rickyleepotts…an opinionated realist

When I first came across these guys I was immediately intrigued by their name. That, and their MySpace image. Yes, to all of you out there that think MySpace is dead, I still use it. As do all bands I come across on a daily basis. So I took a look at their images, gave their music a listen to, and introduced myself. We hit it off on Facebook as well and eventually made our way to email. From there we scheduled an interview and here we are today. These guys have a lot of talent and a drive that will take them as far as they want to go. That, and they are just super nice guys. I have met a lot of people in this business but the boys that make up this rock band are some of the nicer ones I have come across. That alone will take these guys far. Sit back and get to know the guys in Okay Death Ray.

Where did you guys come up with the name Okay Death Ray?

Joey, our previous drummer, came up with a list of names, and this one stuck out the most.  So we ran with it.  Pretty simple story.

How long have you been performing?

We’ve been performing as a band for over a year and a half now.

Who writes all your lyrics?

Stephen, the guitarist and vocalist, writes all of our lyrics.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Inspiration comes in different forms.  We like to use the overall idea of life and how you should enjoy each day as it comes.  Don’t get set into routine, and take each minute by minute.  But then again, we have two fun songs that were inspired by 80’s cartoons, specifically the Thundercats and Transformers.

I hear you guys “melt faces” when you perform live. Is that true?

We do in fact “melt faces”.  People have had to send us their medical bill after their face was melted away.  It wasn’t a pretty sight, but rock and roll ain’t pretty.

Where are you guys originally from?

We are from the southside of Indianapolis, and even went to the same high school together, so we’ve known each other for a good period of time now.

Is that Jack Black I hear there at the start of Po Folks?

Yes that is Jack Black at the start.  We named the EP, Face Melter, and remembered that Jack Black said something about melting faces, so it only made sense to use it.  Hopefully he doesn’t hear it, and try to make us pay him for it or something.

So Tom is one of your friends on MySpace. Are you actually friends with him?

We are friends with Tom on there, but never hear from him.  We need to fix that.  Maybe he can get us a record deal with MySpace Records?

Speaking of MySpace, what are your thoughts on the tool?

MySpace is great in that the music player lets you get the music right away.  We like that aspect of it, and it’s a great social media tool to use to interact with people right away.  MySpace is a better social media tool to use for bands.

As a matter of fact, what are your thoughts on social media as a whole?

There are many great advantages to social media.  It’s easier to be seen and heard thanks to social media.  Ten years ago, bands had a hard time spreading their word on the Internet except for a website, but now there’s MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube, so you have so many ways to show what you can do.  People have your band right there, and can interact with you right away.

Any tattoos in the band?

(Stephen) I have all the tattoos.  I have music notes on my upper right arm region, and I have the Alkaline Trio logo on my left arm above my elbow. I would love to get some more, but haven’t decided what yet.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

We’ve had decent crowds at Birdy’s Bar & Grill.  We would love to expand on that number, and hopefully will soon.

The smallest?

We’ve played to about ten-twenty people in Stephen’s basement. Nothing beats a fun basement show, though.

Do you guys have a favorite venue?

Wherever we can play a show is our favorite venue.

So I am in love with that little green guy you have there. Where did he come from?

He came from a logo submission through Facebook status update.  We put the word out that we were interested in people drawing us a logo, and just found that one that we really like.

What can someone expect seeing you guys live?

Face melting, musical impregnation, possible nudity, our parents, and oh yeah… good music?

What is the best show you have ever been to?

(Stephen) Foo Fighters a couple of years ago was awesome.  They bring some much energy to their songs, and you can tell they are having a great time playing them.

(Dan) Foo Fighters concert of 2000 because I caught the drumstick of Dave Grohl after he was pounding away on the drums for a cover song.

(Tim) The first time I saw Bad Religion on the Process of Belief tour because they are my favorite band.

Are you a bitter old man? Just asking!

(Stephen) I’m not bitter, and wrote that song as an upbeat tune to make sure you get out and enjoy your days.  Don’t live with regrets, don’t get in routines, don’t just live for living.  But make something out of it, and get out there.  You don’t want to be that bitter old man.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

(Dan) Dave Grohl, Jimmy Eat World, and Dr. Pepper.

(Tim) The Clash, Pearl Jam, Ramones… and Justin Bieber. “He’s the most talented musician of our time.”

(Stephen) Bomb the Music Industry!, the Clash, the Get Up Kids, Foo Fighters, and any band that does it for the right reasons… playing music to make music.

I can’t place your genre. Explain it… in one word.

Sexy!

You guys sound like you have a lot of fun on stage. How do you stay motivated?

Lots of caffeine, mom jokes, music, and just knowing we want to rock out.

What is your first memory of the guitar?

(Dan)  When I was seven years old, there was an acoustic guitar in the basement, and I used to strum each string to make a song.

(Tim) My dad playing Puff the Magic Dragon on guitar.

(Stephen) I remember taking guitar lessons, and learning Brain Stew.

What are you drinking on stage?

Lots of water and free beer.

Do you prefer the Indiana summers or the Indiana winters?

Summers!

If you could live anywhere else in the world where would you go?

(Stephen) The sunny side of the street.

(Dan) St. Petersburg, Florida.

(Tim) Hawaii.

Where can I get some Okay Death Ray merchandise?

It’s still in the works.

Any word on a full-length disc anytime soon?

That’s in the pipeline.  Talking to Rick Rubin and Butch Vig to see what they are offering.

What would I find if I looked on your iPod right now?

(Dan) I am too good for iPods.

(Tim) A bunch of good music.

(Stephen)  I have all kinds of stuff from Against Me to .38 Special.

Listening to your music makes me want to drink a beer. What is your favorite beer?

(Dan) My favorite is Blue Moon.

(Tim) I love the Oaken Barrel Alabaster Wheat

(Stephen) I don’t drink.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

(Stephen)  I don’t have a five year plan, and just believe in the moment.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is said and done?

That having a death ray is definitely acceptable and you could say okay.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Thanks for giving us the time to showcase our band, and hope to catch you at a show.  We look forward to melting your face.

A long time ago I was introduced to this band by a good friend of mine. I never had the chance to work with them directly but their name always seemed to float around my circle of friends. I had heard their work, was always impressed with their sound, but never had the chance to actually form a direct relationship. That was until Josh Corken asked if I knew who these guys were. He knew a couple of the guys in the band and the rest is history. He sent out an introduction email, we touched base, caught up, and I took some time to see what these guys were up to now days. Still playing rock music and still melting faces all over the Circle City, these guys took some time to sit with me. Get comfortable and relax as I am pleased to introduce to you PictureYes.

Where did you guys come up with that name?

(Justin) PictureYes came from a poem of sorts that one of our original guitar players wrote. It had something to do with an old man looking out a window late in life and reflecting on his past as he watched the world go by around him. I don’t recall the line exactly, but it was something like, “…and as he saw the world the picture was yes…”, or something like that. I think it has a different meaning to all of us, but meaning nonetheless.

Why no spaces?

(Justin) Picture and yes are two words used by everyone. Separately they are common. PictureYes with no spaces is our word and we’ve assigned our meaning to it. I can’t speak for the rest of the guys, but for me it stands for understanding that life is short and to not regret how I live or the choices I make. PictureYes is my (our) band and a huge part of my life. It’s a commitment and a lifestyle I have chosen and love.

When did you decide to take a run at this?

(Aaron) 1997, 2000, 2005, and finally 2009.  This time it’s personal.

Where did you guys all meet?

(Aaron) It was a Star Wars Convention.  Funny thing was we were all dressed up as Jar Jar Binks in Gene Simmons make-up.  Every single one of us.

Explain your logo to me a little bit. Who designed that?

(Justin) I’ve always been a sucker for fonts and typography, so back in the day I was trying to give creative direction to a designer and I think in a sort of Forrest Gump voice I said “…Uh, I like typography a lot…” and that’s what she came up with. We are actually going through a re-branding process right now and entertaining ideas. If anyone has any, get us on our Facebook page.

You guys are rocking Facebook. Did you drop the MySpace thing all together?

(Justin) I wouldn’t say we dropped it, but as trends and social networking go, anymore, there is a stigma attached to being one of those annoying MySpace Bands. That site is so inundated with the same type of stuff that it’s really hard to maintain a following and garner new support. To me, the secret is staying ahead of the curve when it comes to social media. Society is so finicky and people love trends so it’s about being ahead of the game. Yesterday it was MySpace, today it’s Facebook and Twitter, and tomorrow who knows?

So you are you on Twitter?

(Justin) Yep! You should follow us!

