Q&A Marvin Lee
Yes, friends, the struggle is real and so is the local band Struggle Club. These fine individuals have been hard at work at Khind Of Records recording their debut album. With a CD release show coming up at Hogan’s Pub, I figured it was time to have a lil’ sit-down chat with guitarist/singer Kait Jorgensen and drummer Jordan Thornton to discuss all things Struggle Club. Busy boy Austin Moody plays bass in Struggle Club but was not available for the interview.
Marvin Lee: How did all y’all get into playing music? Jorgensen: Well, I personally got into playing music as a coping mechanism after my stepmother passed away. My whole entire childhood was filled with music. A lot of my family played music, and my father played music. The same goes for Jordan. He had always, in his childhood, played music with his brother. In high school, we were in a band together. I first met Jordan when I was 15, and I didn’t really like him at first, but we ended up jamming together a few times and became really good friends over that time.
ML: How did Struggle Club come about? Thornton: So, there was a cellar in the basement of my old house, and we hauled all of our gear down there, and we basically have little cellar parties where we get together with our friends and have adult drinks and just play music all night. We called the space the Struggle Club, and from there we used that for a band name.
ML: Who are your influences? Jorgensen: My personal influences are Black Sabbath. I listen to a lot of the Beatles, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A lot of indie bands. The band Unicorns. Thornton: I’d say, for me, Modest Mouse, Pink Floyd and the Pixies. Kait and I share a lot of the same influences.
ML: So, I feel pretty darn honored to have heard an advance copy of your forthcoming CD, which is called ‘Ya, OK. Cool.’ I love the opening riff to ‘I Am Sin.’ How did that sweet riff come about? Jorgensen: I spent a lot of time by myself noodling around on the guitar and I kept playing this one specific riff from a Kansas song, and I ended up making somewhat of a similar riff motion. I decided to turn that into ‘I Am Sin.’
ML: So, Doritos, Cheetos or Fritos? Jorgensen: I’m gonna have to say Jalapeno Cheddar Cheetos! Thornton: If I could have bean dip, I’d go with Chili Cheese Fritos. Ya, OK. Cool.
ML: Do y’all have any advice for anyone wanting to get into playing music? Thornton: Keep at it and don’t give up because the only way to be good at anything is to be bad at it for some time.
Jorgensen: Just never give up on yourself even if you think you’re really bad for a long time. Even Jimi Hendrix probably started out really bad in the beginning.
ML: Is there anything else ya’ll would like to say before we wrap up?
Jorgensen: Yes, we would like to give an extra special thanks to Khind Of Records. Nate Golla and Ryan Leonardson have done an excellent job realizing our dreams and our goals for this EP. They have given us a lot of helpful direction and getting that exactly where it needed to be. Thornton: I’d like to give an extra special shout out to the Maple Bars, because even musicians need heroes. ——— I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Jorgensen and Thornton this fine afternoon. They are an enthusiastic pair, and I hope they flourish in the local music scene. Be sure to go see them play their CD release show Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at Hogan’s with El Pelican opening up the shindig. Viva la local music.
Lee is a musician and aspiring poet who resides in Lewiston. He can be contacted at marvin.lee@live.com.
