Spiderfriends, like most Belmont bands, aspires to become one of the best. At the height of their popularity, they were torn between individual pursuits and the singular pursuit of the band. Like in any endeavor, the band itself became its own entity. Towermix.com interviewed Seiji Inouye about the band and his observations about the Nashville music community.
Originally, Spiderfriends was a two-piece band starring Belmont alumni, Parker Donaldson and Peter Wierenga. The duo started out playing house shows, wanting to play music for love. Through the opportunity to play Next Big Nashville, the notoriety of the group grew to more than just the Belmont sphere. The first EP release, Stagger ‘N Swagger, gave the band footing with the Nashville underground community. Instead of playing alone, they introduced bands like Evan. P and Diarrhea Planet. In the process of becoming the best house band on Belmont Blvd, the guys were forming a community of friends, a SpiderFamily, if you will.
After the first EP, Donaldson and Wierenga began recording a full-length album Dr. Bendo and the Agents of Alchemy. By invitation of Grady Woodruff and Michael Hardesty, Seiji began to acquaint himself with the tendrils of sounds and ideas the band was centered around. During the actual recording process, Inouye was one of the engineers,sometimes players, helping to influence and instigate creativity. Eventually, his intimate knowledge of the band lead to Donaldson asking him to join the band as a member, on the porch of Bongo Java nevertheless. With the addition of La’akea Presley on keys, Chris Malone on bass, and Seiji Inouye on guitar, SpiderFriends solidified a goal to expand their sound and success. Starting to play shows on January 11th, the record was not officially released until March. The hype that the shows and free music gave the band became vital to the growth of their name and music. From the favorite house show band, the concept transitioned to a Nashville underground favorite.
More than anything else, Inouye attributes the band’s success to their house show fan base.
According to him, “Bands try to avoid becoming a house show band, but that’s what makes it successful. There’s no great monitor mix or front of house engineer. It’s smelly and sweaty, but the best live show is possible there. You are six inches from your audience.”
Inouye continued to make his point by saying that few bands get booked at venues without openers and that the community is what makes Nashville. By these shows, bands meet the right people, build fanbases, and friendships that translate into a better musical community. Everyone supports everyone. This concept of community became exceptionally true for SpiderFriends.
Even with all the success and community that SpiderFriends has formed, currently the band is on hiatus until further notice. Both of the founding members, Donaldson and Wierenga, are playing with Siberian Traps. Chris Malone is at the center of Montezuma Fire Machine. La’akea Presley continues to collaborate with many of the Nashville music community because of her amazing talent. Specifically, La’akea is in the process of releasing her first solo album with collaborating with Holmes and Presley. Because of the need to pay attention to these other endeavors, SpiderFriends is “taking a breather” before whatever is next for the band.
With graduation coming soon and his endeavors as a producer among his responsibilities, Seiji Inouye is still proclaiming with confidence, “I’d say this isn’t the end of SpiderFriends.”
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