Bindley Hardware Co. could just as easily be where you go to get paint to touch up your pole barn or a replacement for a rusted tractor bolt as what it actually is: a self described “rust belt Americana” band.
The band recently released a brand new record that searches its way around the band’s influences hinging on artists that paved the way for this style of music like the Jayhawks and Uncle Tupelo and blending it with the songwriting of Gram Parsons.
We caught up with frontman Jon Bindley for a quick-fire interview. Check it out and stream the new record below.
RLR: Something I like to inquire about to all artists I talk with is how they come up with their tunes. So, what does your writing process look like?
JB: My writing process is seldom the same way twice. Sometimes it starts with a turn of phrase, other times I’m chasing something more inexact. It’s important to me that songs can stand on their own lyrically and so the economy of language is important to me, I don’t like to waste words.
RLR: That being said, how do you bring ideas together as a band and how do they typically start?
JB: I’ll usually start with a verse or a chorus part and keep playing it with the band until i feels right, for me once you’ve got the “thesis” of a song down then its born and rest can fall into place if you let it come to you. Having a band is great because I always find myself wanting to impress them with what I come up with and its a great motivator. Ya gotta have people around that can bounce the ball back so to speak.
RLR: Its always interesting to hear from folks form different geographical areas about their community and thats kind of the point of RLR…community. So what is the community like where you all call home musically speaking and what does it mean to you as artists and just people?
JB: Pittsburgh is so unique and especially so when it comes to the music scene. We’ve got a vibrant and supportive community among fellow artists and that is what matters most. I think Pittsburgh music is in a golden age from a quality and variety standpoint. Economically, we are still trying to establish our identity as a “music town” and it can be difficult for Pittsburgh bands to get national recognition for whatever reason. I think that will come though, so long as we all keep working hard and doing it the right way. Pittsburgh is an under-dog down in a lot of ways and the musicians here should not be underestimated
RLR: From said community, what are you digging lately from your peers and fellow songwriters?
JB: Local peers I dig:
Buffalo Rose, Molly Alphabet, Paul Luc, Wreck Loose
RLR: What are your hopes for the release?
JB: My hopes for this release is for it to be given a legitimate chance to stand amongst some of the top indie Americana releases of the year. I know that is a lofty goal, but I think this record really holds up. I hope that its only the beginning for us.