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Calling all Memphis-lovers! We are so excited to unveil our latest ful Music Insider interview: with Memphis-based indie band Ingram Hill! Justin Moore (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Phil Bogard (lead guitar) joined with Shea Sowell (bass, background vocals) and Matt Chambless (drums) formed the band in the summer of 2000 after attending the University of Memphis and have been recording and touring ever since. ful was fortunate enough to land an interview with lead singer Justin Moore. Here's what he had to say....

ful: What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Justin Moore: I think it's the excitement/nervousness of people hearing something that was created in my head, and hopefully getting the stamp approval not only from my band, but from fans, too. Playing a song the first time for someone is one of the most nerve-racking things ever, but if that person likes it, it becomes one of the most amazing feelings ever.

ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it?
JM: It was a song called "As Long As I'm With You." When we were writing for our new record, we set a deadline for ourselves to have a certain amount of songs, and almost daily, Phil would come over to my house and either he'd play me something, or vice versa. I think this song was the last one I wrote, and Phil said, "That's the one I've been waiting for out of you." It made my day.

ful: What is the most exciting part of recording? The most difficult?
JM: The most exciting part of recording is the back half of it, when songs really start to take shape and fill out. It's such a long tedious process, but when all the parts start getting put together, you suddenly want everyone to hear it... immediately. The most difficult thing for me is replicating the natural energy of a live show. Touring has always been our bread and butter, and standing behind a microphone, staring at a studio wall is always tough for me energy-wise as opposed to playing in front of a live audience.

ful: Do you have a favorite city to play in? A favorite venue?
JM: I love Chicago. And I love the House of Blues in Chicago. Probably my favorite place we've played.

ful: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list? What's your favorite song to play?
JM: I think we've played "Will I Ever Make It Home" and "Almost Perfect" 4 million times. For real. It HAS to be that many. And we do play covers. We try to change it up every tour, though. For a few years, we ended our shows with Elvis' "Suspicious Minds," but we've kind of retired that one now. I've always had a good time playing "On My Way" from our first record, though all of our new songs, of course, are really fun… probably because they're all brand new to us.

ful: What bands do you love right now? Who would you love to play with?
JM: I just bought The Script's new record, and I think it's pretty good. I've always been a big Pete Yorn fan, and I like his latest record a lot. There's a guy named Cory Chisel that just put out a record recently, and it's pretty great, too. Oh, and K'naan. That guy is hip.

ful: What advice do you have for people who are trying to break into the music industry?
JM: Run away! Fast!! Just kidding. I think you need to have thick skin, and not get your feelings hurt too easily. There are a lot more no's than yes's, but the yes's sure are rewarding, and it's a fun business to be in.



ful: We see you guys are blogging and updating your Twitter frequently. Has the Internet/social networking helped your band gain exposure and fans? Do you like Twittering? Are you following anyone you consider a guilty pleasure?
JM: I think it's definitely helped us. Everyone's attention span is so short these days, so it's good to keep ours updated, because you never know when someone might just stumble upon us... probably because they had almost just reached the end of the internet. I think I like Twittering. I think. It's fun when you have something to say. But I always feel under pressure to say something witty or interesting, and it's hard to gauge the proper amount to tweet. Sometimes I stop following people because my entire homepage is filled up with their tweets. I don't want to become that guy. But I don't want to disappear for weeks at a time either because I don't have anything funny to say. But it feels weird sometimes to just tell people what I'm doing, just for the sake of telling them. Or maybe I'm just weird for thinking that. Who knows, really?

I suppose my guilty pleasure follow is Justin Timberlake. I guess it shouldn't be, but I'm a grown man, and I don't know him personally, and his fans are far more female based then male, so it seems a little silly sometimes. But only sometimes.

ful: We at ful bags are super excited to be working together. Have you had a chance to use our luggage/bags? What do you think?
JM: We're excited to be working with you guys, too! We have used them, and we definitely love them!

For more info on Ingram Hill, check out their website.

Ingram Hill's Social Scene: Twitter | Facebook | MySpace

Labels: ful, ful music insider, ful tour luggage, indie music, ingram hill, memphis, music

Another ful Music Insider coup! We snagged an interview with indie band, This Providence. Originally formed in the suburbs of Seattle in 2003 by Australian-born vocalist Daniel Young and guitarist Gavin Phillips, the band's current lineup also features bassist David Blaise and drummer Andy Horst.

While their 2006 self-titled Fueled By Ramen debut introduced the world to the band's inventive brand of indie rock, with their latest album they've proved how versatile they've become from spending the past two years on the road and refining their craft--and they can't wait to finally show the rest of the world the fruits of their hard-earned labor.

Here, lead singer Dan Young talks music, songwriting, and why the band loves playing in Seattle.

ful: What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Dan Young: I'm currently writing music for our next album. Who knows when it will get recorded and released, but writing the songs is probably the most exciting thing about music to me. When I write, I often wonder where my ideas are coming from. It's almost as if the songs are writing themselves.

ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it?
DY: The last song I wrote is something I've wanted to touch on for while. It's a song about not really knowing who you are, but knowing who you have. Hoping it ends up on our next record.

ful: 'Who Are You Now' was released last year. What was the most exciting part of that process? The most difficult? What response have you been getting?
Recording the album was a blast. We spent 4 weeks in LA with producer, Matt Squire. We recorded in a classy little studio, with a impressive medieval theme, "The Lair". It literally had a wall of vintage guitar amps (which we took full advantage of), tons of vintage guitars, other instruments and a bunch of VERY nice recording gear. The album came out MUCH better than it had gone in. Lots of fun!

The most difficult part of releasing an album is getting people to hear it. We spent at least 8 months on the road, playing to audiences of all sizes. That's a lot of hard work, and sometimes it can be a little discouraging playing to new ears all the time.

The response has been great though. This album, more than any other, has seen us grow as writers, performers and friends. Our following is always getting larger, it's really exciting!

ful: You guys have a bunch of shows coming up in February. Do you have a favorite city to play in? A favorite venue?
DY: I love playing our hometown, Seattle. The crowds are most enthusiastic at home, I'd say. As far as venues go, there are a lot of good ones. I think House of Blues are my favorites. The people there are nice and the stages are great - lots of room to move around.

ful: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list? What’s your favorite song to play?
DY: We try to play material from "Who Are You Now?" mostly, and then throw in a couple of older ones for the long-time fans. We haven't had much opportunity to do covers, as our set length is always fairly limited. Though one tour we covered Tom Petty's 'American Girl.' That song rules!

Yeah, we'd be a mess if we didn't have a set-list. Usually, by the end of the tour we don't look at our set-lists as it's ingrained in our minds after playing the same damn set night after night.

My favorite songs are the ones people can sing along to. "Letdown," "My Beautiful Resuce," "Somebody to Talk to," and the ones that are LOUD: "Waste Myself," "Playing The Villain."


ful: What bands do you love right now? Who would you love to play with?
DY: Right now, I've been catching up on the rock 'n roll I missed out on as a kid. My favorite album (this week) is 'All Things Must Pass' by George Harrison. I want to play with The Killers!

ful: What advice do you have for people who are trying to break into the music industry?
DY: Um, I think the industry is so jam packed full of artists and not with money. The music industry isn't doing that great, so you really have to love music. If you want to pursue music, pursue it passionately! That, and make friends. The music industry, not unlike a lot of things in life, is often about who you know.

ful: We noticed you guys are active on Twitter and do some blogging. Has the Internet/social networking helped your band gain exposure and fans? Do you like Twittering? Are you following anyone you consider a guilty pleasure?
DY: The internet is key in promoting your music these days. I've really only been in music since the beginning of Napster. I don't know any other way. That being said, it can be a lot of fun. I take pride in making my blog something interesting and even reflective sometimes. I do follow some strange ones on Twitter; Taylor Swift is one. She's just fun.

ful: We at ful bags are super excited to be working together. Have you had a chance to use our luggage/bags? What do you think?
DY: I haven't had a chance to transfer my clothes from my old suitcase into my new ful one yet (it's a long and very uninteresting story). But I have given it a good looking over, and I love what I see so far. It's obvious to me that it's great quality. I kind of ran around with excitement when I got it... I mean, I was "testing the wheels." (Rolls like a champ!)