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

(Justin) We did a show in Fort Wayne with about 2,500 people in the audience.

The smallest?

(Justin) The out of town club dates in cities where no one knows who you are can be tough. When it’s the bartender and the sound guy. Ah, the good old days!

Do you guys play very often outside of Indianapolis?

(Steve) We just started planning our first tour outside the area.

Do you have a favorite venue?

(Dave) I would have to say the Music Mill is me favorite.

(Ande) My favorite venue in Indianapolis is, without question, The Vogue. It is the one place where I can focus on the performance without having to worry about the quality and evenness of sound on stage. Combine that with five hundred or more people and you have the makings of a great show.

What was it like performing on WISH TV Channel 8?

(Dave) Awesome! Especially when the weather man grabbed Ande’s guitar and ad-libbed on live TV.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations?

(Aaron) Really there’s only one.  Batman.  I would say the conviction at which he approaches his goal of ridding Gotham City from crime is second to none.

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

(Ande) When not on stage, it often looks like a bottle of Captain Morgan, headphones, instruments, and Pro Tools.

What is the best concert you have ever been too?

(Steve) For me it is a toss up between the Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood tour and KISS farewell tour.

Did you watch any of the World Cup?

(Ande) I did manage to see portions of four or five of the matches.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would you go?

(Ande) I would travel to southern Spain.

Who writes all of the lyrics?

(Aaron) How do I say this without sounding like a conceited, self-centered front-man?  I do.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

(Aaron) It all comes from personal experience.  Whether it be first hand, vicariously, or otherwise.  Some times I pick up a newspaper and easily find subject matter that frustrates me into writing a tune.

Do you ever forget the words to your own songs?

(Aaron) Oh yeah, but I’ll mumble something unintelligible that sounds close enough. Or I’ll just play the wrong guitar chords.  That generally takes the focus off of the missed lyrics.

Any tattoos in the band?

(Dave) I’ve got three.  Two bass clef designs and a gangster rat.

(Justin) My wedding anniversary date and a couple stars on my foot and finger.

(Steve) I’ve got a music themed sleeve with Japanese inspiration and a back tattoo with dagger and tribal art.

(Ande) “Impermanence” on my ribcage done by Chicago artist Nexer.

What are you drinking on stage?

(Steve) A bottle of water and Jack Daniel’s on the rocks!

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

(Ande) Yes. I’m a secret shopper.

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career, which one would you choose? (I hope you say Enemy Blind.)

(Dave) My Addiction.

When can I expect a full disc from you guys?

(Aaron) We’re hoping, at the latest, early next year.  The plan is to be in the studio by the end of the summer 2010.  I would prefer a Christmas time release.  The disc would make a great stocking stuffer for your little rock and roll lover.

What about some merchandise? I want to wear a PictureYes shirt. Not going to lie!

(Aaron) Soon, soon.  We have a lot of great ideas and plans for the band in the coming year.

Describe your genre in one word.

(Aaron) ROCK’N’F’N’ROLL!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Steve) I would like to be on a national tour in support of our third record.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

(Aaron) I would say we want to be remembered for making a solid rock album, putting on an entertaining show, and writing a few catchy tunes that stick in your head like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

(Aaron) PictureYes has a hard-driving, big rock and roll sound.  Check us out.  You just might like it.

Great live music is hard to come by. But when I hear a band like this I have to do whatever I can to get involved. Image taking a guy like Dave Matthews and putting him into a blender with Bruce Springsteen. That is what we have here for you today. These guys bring so much energy to the stage. They are a typical party band, but they are also extremely original. There is a saxophone in there somewhere, and the lyrics are being belted by a man who has felt pain and pleasure just the same. They are not a band I would want to see a music video for necessarily, but they are a band that I beg to see live. And they play a lot of live shows. If living in the Circle City you can see them at The Rathskeller quite often or at a wide range of venues all across the Midwest. They hail from Nashville, Tennessee and produce some industry standard sounds. I have only seen them perform once, having caught their last show at the Rathskeller, but can’t wait to see them again. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the guys of Elmwood.

Elmwood seems pretty common. Where did you come up with that name?

Yeah, I guess it kind of is. It’s actually a street name. For us it was the end result after several failed attempts to come up with a name that made us seem cooler than we actually are. So we asked ourselves what our street name was. There you have it.

How long have you guys all known each other?

We have been together for about two years. We all met on Craigslist.

Where do you guys practice?

Anywhere we can. We try to go to friends’ houses/basements, studios, hotel parking lots, a van bench seat, backstage. Ruston writes in custodial closets, and Derek practices in vacant bathrooms when we’re on the road.

Where are you all originally from?

Derek is from Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ruston’s from everywhere, Don’s from Keyser, West Virginia, and Justin’s from Cleveland.

If you could live anywhere else in the world where would you go?

I would pick either Ohain, Belgium or somewhere in the south Alabama. Justin would go to Cobh, Ireland. Donnie wants to own one of the homes on Pebble Beach golf course. And Derek would go to British Columbia, Alaska, Tahiti, or the Dominica Republic.

You guys have a pretty solid MySpace page. Who designed that?

We have a great web designer. You can click here if you want to see more of her work.

You are also on Facebook. And YouTube. And Twitter. How do you guys keep all those social networks straight?

We keep it going all the time either at home or on the road. We all share certain aspects of each one like blogging or tweeting or uploading photos. We try to keep a system going.

What are your thoughts on all those social networks?

Overall, it gives us a unique chance to have a vast amount of personal contact with fans of our music, to network with everyone who’s interested in the tours, set lists, guitar tabs, etc.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Lot of times we jam in soundcheck on a riff or a groove. But really we all love to improvise in a way that tends to focus on a song or the rough bones of a song, whether it’s one Ruston brought to the table or a completely new one we write together.

You guys play the Rathskeller quite a bit. You like playing the  Biergarten?

It is seriously one of the best places to play in the Midwest. Dan McMichael, the owner, is the most easy going and hospitable guy. He loves, LOVES, bringing in all kinds of music and expects you to have more than one of their many German beers with him after the show. The people are welcoming and the food is incredible. We are so enthusiastic about it because treatment like that is very rare on the road.

Do you drink beer when playing in the Biergarten?

We will definitely have some great beer there after we finish our performances. Like I said, we love The Rathskeller.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Side jobs here and there, but mainly all music.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

About 4,500.

The smallest?

Literally nobody.  Except the bartender. He was on a smoke break.

You have a ton of shows at the Wild Wing Café. Is that a cool venue?

It’s a fun and very relaxed atmosphere. Great wings and a great staff. The sound systems are usually very well managed as well.

I like the saxophone. Any reason for throwing that instrument into the mix?

For some reason I’ve always been fascinated by the sax. Since I was a kid, more how it stands out in a rock-based music. So when I put an add on Craigslist for another instrument, it was definitely going to be sax.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

We all come from completely different musical backgrounds and influences. Everywhere from jazz, bluegrass, bebop, folk, fusion, rock, funk, emo, hip-hop, etc.

You have a ton of likes on Facebook. You must be pretty popular huh?

Well, we just want to keep things growing and connecting with our fans on a friendship level and Facebook let’s us do that.

What are you usually drinking on stage?

Water with and without ice. Ruston drinks this vegan sports drink called Vega Sports Optimizer. It’s made completely from plants and seeds.

Explain a typical Friday night for you.

On a stage either in a nightclub, bar, amphitheater, arena, cafe, or theatre, playing very loud for a new audience. After the show we hang out with new friends and others who dig our music, then drive all night or part of the way to the next city. Saturday’s usually a lot like Friday.

Tell me a little bit more about Developing Artist Management.

Well the reality is they are a company smaller in size that works very hard for all their clients no matter if they are superstars or up comers.

Where can I get some Elmwood merchandise?

You can get some on our website or at any one of our live shows. We also have two albums on iTunes, including a new live album!

If you could only perform one song for the rest of your career, which song would you choose?

Either Fool in the Dark or Wood Duck.

Based on the design of your MySpace page and the design of your website, I see you understand the power of branding.

We like the idea of representing every aspect of ourselves in a uniform way that characterizes us, and leaves a familiarity with fans of our music who keep up with everything we do and offer.

Who does all your graphic design work?

We do a lot of it ourselves along with help from our web designer.

Tell me about Dreaming Little Things.

That album is very special to us because we weren’t even a full band when Ruston booked studio time to cut some demos with Nash Johnson, our first bass player. Derek hadn’t even answered the ad online yet. And the day we met in the studio was really when we were like okay, we’re actually gonna attempt this. It was like, oh man. Hope this works! Here, this is a song called Night Caper. Go! That was essentially how it went. And it surprised us all.  Alan Shacklock, our producer, was impressed by the demo, and asked if we’d like to do 8 more and call it an album. We cultivated the beginning of our identity there, and a realization that hey we randomly happened upon this magic. Which is usually how magic works.

