Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Garrett is the singer/guitarist, Paul plays drums and Sara rocks the bass.
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Broken Glow? How long has the band been around?
Garrett and Paul have been playing with Broken Glow since 2008, while Sara joined in 2014. She has been a part of various bands in the past (Skunky Sara & The Nuggets, Chicks Throwing Bricks, Culture Vulture) and currently playing with Tokalos as well.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The band name has remained since the beginning. We had a tough time in the early stages coming up with a suitable monicker, but one day we were looking through lyrics of songs and bands we were digging at the time, and Broken Glow came from combining lyrics from The Beatles' "Across The Universe" and Led Zeppelin's "Dancing Days." As both groups were highly
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?
Generally Garrett writes the majority of the music and lyrics, though once the basic structures are formed the other members comes up with their own parts and the group decides the final structure of the piece. Main themes of our songs vary from exploration of self to social and cultural critique. We rarely write about heartbreak or relationships. Since we write music that speaks to our current experiences, the topics do change over time. That said, corruption and greed seem ever present, as do our collective views on the power of collaboration and community, so these themes are generally present throughout our 8 year back catalogue. We also like total inspiration from literature of cultural arts which speak to us, and have used various source material from Kurt Vonnegut, Arthur Miller, ancient mythology and non-fiction texts to inform our music.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
One band who has served as a great inspiration is NYC's Not Blood, Paint. Their seamless combination of performance art, ultra-tight musicality, complex arrangements and integration of visuals into their performance is first-rate, and they've been a pillar of creativity for many of the bands we've played with. We draw a lot of inspiration from the bands we play shows with and have seen in small clubs, many of whom are somewhat obscure to the general population. As always, the blues masters and pioneers of psychedelic rock lay a strong foundation for our sound, as well as heavy bands from the 90's like System Of A Down and Alice In Chains.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
It's hard to peg one particular group, though Garrett and Paul were heavily inspired in the early days by Ithaca, NY Buddhist-rock group Ayurveda. That was one of the first bands Garrett had seen break out of a small scene into a bigger scope,and it inspired the idea that it was actually possible for bunch of normal people to get together and start their own group on their terms. Paul had played some covers with high school friends and founding members Jon and Brenner, so when they decided to write original music and include Garrett on guitar it was a natural transition. Sara draws heavy inspiration from punk rock and 60's blues rock, but she's been playing music since before she can remember. The Woodstock documentary had a big influence on her musical sensibilities and philosophy.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
We all have our own regimens, ie. stretching, running scales and rudiments, etc. As a group we always try to vary our setlist between shows, so rehearsals are key to making sure we're on the same page. That said, we're so used to performing together that we almost feel more natural on stage than off!
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Probably the release of our latest album "Filament." To commemorate the release we collaborated with local brewery Southbound Brewing Company to create our own Belgian style saison infused with coffee, which was served on tap at our release party, held right at the brewery. With a live radio broadcast from the event, psychedelic light show by Planetary Projections, a guest set by local rockers and friends BBXF, and food by Chazito's Food Truck, it was probably the most fun,fully-realized self-promoted and organized event we've been a part of.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
There are too many to name! Led Zeppelin is definitely one of the most highly-regarded groups among our band, not only for their incredible albums but for their legendary live sets. Their improvisation, their prowess, command o dynamics, the sheer power of the music... To share a stage with them would have been a serious honor. Currently we find tour to be the most rewarding when undergone with friends. Without a label, management, PR or other support systems to access, all of the nitty gritty of touring falls on the shoulders of each band member. As such, it's best to tour with people who you know are responsible, share the same vision, and whose company you enjoy.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We will be entering the studio once again in August to record a brand new song entitled "Us & Ants." A rumination on the futility of war and self-destruction, it is probably the most metal song we've written. We'll be filming and releasing a new music video this summer, as well as playing various regional shows throughout the Southeast USA. If anyone would like to contact the band, we love to hear from fans of the music or other musicians who dig what we want to do an collaborate. We encourage anyone to email us at brokenglow@gmail.com and start a dialogue.