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October Nites

Band Members: Stephen Gage (Vocals), Brandon (Drums)
Interview Date: January 3, 2008

Check out if you listen to...The Hint, Houston Calls, Friday Night Boys

Of all the band interviews I have done I’m not sure I have met anyone as genuine and committed to their music as the members of October Nites. They may be young and they may not have a ton of touring experience – but October Nites have infinite potential - Their personality and persistence prove that. Recently named one of PureVolume’s top 21 Unsigned Artists of 2008, it appears to only be the start of amazing things for this Central New York band. These stand up musicians, and soon to be college graduates are sure to put a smile on your face with their positive attitudes and catchy choruses. Pour yourself a glass of orange soda and kick your feet up – you are about to meet your new musical weakness!

Can you introduce yourself to For The Sound readers?

Stephen: I’m Stephen and I sing in October Nites.

Brandon: I’m Brandon and I play the drums for October Nites.

Can you give readers a little background on your band, how you met and how the band formed? 

Stephen: I started October Nites as an acoustic project a little over 3 years ago.  I had always wanted to make it a full band, so I recruited Brandon and Naren shortly after their band, If Hope Dies, had ended. I had known both of them for quite a while, so I knew they would be a perfect fit for October Nites.

Brandon: Naren and I have known each other for years. Like Stephen said, he joined the band I was in before October Nites called If Hope Dies.  Aaron was an original member of If Hope Dies with me but then moved on to play in a band called The Red Death.  Justyn played in a band called the Degenerates before October Nites so I knew him through mutual shows we had played in the past.  Steve started October Nites as an acoustic project but then took on Naren and I to turn it into a full band.  The three of us worked together and recorded an EP and then had tryouts to fill the other two positions.  It was an easy match with Aaron and Justyn. The rest is history. 

Now you guys are kind of scattered in where you are all currently living…how have you guys found ways to work around that? Has it been a major obstacle for you?

Stephen: We all bring great things to this band regardless of distance, so we find ways to work around it.  Technology plays a great role, as when we’re away from home we can still use the power of the Internet to send new ideas and write new songs.  A great deal of the writing comes from Naren and Brandon, while I spend a great deal of time doing management and promotion for the band.  MySpace and PureVolume have done great things to help us with our exposure when we can’t tour because of school. In May, we will all be in the same location for good, as school will be done for all of us, and we’ll be able to get out on the road full time to tour non-stop.

Brandon: It definitely makes things tough for sure.  Naren and I live in Auburn.  Steve goes to college in NYC.  Aaron lives in Syracuse, and Justyn lives in Ithaca. It can be tough to get together at times but we’ll never let distance stop us from accomplishing what we’re setting out to do.  Our music means way too much to all of us.

How has growing up in Upstate NY, an area that is not exactly known for its pop music scene…or really for its music scene at all, affected your music and the way you have approached the music industry? Do you consider it an advantage or disadvantage to grow up in a, somewhat, musically isolated environment?

Stephen: As much as Upstate NY can be isolated, it has definitely not stopped us in doing what we love.  Auburn, NY (our hometown) and the surrounding area(s) are known specifically for the metal and hardcore scene.  As much as I love metal, I would really love pop rock bands to be more in demand in our area.  I love the fact that we’re one of few playing this style of music in the area, as we’re able to get on bigger shows more often when tours come around.  I feel that our scene is getting better, and hopefully we, as a band, can put it on the map over the next few years.

Brandon: I wouldn’t exactly call it an isolated musical environment.  It’s true that it isn’t an area known for it’s pop music, but central New York is amazing for it’s hardcore and metal scene.  Manowar is from our hometown!  I grew up around all the big hardcore bands in the area like Earth Crisis and Another Victim.  I got really involved in heavy music and played in a metal band (If Hope Dies) for ten years. Playing in a pop rock band now is a huge change for me but I wouldn’t have been here without the help of our amazing local hardcore scene.

There is constant talk about an “over-saturation” of bands today and the trend of "MySpace" bands and clones.  How are bands today supposed to avoid these types of stigmas? What makes your band different than all the other bands in the scene? What do you think it takes for a band to stand out and gain respect in the scene today?

