Interview with MICHAEL AND JOHNNY OF WHEN IN ROME II (Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, 1/2/2016)

On January 2nd, 2016, before their performance at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California, I got to sit down with Michael and Johnny from When in Rome II to talk about their musical collaborations, new album, as well as the influential history of the band.

I was struck by how open and candid both musicians were. From sharing insights into their own fruitful collaborations as well as their ability to navigate differing creative visions, it was clear that both Michael and Johnny were a focused team.

We talked at length about a wide range of topics, including both musicians’ childhood influences, the Manchester music scene in the mid to late 1980’s, their interactions with fans, songwriting processes, the enduring influence of John Peel, as well as their accolades for working with producer Warren Huart. These were indeed some of the nicest guys I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing.

After the interview they took the stage. I witnessed hundreds of people in the audience get up off their feet to respond to the infectious vocals and driving percussion of the band. I even heard a couple of women swooning and saying how they wanted to meet and get a photo with Johnny after the show! And by the time the band played their obligatory version of “The Promise” the audience’s adoration climaxed to a sea of satisfied and happy fans.

I highly recommend checking out When in Rome II. And if you stick around after the show, you might even have the chance to chat with these nice lads as I did.

For more information about their upcoming album and concert information, check out:

www.wheninrome2.com

Jason Reed                                                                                                                                               Inner Edge Music