Wednesday Whatup!- Your new weekly connection to the local music scene.

Quick Stats:

Name: osaka street cutter

Genre: Alternative/ Indie Rock

Interviewees: John Godfrey [JG] and Jimmy Farina [JF]

[FEE] What’s your band’s name? How did you come up with the name?

[JG] Our band name is osaka street cutter. And I’ll never tell you how I came up with it.

[FEE] Do you currently have a label/management?

[JG] We don’t, I’m functioning as the pseudo-manager for now.

[FEE] What are you currently working on (album, touring, writing etc.)?

[JF] Writing new material, jamming with our awesome new drummer Adam Salemeh, playing with some new toys and just working on our overall live sound.

[JG] We plan on hitting the studio again really soon, and we have an all-ages gig at Church on August 20^th. It’s our first with Adam on drums and me back on bass. We are all really excited for it…it’s gonna be a great show. There are four other bands playing with us and I think I speak for everyone when I say we’d appreciate you coming to check it out.

[FEE] When did you as an artist/band start playing? How long have you been playing?

[JF] John and I have been in and out of bands together since we were 15 years old and then we decided to make a love child called “Osaka.”

[JG]The current inclination of the band started as “Honey Fitz” in September 2009. We ditched that name quick and became osaka street cutter. We added guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Dan Garrity in January and drummer Adam Salameh last month, and here we are.

[FEE] How did you learn to play your instrument(s)? Did it start in school or was it self-taught?

[JF] I started taking guitar lessons when I was 13 for a couple months. I got bored with learning other peoples’ songs so I took the chords I knew and started writing my own stuff.

[JG] I started piano lessons at 8, bass lessons at 15 and taught myself drums at 21.

[FEE] What genre would you consider yourself/ your band?

[JF] Pance auff dance auff sounds.

[JG] I think he means emotional indie rock, owing some debt to 90s alternative rock and classic pop melodies.

[FEE]What artists have influenced you? Have any other factors influenced you as well?

[JF] Dean Deleo, the guitarist of Stone Temple Pilots. He has a unique way of taking strange chords and glue-ing them together in rock songs. He has very distinct guitar tones. I really admire that.

[JG] Ben Folds. The Beatles. The Beach Boys. Weezer. Common theme: great pop songwriters.

[FEE] Who are your favorite musicians, locally and nationally?

[JG] Locally, I love Oranjuly (I never shut up about them), Oldjack and my boys in Public Beach. Glenn Yoder is fantastic. Silhouette Rising is a great up-and-coming band.

[FEE] Do your families help your music career? Did any of you get any musical talent from your family members?

[JF] My great uncle wrote “Rock Around the Clock.” I think that’s pretty kick ass.

[JG] Both our families are incredibly supportive and we love ‘em for it.

[FEE] Who else has helped you the most throughout your career?

[JG] Andrew Brodeur.

[FEE] Where have you preformed? Which places are your favorites to play?

[JG] We’ve played at Northeastern’s afterHOURS twice and Hennessey’s Hooley House twice. We played in a kid named Andy’s garage a few times in Weymouth back in 2009. We’re psyched to get into Church; it’s a whole ‘nother level for us.

[FEE] What’s the most bizarre or crazy thing that has happened to you as you were playing a live set, or before/after a show?

[JF] John and I performed a half-assed version of a wrestling move at the end of a set at afterHOURS and got entirely no response from fellow hipsters and trash superstars.

[JG] We’ve had some terrible luck with equipment. At two different Hennessey’s shows, Jimmy broke two strings on the first song and I played a whole set with a falling ride cymbal and a high-hat that wouldn’t stay open. Rock.

[FEE] How do you prepare for a live performance? How do you get rid of any nervousness before you go on stage?

[JF] I learned that nerves are good. It proves that I still care about something.

[JG] Cheap draft beer. Just kidding. Cheap vodka drinks.

[FEE] What are your goals as musicians?

[JF] We would love to get big purely out of spite.

[JG] Yes. And I’d love to tour the country, have people sing our songs back to us. Typical, but undeniable.

[FEE] How do you set yourself / yourselves apart from all the other acts out there?

[JF] Dan and I rarely use power chords in our writing and guitar playing and John’s been bringing back the Big Muff pedal on bass. No one has the same band name as us so that’s a gold star on our fridge.

[JG] Musically, an emphasis on melody. Chops don’t matter unless you’ve got a good song. Also our versatility – I can play a couple instruments and Dan can play (deep breath) guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, synth, saxophone, and percussion. It’s amazing what he can do.

[FEE] What your biggest challenge as a band/artist?

[JF] Our personal schedules are our biggest challenge. It’s never easy being young attractive lads. Everyone wants a piece of your ass and it can get in the way of setting up band practices.

[FEE] What do you as an artist/group do to reach out to your fans?

[JG] Our fanbase is still growing since we’ve had to revamp the band so much to perfect our sound. Now that the band is on solid footing, I’ve got some marketing ideas up my sleeve. Without a doubt, our number one priority is to spend as much face time with everyone as we can.

[FEE] Is there any advice you have for the acts just starting out?

[JF] My advice for other bands is to have as much communication as possible and to be honest.

[FEE] What is your greatest success so far as a band/artist?

[JG] The completion of recording 2 songs, “Macy’s Beachway” and “Try,” as well as transitioning into an actively-gigging band. I’m so proud that we’re out of the proverbial basement.

[FEE]  Where can soon-to-be fans go and listen to your music?

[JG] http://osakastreetcutter.bandcamp.com for music and http://facebook.com/osakastreetcutter to connect.

Thanks in advance!