by Lauren Rosier
Since 2010, when BRONCHO formed, the Oklahoma-based trio has gone from playing house shows to prominent venues internationally. From indie rock to garage rock, the band has been described as many different types of musical genres. Recently, I was able to talk with the band’s guitarist and vocalist, Ryan Lindsey, in regards to the band’s journey so far; its origins, changes, and visions for the band’s future.
The journey for the band has been one free of expectations. Lindsey says, “We stayed away from expectations from the beginning I think. It might be an Oklahoma thing.” Of course, having expectations are natural, but can obviously become a disappointment if things don’t work out the way you expected them to. He adds, “We liked what we were doing and tried to keep that focus. We’ve managed to change a lot since the beginning as well. It’s been important to have a vision in mind while maintaining an open mind.”
BRONCHO’s debut, Can’t Get Past The Lips, was originally released in 2011 and the rereleased by then record label, Fairfax Recordings, in 2013. The band recently put out their sophomore effort titled Just Enough Hip to Be Woman in September 2014. Can’t Get Past The Lips was very stylistic; whereas the new songs contain “melodies that are more obvious and out front on the new record,” Lindsey explains.
“Figuring out a way to do that and still keeping it crunchy was the idea.” The band recorded both records almost exactly the same way by dealing with each track individually, then using mixing to bring everything together, and make it feel like a whole record.
Genres have always been one of the aspects about music that always boggled my mind. Music is a ton of hard work, long and inconsistent hours, and focus; and putting a band into a genre category seems like just boxing all of that into one category. Of course, for business purposes you have to, but BRONCHO is yet another band where you may find yourself wondering what genre they should be placed into.
Some have categorized them under the indie rock genre while others into the subgenre of alternative rock music as garage rock. Indie rock itself as a subgenre can really include an endless amount of subgenres and has very strong following, especially in the Philadelphia region.
“We have a lot of different influences individually, that creeps into our music and confuses us. There are times when I’m not sure what we are. Sometimes it’s fun not to know, and sometimes it’s really confusing,” Lindsey explains.
Naturally the guys have dealt with a ton of changes since the inception of BRONCHO in 2010 from band members, to management, and record labels. Of course, the changes were always made for good reason, to help everyone stay healthy and able to grow.
Lindsey adds, “Keeping the band healthy mentally trickles down to everything else. I like things to be chill. Chill during the day, chaos at night.”
BRONCHO began touring with Billy Idol on January 21 and have several tour stops on and off with him over the next two months. The band will make their stop in the Philadelphia area on Saturday, January 24 at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby.
