REAX:  What is the local music scene like in Athens, GA?
Phillip Brantley:  Phillip It is very prolific and versatile. It's also dangerously saturated, so it takes some effort to find the good stuff. The band community is strong, and the students are very supportive of the scene.
JoJo Glidewell: Athens has an odd balance of competition and jealousy and at the same time a lot of respect and warmness between the bands. For example, in Athens, you would rail about this band or another, or about how overrated this artist or that one is, but then out of town, you will say nothing but wonderful things about how it is to be a part of the Athens scene... like the brother that you can't stand until someone at school is picking on him... then you kick their ass for messing with your brother.

REAX:  Why do you think such powerful bands come from that area of the country?
PB:  To a certain extent, I'd have to cite the Law of Averages. There really are so many bands here, that some of them would have to be good enough to garner national attention.
JG: I really believe a lot of it has to do with the sheer number of bands and musicians.... one, you can find the best of the best musicians.... and two, the competitive level is so high, in the sense that no matter how tight or creative or original you are, there are always gonna be a handful of bands around that are tighter, or more creative, or more original.... there are so many ideas to soak in.

REAX:  What are you up to now, besides touring?
JG: There is barely a day off... when we get back from the road, I am typically working one of my three other jobs. I teach music lessons at a studio and deliver for the independent downtown paper, and work a few coffeehouse shifts in the mornings every week. And I'm trying to spend time with my girlfriend and see my friends and family when I can too.
PB:  We are currently learning a handful of R.E.M. covers. They are releasing a Greatest Hits collection from their early catalogue when they were on I.R.S. and we were invited to play the release party with a handful of other bands at the 40 Watt club here in town. We're also working on bringing some new songs to the stage. We have so many new tunes to work on as far as a live staging is involved, but not as much time as we'd like to work them out.

REAX:  What advice could you give to bands starting out that want to get noticed?
JG: Any band, new or otherwise, should never lose sight of where they can improve. To get noticed you have to stand out from every other band in as many ways as possible. Play as much as possible... people recognizing your name goes farther than you might think. And stage experience is invaluable. The more you play in front of people the more comfortable you are and the more together you become as a band.
PB:  Don't try to get anything going before you have a strong foundation of songs. That's the most important thing. Working on other things first just seems backwards to me. With that being said, it's obvious that plenty of bands have worked their way to the top without songs.

REAX:  Was there a particular instance where, as a band, you knew you were doing something special?
PB:  After we made the record, I stepped away from it for about a month. I really just needed fresh ears, because we'd been immersed in it for so long. When I went back to it, there was this great sense of pride for the effort that we had put into it.

REAX:  What has been the highlight of working so hard to get where you are now?
PB:  Just the other day, we talked about how great it is to meet new people constantly. Being on the verge of traveling this great country feels nice.
JG: The best part for me is finally getting to do what I love to do and feeling like we have people's respect for it; feeling successful and knowing that the hard work I have put into music over the years has had enough impact in other people's lives to make them really passionate about what we are doing. Also, knowing that I could very possibly do what I love more than anything for a living.