"being able to write and play music with your best friends that allows you to travel the world, and meet so many great people, well nothing beats
Anybody working for Altsounds.com might be aware that some of the team have been really excited recently about Six Gallery. A hard-working, genuine bunch of guys from Athens, Ohio. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to ask them a few questions and their responses are as follows:
Altsounds: Let me start by saying that over at Altsounds.com, since hearing you on MySpace, we think you are awesome. Is that OK with you?
Six Gallery: That is way more than OK with me. Thanks!
Altsounds: Would you mind indulging us to your origins and why you decided to make the music we hear from you today?
Six Gallery: We originated as a 4 piece instrumental act based out of the small college town of Athens, Ohio. Myself, and our two guitarists (Ben and Will) have been a part of this band for 5 years, and released 2 EPs prior to "Breakthrough's". I don't think of the music we write as a decision. I see it as more of a culmination of the past 5 years.
Altsounds: Was the signing to Superball Music significant in your development as a band? How did that come about?
Six Gallery: We wrote and recorded "Breakthroughs in Modern Art" during the winter/spring of 2009. Our plan the entire time was to do a self release of the album, which we did last June, but our ultimate goal was to find a label for a proper release and distribution. Having little to no contact on the inside, we spent countless hours sending out emails to every booking agent, PR company, management company and record label we could find. Eventually the record ended up in the hands of Superball, and things just naturally happened from there. Superball Music is a great fit for us, and I think we are a great fit for them. It has had a significant impact on more than just the development of our band, but our personal lives as well. Most of us have been living in Columbus since graduating from college 4 years ago, and have built lives here. Speaking personally, I have had the same full time job for 4 years, lived in the same apartment, my family lives here. It's been my home. Since signing with Superball this past December, it's been a whirlwind of wrapping all of that up. Quitting jobs, moving out of apartments, selling cars. I think we've all made some sacrifices throughout this process, but this is what we've always wanted to do, and I don't think any one of has any regrets about the choices we've made or the direction we're heading in.
Altsounds: When it comes to writing your music, is it a whole band collaboration, or does one member do the majority?
Six Gallery: Writing has always been a full band collaboration. Many songs start with a riff or idea Ben, Will or Dan bring to the table, but for the most part, we all write all of our songs.
Altsounds: Are there currently, or have there been subjects in the past which have influenced your writing?
Six Gallery: Lyrically, I cannot answer this question. As far as the music goes, I think there is always something influencing the direction our writing takes, whether we are aware of it or not. As far as being influenced by a specific subject, I don't think that has ever happened.
Altsounds: Can you talk me through the approach towards the guitar playing? Am I right in thinking ‘A Live Nativity Scene’ features arrangements of hammer-ons and pull-offs?
Six Gallery: To be honest, sometimes I don't even know what the hell those two (Ben and Will) are doing on the guitar. There have been times when Will would bring a riff to practice for us to work on, and it would be completely nonsensical. He plays a very technical style of two handed finger tapping that you don't see too many guitarists attempting these days. So what happens when he brings a riff to the table is that we have a very difficult time wrapping our heads around it and pulling the melody out of it, and making it make sense.
Altsounds: Never fancied tackling the metal scene with those guitar skills in the band?
Six Gallery: HAHAHAHAH, well, on some of our older EP's you might find a metal riff here and there. I myself LOVE metal and so does our guitarist Ben. The other guys aren't into it as much as we are, but we try to squeeze a little bit of metal in there every once in a while when no one's paying attention.
Altsounds: Have you seen a rise in fans thanks to online promotion and the ability to access music more freely?
Six Gallery: I'm not going to lie, I keep close tabs on our Myspace plays. I mean why not? It is an incredibly useful tool in gauging how successful a press release, or show is. For instance, a trailer for a music video we filmed last month went up yesterday (the actual music video will be released March 2nd), and our plays went up about 70 or 80 from where they usually are on a daily basis. It's amazing what you can do with the internet these days.
Altsounds: What was the last album you bought / stole or borrowed?
Six Gallery: Oh crap, I'm going to have to dig deep on this one. The last album I purchased was, by a band called Struck by Lightning. They're also from Columbus and they SHRED!
