Season 1 - Ep. 7 - The Path of an Unsigned Rock Band in L.A. with Keaton Rogers of Raised On TV

 

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Keaton Rogers from the L.A.-based indie rock band, Raised On TV, joins the show to talk about the release of their third album Fernando as well as to talk rock and roll, their influence and why playing live shows and making music is a lifelong passion and journey even if you aren't making millions.

We dive into their clever branding on the albums they have released, them performing in a music video with David Hasselhoff, the construction of the songs they make, and even talk about how fun it is to make music spontaneously from a jam session that can turn into something of its own creation.

You will definitely want to listen to this interview so you can see what the road to rock and roll looks like. Go listen to their music as well, because they have an awesome sound!

Intro Music: "Colorado" by Birds Love Filters

Raised On TV Website: https://www.raisedontv.com/

Raised On TV YouTube Channel: https://www.instagram.com/raisedontvband/

Raised On TV on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/raisedontv

Raised On TV on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raisedontv

Raised On TV on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisedontvband/

Raised on TV on Twitter: https://twitter.com/raisedontv

Transcription:
Isaac Kuhlman 0:00
Hello and welcome to the Powered By Rock Podcast where we're going to be speaking with Keaton Rogers from an awesome rock band out of Los Angeles called Raised On TV.

You're listening to the Powered By Rock Podcast with your host Isaac Kuhlman. The Powered By Rock Podcast is created helps showcase some of the best rock musicians in the world and pass on to future generations. The rock music that has inspired rock fans around the world for decades. We want listeners to be able to hear great stories and life experiences directly from their favorite artists, as well as dig deeper into music theory and talk rock like no other show you've ever heard. This isn't about looking cool. It's about getting real and having a great time. Without further ado, let's start the show.

Hey, welcome to the Powered By Rock Podcast. Today's show is gonna be a lot of fun because I get to catch up with a new friend that we just met earlier this year when a chance Instagram message from Keaton led me to listening to Raised On TVs, music, and me finding out that they're absolutely awesome and have a new album being released this year called Fernando. We even did an artist spotlight interview with Keaton that you can go check out on poweredbyrock.com. And so without further ado, welcome to the show, Keaton.

Keaton Rogers 1:16
Oh, what's up, Isaac? Thanks for having me, man.

Isaac Kuhlman 1:18
Yeah, it's good to have you back. So yeah, so last time we talked, we've had some you've had some different things going on. But one of the cool things that actually happened was you had a project where you were basically on the same set as David Hasselhoff can you shed some light on how that came about, and kind of what you've been up to, since we've last talked? And how was the Hoff?

Keaton Rogers 1:39
Yeah, the Hoff, man. Um, so yeah, we ended up doing this thing where, during the summer, David Hasselhoff is shooting three different music videos for his new album. And we had a friend who was hired on to be the guitar player. So he brought me in Kacey, and Kacey's the drummer for Raised on TV, because they needed to fill those spots. So yeah, like it was kind of like on a last minute kind of notice. I think we found out two days before and then so all of a sudden we're on set with David Hasselhoff and I was actually playing keyboards and Kacey was drumming for his backing band and I think a couple of the videos are out now one was they're all covers. He covered the song The Passenger and Sweet Caroline. Some random stuff man, but yeah.

Isaac Kuhlman 2:27
Did you actually have to play to where you just pretending you're playing.

Keaton Rogers 2:29
I mean, it was kind of like a little bit of both, you know, music video so you could get away with you know hitting a lot of wrong notes. But you had to look like you knew what you were doing.

Isaac Kuhlman 2:39
Yeah, and being a musician I know I'm pretty sure you have piano and keyboard on some of your tracks from earlier

Keaton Rogers 2:46
Yeah, yeah, we have a lot more piano and keyboard than we did when we first started out for sure. Yeah, cool. So crazy man. It was he's a he's quite a guy that

Isaac Kuhlman 2:58
I mean internationally famous. He's got to have some sort of character

Keaton Rogers 3:02
oh yeah man there's just one drum film one of the songs that was super complicated because I think like a computer played it but he wanted Kacey to nail this one fill for whatever reason. So whenever that fill would come up it was tough so Kacey would mess it up. And then David Hasselhoff he would just like cut the whole production and like put a lot of pressure on Kacey like hey man, I you know you got to get this fill you got to get it just right man if you're not going to do it for you do it for me The Hoff and then we go through it again. And then he finally got it and then like David Hasselhoff's so proud. So please, yeah.

Isaac Kuhlman 3:38
doing like a, like a spotlight on that during the actual music video or something because there'd be no reason.

Keaton Rogers 3:45
There was a close up so it's a lot it's like a do tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu

Isaac Kuhlman 3:50
Yeah. Well then maybe at least Kacey will get some some notice and some notoriety that he got nothing else at least at least The Hoff knows who he is.

Keaton Rogers 4:00
Yeah, the Hoff knows him and respects him so he can't really ask for much more. It's like,

Isaac Kuhlman 4:05
cool. I like how he refers to himself as the Hoff too.

Keaton Rogers 4:08
Yeah, he does man is no joke. Like he's like a walking myth. Yeah, he's a living myth. But it's quite a thing. Yeah.

Isaac Kuhlman 4:19
Cool. So let's let's get kind of back into obviously we we've talked already, but I want to get into some pretty good competency before we get into that, you know, for people who didn't actually hear the artist spotlight that we did. I'd like to get some information about you guys how you kind of came about and what was the reason you first started playing music in the first place or some artists and influences you had? And what was the reason that you chose this? What Why was this the path that you chose for the rest of your life? Or at least Yeah, your your early adult life anyway.

Keaton Rogers 4:49
Yeah, for sure. Where should I begin?

Isaac Kuhlman 4:52
As far back as you can remember, man, okay, not like The Jerk where he was like, I grew up a poor black child or something.

Keaton Rogers 5:00
I'm not a bum. I'm a jerk. Yeah, classic. Oh, so, um, for me, I think back on middle school junior high school and I remember I went to a Blink-182 and Green Day concert. I think at the time. It was called the Pop Disaster tour.

Isaac Kuhlman 5:18
Yeah, I was like, I never got it was too far away for me to ever get to, but I remember the tour.

Keaton Rogers 5:23
Yeah, so yeah, I remember I was a kid at that and yeah, I've been I had so much fun and it definitely got me on a path of like, wanting to play guitar and wanting to have my own band. I was definitely I mean, I was in the music before

Isaac Kuhlman 5:39
that, but I feel like it's like looking at him going like that shit was really easy. I can do that. Yeah, pretty

Keaton Rogers 5:43
much yeah. I can play with those guys are playing. And then yeah, then I went to you know, other shows where the guys were like, you know, playing way more complicated stuff. My oh, maybe I got it. I got to actually practice Yeah, yeah. Pretty. I mean, yeah, I mean, Blink. I mean, back then. It was kind of awesome. They were able to get away with not practicing. You know, that was like part of their that was part of what made them cool. But that obviously changed later on. But yeah, but But yeah, no, I mean, that show is definitely kind of a game changer for me. And then I went to a Foo Fighters show a little bit after that. And I yeah, I feel like that show also kind of really got me into it. And I mean, of course so yeah, go into live shows going to just concerts of all kind when I was like, of all kinds when I was a kid was a big was a big deal. For me. I feel like it really kind of, not only you know, I mean, I love the music. I love listening to the music, but I really kind of loved the atmosphere. You know. Just being Yeah, being at a show and being around other people that, you know, for them, that music also kind of made them feel alive, made them feel something really special.

Isaac Kuhlman 6:56
Yeah. I mean, it's it's weird when like, 40 50,000 people all have the same interest. And they're all jammed into one small area and just smashing into each other.

Keaton Rogers 7:04
Yeah, no, yeah, it really, it really is a special thing. It really is an awesome thing. And that there's something about it. That is just so so fun. And so cool. And so you know, electric, and it makes you feel alive. So yeah, I feel like that's kind of where it started for me to want to have my own band. And to really kind of really kind of just like, take it, you know, as far as I could, and do it as much as I could.

Isaac Kuhlman 7:27
That's cool. Yeah. So I mean, obviously, you know, when we spoke in our last interview, so you guys have a two piece band. But then I recently saw an Instagram post where you mentioned you're playing with a new member of bass player named Blaine Billingsley. That's right. Is he gonna be a permanent addition to the band? And how did he come to play with you guys?

Keaton Rogers 7:47
I mean, if Blaine, yeah, Blaine's down, then Blaine is in. So, Blaine, if you're listening, you can be a permanent member.

Isaac Kuhlman 7:55
You don't play nothing but you're in.

Keaton Rogers 7:59
Yeah, he's my cousin. Nice. Um, so you know, we go way back. And we never played a show together. And he's a great, He's a great player. He's mostly a guitar player. But um, he finally he moved to LA. So we played that show. And yeah, it was super fun. And we're talking about doing more so yeah, it's kind of, we're gonna see where it goes. But yeah, Blaine's into being a permanent member we'd be definitely into having him be be a full time. member. So yeah,

Isaac Kuhlman 8:30
how much practice Did you guys have to have before that show?

Keaton Rogers 8:33
We should have had a lot more than we did. We had pre had one practice. And

Isaac Kuhlman 8:41
Throw him in the fire like Hey, don't fuck up, man. Yeah,

Keaton Rogers 8:43
pretty. I mean, yeah, pretty much. I mean, we were trying to get more practices in but you know, people were busy or whatever. I mean, Kacey, it was practice a couple times a week. But um, we got one in with Blaine. And then on the drive to the show in our van. We were doing like a cram session. Wherever, you know, we were going through every song and Blaine was doing his best to memorize you know what the chords were and got most of it right?

Isaac Kuhlman 9:08
Yeah, well, and the good thing about bass is if you kind of get lost, you just look at where the guitar players hands are, and just play the root note of that. And you're like, Yeah, exactly. Figure it out. As long as nothing chord changes too fast. Don't forget back.

Keaton Rogers 9:20
Exactly. And that's pretty much what happened. Yeah, that's what yeah, I played I played toward him the whole time. So

Isaac Kuhlman 9:25
like, hey, look over here. And then the audience is like, What are you guys doing out there?

Keaton Rogers 9:33
We're just jamming.

Isaac Kuhlman 9:34
Yeah, that's cool. Yeah, I mean, it was a super fun show. That's one of those things like, when you find somebody who fits the band, it's like it can actually change the dynamic in the band as well. It's not just like one of those things where it's like, oh, come in, just fill in, like, play these notes or whatever. But you get more energy on stage, you get more energy. In practice, you get the changing of dynamic. Anybody who plays bass, even if it's a guitar player playing bass, which you know a lot of bands do this. I mean, Royal Blood Their lead singer he plays bass but he said I was a guitar player and piano player. Yeah pretending to play bass then I became a bass player. So, you know, it's one of those things that you you get a different feel from the music by having bass in a song or an you

Keaton Rogers 10:15
really you really do. Yeah, you nailed it. I mean, and yeah. Whoever's on stage, like, whatever they're gonna you know whatever they bring is gonna have an effect on the whole show, even if it's like a lot of people think base is really simple. And sometimes it is. But um, that's, you know, the instruments not the whole thing, though. You know, it's, it's how, you know, it's your, it's your vibe on stage, and how you play off people and, and it affects the music, and then it also affects how people feel in the audience. And yeah, yeah, so it can go two ways. If you got someone with a bad attitude up there. Yeah. Then Yeah, people feel it. And we've definitely we've had, we've had both.

Isaac Kuhlman 10:53
I think, you know, everybody says, oh, like, you know, bass players get a bad rap. It's not like the most important thing in the band or whatever. And it might not be but I will say that, when you take bass out of a song, or out of a live show or something, you don't feel the music in a live like you actually physically can feel a bass like reverberating right, so you don't actually get a feel that without the bass, like you can feel a kick drum, but that's about the only thing and that's just like a thumb, thumb. Thumb, thumb. Whatever.

Keaton Rogers 11:20
Yeah, you need the bass, you need the bass. Even if the parts simple, like you're saying it's so important. It's so integral. Yeah, it's like the drums you know, you need it, the bass holds it down.

Isaac Kuhlman 11:32
Exactly. So and it's usually pretty easy to like label bands, a certain genres of the overall rock category. And I struggled to put you guys into a specific sub category, which I personally like, by no sometimes can be a bit of a curse when it comes to getting promoted and finding an audience. I found that for yourself, or do you have a good way to explain your music? Personally, I just like call it rock music. Yeah, I think it is. But some people may not find that good enough to jump over and listen to you since the categories kind of broad, right?

Keaton Rogers 11:58
Sure. I mean, I feel like I go through that same struggle, like trying to figure out how to describe it. But yeah, I mean, I would say we're definitely I mean, we're rock for sure. But we're kind of it's a subcategory. It's kind of like a some sort of indie rock where, you know, it can be very melodic. And it can have a lot of chord changes and a lot of trippy kind of psychedelic sounds with the guitars mostly. But then also Yeah, we can be very edgy, very loud, very aggressive at times too, depending on what's kind of stuff are playing like our, our second album, I would say was probably the edgiest that we've done so far. So when we play songs off of that, there's a really big guitar, it's really big guitars and but then when we play stuff off of our, you know, our more recent album or our first album, it's a little more laid back. So you kind of get like a different different vibe. So yeah, there's a lot of variety, I guess, to our sound.

Isaac Kuhlman 12:54
Yeah. And the last time we talked, I was kind of like struggling to like kind of think of bands You sounded like and I don't really like to compare bands, but to get somebody who never heard of you to like, understand what the sound might be like. You know, you mentioned The Shins and I think the first album and the newer stuff very much like The Shins, and that's pretty cool. I think the second album is a little bit more like a Jimmy Eat World sound with bigger guitars, more fast riffs or something like that. And then you kind of maybe throw in like a little Fountains of Wayne in there, kind of across the board. And I think that's kind of like if people like any of those bands, I think they'll like you. And you know, I love Jimmy Eat World. I know you're a fan of The Shins. What I used to obviously Fountains of Wayne is was a band that I used to listen to when I was growing up. And it was like the lead singer, guitar player. or something like that actually recently died of cancer, which is super sad, but right yeah, yeah.

Keaton Rogers 13:44
I didn't write the song to that thing you do?

Isaac Kuhlman 13:48
I think so. Yeah. I'm pretty sure. Yeah. Super catchy. Yeah, huge.

Keaton Rogers 13:53
Yeah. That was a great songwriter.

Isaac Kuhlman 13:57
Yeah. So yeah, I mean, does that kind of like when you when you hear those names? I'm curious. Have you ever thought like, is that kind of what it is? And a lot of the songs you make are kind of mellow right? So first answer this question. Is that kind of the sound you kind of trigger when when people are coming and then I got a follow up question once you mean.

Keaton Rogers 14:17
Yeah, so yeah, I mean, those bands that you named are totally influences on us on me. Jimmy Eat World in particular, remember, they played the pop disaster tour actually, they opened up for

Isaac Kuhlman 14:29
how crazy is that frickin lineup too? so insane. Yeah. Blink-182. I saw I saw Mark Hoppus on an episode The very first episode of Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World he has a podcast and this was the first guest yeah what and and camera was called it's like sound waves or something like that. I can't remember exactly what it's called but it I think it came out like earring quarantine and Mark Hoppus was on there and Mark Hoppus was like you're like a huge influence. On our music, which is crazy because they were like at the same like they were coming up at the same time. Actually the person the producer from Clarity I think from

Keaton Rogers 15:11
One of their early records right

Isaac Kuhlman 15:12
did Dude Ranch I'm pretty sure

Keaton Rogers 15:14
Oh, no way.

Isaac Kuhlman 15:15
Yeah, I'm pretty sure was the same guy. So yeah, it was like they got him because they liked the sound of Clarity and they wanted to do that on dude ranch. That's rad. So anyway, I digress. But yeah.

Keaton Rogers 15:26
Like, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So yeah, we kind of we definitely channeled a lot of Jimmy Eat World you're on our second album for sure I listened to those records so much. And we were going for that in particular that was a big part of it. But yeah, well, I think I'm blanking on the other part of the question. Sorry.

Isaac Kuhlman 15:51
Well, I haven't got to yet. Explain that. Part of the question is, I'm kind of curious. Have you ever thought because all those sounds like a lot of the songs you make are pretty mellow laid back, there's a little bit of anger, but it's not like you're outwardly mad. Have you ever thought about like making a song where you're just pissed off and see what it sounds like?

Keaton Rogers 16:14
I definitely thought about it. Yeah. Yeah, we have some new stuff that we're working on. And like a couple of the songs are just kind of like more punk. Kind of what you're talking about. Yeah, cuz

Isaac Kuhlman 16:25
i think you know, there's definitely definitely up tempo songs like DJ Stole My Girl Away. And Don't Look Down. And on that song. I also really like the darker sounding guitar, that little bridge or solo part. Oh, you know, was there something different when you actually were writing that song that felt you know, you had to have that kind of darker sounding guitar and heavier sounding guitar in there?

Keaton Rogers 16:48
Yeah. In Don't Look Down? Yeah. Yeah, that song. So at that time, that was like, kind of one of the few songs that kind of completely came out of like a jam session. was most of the songs raised on TV, I kind of just I write, you know, and then I bring your sample. Yeah, bring back in the day I bring for the garage, and then we put them together. But that song was a song that completely came out of the garage. And so I feel like, maybe that's why it was kind of just, it was all in the moment. It was all kind of live. And then we, you know, we fine tuned it over, you know, some time. But

Isaac Kuhlman 17:25
you didn't play it perfectly the first time. What the hell, man?

Keaton Rogers 17:28
I know. I know. Not cool. So yeah, that's probably why it's different. I think about it.

Isaac Kuhlman 17:36
Well, it's interesting, because I mean, when I hear that, I can remember exactly how the guitar goes in that song because I'm like, you know, I have to hear the song to remember it. But yes, I remember it being like, like a, like, there's like a little bit of a breakdown and kind of like, two starts to descend down. It's like, make like, noise. And it's like, this is heavier. And I think that's probably why because when you have, you know, people in the room, yeah, probably not going to write like a sad song, right? It's like, Hey, I'm gonna write a depressing song around a bunch of people. Order in the moment, you're gonna write kind of maybe like a more energetic song or something.

Keaton Rogers 18:09
Totally. Yeah, it came out of a jam. That's

Isaac Kuhlman 18:11
pretty cool. Yeah. So I do want to ask kind of like, what's your process when you go into writing music? Because I've talked to other artists and you know, is it like a spontaneous thing where you just have an idea, and then you like, go run, find paper and start writing? Or you kind of have to put yourself in the right situation with a certain audience get in the mood to write?

