Ampers&

A Rock Band based in Bloomington, Indiana. (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-39570840-1', 'ampersandbtown.com'); ga('send', 'pageview');

[ampersandbtown]

Meet the Band: Pavan Rajam

In the last of our 5-part interview series, guitarist Pavan Rajam ponders how he met the other members, his history with guitars, and his thoughts on cultivating taste. 

Hi Pavan, how's it going? It's spring time, the weather is getting nicer, and I'm taking three music appreciation classes. If "it" isn't going well, something is wrong with either me or the universe. Life is good. 

Tell the fans a bit about yourself.

I'm currently a student at IU, at the Kelley School of Business, pursuing a degree in Finance. I am originally from Maryland. In my free time, I play guitar and occasionally write about technology and other subjects on my blog "the rajam report".

How long have you been playing guitar?

I've been playing the public saxophone for about 7 years. I bought my first public saxophone, the red Fender Stratocaster you'll see Ryan playing at our shows, back in 2006. Before that I played electric bass, double bass, violin, and the piano (like everyone else).

(Do I have to explain what a "public saxophone" is?)

I've also been building and tinkering with guitars since 2009, when I built an Eddie Van Halen style guitar for my physics teacher as a going away present. I striped up it up in our high school colors. Later that summer, I built another guitar for myself, and made it black with red and white stripes. When I came to IU in the fall of 2009, I also made made a hoodie, t-shirt, and shoes to match the guitar. In hindsight, that was definitely not as tasteful as I thought at the time. Please don't use that as my photo for this profile. Seriously, don't do it. 

[We totally used that picture. It's just too embarrassing and crazy not to.

-the Editor]

Who are your musical influences?

The most obvious ones are Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and David Gilmour. You can hear those three for sure. I'm a loud electric guitar player. There's also elements of The Edge of U2 in there as well. It's has taken a lot of studying and practicing these guys techniques and obsessing over their sounds. 

How did you meet the other band members?

I met Ryan for a series of aborted band projects back in the fall of 2011. We decided that we got along pretty well and stuck together through various (failed) projects for the last 18 months. I'd pretty much given up on my dream of playing at the Bluebird until I was up at 2AM on a Monday, and saw Kristofor' post on OneStart looking to start a band. After some late night/early morning emails, we decided to meet up. Ryan and I went over, and the initial session went well. Kris ended up brining in Quinten and Sarah to round out the lineup. We really lucked out. 

It's really amazing to me how this band came together. I'm not a big believer in the notion of "fate", but the pure serendipity of how I met Kristofor really makes me reconsider that. I went to bed at 11:00PM that night, and I randomly woke up around 1:45AM and decided to hop on my Mac and find some interesting articles to read. I randomly decided to peruse the classifieds around 1:55AM and saw Kristofor's ad. I drafted and sent him an email at 2:03AM. Five minutes later, at 2:08AM, I got a response from Kristofor, and the rest is history. It just seems too good to be true. 

And yes… I have a very obsessive, detail focused personality, if the "down-to-the" minute times didn't give that away. 

What are your thoughts on the other band members?

We've got some really great people in this band. We have this amazing singer and frontwoman in Sarah. She has the right personality and presence to be fronting songs, and it's going to be great having some like that on the mic and on the stage. She keeps moving and grooving to the music, and the audience is going to love her. 

Ryan is a great guitarist and a frontman in his own right. Ryan and I have been working at this for a long time now, and we've been dying to get on stage and have some fun. I think that should be fairly obvious on some of the songs we play. He has a great sense of humor, and he'll have plenty of opportunities to tap into that during the show.

Kristofor is just an astounding bass player. He plays the bass with relentless enthusiasm, and its fun to just watch him get into it. His personality really comes through his playing. Kris has become a great friend of mine over these last few months. We mesh very well as people and I'm looking forward to going crazy with him on the stage. 

Quinten is one of the most solid drummers I've ever played with. I bet he has a metronome instead of a pulse, that's how good he is. He is also just a really cool dude. He and Kris have been playing music together for years, and it shows. The rhythm section really benefits from their musical telepathy and their friendship. 

What makes this band different?

Everyone in this band has talent. There's no question there. I think what sets us apart is our taste, and its rare for vision and the ability to execute converge in the way it has with us. Taste isn't something that you can just hammer away at, like studying for an exam, and it isn't as instinctual as people make it seem. It comes from years of exposure and exploration of the world around you. It is cultivated by remaining relentlessly curious.  It comes from trying new things and learning what works and what doesn't. You have to have an open mind, and be honest enough to admit that you are sometimes wrong. In a band, it means you have to check your ego at the door, and focus on the larger picture, which is the song and the show. 

That is the sensibility that informs everything about this band, from our setlist, to how we present ourselves on stage, to the website you are reading this on. We consider every detail, and work it out until we figure out what makes it the best it can possibly be.  

Of course... there is the possibility that everything I just said here is complete rubbish. I like to pretend that it's not. 

Are you excited about the first show?

Absolutely. The Bluebird is hallowed ground to me, and I know the others feel the same. It's an absolute privilege to play there. It means a lot to me. 

We are really focused on putting on the best show possible. You're going to see us move a lot on the stage and really interact with each other and the audience. They paid money and came to see a show. If they just wanted to listen to music, they could just stay at home and listen to their iTunes library. Or they could go to Kilroys on Kirkwood and sing along to the studio version "Sweet Caroline" for the millionth time. I like to think people would rather sing along with a band that is having as much fun as they are.

Are you nervous?

Here's what always happens: You feel a little anxious before the show. Then you get on stage and it melts away. I've played shitty gigs where the power went out midway through a guitar solo and by the middle of the set, they were packing up the chairs. Once you've played something like that, you don't get super paranoid about shows anymore. Am I concerned about the details, and meeting my personal standards? Absolutely, but that doesn't mean I'm nervous about the show.  

What is your favorite song to play?

That's a tough one. I will say that the riff on Superstition is fun to play, so it's probably that's one.

Thanks for your time Pavan! Ampers& will play its first show at The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, April 11th at 10PM. Cover is $5. The Bluebird will be running its $1 Pints/Wells promotion that night. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more Ampers& news.

[ampersandbtown]

Do you like guacamole? If so, chunky or smooth?

Sarah: "No. I don't like mushy foods...except bananas"

Kristofor: "No. It looks gross. It probably tastes gross. And if you eat it.. I'm judging you."

Ryan:  "Chunky for sure.. Smooth out those avocados but leave them tomatoes and onions chunky! Don't forget my secret ingredient: Tabasco - Chipotle Hot Sauce."

Pavan: "Good guacamole (to me) is characterized by the right blend of avocados, jalepiños, onions, and cilantro. Too much garlic can really ruin it. I tend to prefer smooth guacamole. I feel like tomatoes have no business being in guacamole."   

Quinten: "Haha, yes. Chunky."

It looks guacamole just barely gets the thumbs up from us. That being said, please don't bring guacamole to shows. None of us like it THAT much.   

[ampersandbtown]

Meet the Band: Sarah Maxson

Number four in our five part interview series with the members of Ampers&. In this installment, vocalist Sarah Maxson talks about being a D1 athlete, group chemistry, and how she joined the band.

Hi Sarah, how’s it going? Hello world! It’s going well. I am extremely busy this time of year because of my hectic track/social/academic/band schedules! (Wow sometimes I amaze myself that I’m not going insane everyday).

But I can’t complain, I’m very blessed to have been given so many gifts and I’m even more blessed that I am able to use them everyday!

Tell the fans a bit about yourself. Well for starters I’m a sophomore here at IU with a double major of Communication & Culture and Psychology! I love my majors but I never saw myself as a double major kind of girl when I came to college.

I am a D1 athlete (who is better than Kris…he thinks that he can beat me but you all know he has no chance against someone who trains 30+ hours a week. :p) I am a high jumper for IU Track and Field and I love every minute of it…except when I have to run repeat 300M’s…those just plain suck.

I am an only child and I was adopted! So my life has been full of adventures but everyone has taught me something about myself that has shaped me to be the person who I am today. I currently live in Greenville, SC where my loving parents and Bichon named Cassie Marie, are enjoying retirement (and much warmer weather…).

