Q: Obvious question first; where did your band name come from and why did you choose it?
A: Our band name comes from a book called "The Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters. We chose it from a list of possible names. At first it didn't jump out at us and when it came time to decide we all liked the way it sounded.
Q: Included on your recently released EP, 'Western Avenue' is a cover of the old school Radiohead song, 'Been Thinking About You'. How do you pick the covers you'd like to take on and have you tried any that just didn't work?
A: We all listen to different music and have ideas for covers. It's just a matter of getting everyone on board. We have certainly scrapped a couple covers. It's never a heartbreak though, you try something and if it doesn't feel really special you move on.
Q: Speaking of albums, is there a full length release on the horizon?
A: THERE IS! We couldn't be more excited. We hope to begin recording in June with Joel Nanos at Element Recording.
Q: We've seen all types of people at a Grisly Hand show. Do you feel your unique style of music appeals to a broad group?
A: There's got to a be a few types of people left to be represented, right? Hopefully. Our songs seem to resonate with a pretty broad age range and we like it that way. Good music is just good, it's not for anyone in particular.
Q: We noticed The Grisly Hand plays quite frequently with another KC band, and future Kauffman Stadium performer, Hearts of Darkness. Given your styles are so different, what is the reason you both play together so often?
A: Friendship. KC's musical community is fun and close knit so it's easy to make something happen that may not be intuitive. We both strive to entertain and put on an exciting live show despite our different genres. Also, the girls in HOD are babes.
Q: With the recent Middle of the Map Fest and other large music festivals taking root in Kansas City, do you feel like KC is becoming more respected musically on a national level within the industry?
A: We are not sure how we are viewed from the outside, but we are certainly proud of KC. We do things for ourselves here and that's what works in life- working hard and organizing. We're so grateful to Ink and folks like Chris Haghirian and Bill Sundahl for their tireless efforts to put KC on the map and create the kind of community that local music deserves.
Q: Both of your records have included some pretty cool cover art. Can you give a shout out to the artist who developed those?
A: SHOUT OUT ASHLEY LANDE AND DANNI PARELMAN! They are both truly incredible artists. You can find more of Ashley's art at www.ashleylande.com and Danni works as part of the creative team at Oddities Prints.
Q: What is the smallest town The Grisly Hand have ever played and why did you take the gig?
A: Warrensburg, MO. We thought it sounded like fun and we were right.
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