Interview with Digital Summer at Welcome To Rockville

I had the opportunity to interview Digital Summer. The band is made up of brothers Ian and Kyle Winterstein, Guido, and Austin Rios. This interview is definitely one of the most fun interviews I've ever done and I hope you are as entertained reading it as I was giving it. Enjoy!

Any updates on new music?

Ian - We are smack dab in the middle of our tour with Volbeat and Trivium. When we get back to Phoenix in mid May, we are going to sit down for awhile. We've already started the writing process for the new record. We have a few songs demo-ed out. We are going to finish that up, do some more touring and hopefully hit the studio.

Kyle - We are taking our time on this one. Recently, about six months ago, put out an acoustic album. It was more to appease the fans with something between album cycles because we are still riding off Breaking Point, our last album. The title track from that album is our current single on Octane. We are still pushing that cycle and we don't want to jump the gun. We've kind of decided that our next record is going to be with a named producer. It's going to be like we are swinging for the fences with this one. It's going to be the biggest and best that we've ever put out there. We are not jumping the gun. We would rather take our time and make sure we've got exactly what we want. It's like a new identity for the band. We've gone through a lot over this last year and a half to two years and we are being real picky with what we're putting out there this next time around.

Talk about the acoustic album please because I really liked it.

[The whole band mutters responses, such as That's Great, That's awesome, and Thank You. The look on their faces was very appreciative, too.]

Kyle - We always do acoustic stuff with our fans after the shows. Even on this tour. Right now we are out with Volbeat and Trivium. Almost every night after the show, we do a little VIP acoustic session on the bus with 10 to 12 fans. We do a few songs. It's something we started doing a few years back on tour just as "Hey, we're hanging out" thing. It's an experience they really enjoy. It's a different side of the band. Normally, we throw down pretty heavy on stage. But we like doing the softer side of things. We talked about doing [an acoustic album] and we started working on it and we really liked how it was coming together. It was one of those things to where once it started moving, we were like "Shit, yeah, we gotta do more with this. So we did. On a personal level me and Ian, our mom passed away suddenly last August right when we were finishing up that album. That was always her favorite thing that we did. So it was like we had to get it out there as a tribute to our mom and it was that simple.

Aww. Stop! I'll cry! Ok, now I'm just going to free-ball it here. I only had a few questions so I don't really know what else to ask.

Band - Just like all of us, don't worry. [laughs]

Ian - CAN I INTERVIEW YOU?!

Sure! Go for it!

Ian - What's your favorite superhero?

I don't like superheroes. But...

[The whole band gasps]

If I had to pick it would be Captain America because

Austin - Because he's hot?

Ian - Easy, Bud!

No. Because Pearl Jam, in 2003, Pearl Jam is one of my bands, by the way, I follow them around, they used the Captain America shield on one of their t shirts and that's my favorite Pearl Jam shirt.

Kyle - That's a good reason. I like that.

Ian - If you had to choose between a free pony or a new car, what would you choose?

Well, I hate ponies, but my car is ok.

Kyle - Man, she's got this shit down!

[Someone asks Ian what kind of car]

Ian - A Chevy Aveo

I don't know what that is.

Band - We don't either!

I'd take the car because I hate ponies

Ian - What if the pony was going to be murdered?

I don't care. I hate ponies. Ponies are asses!

Band - OHHHHH!!!

Kyle - PETA is coming after you!

I don't care! Screw PETA! I like steak. [laughs]

Ian - (Digital Summer does not endorse that!) I'm Kidding.

Kyle - HOLD ON A SECOND. We are about to add to this interview. If you could sum up Digital Summer in 10 words or less, what would you say? Rick Dejesus from Adelita's Way!

RD - In 10 words or less? You mother fuckers are intense. That's really it

Kyle - We are camping in tents.

[I high five him. Everyone else laughs]

RD - You've never seen a band earn their fucking shit more than these guys. One day you're going to have a firm and people are going to walk in and be like "So, tell me about the music business" and they are going to be like "OK, here's page one.

Ian - Let me tell you about everything we've gone through! The greatest story in rock and roll!  

Kyle - [cuts in while the other guys are talking] Just so you know Dog On A Leash, Adelita's Way, out now!

RD - Alright I'm not going to fuck you guys's shit up. You guys gonna eat after this? What are you guys doing? [laughs]

Ian - We have our own whiskey brand called Head-banger's. drinkheadbanger.com

RD - [walking away] - That shit fucked me up last night! Hey! let's catch up later ok?

Ian - We played with Adelita's Way and New Medicine last night in Destin, Florida. We let them be the taste testers of the new whiskey and needless to say, they are feeling it today. They enjoyed it

Fun fact of the day, my favorite band, don't judge me, is Hanson. They have their own beer and it's called MMMHops.

Ian - They are old enough to have beer now?

Guido - Hold on a minute... MMMHops?

Kyle - That was a lot to take in at once. What did you just say?

