By: Dan Cornelius
Photos: Devon Keller
Photo by Devon KellerThe Punctuation are an anomaly. They’re a mix of rock-meets-funk-meets-soul-meets-everything-in-between. The trio is comprised of singer and guitarist Ben Brown, bassist Nick Kocevar, and Drummer Zack Harding. Hailing from the Kent/Akron area, the band has deep roots in the music scene; Ben is the lead singer for the popular band Vanishing Apollo (whose stickers I’m sure you’ve seen at every venue), and Nick and Zack play together in the awesome band North Coast Shakedown. This is a band that you won’t want to miss. The three put on an insanely energetic show. From funky riffs to rockin’ beats, the band isn’t afraid to improv in the middle of their sets. They let the music flow through them. I had the chance to sit down with all three of the guys and get to know who they are and what drives them.
Why don’t you guys go ahead and introduce yourselves?
I’m Nick Kocevar, I’m the bass player for The Punctuation.
Zack Harding and I play drums for The Punctuation.
And I’m Ben Brown, I play guitar and sing in The Punctuation.
Starting off, I remember when you guys first were popping up on social media, and everything was fairly cryptic. It wasn’t apparent that The Punctuation was a band. Was that an intentional strategy or plan to build mystique or is that just how it happened?
BB: Both. I just kind of got an idea that I wanted to start playing some stuff and get out and play shows. The bands we were in, like Vanishing Apollo, weren’t playing shows and I want to keep going. I know Nick and Zack from Riptide and we just kind of got together. Before that even I was doing the Instagram stuff because I just wanted to do something. It just made so much sense to do it with Nick and Zack. We’ve been jamming for so long and are good buddies. They play in Riptide and North Coast Shakedown and it just kind of came together; it’s strange sometimes how things come together, it’s kind of cool.
How did you guys come up with “The Punctuation,” as a name and brand? I love the logo you guys put out on Instagram with the exclamation points and question marks.
BB: It was really just the idea of punctuation itself. I didn’t even think it would be a name. I didn’t know what it would be; I just knew I wanted to do something. I knew something was going to happen but I didn’t know what the name would be, but I thought it would be cool if it was just punctuation marks. Afterwards I was like, that’s not gonna go over very well [Laughs], but it just represents the mystery and expressiveness behind the um…
NK: The determination.
BB: Yeah absolutely, and communication between people; the subtle things in between people. That’s kind what some of the lyrics are about. Yeah, it’s a name I guess; it needed to be called something
That’s awesome. What would you guys cite as some of your influences? Who do you look up to in the industry?
BB: So many different things, all three of us. A lot of different reggae and ska, but also rock and pop actually. I’ve been kind of, uh… I’m admitting to myself that I like pop music [Laughs] and I don’t care; I don’t care who knows [Laughs]. I listen to a lot of pop and rock; I grew up on classic rock and hip-hop. Everything. Try to get it all. Funk too.
NK: Oh yeah, a lot of funk. Grunge too. Whatever’s good
I gotcha, a sampler platter [Laughs]. What about the other guys? Nick, I know you said funk, is it the same deal as Ben?
NK: Yeah pretty much a little bit of everything. Grew up listening to things from Pink Floyd all the way to metal. Like early 90s and 80s metal, Metallica and Tool have always been kind of an influence. I also like a lot of the blues-y grunge rock like The Black Keys have always been part of it. That’s always been my kind of style of music. But I also like rap, bits of it, with old hip-hop to keep the beat. Funk is always great.
ZH: Pretty much everything except pop-country.
I understand you so much right now.
ZH: Exactly. Anything that sounds good and gets you going; puts a picture in your head and tells a story. Anything that can influence you in any way, really.
I know you guys play in a lot of different bands. Is this a side project for you guys or is it a main focus going forward? What are your desires for this band?
BB: Well like it started, I don’t know that I have solid plans or goals of things I’d like to do. I don’t know about these guys but they’re pretty solid with North Coast Shakedown and this is really just a fun thing, but I think it’s becoming more and more of a thing for me that I love. I’d love to continue doing it.
ZH: We just like going out and playing music.
BB: Yeah, exactly.
NK: It’s a very solid band. Zack and I are really stuck with North Coast Shakedown though. But what Ben was saying was the more and more we’re playing, we’re setting bigger goals. It is getting pretty important.
