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American Bang Interview: SXSW 2010

American Bang, the Southern rock band from from Nashville, has come a long way since the days when they recorded themselves in basements. Five years after establishing the band, the four high school friends have already played most major American festivals and toured with legendary groups like ZZ Top and the Pretenders. With an eponymous album set for release on Reprise Records later this spring, the band hopes the future will bring even better possibilities. Spinner recently spoke with frontman Jaren Johnston about SXSW and the upcoming album.


What has been going on with the band in the last year?

We started last year touring with the Pretenders for a month and a half. We were getting ready to go into the studio with Bob Rock after the tour. We got tight and ready to record. We spent two months at Blackbird Studios here in Nashville then two months at his place in Maui. Now, the record is finally in the box.

Has your sound changed in 'American Bang'?

At the beginning, it was us recording in a basement and us doing the production. The sound is the same, but bigger and more focused on the songs. It's one big project rather than a bunch of songs. It is a well-glued together record.

Describe your sound in your own words.

It's American rock 'n' roll. We used to say Southern-fried garage rock, but our new record is rock. It's honest and pure.

How did your band form?

We all grew up together in Nashville. We went to high school together. We all had previous bands that failed on major labels. I started writing this new material. We were drinking one night, and it just fell together.

What are your musical influences?

The Rolling Stones, Creedence, the Kinks. My dad was a drummer at the Grand Ole Opry, so I grew up with a lot of late '70s, early '80s country like Keith Whitley and Garth Brooks. That's where we get a lot of our Southern influence.

How did you come up with your band name?

We used to be Bang Bang Bang. There was a point on the road where we realized it wasn't as big as we wanted it to be. We came out saying we wanted to be the biggest band in America, and there were 10-15 other bands who had the same name. We sat in a hotel room for two days in Los Angeles drinking whiskey and looking each other in the face. We wanted to keep Bang but put the American rock 'n' roll in it. I'm proud of the name. It fits well.

What's your biggest vice?

For our band, drinking. It's not overdone, but it's pretty heavy. We like Jack [Daniels], Maker's [Mark] and beer. We're trying not to get too crazy.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Water, definitely, and beer. I hope posters, because you want to be visual. And boots.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

We are all big into Imogen Heap, and Jason Derulo did a remix [of the song 'Whatcha Say']. They were playing it over the speakers at a Warner Bros. party in L.A., and this guy started rapping over it. I hated it at first, but now when I hear it, let's just say I don't change the station.

Beatles or Stones?

It's 50/50, but I would go Beatles. It's about the songs. They are both amazing bands. My favorite Beatle is George.

Is American Bang a blues-influenced band?

Not really -- maybe some in my vocals. I didn't grow up listening to it. It's a Memphis -- not Nashville -- thing.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

At the start of the Pretenders tour, we got in a van to drive to upstate New York. We got almost to Kentucky when it started snowing so bad, we couldn't go any further. We ended up having to sleep an hour and a half from home in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We stopped for 15 hours, and it ended up taking us 40 hours to get to upstate New York. We pulled in thirty minutes before we had to go on, but it was a killer show. We sold over 100 CDs.



Caroline Collier is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.

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Greg Isaacs

American Bang is rock and roll. They play with conviction and honesty that is missing in most of today's music. Watch out for these guys because they are gonna be HUGE. See them now in the clubs because you will be buying tickets to arenas in a few months. (thats if they aren't sold out)!

June 19 2010 at 10:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply