Spokane-based band, The Let Up has continued to tour since the March 2008 release of their latest album Illustrate My Character. In an exclusive interview, singer/songwriter Cory Howard talks about songwriting, the latest album, and touring.
[indiessance]
The songs Shameless, Treasure Map and Serenade Surrender were each dedicated to women. Helen of Troy's face was said to launch a thousand ships. In the future, could a thousand songs be dedicated to a thousand women - written by you? These are not necessarily love songs, but, as with the song titled Still Here, a song that could lift a friend's spirits.
[cory howard]
During the writing process of this album I was focusing a lot on relationships, not necessarily romantic relationships, but relationships with people in general. Some songs are fantasy type songs about wondering what it would be like to be in love with a certain person and others are about losing love. Although I've been focusing a lot on worldly issues, politics, and different views on spirituality since the release of the album I think love will always be the main focus of my writing. A thousand songs dedicated to a thousand women is definitely a possibility.
[indiessance]
Could you give me some background on two of your songs? I am referring to the tracks Miss Vanity and Shameless. What are the songs about, and what imagery, emotions, etc. were behind your musical inspiration for writing each of these songs?
[cory howard]
Let me start with Shameless. In the years leading up to our album we saw a lot of trends come and go. We weren't one of those bands that could get popular based on how we look or the style of music we play. I specifically remember playing our first local shows in Washington and getting weird looks from fans of trendy bands while we were setting up our gear because we were just normal looking guys with regular hair. Sometimes people wouldn't even give us a chance. That song is basically speaking to that group of stuck up people who wouldn't even give us a shot based on how we looked. The song is basically saying to keep it real and be shameless about it. There's a little bit of sarcasm in the lyrics. You don't have to try to fit in.
Miss Vanity is very metaphorical. It's about a girl that hides behind her looks and sex to hide the fact that she's a complete mess. The guy in the song is basically using her for the same reason and they use eachother to feel better for one night.
[indiessance]
With the way fuel prices skyrocketed this year, I imagine that it takes a nice stack of dollar bills to fill your tour van's tank. And with the San Francisco area being over 800 miles south of Spokane - tack on another 380 miles for L.A. Many bands are just happy to scrape up enough change for gas, beer and food. So, how have you been coping with the gas expense? This increase in the price of fuel probably affects the band in different ways. Do you now tour more locally, or organize tours so that the venues are clumped closer together?
[cory howard]
We have been touring pretty solid since March of this year. On our first tour, we saw fuel prices getting up to $5.00 in certain parts of the west coast. Being our first tour it was definitely an eye opener to exactly how much it takes to make it as a completely DIY band with the economy falling apart. Not only is it hard for the bands but it's hard for the fans to decide if they can spend their last $10 on a CD rather than 2 or 3 gallons of gas. Since we started touring gas has actually dropped by $2.00 or more. We are definitely feeling relieved on this tour compared to the last. This has also been our most successful tour as far as the shows go. We're seeing a lot of familiar faces and we plan to just keep going.
[indiessance]
In one of the YouTube vids posted, you covered the Circa Survive track In Fear and Faith. Off of which other bands or albums would you like to do cover songs in the future? What other music do you listen to?
[cory howard]
I plan on doing a cover of Alive with the Glory of Love by Say Anything sometime soon. I also have a cover of an Emery song called Don't Bore Us, Get To The Chorus on YouTube as well as a cover of The Spill Canvas' The Tide. I listen to a very wide variety of music ranging from John Mayer, Maroon 5, and Matchbox 20 to Minus the Bear, Circa Survive, Emery, The Higher, and Flight 409. I grew up on classic rock and jazz when I first started learning how to play music so there will also be a spot on my playlist for some Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Louis Armstrong.
[indiessance]
The Let Up has performed with a long list of indie bands. Out of those bands, or even bands that you have come across in the scene, are there any particular up-and-coming bands that fans should know about? Or bands that stand out most prominently in your mind.
[cory howard]
We are on tour right now with a band called Flight 409 from Fresno, CA. They put on a kick ass live show and I love to watch them play every night. They are definitely coming up and need to be checked out by everyone.
We also had the chance to play with one of my favorite bands, The Higher from Las Vegas, NV.
I can remember every single show we've played this year on tour and the ones that have stood out the most have been made memorable by the crowds. We don't always get the chance to play big shows so if a small crowd can give us back the energy that we give them it makes every show worth it.
[indiessance]
The MySpace band profile for The Let Up states that you turned down a music scholarship at the University of Idaho. By this, I imagine you were confident that you could benefit more by focusing on touring with the band, rather than devoting energy and time to a music degree. Are you glad now that you made the decision to pursue songwriting and touring, rather than hitting the books?
[cory howard]
I honestly wasn't confident about turning down the scholarship offer at all. At the time I had no band, no album, no clue how to even go on tour, and huge dreams. All I knew was I loved playing music and I wanted to tour with my own album. It took me four years from that point to get to where I am now. I moved to Spokane and slowly found the right people to build our band. Now I have a family in The Let Up and Scottie and Jeremy are my best friends. We are having the time of our lives on the road and I wouldn't trade my decision to do this for anything. It's been a really hard road getting here and an even longer road ahead of us but I love life right now. I do still plan on going to school someday.
profile @ myspace
profile @ purevolume
video @ youtube (simple lies and neckties - the let up)
video @ youtube (winter's finally over tour blog - the let up)
video @ youtube (illustrate my character webisode 1 - the let up)
video @ youtube (illustrate my character webisode 2 - the let up)
video @ youtube (billie jean live michael jackson cover - the let up)
music marketing @ platform-1