It’s important to be dedicated to what you’re doing but also enjoying it at the same time. I get that. Going forward from here do you guys have plans to go bigger and bigger? I know you said you guys are pretty locked into North Coast Shakedown, but do you want to play bigger shows and venues or keep it local, casual and fun.
BB: I think as long as it’s fun it’s cool to do big things. If you’re going to do something might as well do it big, you know?
NK: If you’ve got the opportunity, take it!
BB: Yeah, when things are coming my way, you just kind of take it, ya know? I’ve been saying no to things a lot and I’m trying to say yes. It’s nice to not worry about it too much but I don’t know I love playing with these guys. As far as it goes, as long as it’s fun it doesn’t have to be one or the other like if it’s fun and local or if it’s hard work. I mean it’s work to do anything, but I think if you’re trying to have fun you might as well work at having fun and make it fun work and do it right.
What’s next for you guys? Do you have any immediate shows coming up?
BB: Right now, we’re looking at… well, I might do an acoustic thing at The Stone Tavern May 12th. I know these guys are busy but I was just thinking of doing a thing by myself. The things I’m excited about is we’re playing June 2nd in Cincinnati at Urban Artifact with Ample Parking. I’m really excited about that. We’re taking a little road trip and having some fun. I know this little lady down there I haven’t seen in a long time and I’m excited to see her. She’s a real inspiration. But anyway, July 6th, we’re playing in Columbus at Woodland’s Tavern with Coup de’ Gras and Pronto. So, we’re putting some stuff together and trying to build them up, do it right, and have some good times. Spread out and go to other places and meet with people I haven’t seen in a while. We’ve also got some Kent and we’re trying to get some Cleveland dates. We’re also playing more around here in Akron so I’m excited. There’s a lot of bands that I’m excited to play with. I don’t know about you guys but like I’d love to play with The Outside Voices and things like that. Some cool bands that are around.
I know you just mentioned The Outside Voices but what are some other bands you guys want to play with?
BB: Um, oh man so many. Uh… Let me think.
Sorry to put you on the spot like that [Laughs]. That’s usually how it goes, as soon as you have to think of something it just goes right out of your head so I understand.
BB: Right, oh! Pontius Pilot and Electric Orange Peel are really cool.
NK: Pistol Whip would be good.
BB: Oh yeah! Pistol Whip! We still need to play with Pistol Whip. Those guys are awesome.
NK: Amazing guitarist.
BB: Yeah absolutely. Um… there’s so many. Red Rose Panic, I’d love to play with them.
NK: We’d love to do another show with The Intangibles.
ZH: Yeah definitely!
BB: Yeah, I love The Intangibles, I’d like to also keep playing with Land of Panda. I’m excited to play with Coup de’ Gras in Columbus. I feel like I’m forgetting so many people…
[Laughs] yeah, they’re gonna be like “why the hell didn’t you shout us out!?”
BB: [Laughs] right.
Any plans for a record or recordings or are you just enjoying the live show aspect?
BB: Yeah, well they’re very different art forms. I’m going into the studio and just putting down some weird stuff. And then, I don’t know, just putting some more weird stuff on top of it. It’s gonna be kind of a surprise I guess. It’s going to be a lot different. It might… a lot of people might not like it. It may be a little to… somethin’ somethin’ for them. It’s very different from Vanishing Apollo
NK: The people won’t be ready for it.
BB: [Laughs] yeah they won’t even know! No, it’s not even like that it’s just very different. I don’t even know if I like it. I think I do though. Like I said I don’t really have a plan, I’m just going with the flow but also creating my own flow, you know what I mean? I should mention I’m going in with Cary from RCR [Recording]. He’s a great guy. He’s got an amazing studio, and he’s a chill guy and he knows so much. He’s been a big help through all my projects. I met him through Riptide actually. I’m talking to him about going in there and finishing up four songs, like an EP. Probably just to release one at a time.
That’s amazing! So where can fans find you on social media? Shameless plug time.
BB: On Facebook we’re just The Punctuation. On Instagram we’re @thepunctuation. It’s pretty easy to find us. I think our email is thepunctuationband@gmail.com if you want to book us. And yeah, that’s about it.
