Garcia's “Playing in the Band” is a chance to get up close and personal with our performers like never before. Come for the conversation, stay for the education, and leave with a message. We'll see you at the show!

1. You describe your band as "an energetic and true DIY Psych-Pop quartet." Tell our fans what DIY psych-pop is. Are there other bands you like in this category?

Well the DIY part of it can be attributed to any genre really. Anyone who prefers to take the whole production into their own hands. We are fortunate to have the ability to record and mix on our own at our practice space and apartment. The results are a bit rougher than what you’d get from spending thousands getting an album tracked and mixed at a professional studio, but with our style of music, I think it fits in a way. Gives it a bit of character. It’s a good feeling to know you can be entirely self dependent on both sides of the recording process.

Some of our biggest influences linked to the Psych-Pop genre are Animal Collective, The Flaming Lips, Of Montreal etc. But we also try to take from what bands like Weezer and Pixies were doing, sort of more on the garage rock side. We like to be as weird as we can while also offering a catchy melody. It gets pretty loud too.

2. Being from Brooklyn, NY, how do you bring Brooklyn on the road with you, both musically and as a lifestyle?

Well none of us are really FROM Brooklyn, just have lived here for a few years. We have 2 Jersey reps, a Long Islander and Westchesterian? I grew up in the town of Rye Brook which of course neighbors Port Chester, so I’m very excited to be playing a true home show. However, in the spirit of Brooklyn, we’ll try to leave some sort of artistic tagging on a wall or two. In Bushwick it wasn’t really an issue to paint our mural, I doubt if PC was as willing Haha.

3. What are shows outside of Brooklyn like? How are they different and what do you learn in these new environments? What might we expect at Garcia’s?

Well we learned quickly that outside of NYC it’s rare for venues to carry a backline. That makes it a bit difficult when no-one has a car… BUT we are very fortunate to have the most wonderful neighbors (Emily Curry shoutout) who let us borrow their truck for road trips. And I’m not at liberty to give away any performance info, but I assure you, fun. will. be. had.

4. Did you know Garcia's is named after the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and it's the only officially sanctioned Garcia's tribute you bar in the country? Are any of the members from your band influenced by the Grateful Dead?

I certainly was aware! And yes, I’m a fan for sure. I have a few Dead Head friends that would scoff at me for listing such mainstream tracks but "Friend of the Devil" and "Ripple" are amongst my top 25 most played on iTunes.

5. The color of your tongue can reveal a lot about your health. What color are your tongues right now? Do you mind if we diagnose you based on your answer? Please provide a tongue-out selfie.

You want it, you got it ;)