[Photos courtesy of Alice Falkowski]

By Rocco Prioletti, Editorial Director

Athens’ brand new post-rock quintet White Flag Over Providence made their live debut at ACRN’s yearly Battle of the Bands showcase. The band is composed of singer and guitarist Ted Bucha, bassist Sean Bradesca, violinist Margot King, pianist Liam Speaks and drummer Owen Ritchie. I sat down with the group after their opening performance to discuss their formation and their plans for the future.

[This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

Rocco Prioletti (RP): Thank you all for sitting down with me. How did White Flag form as a band?

Ted Bucha (TB): I had a couple songs that I wrote, and I wanted a good ol’ band to play them with. So, naturally I called up my best friend and buddy, Sean Bradesca, first. I say, “Hey Sean, you want to do it?” 

Sean Bradesca (SB): And I said… “Yes.”

TB: Then I went to Owen, because I knew him from Cleveland. We didn’t know each other really well at the beginning, but I could say we’re great friends now. And then Liam came along early in the semester. We needed a keyboardist, and he said, “Okay.” And then we needed a violinist, and Margot [and Owen] know each other quite well.

RP: What are some of the biggest influences on your sound?

TB: You could point out the obvious ones, Black Country, New Road, black midi, Godspeed! You Black Emperor. I also am really influenced by this band named Lift to Experience.

SB: Oh, they’re so cool. I actually showed them to Ted.

RP: What’s your favorite song to play?

TB: The first one, “Mark 5.” It’s supposed to be like airplanes bombing, that’s what the strikes are. It’s a really fun one to play. 

Owen Ritchie (OR): I didn’t know how to play it at the beginning. And then I don’t know. It just feels good to work on something and actually get there,

Margot King (MK): My favorite is “Marietta,” because it’s just so sweet, and I just have so much fun playing it. I’m just really proud of it. 

TB: Yeah, she writes amazing lines for violin. “Marietta” is an awesome example of that.

Liam Speaks (LS): “Las Vegas” is the banger; it’s the most banger, I think so far.

MK: They’re all really good. I have so much fun playing all of them.

OR: None of the songs sound the same in the slightest. So, they have to go together; you have to play the full set.

RP: What’s your favorite albums of all time, individually.

TB: Visiter by The Dodos. I’ll say that one more time, Visiter by The Dodos.

LS: I’ve got to say Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder.

MK: I like anything by Big Thief, particularly Capacity and Double Infinity.

OR: Zeitgeist by Smashing Pumpkins. Top album ever.

SB: A Love Supreme. I don’t even need to say who it’s by. 

RP: What’s the weirdest animal of all time?

LS: Do you know what the potoo bird is?

RP: No, but it sounds like a great answer. 

LS: It has to be my favorite animal of all time. They look like muppets.

TB: Sean Bradesca, he’s the wildest animal.

SB: I’m Sean Bradesca, and I am the wildest animal.

MK: Anteaters are pretty weird. Maybe platypi, because they’re mammals but they lay eggs.

LS: Dare I say humans?

TB: That one makes you think.

SB: Put that in! Put that in!

RP: What did you all think of your performance? How was your experience at Battle of the Bands?

TB: I’m really satisfied with how we did. Everyone’s coming up and saying great things. I feel like everyone here performed really well. I can’t even say one thing I could complain about with these guys. They’re an awesome group of musicians. 

RP: What can people expect from White Flag in the future?

TB: We’re gonna be recording some demos next Saturday, and then I’ll try to mix them as fast as I can with as much quality. I’m gonna try to get them out by the end of winter break.