Stephen: I think MySpace is a great tool for bands, but it has also hurt this industry and genre a lot!  There is definitely an over-saturation of “scene” bands that all look and sound the same. Some bands are doing it because it’s their only option.  We have to step up and bring some sort of originality back to the music.  I personally can’t wait to see a band like The Beatles, Nirvana, Blink 182, or even Fall Out Boy breakout and smash the scene with something new, shake it to its core, and bring some sort of originality back to the industry.  I believe what sets our band apart is the fact that we’re doing what we love, and bringing our own sense of originality to the genre.  We’re not trying to write the synth-filled dance pop everyone else is doing lately and we’re not trying to be a “scene” band.  We want to bring something original to this genre, and let our music speak for itself!  Maybe it’s hurting us by not conforming to these “industry standards,” but maybe, just maybe, it’s helping us, because we’re original!  I honestly would like to insert a Jimmy Eat World lyric from the song, “The Middle,” as advice to upcoming bands:

“Hey,
You know they're all the same
You know you're doing better on your own,
So don't buy in…
Live right now,
Yeah, just be yourself
It doesn't matter if it's good enough,
For someone else…”

Brandon: The thing that sets us apart is the fact that we are not out to impress the MySpace world with our boyish good looks and our sweet scene haircuts.  We also don’t make music that sounds like everything else you would hear in the pop genre.  We all love rock music but I think it’s fairly obvious that we all have a background in metal and we’re not afraid to show it in our songs.  I wouldn’t consider us another clone of a pop rock band, and as far as how bands should avoid these stigmas, I would say to just be yourselves instead of worrying about what the industry expects from you.  I, for one, would rather keep my integrity and play music that I enjoy instead of playing the same garbage everyone else is doing. 

What are the best and worst aspects of the music industry today?  If you could change anything about the music scene, what would you change?

Stephen: I think that technology has been amazing to the music industry, as it has allowed bands to break out and become huge without ever leaving the house, and/or earning it per se. I think, as mentioned before, that there is a lack of creativity in music today, especially within the major label world. If I could change anything, I would say it would be nice to see more of a variety in terms of sound for this genre at least. How many more one-hit wonder bands will it take, before we see a band that “makes it” with consecutive chart topping hits and has albums filled with music that spans generations? Lately I haven’t seen too many bands like that. Hopefully, the industry as a whole will be re-invigorated soon with talented musicians with the ability to bring back record sales, instead of selling one or two iTunes singles! We have to get people to buy records for multiple hits, rather than have them purchase single song downloads.

Brandon: I can’t think of too many things I particularly enjoy about the music industry right now other than the fact that we’ve met some really amazing people recently that have been showing us a lot of support.  The music industry as a whole is embarrassing right now if you ask me.  Without saying anything too negative, I’ll keep it simple.  I just get really annoyed at the massive amount of talentless bands that are making money based solely on image.  It’s sickening.  It seems to me that in the pop scene at least, it’s more about image than the music.  That’s just really disappointing to me.

What is your dream tour (with bands in the scene today)?

Stephen: Haha… Tough question! I’m going to take you back to the summer of 2001. October Nites opening up the New Found Glory/Blink 182 “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket Tour.”  Also opening the show would be Paramore and All Time Low!
Brandon: My dream tour…hmmmmm…Metallica and Ashlee Simpson co-headlining, maybe The Vandals for a rockin’ good time, annnnnnd… I guess Fall Out Boy?  That shit would sell out quick!

How did everyone spend their New Year’s this year?

Stephen: We all had dinner at my house with the family!  The food was excellent, and then I went out with B-Dawg to a few lame parties… We all made the resolution to make 2009 (in a VH1 announcer voice) “The Best Year Ever” for October Nites.  To put it simple…write the best music we can and TOUR, TOUR, TOUR!!!

Brandon: Steve’s mom made us an amazing dinner.  I ate lobster even though seafood creeps me out.  Then I went to a party and played Guitar Hero.  Then I went to another party with a bunch of jock dudes and their really tan girlfriends all wasted out of their minds.  I didn’t stay there long though.  Not my cup of tea.  I drank some orange soda, ate some candy, and went to bed.

Did the band set any resolutions for 2009, whether individual or as a group?

Stephen: Be the best musicians we can be, individually and as a group, and TOUR, TOUR, TOUR!!!

Brandon: 2009 is the year we’re gonna get off our asses and start touring again.  Steve and I both graduate in May so we’re gonna hit the road full time right after that!  In the mean time, we’ll be playing shows and writing new material.  I guess our resolution is to take this band to the next level and achieve what we’ve been preparing ourselves to do.

Look forward ten years from now…what do you want to have achieved as a band?

Stephen: In ten years, I hope we can say we “made it” from playing our own music as a band.  I hope we have kids who look up to us, and who are inspired by the music we create!  I also hope I’ll be able to call the music industry my career, and hope I’ll never have to work a job I hate just to get by.  If you love what you do, not a day goes by where it feels like work.

