Feature: FOUNDRY TOWN SURVIVORS Decodes “RPM”
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in "RPM?"
Mark: “Yes! It was a Sunday afternoon in the summer. I was in my second-floor bedroom with the windows open. I had my mighty Fender Mustang through my Traynor MKII amp/ Fender cabinet playing what I felt was “the shit’” when I heard some massive rock sounds drift through my window. Well, I thought. There’s another guy out there like me! I jumped on my bike and took off in the direction of the sound. What I found was way more than I expected! It was the MC5 putting on a free concert less than a mile from my house at West Park…Mind Blown.”
Tommy: “In one ear we had Motown and in the other ear we had Detroit Rock ‘n’ Roll and it messed us up good.”
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "RPM?"
Tommy: “The guitar solo was a one take wonder where Mark was trying to make me crack up. Actually, my jaw dropped is what happened…we do that to each other live, too. Try to crack each other up by doing cool, unexpected stuff.”
What impact do you hope "RPM" will have on your audience?
Mark: “‘RPM’ is a time capsule of sorts, a description of the euphoria from exposure to that energy, which was so new at the time. The energy from that Sunday afternoon has propelled our playing to the present day. We have a softer side, but it’s that De-troit energy that feeds us. We keep a little bit of that alive in everything we do and we want to give everyone a taste.”
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
Mark: “When we started, it was all about the ‘feel.’ We grew up with the blues and rock n roll on equal footing. We weren’t properly trained musicians, we were and still are ‘seat of the pants’ players who tend to base our playing in the emotion of the song. What are the lyrics saying? How does it make you feel? Is it dark? Whimsical? High Energy? Delicate? You adjust your playing to fit the mood.”
Tommy: “We tend to keep our toes in the root music pond when we create. Root music is all about emotions, feelings, and how to describe them. It fulfills a primal need.”
What has been one of the most significant moments of your musical journey so far?
Mark: “Reconnecting with Wayne Kramer and having him call me ‘bro’ at a recording session in LA for Allee Willis’ tribute to Detroit called ‘The D.’”