Not So Silent Night Art

Here is all the art I made for the bands performing at KTCL's Not So Silent Night. I got to give it to each of the bands in person along with a letter of appreciation for their music.

Modern Suspects Interview

Last Friday night (December 5th, 2014) at KTCL's Not So Silent Night after a great opening set from Modern Suspects and an amazing full night of music from Half Moon Run, Vance Joy, Fitz and The Tantrums and Cage The Elephant I had the chance to interview Garret, Bart and Tyler of Modern Suspects, a great local band here in Colorado. They were the lucky and very talented winners of KTCL's Hometown For the Holidays 2013 and thus had the honor to open up the show and get the crowd warmed up. I know I speak for all when I say it was one for the record books.

Matt, Andrea, Joel, Bart, Me, Tyler, and Garret
Photo Credit:  93.3 KTCL

Here's the whole interview:

Please introduce yourselves and what you do in Modern Suspects.

Garret Myers: Lead vocals and keyboards

Tyler Frees: Bass and synth 

Bart Williams: Lead guitar and background vocals. 

For Live shows we hire additional guitarists and a drummer.

When you won Hometown for the Holidays (HTFTH) you were called Claymore Disco. Why the name change?

- After winning HTFTH we realized we needed to make some big changes if we wanted to continue to move forward. We needed to improve our writing and update our image. As everything began changing and going in a new direction, it only seemed fitting that we changed our name to give us a fresh start and define a new chapter for us as a band.

What’s one thing you want people/fans to know about Modern Suspects?

- We are all about connecting with people with honesty and transparency. 

Are you guys beyond excited to be playing here at Not So Silent Night?

- YES! This has been a very surreal experience to be able to share a stage this size, in front of so many people, with some of our favorite artists!

Which bands are you most excited to hear and or meet tonight?

- Cage the Elephant has always been a favorite band to see live! Half Moon Run however had a very pleasantly surprising live set! Didn't know what to expect seeing them and they totally killed it!

Describe you creative process in 3 words.

- Intentional, weird, feeling

Have you always been musicians/vocalists?

- Garret was a classically trained (10 years) pianist since a very young age. Tyler comes from a very musical family and studied music business for 3 years Anderson University in Indiana. Bart has been playing guitar for 11 years. And of course we all still have our day jobs on the side to help support the band.

You have your new debut single out “Sequel” have there been good reactions to it?

- We've gotten a lot of really good responses to it actually! It’s the first release we've had that we’re all pretty proud of. We’re very excited to release our EP at the beginning of next year!

What are you guys most excited for this upcoming year, musically or just in general?

- Man, there are so many things we’re excited for this next year! Probably what we’re most excited to do is get in front of as many people as we can. We hope to play a lot more shows this year to build our audience and make connections with other bands, venues and other industry reps. Denver has a really great music scene and there are a lot of people to get around to!

If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only bring one item what would it be?

- A Frisbee, definitely a Frisbee!

Who are your musical influences?

- Wow, we have a lot! To mention some of the big players who significantly influence us and our writing, Coldplay, Mutemath, The 1975, Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix.

What’s the hardest thing about being in a band?

- Probably the hardest thing is making the sacrifices necessary to grow. It takes being willing to give up your free time to hang with friends or play video games or other hobbies to commit to practicing and fine tuning your craft, emailing venues and promoters, writing songs, planning goals etc. So in short, you have to be willing to pour all your time and money into the band.

You describe your music as “Popternative,” please explain?

- Pop-ternative is simply putting alternative pop into one word! (help us spread it!)

I know some of you are not from Colorado, what made you guys move here in the first place? What made you stay?

- Well all 3 of us ended up moving here with our families in our younger years, Tyler however went to school in Indiana. When Garret and I (Bart) needed an additional player, we asked Tyler who was a childhood friend if he would be willing to move back to join the band, an offer he simply couldn't refuse!

What was the first concert you attended? First album you bought? Favorite album?

Tyler: First concert and album was by the Newsboys, Thrive. Favorite album of all time is probably “The End is not the End” by House of Heroes. 

Bart: My first concert was a Relient K show at the Fillmore in Denver. I honestly can’t even remember the first album I bought…. Might have been a Cake record. Favorite album right now would have to be Wolfgang Amadeus by Phoenix. 

Garret: First concert I ever saw was John Tesh at Red Rocks.

What are you listening to right now? Song wise, band wise?

Bart: I've been on a really big Metronomy kick lately, loving their song Aquarius. 

Garret: I've been listening to a lot of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., specifically Simple Girl. 

Tyler: Listening to The Wild Wild, Tokyo Police Club, and The Knocks song “Classic.”

What was it like hearing your song on the radio for the first time?

Bart: First time I ever heard one of our songs on the radio I had just gotten off work and was driving down the highway when one of our songs came on. I remember cranking it as loud as it would go, rolling down my windows and screaming all the lyrics! It’s a wonder I didn't get in a wreck haha.

If you could trade places with any musician for a day who would you pick and why? (you would gain their skills)

Bart: This might be the hardest question yet! I think I would trade with Jack White. His creativity, simplicity and songwriting have always fascinated me! 

Tyler: Drums, Darren King from Mutemath because he’s in his own league and zone. Bass, Chris Wolstenholm from Muse because his bass lines make peoples ears bleed. 

Garret: Jon Foreman of Switchfoot. He’s a vocalist and frontman that I believe does it for the good of people and not necessarily for himself.

What kind of advice do you have for aspiring musicians and bands?

- Do what you love. The whole reason we do this “band thing” is because we love the music that we’re making. If you lose sight of why you’re making music in order to be famous or make tons of money then the whole process becomes a chore and you lose the joy of it all. This is probably one of the hardest industries to be a part of, but we’re willing to go through all the crap and work 12+ hr. days because the love we have for it makes it so worth it.

Dream venue? Dream band to tour with?

- Red Rocks would be incredible! We would love to be able to tour with Switchfoot or Mutemath someday!

Where can fans go to see you next?

- We actually don’t have any shows posted right now but are putting together details for our EP release early Feb, so be on the lookout for that date!

What’s next for Modern Suspects?

- We've spent the entire last year writing and really laying the groundwork for the band, so this year will be full of promoting what we've been working on. So you’ll see lots of shows posted in the near future, new music and new videos.

I volunteer at the Denver Zoo, so what are your favorite animals?

Bart: I've always loved the octopus because it’s so weird! 
Tyler: Tigers! 
Garret: Zeerbras… lookup Kevin Hart for details! (half deer, half zebra)


You can check out and "Like" Modern Suspects on Facebook here
Follow them on Twitter here
Instagram here
Download there new single "Sequel" on Noisetrade here

Not So Silent Night 2014 at the 1stBank Center Experience/Review

Not So Silent Night is an event put on each year  in December by the local radio station Channel 9.33 (KTCL). This years show featured Modern Suspects, Half Moon Run, Vance Joy, Fitz and The Tantrums, and Cage The Elephant.

Though this was only my second time attending the show I had been hearing about it for almost as long as I can remember. It has become somewhat of a Holiday tradition in Denver and the surrounding area, and it almost always sells out so you have to get tickets in advance to insure your spot in the crowd.

Last year I cut it really close when it came to getting tickets. My friend had said she was going to get some tickets and we could go, but in the end that didn't work out and I was ticketless. To make matters worse I later found out that my brother had bought tickets for him and his friends. That left me with the option of buying scalper's tickets (boo!) or not going at all.  Flash forward to the day of the show... my brother had just come home from college and was hanging out with his friends watching football, while I was perusing the internet, moping around and thinking about how I wasn't going to see My Body Sings Electric, Saints of Vallory, Bastille, New Politics, Grouplove and Young the Giant. Then all of the sudden on Facebook KTCL posted that they had fifteen extra general admission floor tickets to the show. I quickly snatched my ticket from the site, and I was ecstatic! My friend with the tickets  had been waiting in line for three hours and so she was the fifth person in line, and when I arrived the line was wrapped around the entire huge parking lot. Thankfully she let me in line with her and we ended up being in the second row for the show.

This year I wasn't going to make the same mistake, and so as soon as the tickets went on sale, I  bought them and had them in my possession. When KTCL announced the line up I almost couldn't contain my excitement. I had been waiting to see Fitz and the Tantrums for forever! They are one of those bands that I love every single song they put out, the only other band that fits the same description for me is Jack Johnson The plan was to get to the venue early to insure maximum possibility of being in the second row like last year or even better, front row. What made this show even more exciting is that I won a pair of meet and greet passes from Channel 93.3 just three days before the show, and so my friend Andrea and I were guaranteed to meet all the bands performing that night.

With the meet and greet passes Andrea and I got to go into the venue before the massive crowd waiting outside and we were given a poster to get signed from the KTCL staff, who were all very nice and fun to talk to while we waited for the meet and greets. Shout out to Erin and Jen for making the night so awesome and to Steve for solidifying your spot as my favorite DJ at 93.3 for giving me the tickets and meet and greet passes.

The first band we got to meet was Half Moon Run. Me being the camera hog/outgoing personality I am had to be at the front of the line when we walked into the green room (it was a literal "green" room). They were all very nice and they signed our posters and took pictures. Then our next meet and greet was in about twenty minutes, so we were set free to roam the empty venue and buy merch or what not with no lines. I got myself a Cage The Elephant T-shirt. Then the clock struck 8:30 pm and the mass of people stormed into the venue like the blood escaping the elevator in the Shinning. It was crazy to see, but also really fun.

