We're back! ful took a quick trip out to California for Coachella--and we have some fun photos from our trip. Aside from mingling with some of music's finest, one or two ful bags also fought their way onstage and managed to rock out with a couple bands. Overall, it was super fun and we were excited to see some of the musicians with our bags.
Here are some highlights:
Rapper B.o.B. with his ful bag
Joy Bryant hanging around the festival with pals
Beth Ditto of indie rock band Gossip with her ful bag
Bob Motherbaugh of Devo with his ful bag
Boots Riley of Street Sweeper Social Club
De La Soul with their ful bag
A ful bag hits the stage at Coachella (yep, that's De La Soul performing!)
This week's edition of ful Music Insider features Sing It Loud, a pop rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their new album, Everything Collide, is dropping May 11 and we're pumped they took a second to chat with us during their busy schedule.
Sing It Loud is comprised of Pat Brown (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Kieren Smith (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Nate Flynn (Bass), Ben Peterson (Piano/Keyboard) and Chris Lee (Drums.) They toured for two years with bands like We The Kings, The Spill Canvas, Motion City Soundtrack, Hit The Lights, and Cobra Starship and also did a stint on the 2009 Warped Tour.
We got a chance to chat with Pat Brown, the lead singer. He told us his favorite venue, which bands he'd love to play with, and the most difficult part of recording their latest album.
ful: You guys have a ton of live shows coming up in the next few months. Do you have a favorite city to play in? A favorite venue? Pat Brown: I have 2 favorite cities to play in. One is our hometown of Minneapolis, MN, of course, and the other is Chicago. My favorite venues are First Avenue in Minneapolis, The Fillmore in San Francisco, and The Metro in Chicago.
ful: What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show? PB: Outside at Texas A&M University during passing hours in front of a fountain while everyone was walking 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? PB: Best Beating Heart, Come Around, Bite Your Lip, and No One Can Touch Us are our most frequently played songs. We have done a cover of KC & The Sunshine Band's Get Down Tonight for an MTV original movie called Turn The Beat Around and we are also covering a Foo Fighters song on our next tour! We actually do have a set playlist. We have an iPod with a bunch of songs on it that we play during the set change with songs by a bunch of rap & pop artists. My favorite song to play is definitely a new song called Only One.
ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it? PB: The last song I wrote is a brand new song and it doesn't even have a name. It's super '90s sounding and the lyrics are very happy and uplifting. When I hear it or play it it reminds me of the magic carpet ride night time scene in Aladdin. Haha!
ful: You're new album Everything Collides hits iTunes and stores on May 11. What was the most exciting part of making this record? The most difficult? PB: The most exciting part was that we got to record the album song by song. We've never done that before. Most bands record all drums, all bass, all guitars, all vocals, then all keys, but we took a chance and took our time and really focused on the songs one by one. It really helped give each song a different feel. The most difficult part was the vocals. Our producer, Jordan Schmidt really pushed me hard vocally. He didn't let me get away with anything and it ended up turning out amazing.
ful: What bands do you guys love right now? Who would you love to play with? PB: I've been in love with the new Gorillaz record. I'd love to play with Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday because they're my favorite bands.
ful: What advice do you have for people who want to give it a go in the music industry? PB: Get your feet wet, put yourself out there, be confident, and take chances. Too many people think that just because they're knowledgeable the opportunities will come to them. Start a band, work merch for a friend's band, look for internships.... Whatever it is you want to do in the music business, I guarantee you will learn more from hands-on personal experience than any teacher in the country could ever teach you in a year.
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? PB: Of course I have! I just went to Florida then straight to California for some shows/hanging out/shooting a music video and doing some photo shoots, and I brought almost every single peice of clothing i own and my bag wasn't even overweight at the airport! We looked like a gang rolling up to MSP with all matching suitcases! It was awesome. :)
To hear Sing It Loud's music, check out their MySpace page and their website. Thanks again Pat!
A couple of weeks ago Kobe Bryant hosted the Qonquest Gamer event at Boulevard3 in Los Angeles--and ful was there! Bryant invited 300 people to come out and try the new Guitar Hero 5. The highlight of the evening? Kobe taking on football star Ray Lewis in Guitar Hero. Check out our exclusive photos from the event:
We couldn't be more excited! A couple of weeks ago, ful scored an interview with Adam Young, aka Owl City! Owl City is a synthpop musical project created by Young. He started making music in his basement and posting it on MySpace and soon his unique sound started getting noticed. After releasing two albums on his own, Young was signed by Universal Records and together they released a third album, Ocean Eyes. Owl City topped the Billboard charts with the single Fireflies from that record. In addition to his current U.S. tour, Young will be joining John Mayer on tour later this year.
