Interview w/ That Racket

Starting off the waning days of summer with another entry in my ever growing interview series! Today, we check in with Andover, MA's own local upstarts That Racket. You may remember them as an Artist Spotlight feature here on the blog a few months ago, and they have enjoyed a terrific summer playing various Battle of the Bands festivals in and around the North Shore area, playing their unique blend of fast paced rock tunes to an anxious and frenetic crowd. Drummer Matt Giolito was gracious enough to devote some time for a quick chat so that you can get to know the guys a little better and discover what they're all about if you're not familiar with them. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and roles in the band?

Daniel Short is the Vocalist, Matt Giolito is the drummer, Guy Landerson is our bassist, and Alex Mazzarese is our guitarist.

How did you guys meet and when did the band form?

The band was initially formed by myself, Gabe Medina, and Daniel Short. The band has gone through several guitarists and bassists in the past year.

How did the name That Racket originate?

Frontman Daniel Short came up with the name and we've been lovin' it ever since.

Describe the sound of the group to those who aren't familiar with you guys?

We play rock n' roll and punk and put freaky rhythmic gyrations in your ears.

What artists do you think are most comprised within your music and have had a great influence on you?

Our influences include Nirvana, FIDLAR, White Stripes, The Black Lips, Electric Six, and Led Zeppelin, we each have different backgrounds musically.

Describe the nature and energy of your live shows, how did that originate and develop over time?

Daniel is an incredibly energetic frontman.

What are some of your favorite songs that you've written together as a band?

Out of the songs we have written together, we really like "Lemonade".

What do you guys like to do for fun in your spare time away from making and playing music?

In our spare time we like to eat spaghetti, cuddle, and break-dance.

What's coming up next for you guys, any more shows or new music that we can expect to hear soon?

We're still in the middle of a heavily stocked summer tour that keeps us on our toes, but besides that we also have some high quality recording coming soon!

Thanks once again to Matt for taking some time out to do this interview! I got the opportunity to see them live at The Middle East Upstairs a couple of months back, and they have a fantastic stage presence that needs to be seen to be believed. The guys are just getting their feet wet in the music scene, and they have the potential to be even better in the days ahead. For more info on the guys, head on over to their Facebook page and 'Like' it here, follow them on Twitter here, and check out their official website here.