Separately, they?re a group of 20-something guys. But any time this group of friends come together, they make up the pizza, fun- and cereal-loving, local garage-pop band that is The Joy of Painting.
The five piece is made up of frontman and guitar player Garreth Spinn, lead guitar and backup vocalist Dave Armstrong, keyboard/saxophone/backup vocalist Kyle McCormick, drummer Chris Hauser and bassist and backup vocalist Mark Bullock.
As they finish up band practice around 6 p.m. ? they?ve been at it since 10 that morning ? they discuss the time lengths of certain verses, and which songs they?re playing for the upcoming show at Mercy Lounge opening for Peelander-Z. It?s a normal scene, as the group finishes up being all business. As they sit down, they transform into five regular guys who joke about bad band names such as ?Man Chest Hair Orchestra,? and YouTube videos, ultimately representing the essence of the band they have all become devoted to.
The Joy of Painting works to create songs that are fun and accessible, while they remain invested in making music that friends and family in their age group, and with similar life experiences, can relate to.
?I started exploring what was happening in Nashville, and I realized that there were some people that were making more energetic music and I felt like, ?OK, let?s make something that?s fun, let?s make something that people can connect to, but not get overly emotional,?? Spinn said. ?If it?s fun to listen to, and we?re fun to watch and they?re having fun, then that?s the big idea.?
Amid the essential and relatable songs about love and breakups, JOP writes about the changes that come with being in your mid-20s? becoming independent, watching friends get married, moving away and freaking out about it, make their messages about life that any of their friends or family members can relate to.
?As a general rule, I like to send stuff to my mom, and if my mom doesn?t like it, chances are the general public?s not going to like it,? Spinn said. ?The songs that she loves ? like the song ?Good Mood? with the saxophone? I sent her that song and she was like, ?Garreth, that song is going to be a hit.? And that?s currently our most popular song.?
The Joy of Painting is coming up on their two-year mark. Spinn, Armstrong, McCormick and Bullock all met during their time at MTSU. With degrees in the recording industry program, it wasn?t long before the four were running in the same circles. While Spinn and Armstrong were doing the singer/songwriter folk duo thing, McCormick, Bullock and Hauser were playing for indie-rock band One Big Owl.
By January 2011, Spinn realized that he was growing bored with his and Armstrong?s current project, and they could not achieve the heavier sound they were looking for with two people.
At this point, the five came from their separate projects to come together as one, McCormick, Bullock and Hauser coming from One Big Owl, led by Sephra Scheuber.
?I basically stole her band,? Spinn said.
?Sephra?s vowed to kill Garreth, one day,? McCormick said.
?Yes, she?s in Oklahoma, but she?s slowly plotting to take me out,? Spinn said.
Hence, The Joy of Painting began, getting their name from the Bob Ross television show.
?There is a lot of elements of that show that you could connect to this band,? McCormick said. ?The lightheartedness and sheer joy of whatever Bob Ross is doing ? we love doing this, and that dude loved painting.?
As JOP prepares for their Nov. 10 show at Mercy Lounge, it is obvious that their environment contributed to their continued growth as a band. Experiencing the Nashville music scene helped to humble them, challenge them and encourage them to keep working harder. And with such a saturated environment of musicians, being a band in Nashville helps to keep you on your toes.
?The guy that serves you coffee can probably play guitar in circles around you,? Spinn said.
?AND make a really mean espresso,? Armstrong finished.
Spinn goes on to talk about the snobbishness that can come off from Nashville crowds due to the competitive nature of the Music City.
?We don?t want to come off as pretentious, or like we think we?re above anyone or anything. I know like, when the show?s over, I make a point to anyone that says anything that?s complimentary, to learn their name, shake their hand, let them know that I?m accessible and we?re excited to be here,? Spinn said.
?We play music 0n stage for a lot of people. Let?s not forget that that?s a lot of fun,? McCormick said.
The four that attended MTSU developed skills that they are using as a result of their education.
?It?s really cool to have all the skills that one band could possibly need in-house,? Spinn said.
Bullock takes charge of the producing and musical engineering and Spinn takes the initiative with all of the booking. McCormick has also done all of the album artwork for the band.
?And I play pretty much all the video games,? said Hauser.
Education only takes you so far, however. After that, you have to get out there and just do it. JOP just returned from their first tour, which came as a result of hours of Spinn emailing and talking to venues. Bowling Green, Indianapolis and Pontiac, Mich. were among a few of the stops on the tour.
?If you?re going to do this, if you don?t plan on having a ?real? career, you have to be totally into this or totally out of it. There?s no in-between,? Spinn said.
The experience was as successful as it could be, but the group?s favorite part was getting to stay after the shows and hang out with people. The band and the fans developed more of a bond that ultimately makes the music more meaningful for both parties because in the end, it?s all about having fun.
?We wanted to be the band that lets you remember that you can forget yourself,? Armstrong said.
The group has a varied list of priorities that range from feelings to food.
?That?s the only thing that really matters as a musician, is getting better. Unless I?m mistaken,? Spinn said.
?Pizza matters,? McCormick said.
?Pizza and cereal,? Spinn said.
Photo Credit: Briana Mailley
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