You don’t have to look far for a cozy venue with live music in North Carolina’s Triangle region. The kind where you don’t need to spend big on tickets or a cover. These local bars or coffee shops usually host open mic nights where musical growth happens in real time. That’s how Chase Davenport got his start down the road to his current project, Red October.
We met at Speakeasy in Carrboro to trace through his origins, going from solo artist to band leader, and an upcoming EP rife with pointed protest for our increasingly anti-democratic government. Drawing inspiration from established acts like Nirvana and Joy Division alongside newer influences, Chase shed light on the creative process of a local artist finding their voice in uncertain times.
How did you kick off your journey as a musician?
Chase: My journey has been lifelong. My father was a member of the band known as The Checkers out of upstate New York. My dad was a bass player and his band was one of two acts that this record label was interested in. Both bands didn’t want to go without the other. The story goes that the record label picked one and stole the tapes from the other. The Checkers ended up being a one-hit wonder and the other band made it big as The Police.
So music was always a thing in the household. When I was younger, I taught myself how to sing. My parents have stories of me singing in my bedroom to U2 and stuff. Music was always a thing in the household.
How old were you when you started playing guitar?
I was 27, so a bit of a later start. I just started playing at open mic nights at The Station in Carrboro a lot. That grew to playing the open mic scene around Hillsborough and Raleigh.
What prompted you to pick up guitar in your late twenties?
I used to be with this theater group because I’ve always liked being on stage. When the group ended, I wanted to still be creative but in a different way. I thought about all the ways I could do that, then picked up an acoustic and started playing. It proves you’re never too old to learn some new things.
When did you go from making music by yourself to expanding with a three-piece band?
That came very slowly. For a while, I played the songs solo. Then I met my friend David, who is now my bass player. And I met my drummer, Greyson, because we kind of worked together at the same place. I was in a board meeting for Wegmans and just casually said I played music at Speakeasy. He was like, “You play music? I’m a drummer, let’s do something!”
Greyson plays a lot of metal drums, which fits this new record perfectly because there’s more heaviness and screaming in it. It hits that protest vibe much better than using your computer to program the drums.
Originally, we just came together to make music. This new album became something to structure the band a bit because if you’re working towards something, you’re more likely to do it. You can play music for fun, but if you’re working towards something greater, then there’s a little bit more “we’re in this together” ethos. And I think that makes the whole experience more fun.
Tell me a bit about this new project you’re working on.
My first album is very dark indie rock. The second album was a collection of songs that I just had finished to a degree that made up a cohesive album.
This upcoming EP takes a new direction. All of them are a rebuke to Trump. All the lyrical content is anti-capitalist and, for lack of a better term, anti-”anti-democratic. One song is about Kamala Harris’ loss and fake optimism around the 2024 election. That’s the lead single that will be coming out on April 15th.
Since this is the first project I’m working on with two other people, there are more schedules to coordinate to get into the studio. So, there won’t be as much content leading up to the release. Like before Where Did November Go dropped, there was a lot of other music that came out with it. Live recordings and an EP. That’s not how it’s gonna roll this time. There’ll be an acoustic EP first, which I’m just gonna make myself and then have somebody master it, but I do not have a date for when it’s coming out.
When did y’all start performing live together as a trio?
David and I started performing at The Cave together. Greyson hasn’t joined us live yet because his schedule is busy. But we’re hoping we can kind of get everybody together for shows, using the album as a guide in a way.
When you look at this project now, who would you say are the biggest influences for folks who haven’t heard your music?
There are five bands that served as pretty big inspirations for this new record. The first one is Dive. They’re originally from New York City and they released an album called Frog and Bull in Water this summer. Basically, I heard that record and was like, “You know, I could make something like that.” The same goes for the band Julie.
Of course, Nirvana has been a huge influence on me. When I would play covers at The Station’s open mic nights, it was always Nirvana. Because 1) it was easy to play, 2) it was loud, and 3) people know the songs and can sing along.
Joy Division and the Pixies are a big influence too. I like the loud and soft sound of Surfer Rosa, plus the snare on that record is pretty distinctive to Steve Albini.
How do you see these influences emerge in your music?
I find that writing music for me is often finding parts in other songs that are cool and making your own twist on it. Like musical Legos, if that makes sense.
That reminds me a lot of my buddy Michael Pham’s thoughts on jazz!
Exactly. So the lead single on our new record is really inspired by Julie and one of their songs. There’s a clean guitar part and vocal opening that their singer does. I took that and put my spin on it after the first verse. Then Greyson comes in on drums and everything blows up in the chorus. It’s tough to describe and probably tough to hear if you don’t know Julie, but the influence is there.
What are your release plans for this upcoming EP?
We’re gunning for the end of the summer, either August or September, but that’s all dependent on people’s schedules. I’m trying to get a lot of cool stuff set up for when the album is released, so it has more of an impact. Thinking about the record release show and collaborating with other local bands, while writing and finishing the album. It’s a lot to juggle. [laughs]
In that vein, who are some of your favorite local bands?
There are plenty! Narsick, Slow Teeth, and The Consequences of Our Own Actions are all amazing. The same goes for Spare, Manic Third Planet, and Oort Patrol.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Leave a Reply