Posts Tagged ‘Interview’
Fresh Off Lollapalooza, The Low Anthem Comes to Town
August 8th, 2009
Posted in Uncategorized
The Low Anthem is a folk-rock band from Providence, Rhode Island, consisting of Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams. The three classically trained musicians used twenty-seven different instruments on their latest album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. Aside from the standard guitar, bass and drum setup, they also used several instruments from both the horn and string families, as well as a pump organ that was carried onto the battlefield by chaplains during WWI.
The story of The Low Anthem begins in 2002 at Brown University, where Ben and Jeff met working as late night DJ’s for the college’s radio station, WBRU. Ben, a folk musician and painter from New York’s Hudson Valley, and Jeff, a jazz bassist and baseball scholar from New Jersey are the band’s two core members. Before forming The Low Anthem, they played in a number of ensembles, ranging from rock, to electronica, to classical, to Americana.
I asked Ben about his experience at Brown and how, as an artist, the songwriting and painting processes are different. How do you know what thoughts and feelings to use in a song versus a painting:
“Well, we all have different feelings about Brown. I was recklessly bored there. I couldn’t get interested in anything that had to do with school. For me, it was four growthless years hanging out with kind, wealthy, whip-smart alcoholics. Fun stuff. However, some folks get a lot of it. I love painting. But like Woody says, people will pay you to play a song and they’ll whoop and holler and sing along and then you can do it again the next night. A painting, you do once, and it’ll bother the rest of your life.”
In 2006, the duo became a trio with the addition of Dan Lefkowitz, a bluesman from Virginia. Although he was only with the band a mere six months, his song “This God Damn House” was kept in the band’s repertoire. I asked Ben to share some thoughts about Dan and how the band was different when he played with them:
“Very different. Dan used to sing lead on one in three songs. He has this killer voice, gravely and cynical. I love that guy. He’s off in Arkansas now living in a yurt, but one of these days I hope he’ll put some music out.”
In November of 2007, former NASA technician, Jocie Adams, joined the band. A student of astrophysics and great clarinet player, Jocie was often invited up onstage to perform with Ben and Jeff. Starting out with the song, “Coal Mountain Lullaby”, from What The Crow Brings, she would sit in until she eventually knew all the songs and would become an official member, thus, making them a trio again.
I asked Ben about being a trio again and what Jocie brings to the table:
“Jocie is a good musician. She can play most instruments and she didn’t have a day job. She sings like a drunken angel. She makes us look taller on stage. Plus, the triangle is the most stable energy structure. A duo is wasteful. In terms of dynamism and feng shui, the trio is better. We’re thinking of expanding again.”
I was recently listening to a podcast of the World Cafe with David Dye, in which the guests were The Low Anthem. During that session, Ben had called the Charlie Darwin album “a gospel record for scientists and social philosophers.” I asked him to expand on that thought and about the title of the album:
“Well, I used to believe what I told David. Maybe I still do. The record longs for community, I think. And yet the principles that guide and govern have been shot dead, the sacred documents torched and twisted. I wish good luck to the holy and the sincere. Good luck dealing with the son of a bitch.”
Although the album came out in September of 2008, it saw a major label re-release in June of 2009 on Nonesuch. The album is still receiving rave reviews, has been included on a number of “Best of” lists, and the critic’s are saying things like “one of the best of 2008″ and “the next big thing in folk music.”
On paper it would appear that this is a band who fits comfortably right alongside legendary artists like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, and the new breed of indie-folk bands like Fleet Foxes and The Felice Brothers. Although there is no doubt some influence of Waits, Darwin and even author/writer, Jack Kerouac, The Low Anthem are creating folk, blues and gospel music that sits in a category all its own. Part of that has to do with the diverse use of musical instruments and the way in which the album was recorded. I asked Ben about the instruments and if they had any help with laying down tracks:
“Anna Williams played the beautiful violin that you’ll hear on the reprise of “To Ohio.” She and Cameron Orr scratched along on “The Horizon Is A Beltway.” BUT the most significant contribution was from my best pal Graham Smith. He’d been up for 72 hours on adderall and red bull trying to finish a final project for his architecture school. He took a subway ride to Williamsburg where we were overdubbing at the engineer’s place to lay down the Tibetan singing bowl. It’s not that nobody else could have played it, but we wanted his spirit on the record. It took two takes. He fell asleep both times while the tape was rolling and we cut it together. Later that morning he woke up standing in a Chelsea subway station and doesn’t remember beating 200 in skiball after the session. He won a free beer, and didn’t tip on it, which he was horrified to learn.”
