« A Disciple Takes On His Church: An Interview with Sir the Baptist | Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray Headline Foundations of Music Benefit Concert @ Quenchers on 9/11 » |
North Coast Music Festival Fri Aug 28 2015
The Main Squeeze Bring The Funk to North Coast (+ a Contest!)
Local act The Main Squeeze is enjoying quite the successful year. With an appearance at Bonnaroo this past year, as well as an upcoming set at North Coast Music Festival, the group, who seamlessly blends funk, soul, and much more, will be releasing their next album, Mind Your Head, in the fall. They're looking forward to sharing their performance day with artists they greatly respect, including The Roots and D'Angelo, and are patiently awaiting showing a Chicago festival audience their energetic live show, as well.
I spoke with the group regarding their influences, who they would like to collaborate with, and their diverse range of musical experiences. In addition, we're giving away A PAIR of 3-day passes to North Coast Music Festival for you and a friend to enjoy. Simply comment on this article (use your email address!) with the artist you're most excited to see on on Saturday, other than The Main Squeeze, of course. The winner will be chosen today at 6pm. The winner has been chosen! Thank you all for your entries, and continue reading for future giveaways!
"Angelus" was just released, with your new album being released this fall. What sort of sound are you going for with this new material, and what do you hope it will bring to your listeners?
The new Mind Your Head album is the classic Squeeze sound. We've always felt our music was feel-good and something that everyone can both enjoy and relate to. What we were really trying to capture with this record is matching the energy and spirit of what our live show is. With added production, we were able to take all these really great ideas and condense them into more "radio-friendly tracks", but not lose who we are in the process. So you're gonna get some funk, soul and rock 'n' roll, all wrapped into an album you'll want to listen to again and again.
The group was formed from a variety of areas around the country. First, in upstate New York, next, in Bloomington, Indiana, and finally, in Chicago. Did this movement influence your sound's development, which blends several different genres?
The sound of the group has more to do with us as individuals than where the band was formed. We have two guys from Indiana (Corey and Reuben), two from Florida (Smiley and Jeremiah), and one from New York (Max). We all grew up with different backgrounds and musical environments that ultimately shaped what we listened to. So when we sat down and talked about the direction of the music, we decided not to pigeonhole the sound, and just write what we feel. What came of that was a unique sound that stretches from Stevie Wonder, to Jimi Hendrix, to Grateful Dead, and beyond.
You bring high-energy performances wherever you go, showcasing your diverse range of influences. Who are your top five biggest influencers of your unique sound?
We kind of answered that with the question before, but Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Red Hot Chilli Peppers...the list goes on and on with lots of influences.
You competed - and won - the International Jazz and Blues Competition in Macau, China. That's an incredible feat. What was that experience like, and how did it inform your artistry?
China was a unbelievable experience! We competed against 12 other bands from all over the world and every band was so different. There is nothing more humbling then playing your music for thousands of people who have never heard of you, don't know your language, and they just love you! They treated us like rock stars, and besides winning a nice check we came home with the confidence that we can do this anywhere.
You've toured with legends including Trombone Shorty, the Meters, and the Roots - who would you like to collaborate with next, and might we see you in the audience (or perhaps on stage) with the Roots at North Coast?
It would be great to collaborate or tour with Dave Matthews Band, Red Hod Chili Peppers, Gary Clark Jr., The Roots, D'Angelo, Trucks and Tedeschi, Umphrey's McGee, even Kendrick Lamar. We feel we're versatile enough to play with anybody, and as we continue to grow, we look forward to more of those opportunities coming our way. We will definitely be in the audience for both The Roots and D'Angelo at North Coast Music Festival. We've been waiting all summer for that Saturday of music. We make no promises about sitting in with The Roots, but if ?uest gives the okay, Corey says he wont hesitate to hop up with one of his favorite bands.
Check out The Main Squeeze at North Coast Music Festival on Saturday, September 5 at 3:45pm. They'll be playing the 773 Stage, then taking in the rest of the day's stellar musical acts.
Anthony Ramirez / August 28, 2015 12:23 PM
excited to get the funk and my 2-step on with Chromeo