Since 2012, the Greenville/Spartanburg music scene has had the pleasure of sharing company with post hardcore/metalcore band, End The Empire. With three EPs to their name and an energetic stage presence, the local group found themselves in the lineup for Hawthorne Height’s show at Ground Zero in Spartanburg in October 2016. Shortly before the show, Alt. Edge Media got the chance to sit down with members Hunter Pearson (vocals), Jesse Cox (guitar), Robby Hanson (bass), Steven Bolin (guitar), and Reed Bolin (drums).
Odyssey:“Are you guys originally all from this area? Did you grow up going to shows here?”
Jesse: “The first big show we can really remember was Warped Tour, in Charlotte. We’ve been to a lot of shows here at Ground Zero. The show that was probably most out of our genre was glow-rage as heck. It was super EDM. It was super fun, though.”
Odyssey: “How is the scene around Greenville, SC? Was it hard to get a foothold in the area?”
Steven: “It’s different. I promise I’m not saying this to piss anyone off, but I think we could definitely be more united. I feel like the scene has died down from what it used to be… A lot of the venues are closing; venues that have been staples to our scene here are just shutting down. Greenville has started to grow, music has started to decline, and there’s been an evident distaste in the area. There was this venue downtown that played only acoustic acts and it was shut down because of a noise ordinance. Our scene needs help to grow.”
Hunter: “Kids need a chance to come out and enjoy each other’s company and to just, you know, support local music. There are tons of bands in this area and they all deserve recognition. We need more togetherness.”
Odyssey:“Were you involved with any previous musical projects?”
Jesse: “Reed, Steven, and I have played in other bands together, before. This band is kind of what we wanted to do, after everything was said and done. This band is what we like to do in our free time.”
Odyssey: “How old were you when you first started playing shows?”
Reed: “My first live show was in seventh grade. It was a b.s. dad rock group. Steven, my brother, was in that band too. It’s nothing like what we’re doing now.”
Jesse: “The summer of eighth grade for me. That was when I met Steven. [Reed and Steven] have been the only two dudes I’ve ever wanted to play music with.”
Steven: “I must have been 16 or so. I mean, I couldn’t buy lottery tickets. It was at one of the venues that has shut down in Greenville. But, my music has moved on and progressed and it’s been fun.”
Robby: “My first band played a lot of house shows and stuff. I must have been 17 years old, when I first started.”
Hunter: “My first show was actually with End The Empire. It was at the start of this year, when I first joined. I was 21 at the time, I’m 22 now.”
Odyssey: “Were you involved with any previous musical projects? Are involved in any concurrent projects?”
Reed: “Right now I’m serious about End The Empire, especially since we’re leaving for tour soon. But I do have a little side project going. It’s a bit heavier and I actually do vocals on it, but I don’t want to give away the name until it’s ready.”
Hunter: “I’m about thirty minutes away from the End The Empire guys, so I jam out with some boys who live right down the street from me. We mostly just play acoustic stuff and work on some different music. It gives me a chance to do clean vocals a little more.”
Robby: “The dad of one of the drummers from an old band of mine actually hit me up recently do fill in on bass for them. But, of course, End The Empire is my main project.”
Odyssey: “Do you have any crazy stories from previous tours? Do you have a cool set up for while you’re on the road?”
Robby: “We have these bunks in the back of the van. There’s four of them, so one person gets the floor and everyone else climbs in a bed. It’s a decent setup.”
Hunter: “We go camping, too. Should we talk about Pirateland? Who wants to tell the story?”
Steven: “He’s still mad about this. Here’s what happened:
It’s 6am and we can’t find anywhere to put our van. So, I’m saying that we go to Pirateland because it’s right down the road and it’s like $60 for the night. Hunter apparently went there as a kid. We’re thinking it’s going to be a cool time. So,I told everyone to stay in the car while I go and check us in and everything. They obviously didn’t listen. So, we show up and Pirateland is like “oh, you’re not a family. You’re too old. Your parents should’ve come in.” They straight up turned us away and we had to go to a cheaper, lamer campsite down the road.”
Hunter: “Pirateland, this is my angry email to you!”
Odyssey: “What are you guys working on right now? What can we expect to see from you in the coming months?”
Hunter: “We’re going on tour next month. We’re starting in Virginia and making our way around the southeast. We just got back from tour in August and we’re excited to go back.”
Jesse: “We’re always working on new music, too. It’s slower when you’re first getting back from tour, but we’re always writing and thinking up new stuff to put out.”