Me, Andrea and Half Moon Run
Photo Credit: 93.3 KTCL

When we returned we found out we would be meeting Vance Joy next. James aka Vance Joy was incredible nice and pretty much the tallest person I have ever met. You can see in the picture that I only came up to his shoulder and I would say I'm of average stature. James was shy but welcoming at the same time and he had a lovely Australian accent.

Me, Vance Joy and Andrea
Photo Credit: 93.3 KTCL

The next meet and greet wasn't for a little while and so we had a chance to go and listen to part of the show until then. While I walked through the empty halls I could hear Modern Suspect's song Sequel playing and I began to pump myself up for an awesome night of music. Now was the struggle of finding the friends we had came to the show with, you know the ones who had been at the front of the line. When I finally spotted them in the crowd they were in the front row and we were about thirty people away from them. I became that person everyone hates at concerts, the one who shoves their way to the front saying my friends are up there. Well this time it was true and since I had waited in line for about five hours I just kept on telling myself that it was OK. We got to listen to the end of Modern Suspects set and saw the majority of Half Moon Run's and then it was time to meet another band.

This time it was Fitz and the Tantrums. I was super exited to meet them because I had been a fan for a really long time and I missed their shows at the Ogden Theater that past summer. Fitz was another really tall guy, Noelle was as beautiful as ever and all the "J" name guys (James, Jeremey, John, and Joe) were super cool. When we took the picture together John Wicks the drummer complimented me on my red elephant pants, and then he became my favorite member of the band.

Fitz, Andrea, Joe, Me, Noelle, John, James and Jeremy
Photo Credit: 93.3 KTCL

We were released once again and had to make our way back through the crowd, this time to see Vance Joy's amazing set that included a great moment for him when everyone brought out their cell phones for a light and the crowd lit up like fireflies. I guess he had never played at this large of an enclosed venue and it was new for him to see that. The best part about the meet and greet passes besides the commemorative laminate we got to wear and keep was that we got to meet the bands while the rest of the crowd was waiting standing for the bands to come on.

The last meet and greet was extra special because we got to meet both Modern Suspects and Cage the Elephant in one "power hour" of band meeting. We first met Cage The Elephant, and I was beyond excited, mostly to meet lead singer Matt Shultz. I may or may not have a huge crush on him. I gave him my art I made for the band and they were all impressed and their manager was especially impressed  which was kind of funny. They were all incredibly charming and fun to chat with/ hang around. Then we waited in the hall way for CTE to finish up taking pictures with people, when they were done they came back through the hall way and we had a high five gauntlet going for them. It was one of the highlights from the night.

Kyle, Daniel, Andrea, Brad, Matt, Me, Matthan, and Nick
Photo Credit: 93.3 KTCL

Next we met Modern Suspects, the local band from Colorado Springs, who I would be interviewing later that night for the blog. The guys recognized me when I introduced myself to them at the autograph table, which made me feel extra special and made it seem like I belonged back stage because hey I'm a friend of the band.

Matt, Andrea, Jim, Bart, Me, Tyler and Garret
Photo Credit: 93.3 KTCL

I had made an art piece and wrote a letter to each of the bands and it really great to hand it to them in person, and I even received a response from Noelle of Fitz and the Tantrums later that night through Instagram. After the last meet and greet was done we went back to fight our way to the front row with the rest of our friends. We came back right at the beginning of Fitz and the Tantrums rockin' set, I wish I had seen the entire thing, but what I did see blew my mind. From their own rendition of "Sweet Dreams are Made of These" to when they had the whole room kneeling on the floor for an epic "everyone stand up on que."  Their music made everyone dance and go crazy, and if you were standing still you stood out like a sore thumb. The end of their set was greeted with about a thirty minute wait for Cage The Elephant to come on, but when they did...

It was the highlight of the show! Cage The Elephant puts on one heck of a show, their music fills the room and everyone gets into the beat. Matt Shultz has so much energy he could run the empire state building off of his performance. The band as a whole was so fantastic and with hit songs like "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked", "Come a Little Closer" and "Cigarette Day Dreams" there wasn't really even a chance they would be anything but amazing. They ended the show with "Sabertooth Tiger" which was quite exciting with Matt jumping into the crowd and dancing on top of us for a while along with his guitar playing brother Brad. Earlier that night Cage The Elephant found out they were nominated for a Grammy, which might have added to the excitement of the show. 

Overall the show was epic in more ways than one and I will definitely be coming back for more next year.

Vance Joy Art

I made this in honor of KTCL's Not So Silent Night that I will be going to on Friday for Vance Joy. Its a minimalist style album cover with Vance Joy's song lyrics in the background. I have sent out requests for interviews with the bands playing the show that night and so hopefully I will have a band interview up sometime in the near future.