Keaton Rogers 18:30
Definitely, yeah, I feel like it's been a lot of different things over the years. And I've kind of I've changed it up sometimes, too. But um, yeah, a lot of the time, I kind of like to, I'll come up with a piece of music, whether it's on the guitar, or on piano. And I'll kind of have some chord changes that I like, maybe a melody, and I just kind of, you know, I'll just sit on my guitar, sit on the piano and just play and then, you know, doesn't mean something's gonna come out of it. But when it does, then I kind of hold on to it. And I try to write lyrics, or I like to write lyrics outside. I like to go to the park or something. Or, or if I'm in the car driving, I'll play it on the on the stereo. And I try to write lyrics that way. Because then I'm not, I'm kind of in a different frame of mind. Yeah. You know, or, I used to do this thing ready to go on my bicycle. And I listened to songs in my headphones. I wrote just demos of them and kind of write that way. And then I'd stop somewhere and then write all that stuff down.

Isaac Kuhlman 19:32
Put it down in like notes on your, on your phone or something. Yeah, like,

Keaton Rogers 19:35
yeah, my notebook. Like, you know, like a high school kid.

Isaac Kuhlman 19:40
That's funny. They actually kind of want the same thing. I ride my bike every morning. And, like, I start, I have a good idea for a song where the hell am I gonna write something? Yeah. Like start typing something in my phone. Remember for later, that's interesting.

Keaton Rogers 19:53
That's cool. Yeah, I feel like there's something about being on the bike that kind of gets your mind going in a different way. Yeah, yeah, me Because you're so focused on like, not getting hit by a car, and, you know, there's so many dangers around you, but you kind of go into second, like an instinctive kind of mode or something. But yeah, I haven't done that in a while, like what I've been doing recently is I've been going in our studio, and I've been kind of making these tracks, I've been making tracks with a keyboard and a guitar. And then, like a totally different process where I kind of stroke the song on keyboard, not guitar, and then kind of see where it takes me and and yeah, it surprises me most of the time, because I used to always be a very guitar centered kind of musician and songwriter. So it was always, it always started on the guitar. So you know, whatever it was, and it was usually stuff would come out kind of singer songwriter, because it's me on an acoustic guitar, you know, coming up with words and singing it. And the songs would kind of come out that way. Yeah. But um, yeah, I've kind of been liking doing this other way where I kind of make a track. And I'm not trying to think about what it should be or where it's supposed to be just kind of letting it come out. However, it's gonna come out and it's not always good. Like, sometimes I don't like it. But sometimes when it when it is cool, like, it really kind of surprises me. Like, I'm not entirely sure where it came from. Yeah, and that's really cool. Because the other way I kind of feel like I know where it's coming from. I'm front of channel like a an emotion or a feeling or either it could be good or bad. But it's very specific, like I'm trying to pull from this thing within me and make a song out of it. But the other way, I don't know, that's what I've been doing recently. It's kind of I like it. It's different.

Isaac Kuhlman 21:32
Yeah. It's funny that you mentioned that because like, I'll look back on songs I've written or poems that I've written and stuff like that. I'm like, I honestly don't remember writing that I have no idea. That seems better than my skill level. Like, how did I get

Keaton Rogers 21:45
that same idea? You don't know where it came from?

Isaac Kuhlman 21:48
Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah. So you have you have two albums, fully released, and then you have a third one coming out. So and I think, you know, obviously, Season One was the first album, Season Two was the second one, which is aptly named for a band called raised on TV. branding. You feel like you have a, like a bigger meaning, though, like that. To me, it seems like for most TV shows, Season One is like the character building season. And Season Two is when things get a little bit more hectic or chaotic, or more dramatic. Yeah. And it's just more of everything, right? Yes. Kind of like a bit of like the feeling you got from the first to the second album? Or was it just a bit of continuity? You wanted to keep going with?

Keaton Rogers 22:27
Um, yeah, I'd say it's a little bit of both. It was definitely some continuity, just kind of, kind of keeping that pattern going. And then yeah, also, I feel like with the first album, we just kind of didn't really know what we were going for. And we we got into the studio, and we tracked like, pretty much the whole album in three days, and then kind of went back for vocals, and, and, you know, whatever overdubs we did. Um, so it was like, really just kind of quick, and we just kind of banged it out. And it was like, that was our sound, you know, for better for worse, like, that's how we sounded. And then in the second album, you know, we had time and kind of step back, we got into some other studios, maybe, you know, more expensive, nicer studios. One was Dave Grohl's studio 606. Really cool. So we kind of we took our time, and we really kind of tried to think of what we were going for, and craft a more polished kind of sound. So that was the big difference between Season One and Season Two. And then we're bigger, yeah, big time, bigger production, more money was spent. And then with his most recent album, which we're going to release November 19. of this year,

Isaac Kuhlman 23:40
About fricking time, by the way.

