Roses For The Dead

Roses For the Dead pounds down doors to set itself apart from other Midwestern bands. The band has been trying to make its mark since 2003, when the original members started the band.

Josh Carrick, bassist/vocals, Chris Shaffer, lead guitar, and Chris Pitsch, drums, have been writing music together over the past seven years until Chad Albin, guitar/vocals, and Zach Williams, lead vocals were added to the lineup and completed the band.

The preconceived notion of the struggles upcoming bands go through seems to have no effect on the band.

"If you just keep on pushing, eventually you have to hope something good will happen," Williams said. "We're not waiting for it to happen, we're going to go out there and make it happen."

Williams said a lot of his influences come from local bands he is friends with and performs with Roses For the Dead.

"A lot of local bands inspire us because you play with them and just draw from them," Williams said. "Bands such as Lookout Burning and Stepwise are both very influential for me."

Thousands of local bands in Wisconsin compete for opening acts and venues. The band with the most to offer musically and can relate best wins the coveted spot.

Roses For the Dead had a stroke of luck when it was asked to promote the I'm Alive tour, featuring headliner We Came As Romans, Sept. 19.

"It was a fluke," Shaffer said. "They weren't taking any more opening acts for this show, but when they weren't selling tickets how they wanted, we were asked to play and help sell tickets."

Pitsch said Roses For the Dead was more than willing to open for the tour because it was such a great opportunity.

"We got to hang out with the bands all day, and they were all really cool," Williams said. "Levi Benton, lead vocalist for Miss May I, just told us to keep doing what we're doing and don't give up. It's all you can really do. You need to try your hardest every single time and put everything into it."

Roses For the Dead has been writing music long enough to know what works and what doesn't. The band has a specific writing process, which creates free-flowing music.

"I always believed lyrics should be inspired by music," Albin said. "It's always been easier to write lyrics and then the music. When I write music, it's inspired by what I feel that day, so when I write it all down, all of a sudden the song forms."

Both Williams and Pitsch agreed with this process. The band collaborates when writing, and everyone is open to ideas.

"Everyone writes, and when anyone brings an idea to the table, it's fair game," Williams said. "We even have songs where we literally split them up. One might write the first verse, another will write the chorus, and another person will do the second verse. Everyone puts in their own opinion, and it just seems to work the best that way."

The band has a three-track extended play titled "Embrace the Day." Williams said the reoccurring theme of the EP is rebirth and becoming a new and better person.

"It's all about knowing and realizing what you have and embracing it," Williams said. "We've been through many things in our lives, and it's all brought us here. You need to do everything possible to make your dreams come true, and that's what we're doing."

Pitsch agreed and said someone may work more than 40 hours a week, but for him, music is everything.

"It's my way of getting away," Pitsch said. "When we get together for a couple days to practice or do a show here and there, it's so important. Being honest and trying to connect with people on that level means a lot. If you come out, have a good time and just be yourself. That's what it's all about."

Roses for the Dead will perform as part of the Valley of Death 2011 concert in Kimberly, Wis., Oct. 8.
- Fourth Estate