us. I met Mangy a couple times and Karim suggested we try himout. First practice it was done that was the line up!
DDR: For each of you can you tell us a little about your musical upbringing and what led you to wanting to be in a band and pursue this as a career?
Joel: I love music, tv, movies and video games. So even as a kid I loved playing guitar and singing. I wasn't proficient at Guitar but I loved singing so it didn't matter. Honestly I have had the same thought process since i was young. If I become famous and rich so be it, but If I don't.... I don't. Others seem hungry for validation, attention, money, or success. I just want to write and play music. I will do this for
as long as it is fun, challenging & worth it. Music will always be a part of me. I have lasted longer than most people I know. I never really stop writing!
Karim K: Well believe it or not, when I was a kid, my older brother took me to a KISS concert ! As soon as I saw them rise from out of the stage I was awe struck. I knew right then that was what I wanted to do. I know that I was just a kid but somehow I just knew!
Steve Newcomer: Well my mom sang in bands when she was a teen, My uncles played in bands. And my grandfather played guitar and sang in bands for years. He played with Ernest TUbb and Elvis. I watched him for years. So I just grew up loving music. The best thing is being on stage and seeing fans singing along with your songs
Mangy James : I love music. I play guitar, bass, piano, tuba, trombone, and a little violin. Playing and performing is my passion. And I loved to rock and roll.
DDR: How would you describe your music and what are some of the influences that assist you with making your music?
TOT: Our music is empowerment. We hear so much music out there that tells a story, a message, entertains or leaves you brain dead. Our story is that no matter what the story or the situation you have the ability to overcome! Our influences range for all of us. We like different things really. We have some parts that cross over but not many!
DDR: Recently you played to a packed house at the BFE in Houston Texas with Puddle of Mudd, can you tell us a little bit about your performance and the energy the crowd was giving you?
TOT: It is 10x times easier to put on a good show with a responsive crowd especially one that is there to have a good time no matter what. We put on the best show we can and we are always looking towards knew ideas for our showcases. Expect to see some interesting ideas and some new things we hope to debut over time in the coming year!
DDR: One of the most popular songs on the debut cd is Black Halo...Can you tell us a bit about the songmeaning, how it came to be?
Joel: Well I don't like to really give the meaning away cause people tend to automatically associate my meaning with the song, but we write them to be easy enough to overlay onto someone else s situation or an event in their life.
I guess I can just this once. Black Halo is about the duality of man that lives in all of us. In any given situation we have that black halo unwav-