Band Interview: Trickshooter Social Club
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life are pleased to bring you an interview with rock and roll band, Trickshooter Social Club.
1. How did you get started as a band?
It started with Larry (Larry Liss the other founder of the band) and I with a couple acoustics throwing out parts and ideas in a basement in Chicago. We actually started this thing with a bit of mission. We didn’t want to be a “band” in the traditional sense. We wanted to be a community of artists making things together. We wanted it to be open and supportive and positive – no typical band bullshit. We also wanted the music to be unapologetically honest with no pretension. The goal was to not be cool – just to be real. To be a part of the tradition of American roots rock and dirty blues – the traditional of story telling in 3 ½ minutes – and see where we could take it.
2. How would you describe your sound?
We like to think of our music as an oddly literate, completely eclectic approach to fuzzy, tweedy, garage-y, country-tinged, stomp and clap American rock-n-roll. Sometimes singer/songwriter, sometimes loud and unapologetic – our songs are a little whiskey soaked and world weary – but always leave a little room for redemption.
3. What bands/artists would you say have influenced your style of music?
It, or course all begins and ends with the Beatles. They did everything before anybody did anything. We also love Petty – he made honest music without pretense his entire career. Just a badass in every way. We also like bands like Cheap Trick because they wrote songs – with choruses and hooks and memorable lyrics. Not bullshit soundscapes or indulgent pap. We also love Social Distortion for their punch and simplicity. Steve Earle for his intelligence and candor. And when it comes to lyrics – our heroes are Leonard Cohen – the Zen master and Warren Zevon – the smirking smartass genius.
4. Has the rise of YouTube & music streaming helped or hindered you as a band?
Well – it hasn’t helped financially. That is for sure. But it has helped us get heard and seen. The difficult thing is that the market is so saturated with music and bands, that original music has become somewhat devalued. But the upside is that there are new avenues and paths to be heard and seen internationally which is really exciting. We are big on trying to expand our musical world beyond our hometown and streaming and YT have been helpful in achieving that goal.
5. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?
We are a band of makers. We have writers, visual artists, folks who make films and choreograph dance and movement. We are a group of gypsies who like to make things – music is at the center of our world – but we embrace all forms of story and all forms of expression.
6. What are your future plans musically? Tours?
We try to keep it simple. We really just want our music heard, so are very focused on putting more material out into the world and working hard to get it heard – that is our main focus. We also love to play live and we are string to play shows again in September. First Chicago, then a few short tours through the Fall. Over the last year we’ve gotten deeper into video and the visual design of the band and that has been fun – we will continue on that path.
Links
Website | Spotify | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