Again, we're so excited to present our interview with Owl City. Here's what Young had to say...
ful: What aspect of making music excites you the most right now? Owl City: Pizza.
ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it? OC: I've been writing a lot of music for commercials and other projects as well as doing a bit of remixing lately. It's kept me a busy bee but things like that are easy to do on the tour bus and it's been a blast.
ful: What is the most exciting part of recording? The most difficult? OC: The music is the most exciting, the vocals are the most difficult.
ful: Do you have a favorite city to play in? A favorite venue? OC: Not really. Every big city sort of feels the same to me, and while I'm not particularly fond of big cities, I suppose I don't have a good answer. I like the countryside and I'm not much of a social person.
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? OC: We play a mix of old and new music on the road. We've been known to cover the title theme from a video game from 1996 called Wave Race 64. My favorite song is called This is the Future.
ful: You have such a unique sound. Who and what inspire you? What kind of recording equipment do you use? OC: I become really inspired by reading and art. It's the visual aspects of imaging that really get me going and I think it's a fascinating thing to try to portray that via music. I run Pro Tools and Reason.
ful: What bands do you love right now? Who would you love to play with? OC: I don't really listen to a lot of "bands" nor a whole lot of current popular music, but I am a fan of Thomas Newman and just about everything he's written for film. I tend to be more inspired by nature and things that exist naturally.
ful: You just announced you're touring with John Mayer this summer. Have you met him before? Are you friends? What are you most looking forward to on that tour? OC: I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited to see places I've never seen before and equally excited to return home with a slew of new memories. We haven't played much in the south east part of the states and I'm really looking for to it.
ful: What advice do you have for people who are trying to break into the music industry? OC: Don't run with scissors.
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? OC: Yes! I LOVE them! I'm sitting on one right now. It's comfy.
For more information on Owl City check out their official website and MySpace page. Thanks Adam and hope to see you live soon!
As a Memphis-based company, we are always excited to talk with some of our city's VIPs. And we're pumped Lawrence 'Boo' Mitchell, son of the legendary Memphis music producer Willie Mitchell, found time to give us a peek into his world.
Boo Mitchell (left) with brother Archie Mitchell
Willie Mitchell changed the face of music in the '60s and '70s when he produced acts such as Al Green, Ann Peebles, and others soul icons. And his son Boo Mitchell was there for most of. Once he was old enough to follow in his father's footsteps, Boo joined the family business and started producing music. Currently he's working with new artists in his Memphis recording studio.
Here, Boo talks about growing up around legends, what he loves about Memphis, and the best advice he ever received from his father Willie...
ful: You grew up surrounded by some of music's biggest legends, including your father. What's your favorite memory during that time? Boo Mitchell: One of my favorite memories was at a Jackson's concert in the mid '70s. Right after the show Jackie and Tito came and got my brother and me and took us backstage to meet Michael and his brothers. They yelled "Hey, Mitchell boys..." I mean, come on!
ful: What's the greatest piece of advice your father ever gave you? BM: The greatest piece of advice would be to treat people with compassion.
ful: Who are some of your favorite artists you've worked with? Why? BM: Al Green, John Mayer, and Solomon Burke.
Al is charismatic and full of energy. He gives everyone a charge when he's around.
John is very laid back, cool, and uncomplicated. The exact opposite of what you would expect of someone with his accomplishments.
Solomon Burke. Mr. Unpredictable. He never sings anything the same way twice. You just press record and hold on!
ful: What artist would you love to work with? BM: One artist I would love to work with is Justin Timberlake. Partly because he's from Memphis, but mostly because he is extremely talented and creative.
ful: What song (or songs) moves you each and every time you hear it? BM: One song that moves me most is Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." It's special to me because it was written and produced by my father, Willie Mitchell.
ful: What's the most exciting part about working in the music industry? BM: Working with people that have amazing talent.
ful: What are you working on right now? What are you hoping to do in the next few years? BM: Currently I'm finishing production on the Alaskan duo "Deering and Down." They have a unique sound: it's like soul, folk, and country all rolled into one. In the next few years I would like to create a boutique record company and release some of the special projects I’ve been working on.
ful: What's your favorite kind of music? Favorite artists? BM: I don't really have a favorite kind of music. I like everything from Alanis Morissette to Jay-Z. Some of my favorite artists: Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Black Eyed Peas, Louie Armstrong, Likin Park, Robin Thicke, Al Green, and India Arie.
ful: You call Memphis home: what is the best part of living there? BM: One of the best things about living in Memphis is its rich musical heritage. Rock and roll was born here, soul was invented here, the blues were made famous here, and great music is still being made here.
What an amazing trip! The ful team returned to Memphis this weekend after a whirlwind trip down to Austin, Texas for the annual music festival, South by Southwest. And we were lucky enough to be involved in one of the best parties over the course of the week! Vanguard Records and Paste Magazine threw their annual shindig at the Belmont hotel featuring their incredible lineup of artists including Greg Laswell, the Watson Twins, and Black Prairie (featuring members of the Decemberists). A bunch of Vanguard artists participate in ful's Artist Tour Luggage program and it was exciting to see them carrying their bags around. We also gave a bunch of bags away to people in the audience throughout the party. In addition to the Vanguard Party, ful also gave away bags at the other parties and events held at the Belmont hotel over the course of the SXSW week.
Overall, it was a great time--we met amazing people and heard awesome music. Can't wait for next year!
ful set list
ful team members Terrah and Casey at the Belmont
Sarah Borges and the Broken Shingles with their ful bags
So the "Hipster Runoff" worshipers and music makers were in full swing at SXSW this year. As the Creative Director for ful, I went down to be a part of our party with Paste Magazine and Vanguard Records. What a ride. What amazing music!
It was my first year at the festival and I heard from devotees that the event was "going back to its roots," despite the fact that the band count and wild parties surpassed last year. All I can say is that SXSW was a feast not only for the ears, but for the eyes. And so let's discuss "Street Style" at SXSW.
Shades Some types weren't surprising, like the Wayfarers and the Aviators dotting the crowds. However the new front-runner was Carrera and I need me a pair. I want the sun to shine into my office windows right now so I can justify putting them on at my desk!
Boots abound! For the women, it was all about the boots--flat, faded, black or rich brown tones. All-out Western style was nowhere to be found, replaced by a pull-on, slightly rounder toe.
The Watson Twins
Love the woven leather toe
The Skinny on Denim The skinnier the better, for gals and guys. Dark wash or black was the staple (dark washes elongate and also don't show when you sit in the mud or some jack spills a Heini on you).
Everything about her ensemble just "worked"
Sweet Prints Sweet prints were everywhere, from spring dresses paired with booties or eye-catching, billowy tunics paired with tight William Rasts.
Bags Lots of backpacks, cross-body Rocker bags, and messengers. Hands-free bags to hold your swag and clothing are essential at any music fest. I'm partial, but ful was everywhere!
We are SUPER excited for this installment of the ful Music Insider. We've got Michelle Penn! We tracked down the indie singer/songwriter and we're happy to report she was down to answer a few of our questions about her music, career, and the industry.
Indie rock diva Michelle Penn exudes no shortage of attitude and style. Named one of the best indie artists by Musician Magazine, she has racked up star-studded performances with the likes of John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Sarah McLachlan, Collective Soul and Jeff Buckley.
Since storming out of the Detroit rock scene as a teenager, Penn has played stages all over the country, all the while absorbing a host of diverse musical influences. Penn makes her mark as one of rock's rare genuine artists in that she writes, produces and performs all original music. Her latest CD release, Red Five, shows the maturity and sophistication of a truly experienced musician.
As Michelle prepares for her March 30th show at the Den in LA, we sat down and talked about the music industry, living in Los Angeles, and her favorite song to play. Here's what the singer/songwriter had to say....
ful: What gets you the most excited about making/playing music? Michelle Penn: I love that moment when I play a new, original song back for the very first time after recording it. It's a high. If I can capture and communicate that feeling when playing before a live audience, the experience becomes unparalleled.
ful: Do you have a favorite U.S. city to play in? A favorite venue? MP: Favorite city has to be my hometown of Detroit. It always turns into an event, though sometimes it turns into the scene of a bad Polish wedding. Everyone has a little too much spirited fun, and it can be exhausting. But I love playing for my friends and family. My favorite venue is a tie between the first place I ever gigged, and the biggest show I was lucky enough to play (so far). The first is the old Hamtramck Pub. A charming old pub where at 15, I could get a gig. The second is Freedom Hill, a big outdoor theater in the burbs of Detroit. I saw my first concert there as a kid, (Journey and Pat Benatar), and it was mind blowing to perform before that huge crowd, on the same stage as rock icons.
