I had played in a different band with a friend who brought me into the fold with another band he played with, which was Tom\u2019s (Petty) stepson\u2019s band, Automatic Slim. I basically started playing with that group, and when that band split up, I ended up playing with the remaining members. Whenever we would have any kind of finished song, we\u2019d bring it to Tom and get his input. He stayed interested in anything we were doing, basically.<\/p>\n
Is there a general leader of the band? Or do you each take some sort of leadership role one way or another?<\/strong><\/p>\n Chase and I are basically the songwriters in the band, so I think we are the leaders of the band by default. We have our different strengths and bring different things to the table, musically. Chase brings in a real desire to write meaningful lyrics, and for me, I’m more about sounds and sonics.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one of your favorite cities to play?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think our best audience and favorite place to play is San Diego, so far. They\u2019ve been the most supportive on the radio, and the crowds are really receptive. I really love the south, so I\u2019m excited to get to play places like New Orleans and Austin, etc.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your gear setup like on stage?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been using the same setup for a long time. I definitely look at gear as a means to make any sound that I know I want to make. I don\u2019t have a lot of extra stuff, everything I use is utilitarian. I use a 12 string Rickenbacker on \u2018Rebel Heart\u2019 and then the rest of the set I just play one guitar—my Fender Showman. Chase, on the other hand, has a lot of guitars on stage, but that’s because he uses a lot of different kinds of tunings for different songs. Essentially our gear is designed to make the sounds we want to make without a PA. So we can get pretty loud. Almost everything we use is Fender, with the exception of a few guitars. I think there\u2019s a little bit of a romance there, since we are essentially a California band.<\/p>\n Any \u2018secret weapons\u2019 when it comes to pedals?<\/strong><\/p>\n I don\u2019t think I have any secret weapons, really. My most used pedal is a treble booster, or range master, which is basically what Brian May and Mick Ronson from Bowie\u2019s group used—that was kind of the sound back then. So that pedal is pretty much on all the time in my setup. If I want to boost my signal for a solo, I usually use a vintage fuzz tone, which was basically THE sound on ‘Satisfaction’ (Rolling Stones, duh).<\/p>\n You guys get to work with Tom Petty on a regular basis. Something most bands will never get to do. How does that feel? Do you feel like it\u2019s the norm now, or are there ever moments when you still kind of pinch yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think that—not to diminish our abilities or talents, which we all admit are always growing—our connection to Tom says more about who he is than who we are. I think he saw this as something that needed to grow. It wasn\u2019t like he thought we were the best songwriters or anything. He\u2019s just a very welcoming and supportive person, and obviously loves rock and roll and loves to see bands making great rock and roll music, even if it\u2019s in the growing stages.<\/p>\n As far as being around him nowadays, I would say that it doesn\u2019t feel the same as when we first started, \u2018cause we were really nervous around him. But we\u2019ve sort of lost that, which again says more about who he is because he just doesn\u2019t make you feel nervous. He\u2019s a tough critic when it comes to what his position in this project is. There\u2019s this really harsh, filter system that our music has to go through sometimes. I don\u2019t see myself as some great songwriter, at least not yet, so when I bring a song to the table, I come in knowing that it could be improved in one way or another. It\u2019s one thing to ask a friend or one of my band mates whether something could be improved. It\u2019s another thing to ask Tom, because he\u2019s obviously a genius at it. So he might listen to something and say, “Well that\u2019s been sung a hundred times\u2026” So I do get nervous when it comes to presenting new material to him, but as far as hanging out with him and being around him, I fully appreciate it, and that\u2019s why I guess I do it all the time.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the vibe in the van on tour? Do people own up to their flatulence?<\/strong><\/p>\n (Laughing) Certain guys are proud of it! So it\u2019s not necessarily something that anyone is ashamed of\u2026 We\u2019re pretty lucky that we have a pretty cool vehicle. We kind of outfitted a shuttle bus, put bunks in it, we can walk around and stand up. It\u2019s not quite the hell we went through with the 15 passenger van. That can kind of make a band want to kill each other.<\/p>\n Oh don\u2019t I know it! Have there ever been fights over a girl on tour?<\/strong><\/p>\n Not any specific circumstance I can remember regarding a girl\u2026 But there\u2019s been plenty of girl drama, personally, being in a band\u2026<\/p>\n I get the sense that girls really like lead singers. I wouldn\u2019t know, but how has that worked out for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n (Laughing) Yeah, exactly\u2026<\/p>\n Describe back stage on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. What was the vibe?<\/strong><\/p>\n It was kind of a blur, honestly. The majority of the vibe was good there, and it was exciting, of course. There were some label people there supporting us and cheering us on, so we felt confident going out there and we knew that just being there meant we must be onto something good.<\/p>\n *Watch The Shelters playing ‘Rebel Heart’ live on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"dsc_0162-1280x720\"](\"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_0162-1280x720.jpg\")
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