Headstash

Barking With The Heavy Pets’ Justin Carney

Photo Courtesy of The Heavy Pets

Dubbed “white-boy reggae masters” and praised for their acoustic and lyrical prowess, The Heavy Pets woo with a seamless survey of genres from jazz-funk to rock and roll.

Hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, THP are a staple on the festival scene and even scored mainstream nods when The Huffington Post named their self-titled album one of the top 10 of 2010.

In 2011, the group upped its cred with the release of “Swim Out Past The Sun,” featuring a three-track collaboration with mandolin player (and friend of Jerry Garcia) David Grisman.

[FIND news, tour dates and downloads on The Heavy Pets' official website.]

On the heels of a winter-into-spring tour that included their first Jam Cruise appearance, THP gear up for summer performances at Purple Hatter’s Ball, Wakarusa and Catskill Chill.

Headstash Magazine chatted with bassist Justin Carney about the band’s touring schedule, all-star jam sessions and pre-show beverages.

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Headstash Magazine: What are you most excited about as festival season gets underway?

 

Justin Carney: Festival season is a highly anticipated time for The Heavy Pets. We’re always very excited about the opportunity to play in front of large groups of people – that by far is the best part.

Photo Courtesy of The Heavy Pets

We also enjoy seeing and hanging out with some of our favorite bands on the scene like Dopapod, Kung Fu, The Werks, Papadosio, Brothers Past, etc. Festivals are a great opportunity for us to connect with our fans from all over the country.

HM: You played Jam Cruise in January – what was your favorite part of that experience?

JC: Jam Cruise was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had. So many life-changing performances – Lettuce, Soulive, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, 7 Walkers. I could talk for hours about it.

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I would have to say that my favorite part of the week was when I found myself in the jam room playing with Zach Deputy, Kris Myers from Umphrey's McGee and Eric Krasno at the same time. That was sick.

HM: Is there anything the band does differently to prepare for a club show versus a festival?

JC: I think it would be safe to say that we generally prepare for each show the same way, regardless of whether it’s a show in a town we've never played before, a show in town that we have history in or a very important festival slot.

Mike [Garulli] typically likes to drink coffee while Jeff [Lloyd] usually enjoys tea. You can always count on Jamie [Newitt] practicing rudiments on a drum pad either behind the stage or in the green room.

HM: Do you see any international touring in the future?

JC: The Heavy Pets definitely have plans to tour Europe. We’re thinking possibly a week or two in early 2013. We are also looking forward to building some markets in Canada as well.

It was originally one of our long-term goals to be an international touring act. We were very surprised when we discovered that people in Japan were buying “Whale,” our first CD. I’m looking to go as far around the world as I can with our music.

HM: Are there any particular bands out there whose careers/paths you admire?

JC: There are almost too many bands to list! My personal admirations in the scene would be for The Disco Biscuits, moe., Umphrey's McGee and Perpetual Groove.

[FIND complete lineups, ticketing information and analysis of all your favorite festivals via our 2012 Festival Guide.]

Each band has a unique, super cohesive sound as well as a tremendously supportive fan base that they have built from the ground up. They’re successful in all aspects of their careers and I admire that success.

HM: Your music blends elements from pop, ska, jazz and reggae – with so many different sounds, what’s that writing process like?

JC: We don’t have a formula for our song writing – we just have a lot of songwriters. Everyone in the band is a singer/songwriter.

Photo Courtesy of The Heavy Pets

I think that we decided early on not be afraid to let the music that’s influenced us shine through in our songwriting. We are as influenced by Wu-Tang Clan and Modest Mouse as we are by Phish and The Grateful Dead. You never know what you're going to hear coming through the speakers when you get into our van.

HM: How do you think the jam scene has changed over time?

JC: I think we can all agree that the jam seen seems to be constantly evolving. It’s the only music scene where you will see acts trying to incorporate all genres of music into their style.

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Most bands these days are incorporating the electronic element into their sound, whether it’s from hip-hop or EDM. To me, it's even interesting to see a lot of the more popular producers starting in the jam scene and then transcending it like Bassnectar, Pretty Lights and Paper Diamond.

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Catch The Heavy Pets Wednesday, May 2 at the Funky Blues Shack in Destin, FL. For more information and a complete list of tour dates check out The Heavy Pets' official website.