EMQ’s With Misery Lane
EMQ’s With Misery Lane
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Multi-genre Metal band, Misery Lane. Huge thanks to their Vocalist/ Lead Guitarist/ Songwriter, Ken Keller, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Ken Keller and I’m the vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter. The band started in October of 2020. The first album was just the singer and me. I wrote all the music and played all of the instruments. We wanted to recruit other players by saying this is our sound. Now it’s a completely different lineup and a completely different sound. This new version is how I originally envisioned the band’s sounding and the fans have reacted accordingly.
How did you come up with your band name?
I was driving around northern Michigan. I’m a district manager so that requires a lot of travelling and I happened to pass a dirt road in the middle of nowhere with the sign that read “Misery” with an arrow pointing down the road. I just added lane and the name was born and I thought it was a name people could relate to because we have all taken a stroll down Misery Lane at least once in our lives.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are based in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the US. There are a lot of up-and-coming bands here and there are a lot of local venues trying to support them. The biggest issue here is bands that get together for a few months then break up taking opportunities from bands that really are trying to do something with music.
What is your latest release?
The newest album is untitled but because of the artwork on the front it has been dubbed the “Red Balloon” album much like Metallica’s “Black Album”. There is a song titled “Red Balloon” which is where the artwork came from.
Who have been your greatest influences?
There have been too many to count. I like to listen to all sorts of music, and I feel like limiting myself just means I’m missing so much. I started in thrash metal cover bands then moved to the blues. From there I’ve played in country bands, pop cover bands, original drop tuned bands and now Misery Lane. All those experiences filter through to our music now.
What first got you into music?
My dad got me to listen to music. He loves classic rock and old RnB, but it wasn’t until my tween to teen years that I really connected with music and that was the angst of thrash metal.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I think it would be awesome to collaborate with Howard Jones, formerly of Killswitch Engage or Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone Sour. I love the lyrics they write and their ability to bring emotion to the lyrics and the song.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I think playing Wacken in Germany would be an awesome experience. They have such a great metal following there and the lineups are some of the best bands in the world.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I don’t consider it a gift per se, but I did have a woman come up to me after a show and say she wanted to have my baby. LOL. I told her that I appreciated her enthusiasm but would love a beer, so she bought me one.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Support local music. All the biggest bands started somewhere, and they got to where they were because of people just like you. If you’re willing to pay $100-$300 to see a big name, try spending $10 to see some local music. You might be surprised at what you find and please buy some merch. Currently in local music merch is the biggest money producer for the local band.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Randy Rhoades or Stevie Ray Vaughn. Both were huge influences on my playing, and both were taken too soon through no fault of their own.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love it when people can connect with something I’ve written. Ideally as a musician we write music that we like and hope that other people do as well and it’s a great feeling when people say they love or request a song. I hate when other musicians crap all over someone trying to do something usual because they can’t do anything themselves. Criticism is fine but the “I’m better than you” egos need to go.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The music scene today isn’t about talent, it’s about money and that’s sad. You don’t need skill if you can afford to pay for a record deal.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“…And Justice for All”. The music and the messaging in that album still rings true today.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I think they all have their place and time. I think for newer bands downloads are best because they can get your music in front of people that wouldn’t normally be able to hear it. People hate on websites like Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, etc. because they don’t pay the artists that much but without services like that, bands like mine wouldn’t have the reach that we do, being played in multiple countries all over the world without radio play. I personally like CDs. My dad likes vinyl, but I think for sheer convenience downloads are the way to go.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Oct 15, 2021, at the Music Factory in Battle Creek, Michigan, US. Not only was it a costume themed Halloween party show but I got married to my best friend on stage before we played, and it doesn’t get any better than that.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Spending all the money that I would have saved on gear and gas for shows LOL. Honestly, I can’t think of a scenario where I don’t play music. It’s always been my escape and being able to share that with people on stage is a better rush than any drug could ever give.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
You didn’t say live or dead so… I would say Randy Rhoades, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and George Carlin. I’d love to listen to those guys talk about playing guitar and sharing riffs and come on, who doesn’t love George Carlin. He would be the star of the party.
What’s next for the band?
To continue to play shows supporting the newest album “Red Balloon” but since I never stop writing it’s to complete work on our third album which we are hoping to have done by March/April of next year. We have a few songs already but there is always room for more 😊.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
First and foremost, our website https://www.miserylane.com/
There is also our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/miserylanemusic/
and lastly Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6zMxWGWTA7cmXidyLAK100. Beyond that our music is available wherever you stream music.
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Isn’t that a trick question? Realistically that answer would depend on what part of the UK you were from because some locales call it different things.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Friedrich Nietzsche said it best when he said that life without music would be a mistake and I couldn’t agree more.
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
