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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Damascus Mile: A Simple Matter of Rock and Roll
Wednesday 11 December @ 11:56:44 |
 by Louis Lenzmeier
Damascus Mile is like many local groups. They are just paying their dues, hoping for something bigger down the road. They are led by their much too-talented lead singer Jaired Johnson. He is accompanied by Chris Kreber on lead guitars, Tina Kordiak on drums, Riche Williamson on bass guitar, and JR Steinbach on keyboards. Steinbach is also the man behind the scenes for the group.
Pulse: What would be an accurate portrayal of a Damascus Mile show? Is there a type of sound that you necessarily identify with?
Chris: It’s just Jaired trying to really sound like Eddie Vedder (laughter). Actually, it’s just rock and roll with good melodies and harmonies.
Jaired: It’s just straight ahead rock and roll with a positive message. Most musicians should not and do not make that distinction between a certain type of sound or do they necessarily want to be categorized by a certain type of sound. I’ve never been that comfortable stereotyping music and putting it into a specific category.
Pulse: Riche, you’ve described your faith in God and how it helps you. How do you transform that attitude into your music?
Chris: I was raised to very much trust in God and use your gifts in music and use music as a tool to be positive. I think it’s something that we are all trying to do.
Pulse: As a local group, and with you all being from this area, what’s your opinion of the local music scene?
Chris: I think there is a certain void right now, which is difficult to fill. It seems to me that there is a lot of the same old stuff. There are some bands that are trying to outdo each other and no one is really trying to get necessarily creative or branch out more.
Jaired: There is a definite void and we hope we are a little different in the type of positive rock and roll that we play.
Pulse: Tina, with you being the only female member of the band, is that a dynamic that you necessarily explore or is it something you do not even think about?
Tina: I realize there are not many female members in bands, and fewer female drummers. It’s just one of those things where I love music. I don’t really think too hard about it. I just happen to be the girl in the band.
Pulse: Jaired, can you describe your songwriting process for me?
Jaired: It’s usually something that I am feeling or a certain emotion that I am going through. Sometimes I have a lot of emotion and I will try to build melodies around lyrics. I don’t think I really have acknowledgement right now of an actual process. At times, it’s a melody that comes first and then the lyrics and other times, it is vice versa. It’s just something that happens.
Pulse: Have you ever tried writing with other writers?
Jaired: No, that’s something that’s very different and hard for me. I can’t really tell you why. It can be tough to give up ownership, or something to that effect, but it’s something that I am trying to get used to. If I have a song that’s half-written and someone wants to come along and help me finish it, that’s something that is very difficult to do. I think it would be much easier to write with someone if we were to sit down and write from scratch. Tina has written a few songs that, at first, were very difficult for me to sing and to get down. Now, I recognize that they are really great songs to sing.
Pulse: Tina, what’s your songwriting process like?
Tina: Well, it’s usually something where I am just sitting in front of the TV and not necessarily thinking about anything else. I guess a few chords will come into my head and I will just lose myself in songwriting and chord progression and stuff like that.
Pulse: Is there anything out there that you just think, wow, they got it right on. They really hit the nail on the head?
Chris: There isn’t really anything right now. I don’t listen to the radio too much and I generally like a lot of old stuff.
Jaired: Lately, it’s been Coldplay. I just like what they are doing.
Tina: Yeah, Coldplay. I just love the Beatles and the classic stuff.
Riche: I really like `a lot of the stuff from the early ’90s, from U2 to Nirvana.
JR: I listen to music off the web for a lot of the technical aspect and listening to anything that can help this group.
Pulse: What do you see yourself doing down the road. What do you hope to have accomplished?
Group: Basically, we just hope we are together making music and getting out nationally to get our name and our music out there. We love Minnesota, we are from here, but it would be nice to get out and play some great venues and do the living-on-the-road thing. It would be nice to maybe come back just to tour and skip the weather aspect.
Damascus Mile plays Mon., Dec. 16 at the Fine Line Music Cafe with Preacher Row, Red Room, and Stolen By Serious. 8 p.m. 3$. 21+.1318 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8100.
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