A Conversation with Vinyl Theatre’s Keegan Calmes – HuffPost 10.15.14
Mike Ragogna: Keegan, your new album is titled Electrogram, but what kind of “Alchemy” brought this group together? See what I did there?
Keegan Calmes: Haha, well it all comes down to the “glue” of the band, Chris. He brought us all together over the years. Josh being his best friend from childhood and Nick sharing classes with Chris in high school. When I met Chris we were at a Cross Country meet in high school. He’s an extremely easy to get a long with person and his personality has a particular magnetism to it. The only “Alchemy” to the whole equation has to be within the patience of my band mates. Chris and Nick waited 4 years for me to come home from Adams State University where I was pursuing my track and field endeavors. They all kept music on the back burner until I could no longer stand waiting to pursue music with them. Even Josh painfully sat back when we formed our first band “Alchemy” with a different bassist. When things fell through with the original bassist, Josh immediately asked to be considered. There was no question. Josh was what we were missing.
MR: We know The Killers influenced you guys a wee bit but what kinds of musical influences and strengths make up Vinyl Theatre’s talent pool?
KC: That’s always such a difficult question to fully answer for my band mates so I will try to explain my personal influences. I grew up on Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park, Metallica, Ratt, and just about any hair band my Dad was into from the ’80s. When Milaukee’s 102.1 was mostly Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Creed, and the rest of the bands that make up that grunge and post grunge movement I was listening. Some bands fall into fame and some into infamy but I respect the impact they all had/have on me. I didn’t find true love for the song writing craft until I discovered The Killers but that’s when hunger for writing became insatiable. I found Local Natives and Two Door Cinema Club. I found Panic at the Disco and Fall Out Boy. Over the past 3 years I’ve been deeply impacted by Young The Giant and Twenty One Pilots. To answer your question on influence, it’s never-ending.
Our biggest strength as a band has to be how we write. I believe that even if I write an entire song and then bring it to the band that it’s their song as much as it is mine. When they know that and they believe it to the core of their being then their passion for each song can be true and profound. Writing a song alone is hardly ever the case though. We mostly write cumulatively. Every song has four writers, editors, and creative minds.
MR: What’s a typical rehearsal for the band like and what break food or snacks calms Vinyl Theatre’s savage beast? Favorite beer?
KC: Rehearsals range from 3-6 hours and we usually take a break for some Noodles And Company or some frozen pizza. Most practices are half and half writing and running a specific set list to prepare for an upcoming event. We had a unique experience recently where The Rave was kind enough to open their doors to us before the Quiet Is Violent Tour. We had about 10 rehearsals in their space and it made all the difference in the world considering our other option was staying in the basement of it Nick’s house. Favorite beer for myself is probably Moon Man, a New Glarus beer.
MR: Through what social medias do you interact with your fans best and what’s it like when you have to ditch the electronics and meet fans in real time?
KC: I think the best way to get us to hear a message is Twitter. We are extremely active on Instagram and Twitter but it seems to be easier to reply on Twitter. Interacting with fans in person is a much different experience for us. Many times it gives us the ability to really put face to name and thank them for all they have done for us both online and at concerts. Many of the fans we have been meeting lately are die-hard Twenty One Pilots fans and they are probably the most accepting and inviting people we have had the pleasure of playing for.
MR: What is it about American music that you think is running on all cylinders right now?
KC: Maybe its prolific-ness? There is a lot of noise out there right now. It’s possible that all of this noise is what makes fans like Twenty One Pilots’ so die hard. When these concert goers finally find that diamond in the rough they hold onto it for dear life because it holds substance. I trust the listener out there to distinguish songs with fervor from songs without.
MR: What would “success” mean for Vinyl Theatre?
KC: I always think about this question. Ambition is such a crazy beast that has always propelled me through life. When I was a runner my only goal was to get an All-American and then it was to win a team title and then it was to try and win individually. There was never a point that I saw myself as successful because the end goal kept changing. Transversely I saw myself as incomplete and hoping that the next hurdle would fill the void. I think for the band as a whole we will feel accomplished when this record is as influential to others as our favorite album was to us. For myself The Killers’ Hot Fuss will always be home.
MR: Considering your name, what are the band members’ histories and current opinions about vinyl?
KC: Vinyl records are relevant again and that’s a great thing for the music world. The concert industry is also booming. When a person loves a band enough to grab their Vinyl that says something on a deeper level to us. We want to connect with fans like we connected with our inspirations. The “Theatre” aspect of our names speaks to the theatric nature of our performances. We always write songs with the intention of playing them live so the performance aspect is considered from the beginning.
MR: What advice do you have for new artists?
KC: Write without the intention of being like anyone else. Don’t write in a certain genre just because it’s popular. If the passion is true and profound it will be undeniable. When people tell you, “You have a better chance of getting hit from outer space by a satellite crashing to the earth out of its orbit than being a rockstar,” keep going. When all you have is family and two friends coming to shows. Keep going. Surround yourself with people who believe in your project it will make all the difference.
MR: If you could choose any amazing living musician to be part of your group–anyone–who would that be?
KC: Probably Sia. Absolutely in love with her new record and her voice.
MR: Should I reach out to Sia for you?
KC: I’d probably have a bit of a fan boy moment if she responded. Ask her to check yes or no!