WIll The Tin Angel be covered in glitter when Arc Iris comes to town? Get the Scoop from Zachary Tenorio-Miller of Arc Iris
Next Thursday, Arc Iris is featured on a co-bill with Anthony D’Amato at the Philadelphia intimate venue The Tin Angel. Having caught Arc Iris now five-or-so times in Philly, each time they conceptually get more expansive and bolder, I couldn't wait until Thursday to find out what Arc Iris had in store for the Tin Angel guests. With all of the wonderful buzz circulating around Arc Iris seemingly focusing on the bands matriarch Jocie Adams, I felt it was time to get some perspective from the other half of its creative mind Zachary Tenorio-Miller. Zachary and I chatted about meeting Jocie, the birth of Arc Iris, and what is coming next!
Root Down In The Shadow: When did you first start making music with Jocie Adams?
Zachary Tenorio-Miller: It all started when I first met Jocie. We had like a million mutual friends back when I had been playing with members of Elvis Perkins in Dearland in an off-shoot band Diamond Doves. The Low Anthem [who Jocie used to play in] had toured with Elvis way back and one of the members, of Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Brigham Brough recorded Jocie's first record [Bed of Notions]. We were playing in Providence in April 2012, and she came out to see us play. I had heard a lot about her and had heard a lot about the Low Anthem. In my mind she was this sort of pseudo-celebrity or whatever. So, I was really excited to meet her and talk to her and we ended up talking for a bit.
I asked about playing together sometime, after we each just played a show earlier. We were clearly different from what she was used to. I am used to being a keyboard player who likes to shred, for lack of a better word. She had a look on her face and said "that sounds great but I like to have as little notes as possible."
It was pretty entertaining to see Jocie's reaction, but it ended up working. We ended up playing together a few weeks later, and it was a magical fit. Her songwriting is exactly the kind of song that works for me the way I approach music, it's just a natural fit. Within the next year, Jocie and I sort of quit our bands around the same time and together we created Arc Iris along with Ray Belli, Robin Ryczek, Max Johnson, Charlie Rose, and Mike Irwin.
RDITS: In the last few years, you've been doing a lot of touring, who else have you been on the road with?
ZMT: I have been on the road with A.C. Newman of New Pornographers, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Nicole Atkins, and Aaron Freeman.
RDITS: Some of those tours have been double duty, playing in Arc Iris and also playing with Freeman, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Nicole Atkins. What's harder, the experienced band with rabid fans and high expectations or cutting teeth with Arc Iris?
ZMT: The real challenge is really building a band from the ground up and gaining fans and figuring out ways to keep your band alive by any means necessary. It is the hardest time to be in the industry now more than ever 'cause no one buys records. So we have to figure out ways to make money and it's hard. It's like one big puzzle we're all trying to figure out. It's doable; we have many friends that have done it. There's hope for sure, but it's very challenging.
RDITS: Any highs or lows to share from your double duty experiences (Nicole Atkins, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Freeman)
ZMT: The coolest thing was the last double duty tour I did was with Freeman, being able to work with someone like him. It's been a wonderful learning experience. He really knows how to command a rock band, and a really weird rock band at that. Ween songs are not normal songs and his fans are not normal people, it was really fascinating to work with him. But that being said, pulling double-duty also means double sound checks, you've got to get to the venue early, you're working pretty much for six hours straight of non-stop, and shoveling dinners in your mouth because you have five minutes to do that. It can be stressful, but it's really worth it. When Arc Iris does an opening set, and it's only 35-40 min usually you want to play more. It’s nice that I am able to get to play more, not just a little tease.
RDITS: Tell me about some of the experiences when you were younger you were in a rock school.
ZTM: I was in the Paul Green School of Rock. It originally started in Philadelphia, there were four locations and I was in the location at the South Hackensack, NJ. Now there are 150+ around the world. Back when I was 16, I played with Aaron Freeman and Dave Dreiwitz, the bass player from Ween, and Jon Anderson from Yes.
RDITS: Anyone that you've met since then that was in School Of Rock?
ZTM: I haven't met anyone that I didn't realize, but when I was there it was a pretty tight-knit community. There was a group of us called the School of Rocks All-Stars, approximately 60 that I knew pretty well. I knew Eric Slick of Dr. Dog from my time there.
RDTIS: Recent musical discoveries on the road?
ZTM: We played a show in London at the Union Chapel, part of a Bella Union Showcase, and played with a band named Tiny Ruins. They have a really sweet, quiet sound with fantastic lady harmonies
**
It's kind of tough to see other bands on the road. We've seen Iron & Wine a couple of times but everyone knows about Iron & Wine.
RDITS: Who's your little stage friend?
ZTM: He's been there with me for about 5 or 6 years. He's just a good luck charm. His name is Max Rebo. My brother got me the little plush doll, when I was 7 years old when he went to Japan. As a kid, I was really obsessed with Star Wars. I became obsessed with one character from Star Wars; he's the keyboard player from Jaba the Hutt's palace. I don't know why as a kid I was obsessed with him, even before I became a keyboard player. I've gone through three of them now, as fans seem to want to take him. I feel like some people have good luck pals, when he's there I just feel comfy.
(pardon the crappy cell video, but you've got to see this insanity)
RDITS: Each show for Arc Iris in Philly has been exponentially wilder and wilder. More set pieces, costumes, and crazier songs. What can we expect at the Tin Angel?
