Los Angeles alt-rockers Raised On TV play the Maui Sugar Mill this week, the final date on a 20+ gig tour that has seen them travel around the country. We chatted with guitarist/vocalist Keaton Rogers about it all…
L.A. WEEKLY: When and how did the band form?
KEATON ROGERS: We formed back in the summer of 2015. The drummer [Kacey Greenwood] is my brother, so we always wanted to have a band together, always thought it would be cool. At that time, we were both in different bands that fell apart and broke up by chance at the same time. The stars aligned and that was a chance for us to start a new band together so we brought in his best friend from high school, a guy named Ryan [Weiss]. We all got together in Ryan’s mom’s garage that summer and we jammed away, got about ten songs together, and then started playing shows around early 2016.
Describe the sound…
Since the beginning it’s been influenced by a lot of ‘60s bands and a lot of ‘90s bands. So a lot of ‘60s psychedelia influence from Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Cream, The Zombies — a lot of guitar work from back then. And also, a lot of straightforward, grittier rock from the ‘90s — bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. Some punk and also bands like Weezer. Some newer indie type stuff like Death Cab for Cutie. A lot of the songwriting was taken from the newer bands and then fused with the psychedelic ‘60s musical arrangements. That’s how we started, and we’re still very much on that page. Our sound has progressed and developed, but that’s still very much what we are.
What do you write about?
All kinds of stuff. I try not to limit myself too much as far as subject material goes. Recently I’ve been writing a lot about the struggle of pursuing the dream of music while trying to pay rent and being able to afford to eat and live while all the while putting all your energy into your music and work. A lot of the songs have that feeling in there. I also write about things that everyone writes about — relationships going well, relationships going poorly, losing friends, what it means to grow up and not lose the way you saw the world as a kid.
Do you enjoy van life and touring?
I enjoy it very much. I’m driving in the band’s van right now that we just got for this tour we’re about to go on. But even when it’s gritty and dirty I enjoy it. We all love traveling to new cities and meeting new people.
What can we expect from the L.A. set?
You can expect a band that’s gonna be really tight and practiced, coming off a string of 20+ shows. We might be a little tired but that’s ok.
When
this tour is over, what else do you have planned for 2019?
Our big plans are releasing our second album, Season 2. We want to out that out in the fall so we’re getting that together. We want to make some new music videos. Hopefully, plan some bigger shows back in L.A. and build our fanbase more.