ful: You've lived in L.A. for a while now. Do you like it? Favorite part of living in Hollywood? Least favorite? MP: L.A. has been very calming for me, oddly enough. Even in the worst traffic jam, all I have to do is take a deep breath, look at the mountains, palm trees and ocean, and remember it's always been a dream of mine to live and love here. I like it. Favorite part of living in Hollywood is driving the streets I used to skateboard back in the day. I used to hang with a transplanted Detroit band back when Hollywood was a lot more colorful and just skateboard around all day long. I can't believe I did that when I was 16. There's some great people-watching that can be done here. Least favorite thing about Hollywood is watching people become monsters in their quest for fame, power and money.
ful: Do you have a set play list? Do you ever play any covers? What's your favorite song to play? MP: My set favors the songs that people comment on the most. I have played very few covers. If I do play a cover, I try to do something that entertains me. Last cover I did was "Let's Get It On." I totally butchered the song, but it challenges me to be better the next time around. My favorite song to play is "Want Me." I get to solo at the end, and it brings me back to playing guitar in my bedroom as a kid while everyone else was at the dance. YES I'M A NERD...
ful: Do you get nervous before playing a show? MP: Yes. Sometimes I see nothing but a bright flash. I just keep playing guitar and then it goes away. My voice goes on autopilot. The rest of the gig is like talking on a cell phone while driving. You get to your destination, but sometimes you have no recollection of how you got from A to B. Yet, when I finish a set I always want to have a do-over so I can actually enjoy it...
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? MP: My band once played a gig in Pensacola, Florida at a club heavily populated by tattooed, pierced skateboard punks. We were doing an acoustic performance, and I fully expected the crowd to riot and kick our asses. Quite surprisingly, we played one of the best shows ever. I guess that's why I'm still alive giving this interview. And that's another reason why I love playing live music -- it's a chance to make a connection with all different kinds of people. I have some great conversations with total strangers after my live gigs. I love it.
Also, "the most unusual place I ever recorded" was in an old brownstone I used to live in located in the "artsy fartsy" Cass Corridor of Detroit. On hot summer nights the ladies of the evening would walk the streets outside my window. Their cha cha heels and unique language would always bleed through the window and end up on my tape recordings.
ful: What was the last song you wrote? Can you tell us about it? MP:I write bits and pieces of songs constantly. My most recent is called "Welcome Me Home," about a soldier longing to return to his/her family. The first draft was written in my perspective of leaving home, having a personal battle, and then returning to the welcome of a friend. Phase two of the song then became a tribute to our troops fighting for our freedom. I have total respect and gratitude for all the military personnel who fight for our independence. I am launching a new website dedicated to that cause. I will donate proceeds from sales of the tune to organizations that support military families.
ful: What bands are you loving right now? Who would you love to play with? MP: I love Brendan Benson, Spoon, Rogue Wave, and Mary J Blige. I would love to play with Justin Timberlake.... a duet... so, JT if you're reading this call me.
ful: What advice do you have for people trying to break into the music industry? MP: Make sure you love what you do, and make sure you do it for you. Don't get caught up in the BS of the business.
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? MP: I absolutely love the bags. I recently overstuffed my "JT" with my new protools rig while flying. It took a beating and still looks awesome. Plus I get compliments all the time. It's great here in Hollywood, always on the go. My buddy Joel McHale stole one from me, and now he carries it everywhere too. He thinks he's a bigger star than me, and that he deserves the whole line, so he may be calling you. We both seem to have our lives packed away on our backs.
To hear some of Michelle's music or to see more tour dates, check our her website. Thanks Michelle and can't wait to see you again soon!
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.
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.
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!
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
Hey there. It's Ross from velcroBROTHER coming to you from London, England. We are looking forward to releasing our new album later this year and heading to the east coast to tour. Keep checking back to the ful.com site final tour dates. A few of our new songs were written after relaxing in Washington Square, Greenwich Village, years ago, so it feels right to head back there. Of course we are using ful as our tour luggage. Those bags have been all over Europe with us. My only complaint is that our band didn't start using them sooner. I first learned about the brand when I was out in San Fran visiting my brother. To check out our music, go to www.myspace.com/velcrobrother.
