A Dirty Dozen with JUMP THE FALL – August 2020

According to a recent press release: “Boston rock band, Jump the Fall, comes out swinging with their upcoming debut release, Ten Year Guilt: Part 1. The EP was recorded and produced by Dave Eve, Anthony Resta, John Mailloux, and Paul Hager. Mastering was done at The Lodge. The songs are punchy and instantly memorable. Guitar riffs from Ron Rich are infectious and the melodic vocals of Randy Bettencourt are instantly stuck in your head. Driven by the thunderous rhythm section that is Steve Kilroy and Tim Johnson, Jump the Fall could take the stage with any number of modern rock acts, like Halestorm or I Prevail.” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Randy: Well it took us 10 years to finish! We took a bit of a break for various reasons. I personally felt really guilty that we didn’t follow through because we really had a great chemistry and enjoyed writing together. Coincidentally, we had an early track that we wrote called “10 year guilt.” We thought it would be a proper name.

Steve: Paul Hager and The Lodge did such a great job mixing and mastering this EP, If you listen to it with ear buds you can really appreciate it fully. Audiophiles will enjoy it, hopefully as much as I do. Especially in “Terrible Lie,” producer Anthony J. Resta did his usual magic, there’s still subtle moves and effects I’m just discovering.

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

Randy: I was very young when Appetite for Destruction came out and was instantly hooked to Rock N Roll as soon I heard “Sweet Child O Mine.” Around that same time my Dad owned a bar and the bands at the time would leave their gear overnight. In the morning I would go while they were cleaning up for the day, and I was in awe of all the gear. I’d sit behind the drum kits and beat them silly. I was hooked then and there.

Ron: For me it was seeing Van Halen and Guns N Roses playing live on MTV and new I wanted to play guitar.

Steve: I grew up in a musical house. My dad was a drummer so there were drums available and growing up in suburbia most of my friends were musicians so there was a lot of friendly competition. Playing live the first time sealed the deal 🙂

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Randy: So Appetite for sure. That made me latch on to Rock N Roll. Later on in my teens, “White Pony” from the Deftones. Really love the emotion that record brings out. Unlike anything I’ve heard.

Ron: Pete Townsend, Slash and Kirk Hammett for sure Steve: The first time I heard Rush’s Exit Stage Left did it for me. I always loved proggy rock and has pushed me as a player to learn more complex rhythms and opened my ears up to many different styles of drumming.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Randy: Chino Moreno (emotion), Axl Rose( rawness), Tom Morello(innovation), Brandon Boyd (melody and progression), and Duff McKagan (numerous reasons.)

Steve: Bonham, Peart, Bozzio, Dave Dicenso, and Gavin Harrison.

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

Randy: I have a lot of answers for this one and it might change from day to day. But today, Trent Reznor. Musical genius. He can do anything. I’d love for him to produce every genre of music just to see what he does with each.

Steve: Yes Trent would be nice but maybe Dave Grohl could be cool.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Randy: I generally say Hard Rock, Rock N Roll. Nu Metal comes up and it’s almost a scarlet letter these days to be branded with. That being said, I love Nu Metal! I love Rock and I love metal! So I don’t really care what it’s branded and I don’t take offense. Music is so subjective depending on who’s listening to it and we really want everyone to listen and like it. If you love Rap and you want to buy our record and come see our show, SWEET! Country fans, COME ON DOWN! Any and all are welcome!

Steve: I describe it like driving down a twisty English road at night with no headlights, high energy, hooky edgy rock. We haven’t had enough reviews so nothing too bad said yet lol.

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

Randy: I love cooking so I’ll band the pans all day long. Me and Tim (Bassist) probably get the drinks in (not as much as we used to) and we generally also grab the acoustic the most.

Steve: I’m on the coffee.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Randy: I saw Foo Fighters at Fenway park a couple years ago and I couldn’t help but notice how much fun Dave Grohl was having and how he commanded the crowd so effortlessly. He is so comfortable in that role unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Really made me say, WOW!

Steve: I used to work in radio here in Boston and met a lot of rock stars so it kind of wore off but all made me a bit Starstruck. Marilyn Manson was a little intimidating.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Randy: It’s like free therapy to me. It just keeps me right. Keeps me level. It’s been tough during this COVID Quarantine not collaborating like we are used to. It’s really opened my eyes to how important it is to me. If I had to pick a dream job other than music, I’d say, an Imangineer for Disney. Those guys come up with these incredible ideas and make them come to life. It’s amazing the lengths and thought that goes into some of their projects. I’d love to be a fly on the wall and see how the ideas and thoughts flow.

Steve: Being a musician is hard to describe to someone but for me it’s always been about live performance. That adrenaline rush can’t be duplicated. Without a doubt I would race cars if I couldn’t or didn’t play In a band.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Randy: I don’t even want to bring it up cause I’m so tired of it but it has to do with my name.

Steve: Randy B, that’s partly my fault ha!

11. 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,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Randy: Jump the Fall taking a 10 year break. No doubt. But what’s done is done and now we are smarter and more driven than ever.

Steve: I had a couple opportunities early on that i didn’t appreciate and also was a total cock-star and didn’t behave well. That’s life though but as Randy just pointed out, we’re smarter, more driven and just better musicians than we used to be.

12. 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?

Randy: So really any record from when I was younger. I really try to take it all in now. When I was younger, or when we were originally tracking this EP, I never really took it all in and I took for granted a lot of what was actually happening. Being more mature has really helped me in every aspect of the musical process and I remember a lot more and appreciate a lot more. But this EP is very special because I don’t think we will ever have one (process wise) like it.

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Category: Interviews