EMQ’s With Bridge The Gap
EMQ’s With Bridge The Gap
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Skate-Punk band, Bridge The Gap. Huge thanks to their Guitarist/Vocalist, Chad Jensen, 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 Chad Jensen. I play the guitar and handle vocals in Bridge The Gap. Our band is a collection of four friends that spans 25 years. We played in a band together for years back in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. After giving up the ghost, as it were, on the band, getting jobs, and starting families, we got back together in 2022 under a new band name. From there, we recorded our album “Secret Kombinations”.
How did you come up with your band name?
Well, it’s a phrase used to convey the overcoming of an obstacle. We dig the symbolism in that, considering how life is one struggle after another, beautiful though it is.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re from Utah. Salt Lake City is our home base, though the members of the band live all over Utah, and one of us lives in Colorado. The scene in SLC is dope. There are a lot of bands, from metal, to rock, and punk rock. It’s a very versatile and passionate scene. The bands are all very supportive of each other.
What is your latest release?
We dropped our debut album “Secret Kombinations” in March of 2023 on People of Punk Rock Records. We followed that up with a single entitled ‘Revenant on Halloween’.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Our producer Bill Stevenson has been a massive influence on Bridge The Gap, and long before we actually crossed paths with him. Bill is a musical savant and has been in some of the most seminal Punk bands of all time, including the band he started and continues to drum in, Descendants, plus Black Flag and ALL. Suffice to say, we were heavily influenced by Bill’s music in Descendents / ALL especially, and what self-respecting punk rocker doesn’t dig Black Flag? Then, what we’ve learned from Bill since he began working with Bridge The Gap is enough to fill a few thesis papers. He’s forgotten more about music than we’ll ever know. Beyond Bill’s bands, Bridge The Gap has been heavily influenced by Bad Religion, Pennywise, NOFX, and Strung Out. The songwriting talents of the late Jim Cherry (Strung Out / Pulley / Zero Down) have impacted me on an individual level, especially as a songwriter who studies other prolific songwriters.
What first got you into music?
Nirvana. In 1992, when Nirvana broke, that’s the first time I can recall being moved by music and paying close attention to it as a fan. I would have been about 12 or 13. From there, I went down the alternative music rabbit hole. By 1994, when punk broke into the mainstream, I, like many of my generation, was inspired to start my own band and write songs. That led me to the discovery of so many killer bands. Beyond the ones I’ve already mentioned, bands like Rancid, Propagandhi, Lagwagon, Ten Foot Pole, No Fun At All, Snapcase, Boy Sets Fire, AFI, Good Riddance, and older bands like The Adolescents, D.I., Minor Threat, Misfits, and Dayglo Abortions.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
That’s a good question. I haven’t ever given it much thought. I mean, who wouldn’t want to collaborate with a hero-band? I’d have to think more about it. Off the cuff, I’d say Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
We’d like to play Punk Rock Holiday in Europe someday, and Punk Rock Bowling and Fest in the states.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Nothing I would categorize as weird, really. Most of the stuff we’ve been gifted by fans over the years has been things like records / albums of other bands, various punk rock memorabilia, and whatnot.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
We don’t play a particularly popular brand of heavy, fast music. But when we recorded our album, we simply wanted it to reach our tribe, so to speak, wherever they were in the world. So, my message to Bridge The Gap fans would be thank you. It’s been amazing to see how far our tribe actually reaches.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Jim Cherry, hands down, although he wasn’t exactly a rock star colloquially speaking. He was to us, though. Beyond Jim, I’d say DeeDee Ramone.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Creation. There’s nothing like the seed of a riff or melody springing forth out of the ether and building a song around it. Watching that seed germinate and flower into a living, breathing work of art is one of the most fascinating, wondrous, and addictive experiences I’ve had. I don’t really hate anything about being in a band, although there are things I like less to varying degrees. I don’t like sitting in the van for hours on end bored out of my mind in between cities, but the payoff is immense when you get to your venue, share the stage with friends, and play to fans and new audiences. There’s a trade-off with most of the aspects of being in a band that I like less.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
It sure would be rad to be able to get a hold of people a little easier.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Pennywise’s “Unknown Road”. A 1993 release on Epitaph Records.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
From a listening perspective, nothing beats vinyl, especially if you have a good setup.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Our record release show for “Secret Kombinations” was unforgettable and left an indelible mark on Bridge The Gap.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Writing something.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Uh.. Hmm. Probably my best friends, my Dad, and my Aunt.
What’s next for the band?
We’re headed back into the studio for our second album. Then we plan to play out a lot in 2024.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.instagram.com/bridgethegapband/
https://www.facebook.com/BridgeTheGapPunk
https://twitter.com/_bridge_the_gap
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?
Ha ha. No clue. I’ve never been. I’ll guess a ‘barm.’
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
We’re very appreciative for the opportunity, so thank YOU.
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.
