People Get Ready

Brassland recording artists People Get Ready will open for Blonde Redhead on upcoming dates including  Tuesday (November 26th) night at The Bowery Ballroom.

The Brooklyn based band released a new album (Physiques) this past June to exciting reviews.

The band is known for high energy live performances which showcase a blend of rock and performance art.  NPR’s Bob Boilen, placing their performances among his top 5 concerts two years running, put it best: “No single show took my breath away the way this one did- part rock concert, part performance art, part dance, all perfectly melded together. Having seen so many dudes with guitars … it was incredibly refreshing to find a group challenging and changing the norm.”

The first thing I thought was- sounds like an Art for Progress event!

I caught up with Steven Reker from the band to learn more about these multidisciplinary artists, and here’s what he had to say.

How did the band come up with the name People Get Ready?

I was at a play and one of the actors said ‘…people get ready…’ in his dialogue – the phrase stayed with me. Then I named the first piece I did at The Kitchen (before the band was a band) People Get Ready and as the project developed we just kept the name.

Are the band members originally from New York or are they transplants?

We’re transplants – mostly. Jen and I are from Arizona – James comes from California – and Booker is from Nyack, NY.

Which artists/bands have been the most influential?

With the new album we drew influences from bands/artists like Suicide, Deerhoof (Greg Saunier produced it – so that was a given), Scott Walker, David Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, and Terry Riley.

How has the band’s music evolved with the new album?

Since we had the chance to hole up at The Clocktower Gallery for 2 months and not feel the pressure of having to finish the record in a short amount of time, it really opened up the process for us. For instance, we made a decision to not track vocals or even introduce vocal melodies until we completely finished a song instrumentally – which is an idea we took from Bowie when he was making Low and Heroes. We had the chance to play and experiment, and Greg was a wonderful producer – always chiming in with ideas and questions and pushing us into new areas. I think due to that we made a record that reflects the band’s varied interests while still focusing on pleasure.

Which band members write the music and lyrics?

This record started out as a bunch of sketches that I wrote and we collectively fleshed them out. I wrote the majority of the lyrics and melodies. Jen and I collaborated on a few tracks and she wrote the sketch for the track ‘Jealousy.’ It’s our most collaborative effort yet.

In one word describe the band’s live performances?

(f)risky

Does the band improvise much when performing live? Do the set lists change?

There is some room for improvisation musically. And I improvise most of my movements on stage as well. We’re always mixing up the set list too.

Art for Progress provides music and art programs in the NYC public schools.
Did any of the band’s members attend public school in NYC or in another city?
If so, were the art programs sufficient?

I went to a charter high school for the arts. The arts programs changed my life and are partly responsible for why I still participate and work in the performing arts. The programs were sufficient – but could always use more support!

– Frank Jackson