Charm City Devils – 1904

By starrymag | November 7, 2019

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I would describe our sound as hard rock with a bit of blues and southern rock thrown in.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) My influences range from Jack White, David Lee Roth, Bon Scott to Chris Robinson and all the way back from Robert Johnson to Steve Marriott.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Skipping Stone.”

 

A) I think it’s almost a guide for how I want to live my life. I’ve struggled with depression and sometimes you can feel like it’s a bottomless pit and it can be difficult to crawl out of it. But other times you can see through it and ask yourself if you choose to be miserable or choose to live life to its fullest.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) It’s hard to say. I think the first thing is the sound and feel of a song then they listen to the lyric and perhaps connect, but I’m sure it’s different for everyone.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

A) Our writing process is all over the place! [laughs] Sometimes it’s music first, but sometimes I hear everything; music lyric and beats, etc.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

 

A) I produced the whole record and mixed most of it.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Charm City Devils performance?

 

A) I think usually people are surprised by our live show. It’s really how I came up – playing clubs for a while as a drummer so most of the time songs are writing with that in mind.

 

Q) Where does the title of your new EP 1904 come from? 

 

A) The title 1904 refers to the year of the Baltimore Fire. Unfortunately, our hometown has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons and we were thinking it was a metaphor for the resurgence of a once proud American City. We can hope right?!

 

Q) What is it about the city of Baltimore that serves as inspiration for your music?

 

A) I think the town has had a chip on its shoulder for a long time. We feed off that, but also it’s one of those towns where you can see such a vivid slice of America. It’s a working class town and with that you usually get gritty music.

 

Q) What songs off your EP are you looking forward to performing live?

 

A) Honestly, we plan to play all of them, but of course “Skipping Stone” and “Dollar Signs” are the first two we will be playing.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your 1904 as a whole?

 

A) I hope that listeners take away the feeling that we are in this together. No matter where you are in life, we are really no different from one another.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

A) Any place with a stage and a few people!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Jimmy Page!

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) The new Theory of a Deadman is incredible! Very powerful on an emotional level.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I think the contact is really great! I mean, as a kid if I could have gotten a direct message to a person on a band I loved – wow! My mind would have been blown!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you – truly. We couldn’t keep going on without you.

 

 

All Questions Answered By Lead Singer John Allen

 

“Skipping Stone” video:

“Skipping Stone” single trailer:

 

“Skipping Stone” Buy Link