Joe Ragosta - Patent Pending (13/08/2014)
Patent Pending have been kicking around for over thirteen years now, and in that time they've released six albums and seven EP's, most of which we're all self-released. But over the last three years they've been hitting the road more and more, and have amassed bigger followings and it seems that all of their hard work is paying off. Especially now that they've been added to the Soundwave 2015 lineup. We chatted with vocalist Joe Ragosta about the prospect of being apart of Soundwave Festival, and the huge amount of touring they've been doing lately, among a few other things.
First things first though: Soundwave. Such a big thing for so many people, and Ragosta feels the same way. "It's such an unbelievably bizarre thing! I couldn't believe it when they asked to us play, and then when they said they'll announce us second overall! We're so excited about all of the supportive Australian people who just found out about us yesterday as well."
Being apart of the massive, nation-wide touring festival means that this will be his first time on our shores. "For me, it will be but our guitarist also tour manages Zebrahead, so he's been to Australia heaps of times. He said as long as we avoid the killer spiders, we'll be fine! Plus I watch a lot of TV and my favourite actor is Chris Lilly [Summer Heights High, Angry Boys], so I'm fucking stoked", laughs Ragosta.
When asked about how he feels how the band will hold up in a more mixed metal, hardcore and punk lineup, he tells us that while they've played similar styled festivals before, it's more about the attitude towards it. "The best part about our band is that we just don't fucking care, and I mean that in a positive way. We don't care what we sound like, or what any other band sounds like. We just love to play to new audiences, and our live show comes off much heavier than our albums, so there's a very DIY, rambunctious, punk style to it live. With festivals, we usually end up doing pretty well cause we're out of our fucking minds when we play!"
But he also admits that it is daunting at times. "Last year we played Download Festival and we saw Slipknot and Mastodon - all these big metal bands. We were the only pop band on the bill without a gigantic bit single. Looking at, we were terrified, but in the end it worked out really well." It's also very clear that the band definitely enjoy the touring lifestyle and that they take it all tongue in cheek. "Sometimes we play these really obnoxious hardcores songs that we just make up on the spot, it's just really silly", laughs Ragotsa.
The bands latest album, 'Brighter', took a step further into the pop area of their music. But Ragosta assures that it wasn't a misstep or mistake in direction. "I think I've always wanted us to sound like we did on 'Brighter', but we just didn't know how to do it. But this time we finally had a budget, we finally had time, and we finally had someone producing who new what they were doing, so I was able to describe the sounds we wanted, and actually have so done being able to pull out those sounds."
While this new sound may be here to stay, the singer again assures us that that doesn't mean the end of the older songs, and that it's more about being different than anything else. "I love our pop-punk albums, I love our punk rock albums, I love our ska albums, and I love our pop album, because a band doesn't have to be just one thing, and that can make bands really boring. Like yesterday, we played a home show, and we played five old songs in a row and then our regular set, so that we can please all of our fans in one go."
He also explains more about why the band have such a mixed sound. "We grew up on Warped Tour, with bands like Blink-182, NOFX, Sublime and we just coupled that sound with my love of Motown and the Beech Boys, and for us, there's more to music than just four chords and intricate harmonies. So it's cool to try and find the middle ground so you can hear all of these influences in our music. In fact, Bowling For Soup gave us some advice once, which was that you're never done learning when it comes to playing and writing music."
Most bands tour more with growing fan bases, but that wasn't the case with Patent Pending. "The only reason that we ever went on tour was becuase we were such a bad band that local venues wouldn't let us play in them anymore. So we just battled anyone so we could play for them. That's how we learned to play as we weren't very talented. Musically, we had to put on a show but the show took over and it just kept growing and now we're so shocked every time we see something like this. I mean we're heading to Germany later this year so every day is just so exciting."
The vocalist also tells us that what really helped them hit these bigger stages and tours was after they supported Bowling For Soup back in 2012. "They're like our older brothers and they just took us under their wing. I grew up listening to that band and just loving them, and Jaret [Reddick] saw us play once and said 'Alright! You guys our with us now'. That really paved the way for our following in England now, and also for the career we have now is all in thanks to them!"
With all that touring though, there has to be at least a few massive, surreal moments for the band, and Ragosta completely agrees. "We did a split album with Bowling For Soup where we covered each other's songs. Seeing those guys cover a song that I wrote in front of 2,000 people was just an unbelievable and incredible thing. With Download Festival, we thought that no one, and I mean absolutely no one was going to watch us, but the tent was completely overflowing with about 5,000 people. That was such an amazing thing, especially for a band who played to basically no one for years. Every day you wake up and think that maybe the dream will be over, but it doesn't. This whole year has just been surreal, to tell you the god honest truth."
