Behind Crimson Eyes - Shakedown @ Meltdown
Behind Crimson Eyes, (or BCE as they are known), a four-piece band hailing from Melbourne, recently went bush to make an appearance at Wodonga's Meltdown gig.
The band is composed of vocalist Josh Stuart, guitarist and backup vocalist Aaron Schultz, bassist Garth Buchanan and newly-recruited drummer Dan Kerby.
"Josh is jealous because he is not the hottest guy in the band anymore," Garth joked about Dan's attention from the girls on the night. It is a relief to all band members to have found someone to replace previous drummer, Cameron Gilmour as Josh tells.
"At first we were concerned we could find someone to replace Cam. He was a very talented musician with quality drumming skills. Dan is a great guy though with a good attitude, and he shares the same passion for music as the band."
Life in a band
When questioning Josh about what a popular date he must be, he explained what life is really like in a band. "Long-distance relationships take a toll, and are too difficult to maintain in a band with all the touring."
"It really depends on the other person. Some girls don't view music as a career like it is. They get the idea that being in a band means partying every night. In reality, being in a band takes a lot of hard-work and dedication."
Josh's advice to young people pursuing a career in the music industry is to "believe in yourself. Start by playing small gigs, and giving away free demos. Don't concentrate on making a profit, concentrate on promoting yourself."
Five years on...
In a venue close to Myrtleford, vocalist Josh Stuart's hometown, it seemed a good time to reflect on the evolution of the band since it formed in 2004. After five years, Josh reflects on the progression BCE has made.
BCE's earlier songs such as "Black Veil" had a sinister edge to them. "We were inspired by watching dark films, incorporating a shadowy, theatrical atmosphere into our music," Josh commented.
"However, it was all just fictional stories. As we progressed we became more interested in social issues and the environment. We began to step back and see the forest from the trees." The bands lyrics matured as they started to explore real-life topics seen in "I Caused Global Warming" and "The Art of War".
New directions
So where is the direction of Behind Crimson Eyes music heading now? Their songs are beginning to reflect where the band is going personally. Has the diverse changes the band has made deterred fans along the way? It doesn't seem to have.
Fans have stayed with them throughout their journey growing as artists. They have established themselves as musicians supporting highly known bands such as Iron Maiden and Bullet for My Valentine.
With their new track "Addicted", I asked Josh if they were perhaps beginning to become "addicted to fame". He believes "it is cool to be in a professionally signed band." However he also mentioned that sometimes it's easy to forget how hard they had to work and take it all for granted.
Josh hasn't stopped working whilst he has been in the band though, currently working as a software engineer a few days a week. "With the population and size of Australia it's hard to live off music alone," he says.
When I asked Josh if Behind Crimson Eyes had plans to go international in the near future, he carefully considered. "We have been discussing going international for awhile. It would be something that we would love to experience as a band. However first we need to get records out and shows lined up."
Josh and the rest of the band members have certainly earned their reputation as a respected Australian band. BCE's appearance at the Meltdown concert, alongside The Galvatrons and other bands, was well received by a small but enthusiastic audience.
You can follow Behind Crimson Eyes on one of their websites http://behindcrimsoneyes.com (new window) or www.myspace.com/behindcrimsoneyes (new window).
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