Wanderland 2014 Presscon with Woody Pitney, Last Dinosaurs and The Drums
When In Manila was at the Wanderland 2014 Presscon last Friday, May 16, held at the Diamond Hotel. Three of the international performing bands were present: festival headliners The Drums, indie pop group Last Dinosaurs and Aussie folk band Woody Pitney. It was a delightful afternoon filled with friendly jokes from the bands evened out by some very stirring answers by some.
Wanderland 2014 Presscon with Woody Pitney, Last Dinosaurs and The Drums
The Drums came in first, officially marking the start of the affair. Headlining the Wanderland fest, The Drums flew in all the way from New York City where the band is based. Jonny Pierce and Jacob Graham together with their touring members Johnny Aries, Tom Haslow and Dany Lee Allen make up this much-anticipated band.
“We’re really happy to be here,” Jonny started off. “We feel a lot of love from this place already.”
When they were asked how it feels like to come to a small country in the Pacific after having played at some of the world’s most famous cities and finding out that they have such adoring fans here, Jonny answered, “I think it’s even more gratifying than going to bigger places where it’s more obvious. When Jacob and I first started, we were making music strictly for ourselves. We never really thought anyone would care, let alone flying 20 hours for it.” Jacob added that back in 2007 when they were just starting to make music, their only listener was Jacob’s mom. “She wasn’t too impressed,” the guys laughed.
The Drums finished recording their third album earlier this year, which is due to come out sometime within the year. When they were asked about the new record, they explained that it’s about beautiful and sentimental things, though also more personal and darker, as well as “getting more into the political side of things which never in a million years we thought would happen,” the guys explained. “We find ourselves more and more stepping into that terrain of saying something, of becoming a band with a message,” Jonny shares.
When I asked them if The Drums didn’t exist, what do they think would they be doing with their lives right now, Jonny quickly answered, “I’ll probably be working in a shoe shop. That’s what I was doing before we started.” As per Jacob, he said he would “probably be a computer programmer. In the 1950’s.” On a more somber note, Jonny added “It’s really scary. I think about it all the time. There are no guarantees in life.”
Four-piece Australian band came out next for the Wanderland 2014 Presscon, being just as casual and funny as they seem to be at first look. Last Dinosaurs are comprised of Sean Caskey on rhythm guitar and vocals, Lachlan Caskey on lead guitar, Michael Sloane on bass and Dan Koyama on drums.
“Since you are performing at Wanderland 2014,” asks a media representative, “if you had your own Wanderland, what would be in it?” The band responded: super cars, guns, guitars and a football field. When asked about their preference in audience behavior during their show, however, Dan answered with, “Jumping and dancing. All the time!” Sean also shared that the Last Dinosaurs are currently working on their second album. Their first album, In A Million Years, came out in 2012 much to quick acclaim.
Last to take the seats at the Wanderland 2014 Presscon were Melbourne-based folk and country music band, Woody Pitney. Though very new in the industry, Woody and his band are slowly rising to fame with their foot-stomping folk tunes that sound very close to Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers.
When asked what message they want to convey in their music, Woody explains that their songs are all about love, pain, and gratefulness. They want their fans to feel happiness in their music. And like the Last Dinosaurs, Woody Pitney expressed that it’s very important to see people dancing when they’re performing on stage. As for their music influences, Woody refers to world famous artists John Mayer and Keith Urban, as well as The Lumineers and Grammy award winning band Mumford and Sons.
On the other hand, talking about what his personal Wanderland would be, Woody pointed out that it would have to be Woodstock, the 1969 world-famous music and arts festival. “If I had the chance to travel back in time, I think Woodstock would be nice.”
Produced by Karpos Multimedia, Wanderland 2014 Music and Arts Festival happened last Saturday, May 17, at the Globe Circuit Events Ground in Makati City. An annual music fest now on its successful second year, Wanderland 2014 was attended by thousands of music fans from across the Philippines. Read about our coverage of the festival here: Wanderland Music Festival: Manila’s Music Mecca
WANDERLAND MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Website: www.wanderlandfest.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wanderlandfest
