News

December 12th, 2011 by Richie Frieman

These kind of well-traveled young bands are harder and harder to come by these days - many up and coming acts preferring to stick to their hometown and a few cities nearby. Not the case for Indianapolis-based 4-piece Réaul, who have become well-known for their live show, playing over 250 shows around the country over the past 3 years. In addition to their performance prowess,Rick Connell, Michael Neeley, Dave Kriebel and Nate Metzler are also just a real good group of guys! They were recently endorsed as a national partner with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), planning supportive walks around the nation, as well as performing at the first annual "Rock it to a Cure" in 2010. Good stuff.

These reasons are not the only ones we've been hearing more and more about Réaul - their latest record titled "Casino Heart" is grabbing some extraordinary press as well. Neeley says "The album rocks the entire time. We've joked that we don't let your ears breath before we hit you with another song… At its core, the album is intelligent pop rock. It's unique and refreshing. The lyrics are deep and often engage metaphors in unique ways to describe relationships and life. The hooks are catchy with strong melodies that you'll find yourself singing everywhere, especially in the shower. Ok, maybe that last one is just me. But, yeah, you'll be singing the songs." Definitely check it out. The band will be busy, touring as well as completing their next album, due out next Spring. Stay tuned. For now though, keep reading for much, much more in the answers to the XXQ's.

XXQs: Reaul:

PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what do you feel makes you stand out over the others in your genre?

Réaul - Rick Connell: We've been labeled as a top 40 pop rock group. Which we think is a pretty accurate. Réaul is a very unique blend of all the band members' individual influences rolled in to one. My voice has often been compared to Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic and Bono from U2. Our guitar sounds are big and thick much like Anberlin and Nickelback. We're known for creating melodies that get stuck in your head and won't leave. However, we really set ourselves apart from the rest of the artists in our genre with the lyrics in our songs. We pride ourselves that they are deep and thought provoking but very catchy and accessible. Every review we've gotten on the new album "Casino Heart," has noted that!

PEV: Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, what kind of music were the members of the band into growing up? Do you remember your first concert?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: We were all in the typical garage bands growing up. Rick was actually fortunate enough to tour around the South and East Coast with a Punk band he fronted. While in college I played with some popular local jam bands and enjoyed the impromptu coffee show open mics. In general we all enjoyed playing with whomever and whenever we could.

PEV: What was it like trying to break into the music scene when you first started out as a band? What was your first show like together as a band?

Réaul - Michael Neeley: Our first show was actually pretty great. There was a lot of anticipation with the group after the first CD was released, so our first show went really well. We sold out of merchandise that night. It was awesome. After that we hit the bar scene in Indy, and let me tell you, it got much tougher. We got great compliments from other bands and club owners, which asked us to come back for other shows, but it took a long time before the crowd started showing up. Indy can be a tough city to break. It doesn't have a blooming music scene. So if you hang in there and push through, you can crack this town and you can make it anywhere. We've proven it.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live Réaul show?

Réaul - Rick Connell: Simply put, an incredible rock show! We really bring it. A huge amount of energy and well…loud music. Like Nate said earlier, we strive very hard to make music that works well both in the studio and live on stage. All of us guys made a promise a long time ago to each other and to our fans that we would never put on a show that "sucked." We would do whatever we could to make it the best concert they've ever been to. We've always said if we can get a person to our show, they will be a fan for life. People are always amazed at how tight we sound live. Our live show is what has propelled us to bigger and better opportunities, so we know we're getting it right.

PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: "What am I doing?" Then, "man I hope my guitar and amp keep working". Which then turns into, "this is fun!"

Réaul - Rick Connell: I can't see anything! I don't want to trip and face plant in front of all these people. Crud, what is the first line to the song?

Réaul - Michael Neeley: I hope Dave doesn't have some weird guitar or amp malfunction.

PEV: How is living in Indianapolis as artists different than any other city?

Réaul - Rick Connell: Well, we are all transplants with the exception of Dave. I'm originally from the Tampa, Florida and the other guys are from various small towns in Indiana. I think we all like living here because it's a big little city. You can grow as a musician, but not get lost.

PEV: What was the underlining inspiration for your music? Where do you get your best ideas for songs?

Réaul - Rick Connell: I know this is going to sound cliché, but the little things in life that we all fail to notice day in and day out really inspire me. Life, love, loss, and nature spawn my best ideas. Many times if I am having writer's block I'll go on a walk outside or go for a drive through the back roads. Sometimes, I'm gone for hours and I don't even realize it. Many times, the hooks and melody lines that end up weaved into our songs get birthed from one of these times.

PEV: Thinking back to when you first started out do you ever look back at your career and think about your earlier days and how you've arrived where you are today?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: Oh yes I remember exactly what I thought. At first it seemed like it was going to be so easy to "make it." We had some incredible connections in the biz and as long as we had great music it would all work out. After a few years we realized that even with all of our connections in the music business it wasn't going to be that easy. But now looking back to where we were and where we are now, it is pretty amazing how far we've come. How much we have grown as musicians and how many people are actually interested in what we are doing next. We have a strong base of fans that believe in us and love Réaul's music. It feels good to know that "radio" and the media have finally caught onto what we've known all along. We're good.

