WELLSBORO - Burden My Surrender will rock out at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Gaslight Bar in Wellsboro. The group's sound is magnetic, energetic and never apathetic.
APRIL LINE: How long have you been a band? Any notable lineup changes?
BURDEN MY SURRENDER: March 2008 is when this group was founded by two friends (Dale and Brad) jamming in a barn. By July 2008 we grew to a five-piece band.
Article Photos
PHOTO?PROVIDED
Burden My Surrender, featuring Britney, vocals; Brad, drums; Dale, guitar; Mat, guitar; and Kyle, bass, will perform at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Gaslight Bar in Wellsboro.
The only change in lineup we've had is the bass guitar position. Kyle, our current bassist, has been with us since March, 2011. He's our third bassist.
AL: How is it touring with four men and one woman? Any awkwardness or romantic entanglements?
BMS: It's not awkward at all. We are all friends, so we spend time together outside of the band when we can. As for romantic entanglements, we are not the types to kiss and tell.
AL: So I noticed that you just played the Christian Music Festival in Indiana. Are you a Christian band and if so, talk about the choices there.
BMS: We are not a Christian band, but we are also not a vulgar band. Britney's lyrics appeal to a wide variety of people and beliefs.
AL: Where does your name come from?
BMS: Unfortunately, no cool story here. A friend of ours gave us a list of band name ideas and "Burden My Surrender" was the one that stuck out.
AL: You handle the bios on the website really interestingly. Some bands kind of balk at the suggestion that they have influences. I enjoyed that you all are right up front about it. Talk about that if you would. Whose idea was it?
BMS: Kyle is the one that runs our personal site (www.burdenmysurrender.com) and he asked us some questions for our bios, including our influences, and we thought it was a great idea. Everyone wants to be original and a star in the music industry, but there is so much that influences us from our pasts. Why not share these influences so our listeners have an opportunity to relate to our background?
AL: Talk about what you think about the music scene and trying to make money in it. A lot of bands are real philosophical about it, what's your take?
BMS: We are working to be a full-time rock band, but right now most of us are working jobs to help pay our expenses. All of the money that the band earns is invested into merchandise, travel expenses, recording and production. It is difficult to make money as an original band that isn't signed to a record label. Because of that, we also perform cover songs to get a foot in the door of more venues and reach more listeners.
AL: So I like the genre fusing you do in the songs. I like how they sound kind of familiar, but there'll occasionally be something that hints at serious metal or goes a little folky. How does the songwriting process work for you all?
BMS: Our songwriting process generally starts with guitars. Once a melody is written, the guitar is recorded. Vocals, percussion and bass are generally developed from guitar melody.
AL: Do you have a favorite sort of venue? Where was your best show ever? Are your families supportive?
BMS: Best show ever was the Vans Warped Tour at Darien Lake, N.Y. on July 12. We were chosen out of over 20,000 bands to perform on Warped Tour's Ernie Ball Stage. Our families are very supportive of our music.
Whenever they have the opportunity, they do come to our shows and support us.
AL: Any albums on the way or newly out?
BMS: We are currently recording an album. A single will be out this fall and the album will follow shortly after.
AL: Anything you wish I'd asked but I didn't?
BMS: We want everybody to know the best ways to communicate with us and check out our music online. www.facebook.com/burdenmysurrender or www.reverbnation.com/burdenmysurrender.
Also, we have a music video on YouTube for our song "Rip and Tear." The link for the song is http://www. youtube/_xxElIax1KM.
