interview with The John Wilkey Band
What´s the name of your band? Right now, I am a solo artist so I either just use my name or we use The John Wilkey Band. It doesn't sit quite right with me because I've always been in bands and I still write for a band. So, I want to think of a band name. What do you suggest?
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band?How was the band formed? The line-up that has been playing since I recorded the album is comprised of a loyal sideman and two dudes named Mike doing me a favor. Patrick Gallagher is a veteran of both the Jersey scene and the New York City scene of yesteryear. He is a blues player who decided he would rather seek out a songwriter than play in another bar/cover band. Mike Regan is a journalist and father of three who I met at a Rolling Stones/Beatles tribute show we were both playing at. He plays bass with me when he can make it work with his schedule. Mike Morello is not only the drummer but my partner in recording the album. He produced and engineered the songs at his studio, Daywrecker Studios. Everyone is located in Central New Jersey.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? My ambition is for my world to collide with your world with my songs as the soundtrack.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? I like to say that my sound is a combination of 80's optimism and 90's angst. It's four-piece, 90's alt rock with a lot of soul searching and a desire to share any lessons learned.
Where was your first gig? Our first gig as a band was on Division Street in Somerville, NJ. My friend Matt Lewis, owner of Division Street Music, runs a summer concert series on the street, which is closed to traffic.
Where was the latest gig? On December 21, 2014. It was my 36th birthday and all of the bands, including us, gave away free music. We had actual CDs to give away after a year of the album being available digitally. The show was at Roxy n Dukes in Dunellen, the most badass venue in Central Jersey.
Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music who writes lyrics? I write it all!!
Who has the best sense of humor in the band? That might have to be me as well. You have to when you're trying to form a band that you won't be able to pay or offer much creative input. It's really tough.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they?
My album The Heart Stays On The Sleeve is available on ITunes, Amazon, CDBaby and Bandcamp, as well as my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/brandwilkey
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnwilkey2
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/john-wilkey/id555714695
http://johnwilkey.bandcamp.com/album/the-heart-stays-on-the-sleeve
Do you have any clips on YouTube?
You bet I do. Check out the video for my song 'Giddy' and lots of acoustic covers! Both on YouTube and my site:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrMrwilkey/featured
How old are you?/What got you started in music? I am 36. It all comes down to comic books and rock 'n roll. Superheroes, action movies and rock stars. It's as American as you can get. When I sing, I untangle my thoughts and feelings. They tend to take over my life and get in the way but lyrics seem to be where I manage to channel them best. I picked up guitar, when I was about 14, because I instinctively knew I was going to need musical accompaniment and didn't want to have to rely on someone else. My uncle sent me a 32 year old guitar from Japan called a Zim-Gar. My friend nicknamed it "The Tree Trunk" or "The Baseball Bat" because it had this thick neck that I would play power chords on and cut my hand in the process.
What year was the band started? The album was recorded in 2013. Patrick and I were playing as a duo for a while until the band debuted in summer 2014.
Best/worst gig you've played? The last one, at Roxy n Dukes, was so much fun. I booked it myself so it felt great to be part of that bill. Their sound system and atmosphere make the place a venue first and a bar second. It's rare and more people should discover it. We haven't had a worst gig yet unless you want me to dig into my past. I don't need flashbacks of waiting for them to move the pool table so we can wake up drunks.
What places will you be playing in in the immediate future? The next show is at Dragonfly Music & Coffee Café in Somerville, NJ on February 20th at 7PM.
How do you get psyched up for a gig? This one is interesting because you rarely see local musicians showing any sign of preparation. I'm not saying I have any rituals but I do like to conserve my energy so I get more low-key than usual. Between how out of character that is and being embarrassed to explain that this is how I prepare, it's not exactly easy to pull off.
What are your goals with your music? Music is where I have the best chance of connecting with people but I have to create the kind of songs and performances that give me that opportunity. As long as I am doing that on a regular basis and able to support myself, I will be satisfied.
When did you decide to go all in for the music? About two years ago, I was a teacher and felt like what was something of a calling had come to an end. It was a 'now or never' moment. It was time to live for me.
What are your sources of inspiration? U2, Pearl Jam, STP and Live are still my four favorite bands and have been since high school. Other influences are James, Tom Petty, The Tea Party, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, John Lennon, Bruce Lee, Bill Hicks, Noam Chomsky, Patton Oswalt and Louis CK.