Réaul - Rick Connell: I definitely thought it was going to go a lot faster than this. Man, I thought I knew a lot about the music industry when we started Réaul. Boy was I wrong. It's a constantly moving target - constantly changing. Just when you think you have the hang of things, everything changes. I have learned a few key things though. You definitely have to have music people want and you have to have an incredible live show. When you get past all the scum bags in the music biz ,you find that there are some really great people you get to work with. It just takes time and perseverance. It's more of a challenge of will than talent.

PEV: What's one thing we'd be surprised to hear about he members of Réaul?

Réaul - Michael Neeley: We are a pretty crazy group of guys. We seem reserved and serious when on stage, but man, the stuff we say and do while out on the road. It's hard to describe.

PEV: Was there a certain point in life when you knew that music was going to be a goal for you?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: Absolutely. There comes a time in every boy's life when he wants to become a Rock Star. It's only the boys that never grow up that chase the dream. It's actually achieving the goal that makes the boy a man, but a man in awesome clothes.

Réaul - Nate Metzler: I've had a rhythm from birth. I used to drum on everything in the house. I'd bang on my parents pots and pans. Finally my parents got sick of it, bought me a snare drum and put me in lessons. I've been pursuing drums ever since. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life.

Réaul - Rick Connell: I had played in symphonic band through grade school and when I was getting ready to go to college I made some tough decisions. At that point I decided to turn down a full ride scholarship at a top animation school and go to a different college for music instead. I thought my dad was going to kill me. I knew that I wanted to be a musician for the rest of my life. It's in my blood.

PEV: With your latest work, "Casino Heart," what can fans expect from this album? Tell us more about it.

Réaul - Michael Neeley: The album rocks the entire time. We've joked that we don't let your ears breath before we hit you with another song. We've heard from a number of fans that the album has a tendency to cause them to speed while driving. At its core, the album is intelligent pop rock. It's unique and refreshing. The lyrics are deep and often engage metaphors in unique ways to describe relationships and life. The hooks are catchy with strong melodies that you'll find yourself singing everywhere, especially in the shower. Ok, maybe that last one is just me. But, yeah, you'll be singing the songs.

PEV: What is the feeling you get after a song is complete and you can sit back and listen to it being played the way you envisioned?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: It's hard to describe. It's a feeling of accomplishment and excitement mixed together. When a song is completed all I want to do is go out on stage and play it for people.

Réaul - Rick Connell: A lot of our songs go through 15 to 16 rewrites to get them to the point you hear on recordings. There comes a point in the writing process when you just know the song is done. It feels right. It feels completed and ready for prime time.

PEV: With all your traveling is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?

Réaul - Rick Connell: Definitely Europe and Australia. Those are two areas of the world we have been setting our eyes on. There's such an incredible music scene in both those places.

PEV: How have all your friends reacted to your career? What's it like when you get to play at your hometown?

Réaul - Michael Neeley: I think they thought we were just going to be a jam band that played around town for a while and eventually fizzle out. And then we started touring nationally, recording with well-known producers, and opening for some really big bands and I think they realized this wasn't a hobby for us. Our friends are really excited for us and they keep telling us to remember them when we get rich and famous. They were our first fans and they know all the lyrics to the songs. It's our friends and fans that always make it fun to play in our hometown.

PEV: What can we find each of you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: All of us love getting to hang out with family and friends. You don't get to do that a lot when you're on tour all the time. Also, the religious watching of the Colts games is very important!

PEV: Name one present and past artist or group that would be your dream collaboration? Why?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: Well that's easy…. Led Zeppelin. Do I really need to explain why? They are one of the greatest bands of all time. Those 4 guys could produce a sound that nobody else could emulate.

Réaul - Rick Connell: Very easy! I would have to say U2. Whether you love or hate them they are the biggest rock band in the world and maybe of all time. Imagine the things you would learn from those guys.

PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

Réaul - Rick Connell: Well, other than Réaul I'm not sure. For the last year we've been playing with bands much bigger than us and I doubt they need our help getting listeners. Haha!

PEV: if playing music wasn't your life (or life's goal) what do you think each of you would be your career?

Réaul - Dave Kriebel: Racecar driver or headless horseman

Réaul - Nate Metzler: A business owner of some sort. Maybe investments or finance related.

Réaul - Michael Neeley: I've always wanted to own a bookstore.

Réaul - Rick Connell: A graphic designer in New York City or maybe a baker in Italy. They both sound fun.

PEV: So, what is next for Réaul?

Réaul - Rick Connell: There is so much going on right now with Réaul it is hard to keep up. We are getting radio and media play all over the world right now. Lots of interviews and appearances over the next couple months. We are currently putting together some of the finishing details for our annual Rock-It-To-A-Cure JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) benefit concert scheduled for November 5, 2011 at the Old National Centre's Egyptian Room here in Indy. This is huge event for us. We will be shooting a Live DVD that night along with playing a couple new songs we've never performed live before. We have already been in the studio a couple times in the past couple months laying down tracks for our new album. This new project is due out in Spring 2012 and the fans are going to love it. There is a national tour being planned for the Spring as well. We can't say who we will be touring with but we can give hints. Fans just need to stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter feeds to keep in the loop.

For more info, check out www.facebook.com/reaul www.twitter.com/reaul www.reaul.com

To read the original article on PensEyeView please follow this link:
http://www.penseyeview.com/content/réaul