The Royal treatment: K-town's Bangs could use some luxury now and then

Photo by Justin R. Fee

The Royal Bangs, from left, Sam Stratton (guitar), Ryan Schaefer (keyboard, vocals, beats), Chris Rusk (drums), Henry Gibson (bass guitar) and Brandon Biondo (guitar), take a break from rehearsal at the "Gypsy Hands" store on Broadway Friday August 21st, 2009.

Photo by Justin R. Fee

The Royal Bangs, from left, Sam Stratton (guitar), Ryan Schaefer (keyboard, vocals, beats), Chris Rusk (drums), Henry Gibson (bass guitar) and Brandon Biondo (guitar), take a break from rehearsal at the "Gypsy Hands" store on Broadway Friday August 21st, 2009.

The members of Knoxville's Royal Bangs have had a few kingly honors - praise from music magazines (including being lauded as a Bonnaroo highlight by Rolling Stone and one of "9 unknown bands to watch at SXSW" by Spin magazine), an increasingly dedicated following, and an offer from Black Keys co-founder Patrick Carney to record on his Audio Eagle record label. However, the accommodations of the road have been somewhat less than fit for a king - sometimes not even fit for a wino.

Take the place the group stayed after a recent show.

"It's three in the morning and it's a shed filled with power tools and old electronic equipment," says Bangs lead singer/keyboardist Ryan Schaefer, sitting with his band mates on the rear deck of the Knoxville Brewing Company.

"And there's tons of Zionist literature," adds guitarist Sam Stratton.

"And all these purses emptied out on the floor and no furniture," says Schaefer.

"And letters from the Madison County prison - love letters with pictures," Stratton grimaces, indicating the carnal contents of the photos, "and retarded racist poetry."

When a band member asked the host where he stayed in the house he answered: "I don't live here! It belongs to a guy who lives around the corner, but he hardly ever comes here."

Sleep well, princes of the road!

Royal Bangs began in 2005 when Schaefer, Stratton and drummer Chris Rusk were all Farragut High School students and getting on bills with older acts. Aside from the founding trio, the rest of the band's membership remained somewhat fluid for several years.

Royal Bangs was actually on hiatus in 2008 when Black Keys drummer Carney listened to the band on MySpace and liked what he heard. Carney signed the group to Audio Eagle and reissued the band's 2006 album "We Breed Champions" and Royal Bangs set out on a national tour. Members Furious J and Danny Sales couldn't commit to the tour, and local music veterans Henry Gibson (bass) and Brandon Biondo (guitar) were recruited into the band.

Now, with the release of the group's new album "Let It Beep," the band is on the verge of becoming a full-time touring act.

"Much to the dismay of our girlfriends," says Schaefer.

"Let It Beep" was recorded in Akron, Ohio, at Carney's Tangerine Sound studio.

The band slept in the studio.

"No showers," says Biondo.

"No windows," says Rusk. "We wouldn't know if it was sunny, raining or snowing."

"And it was in a rough part of town," adds Gibson.

Still, the studio was completely soundproofed and there was nothing else for the band to do but work - or talk with homeless people outside. It's something at least a few of Royal Bangs have an appreciation for.

"I live in my car and lots of girls' houses," says Biondo. "'Is it OK if I park my house here?'"

Other members are just making sure they have no reason to have a fixed home.

"Our strategy is to not have any days off," says Schaefer. "Our only days off are when we're driving. When I'm home I feel like I'm wearing my wallet in the wrong pocket."

"Every night when it's nine o'clock I think, 'Shouldn't we be doing something?'" says Biondo.

While the band may be on the verge of an international breakout (the group's albums are also being released in Europe), group members don't have a goal of world domination in five years.

"We don't expect to make big money off this," says Rusk. "Our goal is to just exist off of it."

"And," says Schaefer, "to not be dead."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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