The 2011 UMS (Underground Music Showcase, for the uninitiated) is upon us, and we thought this was as good a time as any to start a local band column called “20 Questions with . . .” Our inaugural “20 Questions with . . .” features a conversation with a band that is relatively new on the scene here in Denver, All These Billions. They have played a few gigs around the Front Range and they will be playing Friday night at Moe’s Original Bar B Que at 6:00pm as part of the UMS. You can expect everything from Classic Rock covers, to jammed out Space Disco originals, so don’t miss these guys as they kick-off what is sure to be a great night of music at Moe’s and the rest of the UMS Venues.
Listen Up Denver: What is the line-up of the band?
All These Billions: Jay Tollen: Keyboards, Vocals – Aaron Morris: Bass – Blake Pendergrass: Drums – Jonathan Keller: Vocals, Guitar
LUD: How did you come up with your band’s name?
ATB: We had brainstorming sessions for a band name and couldn’t come up with anything for weeks. The best names we could come up with were: Sex Cymbal, Digital Rod and Protocolon. One day we showed up for practice and Blake mentioned “All These Billions” and we decided to roll with it.
LUD: How would you describe your sound?
ATB: Electronic-Rock-Dance-Jam
LUD: Who would you count as major influences on your band?
ATB: All of our musical tastes are so different. We don’t really have any set bands we’ve tried to model ourselves after but I think each member has their own ideas about which bands we’d like to have careers like and sound similar to.
LUD: How did you guys get started playing together?
Jonathan Keller: Jay and I have been getting together for a few years now to write, play and basically hang out as friends. Over time we talked about playing in a band together. I ended up meeting Blake at a Wild Lives show where he was playing drums and Jay was playing bass. I was running their sound at the venue and it was a one and done gig for that band. Shortly after that the three of us started getting together and eventually Aaron came out of the woodwork and made us whole.
LUD: Does anyone in the band have any formal musical training? If so, what is it?
Aaron Morris: I was in Jr. High band and show choir
Jay Tollen: I studied classical piano for 12 years
JK: I was in concert band up through high school and studied music during my first year of college before I switched majors.
LUD: Where was your first gig together and how did it go?
Blake Pendergrass: Our first gig was in my basement. We invited about 10 people over and played through the 5 songs we knew. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we finished all the beer.
LUD: What’s your favorite memory of playing together?
BP: The time Jay showed up on time.
JK: Probably the practicing. We’ve spent two nights a week together for the past 8 or so months and it’s become something of a ritual for us. I’ve come to realize that having a great practice can be almost as fun a playing a great show…almost.
JT: The jam where we flew past Saturn.
LUD: Are you playing any shows coming up that you are particularly excited for?
ATB: We’ve got a gig coming up on August 11th that we are pretty pumped about. We’re playing the Skylark Lounge with Tommy & the Tangerines.
LUD: What is your favorite song to cover?
BP: “Watching the Detectives”
AM: “Badge” by Cream; it’s got a personally classic bass lick
JT: Daft Punk’s “Robot Rock”
LUD: What is the strangest request you’ve received at a show?
JK: The sound guy at Nissi’s kept telling me to turn down my amp and I had the volume knob on 2.
LUD: What was the first song you wrote together as a band?
ATB: Probably “Social Lion.”
LUD: Do you still play that song live? If not, why?
ATB: Most definitely.
LUD: Have you released any of your material yet? If not, do you have any plans to?
ATB: We haven’t done any serious recording yet, but will in the near future.
LUD: What is your favorite venue in Colorado, and why?
BP: The Marquee because they have pizza
AM: The Fillmore – It’s close to my house
JT: Rhinoceropolis
LUD: If you could play on any stage in the world where would it be?
ATB: The Odeon at The Acropolis in Greece. We’d show Yanni how it’s done.
LUD: If you could open for any band or artist, who would it be?
AM: The Black Crowes
JT: Lemon Jelly
JK: Neil Young
LUD: What is the one thing your band’s tour rider wouldn’t be complete without?
BP: Zours
JK: Gold Bond
JT: Trader Joe’s chocolate covered espresso beans
LUD: What is your bands drink of choice?
ATB: Mystic Mohitos, Cosmic Cocktails and Shri Lankin porters because they fuck you up
LUD: Can you name a few local Colorado bands that are really impressing you right now?
ATB: Tommy & the Tangerines out of Boulder are doing really good things. We’ve also been recently turned on to the Denver band Houses.
Will have to check you guys out at the UMS!