It’s time for another Featured Artist! At SongCast, we’re always looking for new ways to help promote YOUR music. Check out this week’s Featured Artist interview with The Fed!

What’s your first musical memory?

First thing I can remember is finding my folks’ old records in the basement & figuring out how to work the HiFi. I’d listen to Simon & Garfunkle’s Bookends, The Rascals Greatest Hits, The Freewheeling Bob Dylan again & again & again.

What artist inspires you?

I’m probably most inspired by Bob Pollard & Guided by Voices. THE FED really came together as a band after seeing and listening to them. It was a watershed moment, when I realized, OK this is what we’ve been trying to do; now we have role models. Other than GBV, definitely the Replacements, The Hold Steady, Bruce, the Clash, Lucero,
Whiskeytown…

What’s your latest track or album?

We are in post-production on a digital release, coupled with a limited edition tape called A Fish out of Water. It should be a fun release, ready in March. In the meantime, check out our Birth of the Pipesnakes EP, available now on iTunes & 7″.

What song or album do you HATE?

All music is beautiful in its own right.

What’s a song or album everyone should be listening to right now?

Birth of the Pipesnakes by THE FED! Our friend’s Bells & Hunters are soon to put out a record that I’ve gotten to hear bits & pieces of throughout the recording process. People are going to love it!

What profession would you choose if you couldn’t choose music?

I’ll always continue to consider myself a teacher. I can’t imagine not doing youth development work in some capacity.

Tell us more about your local scene.

Lacking in cohesion. You’ve got the Black Cat & the 9:30 club, two of the best clubs in the country (world?), but for bands starting out or trying to experiment a bit, there’s not much below that. We are in need of more small venues with decent sound systems, some built in crowd, and a willingness to pay artists for their work.

As a performer, what would be your ‘perfect’ live experience?

We played at The Wonderland Ballroom right before the holidays, and every time I looked out, everyone was dancing, laughing, and having a good time. That’s all I’m really looking for. Whether it’s 50 people or 5,000, we feel responsible that the music makes people have fun, and I think we’re pretty damn good at it.

What aspect drew you to the particular genre of music that you now perform/write?

I dare someone to not have fun at a Lucero or Hold Steady show, or GBV, or the Replacements back in the day. There was a real conscious decision in the beginning that this was supposed to be fun, for us and everyone involved, and if that changed, we would either quit or make the changes necessary to make it fun again, and we’ve stuck with that philosophy. I think that’s why people have such a great time at the shows. As long as that continues, so will we.

Share one personal event in your life that greatly influenced a song/album that you have created during your musical career.

When DC101, DC’s Rock Station started playing our song Black & Blues, that was a great affirmation. And to continue to hear the songs on podcasts, blogs, college radio. We never anticipated that sort of acceptance back in the beginning.

Photo Credit: Dirk Gassen

A big thanks to The Fed for speaking with us this week!  Check out The Fed on Facebook, iTunes, and their website!

SongCast is able to help you distribute and sell your music online.  Learn more about SongCast’s services, and be sure to check out other Featured Artists and Featured Artists on Pinterest.