A Free Man

Still catching up with some of the things I had in the pipeline prior to the move. Regular readers may remember that A Free Man spent some time in search of talent from Florida on a recent trip back there. It was, well, largely unsuccessful - the state really is a cultural backwater.

There are, however, glimmers of talent in the void that is the Florida music scene. The Semis are a solid rock quartet from Florida’s west coast.These guys came highly recommended from a friend of a friend in Clearwater who swore that these guys put on a helluva live show. A claim that’s reinforced by the legion of myspace fans clamoring for more.

The Semi’s front man, Billy Summer, took a seat on A Free Man’s virtual couch for a chat about his crew and the state of music in his home state.

MP3: The Semis - “Crowned Out”
MP3: The Semis - “No Function”

AFM: Let’s get to know the band. Who plays what and how long have you been playing together?I like your music, it’s got a driving post-pop tempo, with the random cheeky sex-influenced lyrics thrown in for good measure. Describe your sound to me in ten words or less.

BS: The Semis were founded by Billy Summer, singer/guitar, Joe Harley, guitar, and Cristian Ripoll on Drums. The line up has fluctuated a lot over the 6 years that we’ve playing and recorded in the Tampa Bay area. The line up as of now consists of Billy Summer, guitar/vox, Matt Simmons, guitar/vox, Don Butler on bass, and Sean Crash Merrill on the drums. He’s our newest addition and has really adapted well to the chaotic life of a Semi!

Our sound in 10 words or less? : Self indulgent sub-southern voluminous rock with swirling loud guitars and infectious melody. Is that close?

AFM: Well, it’s more than ten words, but pretty good. And it’s the lyrics that sell me at the end of of the day – “Asian Girls” is brilliant. Who does the song-writing for The Semis? Which of your songs is the most Floridian?

BS: I, Billy, write the lyrics and the music. “Asian Girls” was actually a poem a wrote for class while in College out in Oregon. I got a c- cuz they thought it could be interpreted as racist. I didn’t mean it that way, of course!

AFM: Which of your songs is the most Floridian?

BS: The song Backyard from the Route 666 album is pretty Floridian. However, the new record we’re working on now is totally about the beach and how living on it makes you realize just how fucked up living in traffic jams can make you and, I tell ya, they figure that sprawl is the answer to Florida’s population problem, but, friend, the ghetto expands like the universe down here; one day it’s gonna implode. This album is tentatively titled A Year In The Sun. The lyrical content leans toward a more positive existence compared to the others which were all about the trials and sadness of a life committed to sinking into a demise of pure decadence. Smell me?

AFM: What’s the difference between a great live band and a great studio band? Which would you rather be?

BS: I’d rather be both. I can never accurately capture what I do in the studio when we play live. I’d have to have 16 guitar players and a 2 fingered keyboard guy or gal. The live shows come across with a more raw, aggressive sound. We leave a little room to expand when we play out. Plus, the tempos we use live often differ from what you get on the record. But if you can’t duplicate your record note for note live then you better put on a hell of an entertaining show! Lot of bands these days don’t seem to have a lot of charisma. I came up in the 80’s and, although the music was pretty corny, when those bands played live there was a whole lot of energy in the room. The sparks ignited from all things rawk in those times. I like to capture that when I play.

AFM: Who’s the best live act (living or dead) ever?

BS: Bon Scott era AC/DC, MC5, GWAR, Roth era Van Halen (but not this time around..), Thin Lizzy. Of course, I was too young to witness most of these bands in their heyday. My first real concert was Cheap Trick in, like, 82 or 83. That show left an enormous impression on me. Robin Zander lives round here. When I saw him I almost threw up on his shirt whilst I was shittin’ in my pants…. Alcohol and meeting idols is rarely a good mix..

AFM: Which artist (living or dead) would you most like to play a club show with? What about an arena show?

BS: I’d like to play with The Posies or maybe The Makers. They’re still alive, I think. But, really, and I mean I’d REALLY love to have played with The Kinks back in their day. Course that would make me about 400 years old now. So maybe I’m glad that never transpired. Also, there’s a great new band called Peachfuzz that I would love to play with if they ever venture down to the dangle of America… You should check em out!

AFM: OK, Now it comes to the part of the program in which we talk about The Sunshine State. I grew up in Florida and am trying to phrase this question in a way other than “Why does Florida suck?” I have really struggled to find talented bands from Florida. What’s going on down there? Is it a cultural wasteland or am I missing out on a scene?

BS: No, you have it right. But it’s more of a cultural vortex. There have always been great bands here, but the audience thins when these non-musicians leave to pursue a better job market. Can’t blame them. But it leaves great artists frustrated with a very small fan base. As far as limited opportunity for bands, well, it’s an 8 hour drive just to get to Atlanta! This makes touring tough because the bands that do the circuit up there tend to leave or forget about the Florida scene once they get on that rotation. Even most signed acts, most that I’d love to see live, usually turn the van around in Atlanta to save the time and the money it would cost just to get to St. Pete or Tampa. Recently, promoters such as New Granada, and especially Jack Spatafora, have brought bands that wouldn’t have come down here otherwise. The one thing, though, about this area is that most fellow musicians come out to support each other which keeps a communal spirit alive. And that alone inspires creativity and enthusiasm to keep rockin..

AFM: What other bands from central Florida should people be paying attention to?

BS: Other bands worth watching round here are: Military Junior, Holiday, Doll Parts, Car Bomb Driver, Have Gun will Travel, Dumbwaiters, and plenty more.

AFM: Have you toured much out of Florida, how are you received north of the border?

BS: We do Atlanta and NYC occasionally, but we haven’t toured proper in quite some time. Atlanta digs us. NYC didn’t seem to care. We were usually pretty out of it when we did those shows. Oops. Sorry Manhattan!

AFM: Describe in seven word or less your home.

BS: Hot, Sprawl, sand, long, wet, bugs, cops…

AFM: What’s next for the Semi’s?

BS: Next for us is the album Year in the Sun. We have gigs through July down here and hope to be playing material from said record. We’re doing a mass mailing as I type for about a zillion indie labels that I hope will at least listen for 30 seconds. The beach makes you sloth-like. Whatever happens, I bet it happens very slooooowwly….

AFM: Semi what?

BS: Semi hard? Semi good? Semi coherent?

———–

Thanks Billy Summer, you may be Florida’s only hope…

Purchase The Semis’ 2007 LP “White Powder, Black Power” here.

MP3: The Semis - “Crowned Out”
MP3: The Semis - “No Function”

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