Genre: Alternative / Indie / Rock
Location: Brooklyn, NY and NJ, New Jersey, US
Website: thenicoblues.com
Record Label: Tiny Giant Artist Collective
How did you get started?
We've all known each other since we were in grade school. Danny and I are brothers and so are Reed and Skylar. Reed and I have know Ev since first grade. We've all been playing in various bands with each other since high school. When Ev, Reed, and I graduated from college in May 2009, we decided we would start this band because we were going to be back in Wayne, NJ again. Plus, we're all on the same page musically.
We've all known each other since we were in grade school. Danny and I are brothers and so are Reed and Skylar. Reed and I have know Ev since first grade. We've all been playing in various bands with each other since high school. When Ev, Reed, and I graduated from college in May 2009, we decided we would start this band because we were going to be back in Wayne, NJ again. Plus, we're all on the same page musically.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
We get our inspiration from our love of music. We're inspired by all the great bands we listen to as well as our own experiences in life.
We get our inspiration from our love of music. We're inspired by all the great bands we listen to as well as our own experiences in life.
What has been your favorite venue so far? And what's your dream venue?
We have two favorite venues actually. The first is Glasslands because it's one of the best smaller venues in Brooklyn. They usually have really great bands and its just a cool place. The other is Maxwell's in Hoboken. They get really popular acts like Titus Andronicus and the Greenhornes and also bands like ourselves. They feed you and give you drink tickets. Maxwell's knows how to treat their bands. Not to mention its been host to such legendary bands as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Fugazi... Just to name a few.
Our dream venue would probably be playing Music Hall of Williamsburg. That venue always books great bands.
If you had a chance to interview a musician who would it be, and why?
We're all huge fans of different bands. Knowing myself and my band, I'd say we could narrow it down to Ian MacKaye from Fugazi or John Frusciante from the Chili Peppers. Ian is just a very inspirational guy. Aside from the fact that Fugazi is one of the best bands ever, he runs his own label and is just a DIY punk rock guy to his bones. John Frusciante is a genius and has probably had the biggest effect on us as musicians and students of studio production. Obviously, his work with the Chili Peppers is great but he also has a host of incredible solo albums, each one very different from the other.
We have two favorite venues actually. The first is Glasslands because it's one of the best smaller venues in Brooklyn. They usually have really great bands and its just a cool place. The other is Maxwell's in Hoboken. They get really popular acts like Titus Andronicus and the Greenhornes and also bands like ourselves. They feed you and give you drink tickets. Maxwell's knows how to treat their bands. Not to mention its been host to such legendary bands as Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Fugazi... Just to name a few.
Our dream venue would probably be playing Music Hall of Williamsburg. That venue always books great bands.
If you had a chance to interview a musician who would it be, and why?
We're all huge fans of different bands. Knowing myself and my band, I'd say we could narrow it down to Ian MacKaye from Fugazi or John Frusciante from the Chili Peppers. Ian is just a very inspirational guy. Aside from the fact that Fugazi is one of the best bands ever, he runs his own label and is just a DIY punk rock guy to his bones. John Frusciante is a genius and has probably had the biggest effect on us as musicians and students of studio production. Obviously, his work with the Chili Peppers is great but he also has a host of incredible solo albums, each one very different from the other.
5. If you could thank somebody for helping you fulfill your dreams as a musician, who would it be? And why?
There are a lot of people we could thank for our progess thus far. Certainly our friends and fans who come to our shows. Some of the biggest help has come from James Giblin who designed our website and EP cover, Adam Abada who designed the cover for "Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basements" and Jacob LaMendola who directed our music video for the song "Living Proof". Our biggest thanks would probably have to go to our parents though who we owe everything to.
There are a lot of people we could thank for our progess thus far. Certainly our friends and fans who come to our shows. Some of the biggest help has come from James Giblin who designed our website and EP cover, Adam Abada who designed the cover for "Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basements" and Jacob LaMendola who directed our music video for the song "Living Proof". Our biggest thanks would probably have to go to our parents though who we owe everything to.
If you weren't involved in music, what would you be doing in life right now?
I don't really know what I'd be doing. Music has been a huge part of all of our lives for so long, We don't do it to be cool and we certainly don't do it for money (because there is none), we do it out of necessity. We all need to play in a band. I myself am constantly writing songs. Its just a perfect way to express yourself in a world where you're not always allowed to.
If mom was going to make your favorite home-cooked meal, what would it be?
Steak
I don't really know what I'd be doing. Music has been a huge part of all of our lives for so long, We don't do it to be cool and we certainly don't do it for money (because there is none), we do it out of necessity. We all need to play in a band. I myself am constantly writing songs. Its just a perfect way to express yourself in a world where you're not always allowed to.
If mom was going to make your favorite home-cooked meal, what would it be?
Steak
What do you do in your down time?
In our down time we all work and pay the bills however we can. We're also avid readers. Knowledge is power.
In our down time we all work and pay the bills however we can. We're also avid readers. Knowledge is power.
Have you had any really embarrassing mishaps on stage?
Not really. All we ever do is play our music and have fun on stage. There has been a show here or there where we feel we didn't play our best but nothing embarassing.
Not really. All we ever do is play our music and have fun on stage. There has been a show here or there where we feel we didn't play our best but nothing embarassing.
What positive message do you want to send through your music to your fans?
Probably the most positive thing I could say is that life is short, so you should live how you'd like to live. If you really believe in yourself, then never stop working toward your goal and try not to let the nay sayers of the world get you down. Through our music, we'd also like to get people in to the bands that we love. Punk rock is freedom.
Any favorite songs/bands at the moment?
Sure, current bands that we're in to are Girls, Wavves, Warpaint, MGMT, Titus Andronicus, Deerhunter, Jay Reatard (RIP), and Male Bonding.
Probably the most positive thing I could say is that life is short, so you should live how you'd like to live. If you really believe in yourself, then never stop working toward your goal and try not to let the nay sayers of the world get you down. Through our music, we'd also like to get people in to the bands that we love. Punk rock is freedom.
Any favorite songs/bands at the moment?
Sure, current bands that we're in to are Girls, Wavves, Warpaint, MGMT, Titus Andronicus, Deerhunter, Jay Reatard (RIP), and Male Bonding.
And lastly, what does your band name mean to you? And, whats its origin? Our band name was inspired by Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon. His favorite flower was a Nikko Blue and he named his daughter Nico Blue Hoon. Since he is a relatively unknown rock and roll tragedy and Blind Melon is one of the most underrated bands of all time, we decided this would be our name. The album "Soup" by Blind Melon is one of the best albums ever and very few people know it. Ev, Reed, and I also decided one night a few years back that if we started a band together, The Nico Blues would be its name. When the time came, we chose not to tempt fate.Anyone who says there are no good bands out today doesn't know what they're talking about.
My favorite song ever is "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix.