Altsounds: I’ve noticed the band sport some pretty good facial hair, was that a requirement for joining? And who grows the best beard?
Six Gallery: It is not a pre-requisite, but it is highly encouraged. Well, personally I look like an idiot without one. I've got one of those face necks, you know what I'm talking about? Like there isn't much of a chin to separate my face from my neck, so I need a little help from the beard. Best beard as far as thickness goes would have to be Ben (guitar). Dude can grow a beard in a matter of hours. Best beard in length would have to be Benji (drums). He's got a good three to four inches of beard hanging off his chin. The ladies love it.
Altsounds: Any plans for European touring this year?
Six Gallery: We are crossing the pond in early May, then maybe back again next Fall. We're all really stoked about it.
Altsounds: Please describe your live performances, visually and musically...
Six Gallery: We don't stand up there and just play our songs one after another. We do a lot of blending between tracks with ambient noise, guitar swells and beer chugs. There isn't much (if any) downtime while on stage. We want to keep the audience engaged, and that's what they paid five bucks for. A rock show is what they want and a rock show is what they get. Me and Dan spend most of our time on stage just trying to stay out of each others way, but I have taken a guitar to the face more than once.
Altsounds: "Breakthroughs In Modern Art" is your debut album and hits the shelves soon, what has fan response been like to this news?
Six Gallery: Everyone is super excited! Having lived and played in the same town for 4 years, our fans are also our friends. They know how long and hard we've worked on this, and are excited that they now get to share our music with the rest of the world.
Altsounds: How long has this album been in the making?
Six Gallery: We started writing "Breakthroughs..." in November of 2008. We started recording it in March of 2009, and the official US release will be on March 23rd, 2010. Wow, seeing it written out like that makes it look like it's been a long time. I guess it has been. Time flies when you're having fun!
Altsounds: What is your favourite song on the album?
Six Gallery: Oh man, tough question. I like them all, but my favorite to play is "A live Nativity Scene" or "Glacier....". The end of that one is BROOOOTAL.
Altsounds: What is the best thing about being in Six Gallery?
Six Gallery: Being able to write and play music with your best friends is great. But being able to write and play music with your best friends that allows you to travel the world, and meet so many great people, well nothing beats that.
Altsounds: Any last words for the Altsounds readers?
Six Gallery: THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!!!!
Altsounds: Let me start by saying that over at Altsounds.com, since hearing you on MySpace, we think you are awesome. Is that OK with you?
Six Gallery: That is way more than OK with me. Thanks!
Altsounds: Would you mind indulging us to your origins and why you decided to make the music we hear from you today?
Six Gallery: We originated as a 4 piece instrumental act based out of the small college town of Athens, Ohio. Myself, and our two guitarists (Ben and Will) have been a part of this band for 5 years, and released 2 EPs prior to "Breakthrough's". I don't think of the music we write as a decision. I see it as more of a culmination of the past 5 years.
Altsounds: Was the signing to Superball Music significant in your development as a band? How did that come about?
Six Gallery: We wrote and recorded "Breakthroughs in Modern Art" during the winter/spring of 2009. Our plan the entire time was to do a self release of the album, which we did last June, but our ultimate goal was to find a label for a proper release and distribution. Having little to no contact on the inside, we spent countless hours sending out emails to every booking agent, PR company, management company and record label we could find. Eventually the record ended up in the hands of Superball, and things just naturally happened from there. Superball Music is a great fit for us, and I think we are a great fit for them. It has had a significant impact on more than just the development of our band, but our personal lives as well. Most of us have been living in Columbus since graduating from college 4 years ago, and have built lives here. Speaking personally, I have had the same full time job for 4 years, lived in the same apartment, my family lives here. It's been my home. Since signing with Superball this past December, it's been a whirlwind of wrapping all of that up. Quitting jobs, moving out of apartments, selling cars. I think we've all made some sacrifices throughout this process, but this is what we've always wanted to do, and I don't think any one of has any regrets about the choices we've made or the direction we're heading in.
Altsounds: When it comes to writing your music, is it a whole band collaboration, or does one member do the majority?
Six Gallery: Writing has always been a full band collaboration. Many songs start with a riff or idea Ben, Will or Dan bring to the table, but for the most part, we all write all of our songs.
