Are you ready to get your party on this weekend with local bands Heavy Lights and The Knolly Moles along side the crew from Frederick Playlist, the city’s brand new music website?
Friday, Heavy Lights celebrate the release of their first record at Café Nola with the Philadelphia-based band Can You Canoe?
And Saturday, The Knolly Moles and Joint Effort bring the fun to Olde Towne Tavern.
Frederick Playlist has also jumped onto these shows to celebrate the official launch of its website. As a preview for this weekend’s shows and the great things to come from Frederick Playlist, I sent Heavy Lights lead singer Ryan Nicholson some questions via email during a busy week of playing out-of-town shows.
What do you love most about being part of the Frederick music scene?
The people who make up the local music and arts scene is what really makes it for us. From the bands who establish the scene, to the local artists who do cover art, posters and fliers for it; the writers and promoters who make it a point to let people know there is a scene happening. We love it because it is so many people coming together with the same purpose in mind: to enrich the culture of our city through music and art.
What excites you about the new Frederick Playlist music website?
It is exciting because it provides a one-stop spot for anything one might want to find out about the local music scene. There were similar sites when we were growing up that focused on the region more so than our city, but these sites were incredibly effective in introducing us to music that we may not have been exposed to otherwise. This was over 10 years ago, before smartphones and tablets, so now with all of this new access comes more opportunity for exposure, and the Frederick Playlist will do just that.
What’s in store for your Frederick Playlist launch party show?
The show is primarily for the release of our first album, “Mad Minds,” that we have been working on since June 2012. We are also really excited that the Frederick Playlist team thought our record release show would be an ideal setting to launch their site. We expect it to be a rock ’n’ roll show for sure, but it’s also a chance for the Frederick Playlist team to make their presence known to the people who ultimately make the music scene happen, the listeners.
Let’s talk about your new album. You mentioned that it has been a little while in the making. Tell me about some of the important details that you wanted to take your time focusing on?
It’s all in the details, really. It is also important to note that the songs developed as we recorded them, which contributed to the time it took to complete the album. When we first began tracking, we were still getting comfortable with some of the songs, and in some cases, still deciding the direction of them. Plus, we are just picky.
How do you think “Mad Minds” as a recording differs or doesn’t differ from what fans are used to hearing at the band’s live shows? Especially since the album will be available via vinyl.
We tend to be mostly accurate to the recordings when we perform live. Occasionally we change it up or throw in something different for our amusement or to keep it fresh for us and the listeners. But with people being able to have the album now, they can experience the songs in a different way and familiarize themselves with it so that the next time they see us live, their perspective on those songs may have changed. At least, that is how it works (for) me as a fan of other music artists.
Are you playing songs exclusively from the new album at the Café Nola show?
We will be performing all 10 songs off of the album, plus some of our newer material that is yet to be recorded with a few surprises sprinkled in between.
And where can you find those surprises? That’s right: This weekend, as Heavy Lights get ready to take the stage at Cafe Nola as part of their record-release party, as well as the first of our two Launch Weekend events. Finally, and for good measure. You can’t miss it. You won’t miss it.
Only 33 hours and counting!
– This story was written by Cassandra Mullinix. Follow her on Twitter @bucket_blogger.
