A band's name is the first impression, an expression of who a band is, what it is about and how serious it is about its music. It's what makes a person know instantly that Black Sabbath isn't going sound like Dem Franchize Boyz.
But sticking to one name and one group can stunt artistic development and pigeonhole creativity. By experimenting with new groups, side projects and new pseudonyms, artists keep the musical juices flowing. What's in a name
Over the course of a few years
our name started not really fitting what we were doing said Joey Hebdo, solo artist and rhythm guitar player for Blackcoin.
Blackcoin began in 2001 with the name Gypsy Caravan when Hebdo was a freshman at Ohio University. The band first stuck to a jam band sound, but they began to get more serious about their music and renamed it Solsan. A few months later, the group changed its name again to Blackcoin.
We weren't just playing in people's backyards (anymore); we were actually getting shows Hebdo said.
The name Blackcoin is a play on words, he said, using an obvious word with a contradictory adjective.
(A name is) pretty much the only thing that people have to go off of when you talk to somebody via word of mouth about how a band is
said Christian Dawson, Shotgun for Royalty drummer.
Dawson's band began as Shotgun for Royalty, but during a writing phase he and guitarist Brad Locher realized the new material didn't reflect their name.
They changed their name to Homemade Parachutes, ended their writing phase and reverted back to Shotgun for Royalty.Otherwise known asG?
However, changing a name isn't so simple ' it creates confusion among fans, a new persona and some annoying formerlys after every mention of the band.
When Shotgun for Royalty was Homemade Parachutes, Dawson said it was irritating to put formerly Shotgun for Royalty after everything because he didn't know how they were labeling themselves.
We have to be a name; we can't be a 'formerly
' he said.
Because of their promotion, Shotgun's fan base wasn't too confused as to who they were; however, there is always that one person who only knows them as Homemade Parachutes, Dawson said.
Whether or not they confuse it
it doesn't matter because it's still the same band
Dawson said.
Blackcoin had mixed reactions from their fans, however. Some were mad or confused while others liked their new name, Hebdo said, adding that most fans wanted to know if the members had changed.Flying solo, expanding the horizon
While revamping a name might be a quick fix to a creative roadblock, one of the alternative and more drastic roads musicians take is a solo career.
Hebdo branched off on his solo project with the mentorship of Catfish and Junebug, he said. Because his band was based in Columbus, he decided to use his time off during school to play local open-mic nights.
I started exploring my instrument more
and exploring myself more
and they started offering shows
Hebdo said.
Usually, Hebdo promotes his shows as Joey Hebdo of Blackcoin to help spread his band's name. While his performances aren't as intense as Blackcoin's, he said he keeps his creativity flowing.
I like playing acoustic. It allows me to keep my individuality
but I also get to attract people to the band. It's a win-win situation really
