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"Friends" With Benifits
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Gia Mazur
Sitting on a cream-colored couch in the corner of The Vintage Theater in ...Gia Mazur
Sitting on a cream-colored couch in the corner of The Vintage Theater in Scranton, I waited for Scranton-based alternative band A Fire with Friends to load in their equipment. The Vintage is their current practice space and the venue is a frequent host to AFWF local shows. AFWF Guitar player, Scott Jordan, tells me that they’re trying to move practices to their synth player, Eric Foster’s attic, where they won’t have to worry about tearing down their equipment when they’re done.
Jordan is the first to sit down, and he begins telling me about a juice fast he’s currently on. The next to join the conversation is bass player, John Husosky, who just joined the band about 2 months ago, followed by Foster, and then piano player and sole female of the band, Chelsea Collins. Each member sits down in a little circle around me and the old tapestry carpet in the floor, all but frontman Dan Rosler. Rosler is still on stage, playing his guitar, completely focused on his music. He turns around and notices us sitting and begins laughing as he puts his guitar down and joins the circle. Right before we’re about to begin, drummer, Brian Errigo waltzes in and takes the seat next to me.
Immediately the joking begins and I am certain this will be the most fun I have ever had during an interview.
We start to talk about the 10-day tour of the south the band took this past summer. All 7 members of AFWF (Percussion player Chris Pelak could not be present for the interview), hopped in their Maroon-colored 14-passenger Dodge Ram and headed across the Mason-Dixon line, without air conditioning, to share their music with a new fan base. They traveled with numerous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bananas, and Pelak’s pickled sausages, while members of the band sweated and chain-smoked the whole way.
“We’re all laying all over the place. Nobody’s happy, nobody wants to be touched,” says Foster, laughing with the rest of the band as they talk about life inside of their tour van, affectionately called “Clifford,” “Red Wings,” or “The Hot Wing Hoagie.”
“It smells like if someone was grilling inside of a gym,” says Jordan, to another eruption of laughter.
Even through all the sweaty, pickled hell, AFWF had fun on their tour, with most of the best moments happening by fate.
Playing in Nashville, Tennessee was a band favorite, because of the music and the culture, but they also met Hanson at The Basement, a venue they played in the town. The trio of brothers with their golden locks and equally as golden voices appeared in one of AFWF tour videos.
“It just seemed silly, but sure enough, there they were inside, just meandering about.,” says Rosler, laughing, as he reminisces about the tour that he sent out an “excessive amount of emails” to book.
Whether by email or phone call, AFWF does all of their own booking by themselves. In Greenville, South Carolina, when the venue they were supposed to play at backed out on them last minute, Foster got on the phone with as many local venues as he could to try and book a show for the night. He came across a place called Homemade Genius.
“We all get there and they’re the sweetest people in a place that reminds me of this place a lot,” says Rosler, pointing around the The Vintage Theater. “Just people that are too eerily close to people I know. It worked out in our favor in a strange way.”
They also met native musicians who treated them to classic Southern hospitality.
“They’re great down there. They set us up and bought us all this expensive liquor and just like gave us food. I mean, that’s how you’re supposed to be treated,” says Errigo. The entire band bursts into more laughter and Errigo smiles as he adjusts the hood of his sweatshirt over his head.
“What I mean is, you put all this hard work into it and you don’t get paid for any of these shows. You make your merch money and you hope you can get to the next venue on that. So when somebody does something like that, we really appreciate it,” says Errigo.
The conversation then turns to everything from Jordan’s stories of fishing on tour to the sticker of political candidate “Adam vs. The Man” in Errigo’s pocket. Everyone in the room is laughing and getting sidetracked, but Jordan says this is why the band works as well as it does.
“It’s good to have a few laughs here and there and with us there’s a lot of laughs and I think if there wasn’t we’d drive each other insane,” he says.
