5 QUICK QUESTIONS WITH MICHAEL GOSSARD FROM ROCK GROUP, ACIDIC

This past July, Southern California-based rock group ACIDIC completed an Eastern European tour organized by the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan, putting the young indie rockers to work at...

This past July, Southern California-based rock group ACIDIC completed an Eastern European tour organized by the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan, putting the young indie rockers to work at art and popular music events all over Astana. They interacted with student groups, jammed with local bands, and spread their catchy alternative-rock from one end of the capital to the other, both in electric and acoustic sets.  ACIDIC also represented the U.S. as Cultural Ambassadors of Music all over Eastern Europe last October/November as part of the 2016 “American Music Abroad” Program, making such a great impression last Fall that the American Embassy in Kazakhstan came calling for a follow-up tour.

 

Indie Go Rock Magazine had the opportunity to speak with ACIDIC front-person/vocalist-guitarist Michael Gossard right after the recent tour. Here’s how it went.

 

ACIDIC IN ASTANA JULY 2017

IGR: What was the band’s main learning experience/takeaway from your latest overseas music excursion?

MG: Our main takeaway was again, just how similar people are. Language is often the only significant barrier to true connection. We loved the food as well. There is no easier way to bond than over a meal. We spent a lot of time drinking tea and eating good food with new friends.

 

IGR: How is dealing with the U.S. State Department different from, say, dealing with the average concert promoter?

MG: The State Department has wide-ranging resources and everything is taken care of, arranged in advance and runs smoothly. Dealing with a promoter or a rock club is good, too, but more often than not, the promoter will want the band to do all the promoting for them. When dealing with the government, everything is in place beforehand.

 

IGR: Of all the Eastern European countries the band visited this time, which seems to have the most in common with the U.S.?

 

MG: They all have their own special feeling. I can’t really say that any place was similar to the U.S.. There is such an interesting flair to Eastern Europe. Overall, I would say the closest would be Latvia, because it was the most European place we were and there are some general similarities between American and European conveniences.

 

IGR: Can you talk a little about ACIDIC’s interaction with the fans overseas, how does it compare with those in the U.S.?

MG: People are very open to music. I would say that we have had a very positive response from fans overseas. I think probably better than the U.S., where we are spoiled for music. Overseas, our experience has been that people are drawn to music because they like it. That leads to an almost universally positive experience. In the U.S., it can feel almost like a dating game, where the audience comes expecting to be won over rather than enjoy a form of art.

 

IGR: Last year ACIDIC played the “American Music Abroad” Tour. How was this recent one different from AMA?

MG: This was a shorter trip than AMA. We went to one country and did a much deeper, richer program within one market. We got much more in-depth in one place. This was a very interesting experience because it meant that we bonded with the local people, and the embassy staff much more thoroughly. We were cracking jokes and having a great time. AMA was wonderful too, but traveling from place to place quickly means there isn’t always time to take your time.

 

More on ACIDIC at www.acidicband.com and https://www.facebook.com/ACIDICband/.

Categories
Interviews
No Comment

RELATED BY