SOUNDWAVE 2015
SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY - ADELAIDE
SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY - MELBOURNE
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH - SYDNEY
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH – BRISBANE
Alexander Sievers
First things first though: Soundwave. Such a big thing for so many people, and Ragosta feels the same way. "It's such an unbelievably bizarre thing! I couldn't believe it when they asked to us play, and then when they said they'll announce us second overall! We're so excited about all of the supportive Australian people who just found out about us yesterday as well."
Being apart of the massive, nation-wide touring festival means that this will be his first time on our shores. "For me, it will be but our guitarist also tour manages Zebrahead, so he's been to Australia heaps of times. He said as long as we avoid the killer spiders, we'll be fine! Plus I watch a lot of TV and my favourite actor is Chris Lilly [Summer Heights High, Angry Boys], so I'm fucking stoked", laughs Ragosta.
When asked about how he feels how the band will hold up in a more mixed metal, hardcore and punk lineup, he tells us that while they've played similar styled festivals before, it's more about the attitude towards it. "The best part about our band is that we just don't fucking care, and I mean that in a positive way. We don't care what we sound like, or what any other band sounds like. We just love to play to new audiences, and our live show comes off much heavier than our albums, so there's a very DIY, rambunctious, punk style to it live. With festivals, we usually end up doing pretty well cause we're out of our fucking minds when we play!"
But he also admits that it is daunting at times. "Last year we played Download Festival and we saw Slipknot and Mastodon - all these big metal bands. We were the only pop band on the bill without a gigantic bit single. Looking at, we were terrified, but in the end it worked out really well." It's also very clear that the band definitely enjoy the touring lifestyle and that they take it all tongue in cheek. "Sometimes we play these really obnoxious hardcores songs that we just make up on the spot, it's just really silly", laughs Ragotsa.
The bands latest album, 'Brighter', took a step further into the pop area of their music. But Ragosta assures that it wasn't a misstep or mistake in direction. "I think I've always wanted us to sound like we did on 'Brighter', but we just didn't know how to do it. But this time we finally had a budget, we finally had time, and we finally had someone producing who new what they were doing, so I was able to describe the sounds we wanted, and actually have so done being able to pull out those sounds."
While this new sound may be here to stay, the singer again assures us that that doesn't mean the end of the older songs, and that it's more about being different than anything else. "I love our pop-punk albums, I love our punk rock albums, I love our ska albums, and I love our pop album, because a band doesn't have to be just one thing, and that can make bands really boring. Like yesterday, we played a home show, and we played five old songs in a row and then our regular set, so that we can please all of our fans in one go."
He also explains more about why the band have such a mixed sound. "We grew up on Warped Tour, with bands like Blink-182, NOFX, Sublime and we just coupled that sound with my love of Motown and the Beech Boys, and for us, there's more to music than just four chords and intricate harmonies. So it's cool to try and find the middle ground so you can hear all of these influences in our music. In fact, Bowling For Soup gave us some advice once, which was that you're never done learning when it comes to playing and writing music."
Most bands tour more with growing fan bases, but that wasn't the case with Patent Pending. "The only reason that we ever went on tour was becuase we were such a bad band that local venues wouldn't let us play in them anymore. So we just battled anyone so we could play for them. That's how we learned to play as we weren't very talented. Musically, we had to put on a show but the show took over and it just kept growing and now we're so shocked every time we see something like this. I mean we're heading to Germany later this year so every day is just so exciting."
The vocalist also tells us that what really helped them hit these bigger stages and tours was after they supported Bowling For Soup back in 2012. "They're like our older brothers and they just took us under their wing. I grew up listening to that band and just loving them, and Jaret [Reddick] saw us play once and said 'Alright! You guys our with us now'. That really paved the way for our following in England now, and also for the career we have now is all in thanks to them!"
With all that touring though, there has to be at least a few massive, surreal moments for the band, and Ragosta completely agrees. "We did a split album with Bowling For Soup where we covered each other's songs. Seeing those guys cover a song that I wrote in front of 2,000 people was just an unbelievable and incredible thing. With Download Festival, we thought that no one, and I mean absolutely no one was going to watch us, but the tent was completely overflowing with about 5,000 people. That was such an amazing thing, especially for a band who played to basically no one for years. Every day you wake up and think that maybe the dream will be over, but it doesn't. This whole year has just been surreal, to tell you the god honest truth."
SOUNDWAVE 2015
SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY - ADELAIDE
SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY - MELBOURNE
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH - SYDNEY
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH – BRISBANE
Alexander Sievers