#pickwickmusic

Do206 favorites PICKWICK are currently on the road with Black Joe Lewis and are headed back home to start record #2. While the band is back home lead singer Galen is starting to give vocal lessons. If you have heard Pickwick before you know how distinct Galen's voice is. 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/lss/4346649652.html 1. What was the spark to offer lessons?  Pickwick comes home from our current tour on 3/10, and we'll be working on writing and recording our second record. Which means we'll have less income. I've tightened my belt, and am considering window washing, temping and becoming a Lyft driver with the band van. Singing is the only thing I know how to do, so I figured I would share my secrets as people are willing to pay me. 2. If anyone has seen you perform live (raise your hands if you have) they know you don't hold back. You go for IT with every note. How do you not lose your voice? "Illusions, Michael." I'm actually only giving 80%. That's a crucial part of my technique, and if I was giving 100% I would lose my voice. Finding that balance has been an essential skill I've learned touring for 5 months this year. Consider yourself fooled. 

3. How did you prepare for the increased frequency of shows? What other prep, besides your voice, do you need to practice on tour/getting ready for tour? The human voice is a strange instrument. Unlike a guitar or piano, it changes based on your health, emotional/mental state, and what you've eaten that day. That being said, I warm up religiously before every show. Ultimately you have to allow your voice to be an extension of yourself, and not put unrealistic pressure on it. Some nights you will be unable to execute every note perfectly. Some nights it will come easy. Vocal lessons will help you navigate that frustrating range. 

4. While the rest of the guys in the band are partying with international models (twitter fans & record store employees) until the sun rises, do you have to bail and go back to the hotel suite and rest your voice? I am the diva in the back seat, make no mistake. I am conscious about sleep, exercise and mental rest in a way the other guys don't worry about as much. But stressing too much about my voice also makes it worse, so there is a balance. But I never turn down a hang with record store employees. 

5. Current update from Pickwick HQ. Tour going well? New record? Any funny stories from touring with Neko Case? Tour is rad. I'm in Bloomington for the first time, excited to hang with friends in the Secretly Canadian Camp tonight. Record is in the works, and will be fueled in direct relation to the number of voice lessons I can line up. While on tour with Neko, she showed me the correct handling techniques of Praying Mantis, we discussed Eco-feminism, and how collecting shit on the bottom of your shoes from alleys always brings on sickness.

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Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Galen. If you haven't already signed up for voice lessons with Galen you can also keep up with him on his Twitter account or can also follow Pickwick on any of their accounts on twitter and facebook.

The Seattle based band Pickwick released their first full length album, "Can't Talk Medicine" on March 12, 2013. I first heard this group of six a little over a year ago at "The Crepe Place" in Santa Cruz, California where the Allah-las opened for them (pleasant surprise). This show is one I will not forget, not only because of their great sound, but when the venue alerted the band they were out of time and they still had one song to play, Pickwick took their audience outside for an acapella number that blew everyone away. 

Their new album is on iTunes and Spotify. 

Seattle based Pickwick with the the track The Shadow from their recently released album Can't Talk Medicine.