Straight Up Random

SUR Featured Unsigned Band: Barely Blind

BARELY BLIND has accomplished a lot for being an unsigned band. This quartet have been together since high school and have already released two EPs, and have been rocking faces not only in their home state of Texas, but all across the country. They’ve been featured in magazines like Substream and they’re ready to take over the world in 2010. With a music video for their song “Panic Attacks Are Normal” coming out soon, and plans to continue touring, you can expect to hear more about Barely Blind soon!

LINKS: MySpace | Facebook | Purevolume | Twitter

INTERVIEW:

**All questions answered by Will Smith, drummer for Barely Blind**

How’d the band come together?

In the summer of 2002 Reid, Brad and Canaan (who was in the band at the time) met me (Will) through a girl Reid was friends with. After playing Blink 182 songs over and over we pretty much knew this was the band.

How’d you guys come up with your name?

In the summer of ‘02 Reid’s sister said they were barely blind because they could barely see the band at a Blink 182 concert.

What made you want to play an instrument and/or sing? Was it one particular experience that inspired you to be a musician?

Ever since I could remember I loved the drums and rock n roll music. When I heard travis barker play for the first time my mind was blown and I knew from that point on I wanted to play forever.

How would you describe your music for people who have never heard it before?

Our music is fun and aggressive. We strive to be ourselves and have as much fun as we can when we play/make our songs. Our goal is for everyone to feel the same as we do when they hear our music.

How does the scene in Texas influence your sound?

Texas is a very unique place in the sense that there are so many different scenes going on. Our particular area is kind of in a dry spell with music. We are pretty much the only band that plays our genre, so in some cases its great for us but on the other side of things we are also kind of the lone ranger. As far as influence goes, we just try and use other local acts that have been successful (Janis Joplin, UGK, Johnny&Edgar Winter) as an inspiration.

What’s your favorite part about being in a band? Least favorite part?

My favorite part about being in a band is the fact that we have the oppurtnity to make music and play shows for the rest of our lives. We look at this band as not only a job but sort of a lifestyle. Touring and recording songs is what we love to do so as long as we can maintain the two we will be happy. The negative side of doing what we do is just being broke all of the time obviously and also bad food and sleeping arrangements. Once we get those two secure we could live forever!

You guys released your EP The Way We Operate under TDR Records in ‘07, and then earlier this year you self-released your My Life With A Giant EP. Is there any reason you didn’t release the EP under TDR Records again?

We were so stoked on everything that came out of the way we operate. when it came time to do it again we all just came to the conclusion that the only way we were gonna move forward is if we took our approach in a different direction. Mike Hollins owns TDR but he is also our manager. We have and will always remain very close to that label.

You guys are FriendsOrEnemies first Unsigned Artist V.I.P. How’d you land that?

Last time we played hollywood we found a stars of hollywood map and located Pete Wentz’s home. Brad used a slingshot to shoot our E.P. through his window with a note attached that read “friends or enemies?”

What are some goals you want to accomplish with your band in 2010?

We are going to release a music video for “Panic Attacks Are Normal” in February (www.panicattacksaremormal.com). Also we want to sleep and eat well. Oh, did I mention play great shows tour, tour, tour, tour, tour, and make hundreds of dollars. We also have plans to write and record more music.

Can you give me one straight up random fact about each member of the band?

Until yesterday my (Will) left leg was an inch shorter than the other, Brad is left handed but golfs right handed, Reid HATES when his food is too hot, and Stephen has an addiction to twizzlers.

Any last words for the readers of Straight Up Random?

We just shot a music video.