How long have you been singing? I have been singing my whole life. I used to be trained in classical styles. But as my athletic career became more and more prevalent I had to stop singing lessons and became a casual singer but still participated in school plays, choirs and still did larger productions in my city. I’m also quite the actress…so watch out!!

Who are your musical influences? I am a fan of Adele and Kelly Clarkson. I find that I am most definitely an alto so Adele’s songs sound good with my register. Also I am a fan of The Fray. I really enjoy songs that speak to the audience and have a clear message. It makes the artist seem more real and less in the limelight. When I perform I try to bring my emotion the song.

How did you meet the other band members? I met Kris through New Student Orientation last summer where he was my “boss”. I saw him more as a friend than a boss, though he was still very effective in his position.

I met Pavan and Ryan on a Friday night after being asked by Kris on a Thursday at 11pm if I wanted to sing in a band. Out of the blue he calls and says “I’ve got a group of super talented musicians who needs a singer. Would you be interested?” I obviously said yes, and the next day I met with Pavan and Ryan to work on the set list and the rest is History.

I met Quinten or QT at our first practice as a group in Kris’s freezing cold basement. And he said “I’m so jacked that you’re here, I’m jacked to have a female lead.” Thanks QT.

What are your thoughts on the other band members? I think that the guys are great. It’s really nice to have such an awesome group of musicians to back you. It makes my job MUCH easier.

What makes this band different? I think that because everyone is so talented, we are able to be a very versatile group and add our own flavor to popular songs. We also have very good group chemistry, which makes us a great band for live shows.

Are you excited about the first show? I am very excited for the first show. Performing is something that I was meant to do. My whole life I’ve loved being on stage and in front of an audience. So I can’t wait till the lights are up!

Are you nervous? Nervous isn’t in my vocabulary.

What is your favorite song to play? I really love “We Found Love” because Rihanna songs are a lot of fun to perform and as a singer you can really get into them.

Thanks for your time Sarah! Ampers& will play its first show at The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, April 11th at 10PM. Cover is $5. The Bluebird will be running its $1 Pints/Wells promotion that night. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more Ampers& news.

[ampersandbtown]

Meet the Band: Ryan Parker

The third in our five part interview series with the members of Ampers&. Today, singer and guitarist Ryan Parker shares his musical history, and thoughts about the band dynamic. 

Hi Ryan, how's it going?  I’m doing great, I’m always doing great. Great things happen when you’re doing great that’s what I say. I’m actually answering this in class, I do that sometimes. Do what you ask? I don’t know… things. Multitask. Just whatever happens, happens. I’m not really saying anything at this point… so I’ll move on now. 

Tell the fans a bit about yourself. About myself? Well that could be a long answer couldn’t it. I like to do fun things. Music is cool. Sports are cool. Combine them at any point and it’s the coolest. I love ice cream. Any kind, at any point in the day…or multiple points (I could eat it all day). I got an Xbox for Xmas last year (see what I did there???), and I play that a lot. It’s fun. 

But fo real, I’m a sophomore now, going for a Biznazz degree with some music and Spanish side gig stuff. Some people say I’m kind of crazy, and I agree. But I can be civil…. sometimes. I used to play football at IU. I walked on as a freshman. It was awesome, and super difficult at the same time. I respect NCAA student athletes like 10000000 times more now. I think that’s it. P.s. some people confuse me for Cody Zeller, so I give em an autograph…

How long have you been singing and playing guitar?  Well I came out of the womb playing instruments. Mainly pots and pans. Then I got a drumset. I broke it. So I bought a better one. Then I tried to learn piano. Fast forward a couple years. I start playing guitar. Then a little bit after that, I start singing. Rewind some from there and I’m playing French Horn in Junior High. Fast forward some more and I buy a couple guitars. Fast forward again to High School, and I’m trying to sing and play guitar. Now…I play music. 