When I ask about their writing process, however, those hearty laughs turn into thoughtful silence. The members of AFWF have trouble taking themselves too seriously, but they’re completely serious about their music. Errigo explains to me that Jordan, Rosler and Collins begin with the material that gets the writing in motion, and then each member contributes something of their own to the song.
The band also explains that this lineup of members is about the eleventh lineup they’ve had since the band’s formation in 2008, but this is the best group of members so far.
“I really think it was worth getting to where this is, because the morale is high. Everyone is really talented in what they do, and that always helps,” says Rosler, patting down his untidy blonde hair under his grey hood.
Foster then explains to me that everyone in the band works jobs that allow them to have more flexible scheduling, even if these jobs aren’t ideal. Foster, Rosler, and Jordan work in a factory so they can take time off when they need to. Sometimes, they just make sacrifices, because music is what matters most to them.
“I actually just turned down a job offer the other day because I think it would make everything too serious,” says Husosky. “I went on an interview months ago. The guy called me back and I told him ‘no.’ After playing with [AFWF] for two months, I really think this is what I want. I’ll put up with my shitty job and my shitty pay.”
The band unanimously agrees that times are difficult and trying to get into the music industry isn’t what it used to be. AFWF hopes to use the Internet and social media websites like Facebook and YouTube as a vehicle to get their music heard in this new era of A&R.
“The idea of showcases before used to be so record labels could come out and hear you. Now, people who are on record labels are playing showcases like CMJ and SXSW,” says Collins. “It defeats the purpose. It’s great for exposure but it’s not like a guarantee anymore, or as hopeful as it used to be, I guess. It’s frustrating.”
Each member of the band nods their head in agreement to what Collins is talking about and admit that they’ve all felt like they were losing faith in the band at some point or another. However, they all agree that making music is their purpose and they never want to give it up.
“I don’t want to call it similar to a religion, but it’s like, the thing that kind of gives me hope in a way,” says Foster. “I don’t know if that’s cheesy or not, but it’s the truth.”
AFWF has a lot to be hopeful about. Their debut album, Happily Haunted, was voted Best Local CD by Electric City in 2010, and they nabbed the same honor again in 2011 for their latest release, “Like Giants Sleeping in Basements.”
“I’m pretty proud of that. I’m very proud of that. I know it’s not a world wide thing, like, it’s just from our area, but it’s still cool,” says Jordan.
AFWF is also getting their music heard outside of NEPA. In addition to last summer’s tour, the music video for their song “Electric Chair Blues” will be featured on fuse OnDemand throughout the month of February. They were just voted Band of the Week by New Jersey-based agency Little House Booking and were voted number 11 out of 200 bands on Maurice’s Hometown Sound, a website devoted to finding the best undiscovered music in the country. AFWF is in a really good place, personally and professionally.
“We’re happy to have won the things we’ve won, we’re writing the coolest songs I think we’ve done, collectively,” says Rosler.
So I ask where the band goes from here.
“Well, we got to practice,” says Foster, smirking. The room erupts with laughter again as the band starts brainstorming ideas for their next album art. Some ideas are serious and some are just to make everyone laugh. This balance is what makes this band so successful.
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U & U Interview :: A Fire With Friends
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A Fire With Friends are a six piece band residing from Scranton, Pennsylvania.A quality band that in...A Fire With Friends are a six piece band residing from Scranton, Pennsylvania.A quality band that incorporates many different types of music in their songs, but overall trace it back to an incredible indie vibe. For me, the intricate soft sounds the guitars create are mind blowing, the almost dresdon dollesque piano leaves me in awe as to how it sounds so illuminating in each song, and their lyrics are prone to being the envy of every artist who strives to write pure genius.
We recently interviewed A Fire With Friends, check that out in the video above. And if you’d like to check out their music click any of the links below. Lastly, I’d like to thank A Fire With Friends with giving us the pleasure to interview them.