I just saw a movie about dreams. Have you seen Inception yet?

Yes, it was a mind trip. Literally.

How did you all react to the passing of Michael Jackson?

We had a lot of respect for Michael Jackson.  No matter how you feel about his social life, I think he was an incredible entertainer. I don’t think a lot of people realized the life style he must have lived being so young and having to entertain all his life.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Anywhere but this damn van. No but seriously, we hope to get as many fans as we can, play as many shows as we can, constantly building through relationships with the people that support our music. Anyone is welcome and considered officially invited to listen and take part.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

To be remembered for being honest in making great music.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Just would like to pull from the deepest gratitude in our hearts and thank our families, friends, and fans of our music, for their support and invigorating faith, which,  without we would literally not be doing this interview in a twelve passenger van flying down the interstate, headed to the next city. Thank you. Hope to see you all very soon!

No matter how hard I try, I just can’t explain what I hear when I listen to a Pretty Lights album. From a full-length to an EP I am just overcome by beats and by an almost forced hip-hop sound. (Did you know that you can download all of his work on his website.) But it works. It works on so many levels that I just can’t turn it off. There are not a ton of vocals in his work, but that’s okay. You don’t need a lot of vocals with beats this good. I had the chance to sit and chat with Pretty Lights not too long ago and I learned a lot about who he was before he got into music and where he sees himself going with his work in the future. Pretty Lights is tall, tall enough that when growing up he had thoughts of being in the NBA. When I asked him in the interview what he would be doing if he was not performing, he said, “I always wanted to be in the NBA.” As Pretty Lights gears up for Electric Zoo here in a few weeks, he took some time to sit with me and discuss his latest EP, his thoughts on how the record industry currently stands, and even on where he sees himself five years from now. I learned a ton from this conversation and it is my pleasure to introduce you to Pretty Lights.

Where did you come up with the name Pretty Lights?

I first saw the name on an old Pink Floyd poster. It was the first time I saw the two words together and it stood out to me as not only a cool name but also a cool concept. It was very visual and got me thinking. It definitely stuck with me and related a lot of the ideas I wanted to communicate. What it really means to me is the concept that people and artists specifically go through their day eyes always looking for a moment of beauty or inspiration. It would be things that inspire people to create music and art. It would be any sort of form of that. Pretty Lights is an obvious element as it relates specifically to that. It‘s sort of like the essence of creative minds.

You are originally from Colorado. Is there much of a dance scene out there?

Yeah, the scene out here is really blowing up. It’s not a typical or traditional dance scene though. There are not a lot of the big named DJs coming through. At least not the club kind of stuff. Independent artists are basically performing hip-hop in a live setting. People are really supporting it and coming out for it. I just did a show for ten thousand people in Colorado of nothing but Pretty Lights beats. That is pretty much the scene today. A lot of artists are selling tickets for shows like that.

I get an almost hip-hop feel from your work. Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

I suppose my vision for the style I have created has been developing since I first started getting into music. When I bought my first bass guitar in the 8^th grade is when I first started. I was exposed and became interested in being a part of different themes. I think that over the last ten years, maybe fifteen years, I have tried to hang on to different elements and different genres. I have tried to design a style that fuses everything together. I grew up on hip-hop so that is part of the reason for the current music structure. I take the hip-hop approach to BPM and put the combined dance elements behind it. For a while I was going to a lot of dance parties and the rave scene started popping up. That infused it all too.

Also the dub step scene and reggae has had an influence. I was into that for a while and I was even in a few funk bands. I tried to take the best elements of all those things and fuse it together into a new style. I tried to create what I would consider to be my own favorite music. It just hadn’t been created yet. That is how I did it on a greater scale and crafted the vision on this music. I want to take the music to a new level.

I try to stay up to date on what others are doing all the time. I am not locked in the world of Pretty Lights.  It can be a danger when you get too busy with your music and your own shows. You can become cut off and alienated from the rest of the music scene. I always want to have a good idea where you are at and where your style is. You have to have an idea where the rest of your community is as well. It helps stay motivated and continuously inspired.

I am in love with your new EP. Tell me a little bit more about it.

This whole three EP thing that I have set out to accomplish over 2010 I did because I wanted to release more music than a single full-length over the course of the year. I wanted to hang on to the element of surprise. I am really big on people having never heard the music when it comes out on the EP.

It’s important for me when fans get an album that they haven’t heard the music live yet. That is just an element of it. With this second EP, I was thinking about it from the moment the first EP was released. I went on tour shortly after the first EP came out and while on tour I made it a priority to go visit used record shops in all these different cities across the country. I basically visited a bunch of record shops to go vinyl shopping while on tour to collect samples and snippets and sounds to start building this EP from.

I am not sure how much you know about my production style, but it’s what I like to call “sample collaging”. It’s where I am not just sampling an intro to someone else’s song and then building a track, but rather I am taking smaller pieces from old sounds and records and making several of them work together the way they were meant to be. I gathered material to create this material from all over the country while on tour.

Stylistically I was trying to explore a couple of themes. I was trying to choose multiple genres and throw them into a single track. I also wanted to take multiple styles into single songs at the same time. At one point it flips to a harder more electronic sound. That is one thing I was really messing with on the new EP. It was an idea I had been thinking about for several years now. I wanted to do two interpretations of the same song. I wanted to flip back and forth in a single track seamlessly. I was exploring new ideas on how that was possible and how I could push that. I learned a lot about what is possible and got a ton of new ideas from making that EP. I am really excited to start working on the third one.

Are you looking forward to Electric Zoo?

Absolutely. I play a lot of festivals and this is definitely one that I am looking forward to being a part of.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

The biggest crowd of my own headlining show was actually just last weekend. I headlined a gig at Red Rocks for about ten thousand people. I have played bigger sets than that at festivals though. Coachella was maybe fifteen thousand people.  That is the most I have played in front of I think.

The smallest?

Ten people probably. I played some really small rooms and small crowd when I first started.

What is the best show you have been to?

I can tell you one of them. I have been to a lot of really dope shows but I was blown away by Jay Z’s performance at Coachella. That guy has managed to bring it to the next level on all fronts. With the production and the musicians and just the overall show. Just everything has been thought of. Obviously when I watch a show I think back to how it was put together. I also think about my show or how I can push what I do to the next level. I was inspired by his performance.

I really dig that style of artwork you showcase on your album covers. Who does all your graphic design work?

I work with a handful of different artists. I try to conceptualize everything and then work side-by-side with artists and graphic designers. This EP trilogy I have worked with an artist from Australia for the covers. My website and posters I work with an artist out of Denver. A good friend of mine designed all my older album covers and shirts.

What would you be doing if you were not producing music?

I would be in the NBA winning titles. (Laughs) I always played basketball growing up. I was really into it. Not sure you knew this, but I am 6’8”. But in high school I decided that music was my calling. I quit the basketball team and focused on that. When I was a kid I always wanted to be in the NBA.

How cool is it to know that Behind Your Eyes has been downloaded over 500,000 times?

It’s sick. I feel so blessed to have such a large amount of people who are listening to my music and ready to download it when it comes out. It’s cool because when I sit down and produce something I know that it is has the potential to affect a broad number of people. It’s awesome. It reinforced what I had hoped for from the beginning. I wanted to show that an independent model like this could be successful and exist without the support of a major label. To prove that it can work without the system that the record industry has in tact.

This has been completely independent venture as far as creating and releasing the music. It’s awesome for Pretty Lights and my shows, but its also an example to set for where the music industry can go and what indie artists have the potential to do without major record label support. I hope that I can continue to evolve this model and other artists can do similar things. I want to make the playing field level and more indie artists can be self-sufficient.

If I were to release one record for free, and get all my fans to buy just one record, it could put Pretty Lights near the top. It makes you think of the scope of downloads and how it relates to the major labels.

I almost want to hear your work in a movie or as a theme song for a television show. Have you ever thought about working that angle?

I do a lot of that already. I work with a lot of major motion pictures and tons of extreme sports films. Surf videos, snowboard videos; stuff like that. I am completely down with that and it has been a goal of mine actually. Rather than license preexisting tracks, I want to go in and compose the score for an entire film. I would love to do that in the future.

How many stamps are in your passport?

(Laughs) I don’t know. I have been focused on the US and western Europe. Ten or fifteen maybe. I don’t know. There are just so many places to play in this world. There are so many markets and I am really trying to get into Australia and Japan. It’s not that we have not been offered shows there, it’s just the time to do it all and still take care of the markets that have already been through it in the states.

