Interview: The Rockit King

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What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Jes Beveridge (Vocals). My Dad had a band that was a big deal in Michigan in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and I basically hung with him all the time as a kid so I was always loading into a gig or present in the recording studio.  It was normal for me to be drumming live from the 5th grade onward.  I can’t imagine a life without making music.

Q. What do you like to do when you’re not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?  

JB. A lot of work and a lot of reading.  I stay really busy.  Creativity waxes and wanes.  Peaks and valleys, like anything else.

Q. How long has your band been around?

JB. Our first rehearsal was in November of ‘01.  Our first album was released in ‘03.

Q. Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?  

JB. We’re a Michigan band through and through.  West Michigan has always had a really solid original music scene.  Great bands and great camaraderie.  Great venues and great audiences.  We’re lucky in that sense.

Q. How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you.

JB. I’m really not sure.  I think it just sounded cool.

Q. Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played.

JB. The best shows are typically hometown shows that occur at the end of a tour.  That combination of the band being hot and familiar faces at the gig.  Bad gigs have happened but typically revolve around some technical difficulty.  Gear breaking down and the like.

Q. Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you haven't already?  

JB.  I like outdoor venues and festivals.  I’d like to spend time in the UK and Europe.  Brazil too.

Q. If you could play any show with any lineup who would be on the ticket?

JB. I’d like to share a stage with Clutch.  Megadeth.  Metallica.  Faith No More.  The list is endless.?

Q. What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?

JB. Be careful not to bark up the wrong tree.  Make music because you love to make music.

Q. If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

JB. Put out as much music as possible as often as possible.

Q. Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

JB.  Currently ?  There is a song on the new album called No Matter What that was written about my daughter.  That one is obviously close to my heart.

Q. Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

JB.  There are quite a few.  Now that we got this expanded catalogue of tunes (Fourth Turning is our 4th studio album) I find that we’re no longer cutting any fat, so to speak.  When we play support slots which are typically 40 min-ish, we’re definitely cutting  into the muscle.  That being said, I can’t imagine a TRK show without Bridge To Burn or Saddle Up or Who R U.  Same with Take My Hand, Whoa U Know and Look So Good.  It’s hard.  Hard decisions.?

Q. What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

JB. It goes one of two ways.  Either ideas fleshed out by Anthony (Mannino, Guitar) and I or simply jamming at rehearsal.  There’s no rhyme or reason to it although we all respect creative tension and what it can bring to a rehearsal/studio session.

Q. What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

JB.  It varies.  I try to channel what’s going on around me.

Q. Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

JB. Sure but at this point we’ve been around long enough that we’ve learned to be fairly understanding of each other.

Q.What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that's coming up?

JB. Currently we’re pushing Take My Hand, the latest single from the Fourth Turning album.  We have have yet to decide what the next single will be.  There are a few contenders.  Beyond that, we’re planning to release a 7” in April of ‘22 and hope to get some roadwork in as well.  COVID made that aspect of the job a bit of a pickle.