For more information on This Providence check out their website. And here's a link to some of their tunes.

Thanks Dan - and hope to see you in concert soon!

Labels: ful, ful music insider, ful tour luggage, this providence

We are so excited to report that hot indie band A Rocket to the Moon are using ful's luggage while on tour! And we're even more excited that the band's lead singer Nick Santino agreed to answer some of our questions about making music, touring, making an album, and how to break into the biz.

First, here's a quick intro to the band: Nick Santino started the band in 2006. The other members of ARTTM are guitarist Justin Richards, bass guitarist Eric Halvorsen, and drummer Andrew Cook. The alternative band released their first full-length album last year, On Your Side and also played a bunch of festivals including Bamboozle and a couple dates on the Warped Tour. To hear some of this band's music, check out their MySpace page. (We love the song Mr. Right.)

And now, here's our interview with ARTTM lead singer Nick Santino:

ful: What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Nick Santino: I love making music. If I could live in a studio and write and record all day I would do it in a heart beat. I think the exciting part of writing something you really love is what does it for me. The possibilities are endless when it comes to song writing. I love the freedom to take influence from any style of music and put your own flavor on it.

ful: You guys have a lot of shows coming up in February and March. Do you have a favorite city to play in? A favorite venue?
NS: I love Nashville. I'm a big country buff so everything about Nashville I love. The people are awesome and the shows are always amazing for us. I wouldn't mind moving there to start my family.

ful: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list? What's your favorite song to play?
NS: We play a handful of songs from our newest record "On Your Side". I think my favorite to play is a song called "Baby Blue Eyes." It's super dynamic and has a great energy to it.

ful: Do you get nervous before playing a show?
NS: I do! And if anyone tells you that they don't, they are a liar. I'm answering these questions from side stage right now about to go on in 5 minutes and I have butterflies.

ful: What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?
NS: We played this show in Salt Lake City that pretty much was a shed in the middle of the woods. They gave us a package of hot dogs and marshmallows for catering and we had to cook them over a camp fire outside. Not to mention it was 40 degrees outside.

ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it?
NS: We had some time off around the holidays and I wrote a few songs out of feeling bored. It felt good to write again. They are just a few solo acoustic songs heavily influenced by Johnny Cash. I love that man. I have him tattooed on my leg!

ful: You just released your first full-length album. What was the most exciting part of that process? The most difficult?
NS:Recording it and the release day. Both equally nerveracking but super exciting.

ful: What bands are you loving right now? Who would you love to play with?
NS: I love Brad Paisley. I'm huge into country. I'd love to play with someone like John Mayer.

ful: What advice do you have for people who want to give it a go in the music industry?
NS: Just give it all you got. You'll make it as long as you believe in what you do!

10. We at ful bags are super excited to be working together. Have you had a chance to use our luggage/bags? What do you think?
NS: I love clothes. I have entirely way too many articles of clothing. This bag actually let's me fill it to the brim and still have room for more. On this tour I fit 5 coats and 3 pairs of cowboy boots on top of all my other clothes. It's amazing. Thank you guys for supporting my shopping habit! Haha.

Thanks so much Nick! We appreciate the time and insight and cant' wait to see you live soon.

Follow Nick on Twitter here. And for more information on the band and tour dates, check out their Myspace page.

Stay tuned for more interviews and bands from ful Music Insider on Pulse!

