New Dead Radio

New Dead Radio embrace many different styles of music on their most recent effort "Avalon Bridge Will Burn." Combining several textures while retaining a common thread throughout their music of aggressive tunefulness, it's a release that open minded metal fans would do well to check out. Jesse was kind enough to take the time to fill us in on all of the latest details surrounding the band's activities...


The Gauntlet: For those readers who have not yet had the opportunity to discover your band, please tell us a bit about how the group got together.

Jesse: NDR was formed in 02' by Sam, the band's vocalist and KJ, the guitarist. After some line-up changes over a period of time, it is the destructive force that you hear today, with the addition of Jesse on guitars and Ricki on bass.


The Gauntlet: Did you have a specific direction in mind when you formed the project or is your music more a result of finding your sound as a band?

Jesse: We experimented with different sounds and ways of writing and kind of just stumbled upon what you hear today. We definitely knew that we wanted the band to be very destructive and intense, but in a way that would set us apart from other hardcore/metal/punk bands.


The Gauntlet: When the band entered to studio to record "Avalon Bridge", what was your vision for the record?

Jesse: We wanted to capture on tape what we do live. Over a year's time of touring on our EP, FM Bleed, this came out in 2004. We kept hearing over and over that our EP was not as crazy and hard as we are live. So we decided to go into the studio with the mindset of capturing the intensity and energy of our live show, but on tape. All of the tracks were done with the whole band in the same room so we could feed off of each others' energy. Also, we wanted to make "Avalon Bridge Will Burn" an actual "record" instead of 15 tracks of the same song, like many bands end up doing. That is the reason for the tracks "Remember" and "Gift Horse".


The Gauntlet: Do you feel that you achieved this vision?


Jesse: Yes, we do!!!! We feel that this is NDR at it's best and we hope that when people buy the album they feel the energy and intensity of the record like we did when we were recording it!


The Gauntlet: What can listeners expect from the band in concert? Tell us about the vibe that surrounds the band on stage.

Jesse: When you attend a NDR show you can expect to be slapped in the face with brute force!!! Our live shows are not for the faint of heart!!! We are not a band that stands around and we are not a band who puts on a "choreographed" live show, if you know what I mean. We do what we do live because we feel that way at that particular moment on stage, not because we think it might look "cool". We really believe that we give people their money's worth!!!


The Gauntlet: Which artists do you feel the band have been inspired by the most?

Jesse: Converge, Black Flag, Slayer, Dead Kennedys.


The Gauntlet: Are you looking to cross over between genres with your music?

Jesse: We are talking about incorporating more of a metal side to the band, but still keeping true to our old school hardcore/punk edge. I think the next record, as opposed to "Avalon Bridge Will Burn", will be more metal and more hardcore/punk. We want to take what we did before and shoot steroids into it!!


The Gauntlet: What's been the most difficult aspect of getting your music out there to people?

Jesse: Well, right now we are having a really hard time getting on a tour. There are SO many bands on tour right now that we have had a hell of a time getting anything. As far as web promotions and such, we are on top of that with our My Space page and our band website, newdeadradio.com. Unfortunately for us right now, the only way to really promote the record is to tour our asses off for the next year on this record. We are ready to go and we really want to work hard to reach the kids, we just need a way to do that, you know??!! The band is actually setting up 2 and a half weeks of shows with our friends in In This Moment and Time Is The Enemy that is going from November 25th to December 12th. We are going to be covering the southwest, south, and the Midwest states. All of the tour dates, venues, and cities will be posted on our websites as we get them.


The Gauntlet: Do you feel that you've taken the band to another level with the new record?

Jesse: Yes we do. We feel that this record has "stepped up" New Dead Radio to a new level of intensity!! Our playing as musicians has grown to a new level as well!! KJ and I are doing things we never thought possible on guitar, as well as Sam's lyrical content and vocals!


The Gauntlet: How does the band approach songwriting? Is there a method to the madness?

Jesse: Our method to writing is this: we go into rehearsal and get into each others' faces and play! Sometimes good things come out of it, and sometimes we leave with nothing. It just depends.


The Gauntlet: Are you a band that prefers making music over performing, or do you equally enjoy all aspects of being an artist?

Jesse: We would easily say that the highlight of being in this band is the live shows! We like to write and we like to be in the studio but when we see peoples' faces while we are playing the material live, that is what makes it worth while for the band!


The Gauntlet: What's the most exciting aspect of being a performing musician?

Jesse: We would have to say peoples' reactions to our music. At first it seems like most people get scared or something, but after a couple of songs into the set, they start killing themselves in the pit!


The Gauntlet: Can you see yourself as being a musician for the rest of your working life? Why did you choose this path? What is it that makes you want to reach people with your music?

Jesse: We think that this is the life that chose us, and there is no turning back! We feel that we have something to offer the music world and we would just like to have our shot. If we are not accepted after being exposed the way we want to, then we know that we have failed. Hopefully this will not be the case. We just want to make a career out of being in NDR, that's all! We don't care if we are rich or famous, we just want to be able to pay our bills, you know?

The Gauntlet: Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Jesse: We would like to say thank you to The Gauntlet for giving us this wonderful opportunity to express our thoughts and views of our band to the public We hope that people will like what we do and we will see everyone on the road very soon!


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Tags:  New Dead Radio  , Jesse, interviews

EF    October 04, 2005