Keaton Rogers 23:42
Yeah, no, man, we got to put it out. We got to get it out. And sit on it for too long. Yeah, I mean, the third album was a whole whole nother world for us because the band changed, you know, we lost our third member, because he quit. Um, he's fine. Like, you know, nothing happened, but he quit the band. And it became me and Kacey mostly. So you know, it just kind of things shifted, things change, but we kept it on the tracks. And we had all these new songs, I wrote a bunch of songs when we were touring, after season two. And then the pandemic happened. We're about to get in the studio on record, where the producer and the dynamic the pandemic happened. And then, I mean, that changed so much for us as a band because not only do we play live, which happened, every band, but it kind of changed how we were going to record to because no studios were open for a while. And we had all the stuff that we wanted to track. So we really kind of got back into just self recording at that time, and having our own studio and there's something I did a long time ago and I kind of gave it up and then the pandemic kind of forced me to get back into that kind of learn and re learn, you know, a lot of audio engineering and mixing and things like that?

Isaac Kuhlman 25:07
Yeah. So you'd be a pain in the butt to try to figure it all out at first.

Keaton Rogers 25:11
Yeah, for sure. Um, yeah, big time, but it ended up being like, really, really cool and rewarding. And we kind of really felt like, we kind of, we got what we were going for, for the most part. And what we were going for was almost similar to the first album in a way where it was just kind of like a very gritty, garage rock kind of sound. But, um, we felt like the songs were better maybe. So it was almost like, like, we were restarting as a band in some ways. And I think that's why we didn't name it Season Three, because it was kind of a restart. So named it Fernando, which is named after the San Fernando Valley, which is where we live and where we grew up. Um, so yeah, so that's kind of Yeah, I guess that's kind of the flow from those three albums.

Isaac Kuhlman 26:00
I think. It's funny because I, I don't know if I took direct inspiration from it after hearing some of the, you know, listening to your guys's albums, but I, I'm one of my things that I actually do branding for, like living in my day job, I guess. But I was like, that's pretty cool. Like, they call it season one, season two, and for a band called Raised On TV. So for this podcast, instead of saying it's, you know, like, the 2021, you know, episodes or whatever I say it's the 2021 tour for this, for this block of ones that are coming out in 2021. Next year, all those will be in the next season, which will be the 2022 tour. So I was like, that's pretty that's pretty on brand thing. So let's do that. So I thought that was you know, it. It was inspiring to see good branding throughout. Another another thing happening around me at the same time. Thanks, man. Yeah, so we talked about like, some of the more up tempo songs. You know, I always come back to DJ stole my girl away cuz that one? Yeah, the, the, the poppiest song? Yeah, it is. But do you do you like, you prefer writing kind of like, the more like melancholy songs? Do you like writing poppy songs? How do you try to stay? You know, cuz? Yeah, I think at some point, people are like, Why don't want to be considered like a pop artist, right? So you don't want to still want to be in the kind of have that edge. But yeah, you still want to be able to write up tempo songs, and you kind of like, understand, like, there's a limit you have to achieve, or do you just not care and just write whatever you want?

Keaton Rogers 27:34
Um, it's for sure a balance, you know, cuz, yeah, at least for me, like, because I do care, you know, so I, really, I come to it in a way where it's not like, you know, whatever comes out comes out. And that's, that is what it is, you know, it's sad, it's sad, if it's happy, happy. Um, sometimes I'll do that, you know, like, once in a while, you just kind of, kind of let it let it flow artists. But at the same time, if you're really trying to build a fan base, and keep a fan base, you know, you're making a product, too. So you can't, you can't get too crazy. Unless you're kind of starting a new project or a new band.

Isaac Kuhlman 28:14
That's why people always start solo careers, right?

Keaton Rogers 28:17
Yeah, or side projects or whatever. Um, but I also think there's something to be said about evolving, you know, as a band, and as an artist. So, yeah, with Raised On TV. I mean, we've, we've really tried to kind of, we do both, I guess we will think about what we're trying to make. And then sometimes we won't sometimes we just kind of make whatever we want to make. But we do we definitely do kind of keep it in mind that we're trying to make something that the fans we already have are going to like and that will also hopefully kind of make us make new fans for us. That will you know, just like like our band and like our stuff. So yeah, you I mean you try to write I try to write you know, whatever it means to write a good song I try to write the best songs that I can and there definitely is a craft to it. There's definitely is an art form to songwriting, you know, the same way there is to playing an instrument. Songwriting is such a it's such a To me, it's like a lifelong sort of craft. I mean, I feel like songwriters, if they keep going with it - professional and hobbyist songwriters - like you kind of you get better and better and you kind of learn you learn what it means to really kind of like dig into emotions that you have and and explore them and then find out how you can make that a song. On it's a tough thing. It's a tough thing in a lot of ways.

Isaac Kuhlman 29:53
Yeah, I think there's there's even like a tipping point where at some point some of the really, really successful songwriters kind of stop trying because they've reached a certain level of fame and then they start degrading their their brand or watering down talent super like yeah, imagine how good like John Mayer's last album could have been if you really, really tried right like, not gonna rip him on too much, but I'm like, you're an amazing guitar player. You can write great songs. What the hell is Sob Rock man like you could have done better? It could have been so much better.

