Characteristics is a band on the receiving end of many compliments and props from other Detroit musicians. Few come so highly recommended.
Marty Roy on guitar and vocals, Nolan Tillis on synths Jimmy Steenland on bass and Austen Andersen on drums create brooding, new waveish fuzzy tunes. They call their sound Suede Wave.
Characteristics have an upcoming show with The Bits, Amateur Anthropologists, Tony Paris and Mary Cotter at The New Dodge in Hamtramck Saturday at 8:30. The $5 suggested donation or brand new toy go to helping needy families in Detroit.
What are you favorite Detroit bands?
Mary Roi: Jamacian Queens
Jimmy Steenland: Solid Liquid, Trophies, Jimmy’s Phone
Marty Roy: Reverend, Citizen Smile, 2112
Austen Andersen: Bars of Gold I really like. The band Tent.
What are some challenges of working in Detroit? What are some opportunities?
Jimmy Steenland: Transportation. We practice at North End Studios off Loraine St in Detroit.
Austen Andersen: Our cars are falling apart more and more every day.
Marty Roy: the thing about living here is you usually have cheap rent. I can work less than in any other city and still have time to make music. I can have a shitty job my whole life and still be able to afford my practice spot and my house pretty much.
Jimmy Steenland: Quit your job, dye your hair blond. Anything could happen. Weekend At Bernies.
If you guys could play with any band, past or present, who would it be?
Marty Roy: Prince. Definitely Prince. He’s everything I like about music put into one dude.
Noland Tillis: Any band in the world? Areosmith because they have all the hits.
Jimmy Steeland: Oh I hate you, get outta here.
Genre question: Suede Wave?
Marty Roy: It’s really nice to touch and It’s really nice to hear.
Noland Tillis: Deep soul reggae,
Jimmy Steenland: Hippie Emo
Austen Andersen: Tropical, hippie – emo?
Jimmy Steenland: It’s dance-y but it’s a little more emotional. It’s different from hardcore bands that you can dance to. You can dance to pretty much anything. Marty was in an electric band for a while and it rubbed off on him.
Marty Roy: It was dance-y kind of electronic instrumentals.
Jimmy Steenland: People dance at our shows, if they’re drunk enough. People are afraid to dance.
Do you have anything interesting coming up?
Jimmy Steenland: Playing at North End Studios with Silent Lions and The Platinum Selection On January 3rd.
Marty Roy: We have an album that we’re putting out all together coming out shortly.
What else can you tell me about the band?
Noland Tillis: We don’t litter.
Jimmy Steenland: Somebody tried to sell us liquid Xanax and we refused.
Marty Roy: We didn’t buy it.
Jimmy Steenland: No religious affiliation, but all around good morals.
Marty Roy: We’re all about staying out of trouble. Haha.
Austen Andersen: and we bathe in blood.
