Discover Top Posts Tagged with #swift technique

Video Credit: Revi Roza

:::

The Chord

Interview with Swift Technique

October 19, 2011 – The Blockley, Philadelphia, PA

Published November 14, 2011

:::

According to the Swift (TSwift rocks, too!), the next show is:

November 23rd, 2011 at Sullivan Hall in NYC's Greenwich Village

The address for Sullivan Hall is:

214 Sullivan Street

between Bleecker and West Third

(near NYU campus!)

New York, NY

Goeth thither.

If this show is anything like the last at the Blockley in Philly, it's going to be one heckuva show! The venue is spacious and has fantastic acoustics - in one of the most unique and rad musical pockets of the entire city!!!! The guys are charming, fun-loving and SPUNKY TO THE FUNK.

Make sure you get there early to have enough space to get your groove on!!! The venue is chill infinity and there's a bar, so it is likely 21+. Fact: Swift Technique does not disappoint. And does not miss an appointment.

The guys' sound is a no-nonsense funkadelic style that you're ACTUALLY going to enjoy. The boys are REAL, raw, ROCK AT MUSIC and on the right side. Shwamamamamama.

:::

Chord: Okay, so I came up with a few questions.

Jake: Four hundred questions. It’s gonna take a few hours.

Chord: Hehe. First question is: why do you play music and when did you first know that you wanted to play?

Rich: Drums looked the coolest.

Jake: Are you asking us individually, or the group as a band?

Chord: Individually, if you want.

Jake: Me, I heard a Beatles record when I was four, five years old and I was like, “I want to make that kind of sound.” The Beatles. And then, on long road trips I started banging on my parents seats with empty water bottles, so finally they were like, “We’re buying you a drum set...” And yeah, it’s just one of those kind of things. It was a hobby for a long time. But, at a certain point, I think I was like twelve, “I was like, “I’m starting a band.”” And it’s always been more about having a group for me than individually trying to do stuff on my own.

Andy: It’s actually kind of strange, but he and some friends we had started a group and I couldn’t play, but wanted to just hang out with them, so I was like I wanna learn how to play. And I learned how to play I guess a little bit and then I just was like, “And I just was like, “Hey this is pretty cool…”

Jake: When you first start playing it’s really frustrating, it’s a frustrating period where you can’t play and when you get over that hurdle and are replicating these things that you’re hearing. There’s nothing else like that. Especially when you’re with a group. [It’s] really taken to another level.

Andy: Hearing stuff that you’ve played or written - hearing it sound awesome - it just kind of makes you want to go and go and go, I guess.

Chord: When did you know that you first had the impulse to play?

Rich: Passing music stores I’d see drums sets in windows and I just thought it just looked like the coolest instrument to play and the funnest instrument to play. I’ve always wanted to do it, so I got to pick an instrument in school; I got the drums [!]. Also, [growing up] my family had dance parties… Tons of cousins and stuff and we’d just be dancing. So, that’s how I got, I guess, musical [hey, humility].

Chord: Cool.

Jake: I would say I played almost every instrument, not every, but like the rock ‘n’ roll instruments except bass, but bass is my main instrument now. And it was because it was all about the unit and a band, so I volunteered to play bass so we could have a band. Drums and guitar before we my favorites, turns out bass is kind of a hybrid of both of those things. But, just kind of the idea of a unit of guys that sticks together and develops the craft as a unit and not just individually.

Chord: How do you respond when your sound gets muffled or messed up, if there’s feedback? And like obviously you’re not gonna blame the sound guy… but…

Andy: Yeah, but it probably is the sound guy.

Rich: First thing is just open up your eyes more, maybe lay back a little bit and listen – so you can regroup and get the group back together as a unit. Stuff happens. Things go wrong – when it does go wrong, you still want to be in control; you don’t want to lose control when something does happen.

Chord: Bear with it.

Jake: If there’s one thing I think we’ve all learned from playing music professionally, pretty much every time, even in rehearsal, some kind of **** is gonna go wrong. Whether it’s personnel, equipment, something with the venue – that’s just happens to be one of several things that can go wrong. So, you have to react to it and keep your composure the same way you would if, you know, the trombone player can’t make the gig. All these things could go wrong, you just have to keep the same level of composure. It’s kinda how you react to that adversity. I think we all do pretty well.

Andy: It’s pretty much the same ****. You just always have to have enough confidence to know that even if something sounds off or bad, it’s like, alright, it happened, just keep on going. Or, it’s like, well, I know deep down I sound fine.

Chord: Just keepin’ it cool.

Jake: When you are able to play music in front of people – your first impression directly affects people. Like I said, it’s about keeping the composure.

