From left to right : Steve Ashby, Jay Sykes, Laura Taylor, and Scott Kay.
Well I knew Scott from high school. Steve and I went to VC together. We were music majors down there, and
Laura went to my high school also. In fact, when she came in to audition I was like "Wait a minute, I know
you". She auditioned at my fire station.
What part of town?
We rehearsed in Goochland in Crozier.
It's where we were born! We had our
first audition with Laura out at my fire
station and we heard her sing and
we're like "wow! Okay this is the one
here". And we went through a few and
some were not so pleasant. So yeah,
than we decided that she's the one.
We went through 6 or 7, some of them
were hideous (smiles).
How did you guys come up with the
name?
Scott came up with it about 2 years ago, he wrote it on a piece of paper, and I hated it at first. I wanted to
name us something really stupid (laughs). Never let a drummer name anything.
There was a song on this album that I was listening to called "Talk Show Host" and we were both kind of
listening to it at the same time and somehow it transformed into him waking up one night saying -Gameshow
Hero!.
If someone has never been to a Gameshow Hero show, how would you describe what it's like?
I think that we are different from a lot of the other bands in Richmond. We're not the quintessential jam band,
we're not punk rock. You know, I think people are sort of surprised when they come out. We have a few
covers that people recognize and stuff like that. But, I think the most part we have a sound that's original and
different from what you'd walk in and hear from any given club, any given night within the city.
We all have so many different styles.
Yeah, we all have so many different influences
and that's probably what builds on what the
sound is. Sometimes you just don't know how
something's going to come out until you bring
another person in and that just kind of adds to
it. So I think that's what gives us that little
extra edge to us being different.
Who influenced you musically? Is there anyone
in your personal life growing up that was
musically gifted or perhaps turned you on to a
certain style of music?
Well, it kind of runs in my family. My
grandfather could pick out any piece of music
and play it off the top of his head. He had
perfect pitch, but he didn't really ever utilize
though I started listening to jazz really early on, Billie Holiday. Of course growing up there's Madonna,
Blondie, Pat Benatar and (sigh) Bon Jovi. And then being influenced by what my brother was listening to -
every genre out there has played some sort of role.
For me I was listening to Casey Casem's Top 40 one day to be perfectly
honest and I was out back raking leaves in my backyard and I had Casey
blasting and he said something like these guys are the great new rock band.
They're supposed to be the black Led Zeppelin and "Cult Of Personality" by Living Color came on. That was
kind of the moment for me where I really got into music. I head banged around my yard with my best friend
to the song and than went and bought the CD or bought the tape. CD's didn't exist than. From
that point I got into The Police and that was about it for me.
How old were you when you picked up the guitar
I was going into eighth grade, so 12 years old.
My very first musical influence would actually be my uncle who would comeover when he could make it and I
remember him playing "Puff the MagicDragon" and I thought it was the awesomest thing in the world. Than
mycousins came with him and brought Def leppard. Joel Elliot ruled my world.And than years later I finally
discovered good music. I started playingguitar at 12 years old. I played violin when I was 5 years old for 2
yearsand in junior high I started playing Saxophone. My immediate family ismusically dumb, that's the only way
to put it. Than there's the myths, theman, the legend.
At a very early age I was looking through some of my dads old records and Istumbled upon a record that was
blue. And that was really cool. That recordwas Elvis "moody blue". We put that album on and I was
fascinated. Numberone by the guy's voice. It was just WOW! This is Elvis. I mean, that'sprobably one of my
number one influences is Elvis, I have a shrine in myhouse to Elvis. I started taking piano lessons in 2nd grade. I
guess thatputs me at 7 years old. I picked up the drum sticks when I was 9 and Iguessmy first music thing was
a little marching band that I marched with calledthe Jr. Batonettes and Marching band.
Oh my god, I totally twirled with them!
And I started playing drums and next thing you know I
was 6th grader and mybest buddy Mike approached
me and was like HEY! Wanna be in a band? And
theguy looked just like Elvis and I was like yeah. So
yeah, I ended up being in the band. Than I continued
on and got my degree in music and now I teach itand
rock out on the weekends. But I'd say Elvis was my
number one influenceand than I'd have to say Zeppelin
after that.
What is the best part about being a musician? What do
you enjoy abou it itmost?
I think what I enjoy most about being a musician is
when I get behind mydrum set I'm in a different place.
withyour buddies and it takes you somewhere that's better. You don't thinkaboutthe bills, you don't think about
the problems, you just think about themusic. So yeah, this is what I love. It's so creative and I wish
everybodycould enjoy performing music.
For me it's got to be the creativity, to come up with something new that's kind of like your own little building
block of legos (laughs). And you know shaping the air around my hands. Yeah, but there's just a communality
of four different people coming together and making a singular voice as opposed to just ego's. I guess, of
course, I should say the booze and the chicks.
