Twenty7

Band members Lori Johnson Goodridge, Jon Goodridge, Joe Ellis, and Ryan Garrett make up the group Twenty-Seven. Twenty-Seven has created a solid sound with their music as the band's bluesy country rock tunes are full of colorful and goodtime lyrics and strong female-fronted vocals. Looking for music full of energy and life, then Twenty-Seven fits the bill perfectly. Check out this recent interview with the band members of Twenty-Seven as our Webzine gets to know the band better. Enjoy!

Isaac: What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?

Ryan: We were all 27 when we played together for the first time after a brief hiatus.

Lori: We basically came to a point where we were going to play a show and record a demo so we needed a name.

Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

Ryan: I guess our genre is kinda rocking, a little trippy, maybe just a wee tad folksy at times. As for influences, I've always listened to the Ramones, Black Flag, and lots of old punk rock stuff, so I'm sure that comes through somehow, but I also like old rock n roll like Hendrix, the Stones, Janis and Big Brother.

Lori: I grew up listening to country and classic rock pretty much my whole life. My uncle exposed me to some blues such as Robert Bradley and also some jam bands like Widespread Panic and North Mississippi Allstars. I love the bluesy jam sound we have. I think that blues is where the true emotion is in music.

Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

Ryan: Jon and Joe have known each other since they were babies. The group of us met in middle and high school.

Lori: Jon and I had class together in high school when I first moved to Kentucky. We didn't become friends until I started dating (and eventually marrying) his older brother. Our first date was to see Ryan's old band Jumpkick. Joe and Jon are cousins so the whole thing came together like fate....only about 7yrs later.

Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

Ryan: We got together for the first time about four years ago. Then I went to grad school in Boston. Then when I came home one Christmas, I thought it would be fun to get together and invite family and friends over, so we did that and had a really good time. We also had lots of beer and Jack.

As for getting together, I think we all always liked playing with each other in bits and pieces and eventually all four of us played together and really liked the songs that came out of it.

Lori: I think I've been playing guitar about 5 years and had been trying to get Jon to jam with me since then.

Isaac: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?

Ryan: DIY til we die. Or until someone pays us enough that we can quit our jobs.

Lori:------->Your label here!<------- I would like to quit my day job.

Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?

Ryan: I play the same Fender Floyd Rose Strat I've had since middle school. I beat the living shit out of it playing punk rock when I was younger, neglected it some while in school, and am back to rocking it now. It still feels great. My parents bought it for me for Christmas one year, and other than maybe the Rip-Offs record my little bro got me one Christmas, it has probably been the most enduring Christmas present I've received.

Lori: When I first started playing I just borrowed my father-in-laws Sigma acoustic. Then for Christmas my dad bought me a Delta acoustic. It was like a $79 guitar but surprisingly had a decent sound. (I don't think my dad thought I would stick with playing.) Last year I finally bought myself a 2003 Gibson J-45.

Jon: Slingerland drums.

Joe: OLP bass guitar.

Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

Ryan: My buddy Rick McCarty set us up with a show at the Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky that was really fun. Other than that, we haven't played out much. I live in San Francisco, and everyone else is in Northern Kentucky, so that makes it hard to get together. If anyone wants to give us a $300 guarantee in Kentucky, we can make it happen though!

Lori: Yeah the goal is to cover Ryan's airfare. Let's make it happen!

Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?

Ryan: We haven't done any covers, although we talked about some - Sympathy for the Devil, Betterman, a few others. We all have different songs we like, so there is no standard set list. I think we all like closing with Beautifully Broken though, because we're kinda tired after that one.

Lori: I usually suck at playing covers. I'm way more comfortable playing my own stuff.

Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?

Lori: I generally write all the songs. Listen was written by Joe and myself. Mostly my songs are about doing things your own way. You gotta live your own life. Sometimes I have a hard time following my own advice.

I'm sure the topics will change as we get older. Songs are life experiences, I'm still experiencing life.

Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?

Ryan: Lori basically brings a full song, and then we decide if we want to change it, add solos, dynamics, etc. It's actually very simple with 27.

Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

Ryan: There is no such thing since I don't live there. But when we do get together, we typically like to have some drinks on-hand. Other than that, we just play when we can.

Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

Lori: We started just jamming periodically, I'm talking like before we had our demo we had probably only played together 15 times. The distance thing is a pain in the ass. Regardless, we liked the sound we were coming out with and decided to lay it down.

Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

Ryan: I live really far away, so it's a pain in the ass to get together with any frequency. I lived a few hours away in Western Kentucky when we started, then moved to Boston, then moved to San Francisco. So we're used to not keeping a hectic schedule as a band.

Lori: I mean really Ryan can't you just move back?

Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?

Ryan: I'm seeking to play music, and hopefully meet some people and have a few drinks.

Lori: I hope people like the songs and want to hear us more. For me the goal is to get the music heard by as many people as possible and hopefully build a solid fan-base. All the other stuff is just a bonus.

Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands? Ryan: Do it for fun.

Lori: Do it for the sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?

Ryan: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twenty-Seven/89737268409?ref=ts

Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

Lori: Our families.

Ryan: My family has always been supportive of me musically for the most part, and everyone in this band has always been supportive, either by playing together or watching our other bands when we can.

We also need to thank Mike Montgomery for generally being a musical badass, and recording our EP over the course of two days at Candyland Studios in Cincinnati, and being an all-around good guy. Check out his band Thistle at www.thistlewired.com.

Isaac: Any last words?

Ryan: Thanks for checking us out. Email twentysevenband@gmail.com if you want us to play near you. We'd really like to play more. - Juniors Cave