Great music, nice people and a lot of screaming girls – oh, and a few guys too — flooded the Backbooth last Sunday for an amazing show.
Various different bands joined together to put on Backbooth’s “A Summer to Remember” tour.
This tour featured up-and-coming artists as well as some that have been favorites for quite some time.
Performances were done by Tyler Brown Williams, Stephen Jerzak, The Ready Set, The Color Fred, and The Scene Aesthetic (in that order).
The show was open to fans of all ages for a very small price, and it was definitely worth it. The place was practically full and merchandise sales did not stop throughout the night.
I was able to talk to most of the artists and ask them a few questions about their careers and the tour. Here’s what they had to say:
Interview with Tyler Brown Williams
Catalina: When did you first get involved with music?
Tyler: I started playing bass when I was in 6th grade and I actually started writing my own music about a year ago.
C: So you’ve been playing for a while. How does it feel to be on your first tour?
T: It’s weird. I mean it’s scary, my first show was in Buffalo and it was a good first show but I was still very nervous.
C: I can imagine. So tell me about your newest song, Piece It All Together.
T: It’s about putting your faith in God and giving Him credit for all the good things that happen.
C: That sounds great! And what are your plans after this tour?
T: I’ll be working with my producers and I’ll start touring again in December.
Interview with Stephen Jerzak
Catalina: What can you tell me about your newest EP?
Stephen: I can’t really tell you anything about it except that it’s being done in California by Ian Kirkpatrick and that it will be the fucking coolest!
C: Haha alright. And how’s the rest of the tour been?
S: Well North Carolina blew, no one showed up. But Connecticut was great, we had about 450 people.
C: That’s great! So have you enjoyed touring with the other bands?
S: We’ve had our agreements and disagreements but in the end I see them like my older brothers. I’m also the youngest one so they pick on me a lot; I’m the easiest target.
C: And what about actually working with them? How’s that been?
S: It’s a dream come true. I’ve looked up to them so it’s incredible to be sharing a stage with them.
Interview with Jordan Witzigreuter from The Ready Set
Catalina: So you’ve been part of different bands before, how does it feel to go solo?
Jordan: I love it. I have complete creative control.
C: Yeah and your music is very unique, how do you describe it?
J: Well I think it’s basically pop, but there’s a lot of electronic influence.
C: Do you play any instruments?
J: I play bass, keyboards, and I’ve been playing drums since I was 11.
C: Oh wow. What do you like to do the most?
J: I like singing the most. I used to play the drums with my other band and I would always be in the back, it was time to move up.
C: So what are your plans after this tour?
J: Well I’ll still be touring for a while; I’m actually coming back to The Backbooth on October 7. And I’m also recording more songs for my next full-length.
Interview with Fred Mascherino from The Color Fred
Catalina: Tell me about your first full-length solo album, Bend to Break.
Fred: It started out as a side project and then it became the main thing. All my focus went into it.
C: And what’s your career been like since you left Taking Back Sunday?
F: I’ve been a lot happier. I finally get to decide what to do without having to consult with anyone. I’m really doing it for the music and I love it.
C: Would you consider getting back with the band or touring with them?
F: Right now that’s not much of an option since we’re not talking, but I’m open to anything in the future.
C: And you were used to really big shows with TBS, what’s it like doing small gigs again?
F: Well the crowds are smaller but it’s all about having people there who like the music. This is a younger crowd than what I’m used to but the fans are great. And the tour itself has been one of the best because it’s rarely ever serious and it’s completely stress-free.
C: I’m glad you’re enjoying it as much as we are! So what can you tell me about the latest album you’ve been working on?
F: It’s a concept record about my experiences growing up. It’s more of a dark story and it’s very different from anything I’ve ever done.
C: Sounds intriguing! I also know that you’re a big supporter of the Go Green movement, what are you doing to contribute to the cause?
F: I use green packaging for my CDs and I buy carbon offsets. The best thing we can do is spread the word and do everything we can to clean up our act.
Interview with Andrew de Torres from The Scene Aesthetic
Catalina: I know your most popular song is Beauty in the Breakdown. What was the inspiration for this song?
Andrew: It’s about growing up, living your life, and learning from experience.
C: And what can you tell me about your newest EP, A Type and a Shadow?
A: It was kind of foreshadowing our music because three of the songs were written first and after two years we wrote the other three once Eric and I were working together again. It gave us a lot to talk about and we utilized that to our advantage.
C: So I heard you’re working on a compilation of B-sides to be titled Play, Stop, Rewind, Repeat. What can you tell me about that?
A: It’s actually now going to be called Taboo Shadow and it’s a remix EP of some of our songs.
C: Can’t wait to hear it! So what’s it like touring with all the other bands?
A: It’s been great. Everybody is really cool and really nice, and we’ve had some great fans.
