I did some research about you guys. I tried to Google you, not so much info pops up. That may be partly because you’re unsigned as far as I know, correct me if I’m wrong. I was wondering, at this point, when you have an LP and two EPs out, are you planning to sign on to a label to get more exposure, or are you happy with how things are now?
PJ: I don’t think we’re going to change the way we make music. Part of the reason we signed on to JMA (Jeff McClusky & Associates Marketing & Promotion) was to get our music in front of other people, to get people writing about it, to hear it a little bit more. So what comes out of that, we’ll see, but I don’t think we’ll change our approach to it at all. I think we just need a little bit of guidance as to which avenues to pursue and how to get our music into the right people’s hands.
JB: (Promoter) August (Forte) was one of the first people in our eyes, in the music industry that took notice of us. We haven’t had any major labels or management take notice of us. We’re pretty shitty about promoting ourselves too. So it’s nice to have somebody with the expertise helping us out.
From your first LP up to the most recent EP Absent Man, how has your sound changed? Personally, I haven’t listened to those first two, I will definitely. But what has changed, or have you stuck to the same basic principles?
CK: We had an LP out and then we’ve had two EPs since then. This would be our second EP, so our third release. We still play songs off our first record, they were great songs. It was a little bit more produced and it took us a lot of time to record. The last two EPs have been completely different than that. We recorded over a short amount of time in a really relaxed environment. For the most part we recorded them live, with very, very minimal overdubs.
JB: I think the recording was different, but as far as the writing aspect and going about it, I think that hasn’t changed as much.
CK: Sure our music has changed a little bit. A lot of the song that we write start with Pete, the guitarist, putting something down on guitar…
PJ: I don’t think our approach has changed too much. I think we have a more varied sound now, though. Our first record was pretty straight ahead pop. Whereas the stuff you hear on Absent Man is darker. The song titles alone show that. So a lot of it has gone down a different, darker path.
Where have those types of darker lyrics come from? Maturity, life experiences or the world changing over time?
CK: It comes from where you are in your life. Not to say that I don’t put a lot of time and effort into what I’m writing, but the underlying feeling that is there just kind of happens. Maybe five years ago, stuff that was important to me and that was on my mind would be things that where a little more dreamy. More about girls and what have you. Now that we’re getting older, things change.
PJ: I think a lot of it has to do with being a little more confident with your sound as well. We could probably never have a song like “Absent Man” on our earlier stuff, because we were a more straightforward pop band. I think as we’ve played together over the years we’ve become more confident. We’ve actually had a few shows where we’ve opened with that song, where that would be unheard of before. You know, it’s kind of a slow, moody song. A lot of it has to come with what Coley said, about being more confident in our songwriting and about the structure of our songs.
You guys started out in Nashville and then moved to Chicago in 2002. How is the fan scene different between the two cities? How, if at all, has that affected your songwriting?
JB: I think people in Chicago want to come out to check you out as opposed to down in Nashville. It seems that down there, people sit with their arms kind of crossed, because everybody’s a musician.
CK: When we were in Nashville, we weren’t there long enough to really make any waves. I think Chicago is where we really started making waves, we’re a different band. Nashville is almost above the music scene itself.
PJ: I didn’t actually join the band until Chicago, they had a different guitarist the entire time there. But the band’s songs then were very different than now.
CK: We had a lot of fun in Nashville, we wrote some pretty good pop songs there. But it was here that everything fell into place. I think everybody in the band grew. I grew as a songwriter.
JB: When the four of us came together, that’s when we really started playing off each other. We started working really well musically.
You are on tour now. What are some of the notable shows? Do you like performing on stage? I’m guessing the answer is yes, but not every band likes it, some hate it and just want to record in the studio.
CK: I’d say I’m speaking for the whole band when I say that we love being on stage. As a matter of fact, as much as we like our recordings, we still haven’t handed over that record or EP yet where we feel like…it feels like whenever I hand over an EP to somebody I just want to say, “Come see us live, because this really doesn’t represent it.” Would you guys agree?
PJ: We’ve had shows in little towns where you don’t expect much, and then it’s one of the greatest shows ever. Whenever you’re playing out of town you’re trying to win over a crowd. Sometimes is works and sometimes it doesn’t. You just play every show like you’re playing for a ton of people. I’ve found that some of our best shows have always been in the placed that we least expect. We’d get a great response in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
SB: There was crappy PA. We forgot to write a set list. But the performance and crowd response was just awesome. It didn’t make a difference if you had some great engineer doing your sound. Not that it isn’t great, Jesse can do our sound gear like it’s the shit. But there it was nothing, and it was great.
CK:
A lot of bands can probably say this but, you can play in front of a big crowd with people talking and not really paying attention or you can play in front of five people with a few pretty faces that are just lovin’ it. That just makes it…
JB:
We played Youngstown, Ohio. It’s a big time blue-collar town, we didn’t expect our music…but the people there to see the show, just really loved the set. Just a great response and everybody was completely captivated.
You guys had a show in New York, I heard that was notable. Was that at Arlene’s?
