It's funny how life can be full of surprizes. One day your sending e-mail to get more info on a band and the next day your interviewing them. Off Balance is pretty straight forward punk from Bloomington who just moved to Chicago and were kind enough to get together in front a computer before practice one day and do this interview.
how did you come up with the name?
Tony: It basically has many applications but mostly it is the way people in our age range feel for this part of thier lives. The age range being 15-25 give or take a few years.
How did you guys meet?
Tony: We all met at Illinois St. U. I met Andy through a highschool friend(bass player) 4 years ago and 6 months later we met Karl, then awhile after that we met Dave Rossi (from Allister) our original drummer and our orginal guitarist Jay. 2 years after that when Dave left, Jay left and we met Brett and Mike at ISU. So our new lineup is pretty much a year and a half old. This was in Bloomington IL. and we just moved up to Chicago.
How did the band start?
Tony: It started as a way for us to play the music we loved and evolved into something we plan on doing for a living.
Who are your influences?
Tony: Pennywise, Millencolin, NFG, MXPX.
Brett: Goldfinger, Bad Religion, Cracker, Counting Crows and the Beatles.
Mike: Jawbreaker, Fugazi, the Urge, Millencolin, Boston.
Karl: Descendants, Bad Religion, Boston, Eric Clapton.
Andy: Rancid, 311, Sublime. The band is influenced by Whitney Houston.
What have you recorded?
Karl: We did a 9 song release about a year after we started the band which was pretty underwhelming and then about 9 months ago we put out our EP Unlawful Use of a Sound Amplifying Device.
Tell me about the first release....
Tony: Pretty straight foward punk, only release about couple hundred, were still looking for are own unique sound, but were not expreienced enough to do what we really wanted. It wasnt terribly horrible, but just wasn't it.
How does the new EP differ?
Tony: I think it is much better, more intricate and more towards what we want to do. We definietely rushed it seeing how the new lineup was only 3 months old and we were still pretty straped for cash, but overall it was a huge improvement. I think the recording process and the last 9 months have helped us reach a new point that we will base our music on.
Brett: Next time we record we hope to achieve an overproduced and cliche sound.
Have you guys toured?
Tony: We have done regional tours and hope to go out this summer with an established band that may take us under there wing. Midwest tours to clarify, nothing huge.
Who are some of the bands you have played with?
Tony: Blue Meanies, Showoff, Student rick, big show with Allister soon, who we have played with b4, ATM, the Tossers, Sparechange00, Cooter, Split-Habit. to name a few.
Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
Tony: Our friends split-habit, if you get a chance check them out on mp3.com they are incredible and are not signed yet! We like playing with Allister and Showoff alot, too.
Describe the song writing process...
Brett: Writing is usually a pretty casual situation. Someone comes in with a riff, we write in whatever need to fill it in and throw out ideas until we have a song. Some take weeks, others get written in as little as a few hours. After the song is done we collaborate on vocals. Thats pretty much it.
What's the Chicago scene like?
Brett: Well, we are pretty new to the scene up here, just moved up about 3 weeks ago. But the scene looks to be pretty good being that our first show is at the Metro which looks to be sold out.
What was the Bloomington scene like?
Karl: College kids looking for a little entertainment while getting drunk. I fit in real well. When we started there wasn't much of a punk scene, but its doin pretty well now I'd like to think because of our influence.
Is there a Favorite place you like to play?
Tony: So far its probably the Lacrosse House at ISU, it's a falling down garage with a stage that can fit a couple hundred kids. We did a benefit show there for 9/11 and it was awesome. I imagine now after we play the Metro, it will be there, somewhere we have seen all our favorite bands and can't wait to play.
What do you see is the future of Off Balance?
Tony: I beleive we will be signed within a year or so, hopefully putting out quality material and making enough money on tour to stay on tour for the rest of our lives.
How can people contact you guys?
708-364-7247, punkertone@yahoo.com or http://go.to/offbalance.
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