| By: Junior Davis
Junior: When and why did you start performing?
Verona Red: Members of this band started performing together about seven years ago when we were 15. We had been getting together to jam for a couple months. Once we got bored with laying down songs on a cheap four track tape recorder, we decided to put a live show together for our friends. These usually took place in garages or drive ways, and cops usually shut us down within the first fifteen minutes. It was our first taste of the rebellious rock and roll lifestyle.
Junior: A brief history of the Band:
Verona Red: Verona Red was formed in August of 2003. Mike and I (Chris) had been playing together in a band, Audio Pollution, since our first year of high school. Audio Pollution recorded three albums, played some of the biggest venues in Chicago, and worked with top notch producers like Steve Albini and Sean Okeefe. After high school, we all went off to college and Audio Pollution disbanded much to the disappointment of several Northwest Chicago suburbanites. After spending a year taking pointless classes in Middle of Nowhere, IL, Mike and I decided to move up to Chicago and start a new band. After finding two new members, Jon and Tony, we laid down an 8 song EP and began our new musical rebirth as Verona Red, a name that was chosen for us by our fan club. As you can see Verona Red is a big supporter of the democratic process.
Junior: What was the first tune(s)/flow/lyrics you learned?
Verona Red: Hoyt Axtons Greenback Dollar, not sure I've heard it since actually.
Junior: Is your family musical?
Verona Red: My whole family loves music. So much that my sister and I were basically forced into music as kids, I hated it then, but now I'm more than grateful for the extra push.
Junior: Describe your family member's musical interests and abilities.
Verona Red: My dad plays guitar and a little bit of banjo, my sister plays piano and cello (she was big into solo and orchestral performances back in the day), and my mom plays the radio, but I will say that out all of them she is the only one who can really hum in tune.
Junior: Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?
Verona Red: Most of the musicians I admire are examples of people who did things their own way. First, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, for the not letting serious health problems stop him from making a run at the music business, also all the work he has done for Crohns disease is really admirable. Second, Ani Difranco, a true example of a self-made rockstar.
Junior: Which famous musicians have you learned from?
Verona Red: As a kid I was pretty much obsessed with Neil Young. At this point Im not sure if I could unlearn all the ways that he has influenced my song writing style. Since we play a lot of high energy rhythmic acousti-funk, people who hear our music for the first time usually dont catch the essence of Neil in there, but if you dig deep and listen closely for the chord structures and progressions you might just hear it.
Junior: Who was your first musical teacher? Other teachers?
Verona Red: Mrs. Veleur was my first piano teacher. I was seven years old at the time and all I remember about the whole experience was that she used to give me these little plastic statues of famous classical composers whenever I finally memorized an entire piece of music. For some reason, I thought those were the coolest thing. At the time, I hated piano; so I guess it was really the only reason I practiced. I think they are all in a shoe box somewhere. Maybe one day I will take those to Antiques Road Show.
Junior: Describe your first time performing in front of an audience.
Verona Red: Piano recitals at Mrs. Veleurs' house. I think I'm still trying to forget about those nights. Stuffy room, uncomfortable fold out chairs, disgusting punch, and stale cherry pie. Actually sounds like some of the places we've played recently, replace punch with Keystone.
Junior: What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?
Verona Red: My fondest musical memories are the first few nights in my parents house that me and my buddy Steve, got together with the actual intent of writing and recording our first original songs. We were 14 years old, and at the time we were pretty confident we had just composed the next White Album (all you young garage musicians can relate). Our potential seemed unlimited and our musical growth was abounding at a nearly alarming rate, until that fateful day when our drum machine, the inspirational cornerstone of our music, ran out of beats. From that point, on the chemistry just wasnt the same. But, for a few short weeks, I was lucky enough to embark upon the greatest musical experience in all my years. Seriously though, if Verona Red ever hits it huge, I will have to guard those tapes with my life.
Junior: Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?
Verona Red: Like I said before, Neil Young was a huge influence in my early years with the guitar. After the Gold Rush, everybody knows this is nowhere don't think I would ever bought a harmonica if it wasn't for those albums. I also loved The Who Who;s Next Pete Townshend showed me that the guitar need not be an instrument to be treated with delicacy and composure at all times, not so much in the way he handled the instrument but really the way he played it. I loved the way he perfected a kind of controlled sloppiness, not easy to convey that on a studio recording.
Junior: Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD's?
