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12.10.05
Long Beach-based new band I Am Ghost combines elements of punk, goth, and old fashioned rock and roll showmanship to produce a stage show that gets even more impressive when you find out what a short time they’ve been together. They’ve recently signed with Epitaph records, have put out an EP, and are hard at work on a full-length CD right now.
I caught I Am Ghost just before Halloween at the Glass House in Pomona. This particular holiday seems tailor-made for such a band, and they were fully into it. Or maybe that’s how they always are! Their fans were enthusiastic and devoted, and obviously knew all the words. The violin adds a surprising depth to the haunting music, and they all work together like the seasoned pros they’re not. I had a eerie feeling I was witnessing a band who were going to be big someday.
Singer and founder Steve Juliano was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.
First, I've heard that the band got together through Myspace. Is that true, and if so can you give me a little more info on how that happened?
Steve: Yes, it is so true. I laugh every time I think about it, but while I was looking for members, I created an I Am Ghost Myspace page and started sending out bulletins. I made it very very clear as to what I was looking for, and what kind of people I wanted in this project. I got over twenty emails back a day with kids wanting to try out. I would weed out the more serious people and call each of them back. By this time, we were trying out 5 to 7 people a week in my practice studio in Long Beach, CA.
Can I have a little info on each band member?
Steve: This is pretty insane, but during the start I thought I found the right drummer and bass player for I Am Ghost. They were two cool guys from Los Angeles, and we started working together on finding guitarists. Gabe, our guitarist, called me asking if he could try out, but funny thing is, he showed up to our practice studio with his best friend Tim (who is also in I Am Ghost). I had no clue he was bringing Tim with him, but they both played some stuff for me and the drummer and bass player, and blew my freaking head off! The bass player and drummer actually didn't like Tim or Gabe (laughing). They said they were too young and too "metal". I thought Gabe and Tim were sick, so I told the drummer and bass player it wasn't going to work with me and them. So, Gabe, Tim and I were three guys in need a drummer and bass player and started writing what is now "We Are Always Searching". We found Brian through Myspace, and he brought Kerith along as well. Again, I had no idea we would EVER have a violinist in I Am Ghost. She kinda just showed up like Tim, but again, blew my head off. It's funny how things just worked out!
How did you come up with the name I Am Ghost?
Steve: It is pretty simple. I had a short poem, and in the poem there is a verse that reads; "You will never forget me, you will never be the same, I am ghost..." and I read those three words and said, "That's it. That is the name of my new band."
The band is very visually oriented. Was that a conscious decision?
Steve: Yes, from the very start I was not going to start a band where members looked like they just woke up on stage. It comes down to the theatrical aspects of music, like in Broadway musicals and so on. There is something lacking in music today I thought, and that was bringing back the stage show, and giving kids an actual show. If you spend $15 to see my band you will get your money’s worth and then some.
What was your very first gig like, and when was it?
Steve: Ha ha. Again, this is funny. We were a band for maybe 3 months, and we get this call from Paul, who is now our current manager. He was interested in what he saw from our websites and demo, and was looking to start managing another band (both or managers, Paul and Andie managed Tsunami Bomb). So, while speaking with him he asks if we wanted to open for Tsunami Bomb at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Again, we had never played a show before, and three of the members had never played a "real" show before. They didn't even know how to sound check, or what to do. It was so funny seeing them on this HUGE stage, not knowing where to plug in, or who to talk about monitors too.
We took like an hour to sound check, longer then the headliners took (Laughing). The show though was simply AMAZING. There was about a thousand people in the audience. The crowd was so nice to us, and they were moshing and floating for us. We could not have asked for a better first show.
What is your songwriting process like? Is everyone involved?
Steve: We kind of write differently then a lot of bands. We leave the structure of the songs to Gabe, Tim and Ryan, who sit in the studio and figure out a map of a new song. Then Kerith comes in later and works the violin into the songs. I come in last and figure out the lyrics, the melodies to the songs, and at the end of the day, we talk about what we like about the song, and hate about the song, then tear the song apart. It is pretty crazy, but it works.
Do you guys hang out together outside of the band? Are you all good friends?
