SECRET SOMEONES RAISE SOME HELL AT STAGE 48

Local NYC rockers Secret Someones hit Stage 48 hard on Wednesday night. It was really only appropriate that the four-piece rock band raise some hell in the Hells Kitchen neighborhood of town, and raise hell they did. I had seen them a few weeks back when they caught my hard-to-get attention opening for Ingrid Michaelson at Central Park SummerStage and have been telling friends, co-workers, and homeless people about them ever since. They may have been openers again tonight but apparently no one told them, as they play and perform with a headlining ability.

The harmonies were locked on and the guitars were firing out of their amps on all cylinders from the first song to the last. Although still a young band and barely a year old, they have plenty of material to build a good set around. ‘Chase Your Shadow’, the badass ‘Breed’, and the very catchy and potential single in ‘I Wont Follow’ all made their way from their debut EP onto the set list. A few songs from the upcoming album also made their way into the show, including ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Let You Go’.

The bands sound is built on the dark and edgy instrumental grooves that mesh perfectly with Bess, Hannah, and Lelias warm yet powerful voices. Their tight, tandem guitars on top of the pulsating drumming from the lone ranger of the group Mr. Zach Jones make their music a complete rock and roll package.

I was able to set down with the group for a couple minutes before the show to talk shop, and talk some whiskey of course, and to no surprise they’re as fun to hang around with as they are talented.

P&W: You’ve all done your own singer/songwriter acts as solo artists, how’d you end up coming together to form this band?

Hannah: We were doing these house concert tours playing our own tunes in peoples living rooms together as solo artists. Zach was drumming for us while we were all serving as each others’ backing band, and people were asking us if we had a collaboration of all of us on an album that they could buy, and we were like “No, no, no we don’t do that”, but then we got home and said “We should do that! It’s a great idea”.

Lelia: We’ve all been on the same page about the whole thing. I think when people just say ‘Hey let’s start a band!’ it can be tough to get everyone committed to it but we’ve all been very excited about the idea since day one.

P&W: How was the experience playing a handful of dates opening for Ingrid?

Bess: I used to play with her for like seven years. My husband actually plays in her band! We’re friends so it was really fun to be on tour and hang with them and get to play in front of her fans. She’s got great, loyal, music loving fans so that was really fun. Zach: It does feel like she has a listening audience, which is really cool. When you’re playing opening slots it’s nice to have people in the audience who are actually paying attention to what you’re doing, and it always felt like that when were did shows opening for her. That really speaks to how good she is. Hannah: These guys have all done shows like playing SummerStage before, and I hadn’t. So I learned a lot how things work on that scale in that kind of venue. It was really eye opening for me. Going out and playing first as an opening band is really a fun challenge.

P&W: This is your third show in NYC this summer. What do you guys like most about playing here? Zach: I always love New York audiences. I remember doing a tour with A Great Big World and the audience was singing the background vocals. Like you can’t really get one over on New York audiences, you really need to show up and kick a lot of ass. Lelia: But they’re all down to have fun. Some audiences have an attitude like ‘You better impress us’, but they wanna have fun.

Hannah: Here there’s so much to do, so if they came to the venue to see you, they’re choosing to be there. Zach: Central Park specifically was a mile marker. When you play there it’s a pretty big deal, especially coming from someone who grew up around here and has been playing here for a while, that was rad. It was almost a year anniversary of our first show at Rockwood, so it was a cool celebration. Very cool.

P&W: Your first EP recently came out. The debut full-length is scheduled to come out early 2015. How’s it coming along?

Hannah: The full length will be a similar style to what we’ve released already but there’s still some stuff that people haven’t heard yet.

P&W: When you’re not on tour or busy playing your own shows, what are your favorite venues to catch bands playing here at home? Lelia: I love Bowery Ballroom. I think it’s the perfect size, the sound is big and it feels like you’re at a big rock show but with an intimate feel.

Zach: I love going to the Beacon Theatre. I’ve seen some really good shows there.

Hannah: I’ve seen some of the best music in my life at Rockwood Stage 1. Being in a teeny room with someone. When I moved here I couldn’t believe it when I’d look at the schedule and some of my favorite artists would be there. I go all the time.

As I looked around their dressing room I couldn’t help but notice a small assortment half-empty whiskey brands sitting around, so of course being the curious Whiskey loving soul that I am I had to inquire about their favorite whiskey cocktails. You know, to see if they were as classy as I.

Lelia: I love Manhattans. Um, we all like Bulleit, Rye and Bourbon. Zach: I love a Sazerac myself. Everyone simultaneously: Old Fashioneds Zach: Can we do a shout out to the Sidecar? There’s this place in Brooklyn that we LOVE. It’s a great restaurant/bar called Sidecar. Great whiskey cocktails. Hannah: The owner makes his own vermouth. I’m also super into chocolate chip pancakes, that’s part of your blog right?

Article by: Tom Shackleford

Photos by: Jenna Pinch