Hopscotch Interviews: Generationals

September, 07, 2011 , by Isaac Weeks

New Orleans' Generationals have been out promoting their second album, Actor/Castor, but lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Ted Joyner took time out of his schedule to sit down and talk to New Raleigh about the band's origins, their influences, and what it's like to have the opportunity to perform on some legendary radio stations.

Generationals are set to hit the stage 11pm Friday night at White Collar Crime.

New Raleigh: How long have you and Grant Widmer, the other member of Generationals, known each other?

Ted Joyner: Grant and I met in the ninth grade, so since we were 14 years old or so.

NR: Did your friendship evolve out of shared love of music?

TJ: No, we met in science class. We started hanging out after school and playing guitar together, but biology class is where it all started.

NR: Is Generationals the first band you and Grant have been members of?

TJ: No, we actually were in a band with three other members in college. After college we just decided to go our own way.

NR: Was it a case of artistic differences, and you two just split from the other three?

TJ: No, the other three members of that band seemed to view music as a college experience, and once college was over it was time for them to get real jobs. Grant and I were still writing songs, and just decided to soldier on together.

NR: Being originally from the musically rich city of New Orleans, who influenced you the most from that area?

TJ: I'm not sure how many people outside of New Orleans have heard of the band Meter, but they were a huge influence, especially earlier in our careers when we were first learning how to write songs. Personally, I've also been hugely influenced by Irma Thomas.

NR: In addition to making a stop in Raleigh for the Hopscotch Festival, you guys recently made appearances on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic and the legendary KEXP in Seattle. How did those visits go?

TJ: Those were alot of fun. We had never been on KCRW before, but this was actually our second time on KEXP. It's great to visit stations that are ran by really great people that actually love music and put good music on the air.

NR: Being asked to appear on Morning Becomes Eclectic is huge for an indie band that is out promoting only their second release. What is the one thing that you have in mind that will signal that Generationals has finally "made" it?

TJ: I don't know. Being asked to appear on MBE is huge...I guess maybe being asked to play the Super Bowl?

Generationals are set to hit the stage 11pm Friday night at White Collar Crime and play with Wesley Wolfe, Royal Bangs and Old Bricks.