~Asbury Park Vibes' Artist of the Week~

December 2, 2020

Brian Erickson is a main ingredient of the electric Asbury Park Music Scene. From his band - The Extensions, to his solo albums (We here at Asbury Park Vibes LOVVVVE Little Secrets!), to his "One More with Brian Erickson" Podcast ... Brian is the embodiment of a successful DIY musician in today's day and age. We wanted to learn more about this incredibly talented artist, so we asked him 40+ questions to keep him busy (as if he didn't have enough to do already!) 

*Also make sure to read our recent review of Brian's Little Secrets!*

Enjoy!!!

HOMETOWN, YEAR FORMED, BAND MEMBER NAMES & INSTRUMENTS:

* Asbury Park, NJ || 1983 || Brian Erickson || guitar, bass, drums, keys, vocals, production & engineering

YOUR MUSICAL PAST AND PRESENT IN ONE RUN-ON SENTENCE.

A lot of greatest hits albums by bands from the 70s which I stole from my parents combined with my love of jazz and black turtlenecks to form a musically omnivorous listener whose taste continues to grow.

SORRY, BUT WE HAVE TO ASK … WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR BAND NAME?

My parents gave it to me.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEONE WHO HASN’T YET HEARD YOUR MUSIC?

Pastoral Bedroom Pop

HOW DID THE STARS ALIGN TO BRING YOU ALL TOGETHER?

My parents loved each other, then decided to express that love physically one night probably around early October, 1982. Nine months later, I arrived.

IF BANDS WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SLOGAN … WHAT WOULD YOUR BAND SLOGAN BE?

Doing it all wrong since 2005-ish.

A PROJECT YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT YOU’RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

I just released a solo album that I'm extremely proud of where I played all the instruments and did all the production and engineering. My band, The Extensions, are gearing up for some new material, but we're taking our time with it.

HOW DOES THE BAND FLESH OUT A SONG FROM START (IDEA IN YOUR HEAD) TO FINISH (RECORDING)?

If I'm by myself, I have a fully-written song and I build the arrangement through the recording as I'm going along. With the band, I'll bring maybe 75% of a song to them, and we'll work the rest of it out in the practice room.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE BEST SONG YOU EVER RELEASED, AND WHY?

Every album I've released either solo or with a band has at least one song that's one of the best I've done. The first of those was a song called "Cooking Up An Accident." One day, the switch just flipped and the writing got much better. I don't have an explanation for it, either. I went through a time where I didn't do much writing at all. I got stuck and then one day that song came to me. That was 10 years ago and it's been relatively easy to write ever since.

PICK ONE WORD THAT BEST DESCRIBES WHAT YOUR REHEARSALS ARE LIKE. [YOU CAN ELABORATE IF YOU’D LIKE!]

Distractions!

ANY MUSIC VIDEOS PLANNED OR IN PRODUCTION?

I've been talking with the folks at 10PRL studios on a treatment for a music video.

LET’S GEEK OUT FOR A SECOND … TELL US WHAT YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIECE OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT IS RIGHT NOW.

I go through phases, but right now it's my 1975 Guild M-25 acoustic guitar. I have a few guitars but this one was used on my solo record, so I'm stuck on it for now.

WHICH ARTIST, BAND, OR LIFE EXPERIENCE INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?

I had about half a dozen close college friends who all played guitar. It wasn't inspiration but jealousy that motivated me to pick up a guitar and learn. A couple of them wrote songs and I thought I might be able to do that, too. I figure that's a more interesting story than saying 'The Beatles' or something.

AN ALBUM THAT’S HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOU.

To pick one is a futile gesture for me. I bought 'Pet Sounds' and 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' on the same day back in 2003, so let's go with those.

VOCALIST YOU ADMIRE THE MOST?

Hearing Harry Nilsson had a pretty big impact. Growing up, a lot of the male singers on the radio had these gruff, raspy voices and I always thought that was the *only* way you were allowed to sing. Not so! Harry changed the game for me.

GUITAR SOLO THAT ALWAYS GIVES YOU GOOSEBUMPS?

"She's Not Me" by Jenny Lewis. It's simple, clean and perfect.

MOST BAD-ASS BASSIST?

Kim Deal. The only good thing about the Pixies.

DRUMMER WITH KILLER CHOPS?

Janet Weiss from Sleater Kinney

ROLLING STONES OR THE BEATLES?

The Beach Boys

DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-SHOW RITUALS?

Usually a few hours before a show, I start saying to myself, "You know, I really don't want to play tonight." It's better than what used to happen, though. I used to get sick before most of my shows but thankfully that seems to be under control.

FUNNIEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED WHILE YOU WERE ON STAGE.

Funny things don't happen to me on stage. For me, that's business time. You don't enter the bubble, good intentions or not. If you're there, you're either in the band, or it's time to fuck right off. I don't tuck in your kids in at night. Don't step on my stage.

