Warbirds are one of the hardworking young bands playing gigs around Melbourne. They have great songs that are filled with energy and catchy hooks which are tailor made for radio. Like many of their peers their struggles with financing the band can be tough, but the love of writing and performing real music keeps them moving forward.

 

Front man Anth Nekich answered some questions about his influences, gaining exposure in an industry that appears to have turned its back on rock music, and what the future holds for Warbirds.

 

What first got you interested in music and what does it mean to you?

 

Listening to my older brother’s album collection when I was about 8. Hearing the likes of the Doors, Van Halen, Kiss, The Cult etc. was very inspiring. Music to me is kind of like oxygen, I need it to survive haha!

 

How did Warbirds come into being and is there a story behind the name?

 

I had an idea with Jason (bassist) to play ‘radio friendly’ heavy/hard melodic rock in a 3 piece format…keeping it raw but also challenging. There’s not really a story behind the name, we just liked the sound and image of old school Warbird fighter planes as it fits in well with the brand of rock we play.

 

How would you describe Warbirds to someone who hasn’t heard your music?

 

Modern Hard rock with classic rock influences with progressive moments…along with catchy melodies.

 

From the five songs on the EP Almost In Reach I’m hearing a lot of different influences in your music. Who are some of the bands that have influenced you as a musician?

 

There are many! As a guitarist Van Halen is at the top of the list along side Jimmy Page, Mick Mars, John Petrucci, Chris DeGarmo, Ace Frehley to mention a few. Vocal influences include Ian Ashbury, Sammy Hagar, Paul Stanley, Chris Cornell again just a few to mention

 

In terms of song-writing, how does the band like to compose the songs?

 

We don’t have a specific system. Sometimes we would all together work on riffs in the studio and compose the song other times Jason or myself will bring complete songs to the table then again refine them in the studio. I primarily work on the lyrics and melodies and also have Jase help out with some ideas.

 

What are some of the difficulties you guys have faced getting the band off the ground?

 

The internet and Social media (although it does have its bonuses when promotion is concerned) has made it very difficult to get numbers at gigs as you can watch bands without seeing them at the show. Music is also downloaded these days which obviously affects the amount you make at gigs trying to sell cd’s… also, selling songs/albums online isn’t that profitable either, it’s not good.

 

How do you fund recording sessions, promoting, etc and what sacrifices does it take on a personal level?

 

All three of us have jobs. It does get challenging at times especially when funds are needed, we all have mortgages and rent to pay plus equipment to maintain. We do ‘try’ to maintain a band account but your personal life will take a back seat sometimes…

 

Live music has made a big come back in the past few years. What do you think it is about live music that brings in the punters?

 

It’s the energy that you get from a show, the connection you make with the band. I think that having a signature sound (good gear) and also presence on stage are both important…putting on a show is a must!

 

So much of the mainstream music industry is filled with artists using auto tune, sampling, mash ups, etc. Do you think technology has had a negative effect on music?

 

The main positive effect technology has had is that it has made recording a lot cheaper and easier as its more readily available (home studios etc.) while still getting a good product. Apart from that it has made it possible for people to become ‘musicians’ overnight and focus more on what shoes they’re wearing at a show than their performance… we’re a lot more old school and so use as little ‘help’ as possible when we’re recording. We’d prefer to practice and make sure that we sound as good on stage as we do on a recording!

 

What is your opinion of downloading music / streaming, either legally or illegally?

 

I disagree with it, period. Bands do not break even yet alone make a profit after the amount of money that is spent on recording and running a band by giving their music away or receiving minimum for online sales. By buying music or merchandise directly from the band web site/page or gig you are supporting them 100%.

 

There’s been a transitional period for the music industry in recent years with the decline of the studios and the increased popularity of home recording, self-promotion via social media, etc. It’s hard to say what the end result of all this change will be. Is it a good time for young bands in this modern age?

 

That’s a tough one. I think generally that it’s generally a difficult climate right now…bands these days also need to spend as much time on the internet as you do practicing to be able to make the most of online promotion etc. Also promoters want a packaged deal when it comes to putting bands on the bill (in regards to promotion both physical and online, selling tickets etc… ironically that’s what the promoter should be taking more responsibility for, as they did once upon a time) so it can be pretty challenging for a band starting off. An average band that can guarantee heads will get preference to a great band that cannot commit to bringing ‘x’ amount of people at a show. But again with persistence come rewards, nothing can compete with hard work.

 

What advice would you give to a young musicians, bands, who want to get into the local live music scene?

 

Having a solid set list to play and continued song writing is important, you’ll find that your songs will gradually improve and you should also be finding your style/sound as a band. Also networking is very important, teaming up with other bands and venue owners will help with playing more shows, play as many shows as possible…having a good time is a must, enjoy playing!

 

In addition to Warbirds, you’re a member of Moments Apart. What sets the two bands apart and can it be difficult being a member of two bands at the same time?

 

It can be challenging at times. I’m the lead guitarist in M.A so my responsibilities are different and also the music styles vary so it’s a nice outlet for me, they’re also a great bunch of guys. There’s more of a work load in the Warbirds, there’s only 3 members so there is a lot of time spent online as well as writing, playing shows and rehearsing. It’s not too difficult to juggle the bands, you just need to allocate rehearsal times and let them know what dates you have locked in for shows, rarely would you be double booked but even then you might manage to play both gigs!

 

Warbirds has the debut EP Almost In Reach to their name. Will you be releasing new music in the coming year?

 

Yes. We’ve just finished recording a new single ‘Reality Check’ with Chris Themelco and have a film clip for it in the pipeline. We should be having the launch for it around March. We can’t wait to get this song out there, it is the first film clip for the Warbirds and the track is killer. It is a great representation of the direction that the band is going in.

 

What would you like to achieve with Warbirds?

 

We’d like to develop a stronger fan base, lock in some small tours in the meantime and get more exposure. Eventually opening for some bigger international bands and try to get abroad, the live scene in Europe is great especially for Australian bands, but our focus will always be the Aussie rock scene and our local fans.

 

Further information on Warbirds, including upcoming gigs and releases can be found on their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/Warbirdsrock

 

Their EP Almost In Reach can be purchased here

http://warbirdsrock.bandcamp.com/releases