Interview w/ Greenlander
Whether its alternative, groovy and progressive or progressive, groovy and alternative, Greenlander will awaken your 90′s tonal senses while indulging your more modern tastes. 
With a firm foundation in the academic branches of the pursuit of musical excellence, these rock practitioners stand at the ready to help you get your boogie on. Greenlander joins the cast of the mixed genre (rock and hip-hop) extravaganza which will be performing with The Everything Show on March 27, 2010 at Riley’s in Albany, Oregon (more info at the end of this article).
How long have you all been at it and how did you get started
GL Greenlander has been playing together since we were sophomores in high school, which was back in 2004.
How would you describe your sound and what makes it different from other bands who may be in a similar genre?
GL Our sound is heavily influenced from 90’s alternative rock. We love to groove and we do so through the use of funk, syncopation, and unison riffs. We are a progressive, groovy, alternative band.
What is a live experience with Greenlander like?
GL When our bass player doesn’t have a dislocated ankle, mono, or SARS we are a very energetic band. Our music is the source of our energy. On stage we’re not acrobats and we keep power jumping to a minimum. However on rare occasions our energy sources will level up to a bewildering 48 jewels and then we get “buck wild” and pull wicked cool combos.
What are some of your best and worst experiences at a live show?
GL As far as our worst live show goes, one time we were playing on the UO campus and the sprinklers turned on during our second song of the set. Our best live experience was when we headlined a 4th of July show at Dexter Lake and had the opportunity to share our music for 3000 awesome people.
Where do the sons of Greenlander hail from?
GL Half of the band is from Cottage Grove and the other half Creswell, Oregon. After high school we all moved to Eugene where we live now.
What do you enjoy most about the local scene there in Eugene?
GL We love the laid back helpful attitude of the other bands we play with. It is nice to be able to hang with the other bands in the area.
Who have been some of the people that have helped you as you continue to develop your sound and presence as a band?
GL When we were going to high school our music director James Phillips was a huge influence, he really helped Merlin and Thomas get heavy into music. Our parents were also really helpful providing encouragement, food and rehearsal space. Now that we are in Eugene, James Book of Ninkasi Brewery has been really supportive of our band and has been really helpful with booking and production. Also our manager Austin Kovac has been amazing with everything he does.
What are some of the best memories for Greenlander from 2009?
GL 2009 was a great year for us because we started to get sponsorship deals. Both Ninkasi and Sparks sponsored our band in 2009. Also Trevor got arrested in Mexico.
What are you looking forward to most in 2010?
GL We are really pumped for 2010 because now that we have a manager we are really starting to get our act together. We are planning a tour in the summer and planning on doing some more recordings.
What do you hope fans will take from your music?
GL Our music is all about having fun. We want people to be happy and have a good time when they listen to our music.
Any favorite stories fans have told you?
GL One of our fans told us this story: When he was 5 years old he went to visit his aunt and uncle. At this point in time he had never heard of a ferret. So he strolled into his aunt and uncles house wearing his favorite sweatshirt, excited by the prospect of seeing his relatives. He sat down on the couch, an unassuming young boy in his favorite sweatshirt. When all of a sudden out of the back room his aunt’s ferret came streaking across the room leaping through the air toward the boy. Claws extended, like a cat pouncing on a startled mouse, the ferret assaulted the boy. He can’t remember if the ferret started pooping before or after it landed on him but he was certain the feces and the ferret hit at the same time. Upon landing the ferret began clawing and twisting and really just going crazy. The boy lept up screaming and running around the room trying in vain to remove the bloodthirsty ferret. Quickly his aunt came to his aid and removed the ferret. His favorite sweatshirt shredded and covered in ferret crap the boy wept. Since that day he has had a deep-rooted hatred for ferrets.
Recent trend that you will never join?
GL College boys with their flat billed hats with the stickers still on and college girls with the giant sunglasses that make them look like flies on acid.
Anything interesting that you’ve read recently?
GL We are musicians we don’t read for fun. All of the books we are reading now are text or music type books.
What has been grabbing your attention musically?
GL The band is on a really big Porcupine Tree listening binge. We are also into Dream Theatre, Mutemath and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In your spare time, what do you enjoy watching?
GL We are watching The Office, 30 Rock and Blazers basketball.
Any crazy pre-performance rituals? When you are all divas, what will you demand be in your dressing room?
GL We don’t really do anything before shows. But when we are rock stars we are going to demand appropriately sized bread and cheese, a miniature basketball hoop, an open bar and all we can eat Charleston Chews.
What are the top 5 songs in your personal playlist right now?
GL Arriving Somewhere But Not Here – Porcupine Tree; Aeroplane – Red Hot Chili Peppers; Typical – Mutemath; Set it Off – Audioslave; Home – Dream Theatre.
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Tags: Alternative, Eugene