The Goldroom will be at the Music Tree Festival, on Friday, June 1st at 10:45PM at the Two Purple Pigs outdoor stage. Kevin, Shane, Darin, and Joey took some time to answer a few questions. You might find them intriguing. These hard-rockin’ Middle Tennessee maniacs through a touch of humor into everything they do… I’ll leave it to you to decide if they are serious.
Jedi Smo is trying to line up a time to meet them in person for a live interview, this week, till then, just read this over and over…
The GoldRoom Members and Instruments
Wm. Shane Ball-Guitar/Vox, Joseph Campbell-Guitar/Vox, Darin Ledford-Drums, Kevin Torbett-Bass
Hometown: Nashville
Basic Genre: Rock
How long have you been playing?
The GoldRoom, in one form or another, has been playing music together since 1997.
How did you get together?
“Wm. Shane and (former member) Richard Perry recruited Darin and Kevin from a band called Grenadine. They were promised eternal martyrdom and 72 virgins should they leave their current band and join the jihad against Americana and Indie Folk music. They agreed, and the combined forces were melded under the banner, Subrosa.
After Richard Perry left the group, they continued as a 3 piece for some time under the name Pacific, eventually adding noted tongue ring specialist David Haer to the group. At some time or another, the renowned robe comber James Robbins was also associated with the band, but the details of that era are hazy, at best.
At the end of the days of Pacific, Kevin was honorably discharged from the band to make room for the hill giant Dean Rothgar Simpson and the wizard from the north, Joseph William Campbell of the east Tennessee Campbells. With the addition of the giant, the average height of the band was raised by no less than 7 inches, and, the new wizard granted them all protection from ironic trucker hats and nostalgic thrift store tee shirts. They began to call themselves The GoldRoom.
This name was chosen as an homage to Lord Stan Kubrick, may peace be upon him. When Dean left the group to fight in the
Norwegian Ice Wars, they called again upon Kevin the Torbett, who in his absence from music had considered becoming a eunuch. It is these four men, William, Joseph, Darin, and Kevin who now flail their weapons wildly, hoping they may luck into a glancing shin blow or the misstep of the enemy, Lord Kubrick willing.”
What do you do for fun? You know, besides music… .
“Darin- Photography, Hanging out at Tokens, Grifting
Shane- Pharmaceuticals, Watching things, Shadow boxing
Joey- Cooking, Spells, Spelling
Kevin- Gardening, Pipe smoke, Diet Pepsi
” How’s the music scene in your home town?
Not good. Not very good at all.
What’s on your personal playlist this week?
“Darin- Brick and Mortar, Hot Snakes, Far Away Trains
Kevin- Beach Boys,The Statler Brothers,Geddy Lee
Shane- Brightblack Morning Light, Shipping News, NPR
Joey- Lee Ranaldo, Albert Ayler, and Willie Nelson”
Can you pin-point the moment that you knew you wanted to be a performing musician?
“Shane- 3rd cigarette burn to the wrist
Darin- when I was 38
Kevin- I don’t like sharp things
Joey- *casts spell of forgetting*”
What are your goals as a musician? How far would you like to go, what do you see as the next big hurdle?
“-Goals are finite. We don’t have them.
-We would like to go as far as any young person will allow.
-The next big hurdle is the next practice.
We all hate each other.”
Describe one of your most memorable moments in music.
“Playing with the likes of Failure, Shiner, and Self Playing to the bartenders at Casbah in Johnson City, TN”
What song makes you dance when you’re cleaning house?
“Is this a serious question? Did a girl write this interview? Come on, man….”
How did you learn of Music Tree?
“From Greg Harmon, former member of Slump. Great guy, that Greg. Great guy.”
How do you feel about being a part of the Music Tree Festival?
Aroused.