IF POSSIBLE, DESCRIBE WHAT PERFORMING LIVE FEELS LIKE FOR YOU.

As The Hold Steady once said, "Some nights it's entertainment, and some other nights it's work."

IF YOU WERE SECOND ON A THREE-BAND BILL, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU LOVE TO BE SUPPORTING AND WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN FOR YOU? [GOOD CHANCE TO PLUG A NEWER BAND YOU REALLY LIKE]

I'm always happy to support Lowlight or The Foes of Fern or Fake Pockets. Opening, I gotta go with Dano or Rory D'Lasnow.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR FANS GET FROM YOUR MUSIC? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE THEM TO KNOW?

I hope they find whatever it is they need.

MOST DON’T ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT ... CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND VISUALIZE WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR ULTIMATE SUCCESS. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Validation. That I'm just as good a singer and writer as anyone that anybody admires. That's all I see; something that definitively makes all the time worth it.

WHAT ARE YOU DETERMINED TO SEE HAPPEN FOR YOUR BAND IN THE NEXT YEAR?

We're working on new material. I'm not sure how much of it there's going to be or when it's coming out. Part of me wants to make a double-album; something you don't really see at this level. I think that'd be pretty cool, though the other band members might veto that proposition, and I wouldn't blame them. Usually, when I make records, it's because there are enough songs. I don't like to make them fit into a particular mold. Making a double-album usually starts with "Let's make a double-album," and the natural process of writing has already been disturbed.

UPCOMING SHOWS, EVENTS, FESTIVALS YOU’RE PLAYING?

Because of everything going on right now, I'm not really sure when the next show is going to be. I don't have anything on the schedule right now.

WHAT CONCERT DID YOU ATTEND THAT YOU’LL NEVER, EVER FORGET?

The Hold Steady in October 2007 was a game-changer

BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN.

Don't fall in love with potential.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUED MATERIAL POSSESSION?

Probably my notebook.

WHICH OF YOUR BANDMATES: IS ALWAYS LATE? EATS THE HEALTHIEST? IS THE PRANKSTER? IS THE TASK MASTER TO GET THINGS DONE? HAS A USELESS TALENT? IS QUIRKIEST ... IN WHAT WAY?

The Extensions are a pretty boring bunch of people in terms of quirks. No one is really late. Lisa probably eats the healthiest. No one plays pranks. Pete definitely gets things done. I'd say Kevin has the most quirks; he's like a musical savant.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT PLAYING MUSIC, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE TO DO?

I'm always at the record store looking around for something that's going to give me my next good idea. I also like to write. I'm dating a poet so I'm getting more and more into reading poetry.

IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR “GO-TO” PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS WE’D SEE?

I've been listening to the latest Haim album, and Phoebe Bridgers a lot lately. I just had a friend recommend Donna Missal; her song "Girl" is fantastic! I have a lot of go-to favorites, but I try to still actively seek out and listen to new music, as well. It's like anything else; once you close yourself off, you stop learning. That's when we start to decline.

BEST BAND NAME YOU EVER HEARD.

Jack Linden, a musician from Princeton, just started a band called Jackson Paradise. It's one of the coolest band names I've ever heard!

VINYL RECORDS, CASSETTES, CD’s, OR DOWNLOADS?

I grew up with CDs, so that's what I always seem to go back to.

WHAT SONG IS AMAZING, YET NOT VERY POPULAR?

"The Reason" by The Weakerthans is a great, sincere song that doesn't get as much credit as it deserves.

AN ALBUM YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF LISTENING TO.

I never get tired of the album 'You & Me' by The Walkmen

WHAT SONG ARE YOU CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH?

"Hand Me Downs" by Mac Miller has really got me in my feelings right now.

WHAT SONG HELPED YOU WHEN YOU WERE HEARTBROKEN?

"Little Person" by Jon Brion & Deanna Storey is a frequent go-to when I'm in the hole and want to do everything but climb out. Sometimes you just need to stay down there and think about it and live with it.

WHAT ALBUM OR ARTIST DID YOUR PARENTS INTRODUCE YOU TO THAT YOU LOVE?

My parents introduced me to lots of great stuff. The Beach Boys Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, Barbara Streisand, Michael Crawford, The Temptations...so much!

WHAT’S YOUR BENCHMARK FOR A GREAT MUSICIAN?

Someone whose music can make you *feel* something.

Asbury Park Vibes is a media publication dedicated to shining a light on the live music scene, as well as promoting the artists we love! We strive to provide show reviews, photographs, and artist stories that bring fans and musicians closer together.

Our coverage focuses keenly on the artists and venues in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York; however, you'll also catch us featuring musicians and shows all across the U.S!!! There's nothing better than the ENERGY and VIBES we all feel from live music! We're sure we'll see you at a show somewhere very soon!