Velcro Mindset

Velcro Mindset was originally formed in 2006 by Pat Rosholt and Josh Holmes. After self producing their EP, they decided their career path was to create super fun music for the masses. Next came 8 new songs, which were added with the four song EP, and remixed, to create Velcro Mindset’s 1st full length cd “Bring On The Strange”, recorded at The Tonic Room Studios in Boise, Idaho. After gaining accolades from ”Bring On The Strange”, the band continues to write and play new, original music, sometimes slipping in the occasional cover song to their live shows. Being based in Seattle has opened wonderful opportunities to perform in some of Seattle’s most iconic venues, such as ShowBox Sodo, Hard Rock Cafe, and Red Hook Brewery. Velcro Mindset has also had the honor of using their music, and fan base, to raise money and awareness through television and live shows, for many wonderful not for profit agencies. The band feels this is the best way to give back to a city and country that they love so much. Near the end of 2011, Velcro Mindset signed with the Tate Music Group and, in early 2012, produced 8 more songs for national release. Enjoy the futures classic rock. - Support

Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
We are from Seattle, WA. We got to this position by continuous shameless self promotion, being extremely pro-active in getting our music to the masses and not waiting for hand outs is the key to our success. Being able to solicit by contacting the right people and just being professional and courteous has worked very well for us as far as getting signed, getting licensing agreements, having a live television segment and a live radio broadcast. Being courteous and professional goes a long way when dealing with people in the industry who don’t know you or care about you.

What do you have coming up? What are some of the new projects we can expect to see?
Our upcoming projects include writing new songs for our next CD, some very high profile shows in the Seattle area including the 4th of July show at Gasworks Park, and closing out a Live At Lunch Concert Series in September. Most of our summer will be spent rehearsing new songs.

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
Our current theme song is Caveman, the 1st track on our CD. I think this is one of the most fun songs to play in our collection. The rhythm is fun to play, the lyrics are awesome, and we add some cowbell which everyone loves.

How does your music separate yourself from other artists and bands out there?
Especially for being in the Seattle area, we have developed a niche in the market with the music we choose to produce. A lot of local bands are rap, R&B, or metal. The great thing about our music and name is that it is very open for interpretation. If you are a fan of classic rock you can pick out certain influences that each of us have and have brought to the table to write our originals. We write our music so that Velcro Mindset sounds like Velcro Mindset. Just as Cheap Trick sounds like Cheap Trick, and Led Zeppelin sounds like Led Zeppelin.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
Working hard at our day jobs to be able to invest in our business. Obviously we want to play music every day and perform in a different city everyday, but we don’t want to starve or go broke along the way. So burning the candle at both ends trying to work, rehearse, perform, record, and promote is very taxing on the mind and body and wallet.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
Our biggest set backs have been not getting the gigs or responses we want from promoters. It makes us really dig our boots in and work harder to get the shows and responses we put ourselves out there to get. And it has payed off. Promoters are now finding us and contacting us instead of me soliciting to them. Once again, it comes down to the building blocks we had to set up such as professionalism, kindness, and shameless self promotion.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Always be careful of not doing enough research into the people whom you choose to work with. If you’re going to pay for something do the research. Find out if what you’re going after has worked for others. Make sure you are putting your money in the right places to further your career.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Don’t stop until you’ve reached a level of success that is legitimately obtainable. This also includes investing your hard earned money into your future. Music is the hardest and one of the most expensive ventures to embark in. Don’t be lazy. Take a proactive stance to get your brand and product into the market.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
Our favorite way to promote is at live performances because as a patron you can experience the sight, sound, and feeling of our music. You can meet us and talk to us as well. We also offer special promos at shows whether it be a free download card, poster, or a discounted price on our CD. We are people persons, so meeting the people who take their time and hard earned money to come to one of our shows makes it special to us and we like to recognize that.

Where can people visit you?
www.velcromindset.com
www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=847726007216
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUYU2bXcA-s - Warped Magazine

Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
We are from Seattle, WA. We got to this position by continuous shameless self promotion, being extremely pro-active in getting our music to the masses and not waiting for hand outs is the key to our success. Being able to solicit by contacting the right people and just being professional and courteous has worked very well for us as far as getting signed, getting licensing agreements, having a live television segment and a live radio broadcast. Being courteous and professional goes a long way when dealing with people in the industry who don’t know you or care about you.

What do you have coming up? What are some of the new projects we can expect to see?
Our upcoming projects include writing new songs for our next CD, some very high profile shows in the Seattle area including the 4th of July show at Gasworks Park, and closing out a Live At Lunch Concert Series in September. Most of our summer will be spent rehearsing new songs.

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
Our current theme song is Caveman, the 1st track on our CD. I think this is one of the most fun songs to play in our collection. The rhythm is fun to play, the lyrics are awesome, and we add some cowbell which everyone loves.

