In just a few months Voted Most Random (VMR) has been able to cover more than some bands do in a year. They have been featured on Seventeen Magazine’s seventeen.com Freshman 15, opened for international touring act We the Kings and won the East Coast Indie Battle of the Bands to play at Warped Tour. They all have a unique sound with influences of Blink-182, All Time Low, The Rocket Summer, NeverShoutNever, Avenged Sevenfold, Dashboard Confessional. Everyone had their own influences but all very similar.
The band consists of Sal Salemme of Connecticut, Ian Reibeisen and Bennett Pisaniello of New York, Joe Mauti and Scott Gunter of New Jersey.
On October 3rd, 2010, I took the time to see the band perform a mix of covers and a few originals in Hamden, CT at The Space. I was given the opportunity to meet the boys and ask them a few questions:
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How did the band all meet?
Sal – Scott and I were in a band called the Big Time Nobodys, which ended up breaking up. Scott and I decided to start our own project. I met Bennett in a class, Joe in a meeting for a group, and Bennett was already friends with Ian. But overall, we all met through mutual friends.
How did the band start out?
Ian- The way I think we all started was that the four of them signed up for a battle of the bands for the Next Big Thing Tour in NYC. Their previous singer could not commit to the band, so Bennett asked if I would fill in for at least this show. I ended up joining the band full time. I just recently ended my relationship with my girlfriend so I thought I would try new things. Then we just rocked out.
What are the band’s influences?
Bennett – We all have similar yet different influences. These include Blink-182, New Found Glory, All Time Low, NeverShoutNever, The Rocket Summer, Avenged Sevenfold, Dashboard Confessional.
Why Voted Most Random?
Joe and Scott-It was Sal’s High School Superlative.
Through Facebook, I have noticed you guys are supporters of the organization known as “To Write Love On Her Arms,” I am too. Do you guys feel like they are doing enough for those in need of help?
Scott- Okay now we are going to get emotional here. As we all know the charity focuses on suicide and drug addiction preventions. Due to personal experiences with a friend, I guess I liked the charity because it helps me give back and help others out with their struggles. We see people wearing their shirts and bracelets at our shows and that it looks like they are doing a great job with organization.
How was the album Party Naked written?
Joe- Party Naked was a song, not an album, we do hope to record an album hopefully in the winter, but we are still unsure of the name. Party Naked was written about having fun and not worrying about how others think and live your life to the best of how you want it to be.
What is the band’s favorite live song to play?
Joe-Can’t Stand Still
Sal-Dirty Games
Bennett-Can’t Stand Still and Party Naked
Scott-Can’t Stand Still
Ian- Here I Go.
Who does the arranging for the events and gigs for the band?
Joe-I do most of the arranging since I have the most time on my hands. They find shows they want us to do and I e-mail the venues. It doesn’t get stressful since I’m doing it for us so we are able to play shows. What’s aggravating is that there are venues that never answer my e-mails.
Are there any new songs in making?
Ian-We are in the progress of going to the studio in New York City on October 16th, to record two songs, Can’t Stand Still and Dirty Games. We are now writing two new songs with no titles as of now. One has lyrics and the other is instrumental.
What is the story behind, Here I Go?
Ian-The story is between going back and forth at the end of a relationship of what you wanted at the time, feeling at one point where you have to let go for the best, and at the same time how much the person meant to you. Its the everyday struggles of ending a relationship.
Do you guys feel different on stage and everyday life?
We do feel different in our everyday life and on stage because people know who we are when we’re on stage…then while we walk around campus nobody really knows about all the cool stuff we do together.
What’s happening to VMR once college is over?
We are willing to stay committed to the band even after college. We want to stay together doing this for the rest of our lives.
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VMR played a very entertaining show that I’ve personally never seen in my life. The band made everyone feel important, the crowd in the back was just as important as those in the front. They played a fantastic cover of Love is Our Weapon by NeverShoutNever, and a few All Time Low songs as well. If you’re in the area of one of their gigs, I suggest you to take the time to see them you won’t be disappointed by their performance. Voted Most Random will also be opening for Cute is What We Aim For on October 17th, at The Loft(Chance Theater).
You can find them on Myspace on www.myspace.com/VotedMostRandom
Their YouTube link: www.youtube.com/VotedMostRandom
Purevolume: www.purevolume.com/VotedMostRandom
Follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VotedMostRandom
“Like” their Fan page on: www.facebook.com/VotedMostRandom
Like the boys would say, “Stay Random!”
Thanks guys for this interview, I hope to see you all soon.
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