Interview With 'Stays In Vegas'
Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?
I am Christopher Fulmer with the rock band Stays In Vegas out of Little Rock, AR. Our members include: Christopher Fulmer – vocals/guitar, Blake Copeland – bass/backing vocals and Glen Powell – Drums.
The band has been a band since 2011. We started out as a 90’s to now, alt rock cover band doing songs by Nirvana, Foo Fighters, STP, Three Doors Down, Filter, etc. In 2014, after a few member changes we switched to strictly an original band. We released our first album, Faces for the Moment, in January 2014 and then our second album, Revelations, in February 2017. We are currently in the studio working on our third studio album, Kings of Queens, due out in fall 2018 with the advanced single, Lower I Go, just released May 22nd.
What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?
We all actually still have day jobs. I’m a safety and environmental consultant by day, musician and actor by night. Glen is a Generator Technician and Blake is a Packaging Specialist. We’ve all been in bands before, for brief periods of time and all three of us are focused on making music, and our passion, the primary career. I think we would all be happy just being on the road and doing shows and being on stage. We are music fans first and foremost, and I think you have to be for this to be successful. But also realize that to keep the dreams going, and family happy, you have to make ends meet. But all it takes is all our fans and readers to keep supporting us, and then we can focus mainly on making them happy! Hint, hint haha. That's why you have to support local music and your homegrown bands, they need it.
Tell us about your latest release and why our readers should check it out.
Our latest single, 'Lower I Go', seems to have a blend of some older Helmet with a mix of Tool. It's a heavy song with a great energy to it, while remaining lighter than a lot of songs on the radio. I think it has a driving force while be pleasing to the soul.
This new album has a darker, harder energy to it on some songs, while on others it has more of a Ramones/Clash type of vibe that's more upbeat. We like music and songs that we play to not all sound the same, to have different energies and textures, because that's what emotions do and how people interact with emotions. Imagine if someone was always happy or angry 24/7, it would get old quick. Music should be that way too. Today you’re happy, so lets listen to these songs, but tomorrow you’re sad. Well here are a couple songs for that.
Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?
Every great band that has a great energy we meet leaves me awestruck, even the local bands. I get more awestruck by the musicians and artists that are truly passionate, are open to their fans and just love music and sharing it. I’ve run into a few well-known bands and artists (will not say names) that haven’t been that way, for whatever reason, and just seemed to have that ego or lack of care for fans and the music. And that's a turn off. But I have had the great opportunity of meeting others that were genuine, that were just fans themselves and open to fans. That makes me awestruck. And that also motivates us to be that way as well, be in the crowd watching the opening band, or if we open then staying till the end of the show and supporting the local bands headlining. And then meeting the fans and just hanging out. That's special for them, and for us.
If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?
Hopefully a great time full of amazing energy, laughs, great songs and comradery amongst us and fans. We like to have fun, mess with and interact with the crowd, throw out some surprises (even a few cover songs from our fav bands) and have a great time. I like hanging at the bar with fans or rocking out in the crowd too. It's a rock show, we are all there to have fun.
If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?
I think we would all have a different band in mind, so I'll give my choice haha. I would say Foo Fighters would be my ultimate choice. Not only are they a legendary band, but also they always look like they are having an amazing time, having fun and living life on the road. They seem like they are on constant vacation! What beats that?
You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, whom would you pick, why and what would you speak about?
Honestly, back in the day I would have said Kurt Cobain. I’m a huge Nirvana fan, always have and will be. And a huge Grunge fan. But now, hands down, it would be Chris Cornell. As an artist, songwriter and humanitarian there are so many facets of life and music I would want to talk to him about. His songwriting technique, vocals tips, dealing with life and music and the balance. Just so many things you could learn from him. He was the formidable force behind the Seattle movement, was in 3 legendary bands (Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave) and had a successful solo career. He was the true awe-inspiring legend and a great human being too.
And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
I’m almost offended you have to ask that question?? Of course it is!!!! Haha. Yippie-Ki-Yay, Motherfu$&er!!!
Website - www.staysinvegasofficial.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/staysinvegas
Instagram - @staysinvegas
Twitter - @cfulmersiv