Chord: What are the components of your band that make you guys tick as a unit?

Rich: Work as a unit? What do you mean by tick?

Chord: Make it cohesive.

Andy: It’s kind of cool because we’re all super close and even in the worst spot, say that we’re on the road, we have almost no cash and little food, but that whole time we’re still just crackin’ up on the road. It’s kind of… having that brotherhood at the core makes it so much easier and better. That’s just me.

Chord: That’s dope.

Jake: We’ve been together for four years as a band, which is a short time. [four years is kind of a while…]

Rich: WHAAA.

Jake: It is something to be proud of, but I think a big part of it is our work ethic. Even the couple years that we weren’t in the band and you come across people that are like, “Oh, yo, I’m doing this, I’m doing that. You should do this, I want you to do that.” 90% of them are full of bull****. It’s like, you gotta put in the nitty-gritty work and a lot of times we don’t even have people helping us… Aside from the music and everything else, we have a strong work ethic and sense of the business aspect of the band.

Chord: Cool.

Rich: We’re just always trying to make things better; make our strengths even stronger and try to get rid of our weaknesses. We’re always just trying to grow and get better. We learn from every experience. Every show you learn something.

Chord: What inspires your best music or writing?

Jake: The times when we’ve written the best music or had the most creative surge is when we were the most uncomfortable. When we first came to school, living in a city, living in North Philly, we [made] ten great songs that we first played. Right now we all just finished school and we’re cranking out this great music. Part of it is the environment that you’re in. It’s like a new environment. I [want to be] traveling in new environments.

Chord: Where have been your favorite places to tour?

Rich: Recently on the East Coast, we really enjoyed Burlington, Vermont.

Andy: Chi-town is pretty awesome.

Jake: I mean, New York, you just can’t beat it. It’s such a unique place. I never even considered living there – ever, my whole life – and just from us touring through there, I was just like, “This is the ****** spot to be.” And Vermont, New England.

Chord: You guys played at the esteemed and historic venue, host to acts such as Bob Dylan, The Bitter End in the New York, right?

Andy: All the time.

Chord: How was it?

Jake: Certain places that have been around for a long time, they have more of a feeling in there rather than a new bar that’s been [put] up. You can feel the m*****f*****s that have stepped on that stage.

Chord: That’s where legends have played.

Andy: We’re actually playing there on the fourth of November.

Chord: No way! Cool! That’s fun. That’s a good area.

Rich: It’s like a jazz club, but not. It has the jazz set-up, close to the audience, tables all around the stage.

Chord: Such a rad venue. What was the original dream or goal in music that you guys each had and when did it first begin?

Rich: I really wanted to play the music venues that I grew up going to, watching my favorite artists at. When I was younger I would just say to myself, I would be completely satisfied and content if I just step on that stage one day and just play drums.

Andy: I would say it’s kind of along the same lines as what Jake had said earlier. It’s kind of like having that unit; I’ve always wanted to try to get myself high enough to try to make a difference with peoples’ lives. Like, have like a non-profit or something like that to pretty much just give back. I started playing when I was twelve or thirteen or something and there are so many kids out there who could be awesome at playing. If I could get high enough and make enough money to get comfortable to have a band, but also to do stuff [to help others make their way in music].

Chord: Cool.

Jake: I’ve always had a performance thing. For me, there’s an itch to be on the stage performing for a lot of people. I just need to be on the stage… I think, some people have that itch to perform.

Chord: My cousin played(s?) drums. Do you have any advice for him?

Rich: Hit ‘em tough!

Jake: Whether it’s drums or other instruments… relate it to your life; everywhere you’re going. [Taps a melody] Everything you’re doing just have the melody in your head. Listening to cars go by, it’s a rhythm. It’s all connected and then when you get to sit at the instrument, you just get to let **** out. You just have to saturate yourself in the music.

Chord: Cool. What’s your favorite song or album and why?

Andy: I dunno, man. It’s tough. I feel like I could easily say Zeppelin because it’s Zeppelin. Every song on that album just gets you. It’s almost too easy to say that, but it’s just true.

Chord: It’s classic for a reason.

Rich: Are you gonna say D’Angelo, VooDoo?

Rich: The band, Yes. Their older records. In particular, Close to the Edge. When I first listened to that record, I didn’t realize how advanced the musicians were and how intricate the parts were. It was really just catchy to me and really beautiful and epic. And then, as I started practicing and listening to more music, and studying more music, I started to realize how advanced they were. These guys were masters at writing intricate and advanced music, but still keeping it musical. And still able to intrigue a large audience.

Chord: I only know Fragile. I like that one.

