Taking the stage at a major music event can be a nerve-racking experience – even for seasoned pros. But, when you’re a relatively young and unknown rock band from the Midwest it can seriously churn your guts. Starving for Gravity recently found itself in just that situation.
SFG was chosen in a worldwide competition to appear on a bill with superstars of yesteryear and rock stars of today. The event was Rock Against Diabetes, a two-day musical extravaganza held in Las Vegas, NV. The band opened the show on both days, and closed it on the last one. The closer capped the event perfectly, with SFG being invited on stage by Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses’ current guitarist) to play “Sweet Child O’ Mine” with him. According to those who attended, SFG not only captured the crowd from day one, they stole the whole show. Afterwards, Bumblefoot gave the band high kudos, “Seeing the guys in Starving for Gravity having such a good time playing their hearts out, and being there for the right reason, was truly inspiring… They were the positive spirit of the show. And, they totally kicked ass.”
This past year has been a wild ride for SFG. In addition to the Vegas concert, they won the Cal State Long Beach Battle of The Bands, took home the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles Music Network’s Rock Music Contest, were selected (after a year long showcase series) to perform at the prestigious Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival, and opened for several national acts, including Vast, Unset, and Fair to Midland. They also received numerous airplay and broadcast opportunities from radio, television and Internet sources. In fact, Gary Garver (Howard Stern’s entertainment reporter) has featured them on his LA Talk Radio show eight weeks in a row. As a result, SFG’s MySpace site has exploded, garnering over 1,650,000 views and plays. Not bad for a band that came into existence only two years ago.
Originally from Alvarado Minnesota (population 350), SFG formed in North Dakota where four of the five members went to college. They entertained bikers, drunks and bachelorettes in local bars around Grand Forks, covering classic and alternative rock songs. “There were very few opportunities for original bands there,” recalls SFG’s lead singer, Lucas Holter. “You either played heavy metal or cover tunes, and metal didn’t pay.”
As it turned out, the cover gigs earned them enough money to finance their first album of original material. They had written the songs sitting around a wood-burning stove located in a tiny shack in the middle of an icy tundra. “We had to chop wood before we started work,” Holter laughs, “or we would freeze to death.”
The group released its self-titled debut in 2006, and gave it to anyone remotely connected to industry. Predictably, nothing happened. In fact, the band became so discouraged, the players talked about breaking up. Then, a miracle occurred. Holter met Joshua Weesner while playing the online game EverQuest II. Weesner visited the band’s website, asked for a CD, and started a four-month dialog that resulted in a management contract. Weesner enlisted Alex Kravetsky, a former singer and signed artist, to help out. The two of them convinced the band to come to California in 2007. A few months after their arrival, management hooked them up with multi-platinum producer John “JR” Ryan, added a keyboard player, and recorded ten songs for SFG’s latest CD, Urgency. It was a dream come true for the band, but the thrill didn’t last long. Several label showcases didn’t produce an offer, and frustration started to set in. “We thought you do a showcase, get signed, and start your career,” SFG’s bassist Brett Lindenberg explains. “It was gonna be sweet.” But, when it didn’t happen, self-doubt soured that sweetness.
How the band and management finally got it together and achieved all that they have in less than six months is the focus of this exclusive interview. Talking with AAM at the Rock Against Diabetes concert, the band members, Lucas Holter (singer), Brad Kovar (guitar), Brett Lindenberg (bass), Caleb Fritel (drums) and Richard Nash (keys) exposed their feelings and hopes for the future. Their insights could very well help other acts striving to succeed in a very tough business. Management also gave their perspective on how they turned it around, and made Starving for Gravity one of the hottest buzz bands in the LA music scene.
AAM: What made the Rock Against Diabetes concert so important for you?
Lucas: My brother Brandon was diagnosed about 15 years ago with Type 1 Diabetes. So, this cause is a very personal one for me. I hate the hardship that the disease placed on my family, and nothing sucks more than watching your little brother go into diabetic shock.
AAM: What was it like being a cover band in local bars?
Lucas: It was a job, for four hours a night, but it was also fun… sometimes even pretty wild. One time it got so crazy a young girl got up on stage and sat on our drummer’s lap while he played. She poured whiskey down his throat and started making out with him, but he never missed a beat. It was coolest thing I’ve ever seen.
AAM: Was the move to California a difficult decision?
Lucas: It was easier for some of us than others. For me, it was very difficult. I was leaving my whole life behind, including a girlfriend. But, both my parents and girlfriend encouraged me to do it. I figured we would be here a few months, fail, and go back to our old lives… with some great stories.
AAM: What’s the most important thing you sacrificed to make the move?
Caleb: I gave up a music scholarship, and a solo career. I was singer/songwriter, and doing pretty good. SFG was the first band I was ever in. But, I felt something special with them, so I gave it a shot.
AAM: Did you experience any culture shock when you came to L.A.?
Brad: Sort of… First of all, there are a lot more musicians and bands than there are back home. There are also more opportunities, but the competition is fierce. I don’t think we realized how serious it was until we got into it and saw how cutthroat it could be.
AAM: Did you notice any difference between the two music scenes?
Brad: Definitely. We thought it was just about our music. But, we found out, in L.A., it’s much more than that. We had no idea that a live performance, an image, and even what you say on stage were so important. In the Midwest, nobody thinks about those things. It goes against the grain. In fact, some of them could even be considered negative there.
AAM: How did you deal with that?
Brad: It was tough, because we really didn’t understand it. Only after we started working with industry pros did it sink in. But, it was a real challenge for the whole band, and it took a while before we felt comfortable.
AAM: What did you think about your first industry showcases?
Brett: We had never done anything like that before, and it came really fast. I thought “What a sweet deal!” We’ll play for labels, get signed, and the rest would be history. But, it didn’t turn out that way.
AAM: What do you think the problem was?
Manager Joshua: We followed some bad advice and probably showcased before the band was really ready. We did pick up a tour agent at the Viper Room, but that was about it. It got frustrating to do showcase after showcase and have nothing happen.
AAM: How did the band feel about it?
Lucas: We thought it was over. We tried and it didn’t work out. We didn’t realize how long it took, or what it really took, to get industry attention. Now, we know it’s a long process and takes a lot of work.
AAM: How did you turn that around?
Manager Alex: We got professionals involved and went back to the basics. We focused more on the performance. We also started booking our gigs differently so that they would count for something. And, we began creating a story. It turned out so well that a buzz started to build and industry started to notice us.
AAM: SFG has won quite a few contests. Was that part of the plan?
Manager Alex: It was. Many of the competitions have industry associated with them. And, we discovered that a lot of the acts SFG admires won contests before they were signed. We felt that it could be a shortcut. And, so far, it’s worked out that way. You just have to be selective about which ones you do.
AAM: How does it feel being in a band that’s been validated multiple times?
Brett: Way cool. You know, we entered contests and band battles back home and never even placed, much less won. We even said we were never going to enter another contest again. But, now, everything’s changed. We’re a lot more confident, and a much better band.
AAM: How does that newfound confidence affect you?
Richard: I’ve been in seven different bands since high school. And this is the best band experience I’ve ever had. It’s fun and creative. Even more importantly, it gives you faith that something might actually happen. The past few months have been really exciting.
AAM: Was there a turning point?
Caleb: There were a couple of times when we felt that something was different. The first time we played the House of Blues was one of them. Then when we played the eWorldMusic launch party and a showcase for the Temecula Valley Film & Music Festival, it started coming together. You could feel it on stage, and from the audience. But, after winning a couple of contests, it really hit us. Our attitude changed and we started to really believe in ourselves.
AAM: You got to play with some very famous musicians at Rock Against Diabetes. What was that like?
Brad: Unbelievable. It’s the dream of every musician to play with great players. It really inspires you. And this event gave us that opportunity. It’s a highlight for sure, especially playing “Sweet Child O’ Mine” with Bumblefoot.
AAM: What’s your musical approach?
Brad: To write and play music that touches people without copping out. We want to keep our musical integrity intact. We tend to rebel against formula. And although some people think we have radio hits, we didn’t write them with that in mind. We wrote what we wanted to and it just turned out that way.
AAM: What’s your ultimate goal?
Lucas: If we could make a living just playing music, I think we’d all be very happy. If I could support a family doing what I love, that would be perfect. And, however that occurs is fine with us. We’re not looking to be superstars, though we wouldn’t turn it down. We just want to be working musicians, playing music people want to hear.
AAM: What do you think is the key to SFG’s success?
Manager Alex: Getting a team of people together who know what they’re doing is crucial. You can’t do it alone today. And, we’ve been lucky. Everyone who has become part of the SFG team has brought in someone else. And that has led to opportunities for the band. Once we got the right people involved, it seemed to take off and gather momentum.
Manager Joshua: Focusing on the right things has helped a lot. We’re new managers and having more experienced people help us has been a real benefit. It’s been a learning experience for all of us. But, most importantly, it’s believing in the band, and knowing that they’re getting the type of opportunities they deserve.
Note: Additionally, the co-managers wives, Cyndee Kravetsky and Michalle Weesner make it a family business. They help with the Internet, fan base and imaging.
AAM: So, is this journey a dream come true?
Lucas: It’s been an amazing time. But, it hasn’t been easy. It’s a lot more work than we thought it would be. Lately, though, it’s become a lot of fun.
Brad: In some ways it is. But, it’s also way different than I thought it would be. It’s been an adjustment, learning new ways to do things. There’s a lot more to it than just playing music.
Richard: It’s one of the best times I’ve ever had. I’m proud to be in this band and see all that we’ve accomplished. I know a lot of other bands that have been around much longer and haven’t done half the stuff we’ve done. It’s pretty amazing.
Caleb: For me, it’s been very fulfilling. It’s a lot better than playing covers for a living.
Brett: In a lot a ways it is. I don’t think we ever expected things to go as well as they have been. And, it sure beats office work.
You can hear Starving for Gravity at: www.MySpace.com/starvingforgravity
And, you can contact management at: 951-296-1016, or email them at:
(Alex) akravetsky@gmail.com and (Joshua) 79volts@gmail.com