ZTM: We're in the early stages of playing through a concept for the new album. We in-vision playing a world that people can visit, something glittery & glammy, and of course that will take place in a giant disco ball. We of course will invite people in, especially because people have a secret urge to wear a shiny shirt. This will take a while to perfect, especially our giant Disco Ball, our "Def Glamosphere". For this show, like any other Arc Iris show, we like to make it an event. Let's just assume there will be lots of glitter.
TO BUY TICKETS Click here for the Tin Angel
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| Zachary Miller-Tenorio or Storm Trooper? |
Root Down In The Shadow: When did you first start making music with Jocie Adams?
Zachary Tenorio-Miller: It all started when I first met Jocie. We had like a million mutual friends back when I had been playing with members of Elvis Perkins in Dearland in an off-shoot band Diamond Doves. The Low Anthem [who Jocie used to play in] had toured with Elvis way back and one of the members, of Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Brigham Brough recorded Jocie's first record [Bed of Notions]. We were playing in Providence in April 2012, and she came out to see us play. I had heard a lot about her and had heard a lot about the Low Anthem. In my mind she was this sort of pseudo-celebrity or whatever. So, I was really excited to meet her and talk to her and we ended up talking for a bit.
I asked about playing together sometime, after we each just played a show earlier. We were clearly different from what she was used to. I am used to being a keyboard player who likes to shred, for lack of a better word. She had a look on her face and said "that sounds great but I like to have as little notes as possible."
It was pretty entertaining to see Jocie's reaction, but it ended up working. We ended up playing together a few weeks later, and it was a magical fit. Her songwriting is exactly the kind of song that works for me the way I approach music, it's just a natural fit. Within the next year, Jocie and I sort of quit our bands around the same time and together we created Arc Iris along with Ray Belli, Robin Ryczek, Max Johnson, Charlie Rose, and Mike Irwin.
RDITS: In the last few years, you've been doing a lot of touring, who else have you been on the road with?
ZMT: I have been on the road with A.C. Newman of New Pornographers, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Nicole Atkins, and Aaron Freeman.
RDITS: Some of those tours have been double duty, playing in Arc Iris and also playing with Freeman, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Nicole Atkins. What's harder, the experienced band with rabid fans and high expectations or cutting teeth with Arc Iris?
ZMT: The real challenge is really building a band from the ground up and gaining fans and figuring out ways to keep your band alive by any means necessary. It is the hardest time to be in the industry now more than ever 'cause no one buys records. So we have to figure out ways to make money and it's hard. It's like one big puzzle we're all trying to figure out. It's doable; we have many friends that have done it. There's hope for sure, but it's very challenging.
RDITS: Any highs or lows to share from your double duty experiences (Nicole Atkins, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Freeman)
ZMT: The coolest thing was the last double duty tour I did was with Freeman, being able to work with someone like him. It's been a wonderful learning experience. He really knows how to command a rock band, and a really weird rock band at that. Ween songs are not normal songs and his fans are not normal people, it was really fascinating to work with him. But that being said, pulling double-duty also means double sound checks, you've got to get to the venue early, you're working pretty much for six hours straight of non-stop, and shoveling dinners in your mouth because you have five minutes to do that. It can be stressful, but it's really worth it. When Arc Iris does an opening set, and it's only 35-40 min usually you want to play more. It’s nice that I am able to get to play more, not just a little tease.
RDITS: Tell me about some of the experiences when you were younger you were in a rock school.
ZTM: I was in the Paul Green School of Rock. It originally started in Philadelphia, there were four locations and I was in the location at the South Hackensack, NJ. Now there are 150+ around the world. Back when I was 16, I played with Aaron Freeman and Dave Dreiwitz, the bass player from Ween, and Jon Anderson from Yes.
RDITS: Anyone that you've met since then that was in School Of Rock?
ZTM: I haven't met anyone that I didn't realize, but when I was there it was a pretty tight-knit community. There was a group of us called the School of Rocks All-Stars, approximately 60 that I knew pretty well. I knew Eric Slick of Dr. Dog from my time there.
RDTIS: Recent musical discoveries on the road?
ZTM: We played a show in London at the Union Chapel, part of a Bella Union Showcase, and played with a band named Tiny Ruins. They have a really sweet, quiet sound with fantastic lady harmonies
**
It's kind of tough to see other bands on the road. We've seen Iron & Wine a couple of times but everyone knows about Iron & Wine.
ZTM: He's been there with me for about 5 or 6 years. He's just a good luck charm. His name is Max Rebo. My brother got me the little plush doll, when I was 7 years old when he went to Japan. As a kid, I was really obsessed with Star Wars. I became obsessed with one character from Star Wars; he's the keyboard player from Jaba the Hutt's palace. I don't know why as a kid I was obsessed with him, even before I became a keyboard player. I've gone through three of them now, as fans seem to want to take him. I feel like some people have good luck pals, when he's there I just feel comfy.
(pardon the crappy cell video, but you've got to see this insanity)
RDITS: Each show for Arc Iris in Philly has been exponentially wilder and wilder. More set pieces, costumes, and crazier songs. What can we expect at the Tin Angel?
ZTM: We're in the early stages of playing through a concept for the new album. We in-vision playing a world that people can visit, something glittery & glammy, and of course that will take place in a giant disco ball. We of course will invite people in, especially because people have a secret urge to wear a shiny shirt. This will take a while to perfect, especially our giant Disco Ball, our "Def Glamosphere". For this show, like any other Arc Iris show, we like to make it an event. Let's just assume there will be lots of glitter.
TO BUY TICKETS Click here for the Tin Angel
Can we assume your Disco Ball Glamfest will be graced by the city's glitterati? If so, I'm there!! That's my kind of happening!!
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