The late 90s and early 2000s were filled with up and coming ska and funk/jazz bands like 311, Sublime, Less Than Jake, and Minus the Bear along with big band/easy listening and jam session bands like The Dave Matthews Band and Pink Floyd but now in the year 2018 those bands are hard to find and are few and far between and unfortunately the scene seems to be fading away.
That’s why it’s extremely refreshing to hear that the band Big Something is back with their 5th stuido album titled The Otherside released on April 20th. The band’s album was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios by Grammy nominated producer John Custer who has also produced all five of the band’s albums. As a follow up to the band’s previous album Tumbleweed, The Otherside continues to add upon the post-apocalyptic peyote trip imagery from Tumbleweed, finishing the story of a nomad who has finally made it to the other side wondering through the night towards a desert sunrise.
The six piece band is from Burlington, NC and mixes a vast array of musical styles including jazz, funk, pop, rock and also some electronic elements by adding synth along with horns and soaring guitars and even an electronic wind instrument. It would be safe to say that the group could also be added to the easy listening section at your local record store because their sound is just so smooth almost like sipping on a fine aged scotch or whisky which is also probably why these guys have caught the ear of such musical savants as Umphrey’s McGee, Moon Taxi, Galactic, moe, Robert Randolph, and the B52s who have all taken advantage of Big Something for support. If you’re just looking for something that’s going to give you good vibes and that you can put on and jam to throughout the day while sitting by the pool drinking a six pack than do yourself a favor and listen to Big Something’s new album The Otherside.
TC: As a brand new listener I gotta say that I became an instant fan as soon as I heard you guys. Can you maybe run through your style of writing? If it has in any way, how has your process of writing been different from album to album?
Ben: “Well thanks so much! Our writing style is kind of wide open in that, ideas or song structures or melodies can come from anywhere or anyone. We’ve had songs that started from a drum beat and songs that started from the vocal melody. Everyone just kind of submits a kernel and then we all get together in the practice space or during soundcheck and make a full bag of popcorn with it. This has been a pretty consistent thing for all our albums so I don’t think the methodology to physically creating the material was different, moreso the type of mindset and feel of the music we were going for was.”
TC: I noticed that a lot of your music – along with the song titles and lyrics – refers to someone out in the desert tripping on psychedelics. Can you maybe elaborate a little more on this for me?
Casey: “Psychedelic plants can be useful tools for learning about the human experience, the inner workings of the mind, and of growth or evolution as an individual or group. While we may not use them together as a band or individually, this is an undeniably fascinating topic. Terence McKenna has tons of writings related to this, as well as hours of lectures you can listen to on YouTube.”
TC: With so many different styles of music mixed into your albums and songs everything from country and pop to jazz, funk, rock and ska what and/or who are some of your greatest musical influences?
Casey: “Jazz artists John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk are two early inspirations for me. Classic funksters like Sly Stone, James Brown and Maceo Parker, classic rock such as Pink Floyd, progressive electronic artists like Björk, Shpongle and Aphex Twin, singer songwriters including Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush… the list goes on. These people influenced the way I think about music more so than my actual playing style.”
Josh” Frank Zappa, They Might Be Giants, Mr Bungle, Clifford Brown, Art Blakey, Opeth, Iron Maiden, Yes, Oingo Boingo, Count Basie. There’s so much out there, but these are some that I really latched on to.”
Jesse: “I grew up around a lot of Gospel, Folk and Classic Country and still enjoy listening to The Staple Singers, John Prine, Marty Robbins, Townes Van Zandt and great flatpickers like Tony Rice but my musical tastes are pretty broad. I love instrumental music a lot and listen to a lot of Jazz on a local station back home when in the car running errands and feel like some of that stuff has started seeping into my subconscious a bit more recently but I’ve just always been a BIG fan of the guitar and anyone doing SOMETHING cool with it. Some of my guitar favorites would include Jeff Beck, Hendrix of course, Duane and Dicky, Jimmy Herring, Eric Krasno, Johnny Highland, Shawn Lane, George Harrison…. This list could continue forever really.”
TC: What are you guys jamming to right now? What is playing on your car stereo, computer playlist, and/or your record player as we speak?
Casey: “I have been loving everything that Kamasi Washington has put out. His newest record is front to back incredible. I rocked the new Janelle Monàe record quite a bit when it came out. I’ve also been enjoying these Future Funk playlists that I have found on YouTube. A lot of it is Japanese 80’s style funk. I have also been digging back into jazz. The new Coltrane release is phenomenal, and I’ve also been listening to a lot of Mingus.”
Josh: “New releases from Exmortus and John Prine. I found Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star while searching Kate Bush one day, and I end up listening to that a lot with my daughter at bedtime. I’ve been listening to Jerseyband a lot lately as well.”
Jesse: “Funny you should ask! Each member of the band has a playlist of favorite songs and new music that we are getting into that listeners can find when searching our Big Something Spotify profile.”
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TC: I can only imagine being on the road and having to deal with so many different aspects of the music industry that you guys have experienced some crazy stuff. Are there any stories or lessons you can share with us and with anyone who might be new to the music industry?
Jesse: “There is definitely a lot to take in and always something new going on but if I’ve learned anything while living on the road with my best pals, it would be that attitude is everything. Staying as organized, focused and as healthy as possible usually leads to more positive outcomes in the long run. Work hard, get as much solid rest as possible and drink plenty of water!”
TC: What is something that you enjoy doing outside of music that may or may not contribute to your talents musically? Maybe a hobby that helps rejuvenate your creativity?
Casey: “I very much enjoy reading, especially fiction. I have been loving The Sandman graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, and a prequel to the Dune series by Frank Herbert’s son. I also recently read Leonard Nimoy’s autobiography, A Scanner Darlky by Philip K Dick, and half of Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein.”
Jesse: “I really enjoy building and repairing instruments. I’ve always loved learning new tricks on how to fix something or trying to figure out a new combination of parts that lead to that “perfect guitar set-up”.
TC: What bands or artists have you had the chance to directly work or go on tour with that has been your favorite?
Casey: “Umphreys McGee has been incredibly kind to us, and I have grown to love their music and jam style more and more as I continue to watch and listen to them I also really enjoy playing the same festivals as Widespread Panic. Their fans and entire crew are great people, and they really love music!”
TC: What’s in store in the near future for Big Something?
Josh: “Gearing up for our annual music festival The Big What?!”
Listen to Big Something’s new album The Otherside below:
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