To record the album, the band (along with some friends) went out to Block Island on New Year’s Day, 2008. An island sitting thirteen miles off the coast of Rhode Island, it’s a popular tourist destination in the summer, with its bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing and beaches. You can probably assume that this place doesn’t sound like much in winter, which Ben notes was very “isolated and empty.” He also mentions that “you feel it on the album.”
The Low Anthem have spent much of the year touring with artists like Ray LaMontagne, Josh Ritter, Elvis Perkins, Langhorne Slim and Joe Pug, and hitting the big festivals like SXSW, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and more recently, the Newport Folk Festival and Lollapalooza. The Low Anthem come to Newport’s Historic Southgate House on Monday, August 10 with Langhorne Slim.
2008 MidPoint Interviews: Michael Bond of Coltrane Motion
September 24th, 2008
Posted in MidPoint Music Festival
Chicago masterminds, Coltrane Motion, are returning home to Ohio, to play Cincinnati’s MidPoint Festival in a couple days. They’re finishing up some recording, so they’ll be bringing some new jams, along with some homemade instruments.
Composed of Michael Bond and Matt Dennewitz, these two brilliant musician’s create an interesting blend of both indie rock and electronica, blending of number of sounds together on vintage gear and modern electronics, that will keep you moving and shaking, so as long as they’re up there on stage.
I caught their set at last year’s MidPoint, only because I heard the buzz that was going on about them (literally) on the street. They ended up being one of the best electronica acts I’ve ever heard.
Note: If you’ve ever been to Bonnaroo, and are into the latenight electronica shows the festival has had in the past, this may be the perfect show for you.
Anywho, I recently contacted lead singer, Michael Bond, because I wanted to get an interview with an out of town band, for my 2008 MidPoint Interview Series, and Coltrane Motion was the first out of town band I had heard, that I could think of.
On with my question’s and Mike’s answers:
Question #1
Nate Rosing: How long has Coltrane Motion been around? Who is in the band, and where did you guys form?
Michael Bond: I started making music as Coltrane Motion in 2000, recording lo-fi songs in my University of Cincinnati dorm room. I tried a few different live lineups in 2002/2003, then moved to Chicago, where Matt and I started performing as a duo in 2004. I’m originally from Amanda, OH (pop. 700) and Matt’s from nearby Lancaster.
Question #2
NR: How long have you been a musician, and what, if any, are some of the bands or types of bands you have played in, in the past?
MB: I was a band geek in junior high and high school, playing drums, mostly. Matt was in post-rock and garage-punk bands in high school, and has recorded folkier solo material under the names Compiler and Blackbear. I also play keyboards for The Most Powerful Telescope in the Universe, a recording project that’s about to release thier second EP, and have also produced a few records for other artists.
Question #3
NR: Who are your major influences, musical and non-musical?
MB: A bunch of stuff that we don’t really sound like – Phil Spector, The Kinks, Neutral Milk Hotel, early Beck..most of teh music that Matt and I agree on is either hip-hop (Clipse, Dr. Dre) or folk (Neil Young, Will Oldham). Non-musical? David Foster Wallace, Saul Bass, Woody Allen. Kurt Godel & Alexander Calder.
Question #4
NR: How did you come up with the idea for Coltrane Motion’s sound? Is it something you planned, or is it something that was born just from playing?
MB: The size of my car trunk (and what we can fit in there to tour with) has probably had the biggest influence on our sound for the last few years, from the lack of live drums to trying to get the most sound possible out of a single guitar.
Question #5
NR: What does the name Coltrane Motion mean, and where did it come from?
MB: It’s a 70’s blaxploitation slang, but I’m proud to say we’ve made the phrase fairly ungoogleable, so I’ll leave it up to your imagination.
Question #6
NR: How many albums have you guys made, and what is the current status? Are you working on a new album/in the middle of a tour?
MB: We’ve had a handful of smaller releases in the past, but last year’s Songs About Music was our first ‘real’ album. We’re just now finishing up recording a 7″ single that will be released next month on Datawaslost.
Question #7
NR: For the sake of my readers, are there any bands out there that you would say you’re similar to or sound like? I, for one, haven’t heard anything like Coltrane Motion before.
MB: Heh – maybe a mix between LCD Soundsystem, Yo La Tengo, and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion? I think we take a little from each of them and kind of mix it up.
Question #8
NR: Are you signed to a label or do you self release your stuff, or have you had any big showcases or shows that were a pretty big deal for you guys?
