Write up/Interview with Harder Beat Magazine

If there were a formula for How To Be A Successful Metal Band, it might well start with “move to L.A., play on the Sunset Strip and then try to generate record label interest.” There are scores of metal bands over the years that have done just that.

That’s exactly what makes L.A.-based Hostile Groove’s story so intriguing. For this power trio, label interest is the furthest thing from their mind. Yes, vocalist/guitarist Shawn McPherson and drummer Dan Welby moved to L.A. despite building a large fan base in and around their home of Uxbridge, MA. But it wasn’t in search of super-stardom; rather it was to attend the Musicians Institute and further themselves as performers.

It was there they met their bassist, San Antonio native Aric Wright, and formed what is the current iteration of Hostile Groove. From there, they formed a promotion machine that has garnered them national recognition - without any help from a record label. “We’re a very do-it-yourself band,” assesses McPherson. “We’re not anti-label, but right now we’re just not concentrating on labels. [Label pursuit] is not exactly a waste of time,” he explains, “but we’ve been putting the emphasis more on ourselves, and we’ve seen a lot more of a response. We get a lot more out of putting our money into ourselves instead of label interests. The do-it-yourself thing seems to be working out real well right now.”

The main tool the band uses to promote itself is their own record company, Massattack Records (“On stage, we’re Hostile Groove; off stage we’re Massattack Records,” McPherson quips). Through their website, www.massattackrecords.com, they not only provide a constantly-updated stream of information about the band, but lend a hand to other independent artists as well.

“What we do is like news and reviews for bands,” he explains. “You know how a lot of press is kind of ‘bought out’ or ‘in exchange’ for this and that? Well, the type of press we do on massatackrecords.com is we’ll have our guys review your stuff and post it, but while they’re reading the review,” he continues, “people can listen to that band on what’s called Massattack Radio. That way you can see if the writer’s walking the walk or just judge for yourself. Since we are an independent band ourselves,” McPherson notes, “we know what it’s like and we know what they need. It’s internet radio airplay and publicity and press all in one.”

Hostile Groove’s path is one many bands could stand to learn from, if not emulate. To that end, McPherson offers some sage advice to up-and-comers. “Once you know how to play your instrument and get a grasp on songwriting, it’s time to learn how to book gigs. It’s time to learn how to book a tour. It’s time to get into the production aspect of the band. Education is number one,” he stresses. “After you learn how to play the music, you gotta learn what the hell to do with it. You can’t just hang out and wait for a label to do these things for you,” he explains, “because if you’re not a ‘priority band,’ you’re not anything, and they’re basically just holding you back, in my opinion. That’s why we want to develop a good foundation,” concludes McPherson, “so when we are ready for a label, we won’t be getting signed right out of the garage. We want to not give the label a choice to make us a priority.”

McPherson and his band mates are showing every day they have the tenacity to make it in this business, and one listen to their CD (hear samples and order it on massattackrecords.com or hostilegroove.com) show they certainly have the chops. Now this summer, they will prove themselves on the stage throughout the U.S., including a stop at the White Rabbit in San Antonio on July 26 and in Beaumont, July 25. As of press time, a Dallas date was being negotiated.
-Kevin White