Today we are excited to check in with Luke Vose, one of the founders and co singer of Crooked Coast, one of the most prominent rock, pop, reggae bands in New England and the east coast. They released their 5th album Picture This, last summer.
Tim:
Luke, thanks for joining us this morning.
Luke:
Thank you Tim. Happy to be here.
Tim:
How did you get started… How did it all come together?
Luke:
Years ago our bass player Ben asked me if I wanted to join him in some weekly gigs and I was like ‘when?’ and he replied ‘this Sunday’ and I was like ‘ok…’ but we did that first gig, at an outdoor venue and a drummer jumped in and we were off and running. John, the other singer/guitarist/ in the band joined and we took on the name Crooked Coast. It felt right coming from where we come from. We did the Cape & Islands circuit the first year or two and it was almost a reverse tour as people from all over the country and the world would come to see us so we actually didn’t have to hit the road as much in the beginning. A few years ago our drummer Shaq joined the band and brought some great energy.
Tim:
Curious, do you think of the lyrics first and then write the melody or the melody 🎶 and then the lyrics?
Luke:
Good question, for me I usually think of the lyrics first and then a melody comes but for our co-singers, John McNamara, he creates a melody and then the lyrics but often it is a collaboration and it all comes together.
Tim:
Cool. So, what’s going on now? What’s new post Covid-19, getting back in the saddle?
Luke:
We just finished another recording session and we are excited to start our tour from New England to the Midwest to the Mid Atlantic, Tennessee. We are also excited about “Coast Fest” on August 5th which we created and headline. In the past, we traveled all over doing other festivals and thought, why not launch one in Falmouth, Cape Cod where we originated?” This is the third year of Coast-Fest and there will be six bands, a mix of national bands and local ones. We started really grassroots and it keeps building and improving. I’d love to grow this to a multiple day event with 20,000-30,000 attendees over the next few years… It’s an incredible feeling to headline a show like that. You can really feel the love and support, it’s like riding a wave, people chanting the band’s name while we are backstage..it is a rush”
Tim:
OK, so I have to ask, did you like the movie Almost Famous, is it accurate?
Luke:
[Laughing.] I haven’t seen it in awhile. I’ll have to check it out again.
Tim:
Maybe get a young kid to follow you on tour! So, have you had that “pinch me” moment when you cannot believe you are experiencing something or meeting someone?
Luke:
Oh yeah… I think when we first performed at Boston Calling and we were on the bill with bands I grew up listening to like Nine Inch Nails and Weezer…That was incredible.
Tim:
Any favorite venues?
Luke:
Brighton Music Hall in Boston but also have fond memories of places we started out playing in like Landfall at Woods Hole, kids going crazy.
Tim:
How do you relax and what’s your favorite drink?
Luke:
For fun I go to the beach and read. I can wake up and ride my bike in any direction and hit a beach. I like most beer, wine and right now rum as I just got back from Puerto Rico and you were nice enough to drop some Nantucket Reds off at my house. Great summer drink.
Tim:
Curious, do you have a favorite song you like to perform live ?
Luke:
I love Glass House, a little heavier than most but I also love it when our drummer does his drum solo in concert! It’s awesome and gives me time to chill and watch the solo off stage and grab a drink.
Tim:
Well, I know you are busy and we are grateful for your time today. Looking forward to catching one of your shows which we will link here on our feed. Best wishes for ‘23
Luke:
Thanks Tim. Enjoyed it.
