selling out shows in San Francisco. “That was a huge deciding factor for us,” says Brendan. “We weren’t going to pursue to a record label and were going to stay independent. We had already accomplished what we had set out to do.” But, life is funny. Once they had made this decision and started planning larger tours, they were approached by Atlantic Records. It was an offer they couldn’t refuse. The fit was perfect. The label saw eye-to-eye with Finish Ticket on aspects of music and future plans that other labels had brushed aside. Finish Ticket found a partner. Signing a record deal didn’t change the band’s heart though. Curating their local fan base and expanding outwards was always first and foremost. As Brendan explains, “I think with YouTube these days, that’s where everyone goes. And frankly, it pisses me off a little. I think some of the best bands are the ones who start off learning how to put on a good live show and work crowds. It builds character and makes you a better band.” Establishing a personal connection with fans is top priority. Establishing these old hometown fans invites new fans into a better, more comfortable setting. And while the band does not want to discredit great acts that have been discovered through social media, there’s a disconnect they believe happens when taking that approach. But when you take that live approach, it makes it easier in the long run to connect with new audiences. Finish Ticket have recently been on two separate tours. The first, supporting twenty one pilots. The second, supporting Fitz and The Tantrums. These bands have two very different audiences and fans. But for Finish Ticket, that is all part of the fun. They don’t want to curate their sound for different crowds. They don’t need to. Finish Ticket want to be themselves. “We just try to put out the best possible version of what our music is,” says Nick. The band does not want to give off any wrong impressions of who they are. If the audience doesn’t like them, at least the guys can hold their heads high knowing they were true to themselves. They do not wish to trick new audiences. There will always be difficult crowds, but those are few and far between. Even so, the experience they gained form those early gigs when barely teens comes into play. Putting on electric live shows and winning over crowds is in 24
their blood. Although, this is not to say that they are not conscious of various approaches they need to take depending on the crowd. When opening for Twenty One Pilots, the crowd was open and eager to give them a chance. Their fans were there to get their faces melted off and rock out all night. When it comes to opening for Fitz and The Tantrums, they knew they had to take a different approach. The crowd was older. So, the focus was on interactions. The band utilized any opportunity for audience participation. With Fitz, they were the only openers so it was up to Finish Ticket to get the audience from chit-chat mode to concert mode. And while the guys are used to headlining, they like the challenge of opening. But, the boys will get another shot taking the lead. They just announced a new headlining tour. “We’re just going try and step it up, for sure,” says Nick. “This is our first real headlining tour and this one is our chance to show our fans how we put on a show.” They are excited to show fans their openers. They want their fans to hear the music they love, as well. The goal is to create a refreshed vibe. The band is revamping some of the stage production, reworking some songs, and may throw in some new covers. They are looking to change it up. This also includes possibly debuting and testing out new material. The goal is to record after road testing. It will allow them to work out the kinks and discover new directions the songs can go. This is a reaction to typically hitting the studio first. “We always want to capture the live show in the recordings. And I don’t think we’ve ever done that to our standard,” Brendan says. For example, ‘Bring the Rain’. It has consistently been a live staple for the band. The song is the climax of each show. But to them, you never would have guessed that listening to the original recording. The song has evolved since then. So, when it came time to re-release their debut, the re-recorded the song. A gutsy move. But that is the Finish Ticket aesthetic. It is about authenticity. The song should accurately reflect who they are and how it interacts with the audience. And while there is no timeline set for a new record, they are eager to work on new music during tour breaks and bring to the world a new full length album. NKD
