The Black Market Hearts

Joel: What's your band's name?
Band: The Black Market Hearts.

Joel: Who's in the band and what do they do?
Chris: Lead Vocals, Guitar.
Jacob: Guitar, Backing Vocals.
Joshua: Drums, Percussion.
Andrew: Bass, Backing Vocals.

Joel: Briefly describe your music.
Chris: Dark, moody Rock and Roll with a lot of energy and very little bullshit.
Jacob: Rock and Roll with a twist of darkness.
Andrew: Dark Rock and Roll with a little poppiness.

Joel: Why should people listen to your band?
Chris: I think people will be excited to hear something different. Also, hopefully, people will connect with the overall aesthetic, as far as that goes.
Jacob: Our music is refreshing. We all have very different musical influences and we each bring our own unique traits to the band.

Joel: How long have the Black Market Hearts been a band for?
Band: It will be two years this Halloween.

Joel: Where did you get your name from?
Chris: The name stemmed from a conversation about the lack of compassion that we deal with in society with respect to any kind of relationship (IE- Romantic, friendly, etc.). Those who still recognize the need for compassion have black market hearts, hearts that you do not find every day.

Joel: What makes the Black Market Hearts different from every other band out there?
Band: Listen to the songs and come see a show. Proceed to decide for yourself.

Joel: Is there any message you try to get across through your music?
Chris: Not everything is beautiful. People who smile all of the time, personally, make me sick. The state of every day life is traumatic, and every one is just a little selfish which leads to instant gratification and mediocrity. Hopefully having the truth presented to someone will help to combat that. Life is not happy all of the time.
Andrew: I bring the funk.

Joel: Do you have a single song that has a special meaning to you?
Chris: For me, every song has a special meaning in its own way. They wouldn’t have been written otherwise.
Jacob: “Misery Chord” is special to me because it was the first song that Chris and I wrote together. We wrote it on two old acoustics in his old bedroom, and it turned into one of the best songs we have written to date.
Andrew: “Kerosene”, because we wrote it together.

Joel: What bands, people, books, etc. have had the biggest influence on your band?
 Chris: My family. The band, who are also my family. Good friends. I’m a huge book nerd so… Neil Gaiman, Chuck Palahniuk, Poppy Z. Brite, Harlen Ellison, CS Lewis, HP Lovecraft… I’m going to stop now. Bands- too many to name.
Jacob: Everything from The Beatles to Nirvana… Billie Holiday to Cradle of Filth, it’s crazy… My mom bought me my first guitar, so I guess she is partly to blame for all this as well.
Andrew: I have never read a full book in my life.

Joel: What about the Black Market Hearts are you most proud of?
Chris: This band never ceases to amaze the fuck out of me. I’m excited about every aspect of this band and the people in it. All of us have known each other for years, and we’ve built an awesome friendship together. Aside from music, these guys are my fucking blood and I love them to no end.
Jacob: Our two recordings, and the unlimited potential we have to make this work. Also, winning Skratch Magazine’s Battle of the Bands was something to be proud of.
Joshua: We are not just a band, we are friends and family.
Andrew: The funkiness.

Joel: What is the biggest thing about the Black Market Hearts you want to improve?
Chris: I want to be able to quit our day jobs and proceed with the band full-time. I want to breathe, eat, smoke, and sleep this band.
Jacob: Write more songs… I know we can, we just have to do it.
Joshua: Better quality recordings. We have not had the time or the money to get the sound we should have. And be able to record and play more often. It would also be cool to play with some bigger bands.
Andrew: Being on a label.

Joel: What CDs are currently in your stereo?
Chris: Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance, Bob Dylan – The Collection, Misfits – Legacy of Brutality, Pat Benatar – Best Shots, Alkaline Trio – Maybe I’ll Catch Fire.
Jacob: Alkaline Trio – S/T, Avail – Over the James, Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance, Green Day - Shenanigans, Boy Sets Fire – The Day the Sun Went !
Out.
Joshua: Self – Gizmodgery, The Postal Service – Give Up.
Andrew: Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance, Coheed and Cambria, Fall of Monroe.

Joel: Do you have any closing comments?
Chris: Come to the shows and HAVE FUN!!! Fucking dance! No one dances anymore. Doesn’t anyone have problems anymore!? Get that shit out. Don’t be a macho asshole and beat on people, but move those fucking hips, move your feet! I know it’s hard, but try to get excited about music again, even if it’s not ours. There is still some good shit out there.
Andrew: No.

Official Website: http://www.blackmarkethearts.com
mp3's: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/385/black_market_hearts.html

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