Feature story in the Rochester Insider (Gannett Publications)
Written by Pam Cowan
Burning Daylight, a regional power-pop/alt-country group, first got together in 2004. But its
current lineup — Nick Young, 29, of York, Livingston County, on vocals and guitar; Jesse
Sprinkle, 30, of Avon, Livingston County, on drums; and Tim Mroz, 31, of Buffalo, on bass
— has only been in existence since early 2007.
On April 7, the band released its debut full-length album, Whiskey & Romances, with help
from producer Dan McLaughlin, the bassist for The Push Stars — a Cambridge, Mass., rock
band that formed in 1996 and has been featured on numerous soundtracks, including There's
Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene.
Insider talked with Young, who also works as a part-time manager at Wegmans in Geneseo,
prior to the band's Friday, May 11, gig in which the trio will be backing Chris Trapper of The
Push Stars.
You've worked with two different members of The Push Stars at different times. How did that
come about?
As a fan at first. ... They used to play at the old Milestones ... and I went to see them play
and met them after the show. ... They were incredibly nice guys, and I became an even bigger
fan. Then, over the years we started meeting up after the shows and got to be friends. ... We
have opened for them several times, and of course we did our record with (McLoughlin).
Speaking of your new record, I love the album cover. Who came up with the concept?
Actually, it was kind of strange. We had an album completely designed, and at the last minute
we had to switch it. ... We had about three days to figure something out ... so we basically
went to (drummer Jesse Sprinkle's) computer and looked through some of his recent photos
on his digital camera. (The photo we chose) was actually from a show that we did in Asbury
Park, N.J., at this really, really dive place called The Saint.
Is it true it only took you guys six days to record the album?
Yeah. ... That includes a little of the mixing, too. ... I think a lot of it was out of necessity. We
didn't have the money to spend a month in the studio like a lot of bands do.
It's clear who the band's alt-country influences are — Uncle Tupelo, Old 97s, Son Volt and
Wilco — but I'm curious, who do you look to for inspiration on the pop scene?
A lot of them are the older bands like Big Star and The Replacements. (Also) Fountains of
Wayne ... The Push Stars.
From what I understand, your songwriting process is a little unusual. Tell me a little about it.
Basically, things just kind of come to me in my head. I never try to force it. Very rarely have I
come up with a song where I was sitting with my guitar and saying, "OK. I want this to be
Old 97s-ish." ... Usually ... a snippet or a hook or a lyric ... will just pop into my head.
So do you have napkins that you've sketched on lying all over the place?
I have a tape recorder — usually. Now, with cell phones, even when I don't have my tape
recorder, I can leave a voicemail or put a little memo on my phone.
Written by Pam Cowan
Burning Daylight, a regional power-pop/alt-country group, first got together in 2004. But its
current lineup — Nick Young, 29, of York, Livingston County, on vocals and guitar; Jesse
Sprinkle, 30, of Avon, Livingston County, on drums; and Tim Mroz, 31, of Buffalo, on bass
— has only been in existence since early 2007.
On April 7, the band released its debut full-length album, Whiskey & Romances, with help
from producer Dan McLaughlin, the bassist for The Push Stars — a Cambridge, Mass., rock
band that formed in 1996 and has been featured on numerous soundtracks, including There's
Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene.
Insider talked with Young, who also works as a part-time manager at Wegmans in Geneseo,
prior to the band's Friday, May 11, gig in which the trio will be backing Chris Trapper of The
Push Stars.
You've worked with two different members of The Push Stars at different times. How did that
come about?
As a fan at first. ... They used to play at the old Milestones ... and I went to see them play
and met them after the show. ... They were incredibly nice guys, and I became an even bigger
fan. Then, over the years we started meeting up after the shows and got to be friends. ... We
have opened for them several times, and of course we did our record with (McLoughlin).
Speaking of your new record, I love the album cover. Who came up with the concept?
Actually, it was kind of strange. We had an album completely designed, and at the last minute
we had to switch it. ... We had about three days to figure something out ... so we basically
went to (drummer Jesse Sprinkle's) computer and looked through some of his recent photos
on his digital camera. (The photo we chose) was actually from a show that we did in Asbury
Park, N.J., at this really, really dive place called The Saint.
Is it true it only took you guys six days to record the album?
Yeah. ... That includes a little of the mixing, too. ... I think a lot of it was out of necessity. We
didn't have the money to spend a month in the studio like a lot of bands do.
It's clear who the band's alt-country influences are — Uncle Tupelo, Old 97s, Son Volt and
Wilco — but I'm curious, who do you look to for inspiration on the pop scene?
A lot of them are the older bands like Big Star and The Replacements. (Also) Fountains of
Wayne ... The Push Stars.
From what I understand, your songwriting process is a little unusual. Tell me a little about it.
Basically, things just kind of come to me in my head. I never try to force it. Very rarely have I
come up with a song where I was sitting with my guitar and saying, "OK. I want this to be
Old 97s-ish." ... Usually ... a snippet or a hook or a lyric ... will just pop into my head.
So do you have napkins that you've sketched on lying all over the place?
I have a tape recorder — usually. Now, with cell phones, even when I don't have my tape
recorder, I can leave a voicemail or put a little memo on my phone.
