TOUR DIARY: GROVES TEACH US ABOUT THE ART OF WASTING TIME {SEPTEMBER - CHANGE THIS}

Kauri Marie / September 23, 2016

No matter what way you spin it, GROVES is having a game-changing year. Since linking up with Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel Madden at the end of 2015, the Texas-turned-Los Angeles trio has unleashed two stunning music videos, recorded a proper full-length record, and hit the road alongside living legends Culture Club.

This fall, the band--made up of vocalist/guitarist Stephen Salisbury, bassist/synth player Reid Guidry, and drummer Will Smith--will unveil their as-yet-unnamed debut LP, and if the two lead singles are to be trusted, it's going to be one hell of a winter. Like their iconic tour mates, GROVES' sound is a subtly blended cocktail of guitar rock, pop-punk, and new wave, with just a twinge of reggae spirit (think Phoenix on summer vacation). In other words, it's the prime soundtrack for road trips down the coast, or cold days spent daydreaming about them.

While on the road with Boy George & Co. last month, we asked the guys of GROVES to compile a photo diary of their life on tour. Below, the guys take us through a day in Portland, OR, and answer some questions about the band's origin story. "On tour there's a lot of downtime, time in between riding in a van, waiting for soundcheck, sitting in hotel rooms," says Guidry. "It's important to know how to waste that time properly, so here's a glimpse at what we do off stage." Read on for more, and head here for a full list of GROVES' upcoming tour dates.

We're currently doing research for album art - our first record is coming soon...

How did you guys meet?
We met around 8th or 9th grade and started playing together shortly after. We all loved the same bands. On our first practice we covered about 20 songs front to back.

Musically, how similar (or different) are your individual tastes?
We definitely all have our own styles but I think we can all appreciate each other's tastes. We think those differences are what make up the DNA of this band. We all bring something unique to the table.

Were there certain bands/albums you collectively loved when you started working on music together?
There were a lot of influences--everything from Sabbath to Dre to the Police, to Smashing Pumpkins to Tame Impala. The [Phoenix] album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix definitely had a huge impact on us. We find inspiration in so many different bands sit would be hard to list them all.

Is it true the band was named for your hometown?
Yes. We thought of hundreds of names, GROVES was the only thing that stuck. We love the way it looks and sounds, it represents who we are and where we can from.

Tell me a little about Groves, Texas. How do you think the city plays into your music?
Groves is a small town where we grew up. When we were in our early years of high school there was a small venue called Vibes where we all played our first shows. We'd flyer the halls of the high school and pack 350 kids in this place and have a party. Those shows are where our passion for playing live music began.

What prompted the move to L.A.?
It was very unexpected, actually. We had been touring in another project and were out in L.A. for an event. After the show we went out for some beers and it hit us all the same time that we belonged in this city. When we got back to Texas we gave ourselves six months to save up and then we were off to the West Coast. We haven't looked back yet.

There a very sunny, West Coast feel to the songs you've put out. Has living in Los Angeles has had an effect on the music?
100% yes. The album and songs we've been making wouldn't sound the same if they were done anywhere else. There is definitely an energy surrounding the city and once you're submerged it's impossible for it to not have some sort of effect on the art you're creating.

When did you hook up with Benji and Joel?
We met those guys after playing a show at the House of Blues on Sunset. We were approached by their in-house engineer, Courtney Ballard. After he saw us play he was relentless in having us come by the studio to meet everyone. Looking back, I think taking that meeting was one of the best decisions we've made yet.

Were you fans of Good Charlotte growing up?
They were definitely heroes to us. Especially since we were all super into pop-punk in our younger years. We remember coming in from school and seeing them on TRL and MTV Cribs; that was like our entire world. They represented the goals we wanted to achieve.

You have to walk as far as you can from the venue, but just far enough that you get back in time for soundcheck.

How did the Culture Club tour happen?
Well we had just finished our L.A. residency and had returned from a short run out to Texas. We were gone about 10 days and the day we arrived back in L.A. we got a call from MDDN that said don't get too comfortable because you're going on tour with Culture Club for seven weeks and you leave in four days. Honestly one of the best phone calls we've ever received.

Has Boy George imparted any words of wisdom?
"Variety is the spice of life, just be yourself"

What are your five favorite driving songs?
"The Weight" by The Band'; "Time" by Pink Floyd; "Ride" by Twenty One Pilots; "The Less I Know The Better" by Tame Impala; "Got to Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn

Tell us about your craziest tour story so far.
The craziest would be playing "Psycho Killer" in San Francisco at The Warfield with Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and Boy George on vocals. That's a night we'll all take to the grave.

More Photos:

Book stores are rad, because they're quiet and you don't have to buy anything...you can just look around for hours, great way to waste time.

The only thing better than a book store is a record store, and sometimes you get recognized. lol.

Our drummer's name is Will Smith - he loves to tell people this.

We're from Texas, gotta represent UGK all day.

Shout out to Boy George and Culture Club for taking us on their national tour. George is a living legend and a sweeter person you will not find. This is a summer we'll never forget.