Hundred Year Storm Interview
This happens a lot in HM: A theme will weave its way in and out of various stories in the magazine. It is not a planned thing, so I attribute the marvelousness of this to God's hand. This issue has something I don't recall seeing before -- a recurring visual theme in band photos, which is aircraft. The photo of ALFE has an A-10 airplane in the shot; the Day of Fire guys are standing on the wings of a huge plane; and the HYS photo has a classic old plane in the scene. Strange. Are we in the Twilight Zone?
HM Interview Key:
David Kiesel – Guitars, Vocals
Bill McCharen – Vocals, guitars
Brandon Johnson – Drums
Okay, question #1: In an age of "preaching is not cool" and a "post modern world" or "post modern church age" (whatever that means) you guys are holding on to faith in Christ. Why? Why aren't you all indulging in youthful lusts and chemicals? Why are you believers? Why are you grounded (from what I can tell) in a church? What keeps you connected to the body of Christ?
Wow, how is that only one question? Personally speaking (Bill) I have been down the road of chemical indulgences and saw what that world had to offer. I chose to follow Christ because what he had to offer me was way better. I continue to choose him because His promises withstand the test of time. What I have found is often the promises you are given, whether from the media, pop culture, religion, peers and sometimes even your own family, can be empty. They don’t measure up to what they say they offer. When Jesus said that He promised life, you can test that. I did. I had to change the way I lived because there was a lot in my life that was destructive but I put His promises to the test ten years ago and I haven’t turned back.
Church attendance has been hard being that we were out of town probably 75% of the Sundays last year. However, we are in a small group when we are in town and I think that’s where the life really happens in a church. People really get to know you and can ask you poignant questions about life and how you are doing. You can show up and let them know that you had a really hard week and they’ll pray for you. That stuff doesn’t happen when you sit in a pew on Sunday mornings. Also, when HYS is on the road we become our own small group and try to maintain regular times of prayer together. When you spend like twenty nights in a row playing shows on the road, you need to pray for each other.
What led you to sign with Floodgate Records, when I understand you had offers from some mainstream labels?
Choosing a label was a lot more dramatic than I thought it would be. One day we were going this direction, one day another. It was exciting to have options and know that people out there believe in your music but I am glad the whole process is over with. At least for a while. We went back and forth deciding if we should sign with a mainstream or a Christian label but in the end it came down to relationship. We had met with Josh and Tim with Floodgate several times out in California and developed a great relationship with them over about a year. They gave us a great deal and we went for it.
We went with Floodgate because they played football with us on the beach in San Diego and came out to our show in LA on Halloween.
What are some of the practical challenges you faced in hitting the road and touring across the country as an indie band? On a practical level, how did you procure gigs? How did you get paid? How much did you get paid? How did you survive touring on that level?
So many indie bands get out there and tour now which is amazing and encouraging. I say to any indie band out there, just work hard and plan on spending around 5 hours of phone and email time to get every road show. It was definitely hard to book our first tour up to Cornerstone last year, but we just kept doing it and never looked back. I basically do all of our booking and I believe hard work, dedication, and God’s blessing is why have been and will continue to be successful on the road. In 2005 and early 2006, we did 3 Midwest/East Coast tours and one West Coast tour and we’ve always made money. We survive on the road by eating PB &Js, sleeping on floors, and because music lovers come out even on Tuesdays and show their support. Thanks to all the bands that have hooked us up with shows, all the clubs that support us, and of course all of you who so regularly open up your homes to us. Doug, if we ever get a show in Hutto, TX can we crash?
What is it about Austin that may or may not influence your music, attitudes about music, and way you run your band?
Austin definitely has had an influence on our music. There is a good indie rock scene here and we found that if we can make it in Austin we can make it elsewhere. When you consistently play with bands that are really good they rub off on you.
It’s humbling to come from the same scene that spawned Explosions In The Sky, Mineral, The Gloria Record, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Spoon just to name a few, not to mention our friends in Bayta Darell (my favorite record of the year), Meryll, and Widows and Orphans. Sure, Austin has influenced us in some way no doubt, exactly and practically how I’m not too sure.
What is it about this notion or vision about telling stories with instrumental songs? How can you do that? What's up with that?
Music moves me. I am more often moved by a powerful guitar part than stirring lyrics. It’s difficult to explain but probably best seen in movies. Let’s say there is a scene where the leaves are blowing through an empty alley. Now there isn’t anything contemplative, scary, or sad about that picture but you put the right music behind it and your emotions will follow. Our instrumental songs are normally thematic and have samples to give the listener something to grab on to. So the music sets the mood and the samples share an idea and the rest is up to you.
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Comments
Guys, lay off the Spinal Tap space rock cover album. That's my territory. I was working on that. I know what they mean though by difficult music to pick out. How in the world did Nigel Tufnel get all those mean, divurgent tones when he tossed the horseshoes at the flying-v?
