Getting to Know… Good Times & Company | Interview

For our 22^nd interview, The Musical Hype gets chews the phat with Clint Kesinger, the vocalist and guitarist for Midwestern rock band Good Times & Company.

Ah, and the interviews roll on my friends! The Musical Hype churns out its 22^nd Getting to Know Q&A, this time tapping a Midwest band, Good Times & Company.  Representing the band of self-described ‘country boys’ is vocalist and guitarist Clint Kesinger.  Throughout this informative interview, Kesinger places emphasis on the importance building a quality band as opposed to focusing on trying to make it big.  Without further ado, check out this insightful interview from Good Times & Company!

BF: Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Good Times & Company distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Clint Kesinger, vocals/guitar (CK): We are a band essentially from the middle of nowhere, as such we have had the opportunity to create music spared from influences of trend or current culture. We just write music from an honest place and it comes out entirely unique. We rock the socks off audiences by playing as if it’s the last time, making our legacy matter to you. We can guarantee you will not confuse us with any other band, which is something we strive for.

BF: Awesome. Let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Good Times & Company form, and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?

CK: I started an acoustic project in 2012 called ‘Good Times’ after years of extensive work in Heavy Metal, and after two EPs and tours I decided it was time to go full band. I added Shad Baldes on bass and Kyle Wells on drums in 2015, becoming ‘Good Times & Company’. After two album releases, we rounded out the group by adding Keagan Cross on guitar, and then dropped Midwest Sun, our most recent release. The goals and visions have always been to write unique, memorable, honest, catchy music. We wanted to chronicle these years of our lives by creating this legacy and it’s been an absolutely incredible journey.

BF: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

CK: Starting out we didn’t know exactly what to do. We just had to write, go out and play, learn from mistakes, and get better. We did that. We got in the studio and learned what we can and can’t do as a band. We found our strengths and utilized them to make a better product. I think many original bands start out with the goal of making it “big” and all that, but we never did. A band has to be really great, have connections, and get lucky. That’s largely the recipe for huge success these days. For us, we just want to make fantastic music that will stand the test of time and reflect this era of our lives. If people really dig it and we achieve more success that would be awesome, but if not, that’s fine too. We are creating music either way.

BF: Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

CK: Beck – I personally have always dug his abstract lyricism. I’m a huge fan of lyrics that jump in and out of reality. I like to make songs that are therapeutic while performing, but not overly obvious. I don’t want people to always know exactly what I’m referring to, as it is often extremely personal.

The Strokes – The instrumentation, melancholy vocal delivery, and overall aesthetic of this band is the definition of simple well put together rock music.

Queens of the Stone Age – A perfect example of a modern-day rock band. Also, a lovely dark theme hidden in their tracks.

Highly Suspect – Another dark and gritty rock band. The uniqueness of his voice is unmistakable, and the riffs are always unique. You can feel what this band is saying through the speakers and that’s always something we admire.

BF: 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.

CK: We have crazy stuff happen all the time! But on stage, there was one time when these girls were really drunk and high. They rushed the stage and would not leave us alone. They were whispering things in our ears and we just kept playing. We just laughed until the venue owner kicked them offstage. They continued doing their thing and tried to get onstage again before being told to leave. That was an extra special night.

BF: That hilarious! Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

CK: “Mr. Rock N Roll,” from our first EP, Different Things. It’s just a simple, easy to digest, catchy, dark rock song. We really made something special that I feel will stand the test of time. Its nostalgic for us since its one of our very first songs we did as a full band, as well as all the memories that come to mind just hearing it. A close second is “The Sound” from our second album (All American Grinder, 2017). We shot the video for it in the California desert and it was just a fantastic experience, you should check it out!

BF: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

CK: I don’t know how cool it is, but we are country boys. I mean, middle of nowhere, no stoplights, no cell phone signal country boys. With that comes an entirely different look at how to have fun. We really enjoy things that aren’t typical of a rock band. We go off-roading, we fish, we blow stuff up, we get crazy out in the woods and its always on our Instagram. I encourage everyone to follow us and just take a peek at our story on the weekends. We also listen to garbage foreign rap while having dance parties and love cats. A lot.

BF: “Garbage foreign rap while having dance parties” – sounds like quite the experience! Closing this Q&A out, what is Good Times & Company currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

CK: We just finished tracking our new album, Cosmonaut in early January 2019. We are very proud of this thing. We went in and put together our best work yet. You will be seeing a single in the Spring, which is also when we will begin a search for a new drummer! We will be carefully considering drummers from around our area and getting ready for a brand-new, totally revamped live show. There will be new visuals, a new member, and brand-new tasty tracks for you to black out to. There will be blood.

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

Good Times & Company Socials: Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Photo Credits: Good Times & Company