Heading to Hangout Festival: Interview With Bronze Radio Return

Bronze Radio Return will be making their way to the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama this May for Hangout Festival. To prepare for the exciting and upcoming music filled weekend, Empty Lighthouse had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Bronze Radio Return.

Read further and get to know the indie-rock and roots band from Hartford, Connecticut.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: How did you first get your start in music?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: I've been playing in bands for as long as I can remember. I started on the drumset playing in rock and blues bands in middle school and high school. Eventually I moved over to guitar and attended college at the Hartt School.

While studying in school I met a bunch of really talented and motivated musicians who liked a lot of the same music I was listening to at the time.

Through friends of friends and fellow students we created a group of like minded people that were motivated to make music for a living.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Who are your musical influences?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Most of us in the band grew up listening to blues and jazz.

In my house my parents played a lot of Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters. We've spent a lot of time in the van listening to Ryan Adams

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Who do you listen to in your spare time, other hobbies, etc?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Lately I've been listening to Lucius, Arcade Fire, Jesca Hoop, Tune-Yards, Gary Clark Jr., Sea Wolf, etc. We just got off a cruise ship festival that spent a week in the Caribbean with folks like John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Scaggs and Bruce Hornsby and many more.

It was amazing seeing all of these accomplished and talent musicians together sharing stages and stories with each other.

As far as hobbies go- we have a range of hobbies in the band from brewing beer, roasting coffee, cooking, fantasy sports and crafting puns.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What has been your most memorable experience while touring?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Tough to say. We had an opportunity to play for the president a few years ago and that was pretty wild.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What is the craziest thing you've seen a fan do to get into a show / on stage, etc.?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Hmmm. I can't recall anything too crazy, but I was taken back one night in Louisville when someone in the crowd jumped up on stage and sat down in front of me and started checking their emails.

It was bizare. He was a bigger guy than me so I had to politely ask him to check his emails elsewhere.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What advice would you give to other young people looking to succeed in the industry?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Be open minded. Work hard- things that last rarely happen over night. Use the tools around you. Remember that this is a "people" industry- make every impression the best it can be.

Rehearse. Play shows, but don't over saturate markets. Love what you do.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: When you hit a creativity block, what re-inspires you?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Anytime I go looking for inspiration I often come up empty handed and most time I sit waiting to be inspired I end with nothing. I think inspiration comes from how we interpret things around us.

If I get a block the first thing I tell myself is "don't worry". The second thing I do is look for situations that will force me to ask questions.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: How do you manage your time between your music and personal life?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: That can be hard to do sometimes, especially while on a tour. I think balance is so crucial to life. Being too absorded in anything makes you eventually lose perspective on things around you.

We all have wives or girlfriends and it's important to work out communication plans while we're away.

I think it's important to have days to spend doing things outside of performing and writing because it makes you fresher when you come back.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What are your upcoming plans in regards to more touring, releases and producing new music?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: We are currently in the middle of a winter/spring tour with dates mostly on the east coast and then SXSW. We have plans for an exciting summer run including some wonderful festivals that we are pumped to be playing.

I wouldn't be surprised if we found ourself in the studio this Fall.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: If you could invent anything, what would it be?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: I would invent a TV channel that exclusively played cat blooper videos 24 hours a day. (Patent pending)

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: If stranded on an island, what 3 things would you want to have with you?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: Guitar. Notebook. Honey Mustard.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Do you have any rituals or things you must have/do before a show?
BRONZE RADIO: We generally do a vocal warm up, a shot of whiskey and then hit the stage.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What are you most excited about the upcoming festival season?
BRONZE RADIO RETURN: We are excited to be apart of this congregation of large music loving crowds and stacked artist line ups.

I'm excited to feel the energy of these festivals and enjoy catching a bunch of other sets by bands I admire.

For more information on Bronze Radio Return, be sure to visit www.bronzeradioreturn.com, and to find out more about weekend passes to Hangout Festival, visit www.hangoutfestival.com - See ya on the beaches!