BATES has been creating a driving force in the music scenes of NY, NJ, and CT. Bringing a mix of powerful chords and funky bass fused with bluesy guitar leads, BATES creates a unique yet familiar rock sound that simply slaps.

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Roles: Billy Miscione is the frontman, guitarist, and producer of BATES. Craig Browning is the lead guitar player and pedal wizard. He also provides support with his vocals. Patrick Devir (Devir Forever) is the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist. Tyler Katz is the esteemed drummer of BATES and more than capable vocalist. Jason Dowd provides the backbone of our arrangements with his bass playing.

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to BATES? How long has the band been around?

Tyler: Before the formation of BATES, Billy and I started our musical journey together in a band known as "Innocent Sins," our high school metal band that took influences from groups such as Three Days Grace, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for my Valentine, and Escape The Fate. This band existed a few years prior to me joining, but it was here where Billy and I were both introduced to each others musical skills and interests. Our friendship nor our personal musical growth wouldn’t be where it is today without the existence of this previous collaboration.

Jason: My first band in college was a Jimmy Hendrix inspired band that lasted a couple of years. We had some great times. I then started a band with a long-time friend in college called "The Broken Stools." It was a great run and we lasted a few years during our college careers. Due to different interests, we split in good faith to pursue our goals. During all of this, I was also the bass player for my college Jazz band. I then joined BATES, 2 years and counting.

Craig: Before this, I wasn’t in any bands that were playing out. I mainly just jammed with friends until i finally came along these guys in college.

Pat: I was in a metal band with Billy called "Wolf Gone Astray" during my college days.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Billy: I was really getting into horror movies at the time of the band's formation. Most notably Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." The band name is a tribute to the film.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Billy writes most of the lyrics, but we all try our hand at writing the music together. Everyone arrives with a new musical element, whether that be a guitar riff, a drum groove, or a set of lyrics, and we build from there. Each song discusses a different theme or topic that is important in our lives at that moment in time. Some songs have to do with a situation we a personally combating, and other songs are a fabricated story that makes for a very interesting tune. I think all of our vast differences in the music that inspires us blend together very well and we create plenty of fantastic and unique ideas.

Jason: We all have a hand in the song writing process. I myself have contributed a song I have written during my edgy years of teen angst and was only made better due to the bands contributions. Everyone in the band works together, writes their own parts and implements music theory and constructive criticisms. We touch on a huge array of themes such as broken hearts, melancholy, hopefulness, anger, anxiety, not knowing the future, surviving, and keeping strong to goals. Since we are still young, I have no doubt our topics and themes will change over time. There's still a lot of life to behold, so for now it's a great mystery.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

We listen to a lot of different types of music and I try to implement all of my interests into our playing. Because of that, we wind up blending some of the sounds of the Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Hozier, Kaleo, RHCP, The Clash, My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace, Foo Fighters, Alabama Shakes, Colter Wall, Muse, Murder By Death, Paramore, Alice in Chains, Audioslave, Primus, and many more.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Billy: Honestly, I remember watching Drake & Josh on Nickelodeon as a kid and thinking Drake was so cool. Drake Bell is the whole reason why I learned guitar. After that I just found myself getting lost in the music, wanting to create it both on guitar and lyrically to help me express myself. The rest is history.

Jason: For me it was "Flea" and the Red Hot Chili Peppers that made me want to learn bass and play in a band. I loved the funk, the slaps, the pops, and the beautiful melodies. Over time I have learned to respect and love other bass players in other bands a lot, but I will never forget my roots and the bands that made me push myself to limits I never could imagine.

Pat: I was inspired by the band's that performed in my high school's talent show. Their energy on stage made me want to pick up the guitar and be in a band.

Tyler: For me, the band that inspired me to begin playing music was Green Day. It was around the time American Idiot was released. After listening to Boulevard of Broken Dreams a million times on repeat, I forced my mom to sign my up for guitar lessons. It was a few years later I finally took on the drums, but that was the album that really cemented my musical journey.

Craig: I was helping my dad around the house and he was playing the Bon Jovi album Crossroads. It was the first time i really listened to music that wasn’t the current radio hits at the time and it was life changing. It sent me on the journey of discovering new music and expressing myself through music, and its a journey that i still enjoy today.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Billy: I always tune and go over vocal/guitar exercises either on my way to the show or at the show.

Jason: Before we play a show we tend to get a practice going to run through the set once. We tend to be believers in "practicing right before a show is bad luck." So we're usually practicing the night before the show or the night before that. Whenever there's time. Last minute changes are typically verbal.

Tyler: I will usually practice simple rudiments such as double strokes and paradiddles on a practice pad to warm up my wrists before going on a stage. This way I don’t feel stiff while performing. Other than that, just drinking lots of water usually does the trick.

Pat: I have some warm up licks that I play on the guitar before some shows but I typically just relax and drink plenty of water before I perform.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

We have played many fantastic shows over the small amount of years as a band. From Manhattan, Brooklyn, and even places in Connecticut, we’ve been all over, but we would all have to agree that our favorite show was playing in Atlantic City. Our hotel was fully paid for by the promoters, we were right off of the boardwalk and in a direct commute to the casino. It was a great experience for us both as a band, and as friends.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Billy: I'd have to say the Foo Fighters. They are a huge influence to us and we have been told they are great people. These guys have always stayed true to themselves and that speaks volumes to me.

Craig: Pearl Jam because they have the most amazing live shows, and each one of their shows has a different setlist and it would be amazing to hear how each night differs from the last. It would be an amazing experience to meet the band and thank them for being a huge musical inspiration for me and for being my copilots on many late night drives.

Pat: It would be awesome to tour with The Clash. Their energy on stage was unmatched back in the day. I don't think I'd ever get sick of watching them.

Tyler: I would love to tour with Rival Sons. They are my favorite current band right now and I feel our styles mesh well together.

Jason: If I could tour with any band it'd be Red Hot Chili Peppers. Just because I want to be able to tell Flea how much he inspired me to play bass.

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