Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Zachary Kibbee - vocals/guitar
Gene Louis - drums/vocals
Taylor Sullivan - bass/vocals
Felipe Rodrigo - guitar
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Zachary Kibbee? How long has the band been around?
Stonefeather, Bullets & Octane, Crash FistFight, The Brave Ones, Sex & Violence.
I've been working on this solo project for almost 3 years now, with the first year just working on writing solid material and the past 2 years recording and playing live.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Just keeping it simple, using my name.
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, Zachary, write mostly all of the music and lyrics, sometimes with collaborators like my producer Joseph Holiday and other songwriters like Jasmine Ash or Kenny Fleetwood. Most of my lyrics come from blues inspired themes including women, alcohol, dealing with dark emotions, wanting to escape, things like that. I grew up playing blues music and I've always loved the stories and the way the lyrics convey emotion.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Right now I'm really into The Black Keys, obviously, and I'm digging on bands like Blind Melon and Humble Pie. But I'm always shuffling in the classics like Led Zeppelin and The Eagles. I'm also a huge Chili Peppers fan and I've been told that influence can be heard on parts of my record.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
When I was 14 the Def Leppard movie came out on VH1 and I remember that being a pinnacle moment for me the first time I saw it. I knew I wanted to do that.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
I don't really do anything too crazy. I make sure my voice is feeling good. Or think about adjustments I need to make if my voice isn't feeling great, like picking alternative melodies that are more comfortable, or giving extra time to get my voice warm. I also like to wash my hands in hot water. There's something about that that relaxes me and immediately makes my hands feel loose and ready to go. I might play threw a couple guitar solos too just to get the fingers going.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
My song "My Own Two Feet" was featured in a national Microsoft commercial for the Surface Pro 3 in late 2014, and I've gotten almost 50 licenses for TV and film in the past 2 years.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
That's a tough one. I probably couldn't pick just one. But I would have loved to play with Led Zeppelin or The Eagles or Chili Peppers. I think I'd be happy to play with any of those groups. I'm just such a huge fan of their music and it would be rad to see the crowd response in their heyday.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My album "Songs From The Mud" comes out May 3rd. I'm hosting an album release party at the Satellite in Los Angeles, CA that night.