While in New York, Joe Michelini of River City Extension talked with QRO. In the interview, the singer/guitarist talked about their new record, Deliverance, from making it in the Poconos to playing it on tour, late drummer Steve Tambone, getting lost in the Grand Canyon, and more…
QRO: On your Facebook page it says that if people want to get an idea of what you sound like, that they should come see you live. I love that you guys have that and definitely agree. Did the way you guys play live directly influence how you approached making Deliverance?
Joe Michelini: Strange, but no, not at all. We didn’t have a live band when we recorded Deliverance and in many ways that influenced the sound, maybe not how you think, though. We were happy it came out sounding like a live record for the most part. I would say Deliverance now directly influences our live show.
QRO: Where was the new album recorded and what made you guys choose to record it there?
JM: It was recorded it at a ski lodge in the Poconos owned by friends of ours. I think initially we even talked about doing the record in Toms River but it was too distracting. The Poconos house wasn’t secluded, but their weren’t a lot of people there to ski in April, so we got a lot of alone time. It was a cool house with great acoustics; we wanted to focus. It was a great experience.
QRO: How did the recording process for Deliverance differ from previous experiences in the studio?
JM: Well there were less people in the studio. We also have never recorded outside of a studio. I guess at [producer] Pat Noon’s old place, but that was a studio more than it was a house. Being in a house was different; I think we all liked it. Everything about the process was different, every record so far has been. We tried to involve the sound of the house, not actively but passively. Even if things were being close mic’d, we have room mics running in the ceiling and in the loft bedrooms upstairs. We ended up using a lot of those in the final mix. It gives this record a unique texture and color. Pat Noon was very involved with this record. He shared a vision with us and helped us find it. We served the work together and tried to express it as accurately as possible. This is the most accurate and clear representation of a record from conception to release from us.
QRO: Being in a band and having it be your life is a difficult thing to achieve nowadays, but whenever I used to see you guys live I was always to see how passionate you were for your craft. Has there ever been instances where you guys have helped one another when times were tough? The band strikes me as quite the family.
JM: Yes. We have good times and bad times, more good than bad. We are a family. I think that’s just how it goes getting to know everyone’s weird headspace. We love each other and love music. I think bad times are necessary and can even influence live performances and inspire positive change.
QRO: What’s one of the experiences you’ve had with your bandmates that reminds you of the bond you have with them?
JM: A lot. Took some questionable risks at the Grand Canyon and eventually there will be pictures. That was a weird day. We all lost each other and miscommunicated and our cell phones died. We had driven overnight to watch the sunrise. It was a great day of hiking and being overtired.
QRO: Something I love about your music above anything else is that you can feel how places informed the songwriting. What locations inspired the songwriting for the tracks on Deliverance?
JM: Ohio but I don’t think much else. Deliverance was written in Dallas on tour, whatever that means. I think the house we recorded in inspired this record the most.
QRO: I was very saddened to hear about Steve’s passing and I want to offer my condolences about that. Was it ever a question of halting the band after that happened?
JM: Thank you. No, Steve made an amazing contribution to the spirit of the band and everyone around him. We still feel him here now. He didn’t play drums on Deliverance, but I loved hearing him play Deliverance. I feel inspired by him, we all do.
QRO: How has touring for Deliverance differed from previous touring experiences?
JM: In every way, and I think every long tour is that way. It was our first tour with this exact group of people. After Patrick [O’Brien, keys/vocals], John [Muccino, guitar/vocals], Pat and I made Deliverance, we sort of went out looking for believers and put this band together. Everyone knew this tour was coming but none of us knew what to expect. It was really rewarding, and demanded a lot from us physically and emotionally. We were sick for what seemed like the entire tour. The venues were different and I think most of the live show is different. But it evolved into this from whatever it was really smoothly. Just gonna follow that as far as it goes.
QRO: Which song off of Deliverance has become your favourite to play live?
JM: I love playing “Deliverance Pt. 2”. I wanna sing like Leonard Cohen does and pronounce every word as clearly as possible. It’s nice to look people in the eye during that song. My favorite song to play with the band is “Something’s Gotta Give”. For a long time I only played acoustic guitar but the Strat responds so quickly and efficiently. About halfway through the tour we started opening with it. Felt good to dive right in.
