Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Jake Wittig - Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter
Ryan Colebeck - Drummer
Ahmad Farzad - Bass/Baritone
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to The Burning Peppermints? How long has the band been around?
I was in a cover band in middle and high school but The Burning Peppermints has been my first “real” band. And before we started playing in this lineup Ahmad and Ryan had a band called Das Uber Betas that was just bass and drums- I was looking for a bass player and a drummer and viola- we started playing together. The Burning Peppermints has been around since late 2013- though there was a long period that we were in a proto-stage and things didn’t really turn into what they are now until the beginning of 2015 when we recorded our first album Dirty Rainbow!!.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
We’ve always been The Burning Peppermints. I named the band after a Jack White quote. He was talking about the White Stripes getting their color scheme from seeing some peppermints burn in a fire and turn black, thus their black, white and red. Jack White has always been a huge influence on me, and if I hadn’t discovered him I might’ve quit music. The other members of my first band always told me that I couldn’t sing and I was no good at guitar, and if I’d never started listening to the White Stripes I may not’ve had the confidence to try to front my own band. So the name will always serve as a reminder of where everything started, for me.
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?
I am the sole songwriter. It changes a lot album to album. Dirty Rainbow!! was all about writing music to get people to dance, and Glittervomit is my attempt to add more of a songwriting element to that feel of Dirty Rainbow!!. However, we’re also working on an album that is an exploration of the fear of the unknown and another that is like if Willy Wonka had a rock band- so there’s really no rules, they’re all just fast and loud.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Things took a dramatic shift for me musically once I discovered the West Coast Garage and Psychedelic scene. Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees and so many other bands in that scene, along with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard still inspire me- not only how badass those bands are but their prolific output and continued evolution.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
As I said earlier- Jack White was definitely a big influence.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Just coffee, water and usually we all pick each other up say we love each other, hahahah.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Play our Slossfest set to a packed out crowd was amazing. It was great to receive that much love in our hometown. Someone told me they literally couldn’t let more people in, and I would’ve been stoked if there was even a row of people. It was incredible.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Oh wow, that’s interesting there’s so many great bands that I don’t think I could ever get tired of watching.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks to Kill The Music!