10 questions for The Ballroom Thieves ahead of Boston Calling
The Thieves are coming home.
The Ballroom Thieves, a rock-infused folk band formed at Stonehill College, is gearing up to play what could be its biggest show to date when they take the stage at Boston Calling this weekend.
The trio is currently on tour to promote its full-length debut album, A Wolf in the Doorway, which was released April 21. But long before the album dropped, the band completed two EPs, enjoyed regional and national acclaim, and shared the stage with the likes of Dispatch, Houndmouth, Little Green Cars, and The Lone Bellow.
Guitarist Martin Earley and drummer Devin Mauch founded the band in 2010 and cellist Calin Peters joined in 2013 after the previous cellist left. All three sing vocals.
We caught up with Mauch on tour in Michigan this week to talk about about soul-sucking social media, what the heck is strapped to his leg during shows, and more.
Congrats on the new album, A Wolf in the Doorway. How has the response been to it?
Mauch: Thank you. It’s been really, really positive, which feels so good. I mean, we worked on this thing for the better part of a year-and-a-half to two years. It’s been a lot of time and sacrifice and money into this project. It’s been overwhelmingly positive in pretty much every city we’ve been to.
How do you feel about playing Boston Calling this weekend?
Mauch: This will be the largest Boston show we’ve played to date, which will be fun. We’re really looking forward to it. There’s nothing like playing hometown shows. Getting our start literally from the streets of Boston — from Faneuil Hall — just gives us an incredible respect for the people. It feels like you’re playing for people who are just so damn excited to have you there.
What can we expect from the Thieves at this weekend’s show?
Mauch: We’re definitely going to bring a high-energy set, being a festival and all. We’re definitely going to keep it upbeat and probably more rock ’n’ roll than folk — the combination that people expect from us at this point.
Do you change the way you approach a show if you’re playing for 4,000 people rather than 40?
Mauch: We definitely don’t change the way we approach the show. Our song selection might be a little different, but I think we’re going to deliver the songs with the same energy and passion.
Your bandmates call your drumming tribal influenced and say you’ve invented your own style. Tell us your approach to your instrument.
Mauch: I don’t know of any other drummers who are using the same set-ups that I am. It was really just inspired out of the restrictions of a dorm room. Martin and I started as a duo six years ago in Stonehill College. I just couldn’t have a full drum kit in a dorm room. After having a few drinks one weekend, I decided that maybe hitting the traditional hand drum djembe with sticks and mallets might be a good idea, and it worked out beautifully. It’s definitely tribal influenced.
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And what is strapped to your thigh while you’re drumming?
Mauch: I got them from India. They’re dancing bells. They’re bells meant to be wrapped around the ankles of dancers. There are 110 bells in total. They have this bright, shiny, sick tone to them that cuts through nicely.
The Thieves have been known to strike up conversations at shows. How do you interact with your fans?
Mauch: I think we always want to make sure we’re staying true to ourselves. We’re not trying to take on a ‘rock star vibe’ where we treat shows different than if we met people on the street. There’s really no rules when we get on stage. Martin and I will strike conversations up. We’ll just go into these little tangents that are sometimes really fun and funny, and people interact with you, and it’s cool. Other times, it falls on its face. That’s the honesty of it.
You do the band’s social media outreach. How important is this?
Mauch: I wish it wasn’t so important. Honestly, technology has taken over many facets of this job. It worries me that maybe it drains creativity a bit. But at the same time, you can’t argue with how valuable it is to be able to reach so many people at once. I do enjoy being the voice of it, and I’ve gotten to brand the band a bit. It’s a lot of work. I definitely didn’t know two years ago how important it would be. I’m on Facebook and Twitter for maybe an hour a day, two hours a day – that can be a little soul sucking. But it’s a necessary challenge we need to take on. There’s no choice, really, especially for a growing band of our size.
After Boston Calling, you’re off to the Harmonium Music Festival in New Hampshire June 13. You’re also playing the FreshGrass Festival in North Adams in September. What do you like about playing festivals?
Mauch: Oh man. The environment is completely different, and the experience is different. We love to go out there and get our hands dirty with the crowd. We’re exploring if we’re not playing, meeting people and all that. It’s such a positive vibe and environment. That can be really refreshing.
Will you have some downtime while you’re home?
Mauch: We’re all going to get some good home time in, probably some hiking, some much needed and deserved rest. Sleeping in your own bed and showering in your own shower, this is something we respect and appreciate in our lives.
Check out Boston Calling’s lineup:
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