out for a free SYKE CD featuring the best up-and-coming VA band coming this summer.

Above all, SYKE will continue to expose and make fun of corporate giants that seek to take your money, addict you, or even make you sick.

Join Syke – join the MOVEMENT, fight the double standard and do it all while supporting VA’s awesome alt-rock scene.

What is Syke Energy?

If you've been to an event or seen one of our videos, you know Syke Energy Drink really exists. But Syke will never be sold at your local store. So, what's the point of creating an energy drink that will never be sold?

Syke is our fake company that shows how ridiculous some companies can be. Would anyone allow an addictive energy drink filled with toxins and produced by child laborers be sold in the US? No way. But big music, big fashion, and big tobacco do it everyday-so Syke pretends to do the same things to expose industry hypocrisy. But it is a joke, of course (get it, SYKE?!)

Syke represents a movement supporting people who create great music and art. We fight against industries that are destroying our environment, our civil rights, our health, and our culture. We like stuff that hasn't fallen victim to corporate manipulation-things that are creative, things that haven't been churned out by mainstream robots.

Syke's events are going to continue to support the local rock scene in VA. We're also going to continue to make fun of corporations that suck, like big fashion, big music, and big tobacco. These corporations do so many ridiculous things that we don't have to make this stuff up. Take the videos below for proof.

Join us-join Syke-to fight against unethical, unlawful, and just plain ridiculous corporate practices, while enjoying a tasty energy drink.

Timeline: Today

For every 300 cigarettes produced, the tobacco industry burns down a tree in order to dry the tobacco leaves in a process called "curing". This contributes to global deforestation, with the Amazon suffering the most losses.

The Downtown Fiction

For being such a new band, The Downtown Fiction’s abounding (and instant) success really comes as no big surprise to anyone who’s familiar with their music.  Although they’ve only been rocking together as a trio for around 6 months (they played  their first show in September, 2008), TDF have established a cohesiveness that many bands take several years to develop.&...

MoonUNIT

If you're at all familiar with the music scene in Virginia, then you're probably also aware of the abundance of musical acts here.  So how does an up-and-coming band break out of the redundant cycle of over-classified, genre-driven rock? Well, they might want to start by taking some tips from Virginia Beach's moonUNIT.  When asked what aspect of their music gives them th...