With only a handful of live shows under their belt, Pretty Too Bad is already poised to start turning heads in San Diego. Beginning with a few rough tracks written on an Ocean Beach piano, Clayton Edward has taken a slow, calculated approach to launching this project. We recently met up with the four piece at Black Box Studios to snag some footage and to find out more about the emerging project.
When did you start writing songs?
I started writing songs around the age of 13. I was consumed and captivated by the "life of an artist" immediately. I took school into my own hands. I did home school, where I was teaching myself so I could have free time to play music and try to take things to the next level. By the age of 14 my first band Think Of Rufus was playing local clubs and touring the Southwest a bit. From that point on I have been determined to keep perusing my development as a musician/artist. I know I would be cheating myself and die a hollow person if I chose or choose any other path. I feel very blessed to have found my passion, calling, and therapy at such a young age.
Flash forward to Pretty Too Bad, where I feel the foundation of the songs have been established by reaching a new plateau of comfort and confidence in my projected art. All of the music attached to Pretty Too Bad is from my experiences, heart and soul. Most of the material was written within the past two years except for a few which I have been holding onto for years and years due to never having a group of musicians that could bring them to life with such as Jim, Charlie and Brandon.
How did the hiatus from Demasiado effect you?
My "hiatus" from Demasiado was a very confusing and beneficial time. I started playing piano and found a new inspiration to my life and writing. It made me realize the importance of standing on my own feet as an artist.
Tell us about your band, how did the pieces come together?
Powers of the universe.
What was growing up in Vegas like? Ever think you'll go back?
Growing up in Vegas was swell. People gamble there. You can get cheap breakfasts at the local casinos at 4 A.M. and sit by a woman passed out in her nachos, while her 2 year old daughter is sitting across from her bawling "Wake up mommy!". There is always great weather and amazing scenery in Beautiful Las Vegas Nevada. Believe it or not, there was a great music scene at one time in Vegas. Actually, I think it was the best music scene I have ever seen. Most of my friends were 3-4 years older than me. So, I experienced a lot of my junior and senior years of high school (which I would later miss out on) in 7th and 8th grade. I went to strip-clubs and fed the women M&Ms that were dancing on stage, but still to this day have never gotten a lap dance. I also seemed to have a problem with guns being pulled on me... I always knew that I wanted to be in San Diego from coming down and visiting or playing shows. I made my dreams come true and moved here around 3 years ago, but there will always be a special place in my heart for Vegas. I love visiting. You can find me at the Blackjack and Roulette tables getting my free drinks and winning cash!!
What do you miss and not miss about living at the Ebers house?
I miss that period of time more than the house itself, when the house was a living, breathing art factory. I had the opportunity to take a year off from working during that time as well. I think it was the only time in my life I've felt completely free.
Favorite Bar, Eatery and Shop in San Diego? These take the gold:
The Turf Club - Gin Martinis with bleu cheese stuffed olives and a steak.
Taco Surf - The best fucking burrito you will ever have.
The Black - Your one stop knick knack shop in Ocean Beach.
When can we expect a first release from Pretty Too Bad?
Expect a release in 2010. I am not in any hurry. We need to develop more as a band, start traveling the USA , and then the world. We have a lot of material written, I'm just waiting to run into the right situation and person before recording our first full-length album. Which will take an engineer/producer/friend to be as excited and goal oriented as us to create something pure and impactful.
We do have a demo is in the works called ...Make it Real, which will be part of our merch in the near future. We have been recording with Mike and Mario at Black Box and mixing with Matty at Sushi Fish.
Pretty Too Bad plays Subtext Gallery this Friday, July 31st at 8pm.
All photos by Carly Ealey, view more on her Flickr page.