In the era of synthesized pop beats and barely legal song lyrics, This Providence keeps it real. The soothsaying love ballads and grief-stricken rock tunes about relationships complement the idealistic nature of the rock enthusiast. With three albums under its belt and a strong fan base, the band embarked on its fall tour with full force and high spirits.
Seattle's indie/pop/rock band has already gained MTV airtime and exposure through the label Fueled by Ramen. This Providence creates catchy beats while simultaneously serenading the audience with deep lyrics, giving them the "wow" factor that most bands crave. The band has toured with Cartel, Paramore, Relient K and All Time Low. They are not stopping short of any success. The Avenue caught up with Aussie lead singer, Daniel Young, while the band tours across America.
WHEN: Friday 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Venue
I noticed it said you guys are from Seattle. Where are you from?
I'm from Australia, and our bass player is from Phoenix. But we're all stationed in Seattle now. That's where the rest are from.
What's your story? How did This Providence come to be?
From high school we played local shows on the weekends. We loaded our parent's minivan and eventually got signed on a local label. We started in 2006. Two years before we were a band, we sent in lots of demos. It's all about who you know.
Where do the ideas come from for the content of your songs? What kinds of songs should fans expect at your shows and on the album?
A lot of the musical inspiration is from music we like and listen to - Jimmy Eat World, for example. We want to be a respectable pop/rock band. Our music tastes change, just like everyone else's does. On the recent album we were inspired by Oasis, The Cure and The Killers. Songs on the recent album are mostly about relationship stuff - love songs, breakup songs. Simple songs are ones that are deepest to people. Almost the essence of being human is falling in love.
Musically, what is your ultimate goal? What are you looking for in the long run?
We just want to write really good songs, great songs. We try to make music that's not a fad. We try to write solid rock songs. My dream is to write a song that really connects with people. The Beatles did a really great job of writing songs. Basically we're just trying to write really good pop/rock songs.
What kind of fan following do you guys have?
High school, college-aged, just general. The same as other Fueled by Ramen bands.
So, do you have any crazy fan stories?
There are some clingy, crazy people. Sometimes you get people that are sending mean messages on Twitter. The fans of the band say stuff, use Photoshop and put lists of things on my picture. They're interested in the band's personal lives. It's an odd thing we deal with.
What should fans expect at the show? Do you guys hold any surprises or do crazy stuff for the crowds?
They should expect a rock show. We play our songs and have fun with it. It's not anything out of this world or different. It's just us playing our songs. People come because they like the songs. It's about the music. There are no gimmicks. We're just a band that plays the songs really well.
