Interview: Water Tower

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

My parents are playing the Beatles, the brother throwing away his Paual Abdul tape and me finding it in the garbage. If I wasn't doing music I would be a psychopharmacologist. I am fascinated with helping humans learn their brains.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I like to read. At this point reading is one of the only things I do in my time away from music related things. I am reading to deepen my understanding of reality, and therefore the power of my music. I spent many years in my addiction suspended in plasma. What I mean by this is that for a ten year period I was NOT growing or changing. I was so attached to my limited and false belief systems that it nearly killed me and those who continued to be around me. I realized that learning new techniques on my instrument wasn't going to bring more pleasure, but learning how to understand my own existence better would assist me in using the current technique I do possess for better and more powerful musical statements.

How long has your band been around? 

We started 15 years ago in 2005.

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

We are currently based in LA. The vibe down here is very specific, and it influences the way we create our music. Sunny, calm, relaxed and full of inspiration. Just like our city : ) We moved here from Portland OR in 2014 in order to get away from the rain and gloom.

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

We came up with the name because we were hanging at the water tower in high school (outside of Portland OR) and playing music for the kids who visited it.  Many people ventured up into the woods by the tower in order to smoke and drink. We happened to live right next to the tower, so we had access so a rad crowd at most times of the day.  People used to come and smoke before school. for sunrise, during lunchtime, after school and all night long.

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

One of the BEST shows we ever played was to a little town in Colorado. We drove 24 hours, nobody showed up to the gig except the bartender. We had SO MUCH fun playing and singing with the bartender that it ended up being one of the most fun shows we EVER had. We played as if there was a stadium full of people.

The WORST show we ever had was in Belfast Ireland, we had a BIG slot opening for Modest Mouse, and our management at the time had convinced one of the BIGGEST festival bookers in all of Europe to catch our set. We had the guitar in the wrong tuning, so as we started the first song, it sounded terrible, and we had to stop and restart. The booker walked out immediately. Our manager was so bummed lol... it's fun to look back and laugh at that now though.

Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

We LOVE playing at The Mint in LA. In fact we played there last month, and we are playing there again on April 30th at 8pm. It will live-stream to their FB and IG AND they are now having crowds! We would LOVE to play the Ryman one day too hehe.

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

Rancid, Old Crow Medicine Show, Foghorn Stringband and Water Tower.

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

One day at a time, every step along the journey is AS important as the goal itself. The goal is the journey ;)

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

Trust in the process, the process builds trust.  

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

FLY ABOUND because it has to do with life and death and the journey in between.

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

BOBCATS and ANTHEM are really fun. One is a waltz, and one is an army of crazy people moshing to fiddles.

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

We stand on the side of the road and write songs about what we see. Or we travel the world and play music on the streets of England, France, Estonia. We like to write about what we see and what we experience in our lives.  

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

Hope of recovery. Good Times (on drugs and off). Bad Times (on drugs and off). Love.  Acceptance. Death.  

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

Yes we are a family, but we talk openly about how we feel. We have a "contact and check-in" where we get to talk about our feelings hehe.  

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

We are excited to look into the world of NFT's, and we would LOVE to spotlight the next 182 Water track "Tex Mex Couch" which was written on a show called "Producing The Internet with Dre Drinkard".   Socials: 

FB/IG/Twitter/Twitch/TikTok @watertowerband AND @182water