Rich: That’s a great album. That’s like the next one.

Jake: The music I listen to is pretty much directly related to what my parents listen to. I’ve gotta say, Physical Graffiti, by Led Zeppelin. That laid the groundwork for everything. If it’s gonna be a little more modern, it’s gotta be Blood Sugar Sex Magik [Red Hot Chili Peppers]. When the artist can touch on a collective feeling, that’s something really special. They really hit it on that one.

Andy: Favorite song that just breaks it down all the way, Stevie Ray Vaughn. He has a song called, “The Sky is Crying.” It just comes from somewhere and it’s just [putting it] all out there.

Jake: What’s your favorite album? [The boys change it up] We’re switching this interview around on you. [Rockin’.]

Rich: Be honest. What’s the first thing that came to your mind?

Chord: I dunno, I guess… my favorite. That’s really tough. I like Lil’ Wayne, but that’s not my all time. I really like Rumors, I just started listening to that album. I’ve probably listen to it before, but I was listening to Rumors and it’s just so dope. It’s flowy and chill. Of course, the Beatles, I like Abbey Road and Revolver was my first Beatles album. That’s tough. Led Zeppelin is definitely also super dope.

Jake: The thing about Zeppelin that I forgot to mention, is that, Led Zeppelin shows that… it’s so much about your attitude and how you play the music itself. They can take like five notes and just totally [get] those notes like no one else can. Being younger, that’s an important thing to learn early on.

Chord: Zep is awesome. My friends in high school used to call me ‘Stu,’ so I like the song, “Boogie with Stu,” from Physical Graffiti. But, I dunno, it’s tough. I like the classic stuff. It really depends on the mood.

Chord: What is your funniest band story or memory?

Rich: [A friend] coming out of the car in the parking lot not realizing that he had puke all over him. And then, my buddy walked out – he had a crazy night – and in the morning, we drove overnight home, and he walks out and is like, “Merhhh.” We’re like, “Get out of the car,” half way walking to the rest stop he looks at himself and just realizes that he’s… covered in himself. It’s just like pretty disgusting.

Andy: We’re all just cracking up. It was like 7:30 in the morning, it was freezing outside. I’m just lying on the ground laughing so hard. He’s like, [drearily] “Whuut. Whassamatter?” And he just runs into the bathroom and pukes.

Jake: We played a private party the night of the election in 2008 – it was the night Obama won. We were in D.C., So, we go to the White House and it’s chaos down there. We’re split up from the horns and next thing we know our horn players are just coming through the crowd playing like “Saints” and all this **** and they start a parade around the White House and all of a sudden they’re the focal point of the party that’s going on. In that moment, I was just like, “What’s going on!” To be down there [in D.C.] when he won that night. That was special.

Chord: Cool. That must have been awesome.

Jake: I looked up on YouTube days later, “Horns at the White House,” and there’s videos of our ******’ dudes leading people around the parade!

[Another time was] when the Flyers won the Stanley Cup we were drumming around Broad Street.

The boys are on YouTube for that, too!

Chord: That’s so cool. Can you describe the process of making a song or an album?

Jake: How long do you have?

Andy: Almost every song has to happen in its own way. It usually comes from someone’s idea… or it comes from just hangin’ out [whatever happens when we jam]. But, there’s no real one way to answer that.

Jake: [We have to keep in mind when writing a song] what audience are you aiming it towards? Or, do you want to fulfill yourself creatively? When we first started, we were making strict A-B two section songs. And now we’re trying to make songs that are a little more intricate.

Chord: What’s two section?

Jake: A verse and a chorus, literally. We had a rapper; he rapped on top of it. We did it with the intention of keeping it simple. Also, part of the responsibility of writing music is to connect with other people. You have to always keep that in mind; how is this going to affect other people.

Rich: A lot of times we’ll each have our own idea, or an idea for the group. We’ll get together, we’ll show it to each other and vibe off it from there. Experiment, play with it. Then everyone starts contributing to that one idea, then it becomes a group effort, and a song starts to form.

Chord: Can you describe how you put on a show and how you prepare? People may ask, do you get nervous, but most of the time I haven’t seen that to be true of musicians.

Rick: I think it depends.

Andy: I think that it’s not that you get nervous, it’s kind of like… we try to get past it. Being on the edge and nervous kind of keeps you hyped up, but you can’t harness that.

Chord: In the way of that you have an energy and want to propel that energy to the crowd?

Andy: We used to do certain things for prep… Each of us could probably write a whole book on show prep, you know.

Rich: I get nervous sometimes. I get the butterflies. If it’s something that - in regards to this band - if it’s something that we haven’t done, that we’re not necessarily used to, sometimes you get nervous. For example, when we played at the Liacoras Center.

