DR - Just with listening to a few songs, you can tell that you are genre benders. The sound is self proclaimed as RetMod Rock. For those who aren’t familiar, what would you say is the best description for your sound?
SETH - Each of our songs has a different feel and a different influence to go with it. We all come from different musical backgrounds spanning post-grunge Seattle sounds, Fat-WreckChords punk vibes, and mid 70's experimental sounds. Fans we've meet at shows have compared us to The Black Crows, Led Zeppelin, and just last week we got a reference to Austin, TX band Flowerhead.
TYLER - Pearl Jam meets Led Zeppelin with the different song dynamics of Incubus. Like Seth said, every song sounds different and provides fans with a different feel.
DR - How did you come together as a band?
SETH - The same way every band comes together -- Craigslist.
TYLER - I put up a post on craigslist to try and sell myself. I guess I got confused and put it under musicians. I guess you could say I intrigued Chad enough to shoot me an e-mail. (Wink Wink)
DR - What did you think would happen in your first year?
SETH - We went into the studio after playing for only 3 months; that was the last thing I expected. Chad Dickerson felt strongly about the music we were creating while rehearsing and really pushed the band further than we expected to go. I would have been satisfied playing a gig around Lexington every other weekend, but Chad wasn't. Switchmen is just over a year old and we have nearly every weekend booked with shows, from Lexington to Nashville, until May.
TYLER - Play Lollapalooza.
DR - Who have you been excited to play with?
SETH - Every band gets excited to play a show where they open for a national act. We opened for the Sick Puppies in December and had a blast playing to a very receptive crowd. But honestly, as great as that experience was, I have enjoyed sharing the stage with local Lexington bands the most. Gaining a better understanding of what makes up the Lexington music scene let me really appreciate the music and the venues that the city offers.
TYLER - In Louisville we got to go on after Green Haired Freak... this was back in August... an amazing night to say the least.
DR - Who are some of the greatest influences on the band to drive the sound?
TYLER - John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Rich and Carter Beauford. Those guys had chops like no one else. They are in my head every time I get behind my kit.
DR - What has been the most gratifying event or thing in the time as a band thus far?
TYLER - Playing Varden's in Paris, Ky during the WEG.
CHAD - The most gratifying thing I've found so far, is the people I am meeting and their openness and love for the art. In my opinion I play with some of the best musicians in the world. The fact that they put as much time and effort as they do into playing and writing music with me, well that frankly is just humbling.
DR - Do you have any pre-show rituals?
TYLER - Well I don't really, but if you want to know what Seth does before a show, you'll have to ask me later. It's hilarious. He doesn't know that we know though.
CHAD - I like to find silence if I can. I also try to sleep just before stage time. I prefer the feeling of a fresh awaking and then directly picking up the instrument. It seems for me, to lead to a very spiritual and pure sonic experience.
DR - If you could open and/or tour with any national act, who would it be?
TYLER - Lil Wayne. Seriously, that guy is crazy and has an intense work schedule. Plus it would be wild to have two different sounds playing on the same stage. Someone would be injured for sure.
DR - How long has each of you been playing their instrument(s) collectively?
SETH - Cello - 8 years, Bass Guitar - 7 years
TYLER - Drums - About 3 months
CHAD - Vocals - 1 year , Guitar - 16 years
DR - How did you become involved in the Tanglewood Collective?
SETH - Haha, well I was at a house party when one of my hometown friends introduced me to his roomate, Jon Imeson. We were both into deejaying, I played Hip-Hop and Imeson played electronic, and really helped pioneer "Dubstep" in Lexington. We'd always give each other shit, saying that the others music was trash. Anyway...as Jon keep deejaying, he got more involved in the scene, to the point where he started putting shows together. Out of this, Tanglewood Collective was formed.
DR - What does the future hold for the Switchmen? Label and tour?
TYLER - Both, isn't that the point. The future has a lot of riches and I think Seth is planning on getting him some new pre-show material.
SETH - The future for Switchmen looks very bright. We are looking at several options as far as labels go. Mainly, deciding whether to hold out and get a substantial contract in the coming months, or to start our own which has a lot of positives and negatives. We plan to do 2-3 small tours this year and in the Summer of 2012 tour on a very heavy level.
DR - For those who haven’t experienced the Switchmen, what kind of show should they expect?
TYLER - Just get ready! And for the love of God, get up and dance.
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(Photo credits by Stacey Tackett)
Chad chased after me once for not giving him a cigarette. My tongue has just healed. Just go see them.
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