The Push

"If you haven't heard of The Push yet, don't feel too bad about your musical prowess. They only played their first show together back in June at the Barley House and have a rather small, but faithful, following. If, however, this time next year you don't know anything about The Push, by all means, start questioning your local music belief structure, because you are out of the loop, sweetheart.

The Push was formed earlier this year and consists of vocalist and guitarist Ryan Fitzgerald (also of Polyphonic Spree), drummer Jay Henderson, Moody Fuqua on the bass, and Jonathan Hopkins, a.k.a. the Pirate, on the keyboards. Though newly formed, the guys have been playing together and/or known one another since high school. Their sound, while decidedly hard to describe, is not made hastily. Claiming to be incredibly "anal" about every last mechanical detail, the band's end product is crisp and mesmerizing from the beginning of the song to the end. While "the Pirate" jokes in the interview about how "the cheesier the better" is a deciding factor behind what keyboard melodies the band goes with, many of The Push's songs are infused with signature late 70's early 80's pop and rock elements, including synthesized sounds and vocal manipulations, that are a refreshing addition to their musical range. In the hours leading up to the interview, the band recorded the single "Long Stairs" which you can preview here, and I highly suggest you do (I couldn't get that darn song out of my head if I wanted to, which I don't). They are also opening up at the Granada Theater on December 28 for Pilotdrift, Red Monroe, and St. Vincent.

So, here's your chance to jump on The Push bandwagon before it's standing room only. The potential is there and hopefully 2007 has some good stuff in store for these guys. After getting to chat with them and sit in on their rehearsal, I am certainly an ecstatic fan. Besides, any band that will offer me a fine Samuel Adams when I waltz into their home is a winner in my book.

Some of the subjects we covered in the interview include:

How the band came together,
How they describe their sound, Favorite DFW venues, and the upcoming show at the Granada. Their first album due in March and then of course NAMBLA, keyboard neckties, Keith Richards, cartoons and cereal, and other random topics that managed to find their way into the conversation:

http://media.pegasusnews.com/audio/Podcasts/PushInterview.mp3 - Erin Rice, Pegasus News