The Greeting Committee are exploring new themes with their new batch of pop rock songs. I appreciate their sound as the band consists of guitar, drums, and bass. The Greeting Committee has been together for ten years and the stakes are high now as two original members recently departed, but it was mutual at the end of the day. Nonetheless, the remaining two members evolved and faced many growing pains in the process. Vocalist Addie Sartino and bassist Pierce Turcotte eventually split from their manager as well.
The two forged ahead though to make an incredible gorgeous album entitled Everyone’s Gone and I Know I’m The Cause. The lush pop melodies that the band created on this particular album are undeniable and continue in the tradition of their inescapable indie sound. The Kansas City band is back to a foursome with the strength and power that they began with, which includes Noah Spencer and newcomer Micah Ritchie. I sat down to talk to Sartino and Turcotte on the band’s success, ten years of creating music together, and what’s next for the band.
Where are you guys right now?
Nashville.
The band’s originally from Kansas City? The Greeting Committee are celebrating 10 years as a band—did you think the band would have lasted this long?
Sartino: Yes, from Kansas City. I wanted it to.
Turcotte: I feel like we were too young to even think that long in that future. We are still getting to the point where that we have been in that band longer than we haven’t. Started to tip that way, but where not there yet.
What is the meaning behind of the title of the new album?
AS: When enough things change in your life or when transformations are made I wasn’t oblivious that I was the common thread within these stories. I don’t blame myself entirely. I think that relationships take two people and the people you meet and work with at fifteen years old, don’t make necessarily make sense in your life at your life at twenty five. The album title comes from a bit self deprecating irony with a sincere accountability.
Was it difficult to keep everyone on board during the line up changes?
AS: I don’t think it was hard to keep everyone on board, but it wasn’t the healthiest option honestly. It was differences between personalities and traumas—healed and unhealed. When you are a child navigating the business, it is really heavy and difficult. I think what we learned was staying a four piece at the time was probably not the healthiest for everybody involved.
PT: I didn’t think anybody didn’t want to be in the band. Everyone loves music and wanted to continue to play music in some way. I think it became too difficult to continue with some relationships. There’s still love there nonetheless. It became too difficult with some toxic relationships and thus too difficult to operate together as a band.
AS: We all are on speaking terms and cheer each other on. I credit Brandon and Austin for where we are today and I am really appreciative for their talents and their time. I’m happy for both of them that they are still in music and they are both incredibly talented people.
Who was an influence on The Greeting Commitee’s sound?
AS: I think it depends on the record, really. I grew up on The Killers and Ingrid Michaelson. For this past record I listened to Charlie XCX’s Crash album and the 1975.
PT: When we first started it was early Bombay Bicycle Club. Every album there’s an attempt that I haven’t tried before. I was into that unapologetically pop music too and would like us to gravitate to that again, but I love punk rock music too growing up. Who knows what the next record will be like, but our tastes span pretty wide that most things aren’t off the table.
What are the songs “Cyclical” and “Sex and Taxes” about?
AS: The album is about growing up, setting boundaries, doing what’s best for you in your life, that you can only control yourself, and that healing does involve sacrifices. It’s like how rolling your eyes at the version you’ve been. It’s about recognizing your habits, bad and good, and where you want to live within that.
Do you see any other up and coming artists coming out of your hometown of Kansas City?
AS: Blackstarkids are really awesome. Paris Williams, Noah Spencer. I feel like we are so disconnected though unfortunately.
What does success mean to the band right now?
PT: Still being able to do this—mentally and financially. Addie sings about in a tongue in cheek way on “popmoneyhits”. Whether it be playing the music or running the business or the people we work with defines our success and our fans support us very loyally.
You will be on tour soon? How’s touring?
AS: Yes our first show is July 9. I’d love to be in a bus so bad. We’ve been in a passenger van and trailer that we’ve had for ten years now. It’s really taxing physically and mentally though.
You will playing Bowery Ballroom too!
AS: We are really excited and our guitarist Noah has his Birthday that day as well. That is his birthday party!
Tour Dates:
July 9 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade Hall
July 10 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
July 12 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
July 13 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
July 16 Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
July 17 Boston, MA @ Sinclair
July 19 Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
July 20 Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s
July 21 Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
July 23 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
July 24 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
July 26 OKC, OK @ Resonant Head
July 27 Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips FTW
July 28 Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
July 30 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent
July 31 San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room House of Blues
Aug 2 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
Aug 3 Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Aug 4 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Aug 6 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
Aug 7 Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore
Aug 8 Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Aug 10 Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
Aug 11 Denver, CO @ Bluebird
Aug 17 Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theatre (10 Year Anniversary Show)
