Burning Bridges
Rock
, SC
Cover Band
Interview with Burning Bridges
What made you decide to create "Burning Bridges"?
Brad and I were looking to form a band around the same time in the late fall 2021 and both placed adds on Craigslist Greenville. I saw his add for a Rush/Pink Floyd/Led Zepellin/Yes/Kansas Tribute Band. I thought it was too ambitious and complicated. I almost didn’t respond but I kept thinking someone with those ambitions was either delusional or extremely talented. I had played with a Pink Floyd Tribute Band named Continuous Signal while living in Los Angeles. I had also played Rush, Yes, Led Zeppelin, and Kansas songs with cover bands in the past. I responded that I was interested in forming a band but didn’t think it should be a Tribute Band and certainly not one that ambitious. We chose a bunch of songs, met up in my home studio and there was immediate musical chemistry. The rest is History. We had a slow start filling the Bass player spot and even had a couple lead singers come and go over the first year before we found Michael (AKA Yoda). We settled into mostly a trio act but did recently play a few shows with a second guitarist before returning to a trio.
How did you come up with the name?
Andrew was playing with an Improv Trio in Los Angeles that he initially called The LA Project. The group was tossing around official names one day and the Bass player, Stewart O’Dell, threw out the name “Burning Bridges.” The group was never able to settle on a name and Andrew moved out of California but always liked that name. When Brad and Andrew brought up naming the Band, this was before Michael joined, Andrew threw it out somewhat as a joke expecting Brad to also throw out some names. Instead Brad said yes that is the name. We only considered one name it turns out.
Tell us about your repertoire! What made you choose the songs you play?
We try to be very broad in the material we cover so there is something for almost anyone. We want to fill a space that no other Band in the Upstate fills. We also try to stick to well know hits; not B sides or more obscure songs. We have learned many songs and we keep the ones people like and we play well. If one or the other isn’t satisfied we drop the song and only play it again if it is requested. We currently have a very long list of tunes we have learned.
What would you say you enjoy most about performing live?
It is two-fold. One is being able to connect with a crowd and see them enjoy the music along with us. Music is a form of nonverbal communication despite the lyrics. The second is the feeling inside our heads that comes along with interacting with other musicians on a musical level. If you are not a musician or are one and are not playing with others you are missing out on something truly amazing.
Do you get request to perform certain songs? If so, how do you handle them?
Yes, we do get requests often. If we can play the song we play it. If we can’t, it seems to come up on multiple occasions, and it is a well known hit we learn it for future shows.
Does "Burning Bridges" have any cool shows or notable events coming up?
Our drummer is starting a job with Prisma Health Systems at Laurens County Hospital soon. Burning Bridges will be playing a show in Downtown Laurens (Sept 27 Downtown Laurens) sponsored by Prisma Health. We are very excited about that Community Outreach. Two of our musicians are Nurses and one is a Doctor. We are all also Veterans; two served in the Army and one in the Navy. To our knowledge we are the only Medical and Veteran Band in the Upstate. We also have shows at great venues such as 3 Friends Piedmont (June 7), Sharky’s Pub (June 22 / Aug 10 / Oct 12), Vaughns Food Hall (April 13), The Station (May 3), Steddy’s (May 24), City Tavern (June 28), Timms Harley Davidson (Aug 1), and 3 Friends Taylors (Aug 30).
Do you have any notable achievements with "Burning Bridges"?
We were excited about finally breaking into the Downtown Greenville scene in January 2024 when we played at Sharkey’s Pub and then City Tavern. The crowds at those two were amazing and energetic. A responsive crowd really amps up the excitement of performing.
What are your fondest memories with "Burning Bridges"?
It would have to be the answer. Breaking in to the Downtown Greenville scene. Those shows were "electric." We can’t describe the feeling of being a part of shows like that. It is an unbelievable feeling. I can’t imagine how it would feel to play in a theatre or larger venue let alone an arena. It must be nice though considering how much fun it is to play to an interactive bar/pub crowd. If you are out watching a band play get up and feed some energy into the band. I assure you it will come back in spades.
What would you say "Burning Bridges" struggled with that led you to start using Bandinq?
I wouldn’t say it was a struggle that lead to us embracing Bandinq and starting an account. We have a feeling Bandinq is what the local bar/entertainment industry needs. We are hoping that Bandinq will continue to develop into very successful community tool/resource; a tool for musicians and venues to connect. It can be difficult to get responses from venues and to get booked even when you are a good band and have audio and video to prove it. For a long time we went to venues with business cards, EPKs, links to promo videos and it usually yielded no interest. We have jumped over that hurdle. It took help from the Upstates established bands vouching for us and recommending us to Venues. We are thankful for their help. It would be nice to find an efficient way for up and coming bands to get decision makers at Venues to spend a few minutes looking at the bands when they approach them. Maybe Bandinq will become that resource for Venues and Bands.
What would be once piece of advice that you could give to aspiring musicians, or up-and-coming artists looking to perform?
Don’t get discouraged. Keep crafting your show and when you hit the wall we all hit trying to get on the radar of the Venues just keep going. You have to muscle through a few walls to get on that radar. You also have to deliver when you get those opportunities. Go see the other Upstate bands perform and interact with them in person and on social media. They can and will help you. They are the acts the Venues call when they have a spot to fill and if those bands already have a show that date they will recommend others they know can deliver. You need to get on their list of bands to recommend.
Want to be featured in our series?
We feature an artist/band once a month in our showcase series! If you are looking to have your band/project featured in our series, set up your free Bandinq account and register your band!
Create an Account Contact Us