A Chat with Your Best Friend

Last week I got a chance to sit down with the rising stars of Michigan’s rock and roll scene, Your Best Friend. Their mission is not ultimately all about money but rather to make as many friends possible touring. Since they spend their life on the road with touring and promotion seeing their families isn’t always that easy. Ultimately, making new friends along the way is a direct avenue to maintain their sanity. These guys are a dedicated and talented group of musicians that are willing to attack and conquer any venue, any time and any place if you give them the chance. Music is life for them.

The critics, or rather the people at their shows, have spoken. They feel Your Best Friend is an energetic and fresh sound on the forefront of gaining rapid momentum in the music industry. It’s crazy to think that they have not been signed by a label as of yet.

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UTG: Thanks for taking the time to have an interview with Under the Gun. We enjoy having local talent grace our presence.

YBF: Yeah man, no problem at all.

UTG: For the people (or non-Michigan folk) who might not know you tell us a little about the band.

YBF: Our name is Your Best Friend from Saginaw, Michigan. The band consists of John Bonham – keys/guitar, Dale Brown – bass, Nick Edler – drums, and Steve Sochanek – guitar; and all of us share the vocal responsibility. We started 6 years ago and the current line-up has been kickin’ for about 3 years.

UTG: If you could explain how your band sounds to someone that has NEVER heard you before how would describe it?

YBF: It is really hard to pin point the exact sound that we have. Some people say indie rock, majority says rock and roll, and others say hardcore. Everyone has their own interpretation. I don’t know really know how we sound but I would say more leaning towards Rock and Roll definitely.

UTG: So YBF is in Chi-town right now, how’s that going?

YBF: We are currently right outside Chicago, played at the Subterranean in Chicago last night.

UTG: You guys seem to tour extensively and spread your music wherever you can. Tell us where your favorite place to go visit on tour is.

YBF: We like to go anywhere whether it is Illinois, Texas, Chicago or any new city basically. Anywhere we can play is cool with us. We make friends from all over and have a pretty good following so when we come to the show there are people we recognize.

UTG: Your first full-length album was released last April; how have the fans or people at your shows reacted to your particular blend of rock?

YBF: A lot of good feedback from the album. They seem to love the general structure of the songs. Some say they like how “Big” we sound on stage. We couldn’t have asked for better production quality on the album. It was supreme and we loved our producer. We hear good things all the time though.

UTG: I really enjoyed the first track “Dear Heavenly Father” and how it incorporated finger-tapping in the different parts of the song. Could you explain what mindset you were in when you wrote this?

YBF: I had troubles with my dad growing up – with him not being there. This was my chance to vent about the situation and how it affected me. Obviously, there’s a lot more than that but that is the clear cut definition of the song.

UTG: Do you have a message for the record labels out there besides directing them to read Your Best Friend’s section in the new issue of Alternative Press? HaHa

YBF: We would like to find a label that will back what we believe in. We don’t want to work with anyone who isn’t 100 percent behind us and our beliefs. Someone that supports the type of music we play and who we are as people is very important to us as a band.

UTG: We at UTG don’t like to ask final questions but rather let have you have a soapbox moment. Let us know anything that’s on your mind or anything you’d like to inform the world about. Absolutely no album promo!

YBF: J-man is having some problems in the crotch region. He could have pulled it bad, possibly lifting or jumping, we don’t exactly know what the cause was. He needs help. The hospital looks like the option for us right now.

UTG: Thank you for taking some time with UTG, Michigan and your friends in the music world. Hopefully we get a chance to do another interview in the near future.

www.myspace.com/yourbestfriend

Interview by Grant Trimboli

James Shotwell
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