Do you prefer to play shows overseas or here in the States?

Right now it is all about playing the States. It’s not the same thing over there. I am trying to build it best I can. The shows in the States are leaps and bounds to what is happening in Europe. I am definitely working to build that up though.

Tools like Twitter and Facebook are changing the way people listen to music. How much attention do you pay to these services?

I realize what you are saying; they are really powerful tools. With everything that has been going on, I find myself neglecting them a little bit. I have been trying to communicate with my fans on Facebook and Twitter more frequently. I am a newbie, although I have had a Twitter account for a while. I used it to send out updates and show things, new download announcements, etc. I don’t like to tell people what I’m doing and where I am eating my next meal.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Laughs) That is a question I have been asked before, and I don’t know where I see myself in six months. I know that I will hopefully have fifteen more albums that I am proud of, an expanding, thriving label and a show that pushes the bounds of what shows do. Hopefully, if the next five years are anything like this last year; it will be crazy. (Laughs)

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

I suppose when the dust settles, I want to be remembered for exactly what my main goal and ambition has been the whole time. Just to create fresh, good, tasteful music with longevity and emotion that is thought provoking and can really affect people. Whether it is right now or ten years from now, that is the music I am aiming to produce. In all the craziness of touring and running a business and putting on a production every night, sometimes that can sort of lose its luster. This is about making good music. The shows will happen and they will eventually come to an end, and there will be memories of those times, but the music will always be here. I want to evolve and push the music. I use the word evolve and I never think that my style will ever stay where it is. I want to get better.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

*Right when I asked this question the phone went dead. I told him, after a previous dropped call, that I was speaking to him on an iPhone 4. He stated that he was on an iPhone 4 as well. So whether you blame Apple or AT&T, Pretty Light’s last words will forever remain a mystery.

During my senior year of high school all I wanted to do was play golf. I had applied to schools all over the country and eventually ended up right here in Indianapolis at Marian College. The school has since become a university but while there (only for two years) I met a lot of great people, some of which I am still friends with to this day. One of those guys eventually would become the front man for the band I am sitting with here today. These guys have an incredible sound and they are solid from front to back. Their vocals are unique, something you have not heard before. Their instrumentals fit on any given stage at Vans Warped Tour. And their sound would fit perfectly in the hands of every high school kid around. Their lyrics also fit their sound quite nicely as well. Regardless, if you have not heard of these guys yet, you will. They will actually be performing on the second rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks bill. It has been years since I have seen this guy, but it my pleasure to introduce you to The Fallow.

So I have to know, how do you pronounce the band name?

It rhymes with shallow.

Speaking of the band name, where did you guys come up with the name?

One of my favorite bands of all time, The Weakerthans, has an album titled Fallow. (Check out their entire catalog.) The word itself means, “left dormant”, and is most often used in reference to agriculture. For instance, a field will be left fallow and then planted the following season. When my previous band fell apart (and subsequently fell short of almost all expectations), I kind of had that feeling. It was like I had been left fallow during that period and this was my real chance to grow.

How long have you been performing?

We have all been on stage for as long as we can remember, in one form or another. Be it school choir or band, church plays or musicals, or local theater. But we’ve been playing together in this current configuration for about six months now. We’re only two months deep into the live show side of things, though. We took the first four months to fine-tune the songs themselves, and the live-set as a whole.

Where do you guys practice?

Right now, we’re on our fourth practice space since the inception of the band. We keep getting booted. We’re a raucous bunch. But we’re currently calling the spare bedroom at Levi’s (lead guitar) house home. It’s small… but it does the trick.

I love that logo. No really, I love it. Who designed that?

It’s a funny story, actually. We already discussed the origin of the band name… so you know where it came from. But I was talking to a good friend of the band (and immensely talented artist) Jeff Alexander about doing some artwork for us. I just gave him the name of the band and asked him to go with it. Turns out there is actually a type of deer called a fallow deer. I had no idea. But Jeff thought that was where I was coming from on the band name. But you’re right… it’s awesome. So we decided to keep it.

Who writes all your lyrics?

I do. (Ryan Brewer) It’s me answering these, if you hadn’t figured that out by now!

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Well, I suppose the corny musician’s answer to this question is, “everywhere… everything… life.” But if I’m honest… it’s a pretty accurate answer. It’s hard to tell what idea will strike me as interesting enough to follow through with. Actually, right now, I’m working on an idea I had in the shower the other day. Go to any other than ours… and there are drinking songs. I’m talking songs that any person can burst into at a moment’s notice… and the entire pub will join in. But we, as Americans, have been slacking pretty hard in that department. So I’m writing one. Look for that to hit our live set soon. Debauchery all around.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

This question could get out of hand if I let it. So let me try to keep it simple. Musically: The Who, Say Anything, and the last couple albums the Starting Line put out before they broke up. Lyrically: John K Samson (from The Weakerthans), Vanessa Carlton and Chuck Palahniuk.  Vocal Performance: Chris Carrabba (from Dashboard Confessional), Reese Roper (from Five Iron Frenzy), and Michael W. Smith.

I have not seen you guys live yet. What should I, or anyone else who has not seen you perform yet, expect from a live show?

I was actually just thinking about this before I received these questions. There’s a lot to be said about at artist who’s music elevates himself about the crowd. The fans sit on a lower level, in awe of the artist’s musicianship and glory. But that’s just not us. Rock and roll gets so serious sometimes. That’s just not us… at all. We’re all here for the same two reasons: to drink and to rock. So let’s have some fun. We like to guarantee that there won’t be that feeling of separation at our shows.

Do you have a favorite venue?

We really like Doc’s Music Hall in Muncie… The Rock House on the south side of Indianapolis… and Birdy’s Bar & Grill on the north side. If just going to watch a show I love the Melody Inn, Locals Only, and the Vollrath Tavern. But we’ve have yet to be able to book ourselves there. So… people who do the booking at those venues… if you’re reading this…hint hint, dudes.

Do you ever forget the words to your own songs?

Don’t think that’s happened yet with the fallow. Although it happened all the time with my old band. The only thing we forget these days is the set-list order. You’d think we’d write it down at some point.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

It’s very difficult to embarrass any of us.

So Ryan, you and I know each other from way back! We both went to Marian College together. Did you end up graduating from there?

I did. In fact, I received a bachelor’s in English. I am from the class of 2007.

Do you still hang out with anyone from Marian?

I still keep in touch with a few kids. Not many though. Turns out that when you graduate, you’re supposed to get a job and married and have some kids. I just want to bask in this state of arrested development that music provides me for as long as possible.

You guys seem to have these social scenes covered. What is your favorite social site to use?

That’s like choosing a favorite child. I think there is almost unlimited potential in all of the major social media outlets for bands to use. I like to look at it like a pyramid.

MySpace is on the bottom…you send out large quantities of friend invites and hope 50% of those accept… and then that 10% of those actually take time to listen to the music.

Facebook comes next. The percentage of those that listened to the music AND liked it will go further to find out more about the band.

At the top lies Twitter. It is entirely comprised of freaks who want to stalk your every move. Music related and otherwise. (Laughs) I love it though. I am the textbook definition of attention hog. I can’t get enough of it.

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career, which song would you choose?

We’re a bunch of cheaters. We’d probably try to find a way to put a bunch of our songs into medley and play that. But if I had to choose only one, I would pick our song The Devil and the Details. It would suffice, I suppose.

Where can I get some merchandise with that logo on it? A shirt would be cool!

We’re actually working on that right now. Patience is a virtue, world. It should be within the next couple months.

I can’t get over how good your voice is. Where did that come from?

The diaphragm, mostly. Or my mother. She has an incredible voice. My dad… not so much.

Are you guys working anywhere else, or is music it?

As of right now Bob Evans in New Castle is the single biggest supporter of local musicians of which I’m aware.

You guys are doing a lot of video, which is great. What made you focus so much on video rather than other mediums?

We’re big dummies, mostly. If we didn’t have a way to get our stupid humor out of our system… our live show would get muddled and we’d probably never finish any songs. It also made the most sense as a way to make our blogs stand out from other bands.

Do you get the chance to play outside of Indianapolis very often?

We would love to play Indianapolis more often.

Where are you all originally from?

We all hail from the metropolis of New Castle, Indiana… save Tim, our drummer. He’s from Indianapolis.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

Oh goodness. That’s a tough one. Let me as the rest of the band while I ponder my own answer.

What are you drinking on stage?

