5 Questions With The Grand Prospect
“5 Questions With” is a series spotlighting some of Brooklyn’s most exciting and influential creatives. (You can explore our archive of picks here.)
The Grand Prospect is the kind of band you’d hear at a nice little honky-tonk somewhere off the beaten path, playing the kind of music that goes best with a shot of whiskey, a cold beer and your dancin’ shoes. Formed in 2011, The Grand Prospect has been peddling their brand of country-influenced, barn burning rock that packs a house in variou venues all over New York. Their self-released, self-titled first album clocks in at a spare ten songs, but they are all masterful studies in the kind of alt-country, folk-rock tunes that are timeless. Check out the band’s favorite Brooklyn — and Brooklyn-adjacent — things, after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDnlU6rPfwY
Cory Bortnicker – keyboard, acoustic guitar, vocals
Record you’ve listened to most in your life: “The Band” by The Band. They were a rock band who knew how to play quietly and they were a truly collaborative band with multiple vocalists working together to create a cohesive sound. They integrated all forms of American music into something totally unique that set the stage for alt-country and folk rock.
Brooklyn-based band to look out for: There was this one band I really liked called I’ll Be John Brown, but I think they just played their last show…
Favorite place to see a show: Hammerstein Ballroom.
Fave bar: Mo’s in Fort Greene. Haven’t been there in ages, but have many fond memories.
Go-to drink: Coffee, neat.
Brian Rolston – drummer
Record you’ve listened to most in your life: U2’s “Achtung Baby.”
Brooklyn-based band to look out for: They already made it, but my current favorite: The Lone Bellow.
Fave bar: Radegast Hall
Favorite place to see a show: Brooklyn Bowl.
Go-to drink: Can’t go wrong with Stella Artois.
Tori Turner – vocals/ukelele
Record you’ve listened to most in your life: “This Year’s Model” by Elvis Costello and “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust” are probable tied.
Brooklyn-based band to look out for: Mail the Horse
Favorite place to see a show: Baby’s All Right
Fave bar: Moonlight Mile in Greenpoint. The owners and bartenders are all the nicest dudes every, they specialize in whiskey and they have a free jukebox.
Go-to drink: Now that it’s available in NYC, anything from Bell’s.
Hap Pardo – electric guitar
Record you’ve listened to most in your life: Man, what am I supposed to say. Let’s do “The White Album”, I guess.
Brooklyn-based band to look out for: The Tired Leaves.
Favorite place to see a show: The Bellhouse.
Fave bar: Union Hall
Drink: Jack, neat with a Bud Light.
Tom Riccobono – bass
Record you’ve listened to most in your life: “Far Beyond Driven” by Pantera.
Brooklyn-based band to look out for: Other than The Grand Prospect?
Favorite place to see a show: House of Vans
Fave bar: Brooklyn Ice House
Go-to drink: Who’s buying? Me: Left Hand Milk Stout. You: Lagavulin 16 year old Scotch whiskey.
Ben Killen — banjo, vocals
Record you’ve listened to most in your life: “Sticky Fingers” by The Rolling Stones (Recorded in my hometown! – Muscle Shoals, AL)
Brooklyn-based band to look out for: The Humdrums
Favorite place to see a show: Brooklyn Bowl.
Fave bar: (Of old) Southpaw, (still alive) Spritzenhaus
Go-to drink: Brooklyn Lager