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alternative/indie rock | ||
Mesmerized: That is the first word that comes to mind in describing this next group. I was instantly mesmerized when I heard my first song from them. In fact, the track, “Bullet Song” clearly outlines the enormous talent that Breech is showcasing. If fact, I wanted to know more about who this group is in particular I wanted more of that great music that was ringing sweet vibrations in my ears. I decided to review their MySpace account where I had the honor to listen to more of their tracks. The fact that Breech has an enriching history is foretelling in the fact that after two years in the making, Breech’s is releasing their fifth release entitled, Tarnish and Undress, October 8th, 2007. And what a two years in making it has been. With an array of many changes, Breech is positioned to rock their fans to a new level with their new release. I had a chance to catch up with the members of the group recently. Here is what developed:
Website: http://www.breech.net
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/breech
CDBaby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/breech
SonicBids: http://www.sonicbids.com/breech2
Isaac-Joseph: Can you introduce the members of Breech to the audience of Juniorscave.com?
Flanagan: Our task in getting ready for the October CD release for TARNISH AND UNDRESS has been reassembling the band, and we’re pretty excited about this new lineup, which looks like this: Missy Gibson – vocals, percussion; Mike Flanagan – guitar, backing vocals, clarinet, keys/accordion; Whitney Lockert – guitar, backing vocals, keys; Mike Sattin – bass; Greg Berella – drums/percussion.
Isaac-Joseph: You will release your next album on October 8th, 2007. It took two years to complete this album. For your fans, what have been some of the challenges of releasing this fifth album? BTW, I would like to congratulate new mommy Missy Gibson.
Gibson: Thanx for the congrats, Isaac! Being a Mom is way more fun than I ever expected and something I’ve never done before, as was self producing a Breech album! All said we were doing things we’d never done before in the studio, making decisions we’d never had to make.
Flanagan: So the biggest challenge, generally speaking, was figuring out on our own how to fully realize the vision we had for these songs. Smaller challenges involved things like how to get the floor tom to be heard on one song, or keep it from overpowering the band on another!
Gibson: Or how to keep my pregnancy related ailments from slowing down the recording process!
Isaac-Joseph: [directed to Mike Flanagan] Losing both your bassist, Ian Barstow, who moved to Sweden to become a reindeer farmer, and your long time drummer, Dan Hughes, guitarist/songwriter/ producer Mike Flanagan had to depend on his tenacious attitude to get the job done. Describe those moments during this period when at times you felt that “Am I going to make it?”
Flanagan: Well, thankfully, those guys had recorded all their parts before we parted ways, and they did a great job. Even though Missy was essential to the process, I did miss their moral support and having those extra sets of ears to bounce ideas off of in those times when I was tearing my hair out over whether a particular guitar sound was right for a song, or some other production idea. Spending time working alone on a project can be isolating at times and it’s easy to lose sight of things… so yeah there were a few periods of time where I had to walk away from the project and re-approach it with fresh ears.
Isaac-Joseph: [Directed to Missy] Missy, you came from Detroit to Los Angles with an established music base with you. Describe how the music scene in Detroit is different than in Los Angeles:
Gibson: Well, I spent many a year in Detroit and am very grateful for the support I had there. I grew up in the Detroit music scene. I had lots of friends, fans and mentors. In a sense, I was kind of spoiled. When I left Detroit, the scene was thriving and very supportive. Everyone knew each other and everyone came to each others’ shows. It was pretty hard to leave and in a sense coming to LA was a bit like the big fish in a small pond very quickly realizing that it had become a small fish in an enormous ocean. Despite that, a lot of good has come of my moving here. It can be difficult, though, sometimes. LA can be rather disingenuous and intimidating. I often say it’s the land of the Emperor’s New Clothes, where people often accept having their art spoon-fed to them, based on what is considered cool, rather than just enjoy what they really like. It can be very cut-throat at the same time. All said, I continue to welcome the challenge and I still LOVE making music and performing no matter where I am!
Isaac-Joseph: Since the release of your self-titled debut (1999), describe how your music has evolved over the years—
Gibson: You can only hope that your art changes and grows with you. Also, band members have changed through the years, so that can pretty significantly change things. Mike & I started working together before APRON STRINGS was released, so I KNOW that things have certainly evolved since then. BREECH has become so much about that musical connection and interplay that Mike & I share that’s it’s hard to remember a Breech without him.. I’d like to believe that we’re a little wiser than before …that maybe our songs have in turn matured. I think we probably take a few more risks than we used to and that we continue to try to challenge ourselves. We’ve always introduced elements into the music other than the standard bass-drums-guitar, and on TARNISH AND UNDRESS in particular it feels like we’ve expanded on that, whether it’s Mike orchestrating some string parts in some places, or tucking a banjo into “Unrequited”, in ways that really serve the songs.
Isaac-Joseph: Describe a day in the studio for Breech:
Flanagan: A day in the studio might look very differently depending on what part of the recording process it is. Early on in the process it was hooking up a slew of microphones to my gear and borrowed gear and pointing them all at the drums in various ways, getting the bass and guitars and vocal mics plugged in, getting headphones on everyone so we can all hear each other, and then all of us just rocking out all day, recording as much of it as possible. By the end it’s me alone at the mixing board, mixing all the elements together with Missy behind me listening and making suggestions or asking questions when something catches her ear. Throughout, there are delicious beverages.
Isaac-Joseph: One of the coolest things that I have read in your bio is that your music has been featured in film and television in particular on shows such as the WB’s "Dawson's Creek" and "Black Sash.” Describe your feelings of having your music featured on those shows. And is this something that you would like to do more of in the future? Why or why not?
Gibson: The feeling of hearing your music being played on TV is amazing …I don’t care what show it is! It’s also kinda cool because your family spread out across the country collectively somehow decides that maybe you really are legit after all. Ha ha-Ok- I’m being a little harsh.
It’s a little hard, because no one wants to feel like a sell out, but heck, I’d rather make money having my music on TV than by flipping burgers-Ya know? Not to say, we’d agree to any old show, but the shows that have featured our music have all been pretty harmless shows and we’ve gained some great exposure and consequent fans.
One thing that is a little weird is that suddenly your song is assigned a new meaning simply by being represented in a particular scene on TV, so even if our song THISTLE, for example, is a personal story of tumultuous love it is now the story of Dawson & Katie Holms character and their unrequited love. I hate to say it, but I sometimes when we play that song, I can’t help but picture Katie Holmes in her tight jeans walking across the campus, pining for her Dawson! & THAT bums me out a little. Nonetheless, we’d do it again and continue to look forward to more opportunities.
Isaac-Joseph: I love reading in your bio that you all have opened up for such acts as Weezer (I love this group), the late Jeff Buckley, White Stripes and Liz Phair. From this type of national spotlight, what have you as a group taken away from this type of national exposure?
Gibson: We’ve been much honored to share the stage with so many great bands through the years. What we’ve taken away is invaluable experience, great stories, free coolers of beer and on occasion a deli tray.
Isaac-Joseph: The floor is yours: Any last thoughts you would like to share with the audience of Junior’s Cave?
Flanagan: People have been telling us so far that the new record is a real “grower”… there’s a lot to absorb and it really seems to reward repeated listening. We hope folks do just that, and keep coming out to see us and buying our records. It really keeps us going knowing we’ve gotten through to people and switched on a light somewhere inside them. Although, to be honest, we’d probably keep making music whether anyone is listening or not, it’s something we have to do!
Special Thanks to Missy Gibson and Mike Flanagan for setting this up for the band.
Photo used in this story was provided by Missy Gibson and Mike Flanagan.
Breech
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