Getting to Know… Don’t Tell John | Interview

In the 492^nd Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from the multigenerational, Bay Area family band, Don’t Tell John.

Insightful, Don’t Tell John! Don’t Tell John describes itself as “a multigenerational, Bay Area family band,” whose “sound lives somewhere between rock and soul, threaded through bloodline energy that’s hard to fake.” Rock on! We get the inside scoop on the band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… Don’t Tell John: Interview No. 492!

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For those who may not be familiar with you, what makes Don’t Tell John distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

We’re a multigenerational, Bay Area family band, literally. Two brothers who’ve been playing together since the ‘90s, now joined by the next generation, Veronica on vocals and William on guitar- plus our good friends Eric Cretarolo on guitar and Jon Protass, who plays percussion. Our sound lives somewhere between rock and soul, threaded through bloodline energy that’s hard to fake. You can feel the family chemistry on stage… it can be messy, but we think it’s powerful, and full of history. It’s all live, raw, and meant to move you. When Veronica opens her mouth, and that voice hits the room, you’ll understand what “Bloodline Rock & Soul” means.

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How did Don’t Tell John form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

Don’t Tell John came together in the middle of the pandemic — which, for us, became a strange blessing. It brought us all back together again in the same house for a little while, and Marc started writing songs. Veronica started singing to him, and all the rest of it kind of fell in place. At first, the goal was simple: play for the joy of it. Then we realized people were connecting to the story, the sound, the soul, the lineage, and that’s when it became bigger.

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Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

At first, it was just about reconnecting and making honest music. Now it’s about sharing that honesty as far as it’ll travel. We want to take our music beyond California, to the festivals, to the fans who find us online at 2 a.m. and send messages saying our songs hit home. Our goal now is to grow without losing the family core,  to stay real, stay connected, and keep that “bloodline” spirit alive on every stage we step onto.

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Who are your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Our influences span generations — just like the band. The brothers grew up on classic rock and soul: Hendrix, Zeppelin, The Stones, Otis Redding, Aretha, and The Black Crowes. Veronica grew up hearing all that plus modern voices like Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Florence Welch. Somewhere in the middle is our sound — gritty guitars, deep groove, and vocals that hit straight in the chest. We don’t chase trends; we chase truth. Those artists taught us that.

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

We played house parties, Sunday night, no-show gigs, packed rooms in barren outdoor beer gardens…gear breaks down, people fall off stage, sometimes there’s not room for all of us to be up there… Maybe that’s not wacky or crazy like we haven’t thrown a television through a hotel room into the pool yet… Though I think Jonny P’s got his eye on that one…when he does, we‘ll let you know!

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What is your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live, and why?

“Jake” has become one of those songs that changes the energy in the room. It’s haunting, heavy, and emotional — Veronica pours her heart into it every time. It’s about pain, addiction, and the people you love who get lost along the way. On the other end, “Grandad” is pure soul — it’s family, legacy, love. Playing those two songs live back-to-back kind of sums up who we are: heartbreak and hope in the same breath.

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Any awesome or surprising tidbits about the band?

We’re probably the only band that can go from a barbecue to a full rehearsal in ten minutes flat because we all live near each other and half the gear’s already set up. Also, our studio — “Stationhouse Studios” — is in a converted garage filled with vintage amps, guitars, and enough stories to fill a book. Every piece of gear has history — just like the people playing it.

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What is Don’t Tell John currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

Right now, we’re promoting our singles “Grandad” and “Again,” both out on all platforms. They’ve helped define our sound — gritty, soulful, and real. We’re finishing new songs for 2025 and booking shows across California, including festivals and small stages where we can still see every face in the crowd. We’re building the fanbase one song, one post, and one honest connection at a time.

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

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Getting to Know… Don’t Tell John: Interview 492 (2025) [📷: Don’t Tell John; Josh Miller]

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