Getting to Know… Poison Oak | Interview 🎤

In our 154th interview in our Getting to Know… series, James Balthes answers our burning questions on behalf of rock band, Poison Oak.

“Iperceive us as not really unique or distinct… However, I guess we do have some defining characteristics [including the fact that] people say my voice has a thick Australian accent.  There And to think, 🎙 James Balthes doesn’t perceive his band, 🎙 Poison Oak as being unique or distinct! Ha! We are honored to have the North Queensland rock band as the interviewees on the 154^th interview in our Getting to Know… series. The members of the band in addition to Balthes are 🎙 Russell West, 🎙 Ray Pearson, 🎙 Lachlan Gleadhill and 🎙 Chris Reiterer.  Balthes answers our burning questions regarding the band’s background and overall craft.  So, without further ado, there is 🎤 Getting to Know… Poison Oak: Interview #154. 

Starting things off right, for those who may not be familiar with Poison Oak, what would you say makes your band distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?  

🎤 Well, that’s the thing, I perceive ourselves as not really unique or distinct. But we have no problems with that, because in rock music, in this day and age it’s pretty hard to be more original or unique than the rest. However, I guess we do have some defining characteristics, our song structures are usually quite dynamic with lots of different changes, and people say my voice has a thick Australian accent. So… I would say they would be a few of our defining features.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your Poison Oak form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

🎤 We formed as just a jam on Saturday morning with the main goal and intention to be able to make it to practice, ha-ha. We really had no real expectations. I guess it just grew from there, and everything just kept motivating us to push it further. From putting out recordings to being contacted by music companies are all little bonus’ and are quite motivating.

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?

🎤 Our main goal is still to get all five members together in one spot to practice on time. But also now I guess we’re are more focusing on polishing recordings, making sure with have the right creative part in each section, and also playing gigs. However, the main goal, is just to have fun. I think that not having ridiculous expectations, is the key to enjoy playing together.

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

🎤 For myself, Bernard Fanning, Paul Kelly, Conor Oberst, You Am I, and Bob Dylan are all musicians that I have never forgotten about or have never died with time. They are influential, mainly for their ability to write relatable lyrics, lyrics that can really paint a picture or evoke a feeling so familiar.

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.

🎤 One of the craziest one’s from memory, when I played in a band called the Bacchanales and we had a show Toowoomba. The crowd were pretty out control and we literally had to push them off stage to stop them dancing on our pedals and so we could reach our mics. Not the craziest… but the first one that comes to mind now.

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?  

🎤 🎵 “Start Again,” for myself. It was pretty much the first song we recorded, and the song that really kicked things off for us. When I wrote it, it had a lot of emotional energy, I think that is captured in the recording.

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

Four out of five of the band members are high school teachers. We all work full time.

That’s incredibly cool – I’m also a full-time teacher (music), so I feel that! Closing things out, what is Poison Oak currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

🎤 We are currently finishing our sophomore EP – 💿 1996 – and will be out in March of 2021. We also have another single that will be release from that EP called Sarah, that will be out in February.

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

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[📷: Poison Oak, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype; Icons made by flaticon]