Who are your musical influences?  I’ve never been able to pinpoint that.  I grew up listening to what my family did. Mainly in the broad category of “Rock”. Rush, Foo Fighters, Billy Joel, Queen, Dave Matthews, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kings of Leon, John Mayer, Guns n Roses, The Police, “four to the floor bands” (that’s from my sister) even down to some local Chicago bands like Stellar Road or 3 in Counting. At any point in my playing, you can here different influences from any of these bands. 

How did you meet the other band members?  I don’t know. I stumbled upon Pavan simply by happenstance. We jammed. He’s good. We didn’t hate each other. We tried joining/starting some bands for a couple years. Nothing really worked out. We got sad. Then we met Kris. He’s awesome, and he already knew QT and Sarah. We’re all kind of crazy. And now we all know each other.

What are your thoughts on the other band members?  Lets see, the first time I played with Pavan, I literally had to hide from fear of awesomeness. He makes sounds with his guitars that don’t come from guitars. I will never understand what deal he made with the devil. I should probably do it to so I can be that good. 

Kris is cool. He gets to go to every basketball game practically so he can play bass in the bball band. I’m jealous. I wish I was good at bass so we could have bass duels at basketball games, even though I’d lose

Quentin plays drums. I used to play drums so I like him. I wish he went to IU though =(. He liked all of the band names that I suggested so clearly we think identically. Sarah has the perfect amount of blues and emotion in her voice. I love it. I can’t wait to give her a tambourine. She jumps for the track team. I wonder if she could jump over me?

What makes this band different?  We bring such a raw, emotional, heavy rock feel to this town that I haven’t seen yet. It’s not like we all got together and just wanted to impress people. We all are proficient at our respective instruments and are gonna bring it all when we put on a show.

Are you excited about the first show?  Sooo excited! I haven’t played on stage in a year and a half. I’m itching to get back up there and put on a show. Some huge names have gone through the Bluebird. The thought that I could be on that stage is unreal!!!!!

Are you nervous?  Nah. How can you be nervous doing something you love? Well. Maybe you can. I don’t know if I’m nervous now. Should I be?! Uh ooo, I’m nervous about not being nervous! I just want to have fun!! Ahhhhhh

What is your favorite song to play?  Phew, that’s tough. If I could say all of them I would. If I’m playing guitar, I think its "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer. That song kills! If I’m singing, Foxy Lady. Queue bunny ears Garth.

Thanks for your time Ryan!  No problem. You got it dude. Of course. Anytime. Thank you! See ya at our show! Great interview! 

Ampers& will play its first show at The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, April 11th at 10PM. Cover is $5. The Bluebird will be running its $1 Pints/Wells promotion that night. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more Ampers& news.

[ampersandbtown]

Meet the Band: Quinten Tritle

The second in our five part interview series with the members of Ampers&. Today, drummer Quinten Tritle talks about his favorite drummer, his musical history, and his influences.

Hi Quinten, how's it going? It's going great! Wanting it to warm up some, but can't complain.

Tell the fans a bit about yourself. A bit about myself? Hmm... Well, i'm 22, into cars, trucks, anything with an engine, and most importantly drums. Everything i do, it involves music. I can't sit in silence, I need some good jams to rock out to. I currently work in Indianapolis at a Toyota dealership and live just north of downtown. Some say i'm a country boy at heart. I grew up in the country and my grandparents own a farm in southern Indiana which i worked on quite a bit, so, even though I don't think so, i guess i'm a hick. A little thick around the middle, but hey, there's just more there to love. Oh, I love xbox. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Am i rambling?? I feel like i'm rambling...

How long have you been playing drums? Oh wow, umm, since about 5th grade probably, so most of my life. I started taking drum lessons before 6th grade. I loved it. I was hooked right away. I remember going into the try outs for middle school band. I tried every instrument, and was TERRIBLE at each one. I told them i was taking drum lessons, and that's where I ended up. Did the xylophone thing, snare drum, all that stuff, but the set is what I truly loved.

