Man on Earth
As independent entrepreneurs, the NYC-based Pop Rockers,
Man On Earth, Lorenzo Wolff (bass/backup vox), Steven Nathan (vox/guitar), Alex Polaris (lead guitar) and David Garcia (drums) seek creative ways to overcome the burdens and maximize the opportunities.
Whatever they’re doing seems to be working – their 2005 debut CD Disposable Sounds For A Fickle Mind was a critical success – racking up airplay, reviews & fans. Likewise the 2006 follow-up, The Man On Earth EP netted sales, downloads & tens of thousands of new fans around the world.
This summer the band will cover 3000 miles (perhaps in a school bus converted to run on veggie oil) and record their next record with veteran Producer Ken Lewis – who’s talents have helped The Beastie Boys, Lenny Kravitz, Soul Asylum, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Usher achieve multi-platinum success. And, if that’s not enough, Stephen Pearcy of the Mega Platinum 80's metal band RATT is singing back up.
How do they do it?
AP: Your music has been described as melodic with a post-Britpop sensibility (whatever that means) – is this how you would describe it?
MOE: Our music is heartfelt mainstream Rock with good intentions. It combines the modern and the classic in an incredibly appealing way.
Our audience is mostly white kids, ages 13-22.
AP: You’ve enjoyed a lot of success in a relatively brief amount of time, how does the band divide the work?
MOE: All of the booking duties are divided equally. Lorenzo and Steven do the majority of the promotion, and Lorenzo and Dave do the majority of the organization involved in getting the merch.
We primarily book for ourselves, but are currently negotiating with management companies to lighten the load. Booking a whole tour and organizing back-line is like running a circus.
AP: You’re a big hit with the college crowd – how does that influence your booking decisions?
MOE: We try to play mostly all ages shows because kids seem to get more excited and have more disposable income to buy merch with. We also look for a backline and at least some small guarantee to cover gas.
AP: 3000 miles is a lot to cover – how did you plan your budget?
MOE: We'll be doing a bunch of mini tours all over the country. We work out expense before the tour, including gas, hotels, food, car rental (if necessary) and misc. We normally just all sit down together and decide how cheap we're willing to go (which is normally very very cheap!)
We've had to save money mostly by begging friends to stay at their houses or apartments, or borrowing cars from people who have them. It's amazing how many people are not only willing, but excited to support touring musicians, and that can help considerably in saving money.
We're hitting areas none of us have ever been before, which makes promotion more difficult, but more rewarding when you pack a place.
AP: How do you promote your shows in advance?
MOE: Myspace, street team and sending posters to the clubs we'll be playing. We just try to be amiable to them and keep in communication on Myspace. The kids work harder if they feel like they're friends with the band.
AP: Are you finding that audiences are getting smaller because less people can afford to go to shows?
MOE: All ages shows have stayed just about the same but 21+ shows are really hard to draw people to. I guess it comes back to the kids have disposable income and the 21+ people having to pay bills.
I think that as the recording industry grows weaker fans will always try to find a way to support bands they like emotionally and financially, and coming out to a show is a great way to do that. While people no longer buy as many CDs a lot more people are coming out to shows. Theres a feeling that you get being on stage and a feeling you get being in the crowd that can't be simulated by "Guitar Hero" and people will always need that. Live music has never faltered; it's here for good.
AP: Amen to that!
Check out show dates at www.myspace.com/manonearth