A lot of it depends on what’s free at the venue that night. Or what the generous patrons at the show would like to buy us. But, in an ideal world… it would probably be milk., Bud Light, vodka, and gin.

I noticed that you don’t use any capital letters in your band name or your song titles. Is there any reason for that?

That goes all the way back to Marian for me. I’ve had many discussions about it with many English professors. I’ve always believed the differentiation of the letters to be unnecessary and silly. If you can’t decipher the English language without two sets of letters… you’ve probably got more important issues to deal with. That’s why we have punctuation and context clues.

So My Evil Ways is my favorite tune from you guys. I assume that will be your hit single when you release a full-length disc?

I suppose it’s a possibility. Singles and hits are for businessmen and fans to decide… not the musicians. Although I do believe it to be a solid track. I’m really happy about the positive feedback it gets… as well as the nice things you’ve said about it. Cheers, Ricky.

When can we expect a full-length disc, by the way?

As soon as it is fiscally possible, I assure you. We’ll get you a free copy as soon as we get it… deal?

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Touring this great nation playing great music with great friends. And paying my bills with the great money I’m making from it.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

Playing music that people related to… in a way that made them want to give me money to keep doing it. That is all.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Music is all about two things: artistry and commission. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel because the powers that be knew that the people wanted to see his art. Bands get record deals because people want to hear their music. But that’s not the only way to release an album anymore. The rise of the Internet (and subsequently, the independent scene) has put the power of commission in the hands of the people… in other words… people can commission their favorite artists directly. This is the most democratic the music industry has ever been. Let’s not sacrifice that. Let’s keep supporting indie music and the artists making it.

Having fun is just something I like to do. From hanging out with friends at a bar after work to hitting the nightclubs on a Saturday night, getting into as much trouble as possible is just my calling. I like to visit the same few bars too. One of those bars is located just down the street from where I live actually. It is called The Spot and they feature some of Indy’s best drink specials, cornhole in the summer, and huge projector during football season. They even have a ton of beer pong tables setup on any given night. It is truly a great place to hang out. But they also have live music. The music is usually a cover band, but I love covers. It works. One night a couple years back I heard a band that I just had to learn more about. They were playing to a packed house on a typical Saturday night. When they were done I found the lead singer. Ever since we have stayed in touch on Facebook. Not long ago I figured it was time to introduce them to you. I was excited to sit with these guys. It is my pleasure to introduce you to a great local classical rock and blues band better known as The Whiskey Biscuits.

I have to know, where did the name come?

(Laughs) We used to play a small bar in Sheridan Indiana, almost every weekend (our old name at that time was Enough To Go ‘Round), honestly it’s where we started some six years ago.  Ryan Beyler and Tom Duke just played acoustic sets there before the band grew. Jack Daniels was the drink of choice for the two of us every evening. At 1:00 AM every morning due to the large following/crowds (not bragging…there’s just not much to do in Sheridan), the bar would serve made from scratch biscuits & gravy for $5 a plate.  One evening, both Ryan and Tom were trying to sober up before the drive and must have had four plates of those puppies….the owner walked out and said, “You guys are full of nothing but whiskey and biscuits”  Boom.

How long have you guys been performing?

Ryan and Tom have been playing and performing for about ten years, together for nine.  Amy has been playing since she was sixteen, so that would make it seven years for her. Same for Nick, Tyler and Don. Derek Felix is our drummer and he has been playing for probably fifteen years or so.  Collectively, the Biscuits have been banging around for about six years together with different parts coming and going and adding, etc.

Where did you all meet?

Well, that’s a long one… bear with me. Tom and Ryan met some sixteen years ago in high school through a close mutual friend, Greg Faris.  Amy is obviously Tom’s sister (now engaged to Ryan) and when she was ready to start performing in the bars, she joined up starting with just vocals, then moved to keyboards, now bass guitar.  Nick Mccallum, our vocalist, was one of Ryan’s fraternity brothers at Indiana University, Tyler Wolfcale our 4^th vocalist was close with Amy in the ambassadors at Carmel High School and Don Feeney our keyboard player joined about two years ago while working with Ryan.  Derek Felix our drummer came along after meeting him through a very close friend of the bands, Jai Baker.

I have seen you guys perform like ten times at The Spot. Where else can I see you guys perform?

We had a lot of fun at The Spot, but unfortunately don’t play there anymore. We actually did a 180 after leaving there and have added four other musicians, turned everything into a full band and added probably twenty more songs.  I would call it kind of an overhaul; it was great for us.  Now we play more places that are more big-band friendly like Mickey’s Irish Pub in Carmel, the Rathskeller, 8 Seconds Saloon, the Music Mill, the Murat Theater, Rock Lobster, the Lake House Tavern, the Corner Wine Bar, and private events or parties. We’ve played quite a few places in town and love new venues.

You play a lot of covers. Do you have any originals in your set list?

Honestly we are pretty much a true cover band. We have a lot of songs in our back pockets that we individually have written, back in the August Again days, Ryan, our former bandmate Adam Brower, Amy is probably our best true song writer and has loads of stuff that we need to put to full band music. We all have written songs and have played them out during gigs from time to time.  Especially the song August Again written for my dad before he passed away.

Are you guys nice to Amy?

(Laughs) Are you kidding? Amy runs the band!

Where do you guys practice?

Ryan and Amy have a studio set up in their basement. They are kind enough to let all of us hooligans in.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

We’ve all played in different situations. The largest I’ve played for was well over 3,000.  We’ve had some really good gigs where there has been over 1,000 people. A typical night involves anywhere from 80 – 250 ppl (depending on the venue).

The smallest?

The bartender.  That’s happened only twice though. (Laughs)

What is your favorite cover to perform?

The last song of the night, for some reason, and there is no particular reason why, but we just really get into Hey Girl by OAR.  That’s not even a typical tune that fits our style of music, but for some weird reason it brings out all our inner demons and we just let it all go.   American Girl, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, Folsom Prison and Black Horse and a Cherry Tree are also very fun.

When I hear you guys, all I want to do is drink a beer. What are you guys drinking on stage?

Usually we are drinking Jack Daniels on the rocks…that’s pretty standard. Some do in fact drink beer and our pre-gig shot is Jagermeister. When Amy is not ripping out some Carrie Underwood she sticks with the wine.

What is your favorite beer?

During gigs it is Miller Lite or Coors Light. Neither is too heavy.

Do you have a favorite venue?

8 Seconds Saloon was a very cool experience simply to sit backstage and see all of the artists from Willie Nelson to Molly Hatchet to Montgomery Gentry to… David Banner? All of these acts have signed the wall… not to mention all of the country artists in between… you really are sharing the stage with some great talent that has come through there.  Mickey’s Irish Pub always takes great care of their bands and that’s a treat to play there.  The Murat & the Rathskeller are unbelievable experiences as well.

To play cover songs like you guys do, are there any legal implications or any process you have to go through to be able to perform those live?

I really hope not. No, not playing them, there’s no problem with that.  It would only play a role if we recorded them live and sold them for a profit.  Even making a demo with covers is not a problem as long as you aren’t selling them.

Who are some of your influences?

We have a wide variety of styles and likes in the band. Definitely anything from country to blues to jazz to hard rock.  Specifically…our boy, Johnny Cash (you can tell Tom is doing this interview), Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Eagles, Tom Petty, John Mayer, Keith Urban, Eric Clapton, Scottie Ballentine, Waylon Jennings, Dave Matthews Band, The Killers, Maroon 5.  I could rattle off probably 100 more. We love all kinds of music and are impartial to any one genre. I think that is what makes our band so diverse in the song selection we play.  That is the number one compliment we get; vast variety along with our energy.

How do you decide what songs to perform on any given night?

Completely depends on the venue and what we are the most comfortable with before we play. It will most likely change with the crowd, but we try to stick with the set list as much as possible. As any performer knows, there are certain times you have to tweak the list as you go to accommodate the atmosphere in the venue.

Where can I get some Whiskey Biscuits merchandise?

Just email us at and we can get you probably anything you would like. We have t-shirts and they on sale for $10 each.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

That would definitely have to be an individual question for all of the band. For me it was probably Paul McCartney as far as the most memorable. Obviously getting to see one of The Beatles is special, The Eagles were amazing; another legendary band.  Tom Petty puts on one hell of a show as well.

Describe your genre in one word.

Broad or vast pretty much sums it up.

Who is the greatest guitarist of all time in your opinion?

There are a lot of hidden pickers in Nashville that are probably some of the best I’ve ever heard (young and old) I’m from the school of (and I think I can speak for Ryan who is our lead player) that most of the best ever are ones we don’t know of or that are not mainstream…for the sake of familiarity and to stay out of the Clapton/Hendrix debate, I’ll just say Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Do you guys ever play outside of Indianapolis?

