What do you hope listeners will get from your music?
Nick: More than they can get from a self-help seminar. Or a reason to drink!
Claire: I feel like our music has a lot to offer listeners…some of our tunes are really dance-able, fun songs to party to. On top of that, some of the songs are so strong lyrically and dynamically interesting that there is a genuine chance to connect on an emotional level.
Alex: I know what I get from our music, which is an intense feeling of energy and release. So I hope that the audience feels some of that too.
Steve: I just love that we're gimmick-free. What we do is genuine rock-n-roll, and the music we play comes from all of us. Remember when that was awesome? Pepperidge Farm remembers, and so do we. But I just want people to pick up what we're putting down and party to it.
Nick: And buy us whiskeys.
What’s the best gig you ever played?
Nick: MidCoast Takeover 2011 at Liberty Bar in Austin during SXSW.
Alex: …you know, I have no problem with that. That was pretty cool. Old Marshall stack on a huge outdoor stage, what more could you possibly want?
Claire: Yes, that was a great night, but our sound has been changing a lot since then. The show we played with Mr. Gnome at the Riot Room was one of the best we've played recently.
Steve: Austin was rad, and we totally crushed that Mr. Gnome show, but the biggest kick I've had lately was playing that house show in Omaha (my home town). It was good to be home, but we had a great draw for our first show there and the bands we played with were great!
What’s your prediction for the next big advancement in how we find/listen to/share music?
Nick: Carrier Pigeons.
Alex: I can't think of anything other than carrier pigeons.
Claire: Definitely carrier pigeons.
Steve: They're apocalypse-proof.
Alex: (To Nick) You are destroying my ability to think clearly.
What’s your favorite way/tool/site for you to interact with your fans in the digital age? Do you recommend anything to other artists?
Alex: Playing live shows. Nothing else connects to people quite the same way.
Claire: Totally true, I love talking to people after shows, engaging them while we play and interacting with them as real people but Bandcamp is my go-to for distributing music.
Nick: Picking up woman ladies and playing our songs in the car really loudly.
Steve: Between Facebook and Sonicbids, we've been able to track our stats better, which makes it easier to expand what we're doing and where we do it. Beyond that, I'm with Alex. Nothing gets to fans better than leaving them with ringing ears and smiles on their faces.
What’s your next big gig coming up? When/Where?
Nick: Dec. 17th with the B'Dinas at The Brick (KCMO). It our 2-year anniversary as a band, and we're playing with the same lineup as our very first show!
Alex: Yeah, the B'Dinas are one of my favorite bands around town. Also, I like playing music with you guys!
Steve: I'm also looking forward to MidCoast Takeover 2012 (and hearing back from SXSW Official! Thanks, Sonicbids!), getting back to Omaha, and Middle of the Map Fest back here in KC.
Alex: All of the gigs.
Claire: Yeah, we just really like playing shows. A lot.
Nick: (singing) I trained some carrier pigeons to do stuff. And I painted them orange so I don't lose them!
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