Backstage Pass - Sheldon Vance - Interview

ATP

For the record, who's answering the interview?

SHELDON VANCE

Sheldon Vance

ATP

What is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?

SHELDON VANCE

Since I'm solo, I just use my given name. Tried using a band name once, but it just caused confusion.

ATP

So who's in the band and what instruments do you each play?

SHELDON VANCE

Just myself, I play guitar, write the tunes, and sing 'em.

ATP

How would you describe your sound. What makes you unique?

SHELDON VANCE

I call it Appalachian Acoustic Punk. Basically, it's all the music and influences I grew up on all distilled down to a simple, honest sound. There's everything from punk rock, to bluegrass, Gospel, and old-school country in there.

ATP

What bands have influenced each of you?

SHELDON VANCE

A lot! A few of the main ones are 7Seconds, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, NOFX, Dropkick Murphys, Lagwagon, John Prine, Waylon Jennings, John Cash, a lot of old Oi! bands like Sham 69, Steve Earle, Rancid, Operation Ivy, Green Day.

ATP

How experienced are you on the stage, a virgin or whore?

SHELDON VANCE

I'm a total slut..lol. I'm 34, and I've been playing since I was 14. My old band did years worth of self booked touring, usually 200+ shows per year.

ATP

How would you describe your shows?

SHELDON VANCE

Sweat, energy, sing-a-longs

ATP

Tell us about your favorite show and why?

SHELDON VANCE

I'd say one of them was with my old band, we played a house show in Iowa in this guys kitchen. It was nuts, but the kids went off! There was just tons of brotherhood and good times at that show. It was a text book example of how it should be.

ATP

Tell us about your worst show and why?

SHELDON VANCE

Wow...lemme see, there's always some redeeming quality to just about every show. The worst are the ones where you're just background noise at a bar.

ATP

Tell Us About Your Dream Show, who you'd like to play with and where?

SHELDON VANCE

I'd love to play with Steve Earle, Kevin Seconds, or Chuck Ragan somewhere in Europe. The shows over there look sick, they really embrace music and art in a deeper, more enthusiastic way.

ATP

Do you have a street team and how can you join?

SHELDON VANCE

I don't have one at the moment, but feel free to share thru Facebook

ATP

Do you have a record label and if not are you looking for one?

SHELDON VANCE

I'm independent, but I'm open to opportunities.

ATP

What are your plans for the future, in a year, 5 years?

SHELDON VANCE

Keep playing no matter what, I have some small golas in mind, but overall, I just want to keep moving forward with my music.

ATP

Finally, do have any words on what Arm The Pit means to you?

SHELDON VANCE

You guys seem to be one of the first, and only sites/labels that genuinely "get it". It's good to find some folks who are genuine advocates of the bands and musicians, and are doing things for the right reasons.