FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH MATT BAIR OF BANDCAMP
2. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This Week at The Stone Pony: Leon Russell (Friday), Black 47 (Saturday), bandcamp (Sunday)
New on the Stone Pony Calendar: Hardstyle Matinee (February 29), Dirty Wednesday with the Dirty Water Dogs (March 3), Bill Chinnock (March 13), Indigenous (March 27)
BANDCAMP PLAYS FOR THE WORLD FROM THEIR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Stone Pony favorites and Long Island natives bandcamp return to Ocean Avenue headlining a special all-ages afternoon show on Sunday, February 22nd. Adding a special element to this event is that the band's set will be showcased in a worldwide live Internet broadcast presented by WNR WetNoseRadio.com.
Fronted by talented songwriter, singer and guitarist Matt Bair, the band is currently supporting their debut self-titled CD filled with pop/punk/rock sounds that should continue the band's success and critical acclaim that they've earned over the past few years.
The Newsletter interviewed Bair about the upcoming show and some of the support, both around their local scene and down here in Asbury Park, that's helped them to reach this point.
The Stone Pony: Your gig at the Pony on February 22 is going be a live worldwide Internet broadcast over WNR Wet Nose Radio. How did bandcamp hook up with WNR and what do fans need to know if they can’t make it to the club that evening and watch to catch the show online?
Matt Bair: We played the Stone Pony a couple of times in the past year. The first time, we met Pete Walton who is the webmaster for the Stone Pony website. He works for WNR and is a huge supporter of us. He started spinning our record and we got an amazing response from the US and Canada. People who can't make it out to the club can go to our website, bandcampmusic.com, for the info and the link to the show.
The Stone Pony: This gig won’t be your first on the Pony stage, as you performed an industry showcase here a while back. How did your last show at the club go for the band, and did the showcase lead for any leads or opportunities for the band to follow?
MB: The show went great. We played the Warped Tour after party and it was an awesome opportunity to reach the Warped Tour crowd. The Pony staff has been super supportive from day one; we always look and sound great there.
Being able to add the legendary club to our bio increases our credibility while being visible from their site helped and will continue to help us follow up new opportunities. When they heard we were looking for a spot to webcast from to reach the new fans our Internet and magazine exposure had given us, they said "let us help." (Thanks to Pete & Kyle.)
A better "home away from home"? No way!
The Stone Pony: You’ve actually done a lot of different music conferences and showcases, both in this area and further north and west. How does the band usually approach an opportunity to perform in front of industry types, and are there things that you try and do differently to try to catch their attention?
MB: Whether we're playing in front of the industry or in front of our fans, we put on the same show. We always have to play as best as we can. There are no shows that are more important than others to us. Every show is another opportunity to gain new fans.
The Stone Pony: Your debut self-titled CD became available recently. When and where was the CD recorded, and who was involved with its production? Has the disc gotten airplay anywhere, and what has the band been doing to try to promote it?
MB: The CD was actually recorded in our house with producer Tomas Costanza of the band Diffuser (Hollywood Records). WLIR, WBAB and a lot of college stations have been great supporters of the band and have played a bunch of songs off the CD. We've been successful on internet radio as well picking up fans all over, thanks to WNR!
Our "live" shows promote it and our website sells it. For the month of February, if you visit bandcampmusic.com, we will let you download "Valentine" from the CD for FREE!
The Stone Pony: One press clipping about the band mentions “major label interest.” Can you talk about where the band stands in terms of getting signed, and how things are going along in that process? Do you enjoy being part of the business part of music, or are you more comfortable leaving those aspects to others to handle for you?
MB: We've had interest from a few different labels. Right now we're focused on building the following, more fans ... but keeping the industry's interest, strong shows and support. When the right label/team/deal comes along, we'll be ready.
It's cool to see what goes on in the industry, but in general it's nice to just concentrate on the music.
The Stone Pony: The record is available in several records stores in Long Island, New York, which is your home base. Talk about your local scene a little bit; which clubs or venues around there have been most supportive of the band, and what sort of atmosphere exists for original acts looking to build a following and develop their careers?
MB: The Long Island/NYC scene is pretty cool. The Downtown on Long Island and CBGB's and Arlene Grocery in NYC have all been especially great to us. They have supported the band with all-ages shows, print ads helping to get our name out, adding us as support to headliners to build our fan base. We lost the Vanderbilt (closed), still have the Village Pubs and Palmer's and the Tri-State Sound show on the Box (107.1 FM) with Harlan Friedman, airplay for the locals.
There is definitely a fan base for the original scene and they are very supportive. Even the bands are very supportive of each other, working on shows together to help build each other's followings.
The Stone Pony: Your bio mentions something about a performance DVD being in the works. Is this project still in progress and what can you tell us about what the disc will include and when fans will be able to get their hands on it?
MB: The DVD is still in the beginning stages; got sidetracked working on a video. It's going to have a lot of footage from shows and some other extra surprises and might be available this summer.
The Stone Pony: You recently signed a deal with EMI Music Publishing. Do you see yourself primarily as a songwriter, and would you ever have interest in having other performers use your songs? Do you feel that the strength of the writing is going to be a major factor in bandcamp’s success?
MB: We've agreed to the terms of the deal with EMI, but haven't signed with them just yet. EMI will give me, among other things, the opportunity to have other performers use my songs and I think that's a great thing. I write a lot. Not every song turns out to be a "bandcamp" song. Sometimes I have songs I just don't know what to do with, so it'd be nice to have someone else put them to good use.
I definitely think the writing will be a major factor in bandcamp's success, but I also feel the musicianship, attitude and drive of the band will contribute greatly.
The Stone Pony: Give us a little insight into your songwriting process. Do you tend to write a lot, filling up notebooks with idea, and use the best bits for lyrics, or do you tend to sit down and work on a song from beginning to end until it’s done? Are you the type that gets inspired by something and have to sit and write about it, or are ideas for new songs constantly coming to you?
MB: I really don't have a particular way of writing. It all depends on where I am at the time. Usually, I work on songs from beginning to end; but sometimes I'll just have a line or two I keep or a melody that sticks with me for a while. When I'm not inspired, I still have lots of ideas for new songs and when I am inspired, I have even more ideas.
The Stone Pony: What’s the primary goal for the band over the next several months? What are the short-term accomplishments that you’re working on now, and where would you like to be by the end of 2004?
MB: The next couple of months will be spent playing more shows, including the Skate and Surf Festival in Asbury Park. We are editing what we hope will be our video for "Celebrity," mixing two new songs and working on a possible spring tour.
By the end of 2004, I will be more than satisfied if we have gained more fans and more attention from everyone everywhere.
The official bandcamp website can be found at www.bandcampmusic.com.
Now at AsburyPark.net:
Guitar legend sets shows in city: Johnny Cash's
legendary songs will again come to life in Asbury Park with the help of Bob
Wootton, Cash's guitar player for 30 years. Wootton will be performing a
tribute to his longtime friend and band mate Cash over two nights, Fri.,
Feb. 20 and Sat., Feb. 21 at Oddfellows Lodge on Cookman Avenue.
Thursdays at the Stone Pony: Ladies Night
The hottest Thursday night continues with Ladies Night
at The Stone Pony. Music by DJ Prime spinning the best in house, hip
hop, reggae and trance, 18 to enter, 21 to drink, ID a must! Doors
open at 9:30 pm, dress to impress! 25 cent Budweiser drafts 'till 11
pm, $1 drafts after 11, $2 shot specials all night. Comes see for
yourself why Thursday nights are the hottest with Ladies Night at the Pony!
