Exit 19 Music Festival was a hit in the Sun City. Many highly regarded musicians hit up the city right before the ultimate destination—SXSW Music Festival. Without a doubt, this was a success and tremendous pioneer move that was remarkably appreciated by music enthusiast.
Among the great musicians that made their noteworthy performances, Fusion was able to share a few words with Eric Werner and Brian Wakefield of Emotional on Burger Records.
What’s the name of your band?
Brian: Emotional
What’s the origin of that name?
Eric: No ones knows…it’s a hard one to answer, we went on the radio last month and it took us like 5 to 6 minutes to come up with an answer that none of us were satisfied with. It made no sense and no one came to our show after that (all nervously laugh).
Have you changed the band’s name before?
Brian: Same name for different group of projects basically.
What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
Brian: Hippie bullshit, tree hugging shit rock, post tree pop.
Eric: Post tree hugger with a tinge of dolphin pop, progressive punk, and moms love it, happy families.
Who are your major influences?
Brian: Sledge, it is like the Phantoms of Paradise; he’s like a real life swan, a real living rock guitar legend. Sledge, Prince and Jerry Garcia. That is about it, only in opposite order. There are some pretty strict rules on what we listen to in the van.
Eric: We are really into Three 6 Mafia right now, our tour song is “Stay High” (all laugh in guilt of seriously enjoying the song).
Who writes your songs?
Eric: Brian Wakefield.
What are the main topics in your songs?
Brian: It’s an autobiography, I relate more to songs about love versus drinking and rocking, eating a pasta salad, singing about what actually happens in my life. This LP is kind of like a story and it is about love.
Do you think these topics will change over time?
Brian: Yes, then when we can write songs for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
What inspires you to do what you do?
Eric: Being with all your friends, hanging out with your buddies, we’ve been in friend bands. We change our line up every 3 shows. We all work pretty lame jobs so we can do this after a few months. We are touring because we put out a record. It’s fun to tour and all that but we have to get that record into people’s hands. We play a lot of shows, there is reason behind it you know.
What’s new in the recording of your music?
Brian: Band mates, are constantly changing.
What are the bands obstacles?
Brian: Having 20 thousand people in the band that’s definitely obstacle number one, sound guys can sometimes be weird, and bands try and take your band name. We are the REAL Emotional band in the USA and in the whole entire world! Those other bands out there that claim to be “Emotional” are emotionless and they make robotic music that does not make you feel or dance or want to be a better person.
What are you looking forward to at SXSW?
Brian: It’s fun to see so many friends and bands that are doing really great stuff and being able to be part of it is satisfying, we are kind spirited gentlemen happy to be drinking, smoking and listening to Three 6 Mafia like some good boys—more like the best bad boys. We are going to Mexico later if there is an after this…
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Emotional are:
Brian Wakefield-Vocals
Eric Werner- Drummer
“Muzzy”-Lead rhythm guitar
Kyle Hoover- Lead guitar
Jack Given- Synth and guitar
Jack Brown: Bass
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Text & Photos: Ruthie Rios
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more info:
LISTEN & SHARE: Emotional – “Hand 4 Hire”
“Suave but utterly stoned, it’s a reverb-haloed synth confection that swims straight toward your pleasure centers.” – Under the Radar
Emotional is a new band from San Francisco and a project from Brian Wakefield, formerly of the experimental pop group Melted Toys. “Hand 4 Hire,” the first single from the bands debut album,Ahh…The Name Is Emotional, Baby!, and it premiered via Under The Radar.
LINKS
Facebook
Bandcamp
Burger Records
Danger Collective
Death Records
Empty Cellar Records
Gnar Tapes
Grabbing Clouds
Little L
Plastic Response