band - 10-49 12.7.06 interview with Joey McNew

BP: What's up Joey....you guys have been pretty busy lately, to say the least. What motivates you to play so many shows? JM: We are doing many shows for several reasons. The first, we are a fairly new band in the area and we wanted to get out and do some shows to let everyone know we are here and here to stay for as long as we feel that 10-49 producing fresh material, and will be the name that everyone will soon hear and know anywhere we may be performing at that current night and months ahead, and even years down the road. Second, we love to be playing, and we will be doing around 40 to 60 shows this coming year, with some local bands and some national acts as well. So be on the lookout for 10-49! BP: I know 10-49 plays mostly covers, tell us a little about why you prefer to do covers instead of originals. JM: It is very important to each of us in the band to give the people wherever we are their money's worth and more at every venue we're at. We will be hopefully setting new standards for the local band scene, to bring the big concert look and feel to any size venue we're at. We will take no shortcuts to get the name and our show with music (being covers, and our originals to everyone). BP: That leads me to my next question. Can you tell us about some of the original work you guys have done? JM: We have been working on some originals lately, we are now just putting the finishing touches to each song before we record and send off for the complete mastered retail-ready cd to be released in early '07. This cd will be interesting, to say the least. You can log on to www.10-49.com soon to hear some of the new songs. BP: Any idea when, specifically, that we might expect the cd in early '07? JM: We will be spending a great deal of money and time to get this to it's perfection, for recording and mastering. We will be posting a release date soon on the Official 10-49 website. BP: Joey, every time I see a pic of your drum kit, it amazes me. Who were some of the drummers that you listened to growing up, and who made you really want to become a drummer? JM: Well, I play a Pearl Masters Custom Pearl set with what is called a Diamond Burst finish with black titanium hardware. This is a great kit! It's one that I have great pride in playing in each time we are performing. I use Zildjian Avedis cymbals exclusively. The companies used in my setup are Pearl, Zildjian, LP (Latin Percussion) ProMark, REMO, Gibraltar Powerhouse Rack System, and more of the top names in percussion hardware. I began playing drums at the age of 5 years old, with my first set being Pearl, of course. For 27 years it has been Pearl all they way, and it's been a great sound that I have grown to know well and expect! LOL I remember back in 1978 my brother bought me my first KISS album, KISS Alive, and the more I listened to it the more I started thinking man, Id like to play drums after being educated by my brother of KISS. So I received my first kit for my 5th birthday and here I am today 27 years later! So, you could say it was Peter Criss that gave me the beginning stages of wanting to be a drummer. As far as what I did, and what I do listen to now, I listen to everything from pop, country, jazz, alternative, death metal, and everything in between. BP: I keep hearing you guys have big things in store for early '07....care to elaborate on any of that, or do you just plan to continue keeping me in the dark like the hoarding bastard you are? (j/k) JM: Yes, you are right! We have some big things in store for 07! As you are right Randy, I can't let the cat out of the bag just yet! LOL But I can say it will be very cool. Stay in touch with the Official 10-49 website and here at BannedPromotions.com for any upcoming details. I can say that several of the national shows coming to Cape Girardeau, we'll be right in the middle of. So keep a check here and the 10-49 website for more information. BP: I'm assuming 10-49 is maybe a police code....something to that effect. Am I close or not even close? JM: Well you are close! The name came from a very chaotic time in a prison, of all things. The name came up in about 2 minutes when I received a call from a close friend of 10-49 named Bad Bones and said we need a band for tomorrow night at Lake Wappapello, MO. They had one to cancel, and of course the kind of guy that I am, I said we'll be there! BP: I understand you guys are going to do a live recording in Malden, at the Long Branch bar......can you tell us more about that? JM: We are set to do a live recording with a production crew at the Long Branch in Malden on January 5th and 6th. Since this is one of our a hot spots, this just happens to be in Malden for us, and the people of Malden really know how to Rock and Roll. The people in Malden are great everytime we're there. BP: Joey you've, at times, been the drummer for notable acts like Roy Clark & Tommy Cash- among others, tell us how you got in with those guys...... JM: Well it all started with being at the right place at the right time! I used to spend days and weeks at a time in Nashville and Branson with all the other players hoping to get a gig and the one big break into music. It all started when I joined the Musician's Referral Service. This helps the people in charge find all the players that are serious and not just the weekend warriors kind of people. These people are looking for guys that can hear a song or cd and go out and play it live in 45 minutes to an hour from hearing the thing! With Tommy Cash, I had no warning but about an hours notice. So I had to go get my drums from a local club and get over there and setup within 2 hours of showtime. I just received a call out of nowhere for a gig there. The others were being at the right time and place when they needed someone right then. I was also, and currently one of the first call drummers in the area. This took many, many, many hours, weeks, and years of practice to get to the current state of drumming that I am at now. So if anyone is starting, has been a drummer, or currently drumming you must have pro quality equipment, a professional attitude, and a good practice ethic to be considered for anything like this to happen for you. Good luck! BP: You've also got a few side projects going on. Can you tell us more about them, and maybe throw out a few plugs? JM: Well I have, over the years, been my number one priority in life to be drumming in a band first off. I am currently with 10-49 and Wicked Felina (which will have a new song released in early '07. BP: Anything else coming up that you want to mention? JM: This coming year 2007 will be a very busy year for local bands as well as 10-49. With all that we have to offer including a few cd release shows in early '07. We will also have the new cd on radio stations we select for contest giveaways and more! Come and experience 10-49- with a one-of-a-kind, very energetic show sure to set the new standards of the local music scene! We will also be doing more radio interviews starting December 29th live in the KYMO 105.3 studio in East Prairie, MO. We will be on the Reid Howell Morning Show at 9am with a new song! BP: Thanks for the great interview Joey, and best wishes to you and the band. May the New Year be an even busier one than '06...... ( www.BANNEDPROMOTIONS.com/10-49interview )