Interviews: Pageant

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Rock band Pageant from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or come out just like that?

Roxxi (Lead Vocals & Bass): Well, I was on the phone with Dylan and we had been trying to come up with a band name for a while and just couldn’t think of anything. I was sitting in my room at my parents’ house looking around when I saw a poster that I had on my wall from a play I was in growing up, called “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. I just said to Dylan, “What about Pageant?” and he was like “That’s sick!” We brought it up to Dezzy and after that, it just stuck.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Dylan (Drums): When I was really little, I remember my Dad told me once about a drummer who would spin upside down while playing at his concerts and I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. Flash forward to when I was around 14 years old and I became just absolutely obsessed with Motley Crue. Tommy Lee was like an idol to me and watching videos of him playing made it clear to me that I wanted nothing more than to play rock music like him. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Roxxi: Well for starters, Cam (Rhythm Guitar) and I are siblings, so when they joined the band it didn’t really take any adjusting. I’ve known Dylan for around 11 years and we’ve been friends since we were kids. We met Dezzy (Lead Guitar) online during Covid through a website called Bandsintown when we were looking for a guitarist to join our band. After lockdown was over, Dylan and I met up to jam with him, and it immediately all clicked together.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Dezzy: It’s between Strangeways and Steelheart for me. 

Roxxi: My favorite band right now has to be Strangeways. If you haven’t heard of them, go check ‘em out.

Cam: Gotta be Talking Heads for me. 

Dylan: I think I’d be lying if I said anything other than Aerosmith. Nothing beats their ballads.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Dylan: Before I sit down to write a song, I usually have a very specific vibe I wanna go for. Sometimes I’ll become really obsessed with a band or a specific song and just really want to make something that makes me feel the same way as that song. I’ll listen to songs I like over and over again to pick apart the bits that make me like it so much, and then try and really focus on why I like those parts. Then, I try and think of melodies or words that could convey that same feeling that those parts make me feel, and rewrite it over and over again until it can become something different and unique.

6. Where was your last gig?

Dylan: Our last venue gig was at The Whisky A Go Go opening for Faster Pussycat. That show was a dream come true. Since then, we’ve actually been playing a lot of college shows at fraternities and sororities all around the East before we pack up to go back to the studio for most of November.

7. Where would you like to act?

Cam: Red Rocks is a dream venue for me. We’ve already been lucky enough though to play two of our dream venues, The Viper Room and The Whisky. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Roxxi Robert: Probably someone like Paul McCartney. Maybe even Bruno Mars.

Cam: Smith. 

9. Whom not?

Cam: Morrissey. 

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Dylan: I used to get nervous before almost every show, and honestly I still do sometimes. I feel like the only way to get over a fear of anything is to just do it more. The more shows we’ve played, we’ve become more confident in our abilities to perform and so we’ve become less nervous to do it. Also, I would say don’t stress yourself out with the “what if’s”. Just get out there and do it and whatever happens, you’ll deal with it and figure it out. There’s no point in stressing yourself out beforehand with scenarios of everything going wrong that haven’t even happened yet. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Dezzy: I think my biggest inspiration has to be Aerosmith. Those guys know how to write songs like no one else. Every song is so full of a specific emotion and I strive to achieve that. 

Roxxi: Guns N’ Roses and W.A.S.P have been two huge inspirations for me. 

Camron: The Strokes have always inspired me to want to do music. 

Dylan: Honestly, I feel like I get inspiration for different things from so many different people and bands. A few that have inspired me the most to want to be a better musician and artist over the years are Aerosmith, Skid Row, Motley Crue, The Black Crowes, The Stones, Nickelback (don’t care what anyone says their songs are awesome), and even artists like Tyler The Creator, Jeff Buckley, and Frank Ocean. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Cam: My hair. 

13. What do you think of your fans?

Dylan: We think they’re awesome. They’re the only reason we can do what we love to do and we are extremely grateful for that. The most awesome thing for us to see is when people at our shows meet other people that they become friends with or when people online tell us they met one of their best friends through our community. When I was 14 and wanted nothing more than to start a band like this, I didn’t know anyone who was into the same stuff as me and didn’t know how to meet anyone who was. So, for us to be able to connect people with common interests in any way is the coolest thing ever to me. 

14. What do you think of our site? 

Cam: It looks sick, we’re honored to be included in it!

15. Something you'd like to add?

Stream our newest single, “Leave You Behind”, out now on all streaming services!