Verona Red: I guess it depends on how you read this question, but Im going to have to go with all the members of Verona Red.
Junior: Good answer!
Junior: Have you been in competitions? Verona Red: We used to compete in competitions that we knew we would do well in whenever we needed the money. Sounds cocky, I know, but sometimes you gotta suck up your inflated egos and do it anyway. Now-a-days Verona Red sticks to the competitions that we think we have no chance of winning, like the global Emergenza festival. I think we enjoy a good challenge as well as a good sense of disappointment once we lose. (I'm not sure if anyone wins at Emergenza, except the people running it) It's always a pleasant surprise however, when we make it further than we think. Junior: Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV? Verona Red: Verona Red performs all over the city of Chicago in venues like Subterranean, Elbo Room, The Note, Beat Kitchen etc. We also go out on mini-college tours around the Midwest. This is where we get the majority of radio air play. It's a little easier to grease the wheels at a college radio station. As far as TV goes, we are actually working on our first television appearance for a show that is being taped at Martyrs in Chicago. It's still in the works but we are hoping it pans out for us. Junior: Why should folks listen to your music? Verona Red: We are one of the few bands in the Chicago that actually has people dancing at their shows. I don't mean moshing or headbaning, but actual dancing. It's weird because we never thought of ourselves as a dance band. But we get that label a lot. I'm not sure if it's the melodies, or the in the pocket beats, or maybe just the high energy stage show. But I really feel that our show is just a different kind of experience for Chicago music fans. From the stage you can feel the energy in the room, and I think everyone else there feels it too, at least a little I hope. Junior: How do you handle mistakes during a performance? Verona Red: We usually play through most mistakes. If a string breaks or an instrument just malfunctions, we usually have a couple of back up guitars and basses just in case we need them. The only time a show ever comes to a grinding halt is when the sound guy blows it for some reason or another. If the PA just stops working or our monitors are feeding back at ungodly levels, we will usually go grab the sound guy away from his seat at the bar and ask him politely if he wouldn't mind helping us out for a second. (As you can see it's always important to have good relationship with your sound guy.)
 
Junior: Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition? Verona Red: Yeah, we all still get a little anxious before shows. The things I worry about the most are the all the technical difficulties that might arise that we wont be able to control. It always seems that once one thing breaks, everything breaks, and then the show can really suffer. Junior: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous? Verona Red: Just to have fun I guess. Once the crowd shows the first sign of approval you usually loosen right up. Junior: Do you attend sessions? What makes a good session? Verona Red: A recording session goes well when there is a good vibe between everyone in the band that day. Everyone has to be in agreement with what everyone else is playing before we even arrive at the studio. If there is a dispute over a major part of the song when youre on the clock, wasted time tends to aggravate the situation even more. I don't know if all bands need as much pre-studio preparation as we do, but it helps us get a good track down as quick as possible and limits the amount of bad energy floating around the room during the session. Junior: How often and for how long do you practice? Verona Red: We practice 12 hours a week over the course of three days. Junior: What do you practice - exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc.? Verona Red: At band practice, we work on writing new songs, reviewing old ones, practicing sets for shows, making fun of each other, and working out any special surprises we might pull out at a really important performance. Junior: Do you teach others your skills? Verona Red: I've thought about becoming a guitar teacher on the side, but the friends I've tried to teach in the past have all told me that I'm way to impatient. Junior:  Junior: How do you balance your music with other obligations - mate, children, job? Verona Red: This is the toughest part of being in a band that is seriously trying to pursue a music career. Basically, we all try to find our own ways to make money and live up to our personal responsibilities; while devoting enough time to the band to be able to practice three times a week and spend our weekends playing shows. A job with flexible hours or an extremely understanding boss is a must. Junior: Overall, where do you see yourself in the next five years? Verona Red: Making millions or playing in subways. Junior: What makes your music stand out from the millions of other music in your genre? Verona Red: Honestly, we are still trying to figure out exactly what genre we fit into. We sort of overlap in a lot of different areas. I think it's just a unique blend of funk, folk, and straight up rock music. It gets drunk people to dance and even though that's not hard to do, I think whenever a unique style of songwriting is coupled with good musicianship, youre going to end up with a respectable set of songs that people will like. Junior: What about sex appeal? how much does that play a part in your music? Verona Red: Well, stuff a few socks in our pants every once and again it gets the job done.
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