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Session Date: March 15, 2011
Posting Date: June 13, 2011
Artist Hometown: Nashville, TN
Links: Bandcamp, Facebook, Wikipedia
Recorded by: Michael Briggs
3 QUESTIONS
ONE: How did you come up with the idea of using the TVs? How important is the visual aspect of your performance?
I think it’s really important that bands look like they sound. That’s all that we try to do. We figured that we sound fairly loud and fairly energetic and fun, so the TVs really add a visual element that’s our own to any stage that we go to, and that’s the nice part about it. Anytime that we go to Lexington, or wherever, we have our own light show that makes sense with each song. That’s the best thing about it. The TV idea was Ben’s, so I can’t really say much about the inspiration for it, but what’s neat is that with so many bands incorporating giant LCD screens and very high-tech visual things like that, it’s neat that we’re doing sort of similar visual things with old-school blocky televisions and getting kind of the same feel without the financial cost. And it’s taken TVs off shelves that wouldn’t be otherwise. They’re completely useless anymore. No one even uses the co-ax.
TWO: What is your favorite venue that you’ve ever played?
Aaron: I know mine. I love Schubas in Chicago. Just because you have a lot of clubs that treat bands well, and you have a lot of clubs that have great sound and great green rooms, and you have clubs that people go to and they really like, but rarely do all of those elements come together. But Schubas in Chicago, Matt Rucins, the guy that books there, he really loves supporting up-and-coming bands, so he’s not always that concerned about your draw. He’ll just get you on a good night. They treat you so amazing, and they have great sound and a great room. It’s always such a joy to go there. What about you guys?
Benjamin: I kind of like the Basement in Nashville.
Aaron: Well, hometown venues! Hometown—Mercy Lounge and the Basement in Nashville.
Benjamin: It’s like there’s an energy in that room, and it’s so tight and cramped and it seems like no matter how bad of a night you have, there’s still a crowd that’s into it and actually shows it – you can feel it and hear it.
DJ: It’s tight and cramped, but it’s pro, too. They have a really nice sound system and a sound guy and they really take care of you. But they don’t have Schubas’ food.
Aaron: They have I Dream of Weenie now, though!
DJ: Really? They probably make you pay for it, though.
Benjamin: I kind of like the Basement in Nashville.
Aaron: Well, hometown venues! Hometown—Mercy Lounge and the Basement in Nashville.
Benjamin: It’s like there’s an energy in that room, and it’s so tight and cramped and it seems like no matter how bad of a night you have, there’s still a crowd that’s into it and actually shows it – you can feel it and hear it.
DJ: It’s tight and cramped, but it’s pro, too. They have a really nice sound system and a sound guy and they really take care of you. But they don’t have Schubas’ food.
Aaron: They have I Dream of Weenie now, though!
DJ: Really? They probably make you pay for it, though.
THREE: How do you feel about the current state of the music business (selling records, etc) and your place in it?
Aaron: I mean, it’s new to us because we haven’t had a record to sell for five years. So far, so good. We’re really pleased with it.
DJ: I’m really excited about it. I’m honored to be a part of a group that is adding something to it. We’re adding something relatively small compared to some bands, but I feel like we are adding something to this music “scene” that we all so much enjoy and enriches our lives. That’s always been the goal behind this band, there’s a thing going on, and we just want to do our part to add to it. And I feel like we’re doing that. So, if people take our music for free, which we’re realizing right now, it’s out there, and there are all kinds of posts about downloading our music for free, but that doesn’t bother us at all because people are getting it. As long as people are getting the music and enjoying it –
Aaron: And coming to shows—
DJ:—and coming to shows. As long as people are getting your music and liking it, you’re going to be all right in the end. I think we’re thrilled to have something out there that is adding something positive and not necessarily like, I mean, we’re a pop band, we think we are, and we’re doing pop music that hopefully will be more and more popular too, but we feel like it stands strong with the music. I feel like there’s some pop music that’s negatively impacting our culture. It’s really bad, and when you have bad things in the culture, it’s bad.
Aaron: Profound! (Laughs)
DJ: I’m really excited about it. I’m honored to be a part of a group that is adding something to it. We’re adding something relatively small compared to some bands, but I feel like we are adding something to this music “scene” that we all so much enjoy and enriches our lives. That’s always been the goal behind this band, there’s a thing going on, and we just want to do our part to add to it. And I feel like we’re doing that. So, if people take our music for free, which we’re realizing right now, it’s out there, and there are all kinds of posts about downloading our music for free, but that doesn’t bother us at all because people are getting it. As long as people are getting the music and enjoying it –
Aaron: And coming to shows—
DJ:—and coming to shows. As long as people are getting your music and liking it, you’re going to be all right in the end. I think we’re thrilled to have something out there that is adding something positive and not necessarily like, I mean, we’re a pop band, we think we are, and we’re doing pop music that hopefully will be more and more popular too, but we feel like it stands strong with the music. I feel like there’s some pop music that’s negatively impacting our culture. It’s really bad, and when you have bad things in the culture, it’s bad.
Aaron: Profound! (Laughs)