MB: We release our music through Datawaslost, which is a small indie label we also help run, so yes to both I suppose.
Question #9
NR: How good is the music scene in Chicago? How does it compare to a place like Cincinnati? Are there really any differences at all? How do you like playing in Chicago? What are some of your favorite clubs, or clubs you play at regularly in Chi-town?
MB: It’s very different – not sure if its better or worse, but definitely big enough to challenge you, and to keep things interesting. I miss the close-knittedness you get from a scene the size of Cincinnati’s and the great venues you have here, but there’s definitely benefits to being a band in a larger city – I think it pushes you a lot harder, at the very least – you’ve got a lot more competition. We love to play Empty Bottle & Schuba’s in Chicago, and are excited about the Bottom Lounge’s new space too.
Question #10
NR: What do you guys think of Lollapalooza, and do you hope to play there one day? What does something like Lolla do for the city of Chicago?
MB: I think I’m too cheap for Lollapalooza, I can’t imagine going *unless* we were playing and got in free 
The best part of Lolla for me is catching all my favorite bands play in smaller venues for the afterparties..
Question #11
NR: I saw you guys at last year’s MidPoint, strictly based on word of mouth. I was walking along the street, overheard someone talking about you, and when it was time, I headed to the venue to see you guys play outdoors in a tent. What are your thoughts on MidPoint, and how will your showcase this year, differ from last year’s?
MB: Well, for one, we won’t be in a tent..I love MidPoint, it’s always a lot of fun, and we always have people come up to us afterwards with similar stories about discovering us randomly, and that’s the greatest part, for me – that there’s one weekend a year where checking out new bands is the norm, not the exception. I’m looking forward to seeing what changes CityBeat is bringing – the lineup looks great this year. We’re bringing some new jams and new homemade instruments this time around, it should be fun..
Question #12
NR: Do you have any funny or interesting stories from touring on the road? What is being on the road like? How do you prepare for that type of lifestyle? Is being in a band, difficult, does it take certain kind of people, or is it just something you adapt to over time?
MB: We’ve toured a lot in the past few years, and it’s all kind of melted into a blur of car troubles and police interrogations. I love getting to experience cities like Montreal or Atlanta in therse short, concentrated doses, where you get the best (or worst) of what someplace has to offer 24 hrs..It’s not something I could do every week, and I’m a little scared of people who can – like performing, touring is basically an extended stress test to see how you’ll act when surrounded by strangers. Half of being in a touring band is having a reliable vehicle, and the other half is having bandmates who have already pissed you off as much as they ever will, but are still your friends.
Question #13
NR: What has been teh biggest challenge of being a musician?
MB: Figuring out what your goals actually are, beyond just fooling around w/ an instrument. Still working on that one, honestly..
My thanks to Michael Bond, for taking the time out of his busy life, to answer some questions, to get a deeper look, and understanding of the world of Coltrane Motion.
Catch Coltrane Motion’s set on Thursday, September 25, at the Inner Peace Holistic Center at 10 pm. It should ge a good night at that venue, kicking off with Ill Poetic and Eagle to Squirrel, and The Turnbull AC’s closing the night.
2008 MidPoint Interviews: Billy Alletzhauser of The Hiders
September 23rd, 2008
Posted in Local Music, MidPoint Music Festival
I recently contacted Billy Alletzhauser of The Hiders (formerly of The Ass Ponys and Ruby Vileos) to see if he would participate in my interview series for this week’s MidPoint Festival. Billy was ever so kind to take the time out of his busy life, to help me out with my coverage of the festival. Here’s what I asked, and what he responded with:
Question #1
Nate Rosing: How long have you been a musician? Did you start playing guitar or singing first, and when did you notice you had a talent for both?
Billy Alletzhauser: I used to make up songs and sing them to myself when I walked to school, so I guess I sang first. My sister got a guitar when I was 11 or so and I started playing around with it. When I was about 15, I formed a band with friends as a bassist and writer. I kept singing by default because I would write lyrics and no one else seemed to sing them right. Guitar and writing always came a bit easier than singing.
Question #2
NR: I’ve read that you’re also talented in the arts. What kind of pieces of art do you create?
BA: I majored in Fine Arts in college and mostly did figurative or illustration type things. Now it’s mostly graphic design. I’ve done all the design work for the band.
Question #3
NR: What kind of bands have you played in throughout your career? How have you evolved as a musician and live performer?