Brandon: Ten years from now I hope to be writing music I still love and be able to support my family with my music.  I don’t care if we ever have a number one hit single as long as I can always play music and not work a job I absolutely hate to support myself.

What has been the most influential advice you have ever been given (whether it was negative or positive)? Did you follow it? Who gave it to you and in what context?

Stephen: My parents have always pushed me to follow my dreams no matter what it takes!  If you have enough drive, dedication, determination, and passion for something, you can make it happen!  You only get one go at life, so why not live it up, and do whatever it takes to follow your heart!

Brandon: The best advice I’ve ever been given was to never give up on what you love.  There have been many times when it seemed so pointless and almost careless to risk everything to keep playing music full time…to put everything on hold…to quit my job…to leave family and friends behind…to take time off of school…to be dirt poor…and many other small sacrifices.  But you know what?  Music is my only true passion and even though it can be hard, I’ll never give up on playing in a band.  And October Nites is something I have full confidence in.  If you love something enough and have enough confidence in it, it will work out.  

What are your lives like outside of the band?

Stephen: I’m a full time college student majoring in Public Relations/Mass Communications, finishing up my senior year at Iona College, which is just outside of New York City.  I currently feel like I have two full time jobs: College and October Nites.  I also spent a great deal of time this summer working part-time at Diesel (clothing store) and interning at “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider” in New York City.

Brandon: I’m a full time college student right now and I work at a high school running an after school program there.  My students are all amazing by the way!  I also co-own a silk screening business called Splatter House Prints. I’m a busy dude.

Some of the band members have already done the national tours and been signed to a label. How does it feel to go from being signed to Ironclad/Metalblade Records to being unsigned again? What kind of things did you learn from those experiences that you will apply to October Nites?

Brandon: It is weird going from an established band to a new unsigned band but it’s almost refreshing in a way.  It’s nice to know we’re not bound to anything yet.  It feels good to start fresh, and now that we all have a good idea of how the industry works having dealt with label issues, management, and a bunch of booking agents already, I think things will work out much better this time around.

What was the writing and recording process like for “The Follow Your Heart EP?” Have you made plans to record a full length LP?

Stephen: I’ll let Brandon take this one…

Brandon: Naren writes all the guitar riffs and then I work with him to structure the songs or to make any changes as I add in my drum parts.  The lyrics on “The Follow Your Heart EP” were written by Naren as well, but changes were made with Steve to better suit the songs from his perspective.  Naren played all guitars and bass on the recording because we didn’t have Aaron or Justyn at that point yet.  The recording process is fun because we get to work with our good friend Gabe [Solomon] who does all the engineering. He always has great ideas that help us perfect our songs. No plans are made for a full length yet. We’re holding off on that until we’re settled into a good label.  Until then, we’d rather write and release EPs and play out as much as possible!

What is something no one would expect to learn about your band? Something surprising about your personalities, the band, or the recording of your latest album?

Stephen: Oh, I’ll definitely let B-Dawg take this one too haha…

Brandon: The most surprising thing about the band is also the most unbelievable thing in the world…all five of us are half brothers! We all have the same dad but each of us has different moms! What are the chances we’d all end up playing instruments and forming a band together?!?!  Watch out Jonas Brothers…make way for October Nites!!!

For first time listeners, what song would you recommend listening to first, and why?

Stephen: “Lust at First Sight!!!”  I simply love that song!  I think the lyrics are amazing, and we’re always trying to be as clever as possible with our lyrics.

Brandon: I’d probably go with “Lust at First Sight.”  It’s a fun upbeat song and it doesn’t suck as much as the others.  It represents a lot of what we’re all about.  It’s catchy and puts you in a good mood but it also has a cool guitar solo, which sets it apart from those cookie cutter pop bands you referred to earlier.

Well I think one question that all your current fans are dying to know…when can we expect a full tour?

Stephen and Brandon: May ’09 baby!!! We can’t wait!!!

Is there anything else you were hoping to share with readers at For the Sound? 

Stephen:  I just want to thank you all for reading this interview and hopefully you get a chance to check us out!  Be sure to hop on over to our MySpace or PureVolume to check out our music and “Give It A Try” because it will be “Lust at First Sight,” or listen! ;)

Brandon: Please get to know us!  We’re cool dudes!  Don’t be afraid to talk to us online or at shows.  We want to get to know you!  My favorite part about playing in a band is getting to meet so many cool people all over the world.  So get to know us and we’ll hang out this May.  Hopefully we’ll even drink some orange soda together!

Thank you to Stephen Gage for helping set up this interview and to all of October Nites for taking the time to do this interview.  Be sure to check out October Nites Official MySpace HERE and their PureVolume page HERE.