Innovative and overflowing with passion, Nothing More is a group that provides a show anyone can enjoy. Resembling such acts as the Blue Man Group and Stomp, Nothing More utilizes an assortment of props along with a collection of uniquely styled songs, all combined create a very high energy show.
Having toured throughout Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana for years, Nothing More has had the opportunity to share the stage with groups such as 30 Seconds to Mars, Yellowcard, Hinder, and more.
Yet despite their success, these brilliant young men are still the same down-to-earth guys they were when they first started out, as evident when Johnny Hawkins, lead vocalist, programmer, and recorded drums, shared his thoughts about the band.
“We didn’t really see ourselves being-and did not want to be-standoffish. The name stuck to us because we’re nothing more than average guys doing what we love. It just happens to be on stage. Nothing More means we’re done with making up names!”
All three permanent members of Nothing More agree that their sound typically gravitates toward progressive rock; however, their sound has evolved.
“It’s been a big refining process,” said Daniel Oliver, bass and BGVs. “I joined the band, and it was very creative. Over the last four years, we’ve really focused on better song writing. We don’t have a lack of ideas; it’s just a matter of which ones to keep and which ones to throw out.”
The trio draws inspiration from a myriad of avenues, and desiring to connect with their audiences on a more personal level, a majority of songs have backgrounds most may have experienced one way or another such as a fight with a friend.
“This album has a lot of pain and a lot of life experience in it that the others didn’t have,” Hawkins said.
“Every song is definitely different. At times I’ll be doing something completely unrelated and I’ll see a billboard or I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and have this sweet one-liner that I think is excellent. I’ll write a whole song based on a single chord progression that I think is great,” said Mark Vollelunga, guitarist.
Their musical talent speaks for itself. Recently, the group beat out 13,000 other bands to become the grand prize winner of the 2007 Warped Tour Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands.
In spite of their success, they have not allowed the experiences to go to their heads; rather, the group treated each experience as a way to learn.
“It was awesome and it was horrible at the same time. It was awesome because we got that opportunity and won all that gear that helped us out financially but at the same time that was the first real gig that I sang on stage in front of an audience. That was the most nerve-wracking, terribly uncomfortable experience ever, but I’m glad we did it. It was fun,” Hawkins said.
When asked about the experience of sharing a stage with big-name groups, Oliver shared his thoughts.
“It gives us something to look forward to years down the road, but at the same time, you meet them and you see what they’re doing and there’s really no difference between a band like them and a band like us,” he said.
Touring extensively for approximately four years has presented the band with more than enough opportunities to grow and meet new people. However, being confined together can sometimes bring about personality clashes and arguments; however, the guys wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It cuts into life in a good way and a bad way. I have more friends than anyone I know, that’s really cool. On the downside, my closer friends back home, I hardly ever get to hang out with them,” said Hawkins.”We kind of don’t even have a life socially. That’s our choice,” Vollelunga added.
Through the good times and the bad, this talented group goes the extra mile by donating 10% of their merchandise sales to a charity called Feed Just One which provides the shipping costs so that another charity-Feed My Starving Children-can send food to countries all over the world.
On April 1, a new Web site will be set up with information about what went on behind the scenes during the recording of their latest album, “The Few Not Fleeting,” which was released on Feb. 21.
For additional information about Nothing More, visit their official Web site www.nothingmore.net or their official Myspace page www.myspace.com/nothingmoremusic.
For those wanting to catch Nothing More in person, the group will be in Laredo on April 4 and April 5 at Average Joe’s Sports Bar and Grill.