Independent Reviews Site – Editor’s CD Pick
Blue collar band EPSTEIN’S MOTHER has cornered a fan base in Las Vegas and seems poised to make a break into the real world any minute. Over 1500 people turned out for the release party for their new CD “Subtle” at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.
Produced by Mike Sak (Ani DiFranco, Goo Goo Dolls) the CD is supremely worthy of praise and plenty of time in the player. Most of the songs are penned by lead singer, Shawn Eiferman, who started the band, with bassist Geoff Neuman, in 1996, and speak of everything from simple pleasures (“My Favorite Song”) to broken lives (“Gone”). Reminiscent of bands like the Gin Blossoms and Match Box 20, EPSTEIN’S MOTHER is looking to follow in their footsteps. The band recently played in Los Angeles and the IRS caught up with them in their hometown a week later.
The Whole Band Says:
CA: When did you know that you wanted to be a musician?
GEOFF NEUMAN: I knew I wanted to be a musician after seeing some friends in High School play. I also discovered John Patitucci a great bass player and a huge inspiration for me, around this same time.
CHRISTIAN BRADY: The first time I watched “Van Halen, Live Without a Net,” and saw Eddie Van Halen play. I was 13.
CHRIS MORRISON: I didn’t.
SHAWN EIFERMAN: 2nd grade, I played the mayor munchkin in a Palomar College show of the Wizard of Oz.
CA: Is Epstein’s Mother the kind of sound you envisioned when you signed up to be in the band?
GN: Not at all. I joined up with Shawn near the end of my undergraduate studies at UNLV. I was just looking to do something fun and different from all of the jazz and classical music I was playing in college. I still love and play that other music as often as I can but the music we are creating with EM is far beyond what I ever imagined.
CB: Who’s EPSTEIN’S MOTHER? (just kidding). I think the sound of EPSTEIN’S MOTHER is what the four of us make it. So it can really be anything we want to envision. That’s the beauty of creation.
CM: Nope.
SE: Without question!
CA: What’s your favorite part of being a band with such a fabulous fan base?
GN: A lot of the “fans” that come out to our shows are a lot like friends. We enjoy talking to them about their lives and what they like so we get to know them beyond just supporting the band. While we cannot possibly do this with every single person that comes out to our gigs, we try .
CB: We actually prefer to call them “friends” rather than fans. A lot of the people that come to the shows are loyal fans and friends of the band who have been following for a long time. I like the fact that we know the faces at our shows. It makes every time we play seem like a giant party with all of our friends. That’s what makes playing live great for me.
CM: The quality of music they get to hear on a regular basis.
SE: All of our shows feel like we are playing in front of a hometown crowd.
CA: What venue, anywhere in the world, would you most like to play, (to a packed house of course)?
GN: This is a tough question because I love playing at small venues when the energy is there and when we play at places like House of Blues and it is packed it is also great. I would say that headlining Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas with a sold out crowd would be the best because it is in our hometown. I am sure there are great venues like Madison Square Garden or Staples Center that are better venues and alot more prestigious but if we ever get to headline one of the big venues like the T & M or The MGM Grand Garden, that will be a amazing.
CB: The big festival that happens in Rio di Janero every year. I think playing in front of 100,000 plus people would have to be one of the most incredible feelings in the world.
CM: The Long Beach Arena in California.
SE: Wembley Stadium in London for their Grand Re-opening next year.