About to Pop: Ashbury

Why They're About to Pop: Ashbury was formed in 2005 by brothers Brian Lee (vocals) and Jeremy Lee (bass). The Las Vegas natives later added guitarist Joey Resly, drummer Patrick Wylde and guitarist/keyboardist Lenny Lujan to complete their lineup. After only one year as a band, Ashbury won the “Have a Nice Gig” contest thrown by Bon Jovi. They played with the New Jersey rock group at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and were personally invited to join Bon Jovi at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Ashbury soon went on the road, supporting artists like Panic at the Disco, Paramore and The Cab. Before long, Ashbury's songs were featured on 'The Hills,' 'Laguna Beach,' and 'Pimp My Ride.' After releasing their debut album,

'Complacency,' in 2006, the boys are back with their new EP called 'Let's Make a Scene,' which encapsulates their pop-rock energy in five catchy songs. Catch the band live this year, and be on the lookout for their new LP, 'Off With the Lights,' in 2010.
Six Questions With Jeremy Lee, Patrick Wylde and Joey Resly
How has your hometown of Las Vegas influenced your music?
PW: Probably the most influential role Las Vegas has had on our band is the idea of always being surrounded by so much entertainment. Shows are constantly coming in and out of Vegas. You can go see the Blue Man Group, Stomp, multiple Cirque du Soleil shows, Cher, etc. It's difficult competing against all the hype in what may seem like a big city, but really, when it comes to the entertainment industry, it's actually a very small world. It really makes you force yourself to stand out and be the entertainment that everyone wants to see.
How did it feel to be personally invited by Bon Jovi to play on tour with them?
JR: That whole experience was great -- I hung out in Manhattan for almost a week and got to play at Giants Stadium with the ultimate arena rock band. I truly felt on top of the world! To this day, it still doesn't feel real. All the Bon Jovi stuff came and went in the course of a few short months, and now it's another amazing memory I associate with this band.
What kind of charity work are Ashbury involved with?
JR: We have done a lot of nonprofit shows, but some of the ones that stick out for me were shows we have done for the One Organization, Invisible Children, and the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.
Which artist has been the most fun to perform with?
JR: The Cab shows are always fun! It is always a great time playing shows with good friends of ours. The Used and Bon Jovi were two of my other favorites, just because [of] the types of crowds we were playing for and the positive response their fans showed us.
Do you have any embarrassing onstage stories?
PW: You know, the thing about embarrassing moments on stage is the crowd goes absolutely crazy if you turn one of those moments into an "I don't really care" moment! There are two that pop into my mind that are close, though. Mine would have to be on a particular Halloween show we played at, and I played the drums in a toga. As you can imagine, the toga didn't last the entire set and started to dismantle itself during the second to last song. I wound up playing a song and a half all but naked, with a bed sheet covering the goods. You would think I would have been embarrassed, but the cheers made me more embarrassed, and I can't believe I didn't know how to properly tie a toga! I also recall a time when we played back to back shows in Reno, and Jeremy had partied just a little too much the night before the second show. It got to the point where he couldn't hold his cookies on stage anymore, and he had to semi-excuse himself and puke on the side of the stage, all while still playing. Again, the crowd was all cheers and was way more into our set after that.
We've read that Brian and Jeremy have both been mistaken for Jack Black. Have either of you played along with it?
JL: Haha, I don't think anyone has thought I looked like Jack Black! I have been called Burt McCracken a couple of times, and yes, I have played along with that one for the fun of it. It is cool to see what life is like in other people's shoes! I told Burt people think I look like him when I got the chance to meet him. He laughed and then joked, "Me too."
Skip over this content

Original Source : http://www.popeater.com