What is your goal as a band? Originally, our goal as a band was to have fun and play around as some college band on campus, but once we saw that we were actually a good band and people liked us God kind of laid it on my heart to be more ministry oriented since we started to be able to influence people through our music. Now we just want to be the best band possible and be respected musically in the secular market, unlike most Christian bands, and be able to have a impact secularly.
What style do you play? I would call it a progressive third wave (ska), experimenting here and there with new sounds on different songs, but we are essentially a horn based guitar driven ska band with the occasional Jamaican Ska song.
What is the music scene like in your area? The music scene has no leader, as far as promoting is concerned, in the Christian market, therefore Tulsa doesn't have many shows, of the ska/punk/hardcore persuasion. When we play we play before about 250-300 scene people who go to shows on a regular basis when they actually come through town. The secular market has all the shows you could want to see in every genre.
What bands influence your band? I couldn't even begin to name the influences on our band, it's like the culture in America, a huge melting pot of backgrounds. We totally try to have the most original sound and style possible by not being influenced by other bands.
What kind of a ministry does the band have? Our ministry is larger dependent on where the show is, who is there, and what I feel God telling me to do. We try to exemplify the idea that it's not preaching from stage that is going to change peoples lives but our examples offstage. Staying Christ-like when you are not expected to be, i.e. on stage, is the hardest part of one's Christian walk and it is the most recognized by other people.
If you had the choice, which band would you tour with? Reel Big Fish or The Skatalites
Any interesting concert experiences or funny/weird stories? The most interesting might be playing a show with The King's (Elvis) brother. A weird story would be of playing a show in Illinois on our tour this past summer with the Brainwash Projects & Halo Friendlies, where only 8 people showed up and the promoter's band played, Graverobbers from Outer Space, that's not the weird part, after the show we went over to the promoter's house to sleep and eat. Well, needless to say this guy had a huge pentagram flag in his room along with a huge coffin, a gwar video showing people's heads getting chopped off and blood flying everywhere, and a stench that burnt your nose. Most of us slept in the vans because we were so scared, but our sax player Steve slept in the house with his blanket on the floor and the next day we were driving around and I was wondering what some nasty smell was in the van and it was the blanket, the blanket still has the stench form the house today in Steve's apartment.
What's the wackiest thing you've ever done in concert? I don't know if you call it wacky but I've thrown up 3 times on stage being the dancer.
What would you say the best part of the show is? Our intros when we get to plan them out. We started one of our latest shows where we put out all the lights in the packed out venue and turned on the "eye of the tiger" song. Then all of our security guys, i.e. huge guys that wear "Ivy League" security shirts, escorted and pushed us through the crowd and then they stood at the front of the stage, a line of about ten of them with arms crossed as we set up and went right in to our fastest song 'More Then Meets The Eye", the crowd responded quite generously.
Do you ever play cover songs? No...we usually feel like if we are going to take time to cover a song we may as well write a new one.
Best and worst things about being in a band? Worst- money is probably one of the hardest things, at least being indie and all Best- it's what we have always wanted to do be in a band travel around the country play shows and have fun while being able to be a witness to people. It's only a dream to most people.
Anything people should know about the band? Just know that the more rumors you spread about the band the better, at least people will know our name...I even heard that the band is sponsored by the United Nations as part of a government takeover of the country through music not to mention The Ivy League as a whole is the anti-Christ and we started the Y2K fiasco....hahahaha!!!! It's only a joke....I think. Also, that I honestly, not joking, danced side by side with MC Hammer this past summer, I have completed my journey through life now.
What 5 cds do you think everybody needs to hear? 1)The "Cartoon Planet" cd . 2)Hammer "Funky Headhunter". 3)the first Prince album...that's for our trombone player Ceth "Sweet Daddy" Barnett. 4)DeeDee King "Standing in the Spotlight" <-----a must for everyone. 5)Anything by Oral/Richard Roberts especially the "Live in Hawaii" album.
Do you have any cds,demos, etc., out? We had a demo cd out but sold out of all 1500 rather quickly. We are currently recording a new very professional EP due out in Feb. You'll learn more about it at our web page.
How can people contact you for merch and stuff? Well, that's simple you just go to our web page at www.theivyleague.com and everything you need to know will be there.
Any final comments? I just want to say Merry Christmas to all!!
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