A Few Words from Michigan Rattlers and a Packed Turf Club [INTERVIEW]

On Thursday, January 17th, 2019, the men of Michigan took their first stop on tour with The Lil Smokies in Minnesota. The intimate Turf Club hosted Michigan Rattlers and the Montana headliner The Lil Smokies for a packed, heartfelt, and folk-rock show.

MIM: Thank you guys for taking the time to tell us Minnesotans a little bit about the Michigan Rattlers story. Before we dive into some questions about MR, let’s start with each of your names and what your specialty is in the band.

MR: Graham Young, vocals and guitar. Adam Reed, bass and vocals. Christian Wilder, keyboards. Tony Audia, Drums

MIM: How exactly did all of you guys meet?

MR: We all grew up together in the small northern Michigan town of Petoskey.

MIM: Do you guys have any other hidden talents or passions besides music? If so, what?

MR: Tony can dunk a basketball on a standard ten foot rim. We are all incredibly jealous.

MIM: What venue or area would be a dream to perform at?

MR: The Big House. The University of Michigan’s football stadium. They’ve never held a concert there so we’d like to be the first.

MIM: If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?

MR: Thanks for supporting us. The best is yet to come.

MIM: How would you describe MR as if the band was a person? What are they like and why?

MR: Medium height and build. They have an air of melancholy about them and are down to drink 10 or 12 beers at the drop of a hat.

MIM: As a fan of MR, I find it difficult to choose my favorite song because they are all so good. Do any of you have a favorite song you have? If so, which one and why?

MR: It’s hard to pick a favorite song. My favorite song is the one I’m going to write tomorrow.

MIM: How did your band name come about

MR: Adam and I came up with the band name on a road trip from Petoskey to Los Angeles. We wanted something dangerous and midwestern.

MIM: Who or what band inspires each of you?

MR: We are inspired by bands who write, record, tour, and repeat.

MIM: Since Minnesota is your first stop on tour, who would you guess is going to sleep the most on the road?

MR: I’m guessing that Tony will sleep the most. I imagine a slam dunk really takes a toll on the body.

MIM: Why do you think you guys play so well together? Is there something specific that you do for great collaboration or is it natural?

MR: We’ve all known each other and played music together for the better part of ten years. We all started learning our respective instruments around the same time and when you’re learning so much and growing together as musicians, especially at a young age, it creates a bond.