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Interview with Beauty For Ashes
By: Caz* Bevan
 Beauty For Ashes reigns as one of
the favorite local bands native to Provo, UT, and has
spawned the term "acoustic bloodcore" as a description of
their music. Being able to share the stage with almost any
band, Beauty For Ashes has a wide variety of fans and these
Utah County playboys... oh, I mean... sweethearts, are
sincerely loved by everyone. Their performance is tight with
a lot of energy. Their shows are exciting and always worth
going to.
Just in time for 2006 New Year's resolutions, I interviewed
Beauty For Ashes about their history and where they intend
on going.
NowOnTour: How long have you been
together?
Just over a year from November 2004.
What motivated you to be in a
band?
Mike D (vocalist/guitar): I just wanted to play music.
Jon B (bass): A release.
Jared M (guitar/vocalist): It was a goal from
childhood.
Why acoustic-hardcore?
We call it acoustic bloodcore and we decided to do it because
it was fun and different than what everyone else was doing
in Utah.
Have you ever played in/sang for any other bands?
What genres?
Mike D: I've played in 4 different punk bands and played
bass for a hardcore band and lead guitar in a rock and roll
band.
Jon B: I played in Strickland.
Jared M: I played in 3 bands in high school - Cheating Death
and Daze Later, which was a soft core lame-o band that
hired me as a lead guitarist but only wanted me to play 1 or
2 notes here and there.
What are the good and bad sides of being part of
the Utah scene?
Good sides is that you know everyone at the shows, and the
bad side is that you know everyone at the shows.
What are your individual goals as
musicians?
Mike D: I want to get our music out to as many people as
possible. I've always wanted to be on tour and to play with
my favorite bands. I want to play in a band that doesn't
have to live the "Rockstar" lifestyle and still have a good
time on the road.
Jared M: My next goals consist of being recorded by a major
label, go on tour with some stellar bands and have a wicked
sick following in all of the 50 states.
Jon B: I would like to be a band that has huge following but
at the same time doesn't have to fall into the stereotype of
every other band and eventually rule the world.
What is the overall goal as a band?
To make music our profession and be able to provide for our
families when the time comes.
What does music mean to you?
Mike D: Music is my life. It gives me a sanctuary from the
reality of life and gives me a way to express myself in a way
that hopefully people can understand.
Jon B: An artistic form of auditory communication
incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and
continuous manner.
If you could open for any three bands, who would
they be?
Thrice, The Bled and The Beatles.
What record labels are your
favorites?
Island because of Thrice, and Vagrant because of The Bled.
We hate Drive-Thru.
Are you going to record a full-length
album?
Yes. Soon.
What do you think are the best aspects of your
performance?
It's not like anything that you're used to hearing and we play
with a lot of energy.
What kind of approach do you take in order to
make yourselves known/promote your band?
We are interactive with the crowd, we do a lot of MySpace,
lots of fliers, and Jared is a prostitute mostly...but not really.
You could imagine what it would be like, though, but
seriously, give him a call if you are interested.
When are you hoping to tour?
Whenever some cool band wants to take us with them and
we have some mode of transportation.
Do you plan on coming out with some
merch?
We have some, just not that much. We have CDs, T-shirts
and about 3 stickers.
Who are your greatest influences?
Thrice, The Bled, Muse, The Beatles and a lot of flamenco
guitar.
How long have you been playing your instruments?
How often do you play?
Mike D: 6 years. I practice for at least a couple of hours
everyday.
Jon B: 6 years. I practice as much as I can now that I'm
married, going to school and working.
Jared M: 8 years and I practice at least 5 or 6 hours a
day.
What are your fans like? Who are they?
We have kind of a diverse crowd. We have some of the
emo/girl-pants crowd, we have girls that like rock music and
we have a little bit of everything else.
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