For Django Haskins, lead singer of The Old Ceremony, a lot has changed in the past four and a half years.
As The Old Ceremony has risen to more and more success, he's been able to abandon that loathsome day job"" perform at envy-inducing gigs, and write music that's garnered both critical acclaim and a sizeable fan base.
With such a burgeoning musical career and a new album, Walk On Thin Air, one might think Django Haskins is content to revel in The Old Ceremony's success, but he doesn't hesitate to point out a very different philosophy.
It's really nice to have that kind of thing happen"" Haskins says of the recognition that the band has received. But we try not to take it too seriously because the only thing that matters is the next show.""
In short"" he operates under a simple and effective mantra: ""If it sounds good"" do it.""
Part of The Old Ceremony's success" according to Haskins" comes from the close bond the band shares.
He emphasized that its current sound isn't necessarily reflective of its past.
""It's definitely changed a lot over the years" Haskins states. Originally it was kind of a loose bunch of musicians and we'd have as many as eleven musicians on-stage at a time in some of our earliest shows—horn players strings" all kinds of stuff.""
But since that period"" The Old Ceremony has experienced a definite evolution. ""Over time" it's just really kind of turned into the real core. The band is still all the same people; it's just turned into much more of a band said Haskins. We're all married to each other" basically.""
In the process of writing the new album" Haskins encountered his fair share of inspiration while the band was touring" some of which wasn't musical.
""Sometimes I get inspired by weird things like movies" he said. I'll watch some movie and not necessarily the story" but the mood or the colors will make me want to write a song.
""I'll take inspiration wherever I can find it"" because it's not always easy to sit down with a blank piece of paper and say something in a new way.""
Though The Old Ceremony has traveled throughout the United States" Haskins made clear that the band's loyalty and love for the Triangle is still intact. The large community of local musicians is a considerable draw for Haskins. While he cited a limited number of venues as an occasional hindrance" he pointed out that ""the benefits far outweigh the difficulties.""
The venues might be limited"" but that doesn't prevent the band from enjoying local gigs. ""The Cradle is one of our favorite venues"" Haskins said, largely because it's our hometown venue. Those are some of our favorite shows because we're really lucky to have people that come and see us play.""
The band doesn't hesitate to play a venue that might appear inadequate at first glance.
""Some of my favorite ones are these really small venues where we'd show up and see the stage and think" ‘There's no way we're going to fit on this stage""" he said. ""And then somehow we Tetris ourselves on the stage and it's one of the best shows we've ever had because we're so connected to each other.""
HEAR THE OLD CEREMONEY
Time: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Location: Cat's Cradle
Info: www.catscradle.com
Tix: $10
Contact the Diversions Editor at dive@unc.edu.
