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Sugarcoat


Band: Sugarcoat

Members: B.J. Huss (vocals, guitar), Sean Sultzbach (drums, vocals), Tim White (guitar, vocals), Chris Altland (bass, vocals)

Who we talked to: Huss

Where'd the name come from? We had a song called "Sugarcoated Fake." We didn't really have a name for the band, so we said, "Why don't we just call ourselves Sugarcoat." It's about how everything around you is sugarcoated and most of it is fake.

Who are your influences? My stuff ranges from folk to modern-day stuff. . . . When we go into writing, (our sound) has more of a ballad style but has more of a rock feeling. My influences are probably more like Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox Twenty- songs that are rock 'n' roll but have feeling.

Who is your biggest musical guilty pleasure? I really like The Cure and Depeche Mode type stuff. The way they use their vocal ranges and melodies in their music, it has a very nice feeling to it. It makes you happy.

If you could share the stage with any band or artist, who would it be and why? I'd probably have to say John Lennon just because, overall, he changed the face of music. He brought in something that made what (The Beatles) did into a phenomenon.

What songs do you like to cover? I absolutely love doing "Creep" by Radiohead. . . . It gets a reaction from the crowd, and also it's vocally challenging. And, for me, I love to be challenged. So when I do a song that vocally challenges me, and when I hit it, it makes me feel like I'm doing my job.

Plug one other local band: Negative Space. They're doing a great job, and their music is very catchy. . . . I've got something in my heart for them. They've been at it a long time.

Who would win in a fight: Goo Goo Dolls or Matchbox Twenty? I think I'd have to say Goo Goo Dolls because Johnny Rzeznik looks like someone you don't want to mess with. Johnny Rzeznik is more influential in my style. Rob Thomas is very versatile, but Johnny Rzeznik looks harder.

What do you guys need to work on as a band? To be the best we can be, we're already working on those things. We've constantly got to keep at what we're doing. You've never learned enough, so you've constantly got to be learning. All your techniques and instruments, you've always got to be learning. As long as we keep doing that, we'll just keep getting better.

Shoutouts: We'd like to say thanks to all the people who have been supporting us so far. It's made it worth what we're doing. It's amazing how many people respond to it.

- JASON COX, FLIPSIDE STAFF