Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/28646
Nick Driver’s Music Beat by STEPHANIE CRIDER Up & Coming Weekly recently had a chance to chat with metal musician Nick Driver. UCW: Give us a brief his- tory lesson on the band. When and where did you get started? ND: I started out in 2000 playing in the hard rock and metal scene that N.C. is so famous for, then around last year, I put out a load of my acoustic songs that I had written for a few years here and there. After posting a few of them on purevolume.com/nickdriver I was contacted by two labels, one out of New York and one out of Florida. I ended up signing with Talkback Records out of Florida due to the better offer I was given. Then around the same time I was signing the indie label that was landed, I started talking with the previous bass player for Raleigh, N.C.’s Billy Hinnant (who played bass in Seven and System Burned), met Elijah Ott through his sister when he moved back down here from some punk bands he was playing with, and then was contacted online by Darren Abbacchi for drums. After the initial jamming we started doing as a band in April 2010, we have played at more than 100 shows since then and haven’t really took a break until recently. UCW: How would you define your music? ND: I would define it as something that comes from my heart, something that I hope could have an effect on people even after I’m gone to make people happier, something that reflects poetry, something that makes people understand love con- quers all, something that tells a good story, something that leaves people with a smile as opposed to being negative. Something beautiful that could help influence people in a positive direction as opposed to negative. Something spiritual ... not religious ... but something that touches the soul and helps it heal. UCW: Do you write your own music and where does that inspiration come from? ND: I do write my own music. We do covers here and there at different places we play at, but 98 percent of our set includes originals. The inspiration comes from loads of places...my family, my friends, love, stress, being down and out, daily rou- tine of working, playing, partying, being alone, other artists, paintings, technology, churches, bars, movies/films, poetry, interactions with other people, expressions people make, sayings I’ve never heard, watching people behave with each other, I can’t really think of a time when I’m not thinking about song lyrics. UCW: If you only had two words to describe your band what would they be? ND: Balanced Union UCW: What are your hopes/goals for the future of your band? I just want to play music that effects people in a positive way. Life is for living ... not living under stress or confines of material things in this world. Life isn’t about drinking or drugs or a perfect job or the perfect spouse or being jealous of what oth- ers have or who is right religously and who’s wrong. I want the goal of my band to be to play to people of all backgrounds and to help get people together if ONLY for a short time in harmony. UCW: Where do you see the band five years, 10 years from now? I don’t look alot into the future. I just live now, because tomorrow is not prom- ised. I would hope that my music carries on. I would hope that people can take something good from it. I would hope that it would resonate with people of all back- grounds and ages and take them somewhere mentally that regular language cannot. UCW: Where can Fayetteville music lovers check you in the near future? ND: We are in the process of maybe playing some shows at the Rock Shop in 2011. They can also check us out online at: NICKDRIVERMUSIC.COM and my album WARM IS YOUR COLOR is available there as well, and at itunes. Cheers! CONNECTION Concert CHARLIE MIKE’S PUB 195 Star Point Road • 826-6453 Tues. Open Jam — Bring your own instrument Sat. Open mic THE CROWN CENTER 1960 COLISEUM DR.,438-4100 www.atthecrown.com April 9 Dancing with the Fayetteville Stars April 16 The Orchestra featuring original members of ELO April 17 Ballet Classics THE DOGHOUSE 3049 Owen Dr. • 910-826-9761 www.thedoghousegroup.com April 6 Mike Odonell April 8 Saddlecreek Band April 9 On Tap April 10 Johnson Kinlaw BHUSKE HARDWARE HOUSE 405 Hay Street • 437-9905 www.huskehardware.com Tues. Bryan Shaw Fri. & Sat. Live DJ and Dancing IT’Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY 4118 Legend Ave. • 910-826-4635 www.itzentertainmentcity.com April 6 DL Token April 7 DJ Shawn on the patio April 10 DL Token I\LIDOS — THE EUROSPOT 102 Person St. • 222-8237 Thurs. Euro Trance Party Fri. TGIF Dance Party Sat. Ladies Night Sun. Euro Element Dance Party PADDY’S 2606B Raeford Rd. • 910-677-0055 www.paddygibneypub.com Wed. Steel Tip Dart Competition Thurs. Paddy & Bill Fri. Paddy & Bill POINDEXTER’S SALOON 115 Dunn Rd. • 433-2089 Wed. Bike Night with live music CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here’s your opportunity. We will feature all local bands in our Concert Connection, but it’s going to take a little effort on your part. 1. E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com for our Q&A. 2. Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. 3. Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. 4. Look for your article in an upcoming issue. 20 UCW APRIL 6-12, 2011 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM