Black Ribbon Sky: with The MIC

The Mic: What got this band together and started in
this business?
Black Ribbon Sky: A sheer love of music and performing. When we started out, we didn't want to be much more than a local band who got free beer and girls and had fun. I think that is why we have been able to move to the point that we are now at. We all have careers and families so we weren't chasing the dream. But now things have changed a bit, and we are starting to really get noticed.


The Mic:Who writes and produces all the material for
the band?
Black Ribbon Sky: BRS writes all of the songs as a whole. We all have a knack for putting our egos aside and working together to create the songs. We all provide input on each others parts and bring stuff to the table. We also let the song dictate how it needs to be written, whether we build the song around the vocal melody, or a bass riff, or a guitar riff.



The Mic:The band played in front of or with any acts
our readers would
know from the Mainstream?
Black Ribbon Sky: We haven't had the opportunity to share the stage with many big name acts as of yet. We have played with A.D.D. our of Chicago, and Suicide Angels from Omaha. We also play shows with Isaac James who has a band member formerly of Stone Sour. We are currently working hard to change the status of this answer though.



The Mic:Where can people access your music on the web?
Black Ribbon Sky: You can find us all over the web. We are on Myspace, Reverb Nation, Garage Band, and Facebook. Search all of those for Black Ribbon Sky. Also you can go to our website www.blackribbonsky.com



The Mic:Any embarrassing moments on stage?
Black Ribbon Sky: We've had our share of fuck-ups on stage. I have had problems in the past with my guitar coming unplugged. I've fallen flat on my ass. Justin has made up lyrics (at times unsuccessfully) when he has forgotten them. Jason has forgotten to change basses before and I had to try to transpose the guitar part to a different tuning. A lot of the normal stuff that we all laugh about, even in the moment.



The Mic:Any good stories you want to tell us?
Black Ribbon Sky: Wild Turkey American Honey. Thats our downfall. Leo had a luau earlier this summer at his house, and it was one of those nights that got completely out of control. For one I saw Jason drink for the first time in two years, Our former manager got blackout drunk and decided it would be a good idea to stand on the treadmill. Someone else thought it would be a good idea to turn the treadmill on. Watching him hit the wall was some funny shit. After a hole in the wall and two broken chairs I felt it would be a good time to tea bag the poor guy. I know there are pics, I just haven't seen them yet.



The Mic:Who is the bands musical influence?
Black Ribbon Sky: Our biggest influence is Sevendust. We also take a lot from Stone Sour and Mudvayne. But we all bring a lot of different influences together to develop our sound.



The Mic:How did the band get together?
Black Ribbon Sky: BRS was started when the singer Justin Perkins, and myself (Paul Lichtenauer) met at a show back in January of 06. We had a mutual vision, and just had to find the right people to make it happen. In November of that year, we found Jason Kane (bass) through a random Myspace bulletin. Over the next couple of years, we went through a couple of line-up changes and style changes. Once we found our current drummer Leo Phillips, we found our sound. At the end of May 09 we added Dave Baldwin (Davy B) as a rhythm guitarist, and our vision for and love of music have brought us to the point we are at now.



The Mic:What is your musical background like?
Black Ribbon Sky: I was a band geek in high school who played the trumpet and tuba, but i also played guitar and had a band in high school and another one in college. Justin had been growling in metal bands for years until we found out that he could actually sing too. Jason was in a punk band in high school, and Leo had played drums in a death metal band years before. Davy played bass for years in different bands, and then switched to guitar and joined BRS.



The Mic:Any other members in your family that are
musicians?
Black Ribbon Sky: My grandmother was an awesome pianist. As for the rest of the band not really, but we are passing our passion down to our kids.



The Mic:What is the TOP reason why you want to play
music?
Black Ribbon Sky: Because it is in our blood. We love it and live by it.

The Mic:what's your stance on file swapping?
Black Ribbon Sky: I have no problem with file swapping. We actually encourage our fans to burn our CD's for other people or share the files around. Bands don't make their money off of CD sales anymore. We make our money playing shows and selling merch.

The Mic:what is the process of making a cd?
Black Ribbon Sky: Grueling and long.

The Mic:how do you get the word out about your music?
Black Ribbon Sky: The internet is a blessing. Also using our kids to get the stuff into the hands of their friends.

The Mic:how is your local response to your music?
Black Ribbon Sky: We have a good draw at damn near every show we pay in town. The crowd sings along loudly and there are many times where we don't even have to sing. We just let the crowd do it for us.

The Mic:what is the farthest you have traveled for a gig?
Black Ribbon Sky: About three hours right now. We played in Des Moines. We have some stuff coming up that may take us to the east coast though.

The Mic:What tune on the cd are you most proud of?
Black Ribbon Sky: By far and away "Halo" is our pride and joy