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A Fire With Friends
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A Fire with Friends is everything that you could want form an indie band, great sound, interesting l...A Fire with Friends is everything that you could want form an indie band, great sound, interesting lyrics, and character and personality that find its way into every song. In their album “Sleeping With Giants” there is never a dull moment, each track transitions itself into the other with ease and just enough originality that you know are listening to a different song but it keeps you listening for whats new. Many bands fail to bring originality and creativity to their genre, but these guys just keep it coming.
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Unsigned Spotlight: A Fire With Friends
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When A Fire With Friends takes the stage, they make the most of it...literally. The seven piece indi...When A Fire With Friends takes the stage, they make the most of it...literally. The seven piece indie rock act utilize a synth, two keyboards, auxiliary percussion, and more to create its unique sound. The band shares its hometown with AP.net darlings Tigers Jaw and if you're a fan of the aforementioned, A Fire With Friends should be right up your alley. We're proud to debut the music video for "Electric Chair Blues," which you can view in the replies.
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Introducing... A Fire with Friends
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Whoever said three is a crowd didn’t know a thing about A Fire with Friends. This
crew boasting sev...Whoever said three is a crowd didn’t know a thing about A Fire with Friends. This
crew boasting seven members creates genuinely unique harmony, with strong
contributions from each and every one-- no slackers! Though the band has their
roots set in Scranton, PA, they are on a mission to share their musical gift with the
world. Fresh off tour promoting their new EP, Like Giants Sleeping in Basements, the
band is quickly progressing and only on their second album! AFWF pulls inspiration
from indie fan favorites like Arcade Fire and Radiohead as well as influences from
greats like Bob Dylan and the Beatles. By moving a bit outside the straight indie
theme, AFWF draws the best out of different genres for emotionally stimulating mix
of pain and pleasure. The relatable and beautifully portrayed issues throughout the
tracks are sure to draw appreciation from all.
The newly released seven song EP is easy to get hooked on. Some of the songs on thealbum definitely hit harder and more intensely, mixed in with the creation of soft
hypnotizing lyrics. My favorite songs were Electric Chair Blues and Sarah. Sarah has
a very funky tone to start mixing with a little classic rock feel—I listened to it over
and over again after initially discovering it on the EP! It definitely is a new sound,
which makes it unique! Back to Sleep seemed eerily to start in the way a Bon Iver
tune might, continuing with a laid back, calm vibe throughout. It is evident that
there are many influences on this album that the keen music ear might possibly
notice; yet do not exactly mirror those other artists.
Beyond their music, I loved the band’s overall vibe. Everything related to them has
a very down to earth vibe; being able to relate and feel on the same level creates a
depth AFWF is definitely worth checking out, don’t just stop at their new EP, give
their other material a listen, you won’t be disappointed.
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FRIENDLY FIRE
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A Fire With Friends is a band that sprung from Scranton bands No West and Melded. But you could also...A Fire With Friends is a band that sprung from Scranton bands No West and Melded. But you could also say it was born in a minivan.
“We used to practice in my mom’s minivan,” says singer/guitarist Dan Rosler “At that time I was in about three bands and going to school full-time and working two jobs. I was not sleeping.”
The band went from an impromptu side project formed to open for a local open-mic night to an outfit ready to release a debut EP, “Happily Haunted.” The group, which counts the Arcade Fire, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, early Weezer, Band Of Horses and Modest Mouse among its influences, will perform a CD-release show Monday, June 28 at the Vintage Theater in Scranton.
A listen to the 5-song EP reveals a young band that pours emotion into its music without resorting to the cliched emo tactics of many of its peers. Rosler’s vocals are clear, the guitars cascade and occasionally jaggedly stab, and two keyboard players help build the songs’ wall-of-sound feel. Some listeners might hear similarities to Philadelphia-based indie band The Swimmers, especially in the song “Not As Amused.”
The band has played at area all-ages venues like the Vintage, Cafe Metropolis and Eleanor Rigby’s, as well as out of town in New York City, Connecticut and Philadelphia, Rosler says. It has August dates scheduled in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. Marywood’s student radio station 91.7 VMFM has played A Fire With Friends, too.
