When you were recording the album, did you get a sense it was going to be special?
Aaron: At that time I was 21 and all I wanted to do was either sit in a tiny room with a piano creating ideas or be out drumming for wild dance parties. I honestly didn’t think about how others might react to what we were recording. I do know we all put every ounce of combined heart into those tracks.
Nate: I had pretty high aspirations for it but I was honestly discouraged at first because it took a lot of word of mouth and a lot of us banging our heads against a wall on the road before that record actually got any attention. I remember reading a really scathing review in some local paper in Buffalo by someone who was obviously a fan of the older lineup. And it made me laugh because it reminded me of that scene in Spinal Tap when they’re reading all their bad reviews, but I never doubted the strength of the music. But with no record label behind it, scant resources, no distribution and so forth, we had to go out and literally press it into people’s hands. The accolades started happening after we were done touring behind it .. if I remember correctly.
What allowed for everything to come together as it did?
Aaron: Have you ever had the feeling while you are planning something or during the something that what you are doing has already happened and you are just along for the ride following the predetermined path? For me, Percy Hill feels like a part of my life path and a piece of who I am. As for coming together we were all in the UNH music scene. I auditioned for UNH Jazz band with John on upright bass. When I first met Nate, we were inseparable constantly playing sessions and writing in the PCAC. Nate introduced me to Steely Dan on his 1980s vinyl player. Percy Hill was already established with Nate, Joe and Al Ostroy at the helm so the stage was set. We just had to get on board, write/record material and push ahead full blast as only serenely naive, hormonal, adventure seeking, glory chasing, freedom tasting lads in their early and mid-twenties could do.
Nate: Like most things it probably just comes down to the amount of time you’re able to put towards something. At that time we had no other duties and we were motivated.
You won the very first Jammy award for best studio album for Color in Bloom, does that seem like a lifetime ago? What memories do you have from that night?
Aaron: I remember driving down to Irving Plaza from Dover, NH with Zander L in his VW bus. We were just honored and happy to be a part of this community of music lovers.
Nate: Like I mentioned before the accolades seemed to start coming in only after the “relentless touring” phase of the band had ended. I actually had a day job at the time while I was waiting to get my scholarship back at UNH. I was working at a paper company that resembled Dunder Mifflin in more ways than one, when I got the call about the Jammy. I remember the distinct feeling of “are you kidding me?!” It was certainly an honor, it was just a funny point in life for sure. It’s worth mentioning that I was an awful employee.
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