Getting to Know: Hamilton Punks, The Maysides
In today’s Getting to Know, we meet The Maysides, a Hamilton, ON, punk-rock quartet that finds comfort in playing Mario Kart while on the way to gigs. If you are in an up and coming band that would like to partake in a Getting to Know feature, contact editor@riffyou.com to receive the questionnaire and instructions. Thanks!
Band Name: The Maysides
Band Members: Matt Harris (vocals, guitar), Kellen Bolger (bass), Mike Lamb (drums), and Kenny Holt (guitar).
Years Active: 1
City of Origin: Hamilton, ON.
Who are you and what do you do?
“We are The Maysides, we make rock music, with a punk rock influence and deliver it to the people… in a sweaty, energetic fashion.”
In 100 words or less, tell us how your band has gotten to this point.
“We have gotten to where we are by working hard on our craft, and putting out music that we are passionate about. We also like to deliver the best stage show possible, and have a lot of fun all at the same time. We have also been lucky to have cool people offer us some great shows.”
What is your latest release and how would you best describe it to someone who hasn’t heard your band?
“Our latest release is our debut EP, Evicted (available on iTunes and Bandcamp). It is a diverse blend of rock, indie and punk, with heavy influences from the ‘90s California punk era. We really strived to show different sides of our band, and we feel that this record succeeded in doing that.”
When making an album, which aspect of the process do you put the most time into and why?
“All aspects. We rehearse regularly and that is when a lot of our songs take shape. Some songs have lyrics written, and we write the music after, and sometimes a song is written around a guitar (or bass) riff…it really depends on the song. During production, we will change any number of things on any given song, depending on what is needed.”
What is the best part about your band and why?
“We love to entertain and have a good time. We take our music seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. After the show, we love meeting new people and sharing a beverage or three with our new found friends.”
What makes your band unique from the rest?
“We have really tried to take a familiar sound, and genre, and put our own unique spin on it – trying to take the best aspects from bands that we love, and make our own statement. The four of us also have a diverse taste in music, which helps to shape our sound.”
How does your band survive the challenges of touring/gigging?
“It is tough, for sure. As cliché, or corny as it sounds, keeping our eyes on the prize and focusing on the positive aspects keep us going. We have a ton of fun playing in front of people, and we make our own fun in the van. When things get tough, we just have to push through until we can get on stage. Nothing takes the edge off like playing Mario Kart in the back of the van.”
Would you rather be critically-acclaimed; rich and famous; or an under-the-radar band with a dedicated fan base?
“Having a dedicated fan base ensures that we can keep doing this for a long time. We would rather go out every night, knowing that the people we are playing for, actually care, and are there to see us and not just there because the tastemakers say it’s the popular thing to do. At the end of the day, we just want as many people to hear our music and enjoy it as possible. (But having money wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, either.)”
If you’d have to compare your band to another one out there, living or dead, who would it be and why?
“Blink-182. Not only are they a huge influence on us, but also that is the band that we are most often compared to. Obviously, that is a huge compliment to us, and if we could have a fraction of the success that they have had over the last 20 years, we would be very, very happy.”
Which band/musician would you like to share many drinks with? What would you talk about?
“We would definitely have many drinks with the guys from Blink and Billie Joe from Green Day. We would talk about music, share tour stories and try to figure out what it takes to make it in an industry dominated by ‘pop-stars.’ Also, I suspect that Gary Busey would work his way into the conversation somehow…”
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