The Madison Square Gardeners - Teeth of Champions

Article first appeared on Blogcritics - http://blogcritics.org/music/article/the-madison-square-gardeners-teeth-of/

Now that it’s spring, it’s time to start thinking about things to do to break out of the winter blues: picnics, weddings, gatherings with friends, and of course… concerts. One show that needs to be on your MUST SEE list this year is the Madison Square Gardeners.

With pedal steel and banging drums, the MSGs offer what’s best about good old fashioned American rock musis: loud, fun, with poetic lyrics that make you swoon. You can’t sit still here. This is the kind of music that conjures days of sitting in the sun with a six-pack on ice; of chilling with your friends and having a good time at a BBQ; of warm summer nights where everything is perfect and you just tap your toes to the infectious beat.

The Madison Square Gardeners is more than just your average rock band. They’re a repertoire of master musicians. And more than that, they’re simply a group of really cool guys who just want to make some good music. Based out of Brooklyn, NY, the band consists of Aaron Lee Tasjan (guitar/vocals), Mark Stepro (bass/vocals), Johnny Kengla (guitar/vocals), Rich Hinman (pedal steel/guitar/vocals), Bryn Roberts (keys/vocals), and Ramblin' Rob Heath (drums/vocals). 

They’re currently on tour, promoting the release of the third EP, TEETH OF CHAMPIONS, a five track treasure that will keep your toes tapping and your spirits high. I recently caught one of their hypnotic shows in Columbus, OH where I asked Aaron a few questions: 

How did you all meet?

Mark and I met at a recording session in Columbus, OH in 2006. We then both permanently moved to NYC in the following months. Mark, Rob, and John met in college and I met Bryn on a gig in NYC. Mark met Rich and brought him over to my house and he was just brilliant. Everyone was. I immediately knew these guys were the best musicians I would ever meet and I HAD to have them. They can do anything I ask better than I even thought possible.

How long have you been playing together?

We formed as a band in 2008 playing covers and made our first EP of original music in 2009, called Tune It Up, Dime It Out.

You guys are all are involved with other bands and solo things. Can you describe that a little?

Everyone in our band moved to New York to make it playing music. Mark plays with Ben Kweller, Rich with Roseanne Cash; Rob with Justin Townes Earle and, Bryn with Dar Williams. John plays with a ton of people in town and I'm just trying to write the best song I possibly can. Mark, Rich, and I also play in our friend Chris Morrissey's band Taurus. I also have a side project called Golden Eagle which includes pretty much every MSGer as well as other folks around town like Anton Fier and Chris Morrissey. We have our own little club we started and we all love making a joyful noise together. It's the reason we get up every day.

When you're writing a song, how do you decide which band it's going to be for?

That's a good question but a funny one to answer. My writing has been changing recently and that line between what music is for what project is getting blurry. I think the MSGrs will do some things that might pleasantly surprise some people on our next recording effort. I feel like I'm really growing as a writer and I think now in terms of what sounds like me as opposed to what is a creative way to reinvent someone's music whom I really admire. And that's not meant to cheapen what we've already accomplished in our band, but I have become very interested in getting outside of my comfort zone and challenging myself to do better and to do more.

Your schedule is insane...how do you keep track of it all?

Hahah...I guess it is. I don't really think in those terms. I love to write, play music and make records more than anything in the whole world. I just Have to do it. That is the one most true thing I've ever known in my life. No matter if anyone likes my music, thinks that it is or I am cool, I just have to do this. It's how I know I'm alive. I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than a full frontal labotomy.

What's your biggest musical influence as a band?
I suppose there are some SUPER obvious ones...probably the main one being Tom Petty. However, I'm super inspired by the lyrics of Joe Pug. JP Olson is my songwriting hero. I love Kevn Kinney, Delta Spirit, Dawes, Ivan and Allyosha, Band Of Horses and I will ALWAYS forever love "A Ghost Is Born" by Wilco. That one is desert island material for me.

What's next for the MSGs?

What's next for us are some dates supporting Mike Viola in Boston and Philly...some touring this summer and recording the last EP in our series of 4 followed by a very limited vinyl only release of selected tracks from all the EPs as voted for by our wonderfully and amazingly supportive fans to whom we are forever indebted.

I can’t wait to get my hands on that vinyl. Catch the Madison Square Gardeners in a city near you:

Mar 24 - Grog Shop, Cleveland
Mar 26 - Brillobox, Pittsburgh
Mar 31 - The Tin Angel, Philadelphia
Apr 2 - Lizard Lounge, Cambridge
Apr 22 - Beat Kitchen, Chicago
Apr 23 - Off Broadway Nightclub, St Louis

Visit their band page for more dates, information, concert tickets and downloads.