How does your music separate yourself from other artists and bands out there?
Especially for being in the Seattle area, we have developed a niche in the market with the music we choose to produce. A lot of local bands are rap, R&B, or metal. The great thing about our music and name is that it is very open for interpretation. If you are a fan of classic rock you can pick out certain influences that each of us have and have brought to the table to write our originals. We write our music so that Velcro Mindset sounds like Velcro Mindset. Just as Cheap Trick sounds like Cheap Trick, and Led Zeppelin sounds like Led Zeppelin.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
Working hard at our day jobs to be able to invest in our business. Obviously we want to play music every day and perform in a different city everyday, but we don’t want to starve or go broke along the way. So burning the candle at both ends trying to work, rehearse, perform, record, and promote is very taxing on the mind and body and wallet.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
Our biggest set backs have been not getting the gigs or responses we want from promoters. It makes us really dig our boots in and work harder to get the shows and responses we put ourselves out there to get. And it has payed off. Promoters are now finding us and contacting us instead of me soliciting to them. Once again, it comes down to the building blocks we had to set up such as professionalism, kindness, and shameless self promotion.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Always be careful of not doing enough research into the people whom you choose to work with. If you’re going to pay for something do the research. Find out if what you’re going after has worked for others. Make sure you are putting your money in the right places to further your career.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Don’t stop until you’ve reached a level of success that is legitimately obtainable. This also includes investing your hard earned money into your future. Music is the hardest and one of the most expensive ventures to embark in. Don’t be lazy. Take a proactive stance to get your brand and product into the market.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
Our favorite way to promote is at live performances because as a patron you can experience the sight, sound, and feeling of our music. You can meet us and talk to us as well. We also offer special promos at shows whether it be a free download card, poster, or a discounted price on our CD. We are people persons, so meeting the people who take their time and hard earned money to come to one of our shows makes it special to us and we like to recognize that.

Where can people visit you?
www.velcromindset.com
www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=847726007216
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUYU2bXcA-s - Warped Magazine

By KEEGAN PROSSER
Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer
APRIL 5, 2013 · 10:44 AM



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Velcro Mindset’s music sticks to your brain. At least, that’s what their name suggests.

Consisting of Pat Rosholt (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Chris Weyers (Lead Guitar), Ben Quayle (Bass Guitar) and Joshua Holmes (Drums) the act is known for blending elements of rock, blues, jazz, metal, and everything in between. On Friday night, they’ll pair their talents with reggae act Unite-One for a special performance at the Hard Rock Cafe Seattle.

Formed in 2005 by Eastside residents Holmes and Rosholt, Velcro Mindset started out as an excuse to jam.

“I was working at the Glendale Country Club - and Pat was my boss,” Holmes said.

Although the two talked about playing for years, the idea didn’t come to fruition until Holmes had a chance encounter.

“I was at a bar and I heard this guitar player complaining about how he was unhappy with his band,” Holmes said.

Velcro Mindset was formed.

In addition to placing second in Seattle’s Soundbite event, the band’s debut album, 2006’s Bring On The Strange, was the Editor’s Pick at Indie-Music.com in March 2012. They’ve since signed to Tate Music Group and released a second album called In The Wrong Room.

The Reporter caught up with Holmes in advance of the Hard Rock Show, to talk about how Velcro Mindset came to be - and what’s up next for the act:

BELLEVUE REPORTER: Where did band name come from?

JOSH HOLMES: It took months and months. Out of the blue, Pat said Velcro Mindset. None of us liked it at first, but he stuck with it. It’s a little bit obscure. But some of the bridges we write are a little bit obscure; like, it takes you out of the music and then brings you back in.


REPORTER: How would you describe your sound?

HOLMES: I like to let people listen to us and tell me what they hear. We can’t be held to one genre because of the amount of influences we’ve all had - and how we create music together. You’re going to hear all types of influences.

REPORTER: What is your goal in making music?

HOLMES: We don’t write music like what you hear on the radio. We want to be original. Velcro Mindset wants to sound like Velcro Mindset.

REPORTER: How do you guys write music? Is it a collaborative effort?

HOLMES: It’s funny; we actually have two songs that were written on accident. I think our guitar player was tuning his guitar and I heard a sound. And I was like, ‘I know you probably didn’t mean for that to be anything, but could you repeat it over and over?” Next thing you know we were writing a whole song around that riff [“County Line” off “In The Wrong Room”].

REPORTER: What do you hope people walk away with after hearing your music?

HOLMES: What I’ve seen people walk away with is musical amazement. We write technical songs; we don’t write three and four chord songs; we like to make it hard for us. We’re not a band just jumping around; it’s all about the music.

REPORTER: You released your sophomore effort, In The Wrong Room in December. What’s your favorite track off the album?

HOLMES: It’s the opening track “Cave Man.” It’s really, really fun for me to play. I love being able to play cowbell on songs - it’s just fun. It’s a pretty stellar opening track.

REPORTER: For the show at the Hard Rock, Velcro Mindset will be playing with reggae act Unite-One. How did that come about?

