Redgy Blackout is a local band that formed when Jeremy and Scott’s paths crossed at a Vancouver open mic night a few years ago.  These two were busy in 2011 because the musicians were a part of the Peak Performance Project’s Top 20, and in the process had the chance to be a part of a truly amazing project with BC’s Children’s Hospital.  However, 2012 promises to be equally as exciting.

How did you guys get started in music?

Scott: I got started in music at a really young age, and then from there it just sort of became something that I really wanted to do.  I just started writing songs.  That’s when I moved to Vancouver, and met this guy [Jeremy] on Main Street at Purple Crab.

Jeremy: My father was as musician, and I started out just influenced by that.  I started playing guitar pretty young as well.  So I started a few bands, and I played around Prince George.  I did all I could do there.  And that’s when me and some friends decided to move down here.

So, what influences your music, and your writing?

Jeremy: I’d say different things. I don’t just like to sit down and try to write something, I kind of have to think of an event from my past to coincide with a guitar rift or a banjo rift.

Scott: Music inspires me a lot, different genres from folk to rock to country, and even pop.  Growing up, I really got into The Beatles, so that definitely influences me a lot in my writing style.

And, what was the inspiration behind the band name?

Jeremy: Originally, it was a character name.  We thought, let’s come up with something that sounds kind of cool, but something that we can develop a character to use for artwork.

Scott: To me it always felt like a meeting of two sides, like what I do and what Jeremy does.  If I’m the Redgy, then he’s the Blackout.  And it’s really been a collaboration from the very beginning between Jeremy and I.

So, were you ever able to get a design out for the Redgy Blackout character?

Scott: One of the original concepts drawings we went with was done by a friend of Jeremy’s from Prince George; he’s kind of looks like a raggedy doll character, but he’s doing this weird ballerina pose.  And then from there it’s kind of evolved.  We call him the New York Redgy, he’s got like the top hat and the cane, and bell bottoms.  He’s got a little more personality, I guess.

As you head out on tour at the end of the month, what do you look forward to most?

Jeremy: Some of them are places we’ve been too, and every time we go back, it’s better.  So we always look forward to the audiences growing and seeing people we’ve seen before.

Scott: And playing some new spots too.  We’re going to be in Victoria for the first time, which we’re really excited about.

The tour’s also bring you back to Vancouver. What’s your favourite thing about playing here?

Scott: Our growing fan base.  That’s what I love because we definitely draw the best crowds in Vancouver.

How would you describe your Vancouver fans?

Scott: Loyal

Jeremy: Devoted

Scott: Redgy Blackout’s grown up over the years and they’ve grown up with us.  They’re very enthusiastic and loyal, for sure.

You recently teamed up with Children’s Hospital.  How did you get involved in that?

Scott: We were in the Peak Performance Project over the summer, and it was one of our challenges to team up with a charity.  We had just released a new EP [Redgy Blackout], and there is a song called “When U Were A Kid”, so we thought it would be a really good to donate all the proceeds of that song to the hospital.  We ended up raising $500 for the BC Children’s Hospital, which was great! And we actually went and played at the hospital.

Jeremy: It was emotional, but it felt really rewarding.  It was really great to do that for them, they really appreciated it.  I’d do it again anytime.

What are you guys looking forward to in 2012?

Jeremy: Toronto in March, for Canadian Music Week.

Scott: We’re going to make our first trip out there, we’re showcasing.

Are you guys working on anything else?

Scott: We just spent a day at Blue Light Studios, and that was something that happened because of The Peak.  So we were just in there on the weekend, and we’re pretty stoked about that.  It is exciting to have a new song to share with the fans.

Jeremy: It’s got pretty good potential because it came out better than we thought.

Redgy Blackout will be performing at the Bilmore Cabaret on February 22 for their Mountain Tour 2012. 

Photos by: Darian Wong