5 Questions With... Robert Keller of The Hodges
What 3 words would you use to describe your sound?
Jangley. Powerful. Rockinglydelicious.
What is the music scene like where you live?
The music scene here in the San Francisco bay area is so diverse it's difficult to gain a following. I often speak to bands from out of town who can't get a gig in SF though they're playing in all the surrounding areas. People want "something different" to the point of not wanting anything. Clubs make the bands bring the audience. The clubs no longer create a reason to go there. There's no club identity. Now you have a favorite band and no longer have a favorite club. Used to be (and I imagine it still is in many other places) that you knew a club had the kind of music you wanted to hear. You were loyal to that club and open to who was playing there. The club was known for their ability to provide consistently great music. Those days are gone. House parties have taken over the responsibilities of the clubs. People throw great house parties and become known for the quality of musicians they get to play at them.
What is the craziest thing you've ever experienced at one of your live shows?
While warming up back stage for a show I stepped into a floor vent and seriously sprained my ankle. I did the show and was taken to the hospital where I was made to wear a cast for weeks. And while on stage in the middle of a song, the San Francisco fire department came into the club and turned on all the lights. They fined people for being in the aisles. What they really wanted was to make the club go away. The neighbors didn't like it cause folks were having too much fun and well... they weren't!
If you could go on a dream world tour with any 3 artists, who would you take with you?
The Black Keys, The Cure, and The Black Eyed Peas.
Any big projects in the works this year?
Our big plans for this year is to finish the new album. We are getting closer with 8 songs in the works and 3 more to be tracked soon. We are involved in the DNA battle of the bands and hope to continue to increase our fan base. Always on the lookout for radio interviews and ways to tell locals about us.