HOLMES: They’re actually friends with our bass player. Ultimately, it’s about the amount of people you draw; you want a good show, you want people to play for. This is the first time we’ve had such a hard contrast in music [genres]. But I think teaming up together, we can make a successful night for both bands.

REPORTER: What are you looking forward to about the Hard Rock show?

HOLMES: You know what it is? What I like about it is the sound system. They’ve got a stellar sound system; when I hear my bass drum I get excited. And the Hard Rock is very classy and they really know how to take care of an act. It’s so professional. - Bellevue Reporter

Article by: Geoffrey Cleaver,

Voluntarily listening to is garage-rock jam band is always at the bottom of my to-do list. Normally, garage-rock jam bands are a dime a dozen. In the Pacific Northwest it seems these bands are a penny a dozen! The only thing worse than listening to a garage-rock band play live is suffering through their albums, which consequently are usually made via ProTools!

Thus, I was perplexed as to how I came about volunteering to do a review for a Seattle based band. “Bring On The Strange” is the debut album for a rising four piece rock band called Velcro Mindset. Immediately, my loathing attitude turned to a loving one. The songs are smartly written and backed by musicians who actually know what they are doing! At one point, I was so intrigued by Velcro Mindset, I found myself trying to sing along!

Velcro Mindset boasts twelve addictive tracks pumped with original material. Each song clearly achieves the message, and tone, the band was striving for. Velcro Mindset is definitely not an experimental rock album housed by guys looking to fill the nights of their mundane lives. Velcro Mindset actually has something going for them, Talent! “Bring On The Strange” cleverly possesses many subtleties which makes each re-listen a new experience! I can’t think of any other band today who has this much depth and layering within a debut indie album.

Velcro Mindset slightly mirrors the familiarity of the nineties while referencing their own modern musical concepts. The band is a testament to their heroes of the past while influencing what music will sound like to future generations. Each facet of Velcro Mindset’s inimitable sound is conveyed through pristine pitch vocals, driving drums, parallel yet raw base lines, and unwavering lead guitar licks.

My suggested top tracks for “Bring On The Strange” are Pagerism, Diggit, and Auto Pilot’s Door. These three songs correctly represent the vast catalog of musical references within the album. From catchy pop-like chorus’- to deep, sultry blues- to devastatingly hard, rock your ass off tracks, this album will appeal to any true music coinsure. This album is daring yet familiar, fashionable yet unground, and beautifully written yet infused with dirty, rock n’roll grit. - www.widepr.com

This group has a great bluesy sound with a bit of an edge. Frontman Pat Rosholt’s delivers rich, passionate vocals while the rest of the band... lays down a groove that’s worth the price of admission all by itself. The result: songs that stick with you all day. - Leaves on the Water

"Velcro Mindset is one band who can restore Seattle's reputation for great music with an addictive sound! A combination of rock and aggressive pop subtly describes what the critics in Seattle are celebrating. The four piece band, who just recently came together as a spin off derived from other underground bands, are currently promoting their debut disc Bring on the Strange. Respected peers within the industry and social media have all lionized Velcro Mindset with praise and rave reviews."

Helene Vece, Jumpstart Ink. (www.jumpstartink.com)
- Helene Vece

Somehow Velcro Mindset makes me wonder if this is how Barenaked Ladies would sound in the 70's. Fun, yet laid-back with a slight 70's rock flare, and great musicianship. - Draven Grey, Rockstar Mindset

In the rock genre, everyone is fighting to stand out from the rest of the crowd and competition. Velcro Mindset without a doubt rises to the spotlight with this song alone. Great influences all throughout here from jazz, blues, soul, funk, to Pop tinged vocals...this has a little bit of everything in it. The musicianship is outstanding and the production is spot on. This rocks clear and pulls you right in. Exciting vibe and a great must-listen. - BillyD, Singer/Songwriter/Producer

Velcro Mindset is a cool Seattle band with a serious old school Zeppelin/Blues rock vibe and excellent riffs and songwriting. - Nick Layton, Songwriter/Composer/Guitarist

In the rock genre, everyone is fighting to stand out from the rest of the crowd and competition. Velcro Mindset without a doubt rises to the spotlight with this song alone. Great influences all throughout here from jazz, blues, soul, funk, to Pop tinged vocals...this has a little bit of everything in it. The musicianship is outstanding and the production is spot on. This rocks clear and pulls you right in. Exciting vibe and a great must-listen. - BillyD, Singer/Songwriter/Producer

Much rock is messy, with a whole lot of intentional feedback. Velcro Mindset, in contrast, is like rock's Mr. Clean. No mess, no spill.

These three songs feature clean chords and clear vocals. Everything fits into place, like a jigsaw puzzle. It all may make you long for a little loose jamming, but it's hard not to appreciate the utter precision that went into these recordings. - Dan McIntosh

"pagerism"
Love the tempo changes! All the cylinders are firing on this song! the voice, the guitars, the drums.. perfect. - HippyDog