Altsounds: Are there currently, or have there been subjects in the past which have influenced your writing?
Six Gallery: Lyrically, I cannot answer this question. As far as the music goes, I think there is always something influencing the direction our writing takes, whether we are aware of it or not. As far as being influenced by a specific subject, I don't think that has ever happened.
Altsounds: Can you talk me through the approach towards the guitar playing? Am I right in thinking ‘A Live Nativity Scene’ features arrangements of hammer-ons and pull-offs?
Six Gallery: To be honest, sometimes I don't even know what the hell those two (Ben and Will) are doing on the guitar. There have been times when Will would bring a riff to practice for us to work on, and it would be completely nonsensical. He plays a very technical style of two handed finger tapping that you don't see too many guitarists attempting these days. So what happens when he brings a riff to the table is that we have a very difficult time wrapping our heads around it and pulling the melody out of it, and making it make sense.
Altsounds: Never fancied tackling the metal scene with those guitar skills in the band?
Six Gallery: HAHAHAHAH, well, on some of our older EP's you might find a metal riff here and there. I myself LOVE metal and so does our guitarist Ben. The other guys aren't into it as much as we are, but we try to squeeze a little bit of metal in there every once in a while when no one's paying attention.
Altsounds: Have you seen a rise in fans thanks to online promotion and the ability to access music more freely?
Six Gallery: I'm not going to lie, I keep close tabs on our Myspace plays. I mean why not? It is an incredibly useful tool in gauging how successful a press release, or show is. For instance, a trailer for a music video we filmed last month went up yesterday (the actual music video will be released March 2nd), and our plays went up about 70 or 80 from where they usually are on a daily basis. It's amazing what you can do with the internet these days.
Altsounds: What was the last album you bought / stole or borrowed?
Six Gallery: Oh crap, I'm going to have to dig deep on this one. The last album I purchased was, by a band called Struck by Lightning. They're also from Columbus and they SHRED!
Altsounds: I’ve noticed the band sport some pretty good facial hair, was that a requirement for joining? And who grows the best beard?
Six Gallery: It is not a pre-requisite, but it is highly encouraged. Well, personally I look like an idiot without one. I've got one of those face necks, you know what I'm talking about? Like there isn't much of a chin to separate my face from my neck, so I need a little help from the beard. Best beard as far as thickness goes would have to be Ben (guitar). Dude can grow a beard in a matter of hours. Best beard in length would have to be Benji (drums). He's got a good three to four inches of beard hanging off his chin. The ladies love it.
Altsounds: Any plans for European touring this year?
Six Gallery: We are crossing the pond in early May, then maybe back again next Fall. We're all really stoked about it.
Altsounds: Please describe your live performances, visually and musically...
Six Gallery: We don't stand up there and just play our songs one after another. We do a lot of blending between tracks with ambient noise, guitar swells and beer chugs. There isn't much (if any) downtime while on stage. We want to keep the audience engaged, and that's what they paid five bucks for. A rock show is what they want and a rock show is what they get. Me and Dan spend most of our time on stage just trying to stay out of each others way, but I have taken a guitar to the face more than once.
Altsounds: "Breakthroughs In Modern Art" is your debut album and hits the shelves soon, what has fan response been like to this news?
Six Gallery: Everyone is super excited! Having lived and played in the same town for 4 years, our fans are also our friends. They know how long and hard we've worked on this, and are excited that they now get to share our music with the rest of the world.
Altsounds: How long has this album been in the making?
Six Gallery: We started writing "Breakthroughs..." in November of 2008. We started recording it in March of 2009, and the official US release will be on March 23rd, 2010. Wow, seeing it written out like that makes it look like it's been a long time. I guess it has been. Time flies when you're having fun!
Altsounds: What is your favourite song on the album?
Six Gallery: Oh man, tough question. I like them all, but my favorite to play is "A live Nativity Scene" or "Glacier....". The end of that one is BROOOOTAL.
Altsounds: What is the best thing about being in Six Gallery?
Six Gallery: Being able to write and play music with your best friends is great. But being able to write and play music with your best friends that allows you to travel the world, and meet so many great people, well nothing beats that.
Altsounds: Any last words for the Altsounds readers?
Six Gallery: THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!!!!