Sure, private parties, gigs and weddings; absolutely

Do you have jobs outside of music?

Yes, every one of us does.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

Oh, once I hit my head on the top of the stage, then fell back into the drum set.  That was a long time ago. Let’s move on.

So social media is starting to make a big impact for artists. What are your thoughts on social media?

I think it’s great. I think it’s a great way for artists to get their names out there, to network outside of gigs and to increase awareness all the way around. We sure take advantage of social media.

Are you on Twitter?

No, we will be soon.

Surely you have a Facebook page, right?

Absolutely; that is our main form of communication between us and the fans.

You guys performing in Battle of Birdy’s this year?

Nope.

Any tattoos in the band?

Oh yeah, there are a few.

Who has the most?

Ready for this one? Surprise surprise, Miss Amy Duke has the most!

How did you react to the passing of the King of Pop last year?

Good talent, sadly taken. He had a rough life and was clearly troubled; I hope all of his past allegations were not true.

Tell me a little bit more about King Media.

King Media is a company owned by Al Stone The Rock. Started the radio station 93.1 The Buzzard back when it was classic rock…also known to be one of the first pure classic rock stations in the country. Al has acted as a mentor and almost a parent to all of us…he has been in the gig’n business for over forty-five years, he was Tom and Amy’s dad’s best friend and long time band mate.  They played in many bands from the 50’s through today. When Tom and Amy’s dad passed away he took us under his wing and recorded many albums/demos for us at little or no charge, he loaned us our first equipment when we had no money to buy our own, and still helps us tremendously with odds and ins.  Without Al and King Media, we would probably not be playing like we are….not even close.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you go?

Ryan and Amy would probably go somewhere in the Caribbean (I have a feeling anyway)…I would move to Tahiti…or maybe Nashville.  Derek Felix  has a passion for the Ukraine.  Don Feeney would move to Ireland, Nick Mccallum would probably follow Don, but I think he still has a passion for Bloomington and Tyler would probably move to France to continually train for that bike race they have over there.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Hopefully still doing what we love; making great music. If we could make good money at this, it would be a no-brainer.  We’d be full time.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

We would love to say that no matter what that the Biscuits had a passion for what they did. They did it for the love of music and they did it for the people that came to listen. And we gave it all the energy we had every time we did it. We want them to say, “We went to see the Whiskey Biscuits and we forgot about life for a while…we danced, sang and enjoyed their music, we left refreshed with a smile on our face. They took us to a different place for a small time.”

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

The Whiskey Biscuits will be coming to an end on December 26^th of this year.  Enjoy us in the small time we are still here.  We love all of you for all of the support over the years…and as always, peace, love and Whiskey Biscuits.

Creating a buzz for yourself can be difficult. Short of just asking people to read my blog, it is an ongoing battle to get traffic. I have found that a combination of quality content and consistent posting is the best way to guarantee a steady flow of site visits. I am seeing an increase in traffic the longer I write and matched with affiliations with organization all over the United States, my hits are coming from all over the world.

But in an effort to create more local traffic, I have started thinking outside the box a little bit. Without a budget it’s tough. That is when Jason Firebaugh said to me, “Why don’t you have a concert or an event and feature some of the bands that you have worked with?” Sure enough, I loved the idea and I ran with it. Five months later, I hosted rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks at Birdy’s Bar & Grill.

When I first started planning the event, I was nervous at how much work it would be. I have worked on shows before, but never anything like this. This event was going to feature six local acts, all of different genres, playing on one stage. I would be the one promoting the show, the one organizing the ticket sales, scheduling the night, booking the bands, collecting sponsors, and handling just about everything else that would go into this event.

Gathering bands was the easy part. Being that rickyleepotts.com was the one presenting this event, I wanted to make sure that all of the bands on the bill I had worked with in some fashion or another. Seeing as how every three blog posts on my blog are interviews with bands, I figured that was the easiest way to narrow down my selection. I have interviewed over two hundred bands from all over the world, so I had plenty of options.

I figured that it would make sense to have Jason Firebaugh on the bill. I met him about a year ago and we have stayed friends ever since. He is a solo acoustic singer/songwriter and he just loves to get on stage and perform. From confirming him the rest of the bands just fell into place. Like I said, I wanted it to be six different bands but also six different genres. My intention was to have different crowds mingled in the same room to hear new styles of music and to share fans left and right. The night went from acoustic to country to rap and beyond. It was truly a unique experience for a lot of the folks in the crowd.

The lineup for the night was set within just a few weeks of planning. I had Jason Firebaugh kicking things off, Digs Bridges on second, Brad Real up third, The Post Script next, then Ironsides, and The Will Woodrow Project finishing things off. I also had a local comedic poet, DDE, perform some of his material during set changes. And of course, I can’t forget about my good friend Johnny Teater who emceed the event for me.

The process of planning a show like this is no easy task. It takes a lot of effort to get bands confirmed, to get a date confirmed with the venue, even to find a venue was a challenge. Having worked with Birdy’s in the past, I knew that is where I wanted to have it. And the next one will be there as well. I am looking for a mid to late February date for the next show. I just hope that I can get a little more support from the local media next time around. Considering that I am a local writer (regardless if my traffic is localized or not) and that I featured six local bands and a local poet, you would think that more local media would want to be involved. But this entire event was a process for me, and a learning experience if nothing else.

I also couldn’t have done this without my sponsors. Again, I had never done an event like this before so asking for sponsors and then working out what these sponsors could offer was an experience as well. The list of sponsors included IndyCouponDeals.com, Indiana Uploaded, Dad’s Root Beer, J. Lauren Photography, Morin Creative, Indiana Drinking Team, Shane Brown Art, and My Car Doc. Each one of them offered something that helped make this event that much easier to plan.

The night of the show I was done. I was finished promoting and I was just ready for a night of great music and to share in the fruit of my labor with all my friends that came out. It was great seeing so many familiar faces in the same room for an event that I had put together. It is the execution of these ideas, and the planning that went into this, that made the night all worthwhile. As much as the bands meant to the event, and the sponsors allowing me to fund this event, the fans meant just as much. Because of you guys I am having another event. I want to keep this ball rolling and continue to work with local bands helping them gain more exposure on a national level.

I could type an entire blog post thanking each and every one of you. And perhaps I should. But I want to do that here, by simply saying you all are what makes what I do so special. To have a night like that come together, to see so many people in the same room at the same time for one purpose, is why I do what I do. I am already working on the next event, not even twenty-four hours after the first one ended. In six months I will have six more bands and another list of great sponsors to showcase. I have already confirmed my first sponsor, Melissa Brewer Photography.

So again, thank you all and I look forward to more events like this in the future. If you were there, please leave your feedback. I am curious what you guys all thought of the event. What could I do better next time? What did you like or dislike about the event? Lets make the next one bigger and better than this one.

If you have not figured it out by now, I love dance music. It seems that dance music is all that fills my headphones. It feels good to turn on a jam from David Guetta or Armin van Buuren and just let the music take over. It is common to think that good dance music doesn’t exist here in the states. Europe is known for producing some of the best DJs on the planet and every club on any given night is filled with people dancing. Glow sticks in hand, I have danced in these types of clubs and have seen some of the biggest DJs on the planet play for insanely small crowds. Also with the help of satellite radio and Internet stations like last.fm and Pandora Radio I am able to hear these guys anytime I want. But before you buy a plane ticket for Germany or France, take a listen to some of the local guys producing similar sounds. I have not seen a ton of locals DJs perform, but I hope to soon. I saw a DJ (I wish I could remember his name) perform at the official Lady Gaga after party a few weeks ago. He was spinning original stuff and had my attention the entire time. And the man sitting with me today has had my attention since we met. His name is Wesley Clay and his music is just as good as any of those guys I hear on the radio. There is not a ton of his stuff online just yet, but that’s OK. The music that is there is worth a listen. He has a sound that puts him in a class all of his own. It my pleasure to branch into this local Indianapolis market and sit down today with Wesley.

Any reason you don’t have a DJ in front of your name?

No reason really.  I wouldn’t mind if it were appended to my name on a flyer or announced on a  PA system during a show.  It leaves my name open to other avenues within sound and audio engineering.

How long have you been spinning?

I purchased my first pair of turntables right after graduating high school in 1999.  I started on a pair of Numark TTXs and upgraded to Technics SL1200 M3Ds piece by piece within a year later.  Learning the basics was easy, but honing the skill and craft of blending records has taken years. 

Actually, is it still called spinning?

I hear it used often.

