With all the great music being released by our local bands, it starts to get hard to keep track of everything, and you risk letting something special fall through the cracks. American Volume by Take to The Oars is one that I am glad I didn't overlook. The record took over a year to record, but represents a band that can swing with the best of them. Take to the Oars formerly Vonnegut has brought a collection of tunes to the table that get my very excited about the bands future. They have been out their grinding, playing local shows, and make new friends every step of the way. Count me as one of those new friends!
ALDM: Tell me a little about how the band formed?
TTTO: Take To The Oars evolved out the Denver band "Vonnegut" which started in 2005. Mike Trujillo joined the band in 2007 (and moved his family here from Wyoming to do so) and JP joined in the summer of 2008, so we are coming up on 3 years of this solid line up and we are stronger now then we have ever been. In June of 2010 we officially changed our name to give us a fresh start and to help identify the evolution of our music.
ALDM: What was the recording experience like for American Volume?
TTTO: it was a long and drawn out process. we started about June of 2009 and didn't finish until fall of 2010. The songs changed for the better throughout the months and new songs were added so, even though at times it was frustrating, we're glad it took as long as it did. We can honestly say this album sounds exactly like we wanted it to. We are very proud of it, but itching to get back into the studio again.
ALDM: Did you have any secret weapons in terms of gear?
TTTO: We borrowed some nice custom les pauls and ran through a variety of different amps depending on the sound we wanted, but the coolest additions were having our friends come in and sing over some of the choruses (vanishing act, stones & sticks) and to have Kyle Simmons from "Boys" help us on Monster Eats Pilot. It really gave the album a communal feel and allowed us to have some fun in the studio.
ALDM: What is your proudest moment on the record, its obvious you invested a lot of time and love into it.
TTTO: Thanks for saying so. The song "Bar Talk" was something we had been sitting on for awhile and until this album, we had never managed to record it in a way it deserved to be heard. So that was huge for us. All of the songs are like our little babies, so it's hard to pick favorites, but I think some stand outs are Monster Eats Pilot and Stones & Sticks....those songs really reward multiple listens and we always wanted our music to have that affect.
ALDM: How has the live experience been evolving for you guys?
TTTO: It starts with the little things like making more eye contact, analyzing set list flow, and playing off each other more, but mostly it comes down to just being excited about what we are doing. Every show is a chance to show off what we feel like is our best stuff to date and to truly connect with people. A lot of being in a band is pretty unglamorous, but getting on stage makes everything worth it. It's a luxury to be able to play and pursue music and we try not to ever take that for granted.
ALDM: Can share a little bit of your SXSW experience? Maybe a highlight n lowlight?
TTTO: Sure. We played 3 shows down there, attended countless others, and connected as a band. Our Friday night Illegal Pete's Starving Artist Showcase was definitely a highlight. Not only did we have a great show, but we shared the night with a lot of our favorite Denver bands. There was definitely a lot of team work and camaraderie that went into pulling that showcase off and we were proud to be a part of it. The venue was at capacity the whole night which says a lot for what Denver is doing right now. As far as a "lowlight" goes, the long drive home after 4 days of giving it large amounts was quite difficult. The parking situation was pretty grim down in Austin as well, but overall it was a grand success.
ALDM: How do you think the folks out there received you as well as our other local bands?
TTTO: We played for a lot of new faces down there. You have to remember that they have 1000 options at any given time on who they want to see, so it meant a lot to us to be able to play 3 great shows. we made new friends, sold some merch, gave away some merch, and got our music out to a lot of new people. The response to the live show was really positive so that is the most important first connection. Denver bands in general crushed down there. we supported as many Denver shows as we could and the mile high city was well represented.
ALDM: Can share your thoughts on the Local scene here in Denver. It seems stronger than ever before and the bands really seem to look out for one another generally.
TTTO: It truly is the strongest it's been in the 5 years that I have been here. I think we have something really special going on in our city. There is a lot of mutual support and love between bands. More importantly, fans are really responsive to the scene and it shows when you see packed local shows. Together the bar gets set higher, and the scene continues to grow. Most promoters give opening slots of national touring acts to local bands whenever they can and I don't think that happens as much in other cities. there are a lot of eyes on the denver music scene and for good reason!
ALDM: What lays ahead for Take to the Oars?
TTTO: We are finalizing plans for our first video, writing and working on a few new songs to record this summer, planning another short tour, and just going to continue to claw and push forward as fast as we can. We are working with the Vinefield Agency and have a manager now, so that has been two incredibly helpful additions. We are playing a FREE show with The Epilogues, Monroe Monroe, and Young Cities on April 28th at Casselman's so that should be huge!
If you would like to be their newest friend you can do so through their facebook page here. Make sure you catch these guys live and make sure that you buy their record American Volume! You can do so by clicking the link below
American Volume - Take To The Oars
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