So many SG members and girls are into unsigned and unknown bands so it can sometimes be a shock when a major label puts out a band with some serious talent. Moments in Grace with Atlantic Records is definitely one of those bands. The band is made up of native Floridians Jeremy Griffith guitar/vocals, Jake Brown on bass, drummer Tim Kirkpatrick and Justin Etheridge guitar/keyboards
The band was talented enough to be noticed by the major producer Brian McTernan who has worked with Thrice, Cave In, the Movielife and Hot Water Music.
I got a chance to talk with Moments in Grace drummer Tim Kirkpatrick.
Check out the official website for Moments in Grace
Daniel Robert Epstein: Hey Tim where are you today?
Tim Kirkpatrick: Were in Corona just chilling. Were about to head down to Anaheim to play at the House of Blues.
DRE: Will you go to Disney World?
TK: I wish. I dont think well have enough time. Last time we tried to see if they would let us in for free for a couple of hours but it didnt work out.
DRE: Why would they let you in for free?
TK: I dont know. It was worth a try.
DRE: Because youre in this big upcoming band?
TK: I figure that Since House of Blues is pretty much in Disney World they might have a policy to let us wander in but thats not the case.
DRE: Your producer, Brian McTernan, has really taken you guys under his wing. Whats that like?
TK: Its awesome. He first heard our demo from one of the bands that he was recording and just took a liking to us and called us up. He pretty much guided our band from its beginning stages all the way up until now. He let us stay at his house and recorded our band. From there we met a lot of the bands that weve gone on tour with. He remains one of our best friends, day in and day out.
DRE: What was the band like before you came in contact with him and how has it changed?
TK: I think we definitely take the band more seriously even though we were serious from the beginning. When we were getting ready to record with Brian we were focused on our music more than we thought we ever would. After recording an album with him and having it come out so well we felt compelled to take those songs on the road and play them in front of people.
DRE: I know its early but will Brian produce the next album as well?
TK: For sure, there is no doubt in my mind. I dont think any of us could see it any other way. Hes been with us from the beginning and I think it will stay that way for as long as our band exists.
DRE: The cover art for the CD is really nice. Who did it?
TK: Our friend from Connecticut, Rob Dobi, did the entire album. Hes just an awesome artist that we met along the way. We gave him the album and he just came up with the imagery on his own. We love it. The art speaks for the mood of the record. Its a dark album. It represents the kind of vibe that we feel.
DRE: Whats the bands songwriting process?
TK: Jeremy, our singer, writes a lot of songs that he records in his own studio. Hes a really good engineer and a multi instrumentalist. He comes up with the bulk of our songs. He will come up wit the song and do all the instruments then bring it to us at practice and from there we shape it into a Moments in Grace song.
DRE: How does it become personal for you?
TK: Through the process. We work long and hard on all our songs so a lot of thought goes into it.
DRE: Whats Moonlight Survived mean?
TK: Its a lyric from one of the songs that we felt embodied the atmosphere of both the music and lyrics. If you listen to the record there are a lot of lyrics that repeat themselves in other songs which ties them together.
DRE: How was doing the video?
TK: It was a blast. It was something that I dont think any of us ever thought we would get to do so we didnt have any expectations. We just showed up and did it. I think it exceeded any expectation we may have had.
DRE: Atlantic Records is a huge label. How is it working with them?
TK: They are great people. I grew up playing in punk bands that put out records on small independent labels. Those labels are really down to earth and they are into the music youre playing. I didnt know how it was going to be dealing with a major label but its the exact same thing. All the people weve met there are cool, really supportive and weve become friends with them. Its a big family now of people like you and me, not people in suits.
DRE: What do you do in your touring van?
TK: We dont have a TV but we do have a few laptops. We watch DVDs like Fahrenheit 9/11, Mr. Show and we just bought Nip/Tuck.
DRE: Many people like to call your music emo but it seems a bit louder than your usual emo music.
TK: We dont really talk about ways to not sound like other bands but luckily it comes off that way.
DRE: How come you thanked Edge of Dawn in the liner notes?
TK: They are some of our best friends. They were the first band that took us on tour. Weve been fans of their band long before we met them and theyre still the greatest guys
DRE: Where did you grow up?
TK: I grew up in South Florida in Palm Beach then I moved to Gainesville when I graduated from high school.
DRE: When did you meet the other guys?
TK: About two years ago. They were living in St. Augustine which is about an hour north of Gainesville. They had just moved there from Pensacola which is the panhandle of Florida. I wasnt the original drummer but when they made the move to St. Augustine their drummer bailed on them. Then I met them through mutual friends in another band.
DRE: Who are you touring with now?
TK: Last night we just started a tour with Hot Water Music and Dont Look Down.
DRE: Is that all through the US?
TK: Yea, just the US and then a few shows in Canada.
DRE: Have you heard of SuicideGirls before?
TK: Definitely, SuicideGirls are notorious.
DRE: For what?
TK: When I was living in Gainesville they came through with their tour. Someone then showed me the site. Im into everything so I thought it was cool. I dont have any tattoos though.
DRE: Really?
TK: Yeah actually no one in our band has any tattoos.
DRE: You might be the first band Ive ever spoken to where no one member has any tattoos.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
The band was talented enough to be noticed by the major producer Brian McTernan who has worked with Thrice, Cave In, the Movielife and Hot Water Music.
I got a chance to talk with Moments in Grace drummer Tim Kirkpatrick.
Check out the official website for Moments in Grace
Daniel Robert Epstein: Hey Tim where are you today?
Tim Kirkpatrick: Were in Corona just chilling. Were about to head down to Anaheim to play at the House of Blues.
DRE: Will you go to Disney World?
TK: I wish. I dont think well have enough time. Last time we tried to see if they would let us in for free for a couple of hours but it didnt work out.
DRE: Why would they let you in for free?
TK: I dont know. It was worth a try.
DRE: Because youre in this big upcoming band?
TK: I figure that Since House of Blues is pretty much in Disney World they might have a policy to let us wander in but thats not the case.
DRE: Your producer, Brian McTernan, has really taken you guys under his wing. Whats that like?
TK: Its awesome. He first heard our demo from one of the bands that he was recording and just took a liking to us and called us up. He pretty much guided our band from its beginning stages all the way up until now. He let us stay at his house and recorded our band. From there we met a lot of the bands that weve gone on tour with. He remains one of our best friends, day in and day out.
DRE: What was the band like before you came in contact with him and how has it changed?
TK: I think we definitely take the band more seriously even though we were serious from the beginning. When we were getting ready to record with Brian we were focused on our music more than we thought we ever would. After recording an album with him and having it come out so well we felt compelled to take those songs on the road and play them in front of people.
DRE: I know its early but will Brian produce the next album as well?
TK: For sure, there is no doubt in my mind. I dont think any of us could see it any other way. Hes been with us from the beginning and I think it will stay that way for as long as our band exists.
DRE: The cover art for the CD is really nice. Who did it?
TK: Our friend from Connecticut, Rob Dobi, did the entire album. Hes just an awesome artist that we met along the way. We gave him the album and he just came up with the imagery on his own. We love it. The art speaks for the mood of the record. Its a dark album. It represents the kind of vibe that we feel.
DRE: Whats the bands songwriting process?
TK: Jeremy, our singer, writes a lot of songs that he records in his own studio. Hes a really good engineer and a multi instrumentalist. He comes up with the bulk of our songs. He will come up wit the song and do all the instruments then bring it to us at practice and from there we shape it into a Moments in Grace song.
DRE: How does it become personal for you?
TK: Through the process. We work long and hard on all our songs so a lot of thought goes into it.
DRE: Whats Moonlight Survived mean?
TK: Its a lyric from one of the songs that we felt embodied the atmosphere of both the music and lyrics. If you listen to the record there are a lot of lyrics that repeat themselves in other songs which ties them together.
DRE: How was doing the video?
TK: It was a blast. It was something that I dont think any of us ever thought we would get to do so we didnt have any expectations. We just showed up and did it. I think it exceeded any expectation we may have had.
DRE: Atlantic Records is a huge label. How is it working with them?
TK: They are great people. I grew up playing in punk bands that put out records on small independent labels. Those labels are really down to earth and they are into the music youre playing. I didnt know how it was going to be dealing with a major label but its the exact same thing. All the people weve met there are cool, really supportive and weve become friends with them. Its a big family now of people like you and me, not people in suits.
DRE: What do you do in your touring van?
TK: We dont have a TV but we do have a few laptops. We watch DVDs like Fahrenheit 9/11, Mr. Show and we just bought Nip/Tuck.
DRE: Many people like to call your music emo but it seems a bit louder than your usual emo music.
TK: We dont really talk about ways to not sound like other bands but luckily it comes off that way.
DRE: How come you thanked Edge of Dawn in the liner notes?
TK: They are some of our best friends. They were the first band that took us on tour. Weve been fans of their band long before we met them and theyre still the greatest guys
DRE: Where did you grow up?
TK: I grew up in South Florida in Palm Beach then I moved to Gainesville when I graduated from high school.
DRE: When did you meet the other guys?
TK: About two years ago. They were living in St. Augustine which is about an hour north of Gainesville. They had just moved there from Pensacola which is the panhandle of Florida. I wasnt the original drummer but when they made the move to St. Augustine their drummer bailed on them. Then I met them through mutual friends in another band.
DRE: Who are you touring with now?
TK: Last night we just started a tour with Hot Water Music and Dont Look Down.
DRE: Is that all through the US?
TK: Yea, just the US and then a few shows in Canada.
DRE: Have you heard of SuicideGirls before?
TK: Definitely, SuicideGirls are notorious.
DRE: For what?
TK: When I was living in Gainesville they came through with their tour. Someone then showed me the site. Im into everything so I thought it was cool. I dont have any tattoos though.
DRE: Really?
TK: Yeah actually no one in our band has any tattoos.
DRE: You might be the first band Ive ever spoken to where no one member has any tattoos.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Rock on
-Alex