Derek Ingersoll. lead vocalist for the group ABSENTSTAR, is about as happy as a young man gets to be these days. With the support of a major record label behind him, as well as being hand-selected by Third Eye Blind's, Stephan Jenkins, to appear on the Third Eye Blind tour as support act, this new group, aside from being a bunch of fun guys to hang out with, are starting to find success amongst the hordes of fans who see them appearing with Third Eye Blind. For those who attended our sold out concert, on 2/10/08, you got to see firsthand exactly what I mean. All five of these band members, in fact, absolutely loved The Madison and, unlike so many of their counterparts, they refused to retreat to the dressing room, never to be seen again, and proceeded to rush right out to the lobby of The Madison Theater to meet and converse with their new found fans. Their recent EP, which was available for sale that night, contains four new songs and was produced by Dan Wilson. Thanks to all of ABSENTSTAR, as well as to THIRD EYE BLIND for the fantastic sold out show and we look very forward to seeing you all again! |
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RICK: Derek, welcome into The Madison Theater tonight. It's good to meet you and see Absentstar here for your very first trip in. DEREK: Thanks for having us. We're really fortunate Third Eye Blind asked us to go out and it's the first time in this market, hitting it like this, and people are being receptive and the crowd here was great and the energy was great. It's kind of, you know, one of those things you imagine--a crowd being this good right out of the gate and with us being a newer band and the crowd not hearing the songs ever before, they got into it from song one and it just kept going from there so it was a good time. RICK: Third Eye Blind...I believe...I haven't really got the gate yet...but it looks as though this show could be sold out tonight. DEREK: There's pretty much no room to walk or even sell merchandise. RICK: That's correct. DEREK: That's a testament to how many great songs they have, the people they are, and how they are really great songwriters. It's a reflection of how popular and how great they are as people. RICK: I know that one of their albums, their first one I believe, went platinum six times. DEREK: Absolutely! Talking to Stephan, you never know what to expect from a band with that type of success and they not only, from moment one, made the effort to come over and talk to us and make us feel welcome, but have continued to reciprocate that and keep the communication open with us. They're great with advice and tips and everything and we're so humbled that, for one, that they would even ask us and two, humble themselves to even talk to us and give us pointers. They're just great guys and a great band, so... RICK: We're going to talk about your band, but what city is Third Eye Blind out of--since you know them so well touring with them? DEREK: They started in San Francisco. I don't know where they all live, as far as individually, now. But, they originated out of San Francisco. |
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RICK: Your band, Absentstar, I understand is out of Chicago? DEREK: Yep. We're from ''The Windy City''. We're all kind of transplants but we've all lived there for ten years, fifteen years and have been together as a band, for three years--so we're surviving the cold and finding some kind of camaraderie musically and we're able to do it and had some good breaks. RICK: You sing the lead for the band, don't you? DEREK: I do. I think they found their ''Puppet Man'', and they threw me up there, so...uhhh...yeah, it's great and we have an unbelievable band and I like to, pretty much just like to show up, so... RICK: For all the people that have never heard Absentstar, why don't you describe a little bit about the music that people would hear and tell the people who will be reading this interview and did not get a ticket, for this sold out performance, what did they miss? DEREK: Well, we're pretty much just original rock...and kind of...we describe it as a Head, or a Coldplay, U2...you know, the story guitars, piano driven songs--just a little bit more of a harder edge to them.and it's, basically, just melodic rock that we try to stick to. Is the song working acoustically...guitars, vocals...and then the band is really able to fill that out and make it something a lot bigger. We did the record with Dan Wilson, from Semisonc, so he was able to give us a ton of ideas and pointers, as well, in producing the record and I think it turned out great. It comes out, on April 15, on Columbia Records so we're kinda, you know, we have to kind of pinch ourselves the last six months. The people we have been surrounded with, and you think you have reached a thresh hold of all the things that are going to happen and you hear Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind wants you guys to play with him for a week and a half and we don't know when it's going to end but I would care for it not to end ever. RICK: Columbia Records, correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Sony buy them? DEREK: They're part of the Sony/BMG group, so yeah. They're under the blanket. RICK: That's certainly a major label. DEREK: Yes. It's a major label and they've been really great adapting to the climate change of music and we are actually on Canvas Backed Music, which is a a subsidiary of Columbia, and they've been really great keeping the indie (independent) philosophy and keeping it, personally, and bringing A & R and music production and bands/label relationship back to the original days of music and communication and being in touch. We don't really feel like a number. We feel like something they're really paying attention to. RICK: They're taking a personal interest in you? DEREK: Yeah. It's one of those things where we feel really fortunate. The climate's changing and Columbia is a steadfast name. They're not going anywhere. They've been great about adapting over the years and, with the current state of music, they're going to adapt and make that up. We're happy and we're thrilled that they are allowing us to do this because for us, and our states, and our lives...you know...it's going to be tough to do without a label. |
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RICK: How did you enjoy The Madison Theater tonight? DEREK: I love it. We've been to Cincinnati a couple of times and, nothing to this scale, and I just really like the feeling and the climate and tonight was one of those nights you just kind of know. You walk out there and everyone's excited. They know we're an opening band. They're really here to see Third Eye Blind and the fact they would not only pay attention without yelling ''Third Eye Blind...Third Eye Blind'' and actually clapping and waiting for the next song is great. It's the reason that there's still music and they're still making records--because people care. RICK: In regard to the times before, when you've been to Cincinnati, this would be, in your opinion, your favorite trip so far? DEREK: Oh absolutely! I mean, the venue... RICK: The venue is great, isn't it? DEREK: It's unbelievable--everything from the levels of the crowd, having people near the front of the stage and then all the way up to the balcony. You can reach out to different segments. It's not a linear plane and, as many times as you go on stage, those type of things you do notice. Those type of things are great. The people are great. RICK: Everybody loves The Madison. DEREK: It is unbelievable RICK: It underwent a multimillion dollar renovation and all night long I hear people comment on how nice it is. DEREK: Yes. You know we play different...all the way from college gymnasiums to little dingy bars and you're not really focused on the atmosphere as much as you are the way it functions and they way the vibe is in the room, I guess. We felt really good about that here and you just kind of know when you walk in the door. |
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RICK: Very good. Now, you've been compared melodically, you think, to U2? DEREK: Just as far as the focus on melodic songwriting and, you know, everyone, everyone... RICK: Has their own opinion? DEREK: Everyone, honestly, is breastfed off The Beatles and pop music and, in a word, the same mindset and/or weaned the same way and being really inspired by melodic rock songs: piano, guitar, as the basic core. Then, as a band collectively, taking that and making that a different sound, separating that...and making that different from something you may have already heard. I'm fortunate to be in a band that's able to do that and create a niche that's original in a very saturated market. It's been great. RICK: Well, thank-you for coming into The Madison and for sharing your story with us tonight. DEREK: Thank-you Rick. I really appreciate the time and I appreciate the venue and everyone's hospitality. RICK: Before we let you go this evening, tell everybody where they can find you on the www? DEREK: You can find us on the World Wide Web at absentstar.com. That's all one word: ''absentstar'' dot com and MySpace.com/absentstar. Just say ''Hi!'' and tell us what you think of the songs. RICK: Parting words for the City of Cincinnati? DEREK: Cincinnati, the Greater Cincinnati area, is one of those places that, I think, is starting to become a ''Home Away From Home'' so I can't wait till the next time I get back here! |
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