Conditions Interview

This is the interview I carried out via email with Alex Howard from the band Conditions. It has been up at www.bandidge.com for about a week. Enjoy.

Conditions recently impressed a string of sold-out UK crowds opening for two of the biggest names in pop-rock New Found Glory and Paramore. Now the rising US rock band have caught up with Bandidge via the wonders of technology a matter of days after celebrating the release of Conditions debut E.P.. Alex Howard, one of the bands guitarists, gave us his thoughts on the Riot tour and explained why Bandidge readers should watch out for Conditions. 

Was opening for New Found Glory and Paramore on their UK tour a daunting experience for you?

”It wasn't really daunting in any way, we were all so freaking excited like little kids to get the opportunity to be with both of those bands. Paramore have become great friends of ours and have helped us out so much.

   “I've been listening to New Found Glory since I was like 12 years old, so to get the opportunity to get to know them, share my music with them, and even get to play a song in their set with them was more than I could ever ask for. That band has influenced me from such a young age that it was truly amazing to share the stage with them.”

 

How much did the praise given to you by both bands during the tour mean to you?

“It meant SO much! Paramore is just an all around amazing band. Their live show is flawless and they're such a tight unit, so having them compliment our live show meant a lot. New Found Glory is the most fun band I have ever seen live. I watched their set literally every night and it put me in such a good mood every time. They know how to put on a show, so their kind words definitely meant a lot.”

 

Do you feel you got a good response from the UK crowds and if so has it increased your desire to do your own international tours in the future?

“The UK crowds were absolutely amazing to us! We all felt like we had such a good response, and it was so relieving because support bands don't always get a lot of love, but we honestly can't think of any nights on the tour that the crowd wasn't great to us. We would absolutely love to come back soon whether it be on our own or with another great tour like this past one.”

 

Has there been any interest in signing you by any major record labels yet?

“There have been some talks with a wide variety of labels, but just that so far, only talks.”

 

Your debut EP will be released shortly, what was the recording process for that like?

“We actually recorded the EP in 2 separate sessions in 2007, and both times were great. It was produced by Paul Leavitt (Senses Fail, The Bled) in Baltimore, MD, and we totally connected with Paul right off the bat. He is great at what he does and made the process easy and a lot of fun.”

 

How would you best describe the Conditions sound and what are your main influences?

“As many artists we absolutely hate trying to pinpoint our "sound," but I guess we would respond with minor key, catchy rock. We have a wide array of influences amongst all the band members, but some big ones for all of us would be Thrice and Radiohead, which may or may not come across in our music. We just write music that is energetic and we would love to hear.”

 

If you had to suggest one of your songs to try and win over new fans which would you choose and why?

“Most of the time we show new listeners "Keeping Pace With Planes." It's a pretty good summary of how we are because it's got its heavy parts but also has some pretty catchy lines and chorus.”

 

When you played in Leicester your live performance and stage presence seemed very well developed how long have you been playing together as a band?

“We have been playing together for just over a year. We have totally hit it off together since the beginning, and the fact that 3 of our 5 guys have been playing together since high school.”

 

You were all smartly attired on stage, is style something that is important to your band?

“Style does make a difference to us in some ways. Different bands have their different "looks," and some people may call us pretty boys or whatever they'd like, but we just like to take care of the way we look. People that come out to a show and see us for the first time will definitely judge us on the way we look, and we hope the way we look doesn't make them want to turn the other way, haha.”

 

Do you have any particular goals or things you want to achieve within the next year?

“We would love to tour as much as possible throughout the whole year, as well as team up with a great label to take us to the next level.”

 

Will any new fans you have made outside the US be able to get their hands on your new EP?

“Our EP will become available through online retailers like iTunes, Smartpunk, and Interpunk in late March, so they should be able to order it from there.”

With a tight live show and some impressive songs at their disposal should their debut get the attention it deserves from labels and music fans Conditions are a band that could go places very quickly indeed. Being able to name check the likes of Hayley Williams and Jordan Pundik as friends shouldn’t do any harm either. Keep an eye on these boys they could be huge.

Lincoln Live Scene post 1

This is my first blog post for Lincoln Live Scene a new online guide to local Lincoln bands which I am developing along with a group of journalism students. Two weeks ago (Friday 22nd of February to be precise) I attended the Bivouac gig night at the Duke of Wellington Pub, Lincoln. This was actually the second time I had been to the night but the week before's event featured only one halfway decent metal band playing to a small largely un-responsive and un-interested crowd whom it seemed were there simply beacuse they were the family of the headline indie act who as it turned out were awful. So awful in fact that they failed to notice that the PA wasn't working until halfway through their first song. Should anybody feel inclined to find out more the indie band were called Esteem. I'm told the metal band were called def-nation. However it was a case of second time lucky as the 22nd saw two rather good and two rather less good bands playing to a larger and conisderably more inspired crowd. The band of the night were without doubt Drive By Theory whose blend of indie and pop punk rock was well recieved by the crowd. Set highlights were the songs 'Paris' and 'Fistfights in the front room'. I am due to be meeting the band for a chat in a few weeks so keep an eye out for that as DBT are definitely a band to watch. The band before, 'This Day Remains' from Grantham, were pretty impresive too. They were another pop-rock band and their singer had a lot of charisma and stage presence for such a young band. The band also gave out free copies of their E.P at the end of their set. To find out more about the Bivouac night and the bands mentioned above see the full reviews on the Lincoln Live Scene website when it is up and running.