I used to never go to concerts where I didn’t know any of the artists. That was until I became a concert photographer; now that’s something I do quite often. The first show I covered had 4 artists playing that I wasn't familiar with, one of which was a band called Vision Arcade. Their energy on stage was electric. The way they portray and hold themselves really stuck with me, and I quickly became a big fan of their work. They truly hooked me with their song "Spaceman" from the get-go, and the rest is history.
Vision Arcade is an Austin, TX-based alt-rock band made up of four members: Max, Rory, Connor, and Evan. They are incredible live, and trust me, you will leave a fan.
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with the band about everything from where they draw their inspiration to advice they would give to their past selves.
MSM: What was the inspiration for the name “Vision Arcade”? How does it reflect the aesthetic of your sound?
VISION ARCADE: Of all the things that bands go through these days, in between being videographers, on-screen talent, business people, etc., naming a band is probably the hardest hurdle to get over. I wish there was a better story for this one.
MSM: Can you introduce each member of the band and share their role within the group?
VISION ARCADE: We’ve got four members in the group. Rory Kendall, who’s the man behind the vocals, and a lot of the lyrics come from him. Max Robison is on lead guitar and does all of the backend behind-the-scenes work like socials and, before we signed with management, booking shows, and so on. Evan Brock on bass guitar—some say the best in the world. And Connor Torres on drums.
MSM: You’re hitting the road in April with Your Neighbor. Beyond the rehearsals, what has the mental and technical preparation been like for this tour?
VISION ARCADE: Since this is our first time hitting the road, it’s been a real challenge to figure out what exactly we should be prepared for beyond the obvious, since this is our first time out. A lot of the travel aspect is on everyone’s mind because almost everyone in the band has traveled a little bit, but not for this long and in this many places. Also, our plans for our setlist keep changing because our sets won’t be that long, so we want to give people the best songs we can.
MSM: How would you define this new era of music in just three words?
VISION ARCADE: Real is real.
MSM: Which local venues in Austin have been most instrumental in shaping your performance style?
VISION ARCADE: Mohawk, Empire Control Room, UT Co-ops.
MSM: Are there any early tracks that feel like they've taken on a completely different life, or perhaps a different level of fatigue, after so many live iterations?
VISION ARCADE: Probably Crazed. We all love that song to death, but it was on the back half of our singles vinyl because we really didn’t think anyone would connect with it as much as we do, and since then, it's climbed up as a fan favorite, and every time we play it, people just go nuts.
MSM: From a technical or emotional standpoint, which track in your discography do you feel is the strongest representation of your songwriting ability?
VISION ARCADE: To this day, not counting some new music, Weight of the Feeling is the song that, if I died tomorrow, I would be most proud of. I love music that’s poignant and concise but remains tasteful.
MSM: What artists have been inspiring you lately, or that you feel have had the most impact on your sound?
VISION ARCADE: Lately it's been a lot of Dead Poet Society, Leif Vollebekk, Band of Skulls, and always Queens of the Stone Age.
MSM: What is your creative process like? Does the music usually start with a riff, a lyric, or a collective jam session?
VISION ARCADE: There isn't a set creative process for us, but commonly it starts with a riff that either Max or Rory will write and then bring to the band. It starts with that and then becomes a jam that lasts for literally hours until we find something that lines up and go from there.
MSM: Looking back at the start of your musical journey, what is one piece of industry or creative insight you wish you’d known then?
VISION ARCADE: Don’t be afraid to learn about other creative outlets. That doesn’t mean become a jack of all trades, master of none, but other mediums will help you inform how you make your best music.
