We had the opportunity to interview alternative-country act The East & The Crow! The band is from Corpus Christi Texas and brings it lyrically and musically. They are especially great to see live! Check out what they had to say in our Artist Spotlight!
How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
Brian: "I started writing lyrics and singing at 21. No previous musical talent or interest other than being a fan of all genres and loving the stories behind other peoples lyrics. I met Quinn about 7 years ago and he had an interest in drums so we started playing together. He was learning drums, I was writing lyrics and neither one of us know what we were doing."
Lee: "I did concert and jazz band through school, and music is really in my blood. Wade and I met when we joined a church band, so our history has music all over it. From there we built a cover band, Reluctant Harmonies, that has been playing coffee shops for a few years now."
Brian: "My wife introduced me to Wade and Lee, and I joined them every once in a while singing with them and learning new songs that had peaked our interest. At some point we were in need of a drummer so Quinn was my natural suggestion, and then we pretty much gave up on the covers and started creating music and writing/rewriting lyrics."
Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
Brian: "Typically I write lyrics and then we add music. There are lyrics constantly going through my head and I am constantly writing them down."
Lee: "We’ve had the most success from jamming to find new riffs or chord progressions and then Brian will start singing."
Brian: "I either find lyrics that I have been working on that work with the sound, or write new lyrics on the spot."
Wade: "Usually I start with a single chord and a feeling and work outwards from there. Sometimes I bring the band something a little more complete on guitar that I’ve worked through. Run Away is good example of that."
What artists have inspired you in your career?
Brian: "Nirvana, Buster Jiggs, Bleu Edmonson, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Counting Crows, Hole."
Wade: "Nirvana, System, Metallica, Days of the New, Mumford."
Lee: "Can’t believe Wade didn’t bring up 21 Pilots! Used to be a running joke in the band that we just needed to listen to what they’re doing. You can hear a lot of our inspiration in the covers we play: Mumford and Sons and Vance Joy strike a nice balance between acoustic and modern."
Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
Brian: "None really, I wish I could play guitar or piano, but I am so focused on writing lyrics that I don’t make time for anything else, I really should, but I don’t… I guess my instruments of choice would be a number 2 pencil and a notebook."
Wade: "I’m quite partial to my Taylor. But I’ve been known to dust off my classical Hohner and jam."
Lee: "I’ve always been drawn to the non-standard basses. Typically with the band you’ll see me with my Ibanez Semi-hollow body. With that bass is was really love at first sight. The giant body, in cherry red with those f-holes; I had to have it."
Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
Brian: "So far the vibe has been pretty good. Singing sad songs worries me sometimes because you never want to be a “downer” but I think the way that the guys make the music brings the mood up and the audience follows. I am happy no matter the crowd size as long as there is a connection being made with them. I prefer for the venue to have Lonestar beer, and a cool atmosphere. History is cool too."
Lee: "We have played House of Rock a few times so we’re pretty comfortable there. At our last show there we had this audible, amazing roar of the crowd when we finished a song, so anywhere we can get that I’m golden. Playing the Ritz was an incredible experience, the acoustics in there are insane, and the place is an inspiration for great music."
Brian: "I grew up going to see shows at Surf Club, and Gruene Hall so getting to play a venue with a personal connection would be pretty special to me."
What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
Brian: "It is original art. Whether you consider it Rock, Folk Rock, Alt. Rock, Country, Country Rock, Indie, whatever… it is original and we like it and hope that the people coming out to our shows enjoy the songs that we have and are currently playing as well as the songs that we are still working on and future music. It will be ever changing depending on our mood, personal lives, and what each of us are listening to currently and being inspired by."
Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
Lee: "We are really hoping for a heavy summer of gigs, we won’t say the world tour for now. We currently have 2 songs fully produced and available on Spotify, iTunes and pretty much all the other services and are currently recording 5 more."
Wade: "Yes, I’m starting a side business of buying gobs of musical instruments and equipment and never selling any. Haven't made a dime."
Brian: "I hope that Corpus is ready for something different."