I like most about being a musician is writing music and creating music. I'm not the best with expressing my
emotions and so that's kind of my outlet. What I like most about being a rock musician and being in a band is
kind of all the strange experiences that happen and that you come across. For example: last weekend I had to
move my bass amp off the stage because somebody lived behind the door behind my amp. The doorway
behind my amp was the doorway to a mans home. So I got the statement of "could you move you ramp,
somebody lives back there." And those little strange things that happen all the time, they're experiences in my
everyday Joe life that I really wouldn't have to enjoy if I was living a regular life.
I guess for me it's kind of like crack, you know (kidding). If I don't ghetto perform for a while I get depressed.
It gets to be like a drug where that's all I want to do and If I go too long without being able to perform I feel
down, it's so much a part of who I am. I really like the creative process getting towork with other people and
seeing how you ideas compliment each other's, I've always written, but just in the last couple years I actually
started writing lyrics so that's been a great outlet.
What's the biggest challenge with trying to find success as a band here in Richmond?
Getting gigs, getting noticed, getting paid, I guess just getting your nameout there. Getting people to show up
and getting to know other musicians so you can work with them.
Richmond was a great scene, back in middle
school/high school we played gigs all over the place.
One of my bands played at the Flood Zone and it's a
great, great venue. I don't know if it's the dance clubs
came up and more people got into dancing and less
people got into going to see the big rock stuff. That's a
challenge, you know, is getting people in the door
sometimes.
The trickiest thing here in Richmond is, actually, getting
people interested and getting people to support you. It's
more than just coming out and seeing a friend. It's
actually just trying to be in the right place at the right
time. And you know, the hipster scene. We kind of live
in this black hole in between DC and Virginia Beach,
people do not like to come out and watch bands play.
Just trying to get people to go out and support music is
a challenge.
Steve, if Laura was no longer part of the band, what would be missing? Whatdoes Laura bring to the table?
Well, she brings a new independent voice to the three of us who've played together and kind of known each
other for 5-6 years. It's a completely new dimension of what we do. It would be a band without a singer,
which is kind of just a vacuum band.
Scott, if Steve was no longer in the band, what would be missing? What does Steve bring to the
table?
We'd be missing a really great guitar player to start. And what Steve does, from my point of view, he takes a
mediocre song and just basic idea and makes a song allot better by the parts that he comes up with. I mean,
it's hard to explain for me. But, a lot of times I've just got basic, dry ideas and you know, Steve's what makes
the ideas sound really good to me. So itwould be a loss of a great guitar player and a really great song writer.
Jay, if Scott was no longer in the band, what would be missing? What doesScott bring to the table?
Okay, first of all, Scott's an awesome bass
player. Scott and I have been playing for
maybe seven years now, maybe eight.
Scott and I feed off of each other. He
knows when I'm doing the bass drum and I
do some weird things on the bass drum
sometimes. And I know what he's going to
do on the bass. We also have a lot of
giggle moments on stage, where I'll do
something that no one else understands and
Scott will start laughing his head off
hysterically. Sometimes he's laughing so
hard he misses notes. But, wow, if Scott
was missing it would be very tough to play.
It's like Voltron without the left foot.
Yes, it would be like Voltron without the left foot. That is all I can say before I start crying (laughs).
Laura, if Jay was no longer part of the band, what would be missing? Whatdoes Jay bring to the table?
We'd be missing, I think the best drummer in Richmond hands down. I think Jay, no secret, goes up there and
does some of the most amazing stuff. And I actually got a chance to play on his symbols last weekend, which
was quite an honor. But, truly, I mean sometimes we don't know how a song is going to turn out until we bring
Jay in and it just turns the whole thing around. I wouldn't wanna do it without him. I just think he's amazing -flat
out.
What's the best advice someone has given you in regards to following your dreams of being a full time
musician?
Business wise musically, it's just kind of like that circulation thing of knowing people. Having connections with
who you can help get things done for you and want to help you out. Other than that Casey Casems saying, you
know "keep reaching for the stars".(laughs). Everybody in my families been really supportive and have just
said go for it, so you know, the whole "may the force be with you" kind of thing.
Business wise, I guess pretty much what everyone's
saying, gets on the radio. Do a lot of playing, sell
units, get on sound scan. Musically, three words and
this is gonna sound like a Nike commercial, but my
teacher Donald Bick he was my literature teacher
down at VCU said, "Just Do It".And pretty much
what that told me was, don't be scared to play, just
play. You know, just do it. Don't think about mistakes
and just play. DO IT! Any percussion player out there
that has Donald Baker you'll know exactly what I'm
talking about.
When you're at shows, while you aren't playing, who are some bands you enjoy seeing?
