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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWITHSOUNDCHECKxxxxxxxMIKE CUMMINGSMike’s a solid dude. And bothbands he plays and sings in areworth listening to. I think Ixxheard someone once describehis one band, Crash of ’64, asthe indie-rock Mastadon.Pretty good description. Asfor both of the GO. SEE.THEM. LIVE.Tell me who you are and what youdo.My name is Mike Cummings and Ixxjam in a few bands around town.Crash of ’64 and Backwoods Payback.Can you give me a little historyabout the band? How long have youxxbeen together?Crash of ’64 was started by a greatfriend of mine Pat Shannon. Hexxjammed in Philly mainstays ALLELSE FAILED for years and years andwhen they ran their course he wantedto start something up a little morein touch with what he was alwayslistening to. A more post hard-core,mid 90s feel of things. I think he andthe other guitar player, Keith Montgomery,were putting ideas, riff-wise,together for almost a year before Ieven heard what they were up to. Alltotal I am sure there are more thantwo years invested in the band at thispoint, however I have only been involvedfor a little less than a year.How do you juggle both Crash of ‘64and your other band, BackwoodsxxMORE INFORMATIONxxONCRASH OF ‘64can be found on the web (youknow, stuff like more tour dates,how to buy records and all thatuseful stuff):www.myspace.com/crashofsixty-four.comMORE INFORMATIONONBACKWOODSPAYBACKcan be found on the web (youknow, stuff like more tour dates,how to buy records and all thatuseful stuff):www.myspace.com/backwoodspayback666Payback? Is the writing different, adifferent approach, sound, style … ?Which came first?Juggle is the appropriate term forsure! I am constantly on the move. IfI’m not practicing with one, I amjamming with the other. If I was outof town for a few with Crash… as soonas I get home I leave immediatelyleave to go out with Backwoods,sometimes damn near close to thesame towns even. Backwoods Paybackcame first. I started the band in2002, and Crash… I have really justbeen playing with for this past year.Writing wise, they are completelydifferent animals. With BackwoodsPayback I have my hand in every pot.I play guitar and sing for BackwoodsPayback so from initial ideas, to songcrafting, to lyrics, to tempos, youname it I’m in it.With Crash the songs are for themost part presented to me in a closeto finished state and I can weave lyricsand melodies throughout them.Just singing in Crash… affords me theopportunity to go places vocally Imay not be able to venture with BP.How is being in West Chester for aworking musician?I love it. I am an hour from Philly, anhour from Lancaster. I can hit NYCand the surrounding areas and WashingtonDC and Baltimore in the sameweekend AND sleep in my own bedeach night if I feel like it. There hasalways been an amazing music scenehere in “West Chester Rock City”from the Plow, Boils, 2.5 Children,Creep Records days to the Mid IronBlastshaft, Apparatus Engine, REX’Sdays to now with The Note in townbringing touring bands from all overthe world to WC. I feel like if youthink there is no scene here, you’renot opening your eyes to it!Can you describe the band in onlycolors and emotions?Crash of ’64 = Shades of purple, somberat times with flashes of intensedesperation and self realization.What’s the last great show youDEC. 23, 2009 / PAGE 26xxxxxxxxxPhoto by Jared Castaldisaw?November 28th. Life Of Agony performing“River Runs Red” in its entiretyat the Starland Ballroom inNew Jersey.What’s your favorite album?It’s constantly changing, but two thatnever leave the top of the list wouldbe Pearl Jam’s “10” and Captain Beyond’s“self titled”What’s your ringtone?Nothing man…vibrate all the way!-- Sound check is brought to you everytwo weeks by Mike Bardzik – drummer,recording engineer, owner of Second StorySound Studios in West Chester andan all around good guy. Visit Mike atwww.secondstorysoundstudios.com.