Words escape me when it comes to describing how hard I have fallen for this band’s music, only one line can sum it up:

They are truly something special.

Q: What musically influenced the beginning of Cascadence?
JOHNNY: I just left my previous band, auditioned for a few others and none of those really panned out for me….so I figured that I should just start writing my own stuff and see what happens. Was out one night and ran into Bryan (who I knew since 5th grade or so, but didn’t keep in touch with) and he told me about how he played bass now and we started talking about music….showed him some of the stuff I did and he dug it so we started jamming and writing some stuff together. After going through a few drummers, we finally joined up with Dar (who I played in a band with in the past and we both knew from school as well) and have been going at it hard since then….we all get along really well, everyone is really talented and on the same page musically, and we all have the same ultimate goal….so it has been a blast and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Q: Where did the band’s unique name come from?
JOHNNY: We were looking for something unique to represent our sound. It’s just a made up name derived from the words “cascade” and “cadence”….basically because we felt it describes our music – strong moving rhythms and catchy, flowing vocals.

Q: How would you describe the band’s sound?

JOHNNY: A fresh new take on 80s rock mixed with pop hooks. I feel like the sound is current, but also kinda different than a lot of the other bands out right now. My older brother introduced me to the old school rock/metal bands when I was 4 or 5. So even though a lot of that was way before my time, it’s still probably my overall favorite era in rock music and heavily influences my writing.

BRYAN: A fresh original blend of what has come before and what has not yet been seen. Not something easily related time and time over with concurrent artists.

DAR: I think our sound is a mixture of rock, pop, and old school metal with relatable lyrics that is appealing to a wide range of people.

Q: If Cascadence had a choice to tour with two other bands who would it be and why?

JOHNNY: I’d like to tour with Bon Jovi and My Chemical Romance. I love both of their music, they both have influenced me as a writer, and they’re Jersey boys like us…so we’d have a lot to talk about! haha

BRYAN: Thats a hard question…someone who we could get along with and could maybe show us the ropes.

DAR: Def Leppard and Metallica if possible.

Q: Have you guys gone on tour before? If so, do you have any good tour stories?

JOHNNY: Yep….nothing really extensive, but we are hoping to change that sometime soon because we love seeing new places and getting to meet our fans! Lots of stories….one that sticks out to me is playing a party in Philly over the summer and getting shut down mid-set by the cops for being too loud….we are a VERY loud band live! lol

BRYAN: Yes and yes….anything I tell wouldn’t be appropriate for the interview though! haha

DAR: Yes, mini tours…we had a backyard show that we played on this music circuit thing. We had a blast and had the opportunity to play for a bunch of awesome people.

Q: Favorite records of all time?

JOHNNY: UGH….such a difficult question to answer. I have different records that remind me of different periods of my life and all of them have special places in my heart. I guess if I had to pick a few I’d say:
- Def Leppard’s albums Pyromania and Hysteria: the musical compositions are great, the hooks are tremendous on every song, and you gotta respect a drummer who loses an arm and comes back harder than ever!

- The Used – In Love and Death: by far my fave album by them….great from start to finish….this cd didn’t leave my player for months when it came out.

- Fall Out Boy – Infinity On High: I know people either love or hate Fall Out Boy, BUT I’ve been listening to them for a long time, they know how to write great songs that really capture you, and
Patrick can sing his butt off!

- Breaking Benjamin – We’re Not Alone Here: I actually didn’t like this cd at all the first time I heard it except for the song “So Cold”….it was TOO different to me compared to other things out at the time. I gave it another shot a few months later, something clicked and I finally “got it” and LOVED it. Really well composed songs and great hooks. This was also the first cd that really stood out to me in a production aspect…it’s so crisp and flawless sounding….I never noticed that when listening to other cds and it really inspired me to get into learning more about that side of music.

BRYAN: Bush – Sixteen Stone, Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?

DAR: Jimmy Eat World – Clarity, Coldplay X & Y

Q: Favorite movies?

JOHNNY: I have SO many that I like….this is hard for me to answer! haha….Umm I guess if I had to pick a few I’d say: Last Action Hero cause I love anything with Arnold in it….he’s hilarious….Darman and I crack ourselves up randomly doing quotes from his movies. I love pretty much anything with Robert DeNiro, Jack Nicholson, or Johnny Depp in it….and pretty much all of the movies Quentin Tarantino worked on. I can honestly go on forever about movies I like cause there are so many!

BRYAN: Funny ones and war movies

DAR: Almost Famous and What Dreams May Come

Q: What hobbies do each of you have apart from being musicians?

JOHNNY: Songwriting and producing music….it’s secondary to performing for me right now, but I’d eventually like to work with other artists in that sense (kinda like Butch Walker). Love surfing and bodyboarding, cooking, working out, fishing, watching movies, hangin out with friends…and meeting new ones!

BRYAN: Writing….partying (is that a hobby?)

DAR: Baseball, surfing, hanging in NYC, going to shows and parties.

Q: What are your favorite songs to perform?

JOHNNY: Pretty much any and all of them. I am really looking forward to gettin out and playing some of the new material we have though because it’s awesome and I think people are really going to love it!

BRYAN: I lose myself in each and every song we play for different reasons…so as long as it’s ours, it’s my favorite!

DAR: Run To Your Lies and No I Don’t

Q: What advice would you give to musicians trying to start a band?

JOHNNY: Stick with it and don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t do something. There are always going to be people who have something bad to say…but if you can overlook that and stay persistent, you are going to succeed in the end. Also, I’d say surround yourself with people who you admire and learn as much as you can from them. Overall, just work as hard as you can at it, stay positive, stay humble, but promote shamelessly! haha OH….and definitely appreciate your fans….without them you have nothing.

BRYAN: It’s not as easy as it looks but don’t give up!

DAR: My advice to anyone starting a band would be to try and write the best material you can, be respectful to your bandmates, try to practice as much as you can without frustrating yourself, listen to many styles of music to better your understanding of tone and structure, save your money so you can get the awesome gear to support your talent once you develop it, stay in good shape, don’t get into drugs at all, try to develop your own style have a good attitude, listen to the bands and people you look up to so you can become the musician to intend to be, never stop learning.

Check out their music here: http://www.myspace.com/cascadence

And you’d be damn crazy not to follow them on Twitter: @cascadence