Who are some of your favorite DJs?

Josh Wink really impressed me with his Profound Sounds series.  I feel the blends are seamless and the mixes in their entirety contain solid buildups from the beginnings to the ends.  Paul Johnson has given some great live performances.  I also like Diz, Lil’ Louis Vega, and Raoul Belmans.  Some DJs/producers I may not particularly like give great performances as well.

What kind of headphones do you use?

I have a pair of Ultrasone HFI550s.  They came with a ten foot straight cable I sent in to have replaced with a five foot curlyq cable.  I’ve had them for about three years now and only have had the headphone band replaced.  They aren’t as loud as other headphones, but they have a nice rolloff on the high frequencies to prevent ear fatigue.

How do you think social media has changed the way people listen to music?

Social media networks have given the artist instant exposure and the listener instant gratification.  The .mp3 changed how music is sold to the masses. It has also “dummified” the high fidelity sound system.  The majority of people probably listen to Internet music by computer speakers, headphones, or smart phones with a set of tiny earbuds.

Are you house? Trance? Dance? What do you classify yourself as?

I’m a House DJ.  There are many genres within House music that I collect like Minimal, Tech, Tribal, Vocal, Chicago, French,  etc… the more I collect the easier it becomes to mix all these kinds of music together.  I also have a lot of Techno tracks that I’ll sometimes build into during a performance.

How long does it take you to create a track?

Making rhythm/melody parts for a couple bars comes really fast.  Drums can be simple and laid down with relative ease to get things moving.  Song structure takes a bit longer.  When you get into the heart of a track, transpositions and change ups from your rhythms and melodies are a bit harder to come by.  Trying new ideas is essential but time consuming.  Sometimes hours of work can lead to nothing because the result wasn’t what you were going for.

What is a live performance like? Isn’t most of that stuff already recorded?

A live performance within dance music can be a group of electronic components assembled together to create music live using preprogrammed sequences and set lists.  Many people use hardware drum machines and synth modules synchronized together by MIDI to create music on the fly.  Computer software is often used nowadays.  A DJ performance does use music that has already been recorded.  Its usually only two turntables and a mixer and doesn’t really require an elaborate setup.  In the end its up to the artist to determine how they go together throughout the night.  Blending technique and selection in accordance to your audience is an important aspect for a DJ to show that they know the music.

Do you have a job outside of music?

Yes and I don’t like it!

You are from Indianapolis, Indiana. But there are very few clubs that play decent dance music. Where do you go to listen to good music?

I listen to many other local DJs here in town at various weekly events.  I enjoy going to Get Down Thursdays at the Red Room, Juxtapoze Tuesdays at the Melody Inn, Keepin’ It Deep at Blu, G9 Collective/IndyMojo events, and other venues with local DJs.  There are also a lot of online radio sets I try to catch on LFO Radio and Boost FM.  I sometimes do my record shopping at Love Vinyl Records’ online store.

What is the largest crowd you have ever played for?

The radio may count.  I guess I’ll never really know how many people may have been listening.  There have been a few gigs in Chicago that turned out pretty well.

The smallest?

There have been events were only a couple people were present.

What are you drinking on stage?

If I have a chance to take a sip it would most likely be beer or water. 

Do you move around a lot like Armin van Buuren or do you stand still like Paul van Dyk does?

I’m not a statue but I don’t get too crazy.  I prefer standing up straight as to being hunched over.  I think its important to show a sense of confidence and communication with your audience.  This can be achieved easily just by looking up and making eye contact.

Most of your tracks are nonvocal. Have you ever done anything with a lot of vocals?

I try not to take too long of  a vocal sample for a song unless its for remix/mashup purposes mainly for copyright infringement.  I have never put the time into writing lyrics much nor do know of any vocal talent to come sing over tracks, but I do have the equipment to do so.

Who, in your opinion, is the best DJ in Indianapolis right now? (And yes, you can say yourself if you like!)

Things change pretty often, but Top Speed is a great turntables who has years of experience.

Let’s say that I want to become a DJ. Where do I start?

Things have changed pretty drastically since I first started.  Now I would get acquainted to mixing via computer software.  Observing other DJs definitely helps out when you are learning.

Is it hard getting gigs as a DJ?

Things start coming along after you start meeting people.  Its always a good practice to have mix CD’s to give away.  Sometimes positive word of mouth can get you places too.

Do you ever get lonely up there on stage?

There have been times were a DJ booth isolates you from people coming up to say hello.  But for the most part I’m pretty entertained for the while.

A lot of people call dance music boring. They say it is too repetitive. How do you react to that?

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of electronic dance music.  Repetition is a fundamental part of music composition.  Some people are turned off by sequenced drum beats and robotic arpeggios and I can understand how they would feel that way.  Some tracks by themselves, especially Techno, aren’t to deep and don’t have that much substance.  But for the two to three minutes that they are played within a DJ set exact the artist’s intention and solidify the track’s place within electronic music.

How often do you practice this stuff?

I play for a couple hours every couple days.  Many times when I buy new music I’ll practice a little longer.  Its a great stress reliever and it takes my attention off of pressing matters which is a nice escape.

In your mind, are the beats like words to a normal musician?

Rhythm and melody are universal languages and can communicate in any combination yes.

My girlfriend and I are huge fans of dance music. We are always listening to dance music. Do you listen to any other genres of music besides dance?

I like hearing music created using MAX/MSP.  Its a graphical programming environment used by artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre.  I also like a lot of Latin works by Kenny Dope Gonzales.

Why is there not a dance music station in Indianapolis?

I think because of its underground nature.  Much of the broadcasting is probably done online.  If its not a twenty-four hour station, atleast there is Hit The Decks on X103 Sunday nights.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I know I’ll still be buying vinyl.  I’m sure that I’ll make the move to digital software like Serato or Traktor sometime in the future.  I still split my time between production and mixing records pretty evenly and I’ll try to keep it that way.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

I would like to be known for having solid track selection and seamless blends that impress other DJs as well.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

I’d like to have a lot more music available online in the next year.  I recently upgraded software and am still working out kinks within the new workflow and possibilities.   There are still techniques I’m exploring in the studio.  I do have some older tracks posted on Sound Click, and new production posted on Sound Cloud, and a recent DJ mix on Mix Cloud.

It seems like every DJ I listen to I find something new. From beats to vocals, each DJ I hear provides something new and something unique. I want to be pushed to the limits of my taste, and I want to be sent to a new level of skill. The man I am sitting with today does just that. His work is new, and not very well known here in the states. But that doesn’t stop him from producing some sick beats and some incredible tracks. I first heard him on last.fm while flipping through various artists similar to Armin van Buuren. Anyone that can be tied to Armin is decent in my book. But this man goes to a whole new level of decent. His work is known all over Europe and further and he has landed a place on this year’s Electric Zoo. Sit down and get to know a true talent in today’s scene. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Joris Voorn.

So please tell me how you pronounce your name!

Your’is Vorn.

How long have you been a DJ?

I have been a DJ for about fourteen years now.

When did you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

In 2003 I had a chance to survive making and playing music instead of working at my day job as an architectural designer. From there it was over. I was meant to be a DJ.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Form anything; could be a sample, could be a synth sound, my mood, a movie clip…

Where are you originally from?

I am from Moergestel, which is a small village in the Dutch coutryside.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you go?

I like Amsterdam; where I’m now, but I’d love to try out New York, Tokyo or Hong Kong for a while.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever performed for?

That must have been Sensation. It was held in Amsterdam in a football arena for 40,000 people or so.

The smallest?

I’ve done some home parties for a few people when I just started playing, which was just as much fun as playing for thousands of people now.

Are you excited about Electric Zoo coming up this September?

Of course, I heard many good things about it, and as I said, “I LOVE NEW YORK!”

Do you play a lot of festivals like that?

Very many, especially during summer, countless actually.

I really like your MySpace design. Who did that?

Thanks! My brother Christoph designed it, with a little bit of my help. It brought him a career as MySpace designer. (Laughs)

What are your thoughts on MySpace?

It’s over its peak. Facebook is much nicer and more personal.

Are you on Twitter?

My Facebook page is linked to Twitter; that’s all.

If you could be any cartoon character which one would you be and why?

Dexter (not the killer but the scientist).

Has your music really been featured in all of those films listed on your website?

I wish. Where does it say my music is listed in those films?

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

I have to dig deeeep into my memory for that, but to keep it simple I saw Prince in France and that was deffinately something very special.

Tell me a little bit about Balance.

My second mix DJ mix CD, a cross boundary a musical adventure that represents everything I love about music.

So you are a producer as well. Do you like production more than performing?

