BlindSide Thunder – Back to School

Listen to the new song from BlindSide Thunder – Back to School

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Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
John:  I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and after college joined the Marine Corps and spent 8 years in the service. In 1991 I moved to R. I. and joined a few cover bands and in 2000 moved back to Columbus Ohio where I played in a huge cover band. I moved back to R.I. in 2005 and just a few years ago formed BlindSide Thunder.

Dan: BlindSide started as a cover band. We work very well together and feel that music has strayed too far away from straight ahead rock and roll, so we decided it was time to put out some original material.

What do you have coming up? What are some of the new projects we can expect to see?
John: We’ve got a lot planned for 2013. We are in the process of recoding a full length CD of original music, which will be released in May.

Dan: We’re also taking full advantage of the internet right now. There are so many great ways to get the music to people, be it social media, internet radio like Jango, Spotify, iHeartRadio, etc, and the opportunity to work with WarpedMag.com. We would love to play our version of Proud Mary with Tina Turner!  We’ve reached out but her camp hasn’t gotten in touch yet. So, Tina, if you’re reading this, give us a shout.

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
John: Back to School has become really popular on some of the internet stations, with a crazy age spread among fans, so Back to School is the one we chose to promote with Warped.

How does your music separate yourself from other artists and bands out there?
John: We are a plug and play band. If we can’t duplicate our material in a live setting we don’t play it. We are only 3 piece rock band and we go back to basics. We aren’t over processed with layers of guitars.

Dan: Our material is fresh enough to get attention from younger fans, yet reminiscent enough to be appreciated by older fans too. A lot of bands seems to lock themselves into a specific age group or genre. Our material has a very broad appeal.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
John: Mostly legal stuff, e are finding out everyone gets a piece of the action and you have to be cost effective.

Dan: Paperwork. Everything from ASCAP to copyrights. There is so much backline stuff to do to keep the band protected.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
John: No real set backs. Got to be persistent and can’t do it for the money or awards. It is all about the music and what our band has to offer.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Dan: Losing focus. Determine as a band who you are and go with it. Don’t conform to what is popular on the radio today because by the time you have it down it’s old news.

John: Following trends seem to be the down fall of other bands. I can’t say for sure but from what I hear in popular music it sounds the same. There is no real distinction between popular artists, I guess that is how the business of music works when you are up in the big money arena.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
John: If people don’t get it so what! I like it when people laugh and give you the compliment, “Hey great job but you know you aren’t going to make it.” I love it and it motivates me just to make sure I practice harder and longer, make sure shows are better, etc. The thing is if you say I can’t do something or my band can’t, you bet on the wrong horse! Plug the guitar in and crank the damn thing up! Get rid of the pedals and processors. If it sounds good without them then it will sound awesome when you put a little something on it. Just play!

You have those that don’t pay attention or support you then when something big happens everyone wants to say they know you or your band. Screw them! Just do what feels right. If it sounds good it must be good. Hey, there are only 2 types of music: good and bad.  Pretty damn simple.

We have goals like everyone else, but I think what gets lost is that sometimes we as artists forget that there are people out there that want to be like “us” but either did not have the talent or were scared, or things just did not pan out. Just like others in this world that are set in their ways and are supposedly happy with their lives and don’t work to get better; well I am not like that and neither is this band because we always try to improve and achieve what ever level of success is attainable. Keep pushing!

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
John:  Playing live is the best! Get people into it and let them hear something they never heard before. Help them make a change and broaden their musical ear. Then party with them!

Dan: Any shameless promotion works for me.

Where can people visit you?
Dan: You can visit BlindSide Thunder just about anywhere!
www.facebook.com/BlindSide
www.reverbnation.com/BlindSideRI
We’ve got a YouTube channel that has videos from a television spot we did.
You can stream our material at Jango.com, Spotify and iHeartRadio.
Everyone is welcome to visit us at www.blindsidethunder.com, which goes live on March 1st, 2013.