Author: Emmy Vonada
On the “pre-Halloween Halloweekend”, I find myself in the middle of a softball field on a chilling Autumn night. No, I’m not getting kidnapped – I and dozens of other shivering college students are patiently waiting for the first of three local bands to play on an outdoor stage. I say “stage” not in the way you may think; it’s more so taking the impressive form of a camping tent attached to a sound system, but the vibes are just right. I look around and see a sea of costumes: a bumblebee, a crayon, and an astronaut. My friends enter the field, featuring a valiant attempt at a Mr. Clean cosplay, a cartoon robber (money bag and all), a Jedi, and her knight-and-shining Sith. My costume is a more half-hearted attempt at a zombie (shout out to $5 temporary wound tattoos).
I’m here to interview Shady Angels, a Spokane-based rock and grunge band. Their single, “I Am A Superman” blasted through my headphones just before stepping on the field, and I have to say it has been lingering with me ever since. Something about its sentimental yet longing lyrics paired with smooth guitar riffs reminds me of car rides with my dad, jamming to Nirvana and their peers. It made me nervous yet giddy to meet the young band, and I left feeling even more appreciative of the talent Washington continues to breed.
How are you guys feeling tonight pre-show?
Brayden (singer and guitarist): It’s been a [***] day trying to get everything set up. This is the most DIY we’ve ever been. And yeah, it’s getting there. It’s different than our other shows where everything is done for us. This, we’re doing it ourselves pretty much. So it’s different.
Owen (lead guitarist): Yeah. We’re praying for a good turnout.
So you guys are from Spokane. How do you think that’s influenced your journey so far?
Owen: I mean, definitely just growing up in Washington, our sound is definitely influenced by, you know, 90s grunge and indie rock.
Zach (bass): I like what you were saying, our sound kind of is the sound of the 90s here in Seattle. So to play here in Seattle now, it’s a little ironic, especially with our sound, but I think it’s really cool to have this opportunity to have a show in the town that kind of started it, you know?
Brayden: It’s definitely what I envisioned our first show in Seattle would be like, and it’s an interesting start. You’ve got to have the dad lore, you know?
Oh, definitely! I want to talk a little bit about your sophomore album. What were some of the influences that went into that?
Owen: Our second album is a lot more collaborative than our first. In terms of music, we wrote it together all at the same time, which was different than our first [album] when we were adding to Brayden’s ideas. This was a lot more like, we formed this thing together.
Owen: You know, there were times when, in our first album, we were just kind of seeing what stuck when we threw it against the wall. And with this album, it was a little more of a concept in terms of the writing and the lyricism.
What’s the process been like usually when you’re making a song? Is it just going based on how you feel?
Brayden: Yeah, I usually write from reflection and what I’m always feeling. I’ll sit down with my acoustic guitar and just kind of come up with something, and then I’ll bring in the boys and they’ll just totally transcend it from just a little bedroom song.
Owen: We’re pretty much free to try whatever, but at the same time we all understand our vision and where we want to take it sonically. So, yeah, it all comes together nicely.
How do you think this current album differs from your last one?
Brayden: [Laughs] Well, it sounds a lot better. We put a lot more money into this – two songs off this album cost as much as the first one did entirely.
Zach: We spent a lot more time on this record. We kind of wrote it within a year rather than, like, six months.
Owen: We just got a lot better at musicianship along the way, and better at writing with each other rather than just kind of, like I said, throwing something at the wall and seeing what sticks.
Zach: Exactly. I think we got better at writing and creating stuff with each other and also knowing what the song needs.
Brayden: I think that’s very important. We’ve been able to grasp it easily.
Owen: It’s a lot more cohesive, too. We put it in an order to where… I mean, I’ve heard from people that they like listening to the order, like it flows very well and all the songs sound like they’re from the same artist, and I think our first one didn’t sound like that to me.
Brayden: We had a big range. We kind of dialed in a little more with this one. A lot more formed.
Yeah, and I’ve always wondered because different artists and bands have different opinions on their song order. Does that mean a lot to you guys?
Brayden: That is very important to us.
Owen: I think so too.
Brayden: When I listen to our album I go top to bottom because that was the intentional way.
Zach: I think it works for this one for sure. It tells a more cohesive story.
So, I see the show is starting soon. If you could describe “I am a Superman” in one word, what would it be?
Brayden: Hopeful.
Owen: Extravagant.
Zach: Colorful.
Nice! And what’s your favorite song to cover at shows?
Brayden: We really like “Here Comes Your Man”, which is what we’re playing tonight.
Owen: That was actually one of my favorites. We used to cover an indie rock song called “Killby Girl”.
Brayden: Oh, that was really [***] fun.
Okay, well that’s all I’ve got! Good luck tonight, guys.
Brayden: Well, thank you.
Shady Angels’ sophomore album, Try My Door, is out now. If you like the grittiness of grunge rock, this album is perfect for you. Inside its angsty sound, there are pockets of heartbreak, sentimentality, and raw emotion that will surely pull you in. And if you’re ever in Spokane, be sure to see if you can catch one of their shows.
EmmyVonada I KXSU Digital Media Director