It's not so much of a local band but Army Of Me is an incredible group out of Washington. We played with
them years ago when they were called Cactus patch. I used to really, really enjoy going to see Ages Of Good
Roots. And if they see this they need to get their act together. Steve will give us an update on modern groups.
A couple bands that come to mind are like Red Anthem AKA used to be Vega. I think they play really
interesting stuff. Sound Chapters got a really cool vibe and sound I think as a local band, even though I don't
wanna float any egos there. The Gaskets are really fun, even though there music comes off as a joke and I
think it is meant that way. Anytime you have a band in abox, rock it. Elevator Space is a good one. One of my
best friends plays in that band.
Delegate was really good. River City High. There are so many.
In your opinion what makes a band great? What separates mediocre bands fromones that stand out from the
rest?
I don't know if it's always talent, sadly enough. I think the ones that end up making it big sometimes are
because of tenacity. I think that some bands give up because they haven't gotten where they want to be by the
time they think they should be there or let egos get in the way. And some bands are willing to do things that
other bands aren't, make sacrifices others aren't. I've seen a lot of great projects fall apart because people's
lives float off in different directions and I think that plays a big part, how much you want it as your life, not just a
hobby. If you stick with it long enough then you'll see some sort of success. Hopefully it's the bands that have
the whole package that stick it out.
I think it's more about a vibe. A band needs to have a vibe and the vibe itself makes them stand out. Vibes are
kind of that intangible thing that I don't know how to describe, but some bands can stand up there and play a
completely mediocre song and you're going to stand there in awe and watch them do it. And than a band with
no vibe at all stands up there and plays the same song and you could care less. It's about the aura that you put
off. The confidence and sometimes arrogance, you know. A band that some how has a cool vibe about 'em.
Going along with what Scott was saying, It's got to be a full package of having a show that goes along with
excellent song writing and being able toput music together that appeals to the ear, challenges the ear, gives
something new to the table. Songs that have not been completely rehashed and not just there. It somehow
makes you twist or cringe or shake. It just has to have something that gives you that little tingle. I had an
epileptic seizure the first time I saw Poison. It was great. It's just a complete overall feeling of the rock in your
ears, I don't know
I like to see a band with really, really good stage presence. I like for them to own the stage and feel very
comfortable on it. Everyone's going to role their eyes when I say this, but I like to see a group that has very
fine musicians who that understands their instruments. I'm not saying they have to be Beethoven or Mozart. But,
I really enjoy seeing A group of folks that I know that they practiced their instrument and understand how their
instrument works completely. I like to see guys and ladies that have worked on their craft, worked on their art
and have an appreciation for what theydo musically. through being a really good performer, a really good
instrumentalist to just being a really good player. I'm a huge Rush fan, these guys have a complete understand
of everything this instrument can do. And they respect it very much and that's why you go see bands like Rush.
Sometimes you go see other groups like if I were to go see Led Zeppelin, they're all incredible musicians of
course, sloppy guys, but they knew what their instruments could do. So I really enjoy seeing really good
musicians playing really well.
I think we're all really on the same kind of tip where Jay does kind of like see more the Rush type bands. But,
we kind of take on the persona when we play where we kind of want to be the best we can on our
instruments. We don't mind sacrificing a chord here or there. We're not saying we want to be that sloppy ass
stupid band that you see on the stage. If you can sacrifice a little chord for entertainment is always good.
Where would you all like to see the band go from here?
World domination. That pretty much says it.
I'd like to be able to get out and play over a broader span of "people
Dom" Which is I guess under the big broad scope the umbrella of world
domination. But, you know, just doing enough where we leave a mark
somewhere somehow.
World domination was good, but that seems kind of creepy to say. I want
to see us continuing where we're at. Continue making quality music.
Continue to see fans out there like Samantha Dunn who are singing every
single word, they know every single word, you know? She couldn't make it
tonight. She's too young to be here. So I just want to continue what we're
doing. We're having a good time, we're doing really good where we're
at, we want to takeover the world, we want to be like white snake..
(laughs) no I'm just kidding.
Now tell me about your current CD. Where's that available at?
just waiting to be recorded. We were talking to several folks about doing
them. We're trying to get the very specific vibe about it and you know, try
and get itout there for everyone to hear and take home to make love to.
I'm not even sure we think of making a CD in kind of the way music is
now digitally and doing things online. We kind of go back and forth
saying yeah lets go ahead and make a hard copy of it. Steve and I go
back and forth about it all the time where we also think do we make it
available online and make it for free so more people can get it. I'm not
sure what to do. I'm more pro now at just giving the music away
because I'm not concerned about selling them and making money off of
it. Everyone now pretty much has a CD burner and an ipod so I don't
know if CD's are necessary now days. I do have some Demos to give
out after the show. (laughs)
We are a kick ass rock band who just want to make kick ass rock music. Come to our shows and come say hi
and shake hands.
Want More??
Go To www.gameshowhero.com
