Set in Stone is a Pacific Northwest hard rock band that was formed in 2008 in St. Helens, Oregon (suburb of Portland, Oregon) and consists of four band members that have all resided in Columbia County for most of their lives. Their unique heavy-rock sound has been referred to the likes of Seether, Breaking Benjamin and Alter Bridge. Set in Stone offers a wide range of styles and music diversity, which is the foundation of their unmistakably unique and all-original sound. Their deep guitar crunches, solid riffs, ground pounding bass, heavy-handed rhythmic drums and mesmerizing vocals are all reasons Set in Stone has quickly attracted the attention from all over the Pacific Northwest. Set in Stone released their first self-titled album in April 2009. Their first professional album ‘Open Doors’ debuted in May 2011. The album consists of 11 professionally recorded, mixed and mastered tracks recorded by Black Diamond Studios in Portland. In 2017, they released their second professionally recorded album “What Remains.” Also recorded, mixed, and mastered by Matt Jefferson of Black Diamond Studios. Both albums can be found on most widely used music platforms. Insert web/social links:
MIRP: Tell me what it would mean to you to perform at Wacken 2022?
SIS: Everything! It would be an amazing opportunity to play at such a renowned music festival that represents a genre we all love. Anyone in the music scene would be lucky to play this event. Sharing the stage with this level of talent would be humbling, and absolutely amazing!
MIRP: Sizing up your competition in a friendly manner…who are you most worried about?
SIS: Pitch Black Mass for sure! They are bad ass and that’s all we need to say about that .
MIRP: During the Covid 19 pandemic, what highs or lows did the band experience?
SIS: Lack of shows. It was really hard for us to not to be able to play out and engage with the music scene. We really missed the Portland venues. We got Matt right at the beginning of Covid, so it was kind of a bummer to not be doing anything. We used that time to write new stuff, which turned out to be very productive!
MIRP: Playing this battle of the bands…what will you do differently now that there is a big prize at stake?
SIS: We won’t do anything differently. Music is life for us! We are just going to go out and throw it down like we always do!
MIRP: If you are chosen as the band to go to Wacken, how do you feel about performing in front of 75,000 – 100,000 people?
Matt: It would be the greatest moment of my life.
Ryan: I would feel excited and ready to do it!
Mike: It would be the perfect dream.
Niles: It would be an amazing and fun experience.
AJ: I would die a happy man after that show.
MIRP: Who was the first band that made you want to be a musician?
Ryan: For me it was Led Zeppelin. Jon Bonham made me want to play drums.
Niles: Pantera. As soon as I heard Dimebag playing those riffs, I was like, “I wanna do that”.
Matt: Story of the Year. That band as a whole made me want to be a performer. Guitar was always the key to doing that.
Mike: There is not a first band. Family made me want to be a musician. I have a lot of family that are musically inclined, so I was in it from a very young age.
AJ: I went to Rockfest and saw Chevelle, Korn, Trapt, and Disturbed. Seeing those guys on a huge stage like that made me want to be in a band. I just remember hearing each band and thinking, “This is what I want to do”.
MIRP: If you could only pick two bands to listen to for the next year, who would you choose? Ryan: Tremonti and Breaking Benjamin. Niles – Lamb and Pantera.
Matt: Story of the Year and Breaking Benjamin.
Mike: Seether and Chevelle.
AJ: Avenged Sevenfold and Seether.
MIRP: Tell me what the dream is if you were chosen to play at Wacken 2022?
SIS: Obviously, to have the opportunity to get signed and make a career doing what we love to do. Honestly, playing a show for 100k people is the DREAM!
MIRP: In the list of performers below, who have you seen before?
SIS: We’ve seen quite a few of the bands on the bill.
MIRP: What is currently in your playlist?
AJ: 2000’s Hard Rock HAHA! Matt – Tremonti’s new album.
Niles: A lot of Suicide Silence.
Ryan: Alterbridge.
Mike: Chevelle and Tool.
MIRP: What would people be surprised to know you listen to?
AJ: Nsync.
Matt: Enya and Josh Groban.
Ryan: John Mayer.
Mike: Fleetwood Mac.
Niles: Country.
MIRP: Preparing for the Battle in January, what is the emotion most felt by the band?
AJ: I think that most of us are feeling kind of nervous. I think we are going to have a lot of fun even if we don’t make it to the second round. The bands that we are battling with in Portland Oregon are friends of ours, so we are going to tear that place down either way!
MIRP: Regarding the Battle in January, have you already picked the music you’ll play?
SIS: No we haven’t, but we have a good wheelhouse of stuff to pick from.
MIRP: What goes in to picking the music? Heaviest? Oldest? Newest? Most Technical?
SIS: For this battle, we have to bring the heaviest stuff we have. You could consider us a hard rock band with some metal influences. We know that we are going to be battling some heavy hitters, and that we are kind of the underdog, but we are going to bring everything we have!
MIRP: What do you think it is about your band that would be the best fit?
SIS: Our attitude and stage presence! We aren’t the heaviest band ever, but we know how to throw it down and have fun!
MIRP: Any final words?
SIS: We just want to say thank you for doing this interview and thank you to all who read it! We have been following MIRP for a long time and we always enjoy your content. We will see you at the battle!!! Thank you!
https://www.facebook.com/setinstonerocks https://www.youtube.com/user/officialsetinstone https://www.reverbnation.com/setinstonerocks
Set in Stone is:
Bass: Mike Woods
Drums: Ryan Hampton
Lead Guitar: Niles Harrison
Rhythm Guitar: Matt Trexler
Vocals: A. J. Hendricks