CK: We played Arlene’s, Lit Lounge and we also played Goodbye Blue Monday in Brooklyn. Lit Lounge is pretty sweet. It’s like a dungeon downstairs. There were kids sleeping on the sofas, I mean it’s a total art community down there.
JB: There were sofas inside the caverns.
PJ: People that are there are for art and music.
So is that what made it cool, or the crowd reaction too?
CK: PJ: There was also a level of comfort there that we didn’t have at these other places. At other places we were using other people’s gear. It’s not really an excuse but the first show where we got to use our own gear, it took me two seconds to get it. Everybody is comfortable with their own gear.
CK:
Even without the gear issue, there are times when you step on stage and you just know it’s going to be good. Arlene’s Grocery was I guess an amazing venue. There weren’t a lot of people the night that we played. They dug it, we’re still getting e-mails from them saying how cool it was. But like Pete said, sometimes the places you expect to be…we’re playing Arlene’s Grocery and then Lit Lounge comes around and we sold a lot more CDs and it was a better set and vibe.
A few years from now, how do you see yourselves evolved as a band and as musicians? Do you see yourselves coming out with an album a year, or working at your own pace?
PJ: Well, we’ve been recording EPs, but for the next one I’d like to see us do a full album. I grew up listening to full records, and have always felt that records are what really represent a band. I always feel like, right after we record an EP, we’ve got like three or four songs that are just as good if not better than the ones we just recorded.
CK: An EP is frustrating sometimes because we’re like, “Damn, we should have waited.” So I think we’ll start recording full albums. You know, none of us are rich, so EPs are important, too. We’re constantly, constantly working. There’s always a new song that we’re working on. But I agree, that day would be great when we’re with a label and we’re recording a record and are able to write a song while the record is being recorded. To have something that fresh and new out there…
PJ: CK: We’re really lucky too, because we have a lot of history. I mean, Pete and I go back to kindergarten. Jeremy and I to high school, Sherrlia and I have known each other for a long, long time. So if we weren’t playing music together, we’d be drinking together. It just makes it really easy to be on the road together and to hang out together.
SB: It’s nice to talk to other people. When you’re in your own thing, you know it’s a good thing but you don’t know how good it is. It’s like you hear, “Your band always hangs out, my band never hangs out. How do you guys live together, we’d kill eachother.”
CK: I honestly believe, well I hope, I hope that regardless of what happens if we get signed or whatever that we continue to make music together for a long time. I Can’t see that not happening, because as long as we’re all around each other, we’re always going to want to…
SB: All I know is, I feel that all four of us are in this as long as we’re happy and we continue to escalate.
CK: Pete once said, “All I want, is to not have to set up my gear on stage.” Honestly, I think it would be great to play a venue, and instead of getting drink tickets, when you get to that point when they say, “What do you want in your dressing room?” Just to be able to say, “OK, I want x amount of Guinness.” “OK, anything to eat, are there any restaurants you want us to book?” That would be great.
SB: Also after doing New York, I’m like, “Someone needs to be driving us and unloading this.”
PJ: But that’s what every band wants. When you’re on the road, it’s very humbling I terns of what you do and what you sacrifice to play music live. Part of our progression is if we can just keep playing music and have people come see us regularly, I would be delighted at that. If any of that stuff happens, awesome!
SB: Someone also told me where I get my drum stuff, “Oh you guys are going on tour, you’re living the dream.” I’m like, “I guess so!” He said, “You need to realize, you really are. Recognize it now.” He’s like, “You know how many people wish they could say they’re playing music and doing all the stuff that you’re doing? You have to recognize it now, not when you’re opening up for Oasis.” And I was like, “I got that but I still wanna open up for Oasis, and I want someone driving my shit.” But it was a cool thing for this guy to say.
Is there a band that you dream of opening up for some day?
JB: Actually, I wouldn’t mind opening up for The Smiths’ reunion (All Laugh).
CK: Oasis would be a pretty cool band to open for.
PJ: Any band that I respect and that I’ve listened to growing up. Any band who’ve written a song that for three-and-a-half minutes makes your world a better place, that’s the type of band I’d like to open for.
If you haven't discovered Welcome to Ashley then what are you waiting for? For more information go to www.myspace.com/welcometoashley
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Nice!
Written by Guest on 2009-07-17 09:11:26
Great interview...sounds like a cool band. |
LOVE Welcome To Ashley
Written by Guest on 2009-07-17 09:24:28
SOOO great to see these guys getting some attention! Everyone should go to their Schubas show on August 12th! |
"WTA" is the real thing
Written by Guest on 2009-07-17 13:41:02
See on of their shows....you will be hooked!! |
Love WTA
Written by Guest on 2009-07-17 13:57:47
Have been listening to WTA for years - nothing short of amazing. Keep making great music. |
T Toes
Written by Guest on 2009-07-17 16:13:46
 I've heard these guys and bought their music from iTunes...They are terrific!!! Hope to see them again real soon |
uncle mark
Written by Guest on 2009-07-31 15:07:59
keep on going guys, you are on your way !!! |
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