Interview with Acid Walls
Interview with Acid Walls
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Bailey Packard: Seeing local music in VT and square dances. I would be rock climbing.
Dom Russo: My dad got me into music. I would be a sim racer if not for music.
Elliott Moreau: Got into music from my dad also and from video game soundtracks. I would be mountain biking if not for music.
Eli Pidgeon: I got into drums through the Rock Band video game. If I never played the drums, I’d find myself skiing.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
BP: I love watching foreign films; it inspires creative ideas.
DR: I like cooking; it's a good form of expression.
EM: I enjoy exercise; it allows for quiet time to think and reflect.
EP: When I’m not playing music, I’m spending time with my friends or girlfriend, exploring New England. It adds perspective and understanding to what makes up the life and culture we live in.
How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together.
The band has been around for just about 4 years. We each have eclectic tastes in music, which we combine to create something new. We all have a deep passion for listening and playing music, which brought us together as a band.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
We’re based out of central Connecticut. Being surrounded by a lot of local DIY music and big music venues allows us to be exposed to both independent music and bigger bands. We all were able to see/listen to a lot of music in our youth.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Acid Walls is a representation of how we should be able to tear down our internal walls so that we may be able to better connect to the people around us.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
We played a Halloween show at a venue in Shelton, CT, called Black Barrel Records. That was most likely the biggest audience we played to and had the most fun. We were also able to dress in our individual costumes, which was really fun!
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
DR: I love the crunch house in West Haven, CT. It's a small, energy-packed room where you know to expect good music. I’d love to play Oakdale or Toad’s Place to a sold-out crowd!
BP: I like The Beeracks in East Haven or Bleacher’s in Bristol, CT. I’d love to play Hops on the Hill brewery in Glastonbury for an acoustic show.
EM: My favorite venue is Bleacher’s Bar in Bristol, CT. They have the best PA system we’ve played through! I’d love to one day play at Toad’s Place in New Haven or Infinity Hall in Hartford.
EP: I loved playing outdoors at The Reverie Brewing Co. The Space Ballroom in Hamden has been one of my dream spots for a long time.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
BP: Tool and Pink Floyd
DR: Shinedown opens the show, then us in the middle, and Avenged Sevenfold to close.
EM: I would love to open for Dinosaur Jr.!!
EP: I would love to play with a band called Piglet
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
BP: Play things you enjoy and have heard a lot. And to myself I should have bought less pedals.
DR: Let It ride and Don’t get married.
EM: Don’t worry about how anyone else tells you to make music; make what feels true to you.
EP: There is no cutting corners or “cheating” in self-expression or any form of art. Make a tune you enjoy, and follow it as far as you can.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
BP: “Rabbit in a Cage” because it feels like a bass line that complements the other parts in a way that feels like the bass role should be.
DR: “Can’t Feel” is the first song I’ve ever written and it has a ton of emotion in it. It's definitely my favorite song.
EM: “Glass Piece Pt. 2” means the most to me because I feel that it is the truest example of self-expression in my songwriting career so far.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
BP: “Shrapnel” because I get to use a crazy fuzz sound.
DR: “Smokeless Future” is a song that gets me grooving and usually gets the crowd moving and grooving as well.
EM: “Smokeless Future” is a very fun song to do live because it gets everyone dancing around. It's a very funky/disco-esque song.
EP: My favorite song to play is “Glass Piece Pt. 2.” It’s a heavy and emotional song that is just so much fun to drum to!
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
BP: I like to listen back to recordings a lot to develop ideas.
DR: Jamming with the boys and just throwing things at the wall until the idea sticks
EM: It usually starts with a single idea—either a musical phrase or some concept in words—and we keep playing it out and refining it until it becomes a song.
EP: I love to jam improv style until our fingers fall off. Listen back to a recording, and find a few nuggets of gold that are hidden inside.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
BP: Explore more of what you don’t understand yet.
DR: To be your own individual and feel the energy that we put into our songs and let it radiate through you.
EM: I would really like to get the message across that expressing what we feel in any positive medium that is available to us is a way to grow closer to people, and when we come together, the world doesn’t have to be so scary
EP: Expressing yourself in front of people and your friends is a great way to show who you are to people. Allowing yourself to be comfortable doing anything, anywhere is the most liberating thing you can do for yourself.
Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?
Our latest release, “Glass Pieces” EP, came out Friday, February 16. Also catch us touring around CT this summer and more of New England. We’re also looking to start recording a full-length album with no prospective concrete release date as of yet.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
More music to write, more community to build, more people to meet, and more shows to rock out!!!!!!!!!
How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?
Here’s a quick list of links to some of our socials: