Relayer
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Interviews
Forum Description: Original interviews with Prog artists (which are exclusive to Prog Archives)
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=74073
Printed Date: December 18 2024 at 12:44
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Relayer
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Subject: Relayer
Date Posted: December 13 2010 at 16:24
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Relayer was formed in the early 90's by Gregg Panmer (Keyboards and Vocals), Tom Burke (Bass and Vocals), Tim LaRoi (Guitars and Vocals), John Sahagian (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Percussion) and Michael Ways (Drums, Cymbals, Percussion and Vocals), with this lineup they release their debut album "Grander Vision" in 1994. Three more albums followed. I got in touch with the band for their story. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Your
biography has been covered in your ProgArchives profile so let's
bypass the biography details. But which bands were you influenced by
and why did you choose that name? TL
– Pink Floyd, Yes, Rush, Genesis, The Who, The band was initially
called The Relay. TB
– The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Yes, Rush, Genesis, Rolling
Stones … We went from The Relay to Relayer and thought maybe the
Yes connection might draw a little attention. I think most thought
we would be cloning Yes, but we really don’t sound like them at
all. It was just a slightly deceiving way to get them to give it a
chance listen JS
– I can’t say that there’s any style of music, including those
I dislike, that hasn’t influenced me and the music I make. Rush,
Queen, Van Halen, Stevie Wonder and The Beatles probably being the
biggest. BK
-The ones that shaped me growing up were Rush, Led Zeppelin, Iron
Maiden, Pink Floyd and the Beatles. Were
any of you involved in any other bands before you started Relayer ? TL
– Thrust, Dur Rocher, 2001, Intergalactic Monk, The Relay,
Relayer, The Ugly Truth, Build 53 TB
– Intergalactic Monk, The Relay, Milhouse, Imaginary Band, Jimmy
Hud & The Twice JS
– As you’d expect, many early bands including Catalyst, Lani
Kai, Gabriel Stomp, Imaginary Band. BK
- Groovus  Let's
go straight to the first album. Please tell us more about Grander
Vision from 1994 TL
– Very ambitious and exciting. the sky was the limit. Cold old
house in Kenosha. TB
– 2nd batch
of ideas with John in the band with the intent on recording
professionally instead of our poor quality demos. However we
ran low on $$ and Wire Mill Scars ended up with a poor mix. We
had a song called Tarfu that we recorded prior to GV as a demo that
was a staple live song I wish would have made the cut, but oh well. JS
– Times were crazy
(and exciting) at that time. I was in college and driving three
hours to attend weekend practices. Tom was working night shifts and
sleeping during most of the day. Songs were pieced together in the
dead of winter from ideas put together in mini-sessions and dorm
rooms. We knew that we were pushing ourselves to create something
beyond anything any of us had worked on before.  Please
tell us more about your second album The Teething Fashion from 1996 TL
– Our masterpiece. Everything in it is original and inspired. TB
– Same as Tim .. we worked very had and pushed ourselves with
composition. Gregg/Bill arguing about the time/tempo of the
song used to make me laugh. We were writing and playing out
all the time which was nice. Bill was a different drummer than
Mike so it made us play a little different which is always fun for a
musician. JS
– Really proud of TTF. We recorded in a nice analog studio –
album sounds great. We were still very much trying to make a
progressive rock album and I feel as though we were really
successful in capturing “prog according to Relayer”. I really
never tire of listening to it. We were playing out a lot live at
that point and by the end of it all were a little tired of
reproducing the musical complexities live. Really fueled our desire
to simply our songwriting – not lazy music, just more mature,
tasteful and moody. Set the tone for the next couple CDs. BK
- My first entry into the band. Long story short, it was a new
adventure for me and I felt like I found a home. The album is a good
blend of more progressive vs. more melodic and probably our most
adventurous one to date.  Please
tell us more about your third album Last Man on Earth from 1999 TL
– A sleeper with some of the “proggy” edge taken out. Very
mood based. Individual ideas from every band member were explored. TB
– No more Gregg for keys, so we all shared a bit of them. Life
outside of the band was starting to transition. Recording in a
cold farm house that I lived in, spending a fortune to flip on the
heat when possible. Tim froze when he played his tracks
because the heater couldn’t be on or it would be recorded.
Would love a remix of it. JS
– This was a very transitional time for everyone, both in song
writing and personally. We dropped down to a four piece when Gregg
moved to New England, tried to strip our songwriting down and were
struggling to figure out our new identity. Quite honestly, when we
recorded this one, I expected it to be our last together. Life was
just wearing everyone down. We had no money to record in the studio
and recorded the whole thing on a small practice mixer and a couple
of rented ADATs. As a result, it’s unique to anything else we’ve
recorded. BK
- Sort of an experiment in terms of songwriting and Greg had just
left the band, which allowed us to flow in a different direction.
Some of my favorite songs are on this album (Last Man On Earth,
Sarah Lynn). The album was recorded in a cold farmhouse in Illinois
and some of the tracks were never played as a whole band prior to
recording. An interesting time in our lives, an interesting approach
and an interesting album. You
took a nine years long break. What happened? TL
– Well it wasn't actually that long. We wrote quite a bit in
2003/4 - just never put down an album. Family life was seeping in. TB
– We had written for a bit after LMOE and recorded some demos, but
a lot was going on as far as relationships, family, regular work
that we decided to take a break that went a bit longer then we
thought. JS
– In addition, we all did play around with other musicians. That
creative separation really afforded us all a chance to continue
growing as songwriters in each our own way. I see Façade as a
direct outcome of this maturation and space.  Please
tell us more about your fourth and most recent album Facade from 2008 TL
- Finally got our act together and made an effort to start fresh and
record it this time! Lots of fun on this one, more relaxed and
mature. TB
- Lots of fun writing. Lots of fun recording, Not enough
live shows for it .. Freedom is fun and loud live! JS
– Definitely my favorite Relayer album. Thus far, Façade has done
the best job of melding our individual musical tastes into a
collective style. Like Last Man, we recorded it on our own and in a
rather low-tech method, but it just worked better this time. We also
had a blast. We were in a better place. Whether you can hear it or
not, the four of us have a very special bond and each time we get
together to write and record it’s always a great trip. Involving
Mike Ways, our drummer on Grander Vision, in the mixing of Façade
just added to a sense of everything coming together. My
favorite album of the three that I have been a part of. It was the
culmination of many years of material and the recording process took
place over approximately a year in multiple locations, including my
little cottage in Southwestern Michigan. I believe that this is a
collection of some of our strongest work and I enjoy the more live
sound sonically. I don’t believe that this album is a
representation of a true “prog” sound, but this is what came out
and was natural to us at the time. In my experience, we have never
gone into writing with a definitive direction in mind. It is more
organic than that. How
would you describe the musical developments on these four albums ? TL
- 3 eras. GB and TTF were technically proficient. LMOE was artistic.
Facade combined both styles. TB
- Agree with Tim. Trying to write a better song than a more
difficult/busy part. Being less selfish about an idea and let
it work itself out. JS
– When you’re a kid and you grow up and mature with your
friends, it’s exciting and fun. Too often we get beyond school age
and we stop experimenting and changing and discovering. The really
cool thing about being in a band like Relayer is that you get to
keep doing all those things and laugh your ass off all the while
with your friends. I hope we’re still throwing new things against
the wall in 20 years. BK
- Honest and natural. Just
to give those of us who are unknown with your music a bit of a
reference point or two: How would you describe your music ? TL
– Original American Prog. TB
– We are products of our influences, so if you like any of the
above, you might like some of what we do. JS
– We’re confused. LOL Melodic songs laced with riffs and
interesting chord progressions. In a nutshell, I think that’s what
most gets us all off. BK
- Whatever form of sonic, prog, classic, pop, rock, fusion label
anyone would like to describe it as. How
is your gigs situation? Do you play many gigs? TL
– Not really. The early and mid nineties we had gigged Chicagoland
and had a stellar show rolling. We played some shows for Facade and
they were very well received. TB
– Not in a bit. “Tour dates .. they start tomorrow ..
tomorrow …” JS
– We actually love playing live and do it well. However, our style
of music is not for light-hearted. If we play other people’s
music, it’s got to be stuff we like and that doesn’t go over
well with people who want to hear Brown Eyed Girl for the millionth
time in most small venues. I guess we’re selfish in that way. As a
result, our performances are sparse, but worth the wait. What
is your experience with the music industry and the new internet music
scene ? TL
– It's taken some turns in my lifetime, however now is a great
time to explore and share with many new musicians and fans. TB
– Most anything is a mouse click away, so it would have been nice
to have back in the 90’s! JS
– I’m quite disheartened by the business of music – especially
these days. The majority of what’s out there is so driven by fame,
sex and money that it kills artful expression. However, if you keep
your eyes on the fringes there’s still great stuff people are
putting down. As for the Internet, bad for business as usual, great
for tearing down the walls of distribution. All for it! What
is your latest update and the plans for the rest of this year and
next year ? TL
–Hopefully 2011 will get the ball rolling. I just finished
recording a cd with Build 53 and plan to play it out in early 2011. TB
– Nothing planned as of yet. Tim has a project going on at the
moment, so we all tinker about until the planets align.
JS
– We’ve been in another one of those creative separation modes
these last couple years. Come to think of it, it’s probably about
time to round the boys back up. To
wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this
interview ? TL
– Relayer will always be a huge part of my life. I'm so happy to
have thrown a stone into the musical ocean. Comrades for ever. TB
– Thankful to have had the chance to write/play music that others
like to listen to. Thankful to the members of Relayer
including Mike & Gregg for a fun musical adventure. JS
– Not really. Just a request that your readers who haven’t heard
of us, give Façade an honest listen. There’s a lot to digest
there and I’d love for more folks to enjoy it. Thank you to Relayer for this interview Their PA profile is http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=483" rel="nofollow - and their homepage's http://www.myspace.com/relayermusic" rel="nofollow - |
