ION INDIE MAGAZINE September 2015, Volume 16 | Page 12

MM: Sam, tell us about your musical background.
Sam: I first started really getting into music around freshmen and sophomore year of high
school. Musically, I was all over the spectrum. I was really into The Dropkick Murphys
and Rancid back then. I went through so many phases, from listening to Iron Maiden,
Judas Priest, System of a Down to Soundgarden. I was all over the board when it came
to music. But there was always something that brought me back to Classic Rock though.
AC/DC is my favorite band (Rock in Peace Bon). I think I just started to dive deeper into
Rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith
and I was hooked. I started singing along to songs using a hairbrush as a microphone
upstairs in my room when no one was home, and I just kept at it. There was a talent show at
Somersworth High School (NH). Tom and I got a group together to do a show--which
ended up getting canceled--but we saw something in it and kept the music going. We just
kept playing and practicing and playing and practicing. That’s how we got to where we are
today. It’s always nice when your friend is supportive and has your back too, even if you
think you’re sucking pond water! In college I started listening to bands like The Doors, The
Black Crowes and Humble Pie. Today I’m really into Funk and Soul music. I’m always
spinning a James Brown or Marvin Gaye record. I just love it! I'm taking lessons with
Danny Smith out of Kingston, NH. He is an incredible vocalist/teacher and has taught me
about vocal technique. I wouldn't be where I am today with his advice, knowledge and
patience with me!
MM: Barrett, what’s your musical background?
Have you always played drums?
Barrett: I have been playing drums since I was 4 years old (2 years old--if you count the
pots and pans I used to drag out of the cupboards and bang on with wooden spoons) and
initially I listened to a lot of 60’s pop stuff (The Association, The Turtles, The Byrds), but
above all for me back then were The Beatles. Ringo was it for at least a decade of my life,
but then my mom gave me “Led Zeppelin IV”, and that was my "Music like this exists?!"
moment. From then on it was Zeppelin for a while, and then I branched out through middle
school and high school. High school I had a big 90’s Rock phase (Soundgarden, Primus,
Deftones, etc.), but then after joining Red Sky Mary, I got more exposed to the 70’s stuff
that we play at our cover gigs. Where I am now musically I can trace back to when the new
Sabbath album, "13" (which is AMAZING) came out. I bought it and listened to it nonstop,
and I had to find out what the big deal was and what their old classic stuff was like. I haven't
looked back since--Sabbath has been my favorite band ever since, and I've been
ravenously looking for anything like them--old or new.