We've got an amazing lineup ready for our ASCAP Presents CMJ 2012 showcase on October 17th, and leading the charge are Brooklyn-based folk rockers, The Lone Bellow. We caught up with singer Zach Williams to talk about their recent changes, their upcoming release, and their expectations of the CMJ festival.
You recently changed your band name from "Zach Williams and The Bellow" to just "The Lone Bellow." What's behind the switch, and what's the best reaction you've got to the new name?
I started "Zach Williams and The Bellow" as a side project, but as we started singing together I quickly realized I was a part of something. I wanted to take my name out of the band name because I didn't think it represented our musical and communal values. My name in the band name was tainting the telling of our story. The Lone Bellow was a name that came up back when we first got started while we were sharing family lore.
It's been over a year since you successfully funded your forthcoming album via Kickstarter. When can we go get it, and what should we expect from it?
We are shooting for a January 22nd release! Since we made the record live with eight people in one room here in NYC at Rockwood Music Hall stage 2, the editing was incredibly difficult. All of the money we raised together with Kickstarter went strictly towards editing costs. It was worth it. We wanted to capture the energy of a live recording, so editing out all of the sound bleeds and such was a big job! I believe this record is an honest work. We tried our best to not just record our songs but to actually capture moments.
As a group of southern transplants, where in New York do you feel most at home?
I probably feel most at home at the coffee shop close to my house called Roots Café.
What are you most looking forward to about ASCAP's CMJ showcase?
We are honored to be a part of this night. I'm mostly looking forward to playing our songs for folks who have never heard them before. It's a humbling experience.
The Lone Bellow hits the ASCAP stage at 8:30 pm on October 17th.
For more information about ASCAP Presents CMJ 2012, click here.