*In this series we pose the age-old question to a wide array of music lovers. As fans of music, most of us keep a mental list of active bands we want to see live that we haven’t yet seen. The Bucketlist brings to you those lists of your favorite artists and why those bands mean so much to them*
The Small Town Titans are a power trio from York, PA who love to constantly create, as well as play live. Gone is the notion that a rock band should only release 10 songs at a time every 2 years. In a world where music fans crave new content constantly, the Small Town Titans aim to deliver their brand of art all the time, drawing inspiration from a new wave of rock bands such as Royal Blood to rock legends such as the Foo Fighters, Audioslave, and Deep Purple. Thanks to their efforts at assembling their own studio in a basement, STT can create and release songs, podcasts, live online concerts, and more with no rules.
The band is rounded out by Phil Freeman (bass/vocals), Ben Guiles (guitar), and Jonny Ross (drums). Instead of trying to make a million fans, Small Town Titans are focusing on the fans they already have. With a love for playing live, a Small Town Titans show has evolved into more than a concert – it’s an event with a set list that’s decided right before the show, and plenty of onstage banter in between songs. The band simply hits the stage to deliver and energy-driven show. Nothing more, nothing less. This approach to their live performances has led to them sharing the stage with acts such as Highly Suspect, Papa Roach, Black Stone Cherry, Pop Evil, and more.
We recently spoke with the band’s frontman, Phil Freeman about his bucket list and here’s what he had to say:
“A band that I haven’t seen live that I would LOVE to check out is Awolnation. They just dropped an amazing album ‘Here Come The Runts’ today as I write this. Absolutely phenomenal work. It’s like David Bowie meets EDM meets hard rock meets metal. I love it. It’d be awesome to perform on the same stage together, let alone see them.
Royal Blood is also on this list. They have been tearing it up in the rock scene as a super dynamic duo. Their sound is huge and it’s amazing to know that there are only TWO members in the band, both recorded AND live. I look forward to the day I run into those dudes.
Not to veer too far off the beaten path, but there are two solo artists that I would also like to see and possibly meet:
First, Zoe Keating. She is an incredible cello player who builds her musical masterpieces with her cello and a loop station. It puts me in a very meditative and clear place in my mind. Definitely worth checking out.
My second would be the firestorm and free spirit that is and forever will be Amanda Palmer. She serves as a major inspiration for independent artists out there. Not that I have anything against anyone who wins a Grammy or that level of achievement, but I thoroughly enjoyed her written essay regarding the current “step up” scandal. In a nutshell, you don’t need a grammy to have a fulfilling existence. I welcome the opportunity, but I feel there are more important things, and she makes that clear through her music and artistry.”
Small Town Titans are actively forming a team of like-minded individuals in the new music business who are just as driven and passionate as they are, rather than waiting to be discovered. As the band continues to grow their fan base online this year, they will also hit the road, this time with a smarter game plan, a stronger fan base, and a passionate team behind them. For all things STT, visit www.smalltowntitans.com as well as social media!