Keaton Rogers 30:21
Well, yeah, I feel like I mean, you can you definitely find formulas, you know, as a songwriter. And if you find one that works, maybe you know, maybe once you find one that works really well, and it's made you a lot of money and unless successful, so you can kind of just fall back on that formula.

Isaac Kuhlman 30:38
Dave Grohl actually said something like, I can't remember who He said He said was like Bruce Dickinson or something was like, we got told by Bruce Dickinson or whoever this person was the formula to write the perfect rock song. And that was like every song for like, the first three albums or something like that. Yeah, that's pretty funny.

Keaton Rogers 30:55
Yeah, no, it's a real thing. That's a real thing. Um, but yeah, I feel like songwriters and bands can find a formula. And then either you kind of fall back on that time and time again, until it kind of gets old and wears out. Or you try to find a new formula, and build upon the older ones and find something new and just kind of you keep going and maybe, you know, maybe, I think I feel like if you keep going with that, and kind of try to you keep pushing yourself as a songwriter. You do get better. Um, you might go down some weird paths and do some weird stuff. But I you know, I definitely admire that when songwriters do that, when they really try, you know, they might have I think, it's

Isaac Kuhlman 31:38
This is why nobody but me likes my music because I just tried to write something different every single time. It's like, nobody else likes this. Nobody else likes when you transition all this stuff. It's like so different from the last thing. I'm like, yeah, that's just the way I wanted to write a song this time. And, like, I threw a scar song in here for some reason why I have no idea. But

Keaton Rogers 31:58
yeah, I mean, it can be tough for people to understand, you know? Yeah. Lot to think about.

Isaac Kuhlman 32:03
So you guys are actually obviously able to play shows now. You've played Yeah.

Keaton Rogers 32:08
Yeah. Five or six since reopening. Yeah. How's

Isaac Kuhlman 32:11
that going? And what's the kind of plan? I mean, obviously, you guys are probably going to set up like a Is it good? Are you going to be like doing like a regional tour sooner?

Keaton Rogers 32:19
Um, yeah, it's going well, it's going well, um, we had some really cool shows. And then we also played like some really random shows. We played like a college backyard party. That was super fun. And, yeah, and then I think it was the same weekend, we played this, this big outdoor festival show. And there were like, 1000s of people there. So it was kind of fun to get to be at one show that was like that. And then the next night, you got a backyard playing for college kids. Yeah. Um, so yeah, that's kind of that's kind of been our experience since reopening. And we're getting out to Phoenix and Las Vegas. Later in October, I think the weekend of October 22. We're gonna do a little weekend run. Just to get back, you know, to get back out there in the band. And on even if, you know, it's just for a couple shows, it's a quick run. And, you know, if we don't make a lot of money or any money, we're gonna get back out there just to do it.

Isaac Kuhlman 33:15
You know, where you're playing in Las Vegas. Um, we're

Keaton Rogers 33:18
gonna play on Fremont Street. Okay. Yeah, downtown. Nice. Yeah. Friday night. October 22.

Isaac Kuhlman 33:27
Perfect. Well, if you haven't booked a hotel, you can obviously crash here for that spare room. So yeah. All right.

Keaton Rogers 33:35
Remember, you said that? Yeah.

Isaac Kuhlman 33:38
Yeah, I'll shoot you just email me or I'll shoot you my phone number via email after this if you actually, but Oh, yeah. So I mean, that's the thing. Like, when you have any I've talked to so many artists, they're like, yeah, you know, touring, you make the money that you spend on the hotel room, or you make the money that you spend on eating to get to the next place or whatever, it's like, you don't make a ton of money when you tour unless you're selling a lot of merch or, you know, a headliner or something like that, like a decent sized venue. So yeah, I mean, it's one of those things I think artists have to travel right because you can't stay in your own place and expect to get reach everywhere else you need to be visible in other places in different venues a different like, you know, play a beer fest or instead of you know, just playing bars for example, brings out a different crowd, right? So like, people who are just drinking all day like drinking

Keaton Rogers 34:32
a lot of those you played a lot of those types of we loved those beer fest shows beer gardens. Yeah, you're tense. Yeah. You know, arson Walker, the brewery no

Isaac Kuhlman 34:41
Firestone Walker. Yeah,

Keaton Rogers 34:42
yeah, they sponsored one of the last tours that we did before. COVID. That's awesome. Yeah, man, so

Isaac Kuhlman 34:47
cool. Or get a drink for free or did you sponsor the tour.

