10 Quick Ones with TB of A GATHERING OF NONE – April 2018

According to a recent press release: “A Gathering of None are a quintet comprised of musicians from all over the north, southeast, and southwest United States. AGON began as a one-man project, with TB (formerly of horror punk underground icons Blitzkid) recording the 2013 EP Purging Empty Promises entirely on his own, performing all instruments as well as vocals. Their second release, the full length Nothing Left to Lose, in 2015 saw the addition of long time collaborator Chris White on drums and Justin Travis Osburn on guitar. A Gathering of None made their live debut in 2016, adding guitarist Jeff Grunn and bassist Ken Belcher to round out the lineup. This lineup returned to the studio to record AGON’s second full length release, 2018’s One Last Grasp at Hope.”  We get TB to discuss new music, influences, and more in our 10 Quick Ones…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest album is called One Last Grasp At Hope.  One thing I think listeners might not be aware of is that we did the album entirely on our own, from the recording, production, mixing and mastering. We were totally DIY with it, and it certainly doesn’t sound like it. We recorded 11 songs, one of which, “Predatory Male”  is a cover by a Massachusetts based band called Miltown. I’m friends with their singer Jonah Jenkins who was in Only Living Witness back in the 90’s, they were and still remain a huge influence on me so it was cool to get his approval to do it. Other than that, there are all kinds of guitar layers and ear candies everyone pitched in on each song, so listening with headphones is a must! There are lots of genres apparent too, so I’m anxious to see if people can pick up on their origins.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Man, I’d have to say getting into bands like AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses early on. When I saw the video for “Holy Wars.,,.the Punishment Due” by Megadeth, I KNEW I wanted to be in a band the minute the video was over. So i got better at my craft and went from there.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Without question, for me personally, The Ramones, Bad Religion, King’s X, and Only Living Witness

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Wow. I’d have to say Dave Grohl.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Hard/heavy rock that has its feet dipped into the ponds of melodic punk, post hardcore, stoner rock, prog metal and alternative with a strong 90’s influence.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Creating something from the ground up and seeing people far and abroad connecting to it and relating to it and finding the joy in it the same way we do.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I cook, Ken and Justin get the drinks going and Jeff and Chris grab the guitars.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Having a wrestling/extreme music podcast. I’m dead serious. That or writing for anything comic book creator Eric Powell has his hands in.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

I think that I would like to go back to my last couple years in my previous band and do things a bit different with regard to my exit, but even then, I can’t regret it because it was a huge learning experience and got me here.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I’d like to sit in on the Siamese Dream sessions for the Smashing Pumpkins with Butch Vig. That album means the world to me and astonishes me to this day with all the textures and layers they created. The guitar sound is heavier than anything before or after it, and it was a HUGE eye opener for me where being “heavy” didn’t necessarily mean turning the gain up to 10 and playing as fast as possible, it was the emotion that made it crush. I reference that record every time  I want something to groove, to flow, to be ethereal and dreamy, or to make you feel anything. They broke the mold with that one and I’m forever in its debt.

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