by Brittney Corridean
The Hearty pop-rock band Gas Station Disco has had quite a year in 2014. They released their first LP, Port and Starboard, this past July and played at festivals like Warped Tour and SXSW. As the New Year approaches, these guys are getting ready to keep up the music hustle and hit the road to perform as many shows as possible, all while maintaining the tight-knit relationship they already have established with their fan base.
“It’s hard to call people fans because we are fans of them too ya know? We really make it a point to make everyone feel welcome and like they are a part of it,” Mike Danger, guitarist for the band, states about the connection they have with their fans.
“Do I think that will stay that way as we grow? Absolutely, because the main reason we will grow is because of the ‘family.’ Hashtag: familyfirst!”
All the members of the band grew up close to Pottstown, PA and have musical backgrounds or came from a different band. Since they were all within a couple hours of Pottstown, it seemed like an ideal place for them to meet and have built a good community in surrounding areas.
“Rob was in a band called the Poptart Monkeys and Jonny Bug was in Breaking Benjamin, while Jason was in another popular band called Mia Mafia,” Danger states about their previous bands. As far as how he got into the band, well, it’s pretty awesome actually. “As far as me, I came into the band in 2012 as a videographer and spent a year touring with them filming behind the scenes videos and music videos. We all became really close and this year they needed to fill in the guitarist position. I told them I had played before and they hired me on the spot.”
The guys completed their first full length album and swayed from their traditional sound making this one with a bit more of an electronic/indie vibe to it. They thoroughly enjoyed playing it live for the first month and it went over really well with fans.
“We are already back in the studio writing more. Of course we still are out playing, but we really like to stay on the ball and keep busy in the studio,” Danger says.
The album’s name, Port and Starboard, actually came from the group keeping things more old fashioned and getting out to play more live shows rather than just focusing on their online presence. Obliviously, these guys know the importance of social media and other resources, but there is no denying how rewarding and gratifying it is being live in front of an audience. Truthfully, this band is known for putting on fun and crazy shows and really incorporating the audience’s energy into the performance.
“To be honest, we try to play every show like it’s our last and involve the fans like they are family. Whether there are 300 people we know or a slow night with 10 people we don’t know, we try to incorporate everyone and make it an ‘experience’ rather than just a show. After all, these people are the reason we exist,” Danger says about the exuberance they strive to portray.
What you can expect from these guys in 2015? Well, as Danger puts it, a “facelift”.
“We just wrapped up a photoshoot with Studio D in Berwick, PA and are filming two new music videos this month as well. We decided on a new logo, getting new scrims, new production elements, and preparing to send our second song to radio,” Danger says. “We also put out a new video every Monday as well.”
The videos on Monday are something that the fans can look forward to every week. It can be anything from an acoustic cover in an attic session, footage from a show or a new video. This way things can stay fresh and people are in the loop. Exciting stuff!
If you’re traveling this week and make your way toward Grantville, PA, check out Gas Station Disco at the Hollywood Casino on 12/26. They’ll be in Bethlehem on 12/29, too, before making their way down south this January to tour.
