Newly signed to Universal Motown, the band ‘Terrible Things’ is on the fast track to success with the release of their self-titled debut album, which will be available in stores August 31st. In addition to this, the band is also currently performing on the Vans Warped Tour this Summer.
The trio from Philadelphia includes Fred Mascherino, formerly of the band ‘Taking Back Sunday’ who serves as lead singer on most songs and plays bass; Josh Eppard, formerly of the band ‘Coheed & Cambria’ who plays drums; and Andy Jackson, formerly of the band ‘Hot Rod Circuit’ who plays guitar/bass. The guys, who have already been hailed as rock all-stars, have been together for less than a year and are already signed to a major record label, releasing an album, and performing live at a plethora of shows.
The new album became somewhat of a concept album about a series of fires that haunted Mascherino’s former hometown of Coatesville, which is approximately forty miles outside of Philadelphia. The neighborhoods in his former Chester County were victim to arson terror in 2007 to 2009, which left the people there in a constant state of panic. Of this, Mascherino says, “This is not a political album. But, I felt shocked and affected in a way that surprised even me. I was struck by feelings of helplessness and hopelessness."
So, as many musicians do, he wrote about his feelings with such songs as ‘Revolution’ and ‘The Hills of Birmingham.’ These songs contain themes of anger, fear, frustration and alienation. Though about the arson attack on his hometown, the goal for the band was to make a record that was relatable to everyone and not just specific to this particular situation. Due to the fires, and their wanting to do something about them, and the frustrating realization that there wasn’t anything that they could do to stop them, he and the band put their frustrations into music with the hope that people will get something for their soul from this music about feelings that we have all had at one point or another in our own lives.
Recorded in Birmingham, Alabama, with producer Jason Elgin, the band was able to write and record their music with no distractions which allowed them to totally engage in the music itself. This, as Mascherino said, put him into a “totally different head space.”
Happy to be back in a band again, Mascherino confides that he has been in one band or another since the ninth grade. “I enjoy the social component of being in a band. I love that everyone contributes and that there is this organic chemistry.”
Dana Feldman – Why did you take the risk of leaving the successful band ‘Taking Back Sunday’ to start a new band?
Fred Mascherino – I really love singing and I was the second singer of ‘Taking Back Sunday’ and that was sort of turning into background singing. I needed to find a way to do what I loved most, so I took the chance and wanted to see what would happen.
DF – Describe your musical style.
FM – We try to do really straight ahead, timeless rock music. We’re not trying to keep up with anyone else or do what they’re doing. We never ask what our peers are doing, we stick to our own sound. Otherwise, you just end up chasing your own tail. To stand out in this business, you really have to do something different that is uniquely yours.
DF – What’s the best part of being a musician?
FM – I love being in a band and bouncing ideas off of friends. Touring is great, as well. It’s great to get to eat dinner together every night and there tends to be a lot of joking around, like a family. I also know that I always have my music there for me as an outlet when I am going through a hard time. If I am frustrated or unhappy about something, I can write music to get something out of my system. It’s my therapy, either listening to or writing/playing music.
DF – What’s your advice for other musicians out there?
FM – The music business has only gotten harder the past year or two with the economy. For one thing, you have to put in the time and actually do the work. Once you get your band together, you have to go out into the world and get your music out there to the people. And, for songwriters, don’t just chase the latest thing going on, know what you want to do and stick to that. Know what’s inside of you and be true to that.
Down-to-earth, humble guys who stick true to their roots and write music that feeds the soul, this is what you get from 'Terrible Things.' Their album will be available in stores everywhere on August 31, 2010.
To learn more, you can check the band out on http://www.myspace.com/terriblethings and check out the videos below!
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