Danny Presant

Instrument: Backup vocals and bass

About the Tour and New Album, Kick at the Dust: The whole release of this record has been a process. It’s been basically that we got away from our label, we made this record on our own, and it’s gone right back to where we were at the beginning of the record. There were highs and lows about it. There was definitely that feeling when you connect with the audience that’s wonderful, and then there are nights when you played in weird areas where there weren’t as many people. It felt that like the beginning again, and there was a nice feeling of getting back to our roots.

Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: I had three posters — the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers, Led Zeppelin and Blink 182. Of course our parents raised us with The Beatles and classics like that, but I wasn’t as blessed to have the “cool” parents. My dad used to play a lot of Lionel Richie and Hall and Oates. Another band that really fucked us up as kids was Mars Volta — their level of musicianship was kind of unmatched at that time for a bigger band in the indie rock/alternative scene.

Favorite Stop on Tour: The Chapel in San Francisco is my favorite venue we've ever played in. I like to go to places where people leave their egos at the door. It’s more fun when you can feel that connection with the audience.

On Maintaining Originality: There are so many elements that aren’t musical anymore about the music industry, mainly being social media and all of that. A lot of times, I would spend my day on it and wondering “Is that cool?” I don’t do this anymore, but I did and it was making me anxious. It was really annoying. I understand the power of social media and, believe me, it’s done good things for a lot of people. For me personally, it feels like high school.

Aspects Which Elevate Your Performances: One thing I think is missing from today’s rock shows is spontaneity because everything is played to tracks for the most part. The sounds are so programmed these days, and one thing that we’ve strived to do — and so far have succeeded in — is practicing the fuck out of our instruments. When you come see us, we may hit a wrong note here or there, but it’s still a right note, it still sounds good. When you do that — when you take away everything — there’s a level of intimacy that I think is heightened when you can hear and see the notes being played. That to me is my favorite part of my show, and the fact that we put on a fucking great show.

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