A Fire With Friends — which now is comprised of Rosler, Scott Jordan (guitar/vocals), Chelsea Collins (piano), Eric Foster (synthesizer, percussion), Al Nameth (bass) and T.J. Errigo (drums) — recorded “Happily Haunted” with Paul Sinclair at The Laboratory in Nuangola.
“It kind of took us a little longer than we would have liked to. I’m excited to have it finished,” says Rosler. “I think we thought (the songs) were ready to go, and you end up tweaking them in the studio regardless.”
For now, the EP will only be available at shows, Rosler says, but he’s working on getting it into local record stores as well.
“I would like to see some sort of (distribution) deal maybe come from it,” he says of the EP. “I’m not necessarily expecting that. … But I guess it is like a product., something tangible for someone to have, something to get at a show.
“I don’t know what the EP will do for us other than that. If it gets us some sort of distribution deal. … We could’ve done the whole iTunes thing, but I don’t know if that’s necessary. If it proves to be necessary, I guess we can go that route.”
The bio on the band’s MySpace page opens with the statement, “The members of A Fire With Friends are not f---ing hipsters. Nor do they try to be.” When we bring that up to Rosler, he laughs and explains that someone outside the band wrote the bio.
“I don’t know if it’s applicable, I don’t even know if it should be applicable or relevant to music,” Rosler says. “It’s one of those words that becomes popular for everyone to use, because it sounds like they know what the hell they’re talking about. I never used to hear anyone drop the word ‘pretentious,’ then all of a sudden it’s, ‘This band is pretentious because they’re doing this,’ or, ‘Their lyrics are sophomoric’ and ‘They’re hipsters.’ Not even that they said this about us, but I hear people talk about other bands like that. …. Sometimes it’s true, sometimes it’s not.”
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Optimistic about ‘Happily Haunted’
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The Vintage Theater, in downtown Scranton, will host the CD release party for the band’s five-song E...The Vintage Theater, in downtown Scranton, will host the CD release party for the band’s five-song EP “Happily Haunted,” Monday, June 28, at 6 p.m.
A milestone for any band, the release of a CD would have most groups thinking about a possible record deal and stardom, but lead singer Dan Rosler has a much simpler goal in mind.
“I just want people to hear it, they can steal it if they want,” Rosler joked.
“I really do just want people to hear it. Maybe we could get a distribution deal, or some sort of notice, but, if not, we’ll just keep pushing forward and make the next album.”
With 10 new songs already written, the group, which cites Arcade Fire, early Weezer, and Margo and the Nuclear So and Sos as sources of inspiration, is ready to begin recording their second album.
Rosler, who writes the majority of the songs, credits the band’s optimism and supportive attitude, as well as its members’ musicianship, with the ability to keep cranking out quality material.
“I guess I write the main part, I’ll have a song technically written, but then I’ll bring it to the band,” said Rosler.
“That’s my favorite part about being in a band, having a song and then bringing it to practice and there are five other people with input and ideas, and they make it a lot cooler than I could have imagined.”
Before they head back to the studio, the band, made up TJ Errigo, drums; Eric Foster, synthesizer; AJ Nameth, bass; Scott Jordan, guitar; and Chelsea Collins, piano, will hit the road for a 10 -day tour with dates in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Nashville already scheduled.
But, before leaving the area, they will unveil “Happily Haunted” to their fans locally at The Vintage Theater.
“It’s (The Vintage Theater) almost like a home to the band, we practice there now, and they’ve always been really supportive of us, and nice to us. And, it’s in downtown Scranton, easy for everyone to get to,” said Rosler.
Also performing are local bands A Social State, Lesser Animals, Herring Bones, as well as Pie Party and Billy Wallace, who will be coming from out of state.
“All of those bands are phenomenal, so it’s going to be really nerve racking to play at our own release show,” joked Rosler.
supersonic
