Hailing from Binghamton, Try.Fail.Repeat is a hard rock band that you do not want to miss. Michael Hunter (vocals), Wade Verano (guitar), Michael Wu (bass), and Brad Gordon (drums) classify their sound as progressive hard rock mixed in with a bit of quirkiness. Although the music business can be tough, the members of Try.Fail.Repeat stress that no matter what life throws at you, it is always important to have an upbeat attitude and never give up. These hard rockers frequently play at local venues in the area so be on the lookout for an upcoming show!

Release: When did the band form?

Try.Fail.Repeat: Spring ‘07.

R: How would you describe your sound?

TFR: Progressive hard rock or weird and heavy, but pretty.

R: Who are your musical influences?

TFR: Some common influences would be Alice in Chains, Tool, Dream Theater, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and A Perfect Circle.

R: How many albums do you have?

TFR: 3 EPs: (in chronological order) Waking Dream, Drone Effect, and Graveyard Shift

R: Are you currently recording anything new?

TFR: We just released the Graveyard Shift EP, it’s five songs, and it’ll be up for sale on CD Baby and iTunes soon. In the meantime, hard copies can be purchased at our live shows and you can listen to it streaming on the web at myspace.com/tryfailrepeatband.

R: What is the significance behind the name of the band?

TFR: The name came about in a discussion of past projects we were involved in; we’ve all played in many bands throughout our careers with varying degrees of commitment. The life of a musician can be really tough, and our name basically reminds us that no matter how difficult things are, we just need to keep on trying and doing what we do best.

R: Do you have any advice for Binghamton students who have a passion for music and aspire to be in a band one day?

TFR: Practice is important, but listening is even more so. Never dismiss music because it doesn’t appeal to you the first time, and always try to challenge your ears. The better your ears, the better a musician you’ll become. Also, get a day job …

R: What in your music differentiates you from other bands?

TFR: There’s a bit of quirkiness to our songs. We love to rock out, but we also like to challenge people’s minds. When we’re writing we never settle for the easiest path, which results in more challenging and (we hope) more rewarding music.

R: What genre do you describe your band as? What is the funniest description that you’ve heard to date?

TFR: We say “progressive hard rock.” We’ve heard a lot of different descriptions, though the funniest one was probably “koala rock,” courtesy of my producer friend Steve who likes to point out that I have large cheeks. Contrary to what he might say, I do NOT eat eucalyptus leaves.

R: What would one expect when seeing your live show?

TFR: A whole lot of energy, memorable tunes and full-frontal nudity. One of those isn’t true …

R: Your Web site and EP cover are covered with pictures of dominos! Is this significant to your band?

TFR: That’s a reference to a metaphor in the lyrics of the song “Drone Effect.” Basically, don’t be a domino, don’t get in line with everyone else. Because once the chain starts, everyone falls over.

R: If the band was a flavor of ice cream, what would it be?

TFR: Would it be incredibly cheesy if I said “Rocky Road?”