By Lisa DiCarlucci
There is nothing easy about trying to make it big in the music industry. Being in a rock band requires time, commitment and talent. It’s a job in and of itself. Throw being a full-time student into the mix and busy doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Ben Tileston, drummer for TAB the Band, took time out his hectic schedule to talk to The Chronicle about how his band came to be, what he hopes for their future and how he manages being a student during the week and an up-and-coming rock star on the weekends.
TAB the Band (intentionally named so as not to be confused with the drink) originated almost by accident.
“We were kind of a joke band,” Tileston said of him and fellow band members Tony and Adrian Perry, “We were kind of writing Beastie Boys style songs and we got done writing one of the songs without the lyrics and realized it was pretty good so we threw a melody on it instead of rap.”
Since their coincidental start, TAB has released two E.P.’s and two L.P.’s, has had their music licensed to several shows including one on HBO and has performed with such bands as Modest Mouse and State Radio, according to the band’s biography.
“It was pretty much seamless,” Tileston said of the transition to become a serious band. “We weren’t actually starting a band for real. We were just goofing around recording. We played our first show, and it went really well.”
While TAB the Band actually stands for the three founding members’ initials, Tony, Adrian and Ben, a new member, rhythm guitarist Lou Jannetty was recently added. “Now I’m free to go crazy on drums,” Tileston said. “Its comforting to have another guitarist playing rhythm, as a drummer…and it’s allowed Tony to open up more and experiment,” he said.
With the fourth member, a richer sound and an ever-growing following, Tileston feels like TAB the Band has the potential to make it big. “Right now we are getting better and better responses. Its been an uphill climb all the way. We have done nothing but get better and build our skills,” he said.
When asked who TAB the Band would love to go on tour with if they reach the peak of fame, Tileston responded that while his personal dream would be to play with Incubus, the band as a whole would love to tour with Modest Mouse, The White Stripes or anything Jack White is involved with.
Dreams of success aside, Tileston has a full-time job as a senior classical percussion performance major at Boston University. “It’s extremely demanding,” he said, “Its been an obstacle, but doable. Right now my priority is graduating. I kind of just do the band thing on the weekend… I have a good thing going at BU; being trained and taught classically is really important in the rock world.”
While going between school and the band has not been easy, Tileston says he is now used to it. “I don’t even think about it. I just switch my mentality.”
The interview concluded with Tileston giving advice to other students who are pursuing a career as a professional musician. “I would just say, do it. Don’t be afraid of any kind of conflict,” he said. “Just know that you are doing what you should be doing in both. Get your hands dirty and be ready to work really hard. Right now I have no weekends. Be ready to not have any time off.”