The Broadcast is a magnificent up and coming band carving a place in a new yet to be titled genre some call, “new classic rock.” Drawing much of their ambiance from classic rock, they’re a band with an explosive female lead singer, riffing guitar, mood-altering keys and a rock-solid rhythm section. They are a dynamic ensemble known for their powerful live performances. The Broadcast’s infectious energy and authentic approach to rock and roll music has propelled them into the live music community spotlight. They continue to break new ground across the country embarking on their first ever Midwest Tour. On their way to Chicago, they took a pit stop in Metro Detroit. I caught up with Michael Davis (drums), Tyler Housholder (percussion), Aaron Austin (guitar) and Caitlin Krisko (vocals) of The Broadcast at the Sugar House in downtown Detroit for some catching up and much needed drinks. Caitlin suggested we do a quick interview, thus a few beverages deep…what better time.
So it’s only appropriate we start with the obvious question. What brings The Broadcast to the Motor City?
Caitlin: We had two days off between New York and Chicago. My Grandma is 92 years old and she has never seen the band play. So we decided to take advantage of the two days off and give her a private acoustic performance of The Broadcast…Beyond that too,
Michael: I’ve never been here before and I’ve always really wanted to go, so I was really excited to come here to check it out, walk around and kind of pick up the vibe of the town. Even just for one day. I think everyone kind of wanted to do the same.
I believe this is your first Midwest tour. How has it gone thus far and what are your positive notes or negatives if any on the tour?
Caitlin: We’re just kind of starting out. We have a show in Chicago, then we hit St. Louis and we have a Daytrotter Session…In general, I think it’s cool for us to be in a different part of the country.
Tyler: It’s a new market, new faces, new crowd. We’ve been doing New York, North Carolina to Florida for like three years now. We haven’t quite been away from it. So it’s cool to be in new cities.
Caitlin: It’s important to be able to expand.
Does anyone have a secret regiment they do to get ready for a show like gargling hot salt water or wearing the same socks?
Aaron: Surprisingly enough, I feel like we’ve met a lot of bands where the singer usually does something, but Caitlin doesn’t do shit.
Caitlin: I’m going to quote a great thing that I heard. There was a woman on Broadway, Christine Ebersole, she is a badass. I remember Oprah interviewed her and asked what her warm up regiment was. She looked at Oprah and she got this awesome look on her face and she goes, “Darling, what do you think the first song is for?” I just remember really resonating with that.
Do you guys have a genre with which you would prefer to be classified?
Aaron: I think universally we all say rock and roll.
Michael: If you had to put a qualifier on that, I’d say soulful rock and roll.
Aaron: People have said it’s like some new classic rock, modern classic rock, or modern vintage rock.
Caitlin: The reality is that we are five people in a band in 2014. All of us were raised by parents that lived during the Woodstock era. So we are inevitably five people that have been influenced by The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Bob Seger. Inevitably you’re going to hear that stuff in our music.
Besides the band members and managers, is there a person, group or whatever that you think is an invaluable asset to your outfit?
Aaron: Every band member is invaluable.
Caitlin: As a band that books ourselves, manages ourselves, reaches out to our street teams, updates our websites…we handle our money and the reason why is because when you’re where we are as a band, we are so proud to say we have over 7,000 authentic fans on Facebook that are very active. Let’s be serious, there’s no money in this. We tour 100-130 days a year and we all live well below the poverty line. A manager, or booking agent, unless they are genuinely about the music, they’re not interested in bands that are on our level. I’m going to say this on the book because I think it’s important to say these things. It is important for people to hear the reality of the business. There are tons of bands on the road that are killing it. Bands you have never heard before that are different than anything you have ever listened to and they can’t get a booking agent or manager because their 20% is not worth it.
So do you guys think you will continue to manage yourselves as you become more and more successful?
Michael: We are all in agreement that if the perfect guy comes along, like the Brian Epstein to The Broadcast, we’d be on board. There’s no middle class with bands anymore. There’s little start up no names and then huge bands. Everything in the middle you have to completely rely on yourself and your fan base to do anything. It’s not like there are people out there really looking for up and coming bands anymore.
So as you evolve, where do you think The Broadcast style of music is headed? Are you going to stick with more Dodge the Arrow style or try something new?
Aaron: This is a group where every album will be different. It will always be powerful and driving in the rock sense, but I do think we will change in every album.
Caitlin: Dodge the Arrow has a lot of vocals and a lot of Caitlin Krisko, which is fine. That’s what the songs we were writing at the time were. I think on the new record the percussion sections are going to have a lot more space to shine and explore. I know that the guitar will have more space to do acoustic with electric with a double electric layer, really just giving more instrumentation on the next record.
Tyler: We’re only looking at the next album. Who knows what will happen after that, but there is a mentality of evolving.
What venue would you love to play?
All: Red Rocks!
Michael: As far as one that’s not completely out of reach, I’d like to play at The Bowery Ballroom in New York. Great American Music Hall in San Francisco would be great.
Caitlin: I would have loved to say Roseland, but unfortunately it is closing, which is a real bummer. That’s definitely the sign of the times in New York City.
Michael: We played The Orange Peel in Asheville which was cool and definitely one off of the bucket list.
*What was one of the most influential albums to you? *
Aaron: The first CD I fell in love with and made me a nerd about music was Nirvana’s Nevermind. That was the first album I was really into. Then it was Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, Blink 182 and like that whole school, but I’m into everything.
Tyler: I don’t know if I could put my finger on a specific album, but pretty much the whole Beatles collection. That was like when I really delved into song writing and what each band member contributes to an album.
Michael: When I got really serious about the drums it was all about Miles Davis. A teacher gave me Kind of Blue and then I just worked off of the whole tree of artist who came from Miles Davis, especially drummers. You’ve got Philly Jo Jones, Kenny Clarke, Tony Williams, Al Foster, all these people that were my heroes and influences.
Caitlin: I think the most influential album as a human being was Paul Simon’s Graceland. As a woman, probably Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun. I think it is one of the best female albums ever.
Is there any piece of advice you would like to give to up and coming artists?
Caitlin: You better love it.
Aaron: It has to be about making good music first.
Tyler: I’ve got a simple formula: Patience, practice, and perseverance.
Aaron: The only way you’re not going to be successful is if you quit.
Tyler: All you really should be concerned with is Practice. If you are as good as you think you are, it will work out. It’s not luck, or throwing cards on the table, if you’re good enough you’ll make it, if you’re not you won’t.
Caitlin: Also if you’re really broke, don’t be ashamed to look into government assistance.
Michael: [Another] key to success is to work a little bit harder than anybody else and to pay attention to detail. That’s really all you need for whatever you do.