Who are your musical influences? Influences. Good question. Honestly, and i know a ton of people say this, but i find inspiration in any type of music. I like rock, alternative rock, pop, and big band specifically, but i will listen to almost anything and find cool licks and sounds i've never thought of using. Dom Howard from MUSE is probably my favorite drummer. His playing is pretty straight forward, but he is so precise. He also does what the music NEEDS, not what he wants to do. That's what i believe in the most. Playing TO the music, not over it. RHCP, Killswitch Engage, MUSE, Dead Sara, The Killers, Panic! At the Disco, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, the list goes on...

How did you meet the other band members? Kristofor and i have been close friends since grade school. At first we didn't see eye to eye, but knew OF each other through other friends. When we were put together in middle school jazz band, everything changed. He was an awesome bass player and we meshed instantly. We've been partners in crime ever since. I was introduced to Pavan and Ryan through Kris when we started this rodeo. Two super cool guys. As for Sarah, we had a lead singer, but it didn't work out. Kris said he knew a girl who was confident and had a great voice. We practiced with her and we knew she was it.

What are your thoughts on the other band members?

Kristofor: If you've ever been in a band, you know the drummer and the bassist HAVE to be in sync. Trust me, we've got no problems there. We can look at each other and know what we're thinking before we do it. He's the best bassist i've ever played with, and he knows his shit. 

Pavan: This kid went to the crossroads... I swear he did. I was told this guy is sick on the guitar. Everyone says that. I thought, eh, whatever. I was wrong. We did a jam session when we first started, and he blew me away. Hands down, the best guitarist in B-town. Sometimes I lose track of what i'm doing because i'm watching him shred. No mercy. It's awesome. Just wait, you'll see.

Ryan: Super cool, funny, awesome dude. The perfect frontman. He's a jack of all trades. Knows drums, guitar, bass, keys, etc. THAT comes in handy and makes the overall sound that much better. Super important in the group. He has a no fear attitude, which is perfect for crowd interaction.

Sarah: Very cool girl. When we practiced for the first time, she jumped right in and rocked out. It was awesome. I love lead singers that move around and get into the music. It makes it that much more fun to get up there and do what we love to do. She is a key part to our group.

What makes this band different? I think Kris said it pretty well. We aren't just a band that was thrown together in a garage and went into it blind. We've played before, we've done shows, and we know what the crowd wants and enjoys. Come out and see us and we'll prove that.

Are you excited about the first show? Oh for sure. I used to do shows a lot, but school and work kinda got in the way. I'm excited to play again and put on an awesome show.

Are you nervous? No. If I am, i'll just get drunk. Just kidding... maybe.

What is your favorite song to play? Superstition. That song has groove. You just get sucked into it.

Thanks for your time Quinten! Ampers& will play its first show at The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, April 11th at 10PM. Cover is $5. The Bluebird will be running its $1 Pints/Wells promotion that night. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more Ampers& news.

[ampersandbtown]

Meet the Band: Kristofor Meek

The first in our five part interview series with the members of Ampers&. Today, bassist Kristofor Meek chats about his background, his thoughts on the rest of the band, and his history with drummer Quinten Tritle.

Hi Kristofor, how's it going? #honestyhour… It’s going pretty well, I can’t complain. Actually, I can… where the hell is spring? That damn groundhog( or gopher??) is a liar!! I need this whole spring thing to happen asap.

Also, I think I lost a shoe.. I was packing my bag for D.C. earlier and it has went AWOL.

Tell the fans a bit about yourself. Umm? I’m a dude, and I like music… and food… Nike socks..  Indiana Basketball… and long naps in my bed. I am addicted to Netflix, Baha Blast, and my Xbox.

On a more serious note, I will graduate this coming May with my Bachelor’s in Psychology from Indiana University.  I have a (not-so) little brother who is my role model and rock! I served as “the bass player” in the #IUBB basketball band for the past 4 years. I have nearly no attention span. Oh, and #funfact I have never lost any competition in my life...ever.

How long have you been playing Bass? I have been playing bass for ehhh?? 10 years now? Wow… about half my life. But have played tuba/sousaphone for 13. I’m all about those bass tones (#BOOMBOOM).

Who are your musical influences? I am pretty heavily rooted in playing/performing jazz and rock variations. My musical role model is Ray Charles.