[everyone around us is intrigued and laughing]

Kyle - Ok, your favorite band is Hanson? Let's just process that for a moment.

Yes

Ian - I thought Pearl Jam was your favorite band?

They are. I have 13 favorite bands.

Kyle - They are old enough to have their own beer?

Two of them are in their thirties, one is almost in their thirties and between the three of them they have 11 children.

Band - HOLY SHIT!

Kyle - They're Mormon! 11 children?

They are not Mormon.

Ian - They're rabbits!

They are still together, just saying.

Guido - I'm going to check them out and go to a show.

Please do.

Ian - She really just said, "My favorite band is Hanson and they have eleven kids and their own beer."

I don't drink, but their beer is disgusting. But I thought the name was clever.

Ian - MMMHops? Yeah, that is pretty clever.

Kyle - How old are you?

18

Ian - Look at you out here interviewing bands. I want to shake your hand!

Kyle - How did you get here?

Guido - What's your story?

I don't have a freaking idea.

Ian - Well, way to be lost!

Lost in the world!

Ian - Lost in the right place

Austin - Lost In The Echo!

AH! Linkin Park!

Kyle - Are you doing this for school?

Nope. Myself. My blog.

This interview just took a turn for the weird. [Laughs] This is actually one of the most fun interview I think I've done. For the newspaper, we have a certain style we have to follow and it drives me bananas.

Ian - That shit IS bananas.

Kyle - B-A-N-A-N-A-S

OK, Gwen Stefani

Band - That shit is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Ian - Well, thank you very much, Kinsey. This was fun.

Of course!

Welcome To Rockville Metropolitan Park Jacksonville, FL April 26th and 27th, 2014

Welcome To Rockville was the first music festival I covered in my career. I did everything on my own: applied for press passes, set up band interviews, planned my entire trip, on my own. 

My first band of the weekend was Digital Summer. I had wanted to see them for a very long time and I was fortunate to have an interview opportunity with them later in the day. The band following them was Rev Theory and I had an opportunity to interview their guitar player as well. 

The bands setlists are as follows:

Upon my interview with Adelita's Way, Their performance included several new songs from their upcoming album. 

Chiodos always delivers the best sets for their audience. Half of the people there had no idea who they were, but they still played the show like it was their last, as they do every show. They played

Right after Chiodos, I finally got to see Alter Bridge. They never came close enough for me to get to, but now I finally could. Myles Kennedy is a wonderful performer. They played almost all of my favorites too, which made my first AB experience wonderful. There were people flipping out when they played Blackbird. I was surprised at how many people had Blackbird tattoos because of that song.  

Chevelle is one of those bands that I enjoy, but has always been a little too "Art Rock" for me to understand. That does not mean I do not enjoy their live show, though. Their super fans were cracking me up the whole time too. They kept screaming the lyrics to certain songs. At the time of their set, I was honestly just ready for A Day To Remember, one of my favorite bands of all time.

A Day To Remember, as I said earlier, is one of my all time favorite bands. It was the first time I had seen them since their acclaimed album Common Courtesy was released and the band was on point. Not to mention, it was basically a hometown show for them. This was my favorite set of the weekend, not because I'm biased, but because I had just met Jeremy McKinnon earlier in the day and I was on cloud nine. The energy that this band brings to their crowds is unmatched by any band I have ever seen. My only question is what kind of monster puts We Came As Romans and A Day To Remember at the same time? Both are two of my favorites, but I had to choose. I had recently seen WCAR, so I went for ADTR. The choice was not easy. ADTR played a wonderful set.

I walked over to meet WCAR after the ADTR set and caught part of The Cult, but I do not think they are really worth reviewing since I did not particularly enjoy them.

The last band of the night was Avenged Sevenfold. I like A7X, but I was exhausted and I left after Bat Country, since the first time I saw them, they did not play it. The rest of their set included

And that concluded Day 1 of my first music festival coverage experience. 

Day 2 of Rockville was underway and I was fortunate to see Birmingham, AL favorite, Within Reason. It made me feel a sense of pride for my home state and I was glad to have that sense of normalcy so far away from home. Of course they rock, but I am biased. They played

Following them, I saw The Pretty Reckless, Sick Puppies, and Lacuna Coil. GIRL POWER!!! Their setlists are as follows

It is always an anticipated show when one of your favorite bands is about to release a new album. It is also exciting when you get to interview them as well. Theory of A Deadman always brings it live and their new album will be amazing. They played 

When I found out Staind was going to be at this festival, I was so excited. I could finally cross them off my bucket list. They do not tour as much anymore so I was happy to be one of the few to witness the performance. They played

On the way out of the festival, I saw Five Finger Death Punch. I know you are probably thinking, "Why did you leave before Rob Zombie and Korn?" Well, it was exam week at the University of Alabama and I had a final the following Monday on top of an almost 10 hour drive home. Luckily, I had the excitement of everything I had just accomplished to carry me home. Until next time, Jacksonville.