beatlanta.com
Interview with Romeo Spike
We actually like to let the music do the talking. If you want the full experience, come to a show and dance around with us. We’re all about having a good time. No angry or depressing vibes coming from us. Our goal is to be the biggest band on the planet, and the soundtrack to the biggest dance party the world has ever seen.
B:When did you start playing?
The band started when Mike and Donn met years ago through mutual friends. Mike was living in Chicago at the time, while Donn was here in Atlanta. They began a friendly songwriting challenge via email, and the next thing they knew, they had compiled a full album’s worth of material. When producer Matt Still (who has worked with Elton John on numerous projects) came on board, Mike moved down to Atlanta to finish the album and get the band started. Will and Skyler completed the lineup last spring, just before the release of For The Cause last summer.
B: What are you into musically nowadays?
We draw influences from all over the place. Mike’s influences range from Michael Jackson to Paul Simon. Donn is a big fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, and Echo & The Bunnymen. Skyler likes all kinds of funk music, especially Tower of Power and Jamiroquai. Will is into everything from desert stoner rock (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss) to Motown (Supremes, Stevie Wonder).
B: Who plays in the band?
Mike Kunz – Vocals, Rhodes Keyboard, Guitar
Donn Aaron – Guitar, Pedal Steel, Sound Effects, Backing Vocals
Skyler Ross – Bass, Backing Vocals
Will Brown – Drums/Percussion
For The Cause is our debut full-length album, released last summer. Most of it was produced by Matt Still. Our upcoming EP, due for a late summer release, is self-produced. We actually tracked live in the old Axis Studios in town, where James Brown, Kansas, and many others recorded their hits.
We have played around the state and all over the southeast, including a 10-day tour to Austin, TX, and back last fall. Probably our favorite venue is The Hummingbird in historic downtown Macon, which is where Otis Redding and Little Richard grew up. A close second would be Buffington’s in downtown Milledgeville. Those cities and venues know how to have a good time.
We’re very excited to share the stage with some of our favorite bands in town at the Strange Daze Music Festival in mid-August, such as Stokeswood, Jungol, Telestrion, and more. Some others not at the festival but still deserve your attention are The Pinx, Thee Crucials, and The Dirty Souls.
B: How do you find the Atlanta scene?
It’s no surprise that Atlanta has an eclectic music scene, with tons of good, tons of bad, and everything in between. We still think that we don’t really fit in with any particular scene, which is fine with us.
B: Can you tell us about some musicians that influence your sound or made you want to start your band?
It’s just not musicians that influence us, but also producers such as Daniel Lanois, Phil Spector, and Brian Eno.
B: Tell us a little about your favorite song that you’ve written? What should fans of your music know about it?
If you listen to one song, we recommend Specter’s Ghost. Better yet, listen and watch the video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUKAhxC0tLA
The EARL, partially because of the amazing food. A close second would be Star Bar, with its random art and graffiti everywhere.
B: How do you guys advertise your shows?
www.romeospike.com
www.facebook.com/romeospike
www.myspace.com/romeospike
www.twitter.com/romeospike
We’re thinking about handing out cassettes at shows too.
We love you, and some of you we want to make love to.?
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