Jake: [That’s] 15,000 seats.

Rich: There’s a lot of people. The way I’m hearing the music’s gonna be new. But lately, it’s a nervous/exciting feeling.

Chord: Is it an adrenaline rush?

Rich: We don’t know what the feeling is, but once you do it, you can better harness it. (the boys explain)

Jake: If you’ve done the practice and prepared the right way, [there’s really] nothing to be nervous about. There’s some kind of chemical that gets released. At a show, there’s such an outpouring of energy emotion. I get like, “Am I going to be able to put all that out there tonight?” It comes back to almost a religious experience – you get into this stage where you’re getting ready to just put all this **** out there for people. It’s kind of like sex in a lot of ways; it’s just leading up to this outpour of energy, sexual energy. In music there’s a lot of sexual energy, too. There’s a lot of connections.

Rich: SEX.

[Andy goes to talk to guy at front.]

Chord: Where did you guys all meet?

Rich: In Philly. Jake met our old singer, I met Andy at school. At first it was Jake and Andy the singer and I that came together, recruited some horns and it just kind of fell into place, you know.

Jake: Andy and I played music together for so long. We didn’t even make the effort to connect with each other, it just kind of happened.

We did a couple of house parties when we first started.

Chord: Where did you guys play?

Rich: We started doing Temple House parties and people were diggin’ it, so we kept going from there. And we also had a vision, too, at least I did. If all these kids are getting down, let’s get them out to the venues.

Chord: That’s rad. Last question. Well, there’s two more, including this: Do you think you’ll ever quit music? It’s almost like a trick question.

Rich: I don’t think it’s possible for us to quit music, because music for me, at least… music, for me, isn’t just playing the drums. It’s seeing the performance, it’s listening and it’s sharing a record to somebody. It’s just so engrained in who we are now.

Jake: It’d be like losing a limb or something. Like, almost if you didn’t have an arm. Or, losing your left nut.

Rich: And you could still survive! You could still lose your left nut and do the job!

[Hehehe. I don’t have those, but squirrels do!]

Rich: What was the question again? I’m like Ozzy Osbourne [spot on Ozzy impresh ensues].

Chord: Sharon!

Jake: Sharon!

Chord: What’s it like working with ?uestlove and Wu Tang?

Rich: We opened up for Wu Tang. We kinda got in trouble ‘cause we were eating half of the food and drinks that were provided for Wu-Tang. We thought it was for everybody… [Chord: I’m sure they were cool with it - it's confusing]. Those guys are heroes, legends - they really helped our band a lot.

Rich: Festivals are really great, too. They’re a chance to network…

::: Christine Griffin

Sources:

cmj.com

http://www.swifttechnique.com/

http://sullivanhallnyc.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvmTV6hiw6I

#Swift Technique #Sullivan Hall #The Chord #Andy Bree #Jake Leschinsky #Rich Agren #Greg Rosen #Matt Fischer #Brian Blaker #Christine Griffin

Video Credit: Revi Roza

:::

The Chord

Interview with Swift Technique

October 19, 2011 – The Blockley, Philadelphia, PA

Published November 14, 2011

:::

According to the Swift (TSwift rocks, too!), the next show is:

November 23rd, 2011 at Sullivan Hall in NYC's Greenwich Village

The address for Sullivan Hall is:

214 Sullivan Street

between Bleecker and West Third

(near NYU campus!)

New York, NY

Goeth thither.

The guys' sound is a no-nonsense funkadelic style that you're ACTUALLY going to enjoy. The boys are REAL, raw, ROCK AT MUSIC and on the right side. Shwamamamamama.

:::

Chord: Okay, so I came up with a few questions.

Jake: Four hundred questions. It’s gonna take a few hours.

Chord: Hehe. First question is: why do you play music and when did you first know that you wanted to play?

Rich: Drums looked the coolest.

Jake: Are you asking us individually, or the group as a band?

Chord: Individually, if you want.

Andy: Hearing stuff that you’ve played or written - hearing it sound awesome - it just kind of makes you want to go and go and go, I guess.

Chord: When did you know that you first had the impulse to play?

Chord: Cool.

Chord: How do you respond when your sound gets muffled or messed up, if there’s feedback? And like obviously you’re not gonna blame the sound guy… but…

Andy: Yeah, but it probably is the sound guy.

Chord: Bear with it.

Chord: Just keepin’ it cool.

Jake: When you are able to play music in front of people – your first impression directly affects people. Like I said, it’s about keeping the composure.

Chord: What are the components of your band that make you guys tick as a unit?