Keaton Rogers 34:53
We got the drink for free. We got like a bunch of clothing and shirts so that the deal was they would supply us with beer. For the whole tour. And we would wear like, you know, shirts and hats from them onstage like happily? Because we liked them a lot. Yeah. So yeah, that was that was super rad. But yeah, with what you're saying with what you're saying about touring? Yeah, it's most of the time as an indie band or up and coming artists, you're going to either lose money, or maybe you just break even. And breaking even is a win. And then yeah, maybe you kind of you can, you can learn the indie circuit to a point where you do profit. But it's probably not going to be what you'd make at home at your, you know, at your regular day job. But you're profiting, you know, you're not in the hole. And that's, that's a huge win as an indie band. But, um, I think I mean, people have different schools of thought on this, especially now in the modern world, but I think it's super important for a band on tour, especially when it's gritty, and you're not making money. Because Yeah, you travel, you play to new audiences. It tests you, it challenges you, it takes you to your limit. And you kind of see what you're made of, you know, like, we've been in so many crazy situations, because of touring because of indie touring. You know, the van breaks down at 2am. What do you what do you do? What do you Where are you what,

Isaac Kuhlman 36:21
you're not a mechanic by trade now?

Keaton Rogers 36:24
I definitely know a lot more than I did, about, about how vans in particular, where, but uh, yeah, so you have it, it develops your problem solving skills, develops your people skills, develops your social skills, I mean, and then of course, playing on stage, like, you get so much better as a band as an artist on it. There's nothing else quite like it. You know, like, you can practice all day long, but it's never going to compare to like being in a game. You know, the intensity.

Isaac Kuhlman 36:57
So yeah, like people think like, Oh, you know, the best way to become a musician these days is go on American Idol and tryout, right? Yeah, sure, sure. No, that's not that's not being a musician. That's a singer and a singing competition. Right?

Keaton Rogers 37:11
Yeah, that's being a star. Yeah. So trying to be

Isaac Kuhlman 37:16
I think totally. And I think even David Grohl at once, he said, You know, there's something about playing in your own garage, and then going out and then doing that in front of people. That Yeah, without without anybody really watching other than the people in that room. Like, nobody's watching you on TV. There's no fanfare, like, the people that can do that are the people that that can live doing that and put up with that for multiple years, and usually the people that will be successful at it,

Keaton Rogers 37:40
for sure, yeah. 100% agree with that. And yeah, like, it's, it can be rough, it can be really rough, and like, it can kick your ass. So you kind of find out pretty quick if you love it or not. And so I feel like the people, the bands that have done that, that did that, and then became really successful later on. I think they found out you know, within themselves, that they loved it. So they kind of they kept going until they did find success.

Isaac Kuhlman 38:08
Yeah. Awesome. Well, cool. I mean, it's great to have you back. And yeah, thanks. I can't wait to see you play live. I mean, I will definitely be on the show. I'm actually going to be in Hawaii for a week in October, but it's before, so.

Keaton Rogers 38:20
Oh, really? Yeah. Okay. Well, let's be in touch man. Yeah, for

Isaac Kuhlman 38:23
sure. And then we'll see if I can bring some people to the show and get a group of people to actually come watch it. It's gonna be good. I, you know, I've never actually got to see you live. But I've heard all the songs and I can't wait for the new album to come out. We'll obviously drop some links to the new music, all that other stuff in the music that, you know, season one, season two, and everything into the show notes. Anything else that you want to tell people about the band? Or, you know, yeah, we're Yeah.

Keaton Rogers 38:52
Yeah. Thanks, man. Definitely look out for our third album, our new album coming out November 19. of this year, and yeah, check us out on raisedontv.com. And definitely stream us on Spotify and wherever else you stream music. Um, and also we have a new music video coming out a month before the album drops. I forget the date, but that's going to be in a few weeks. I'm recording this right now. Yeah,

Isaac Kuhlman 39:20
I highly recommend the videos because I talked about this with you before that, yeah, you because you kind of you seem to know people that have some production and some cameras skills that they come up pretty good for an independent band.

Keaton Rogers 39:31
Thanks, man. Yeah, we know we know a couple people. Yeah. I got a guy. We got a guy got a guy in town. But yeah, new album, November 19. I think that's that's the main thing we're trying to push. So

Isaac Kuhlman 39:43
awesome. Well, I'll put those links into the show notes. And obviously when that comes out, it'll actually be about three weeks after this comes out. So hopefully there'll be like a pre save or something on Spotify link link that we can put in there for everybody. Yeah, there

Keaton Rogers 39:57
will there will so yeah, thanks. Thanks, man.

Isaac Kuhlman 39:59
Awesome. So Thanks Keaton. Obviously I want to thank you for being here this awesome conversation day. If you haven't checked out their music yet, make sure to go to the show notes below this episode, and check out those links for the music. If you like what you heard on the show today, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends on social media. Also, if you want to check out some of our written content, or any of the products are merged that we have available, go to poweredbyrock.com, to read our absolutely free rocking blog full of album reviews, interviews, and lists to keep you entertained and find our gear as well so you can pick up some items to play and look like a rock legend. That's our show for today. We'll see you next week for the next episode. Until then rock on.

Keaton Rogers 40:35
Rock on.

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