From left: John McNamara, Shaqed Druyan, Luke Vose and Ben Elder. Credit: Vic Brazen

Pop punkers, rambunctious rockers, friends from Falmouth. The guys in Crooked Coast try to avoid getting pigeon-holed into one category or sound as they venture through space and time to discover new music and new ways to build upon their already impressive community. Having put on harbor concerts, trailer shows, starting their own festival, operating a clothing brand (and at one point, a brick and mortar shop), starting families, recently playing Boston Calling, AND releasing an album – Picture This on August 5th – it’s hard to predict where they will go next. As vocalist/guitarist Luke Vose says, “the sky is the limit,” but for fellow bandmates John McNamara (guitar/vocals), Ben Elder (bass), and Shaqed Druyan (drums), the limit does not exist. We got to speak with the quartet ahead of their December 2nd show at Brighton Music Hall to discuss challenges, memories and hidden gems.

Allston Pudding: What is your favorite memory of doing unconventional shows like harbor concerts and flatbed tours during COVID?

Luke Vose: The harbor was probably the most amazing and different, but favorite memory was setting up for the first one on the flatbed. Getting the crew back together, using my brother’s trailer. It felt like “oh we’re doing something” after all of this time sitting and watching the world go crazy. It threw us back to our first shows, wherever you could play.

John McNamara: I thought the harbor one was awesome. It would’ve been cool in it’s own respect, but having everyone – probably 50 or 60 boats all in their Covid pods – it was a pretty cool scene. And we got a music video out of it. 

Ben Elder: [During the harbor concert] wasn’t it like a pink moon? Some [astronomical] anomaly that happened and then the wind shifted. Some fireworks went off because it was the Fourth of July. Weird alignment. 

Shaqed Druyan: In terms of the sheer size of the project, like the most things could have gone horrendously wrong, I would say the Harbor show. But having it go smooth was really cool and special. I agree with Luke too. Doing those flat beds: my favorite part was seeing people so happy. 

LV: To this day people keep asking, are you gonna do that again? I mean we got away with it once without our gear falling into the water but you never know.

AP: Eventually you’ll have a massive barge and just host a festival on the ocean.

LV: Yeah, Waterworld. 

AP: What proved to be the bigger challenge? Being an indie rock band, running a brick and mortar clothing shop, putting on a festival or having children?

LV: I guess the shop because we had to shut it down. With everything else you mentioned going on we just weren’t there to be able to run a shop.

JM: It wasn’t really that it was unsuccessful; we physically couldn’t be there.

LV: You gotta pick your battles. That was probably the biggest challenge.

JM: Yeah and I don’t care about my children so that’s fine too. [all laugh]

Credit: Erik Fralick

AP: What business venture can we expect next? Crooked Coast Bar and Grille? Crooked College? 

SD: Yikes.

JM: Like Trump college… We do have a beer right now though. A bar would definitely be cool.

LV: Maybe more events of our own. Maybe a fall or winter festival. Also anything you can wear we’re always interested in.

JM: Anything you can put our name on… Basically like Spaceballs.

LV: On our Instagram we’re always making dumb skits, if we ever stretch them out they might be something more than just something dumb on Instagram. Take our stupidity to new heights.

‘Picture This’ Artwork

AP: How’s everything going since the album release?

SD: It was really special making this record, it’s my first with the band. It was interesting, first of all, getting together in terms of the writing and producing. It was kind of a big testament to how we work together. In terms of energy, it was very much a post-Covid “let’s get off our asses and do something”, and it’s fun to play live. People are responding well.

AP: You’re known for your live performances, what’s your favorite part of putting on a live show?

SD: Leading up there’s always this moment of like “oh… it’s gonna go down”, and there’s a space there to build up that energy. That always gets me.

JM: For me it’s the crippling anxiety. [all laugh]

LV: With a good show, I usually always feel a little bit sick before. Like before mushrooms hit… and on the other side of that, in the crowd you have this anticipation before the band comes out. It’s on both sides, like “I hope this works out”.

SD: Failure is always an option.

AP: You’re known for blending sounds and genres in your music, is there a sound you would be interested in exploring?

SD: Definitely a little more experimental, we’re working on some new music now…

LV: If we’re tinkering around with anything in the studio, it’s not really EDM but more synthetic sounds and structures. But I don’t really think in terms of genre. Just a song or riff and chasing it where it goes.

AP: Being proud Falmouthians, what’s your favorite hidden gem or standby down on the Cape?

LV: Mary Ellen’s Portuguese Bakery for breakfast. You can’t go wrong. 

SD: The scenery definitely, a lot in nature to explore.

JM: Go to Grumpy’s Pub if you want a real, seedy dive bar. And a hidden gem for live music now too.

BE: Oh man, I don’t want to give up my spots.

LV: Yeah, that’s behind the paywall. 

AP: You were part of a slew of local flavor added to Boston Calling this past year, what was that experience like?

LV: Just looking at the poster being like “Oh my God”. They do such a good job too, so organized, they have oysters backstage, open bar, and all the bands were super cool.

SD: I just wanna say thanks to the fans for reaching out and saying they wanted to see us play. That was a huge part of it. 

AP: You have a couple of shows remaining this year, what are your plans after that? For next year?

LV: We actually just got off the phone with our managers and they’re laying out some plans for some local touring in January and then going out a little further in February. In the summer we’ll do Coast Fest again. I don’t know, the sky’s the limit!

Catch Crooked Coast live at Brighton Music Hall on Friday, December 2nd. Secure your tickets here! Check out the video for “Burn the Bridge” off of ‘Picture This’ below, and follow Crooked Coast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more!