Hey readers! So before their show on December 12 at Lovin' Cup, I sat down with the guys from Better By Morning. This was one of my favorite nights ever, because not only were they super nice, but their show was phenomenal!
This is once again with the new interview format, with different levels of questions in order to help some people out. When I decided to revamp the blog I got a ton of feedback asking for more information about getting into the industry in interviews, as well as more information about the scene in Roc specifically. Each section will be split up so you can skip around: there's artist-specific questions, Rochester scene-specific questions, and general industry questions. Here we go!
ARTIST SPECIFIC
Who are the members and what are their roles?
Jake Brooks- Rhythm Guitar/Main Vocals/Songwriting
Johnny Gravitt- Guitar/Vocals/Songwriting
Roy Stein- Drums
Alex Goettel-Bass/Keys/Vocals
When were you founded?
They've all been in music and songwriting for quite a bit, but they founded Better By Morning in spring 2014.
Where did the name come from?
This was probably the funniest part of the interview. Just as Johnny was saying that there wasn't really a story behind it, Jake chimed in and said, "No, wait I have a story!" It turns out, Jake had been on the phone with his girlfriend when he had a cold and he said that he hoped it would be better by morning. She said that it would be a great band name so when it came time to come up with a name for this project, that's what they decided on. None of the other band members knew!
How would you describe your sound?
They describe themselves as alternative rock with pop characteristics. It's very high energy. (I'll talk about that later on in my take on their performance!)
Who are your influences?
They all chimed in here with names of different modern indie artists: Coldplay, The 1975, Kings of Leon, as well as bands like U2 and Incubus.
What makes you different from other local bands?
They answered this question based on both Rochester and Eastern NY (they're from Saratoga Springs)... In Eastern NY, it's different because it's catchy and has radio appeal. There's high quality songwriting going on and they have a ton of energy. They also write about their feelings, which Alex says is enough to make any band different since everyone has their own story.
What's coming up for you guys?
They have some new songs and they're starting to think about what's coming next. Their hope is to start expanding where they do shows. You can check them out coming up in NY:
January 23- Bug Jar, Rochester
February 14- Funk 'n Waffles, Syracuse
Are any of you involved in other projects?
Roy is involved with a band called My Plastic Sun!
LOCAL SCENE
How would you describe the local scene?
They answered this question based on both Rochester and Eastern NY... In Albany, there's a lot of jam bands and punk, so they stick out a bit in their hometown. In Rochester, the scene is eclectic and competitive, but there's a lot of opportunity. It's also interesting to have the Eastman School of Music in the mix.
What are some of the cons of being where you are in the scene?
The biggest thing the guys came up with was the fact that it's harder to get noticed by labels being in a smaller city.
INDUSTRY
How do you guys pay for things like studio time, practice space and other marketing expenses?
The guys say they really just pool their money together and use the money from playing shows to cover their expenses. They say you really just have to make it work if it's a priority.
What would you look for in someone to hire for management/merch?
They all agreed on four core attributes: Loyalty, trust, dependability and they want someone who can have fun!
How has new technology affected you experience as a band? Has it helped or hurt you?
For these guys, new technology has only been a positive influence. Since they're relatively new, social media has really helped them get their name out there (it's how I found them!).
Do you have any other advice?
"Basically have a good product and be persistent." Roy also chimed in with this advice: take weekday shows to start out with. Just get people to show up!
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The Show
If I wasn't already a huge fan of these guys, their performance would have completely sold me. Not only was the entire performance great, with high energy, each member really brought something major to it. Jake's vocals were so powerful, and his voice is very versatile. He jumps around his register effortlessly. Johnny's guitar solos were absolutely amazing and Roy has some serious skills on the drums. Alex's vocals on 'Pages' and 'Change your Mind' were really, really impressive as well. Overall, they had a very easygoing stage presence in a way you don't see very often. They write and perform at a much higher caliber than comparable bands, plus they have great chemistry.... they had everyone in the audience immediately hooked. If you're looking to compare them to mainstream bands, I'd compare them to Kings of Leon, or my friend suggested Smashing Pumpkins. I think my favorite thing about their songs is that the lyrics are really good but the music doesn't lack for it, and that is a hard balance to strike, but they nail it. Their new songs are really promising, so I cant wait to see what's coming up for them. My top three favorites live: 'Sell', 'Pages' and a really cool cover that's a mixture of a whole bunch of songs (including Ed Sheeran, so I was excited). So, in closing, definitely check them out live if you get a chance!
**Huge thanks to Better By Morning both for sitting down with me and being patient with the posting of this interview (this month's interviews were all done WAY in advance). I'm really looking forward to checking out more of your shows!
Find them online here:
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