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To kick 2006 off, we're going to go to the new talent time section of Ohio music and spotlight Cactus 12, an up and coming act from the northeast part of the state. Now out promoting "Stay," their first 10 track cd release, Avon Lake lead guitarist Sam Getz took some questions from OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts regarding the band's foray into the wonderful world of the music business. |
| OO: |
Who sparked your interest in playing music. |
| SG: |
"My father is a drummer and a music fanatic. He had us listening to the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Zombies and Jimi Hendrix from infancy." |
| OO: |
Are you an Ohio native? |
| SG: |
"I was born in Ashland and educated at home. We moved to Avon Lake when I was 16." |
| OO: |
Is this your first band? |
| SG: |
"I used to go around with my Dad as his drum roadie and sometimes they would let me sit in on guitar. Then, when I was 14, he decided I needed my own band. By that time, I had really gotten into the blues, so we started the Sam Getz Band. We still play occasionally in a few blues clubs in the state." |
| OO: |
Switching to Cactus 12, what artists' music have influenced you? |
| SG: |
"I credit anything I've ever heard from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to Bob and Jacob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jim Adkins from Jimmy Eat World, Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins to Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. I could go on forever, but the point is that even though the sound of my songs my not be similar to theirs, I've learned how to write so ngs by listening to music." |
| OO: |
In that case, describe the sound of Cactus 12. |
| SG: |
"Alternative/power pop. Pop songs with real instruments, almost every song has a guitar solo in it. It's a combination of a drummer who loves funk, jazz and rock, a bass player who can walk a bass line as smooth as any jazz bassist, but is straight forward rock and a keyboardist who knows everything from Mozart to Madonna." |
| OO: |
A mixed bag to say the least. What national act would you match up with on stage? |
| SG: |
"Maroon 5 has kind of a soulful/funky style of pop. I think that would work well with us." |
| OO: |
Anyone from around Ohio catch your ear? |
| SG: |
"Maybe Red Wanting Blue or Lovedrug. Those are both successful Ohio bands that aren't too far from our sound. A couple of other Cleveland bands that we enjoyed playing with are Minor Setback and Blu Vertaal." |
| OO: |
As for "Stay," where was it cut? |
| SG: |
"We tracked and mixed everything with Michael Seifert at Ante Up Audio in downtown Cleveland." |
| OO: |
How did the sessions go, to your liking or not? |
| SG: |
"It just so happened he's a good friend of ours who had finished building his new state of the art studio when were were looking to start our disc. It not only has great gear, but it has great creative vibe to it. So we got to work with someone we knew and respected musically, in a studio which had everything we needed." |
| OO: |
And what are the long term plans for Cactus 12? |
| SG: |
"We just recently signed with an entertainment lawyer, mainly to shop our music to major labels. So the intention is to have a major label behind us soon, but we are not naive, we aren't waiting around for that to happen. Our schedule will be getting a little heavier. We're still writing more songs and growing as a band." |