I am intensively trained in music theory, and have acquired excellent relative pitch. That means… if you let me hear it once, I can play it right back to you… and in whatever key or style you want it in.

BUT when it comes to what I like to listen to on my iPod… I’m all about pop rock, alternative rock, “heavy” metal, and pop punk. Oh! And I am a sucker for rock cover songs done by “no-namer” bands.

How did you meet the other band members? I have known Quinten since what??..2nd or 3rd grade? We started playing music together back at Seymour Middle School. We were in Jazz Band together. We rocked through High School Marching Band, Pep Band, and had our own musical side Project…”Out of Range!”

I met Sarah through Indiana University’s New Student Orientation. NO! We didn’t go to Orientation together.. I was a Student Coordinator and she was one of my Orientation Leaders. She “oriented” new Indiana Students… so… I was her boss.. I still am the boss of her actually (she will disagree… but she is liar)

And as for Pavan and Ryan… I met them totally by chance. Nearly accidently. Being an insomniac isn’t always so bad I guess?

What are your thoughts on the other band members? Well Sarah is supposedly a Division 1 athlete… but I don’t believe it.. I beat her in a footrace race.. #OTeam12 will serve as witness.

Quinten has red hair.. and I can play the drums better than him…. Really… but Not really.. I love you QT #pause. I don’t ever wanna “funk it up” with any other drummer. I hated when he didn’t come to IU with me. This dude is the bomb. And… the ladies love him.

Pavan… I think is some kind of drug addict. I don’t know how he plays the stuff he does on guitar… but I refuse to believe he does it consciously. He HAS GOT TO BE to be doping up, or blacking out when he plays guitar! It doesn’t make sense any other way.. NO ONE is as good as him.

Ryan is a silly man. This group would not have the life/energy/gusto without him. Also!! the dude is a swiss-army knife.. he can do a little bit of everything! Def a vital piece to our group.

What makes this band different? We aren’t a throw together/make-shift/Frankenstein creation band. Musically we are all extremely proficient on our instruments. This isn’t a “oh I know a drummer, and we can teach that guy guitar” group. We all have lots and lots of years of experience and are about to prove it April 11 at the Bluebird.

Are you excited about the first show? So so excited. This is an incredible experience. I’ve dreamed of performing at “The Bluebird” since I knew it existed my senior year of high school. This is my opportunity to live out a dream and mark something off my personal bucket-list. Also, I love being on stage! This is going to be awesome.

Are you nervous? No way. I was nervous maybe my first time playing in front of Assembly Hall’s nearly 18,000 people. But this…this will be a cake walk for my nerves. I will be with my friends on stage, my friends in attendance, and I’m a performer by nature.

What is your favorite song to play? I am loving “Locked Out of Heaven!” It is so much fun to play, so fun to listen to, and it has that pop sound I love, mixed with that funky/jazz feel. And we are gonna sound damn good performing it.

Thanks for your time Kristofor! Ampers& will play its first show at The Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, April 11th at 10PM. Cover is $5. The Bluebird will be running its $1 Pints/Wells promotion that night. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more Ampers& news.

[ampersandbtown]

Introducing Ampers&

What is Ampers&? Ampers& is a rock band based in Bloomington, Indiana.

Who is Ampers&? Ampers& is:

Sarah Maxson: Vocals

Kristofor Meek: Bass

Ryan Parker: Vocals, Guitar 

Pavan Rajam: Guitar

Quinten Tritle: Drums

What sets Ampers& apart? Ampers& is a cover band that believes in putting on the best show possible. That belief encompasses everything the band does, from song selection, to stage antics. Audiences want to have an engaging and entertaining live experience, and Ampers& delivers that in every way possible.

Where and when can I see Ampers&? Ampers& will play its first show at the Bluebird in Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, April 11th at 10PM. Cover is $5. The Bluebird will be running its $1 Pints/Wells promotion that night. 

Where can I stay updated on what’s new with Ampers&? You can stay up to date by using one the social networks on the top bar and by subscribing to this Tumblr. We will be updating these pages with info on new shows, music, and other content, such as interviews with the band members, photos and videos, just for our fans.