Labels: a rocket to the moon, bands, ful, ful music insider, ful tour luggage, indie music

Admit it--it's almost impossible to find a great gift for your boyfriend or husband. If you've been together for awhile, chances are you've already exhausted the golf gear, cologne, tie & coat, monogrammed mugs, and sports apparel avenues. We at ful understand your pain--and have put together a list of 6 fun and unique gifts for your guy. Yes, we threw in a ful bag or two, but hey, they are a pretty fun gift.

Tennman ful Backpack
Effortlessly stylish. The perfect gift for a man on the go--and an innate fashion sense. $69.99





















Skullcandy Headphones
With over 190 funky designs, these hip headphones are ideal for any music-loving man. From $29.95 to $69.95





















TV Show T-Shirts
Nothing shows you understand your honey's crazy sense of humor more than a T-shirt from his all-time favorite TV show. This site includes shirts from Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office, A-Team, Cheers, and Family Guy. $17.95













Tailgate Toss (also known as Cornhole)
Help soften the blow that football season is over with a custom NFL-themed cornhole set. Perfect for the outdoorsy type or a sports lover. $99.99


















Recylced Ski Wine Rack
If your guy loves extreme sports AND has a flair for the finer things in life, this is a fun and quirky gift he'll adore. $56.00









Canine Crib
Besides you, your boyfriend's dog is his best friend. Help his pal travel in style with carrier. Bonus: converts from tote to backpack! $59.99

Labels: ful, gift guide, unique gifts, valentine's day

Much to our disappointment, the end of the month has arrived and thus, the end of ful's first-ever Jammin' January. A big thank you to Vanguard Records and the three artists we interviewed. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, The Watson Twins, and Daphne Willis all answered our questions thoughtfully and honestly. Definitely check out the interviews here:

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers | Hear their music





The Watson Twins | Hear their music






Daphne Willis | Hear her music





Stay tuned for more interviews with up-and-coming independant musicians -- and don't forget about the Grammys this Sunday. (Big news: We're the offical bag of the Grammys!)

We're so excited to have the Watson Twins as the next artist in our Jammin' January series. The Watson Twins will unveil their sophomore release Talking To You, Talking To Me on Vanguard Records February 9, 2010, their most ambitious album to date. The new album finds the Watson Twins taking a soulful turn a la Carole King, but with a pop edge reminiscent of Feist. The result is a heartfelt nod to their roots, retaining the ethereal harmonies that have become their signature while incorporating a variety of influences and inspirations.


Leigh and Chandra Watson took a second to answer some of our questions. Here's what they had to say...

ful: What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Watson Twins: The whole process from writing a song, to recording, to the live show are all important parts of the experience. We are about to go out on the road promoting our new record "Talking To You, Talking To Me" and that is truly exciting.

ful: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you have a set play list?
WT: We try and change up our set list frequently. There isn't really any method to the madness, but if we play with a full band or just the two of us acoustic that can dictate things. My sister and I love working up new covers and those are always fun to throw in the mix. Also, with a new record coming out... we'll be focusing a lot of the set time on the songs. VERY EXCITING!

ful: What's your favorite song to play?
WT: I'm into playing a new song off TTY, TTM called "Brave One." My sister and I sing almost the entire song together, which isn't something we do all the time, and that puts a lot of energy behind the track.

ful: What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?
When we toured with our friend Jenny Lewis we played a lot of really unique venues. The Angel Orensanz in NYC sticks out as eerie and beautiful. It's a gothic-revival synagogue that was built in 1849, its one of the oldest in the United States. The acoustics were insane and the place just felt as if it had its own energy. We started the set acappella from the back of the venue and it just carried throughout the entire place, pure sonic beauty.

ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it?
WT: Now... I can't divulge that information. Hahaha, don't you want it to be a surprise?

ful: Your new album comes out next month. Any songs you're most excited about?
WT: Modern Man, Devil In You, Harpeth River... I actually want to just rattle of the track list for the entire record. All the songs are a lot of fun to sing and play. I can't wait for people to hear it.

ful: What bands are you loving right now? Who would you love to play with?
WT: Last night I was listening to Nick Cave and Bad Seeds and just absorbing his beautiful lyrics and avant-garde style of music, so talented. I'm loving the new Tegan and Sara record. Florence + the Machine are a favorite. And as of late, Bossa Nova has been creeping up in my music collection more and more. Our dream: Sing back-ups for Eryka Badu!

ful: What advice do you have for people who want to give it a go in the music industry?
WT: Patience and persistence. Make music that you love and is true to you.

ful: Do you keep in touch with Jenny Lewis? Planning any more collaborations in the future?
WT:Our experience of making a record together and touring was pretty amazing and its kept us all connected. As far as collaborations... who knows what the future hold for the Watson Twins.

For week two of Jammin' January, we're got a chance to interview singer/songwriter Daphne Willis. In the little more than three years since she grabbed her acoustic guitar and took the stage for the first time, Chicago-based Willis has grown from a feisty neophyte into a self-assured, marvelously expressive artist with a bracingly seductive sound. The 22-year-old's Vanguard debut album, What to Say documents Willis' voyage of self-discovery, while also standing as a captivating introduction to a remarkably fresh voice with a distinctive point of view--one that both reflects and scrutinizes the social patterns of her generation.

Here's what she had to say...

ful: What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Daphne Willis: I love writing and recording music. But for me, playing it live and connecting with people face-to-face is so much more intense. The energy is the best!

ful: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you have a set play list?
DW: I play a lot of songs off my new album "What to Say," as well as scattered songs from previous EPs. But I do love to play the new stuff that's really fresh. My set lists vary greatly, but the regulars would have to be "Bluff," "Love and Hate," "Everybody Else" and "Peace of Mind." Requests are always welcome too.

ful: What's your favorite song to play?
DW: Always the last one I wrote.

ful: What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?
DW: I played a biker bar once, 2 years ago, in Rockford, Illinois. We went in just expecting a bar gig, younger crowd and quickly realized it was just a different crowd than we were expecting. I love being in situations like that because it keeps you on your toes and exposes you. Embrace everybody. We had a really good time and all 15 people in the room were on their feet, dancing
by the end of the set hahaha... I would go back anytime.

ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it?
DW: I write a lot on my own, but also like to go to Nashville and write with other buddies down there. I recently went down and came back with about 3 solid ones. They all seemed to revolve around the idea of slowing yourself down. I sometimes tend to get way ahead of myself (I think a lot of people do), when I should really be more focused on what is in front of me. Slow down and enjoy the moments.

ful: Your debut album comes out next month. What was the hardest part about making this album? What was the most exciting?
DW: THE most difficult thing I had to do on this album was switch around some of the musicians parts on the album and cut some parts/people out. There are some really good friends of mine that play on a lot of the tracks, and then, on a few other tracks, there are complete strangers that nailed it. I used to have a really difficult time navigating diplomatic situations. Pleasing myself and making sure other people are also satisfied can be rough. BUT it is also one of the most valuable lessons I have learned.

The most exciting thing? The first time I popped the finished product in my
car and cruised around Chicago. I felt like I was flying around the city!!

ful: What bands are you loving right now? Who would you love to play with?
DW: Oh man this is a rough one... I go through so many fazes with music and have kind of an ADD music personality if that makes sense haha. I do have my constant artists that I always have around though.. Ben Harper, Ray Lamontange, John Legend, Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Lauryn Hill and Brandi Carlile to name a few. I would just die to play with any of them.

ful: What advice do you have for people who want to give it a go in the music industry?
DW: Well the music industry is a big place, with many different job descriptions. Don't get into it for the wrong reasons, or you may regret it. If you wake up in the morning, and music is really the only thing. Music. That's it.

Thanks so much Daphne! We can't wait to catch a live performance! To hear some of her music, check out her website here. And watch the video for her song, All I Know, below: