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Rochester music interviews
We hit up artists on their way to the ROC
Distinguishing his current band, Storm the Bay, from other groups he's been in is pretty simple for Greece resident Steve Koch. "This (band) is different because everyone is actually really good at playing their instruments," half jokes the 19-year-old drummer for the band, which will release its new EP, By All Means, on Saturday, March 27, at The Club at Water Street.
Storm the Bay formed in the fall of 2008 from the ashes of The Ivy League, former band of guitarists and Geneva residents Jordan Foehner, 20, and Trevor Darrah, 21.
Self-proclaimed "metal heads who like New Found Glory," the duo joined forces with two fellow Finger Lakes Community College classmates, singer Andy Joslin, 20, of Canandaigua and bassist Mike Till, 21, of Geneva.
The foursome eventually added Koch on drums, giving the double-bass kick to a project that's part post-hardcore (a la A Day to Remember) part pop-punk.
"We've definitely stepped up our 'riffage' game," says Foehner, contrasting Storm the Bay with his previous and lighter band The Ivy League. While STB may not be your run-of-the-mill pop-punk act, it maintains a radio-friendly sound, thanks in large part to Joslin, whose musical background consists mostly of folksy acoustic-guitar gigs. His soft harmonies (similar to those of Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory) are moving on the catchy "The Garage Sale Bomber," as Joslin sings during the bridge: "I don't want to be the one that's left for dead, while your heart is empty."
Still, the band's blend of hardcore and pop-punk has left them searching for their niche in the local music scene. "We always feel out of place playing at shows," says Till, though he admits that feeling out of place inspired the title of the band's debut CD. "It's kind of like we recorded it, and, 'by all means,' take a listen."
STB recorded the EP at The Square Studio in Marcellus, just southwest of Syracuse, with producer Steve Sopchak. Tracks like the high-energy "Heavy Deuces" and the moving "When the Houselights Fade" show the band members' broad collection of influences, which include everything from The Spill Canvas and Four Year Strong to former local bands like They Sleep They Dream or Silhouette.
The fact that STB has only been together a year and a half makes its members' obvious musical chemistry all the more impressive, and should bode well as the band moves forward. Storm the Bay plans to tour this summer and hopes to land an opening spot on this year's Vans Warped Tour stop at Darien Lake.
After that, the plan is quite simple, Koch says — "To take over the world."
