I recently meet up with the front man Casey McDonald from Operation Overload. Here is the right up.
Chris: How did Operation Overload get its name?
Casey: The origin came off of the war term, Operation Overlord. And we've thought about changing our name but turned out a lot more people than we thought already knew us by that name.
Chris: Changing your name can be confusing to fans. I can see why you would want to keep it. If you had to categorize Operation Overload into a genre, what would it be?
Casey: We are mainly a Hard Rock/Metal group.
Chris: What influences does your band have?
Casey: Our influences are all different. In our music you'll hear a variety of different styles which kinda brings the spice to our music's sound. We are all so different and have different inspirations. You can view more about each one of us on the Operation Overload website www.operationoverload.tk
Chris: How long have you and your band been together?
Casey: Since November 2007 the original members started with just guitar(Shane Vargas), bass(Taylor Marvin) and drums(Santini Vilardo). October 2008 came around and they found me, from the band Runnin' Angels. Later on May of 2009 we asked four time world champion in drumline, Blake Chadwick, to come join the Operation Overload team.
Chris: Thats great. Is Operation Overload currently signed to a record label?
Casey: Our current label is an indie label named AcropolisRPM, (Records, Promotion, and Management) but we are talking to a major label called DBM Records(Dirtbag Records).
Chris: Seems like every musician is attached to a different instrument or brand. What can you tell me about your instruments?
Casey: I play a Jackson White Dinky Electric Guitar, Flat Gray Schecter Diamond Series Electric Guitar. My amp is a Fender Frontman 212R Combo Amp, with a Noise Suppressor Pedal. I also have a Samson Stage 55 True Diversity Wireless system.
Shane uses a few guitars as well. He has a Black Charvel Telecaster Electric Guitar, Gold Charvel Telecaster Electric Guitar, and a Edwards Cream Custom Les Paul Electric Guitar. For an amp he uses a Randall RM100 Half Stack and SKB Pedalboard. I think his pedal board has a Noise Suppressor Pedal, Flanger, Tube Screamer, and Boss Tuning Pedal.
Our bass player, Taylor, uses a Epiphone Thunderbird IV and Fender Rumble 100 Bass Amplification
The drummer, Blake, uses a Tama drum set.
Chris: You guys definitely have a variety of guitars. Where have you performed?
Casey: Too many to list but let me try (laughing). Chain Reaction, Mirror Image Studios, Di Piazza's, OC Rockfest, Hogue Barmichaels, Pacifica High School, House of Blues, The Galaxy Theatre, Octane Alley.
Chris: Here is one that is a little easier. What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
Casey: We like all venues because it's not whether the sound sucks or the crowd draw, its whether you can work with what you have so we favor all venues.
Chris: That is a good way to look at it. Which songs do you perform most frequently?
Casey: We used to cover Panama(Van Halen), and Livin' on a Prayer(Bon Jovi), but now we just cover Crazy Train(Ozzy Osbourne) and play mainly our original songs and our most frequently asked for song, Metal of Honor.
Chris: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Casey: At first it was selling tickets, now sometimes we are given tickets to hand out, or we get about 60 to 100 people every show.
Chris: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Casey: Get some music down first then worry about shows. A band called Queensryche practice the same 4 songs for their demo, recorded them and put them on a CD, at their first show everyone there got a free demo CD of them. Worry about your fans later, that will come in time. You'll play millions of show of just family and friends, but the day will come when it all changes.
Chris: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Casey: We thank all our family and friends that have joined us and have been there for our support. All the bands that have helped us out especially Abita and Attica Freakshow and all the guys from Mirror Image Studios.
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