4onthefloor Stompin’ to Fargo

By Diane Miller
Contributing Writer

Videography by Shane Maland, Intern with The People’s Press Project.

Take a moment to close your eyes and visualize being at a concert of a rock and roll band. When you start to imagine the imagery and sounds, do feel a sort of energy run through you just by visualizing it? If you’ve ever seen an exceptional live rock band play, you probably answered yes. This energy comes from a delivery on a level so powerful, it stays with you.

Seeing The 4onthefloor for the first time this summer at The High Plains Festival was just like I described. Each of the four player’s hard hitting rhythms combined with their alluring melodies in both the vocals and guitars pack enough energy to stimulate every nerve of your body. What makes the melodies so alluring is that they are professionally made to the T. Gabriel Douglas sings with his deep and daring voice alongside savory guitar licks that knock you off your feet; not to mention 4 bass drums lined up at each band member’s foot thumping and pumping your heart out of your chest to each downbeat.

HPR interviewed front man Gabriel Douglas to see what his story was all about. The interview was a pleasure because he spoke so sincerely and positively about his music. He seemed so grateful and happy to be doing what he was doing. If you go to see Douglas and his band play live at JT Cigarros this coming Sept. 23rd, you can experience these vibes through a powerful interpretation on rock music from a small town native who really digs reaching out to his audience.

HPR: You describe your band as having “alarming intensity”, explain to our readers how you guys accomplish that and why it is important to the aesthetics of your band.

Gabriel Douglas: The alarming intensity comes by the means of 4 drums humming in sync (or close to it.) Dynamic vocal & parts that ebb & flow, come down low to a growl and boil up to a howl. It’s important to be impassioned in as many aspects of your life as you can be. Music is mine.

HPR - Is the 4 bass drums on the floor an original idea?
GD: I believe so. I definitely did not plagiarize that on purpose if you hear someone else is doing it.

HPR: I actually can’t say I have.

GD: Yeah, as we were starting out in the Midwest a lot of people knew us as the band with 4 bass drums. You’d hear people talking about us as we would come into certain venues. So its been fun.

HPR: On day one of The High Plains Festival this summer, your band closed down the Saloon Stage with a packed and rowdy house this past summer. Describe your experience(s) at this festival.

GD: Well first it was a big honor to even be asked to play. It was a super fun time. I’ve been to the 10,000 Lakes Festival a few times previously so I was familiar with the campground. The guy gave us a couple options on when we wanted to play and for us to be able to headline Friday and Trampled Headline Saturday was really cool for us. Me and James both went to school in Duluth so we’ve known Dave, Dave, Timmy, and Ryan for a very long time.

HPR: That’s awesome. Have you guys played shows together at all?

GD: We have. We just played with Willie Nelson on August 6th up in Duluth.We are also looking at doing a couple of gigs around Halloween together in Wisconsin.

HPR: You have an extremely strong singing voice, where does a lot of your influences come from vocally?

GD: Definitely Jim Morrison of the Doors. In high school I was in a Led Zeppelin tribute band, so it was definitely in a higher range than what I sing in now, but it definitely gave me lung power to really power through a lot of the longer stanzas. Even early Our Lady Peace. I’m a huge fan of them too. My home town is just about an hour away from the Canadian border so I got all the stations from Grand Forks and all the stations from Winnipeg so a lot of the Canadian Alt. Rock was something that I listened to a lot.

HPR: How important is playing gigs in towns like Fargo to your band?

GD: We are actually surprised it has taken us this long to make it there. We’ve talked to The Aquarium a few times and things have never worked out routing wise. We are always way out west and shooting right down to Deadwood, SD, and other things. But we are ready to take Fargo on now.

HPR: Will this be your first gig in Fargo?

GD: It will be our first show in Fargo. I actually grew up two hours north of Fargo so going up to Fargo was like going to a big city compared to the small town I grew up in. I’ve spent a lot of time on the NDSU and Moorhead State campuses, and I actually saw my favorite band, Third Eye Blind, at The Venue about two or three years ago.

HPR: What experience do want audience members to take away from going to a show of yours?

GD: I want them to have a passionate experience. I want them to feel involved in the making of a journey. I love people stomping, clapping, and singing along and having a good time, you know?

HPR: As time moves on, bands start to move in a different direction of sound, almost inevitably. Five years from now, what direction do you see your band moving as a whole?

GD: I really think we’re just gonna get more dynamic and more aggressive in our songwriting. More epic battles.

HPR: Minneapolis has a plethora of great musicians and bands. What would you say makes your band stand out from others in your area?

GD: First of all, the Minneapolis scene is breathtaking. There are so many great bands down here. It’s so much fun to be off the road a couple of days and go see your friend’s band. What I think sets us apart is that our live show is not about wearing suspenders, and thick rimmed glasses, and standing there on stage shoegazing our feet. We are gonna take you for a ride.

And take you for a ride they certainly will. Being new at this interviewing process, I found out how easy it is be at a loss for words when speaking to high caliber musician over the phone. This is where our interview ended, but I think what Gabe meant by that last statement was that they are not trying to be anything other than what is there. There is nothing needed to be interpreted. All that matters is being in the moment and collectively sharing the experience of music in the most fun, enticing, and inviting setting a band can possibly create.

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IF YOU GO:

WHAT: 4onthefloor
WHERE: JT Cigarro
WHEN: Fri. Sept. 23, 9 p.m.
Info: visit http://www.4otf.com