Rich: Work as a unit? What do you mean by tick?

Chord: Make it cohesive.

Chord: That’s dope.

Jake: We’ve been together for four years as a band, which is a short time. [four years is kind of a while…]

Rich: WHAAA.

Chord: Cool.

Chord: What inspires your best music or writing?

Chord: Where have been your favorite places to tour?

Rich: Recently on the East Coast, we really enjoyed Burlington, Vermont.

Andy: Chi-town is pretty awesome.

Chord: You guys played at the esteemed and historic venue, host to acts such as Bob Dylan, The Bitter End in the New York, right?

Andy: All the time.

Chord: How was it?

Chord: That’s where legends have played.

Andy: We’re actually playing there on the fourth of November.

Chord: No way! Cool! That’s fun. That’s a good area.

Rich: It’s like a jazz club, but not. It has the jazz set-up, close to the audience, tables all around the stage.

Chord: Such a rad venue. What was the original dream or goal in music that you guys each had and when did it first begin?

Chord: Cool.

Chord: My cousin played(s?) drums. Do you have any advice for him?

Rich: Hit ‘em tough!

Chord: Cool. What’s your favorite song or album and why?

Andy: I dunno, man. It’s tough. I feel like I could easily say Zeppelin because it’s Zeppelin. Every song on that album just gets you. It’s almost too easy to say that, but it’s just true.

Chord: It’s classic for a reason.

Rich: Are you gonna say D’Angelo, VooDoo?

Chord: I only know Fragile. I like that one.

Rich: That’s a great album. That’s like the next one.

Andy: Favorite song that just breaks it down all the way, Stevie Ray Vaughn. He has a song called, “The Sky is Crying.” It just comes from somewhere and it’s just [putting it] all out there.

Jake: What’s your favorite album? [The boys change it up] We’re switching this interview around on you. [Rockin’.]

Rich: Be honest. What’s the first thing that came to your mind?

Chord: What is your funniest band story or memory?

Chord: Cool. That must have been awesome.

Jake: I looked up on YouTube days later, “Horns at the White House,” and there’s videos of our ******’ dudes leading people around the parade!

[Another time was] when the Flyers won the Stanley Cup we were drumming around Broad Street.

The boys are on YouTube for that, too!

Chord: That’s so cool. Can you describe the process of making a song or an album?

Jake: How long do you have?

Chord: What’s two section?

Chord: Can you describe how you put on a show and how you prepare? People may ask, do you get nervous, but most of the time I haven’t seen that to be true of musicians.

Rick: I think it depends.

Andy: I think that it’s not that you get nervous, it’s kind of like… we try to get past it. Being on the edge and nervous kind of keeps you hyped up, but you can’t harness that.

Chord: In the way of that you have an energy and want to propel that energy to the crowd?

Andy: We used to do certain things for prep… Each of us could probably write a whole book on show prep, you know.

Jake: [That’s] 15,000 seats.

Rich: There’s a lot of people. The way I’m hearing the music’s gonna be new. But lately, it’s a nervous/exciting feeling.

Chord: Is it an adrenaline rush?

Rich: We don’t know what the feeling is, but once you do it, you can better harness it. (the boys explain)

Rich: SEX.

[Andy goes to talk to guy at front.]

Chord: Where did you guys all meet?

Rich: In Philly. Jake met our old singer, I met Andy at school. At first it was Jake and Andy the singer and I that came together, recruited some horns and it just kind of fell into place, you know.

Jake: Andy and I played music together for so long. We didn’t even make the effort to connect with each other, it just kind of happened.

We did a couple of house parties when we first started.

Chord: Where did you guys play?

Chord: That’s rad. Last question. Well, there’s two more, including this: Do you think you’ll ever quit music? It’s almost like a trick question.

Jake: It’d be like losing a limb or something. Like, almost if you didn’t have an arm. Or, losing your left nut.

Rich: And you could still survive! You could still lose your left nut and do the job!

[Hehehe. I don’t have those, but squirrels do!]

Rich: What was the question again? I’m like Ozzy Osbourne [spot on Ozzy impresh ensues].

Chord: Sharon!

Jake: Sharon!

Chord: What’s it like working with ?uestlove and Wu Tang?

Rich: Festivals are really great, too. They’re a chance to network…

::: Christine Griffin

Sources:

cmj.com

http://www.swifttechnique.com/

http://sullivanhallnyc.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvmTV6hiw6I

#Swift Technique #Sullivan Hall #The Chord #Andy Bree #Jake Leschinsky #Rich Agren #Greg Rosen #Matt Fischer #Brian Blaker #Christine Griffin

#swift technique

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