I love both, but making music is where my heart lies most. Very amazing is to play my own productions for the first time and see how the crowd reacts. I couldnt be a DJ without playing my own tracks also.

How many stamps do you currently have on your passport?

I have a business passport with double amount of pages from December 2006 and it’s almost full!

What is your favorite city to visit?

Tokyo or Hong Kong.

Describe your genre in one word.

Crossgenreelectronicmusic.

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

Normally flying to my destination, having dinner if there’s time and then sweating the night away in a dark club behind the mixer.

You seem like a pretty stylish guy. Where do you buy most of your clothes?

Same three cities; New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Although Paris is good for shopping too, and Amsterdam’s not bad either.

Tell me about working with Ultimate DJ Gear.

My Ultimate DJ Gear is Traktor DJ software from Native Instruments.

So if someone has never seen you perform before, what can he or she expect from a live show?

A great amount of groovy high quality dance music that doesn’t stick to one sound.

What was the last movie you saw?

L’été Meurtrier, a freaky French thriller from 1983.

Did you like it?

I loved it!

What are you drinking up there on stage?

Champagne is my drink of coice. Not too much beer, as the bathroom is usually too far away to take a break in the middle of a set.

Does it ever get lonely on stage?

I like having people around on stage making a party. Sometimes you can be very lonely playing on a huge stage for a huge crowd that’s too far away.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

Answering interview questions like this!

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

I’ve had many sound issues with my laptop last year, hard to describe the feeling when the music stops and everyone is looking at you and you don’t know what went wrong.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully still coming to New York once in a while, maybe even for Electric Zoo!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

By someone who made one or two unforgettable pieces of music, that would be nice.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

It’s hot here in my studio, and I think I need to take a break… See you at the Zoo!

Saturday nights in Broad Ripple usually consist of dinner, a few drinks, and hanging out with friends. You might start somewhere like La Jolla Mexican Restaurant for some chips and salsa, maybe a margarita. Then you might head over to Brother’s Bar & Grill for a couple of beers. Perhaps then off to a dance club like Landsharks or The Vogue. While this might be fun, I decided to spend my Saturday night this week at Birdy’s Bar & Grill. As you know, Birdy’s is a great place to see live music and you can see a band here every night of the week. Just check the calendar when you first walk in to see when your favorite band is playing next.

Birdy’s is actually known for playing host to a ton of great local and Midwest bands. But there have been a fair share of regional and national acts as well. On this very stage I have seen the likes of Daughtry, The Fray, Mat Kearney, the Detroit Cobras, and many more. But on Saturday, July 24^th, 2010, there were four bands taking the stage. For one low price—only $8—you could get your face melted by Kramus, Alter Ego, Glass Halo, and Fred Shafer. The bill promised to rock the house. When we got there, maybe fifteen minutes after the doors had opened, there were already about fifteen or twenty people sitting around just chatting. We grabbed a table and got ready to have a great night of music.

Kramus Kicks Things Off

It was just after 9:00 when Kramus took the stage. These guys have been playing the Indianapolis scene for quite some time and have made some major changes over the last few years. Sadly, their former lead singer passed away early in 2008, but they have managed to come back from that and in all honesty, are better than ever. Their old sound was too close to Breaking Benjamin to impress. But now, they are on a whole new level. These guys play with heart, emotion, and are a true rock band. They played first, which surprised me, as they had double booked the night. I disagree with bands playing more than one or two shows a month in Indianapolis (or the surrounding area), let alone on the same night. But they were there. They rocked the stage and managed to get me to hum along for a few minutes.

Fred Shafer Brings the Noise

Fred Shafer, who I felt should have been the headliner for the evening, actually took the stage second. Fred, a guy that travels all over the world playing his songs for anyone ready to listen, has so much heart and passion in his voice and his stage presence. His disc, Resistor, is nothing like what you see on stage. And there is a reason for that. You will like the disc, that’s not the issue. He wants you to like, even love, the album, and then see him perform those tunes live. He wants to take you to the next level. And I have seen him play for ten people before, and it’s the same show as when he plays for 10,000.

Fred is actually a good buddy of mine, and I have been following his work for quite some time. It is neat following his tour schedule and seeing all the places that he plays. It makes shows like this, in smaller and more intimate venues, that much better. You can feel the music here, and he will shake every hand in the venue if he has to. Fred is just a nice guy.

He kicked things off and before the first song is over, he is dripping in sweat. But you see past that almost immediately. Driving all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, he played to a room with about fifty to sixty people in it. But that didn’t stop him from playing like it was the last show he would ever play. His songs are rock, that’s for sure. But he adds, in some of the tunes, an almost country feel. He is wearing flannel (I am not sure I have ever seen him in anything else) and he wears cowboy boots well, but he still throws the hard rock front at you. Regardless, listening to tunes from his album, new songs he has never played before, and some older tunes that you can find floating around the Internet, we got a huge taste of who Fred Shafer really is. He is coming back to Birdy’s Bar & Grill in October, so if you have not seen him, or even if you have, come see him perform this fall.

Alter Ego Rocks the House

I was first introduced to the band Alter Ego by one of their band members. Myles Berry, on bass, asked me to take a listen to his new band. They have been tearing up Facebook and Twitter and are on their way to something big. They all still hold day jobs, but they are playing all over the Midwest and getting their names in front of people. Here in town you can catch a show every few weeks, and getting the chance to share the stage with Fred Shafer is an honor. Myles and Fred have been friends for a long time, and this was a neat show to see live.

I had not seen Alter Ego play live before. But as soon as they started singing, the dance floor filled up. Girls (some intoxicated, of course) began dancing and singing along to the lyrics. It was tough keeping up, though. I was not sure if they did that many originals. They did a handful of covers, some from Godsmack and other popular rock bands, offering a mixture for the fans. It was nice hearing some tunes that I was used to, especially since I had not seen these guys before. And I have to admit, they did pretty good covering Godsmack.

The guys in Alter Ego fit the rock band persona perfectly. They were all wearing black shirts, tight jeans, and boots. They had tattoos and wrist bands and were just playing good old fashioned rock music. I loved watching Myles play. He has so much energy and his facial expressions crack me up. He is not only having fun up there, he knows deep inside that is where he is supposed to be. The lead singer didn’t play an instrument, which I enjoy seeing. There are too many bands out there that focus too much on the instruments rather than the vocals. Alter Ego, however, put a ton of emphasis into their vocals. Their lyrics are just as good, and they match the vocals well. Regardless, I am glad I got to see them perform and they are a true Indianapolis rock band.

Glass Halo Sends Us Home

I have not seen these guys either, and came to this show excited to watch them play. These guys, fresh off of a Battle of Birdy’s win last year, they are $10,000 richer and ready to make something of themselves. They are a complete package too. They have merchandise, professional photography complements of Melissa Brewer Photography, and even a laptop allowing fans to sign up for their mailing list. But when you see their equipment, the way the guys all have that rock band (almost an adult alternative rock band) look about them, you start to see why they are so good.

They play a ton around the city, but they are also playing a lot around the Midwest. As a matter of fact, they recently just played a show with Fred Shafer at the Elbow Room up in Chicago. After winning the Battle of Birdy’s they have an excuse to get out and play more shows.

From the first song I was in love. The vocals are polished, and remind me of a harder Killers matched with a dash of Wilco. Their drummer, who is fairly new to the band, doesn’t get too into the songs, but doesn’t need to. His style, his ability to be heard yet not over the top, is just what this bands needs. No offense to the drummer, but the three guys up front are what we came to see. The lead guitar player was a blast to watch, too. He was dancing around, shaking his shaggy hair, and just having a blast on stage. And the bass player, sporting a similar and familiar faux hawk, was throwing vocals into the mic and just making himself welcome on stage. They were all comfortable up there, and it just makes sense they perform together.

Going on this late it is hard to keep a crowd in the room, but they did a good job of entertaining the crowd they had. I had no expectations coming into this, so I was curious to see what they could pull off. I was impressed, and had the chance to actually meet some of the guys throughout the night. The lead singer graduated from Rose Hulman. The guitar player I was talking about earlier has a degree in public relations. But yet they know how to make good rock music. (They gave me a copy of their latest disc, and I am excited to listen to that to say the least.) I can’t wait to know all the words to their songs.

This is just another night of great music in the books here at Birdy’s. This show was well put together, thanks to the likes of Myles Berry, and kept me entertained from the moment I walked in. if you have not seen these bands perform, at least do yourself a favor and listen to them on MySpace or on their official websites. Regardless, you will be treated with some original, raw, and healthy rock music. Throw those devil horns up and start rocking already!