Steve: This is the first band I have ever been in where we all honestly like each other, and we all hang out, go see movies together, take trips to Disneyland together and so on. There is for sure a bond between all of us. If you hang out with us you can for sure feel it.
What have you done to promote the band?
Steve: Hmmm... just your average band stuff. Make flyers, hand out demos at shows, add kids on Myspace. We didn't do anything crazy different then most bands do now.
How did you get involved with Epitaph records, and are you happy with them so far?
Steve: Epitaph is the greatest bunch of people i have ever met. I can honestly say they are "the" greatest label out there. Brett the owner treats us with so much respect, and teaches us what he has learned since he started Bad Religion. He is like the cool older brother in the family, and you would think, "Wow, that’s Brett G of Epitaph and Bad Religion, I think I’m gonna pee myself..." but after you meet him you instantly connect with him. He lets us sleep at his house, do demos in his studio, eat all his food and screw around on his computers all day. He is just so awesome.
Do you, as a band, have one philosophy or is that still evolving?
Steve: It is for sure changing with every new song. Again, we have not even been a band for a year, so, we are still learning what we are all about and what our music is about. A lot of people have this notion of us being the next big thing, and that is cool, but I wish they would realize we just started. We need time to grow.
Do you all see the band as the ultimate goal in your lives or is it just fun for you? Is this what you want to do for the rest of your lives?
Steve: Everyone in the band wants to go as far as possible. We want to be headlining arenas.
Do you still have your day jobs?
Steve: Some of us do. Others just hang out. (laughing)
Do your parents like your music?
Steve: Yes, every single one of them. My mother saw I Am Ghost for the first time a few weeks ago, and never heard my music. I couldn't believe she even came to see my band. We headlined the Glass House in Pomona, CA and she was on the side of the stage watching us. She had tears in her eyes. I don't think she quite grasped how big our band was. Seeing 600 kids singing along to us made her so happy.
To what do you attribute your success thus far?
Steve: Dedication. Hardwork. Understanding. Not letting other people decide your fate. We decide everything in I AM GHOST. Even our managers understand that.
How involved are all the members in overall decisions?
Steve: I am just 1/6 of I Am Ghost. We each decide on what happens. That is why everyone is so happy in the band.
What would you call your major musical influences?
Steve: Everything from punk rock, to bands like Joy Division, The Cure, to new bands like Thrice and AFI, to old school bands like ManOwar.
Musical heroes?
Steve: I can't speak for everyone. I guess our families for giving us the strength to do this band.
What kind of music do you listen to for your own enjoyment? Do you ever worry it will influence your own music?
Steve: I think everyone is on the same page with musical styles. No one in the band is closed minded. Not one person. So, we all tend to listen to whatever sounds good. I like Ska, I love dancehall, reggae, but also listen to hardcore, punk rock, and even freaking show tunes. Show tunes rock!
Are you looking forward to going into the studio to record your album, or do you prefer playing live?
Steve: We have never toured. Ever. We have only played seven shows so far. So, we would LOVE to play more, but we are back in the studio recording our first ever full length for Epitaph.
How do you get along with other bands that you've played with? Is it a big family or are there a lot of rivalries?
Steve: Well, most of our shows are just our friends’ bands opening for us, so it has been awesome. The biggest band was Tsunami Bomb, but they are like our older brothers and sisters, so we get along well.
Three bands you would like to tour with?
Steve: Funeral For A Friend, AFI, Bauhaus
When you get huge and are headlining a show, who would you like to have warm up your audience?
Steve: If we are big enough to bring along openers, I’m sure we are going to just bring along some friends bands. We try and help out all our friends!
Any last words?
Steve: Thanks to everyone singing along at the shows. We will be back early 2006 with a brand new record, so keep in touch and be ready for more I AM GHOST!
For more info on I AM GHOST visit them at: www.iamghostmusic.com
So if you like punk, hardcore, goth, or any combination thereof, check out I Am Ghost and you can say you were listening to them way back in the day… You can also friend them on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/iamghost ), buy their EP, check them out when they play again…
And tell them Jade sent you.