Hello beautiful people. This is AO coming to you from my home in LA. My life has been a whirl-wind lately. I'm trying to finish school, but also touring and putting out my second album. I have a lot of big decisions to make in the next year. I thank God everyday that I have such a wonderful family supporting me, especially my mom, Virginia. She's my tour manager and inspiration. I wanted to say a couple of words about ful because they've been a part of my tour in recent months. I DO NOT leave the house without my FUL bag. I am very attached to my pink mini pack. If anyone were to look in it, they would know everything about me. Everything that is important to me is zipped up in my mini pack. I take my FUL mini pack, FUL back pack, and FUL duffle with me on all my local, out of state, and out of country trips. I performed out of the country in the South Pacific and I kid you not, I had a "tagged" photo sent to me from the South Pacific...the photo showed me, the radio DJ and my Ful bag in front of me...pretty funny. It was not on purpose, that's how much I am dependent on these bags. They are so durable and roomy, it's hard not to pack everything in it. I would say it's a part of my skin. If I don't have it with me, I can feel that something is missing. You can hear some of my stuff at http://www.myspace.com/adrianeao.
What goes into designing bags? Especially bags for a brand that is different, up-and-coming, and stand-alone? Not only do they have to look cool, they need to protect your laptop and keep you organized and comfortable. I thought the best way would be to learn from the master, our senior ful designer, Dan Custer.
C: Welcome Dan D: Thanks C. Hurry up and ask the questions. I'm working on a new style and you're blocking my flow... kidding.
C: I'll be brief. We thought it would be good to learn a little bit about what goes into designing ful gear. Can you tell us what are some of your inspirations for your most recent collection? D: Honestly, it's a bunch of things. Big ones are: our culture, architecture, auto design, and music. I'm listening to some mellow stuff right now, like City and Colour, Matt Morris, and Stateless. It depends on my mood. I also get inspiration from random things. Like, my wife, Sharby, and I went to California last week and I found this cool red chair at a mod furniture store. The shape totally lent itself to a sweet day-pack.
C: What do you keep in mind when designing your bags? D: Convenience, organization, simplicity, comfort... and after I tackle the function, I work on the aesthetics. I really try to keep classic shapes, but modern lines. I want the bags to look relaxed, but put-together. The look and function should complement each other and make sense. I also try to give each new line elements that differentiate them from the previous season, while keeping them so "ful" that you can look at it and know it's ful even if you don't see the logo. An example would be the use of pop-color in the lining with the neutral exterior styles.
C: What are you most proud of with your brand? D: How it's evolved. Not only the product, but the dedication of the team behind the scenes. We are a really lean team and seriously, we are like a family. It is a fun environment to work in.
C: Any new types of bags (bat bags, diaper bags, etc) plan on designing in the near future? D: Travel bags, laptop cases, and camera bags for sure. Everyone is asking for camera bags because the ones in the industry are so boring. We're working with a couple of photographers to make sure we're designing to protect the camera and gear as much as possible. Which brings me to a point I forgot. A lot of research and backwork goes into designing bags... hours of research before I even put my pencil to paper.
C: Pencil to paper. I thought most designers go strictly digital when designing nowadays? D: Some do. I have an Illustration background, so I like to brainstorm on paper and then fine tune on to the computer. Drawing helps me come up with multiple concepts and solutions, that can take much more time to generate when dragging nodes on the computer. C: Do you have one style of bag that's really close to your heart? D: Yes, I have a few, some of which we never fully developed. I have to keep in mind that the bags that I think are amazing aren't always those that the public will find amazing.
C: Any words of wisdom for those who may be trying to break into the bag design business? D: Be different and find inspiration in everything you see, outside of the bag market. Eat a lot of Mexican food. Oh, and eat, breath, and sleep bags.
Hey guys! Welcome to the new feature column,"Thrown Under the Bus: Experiences Through the Eyes of ful Tour Luggage," where we discuss what goes on behind (way behind!) the scenes of your favorite music artists' tours. We'll ask questions like:
What do artists never go on tour without? How much time, and how many people, does it take to set up a monster show? What do the musicians, dancers, makeup artists, and road crews really carry in their ful bags?
Next week we'll talk to Stylist to the Stars, Johnny Wujek, as he discusses styling Katy Perry, what's in his ful backpack, and his new shoe line, Modern Vintage.