BA: I’ve played all kinds of music from punk to new age-y jazz. I like to think I’m evolving. There are always nuances to explore. We’ve been practicing as a four piece a lot lately with Beth on acoustic guitar or keys. My focus has been to improve on being lead singer and lead guitarist at the same time.
Question #4
NR: You often hear the Neil Young comparison a lot. When I see you up there on stage, I feel like I’m watching the perfect combination of Neil Young, Ryan Adams and Jeff Tweedy. At the same time, The Hiders’ music has a sound all its own, remaining original and inspiring. How did the band form? How has the lineup changed over the years? Who is in the current lineup, and how in the hell did you come in contact with such amazing musicians?
BA: Ever since I first started playing, I always tried to play with people I could learn from and people I thought were better than me and I’ve always tried to play with people who care more about music than they do all the other bullshit. It’s real obvious when you see a band or performer who is doing it because they think it’s cool or they want attention. By avoiding them I’ve ended up with the real deal. The original Hiders were myself, Toby Ellis, Victor Strunk, Beth Harris, Dave Gilligan and Todd Drake. Now it’s me, Tony Franklin, Michael Horrigan and Beth with some peripheral members like Brad Meinerding, Sylvia Mitchell, Jesse Ebaugh. We’ve also had Tyler Ramsey here and there before he got busy with Band of Horses. It formed like anything I guess, call and see who shows up.
Question #5
NR: How do you feel about the music? Do you think it’s some of the best music you’ve ever created? Are The Hiders your favorite band that you have played in? What is being a frontman of a band like?
BA: I do feel like its the best music I’ve created, with exception to some of the things I did with Ruby Vileos. I feel like it’s still getting better all the time. When it doesn’t feel like that I will probably stop. My newest songs are always my favorite. The Hiders have been my favorite, only because it’s been built so much around my own tastes so it’d be strange for it not to be. As a live band it has easily been my favorite. Being front man or whatever is weird. I still feel most at ease just playing guitar. I feel a little pressure sometimes to be entertaining when I’m singing, so I’m more aware of the crowd and how they are reacting, but when the crowd seems to really be into it I think I feel that more because of that hyper awareness and that feels fantastic. Higher risk, higher reward I suppose. Some nights though I just want to stare at my amp and make feedback but then people lecture me and tell me I’m not being a good frontman. Ultimately you can’t care too much. It’s a tightrope between pleasing yourself but not being self indulgent. I just do what feels right gig to gig and usually it goes over ok.
Question #6
NR: What can you tell us about the Batcave?
BA: To know it is to love it. You can spill red wine and not really notice. Your eyes need to adjust. You leave better than when you came. Night and day lose all meaning. The joker keeps trying to find it but he never will.
Question #7
NR: Describe the writing process for The Hiders.
BA: I usually bring songs in with some vision of how it should go, then they play along and it gets much, much better. Tempos, structures and arrangements are the big things that get worked out as a band. Lyrics and chords I usually have ready. I keep waiting for the day we write as band, it’s coming.
Question #8
NR: Tell us about the idea for “Penny Harvest Field.”
BA: The song or the album? The title comes from a project called Common Cents. New York school kids harvested a million dollars in pennies. The pennies were placed on display at Rockefeller Center. It’s worth googling. A million dollars in pennies is an impressive sight. It tied with the song that I was working on and as a theme for the album which, in my mind, is value basically. Something small and easily overlooked or even discarded as bad luck or simply a waste of pocket space can become something great.
Question #9
NR: What are your thoughts on WXPN, the World Cafe and David Dye? Can you tell us about your connection to those things?
BA: Well, it’s a wonderful station and radio show. We were thrilled to be featured so prominently. Look for more from us there in the not too distant future.
Question #10
NR: You’ve also been called “The Greatest Unsigned Band in the Country”. What is the current status, and why?
BA: We are still the greatest unsigned band in the country. And better than most signed bands too. Why? Who said life is fair?
Question #11
NR: What was the experience of recording in Nashville like?
BA: It’s good to go away, but the next record I think we’ll do at home. Probably a combination of the Batcave and UltraSuede. Brad Jones is pretty great to work with but he always talks me out of backward guitar solos, I personally think every other solo should just be backwards. And lots of songs that are way too long, that’s an ambition.
Question #12
NR: I’ve heard that some Hiders songs, predate the Ass Ponys. Can you tell us anything about that?’
BA: “Take Me Back” on Valentine predates Ass Ponys, and maybe “Let’s Forget”. I’ve been writing songs my whole life. There are plenty kicking around.
Question #13
NR: Going back to the unsigned thing. Would you rather be signed on a major label or would you rather be doing things your way? What are the differences between major/indie labels?
BA: You could wax on this forever. The label thing can go a lot of different ways. It costs a lot to tour and do promotion and everything so a label can be great for that, if they back you up. You give up some control though. I’m interested in help because I simply don’t have the money to do all the things we should do to promote ourselves but I’ve had help in other ways. At this point I would settle on a good booking agent. Ultimately, label or no, you just have to satisfy yourself as an artist and musician. It sounds cliche’ but it’s true. I’m very satisfied with the music we make. There’s always more you can do to get it out there, label or not.
Question #14
NR: How do you feel about the music scene in Cincinnati? Who are some of your favorite bands and what are your favorite places to play? Billy, I’m sure you’ve played MidPoint a number of times, is this The Hiders first MidPoint? What do you think of MidPoint?
BA: I’ve always liked the Cincinnati scene, I’ve made some great friends here through music. There’s a certain artistic integrity here. Some of my favorite artists are The Great Depression, Kim Taylor, Ali Edwards, The Chocolate Horse, Pearlene….Southgate House and The Northside Tavern are my favorite places to play. This is The Hiders second MidPoint. They seem to have made some positive changes this year, MidPoint seems to still be coming into it’s own somewhat. This year seems like it’s going to be one of the best yet.
Question #15
NR: How do you feel about Wussy? What is your current relationship like with Chuck Cleaver? Do you both come out to each other’s shows, to show your support?
BA: I don’t keep up with them really. I engineered and produced some of the first Wussy record. It seems more like Lisa’s band, she would do better on her own I think.
Question #16
NR: Name one band, that would be a dream for The Hiders to open for.
BA: Tom Petty or Tom Waits. If I could go back in time, The Dead maybe!
Question #17
NR: Name 5 albums/artists that you would have to have, if you were stranded on a desert island.
BA: Bitches Brew-Miles Davis, some Ravi Shankar, some Fred McDowell, Zeppelin III, maybe Opal “Happy Nightmare Baby”.
Question #18
NR: Are there any other instruments you play besides the guitar?
BA: I play anything I can get my hands on. I play some keys, bass, banjo, sitar…been trying to learn drums. I play around with drum machines and looping a lot.
Question #19
NR: What are you hopes for The Hiders over the next five years?
BA: Make at least 3 more albums, tour overseas. Find our elusive fifth member that will stay in the band.
Question #20
NR: What has been the biggest challenge in being a full time musician?
BA: Rent, sanity…in no particular order.
Question #21
NR: I read online that you were reviewed in both Rolling Stone and Spin Magazines. I did some searching, but wasn’t successful on finding either one. What did the “big dogs” have to say about you guys?
BA: Those were for Ass Ponys. 4 stars baby!
Question #22
NR: Are you guys fans of South By Southwest? It seems that every year, Cincinnati is represented at SXSW, by a few of our great bands at a “bigger version of MidPoint”. This past year we had Bad Veins, Kim Taylor, Wussy, and The Chocolate Horse. Do you guys think that you are next in line for that gig? Is that something The Hiders have though about in the past, or is it something you dream about for the future?
BA: Kind of a waste of gas money unless you wanna see other bands or be a schmoozer. I have an aversion to lanyards. I just assume go play on our own, which we’ll do eventually when we get our solar powered van. Austin’s a great town and we’ve done well on radio there..It’s a shame it’s in Texas.
My thanks to Billy from The Hiders, for taking the time to answer some questions.
Catch The Hiders MidPoint set, this Friday (Sept 26) at 9 pm in the ballroom at the Southgate House. They’re opening up for Canada’s, The Sadies.
2008 MidPoint Interviews: Ryan Adcock
September 8th, 2008
Posted in Local Music, MidPoint Music Festival
I recently contacted Ryan Adcock, to see if he would take part in my email interviews for some coverage for the upcoming MidPoint Music Festival. As someone who always enjoys MidPoint, Ryan said he would be happy to participate in any way that was helpful.
Here’s what he had to say:
Nate Rosing: When and why did you begin playing music? When did you realize that you could sing? Do you have a musically gifted family?
Ryan Adcock: Oddly, I began playing music on a complete whim. When I was eight years old, some thought entered my brain and I asked for a guitar for Christmas. I didn’t know anyone who played guitar; no one in my family played guitar. So, I’m not quite sure what my thinking was. By the time I started thinking about it, I was already hooked. Singing came much later. I was never much of a singer growing up, but like with any other instrument, a lot of stubborness and a good deal of practice made me decent enough.
NR: Describe what you think your music is, the sound, and possibly some artist’s that you may be similar to, for the sake of anyone who may have not yet heard you. Who are some of your musical influences/heroes? Any non-musical influences/heroes?
RA: I hear a lot of John Mayer and Matchbox 20 comparisons. I’m not overly passionate about either artist, but I suppose its a fair enough assesment. I listen to a wide variety of music…always in search of new stuff. Some of my current favorites include Josh Ritter, Greg Mahan, Youssou N’Dour, Damien Rice, The Killers, and Paul Simon.
NR: What are some of the non-musical things you are into? You have a song on the Cincinnati Reds “Clutch Hits” CD. I haven’t followed the Reds since the days of Sabo and Larkin, so how is the current Cincinnati Reds team doing?
RA: I do love the Reds. It’s a depressing relationship lately, but I’m trying my darndest to keep the faith. Hmmm…this might sound a bit like a personal add. I also love hiking in National Parks, drinking red wine, reading everything I can get my hands on, watching political pageantry, talking about God, taking photographs and watching Coen Brothers movies.
NR: I once read on-line, that you have played in 39 states. What has touring across the country been like, and do you have any funny or interesting stories from the road?
RA: I love travel of all types. Touring is a unique blessing. I’m often in small college towns where, with nothing else to do, I find myself making day-long friends, trying out corner diners and, on occassion visiting odd attractions like the largest tractor in the world (Kansas), the movie set of Field of Dreams (Iowa, of course) or the first Waffle House (very hard to find – Georgia).
NR: Being an English major and a former high school English teacher, you must read a lot, so who are some of your favorite writers, and what types of books do you like to read?
RA: I’m always happiest when I have a good book by my bed. I’m a particular fan of non-fiction history books, travelogues and bildungsromans (a big word that my nerdy former-librarian wife taught me – means “coming of age” stories). John Steinbeck might be my favorite author…I highly recommend East of Eden (as does Oprah it turns out) and Pastures of Heaven.
NR: How does the writing process come about for your songs? Do you start with just music and then write lyrics, or vice versa?
RA: Music and lyrics usually come together. It involves a lot of noodling around on my guitar while singing ridiculous lyrics until some coherent thought travels through me. I still have no real idea how it happens.
NR: What would you say you tend to write about, or what do you like writing about? Are your songs about things that you have experienced in life?
RA: I’m always looking for new subjects. Lately, I’ve really enjoyed being forced to write about specific subject. For instance, when the Reds asked me to write a baseball song, I really enjoyed tackling a topic that I never would have tried on my own.
NR: These days, it seems you mainly play solo shows. What are the differences between playing solo gigs and having a backing band?
RA: I play far more solo shows nowadays. I love collaborating with other musicians, but the simplicity and freedom of playing by myself has always been appealing.
NR: What are you currently doing musically? Touring? New songs/album in the works?
RA: I’m almost finished with a new album that I’ve been working on with Vinyltones frontman Craig Dockery. It consists of 10 songs that I wrote over 10 weeks for church a few years back. Very mellow and a bit of a new direction for me. I continue to tour fairly regularly and am always trying to write new and better songs.
NR: You’ve played MidPoint several times before, so what are your thoughts on MidPoint, how it has evolved over the years, and do you have any special memories from a certain year playing MidPoint?
RA: I always have a wonderful time at MidPoint. Cincinnati has a fantastic music scene and I’ve always been honored to be a part of it. MidPoint is a great annual opportunity for all of the energy behind our music scene to culminate in one place.
NR: Are there any acts you’re interested in seeing for yourself at MidPoint this year?
RA: I’m usually a bit ADD at MidPoint. I, of course, want to see my friends play. But, I also try to make a concerted effort to see out of town acts. A few years back, I caught Micah Dalton’s set. He traveled up from Atlanta and absolutely blew me away. I’ve followed his career ever since. Those rare opportunities are my favorite thing about the festival.
NR: What has been the biggest challenge in being a musician?
RA: The biggest challenge is also my very favorite thing – writing songs that affect the listener in some meaningful way.
My thanks to Ryan for taking time out of his life, to answer some questions.
Catch Ryan’s MidPoint set on the WNKU Stage at New Stage Collective on Thursday, September 25 at 8:30 pm. If you can’t wait that long to see him play, he’ll be playing a show on Monday, September 15, on the campus of Northern Kentucky University at noon.
