WE R OK – PRESHOW RITUALS

In this Preshow Rituals segment, the pop duo, WE R OK, reveals what they do before taking the stage. You can check out the story, after the break.

First off, we’d like to thank Digital Tour Bus for the feature and support! As a brand-new group, it is exciting to see the response to our first single.

Frank and I met while both attending Mercy College, studying Music Industry and Technology. Frank has been a musician nearly his whole life, plays multiple instruments, and has been a part of several groups over the years – while I on the other hand started my journey while attending The Institute of Audio Research in NYC at the age of 20. As WE R OK is a new group that came together on a whim at the top of the year, we have yet to perform live together, but both of us have performed individually in the past.

For me, It was always important for me to show up early for my gigs. I really like to get a feel for the vibe of the room, hang with whoever came to support and to also show support for anyone who may be on the bill before me. While I understand that some artists may like to show up right before they hit the stage, I always felt that I should be there before and after my set to show some love to the other artists – who like me – were also putting it all on the line for their art.

Since I knew that after the show there would most likely be a lot of drinking at the bar, a good meal before-hand was always a safe bet. Pre-show for me was always more about getting in the right mood before hitting the stage and less about any rituals or superstitions. A couple of drinks and a few hits of a joint always seemed to help get me there – it is this level of inebriation that I call ‘Prime Time Brian’ (lol). Too much of any substance can often backfire, but a little bit always seemed to help clear my mind, ease the stress, and lighten my mood. I always like to hit the stage with one goal in mind – have some fun. While pre-show jitters are definitely a thing, by the time I was up to perform all of the other worries disappeared and I just set out to put on a tight show for the group of friends who came out and for the strangers who had no idea who I was and we’re waiting to talk shit. I love them both just the same.

For Frank, the far more talented musician of the group, his shows always required a bit more prep. Performing with a band always requires more set-up, and usually comes along with a lot more stress, luckily – once you get to know Frank, you quickly realize he is the star of his own show day in and day out. Never one to hold his tongue or conform, when Frank hits a stage (or grocery store) it is impossible not to pay attention. When he was younger, pre-show was probably a lot more PG than it has come to be, but nowadays a little ‘doob’ (as he calls it), a couple of drinks, some vocal warm-ups and getting his guitar tuned uptight is all he really needs to be ready to rock.

In our minds – pre-show is really just the set up for the post-show – and the post-show is where we come alive ;)

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