So when I movedto the Michiana area in 2016, there was a band that I kepton hearing about over and over, and somehow it's taken like 8 or 9 yearsto actually finally get to talk to them.

I'mtalking about the bergamot.

How are you guys doing?

Doing great.

How are you?

I'm good.

I believe that you, you are recentlyin my homeland of Ireland.

Tell me a little bit about that.

Oh, my gosh, Irelandwas absolutely magical.

We were there,we were performing.

We were sharing our filmState of Unity.

And I got to say, the Celtic people, man,they bring it like they buy like the second chorus,they were like clapping.

They were singing.

I was like,what is happening?

These people are so in tunewith the music.

Yeah, and I knew we were going to start this interviewtalking about Ireland.

So I was trying to represent,you know, wearing green.

I'm wearing blue for my lovefor America.

So.

Yeah.

Hey.

Yeah.

So it, this mutual respect heregoing on, but, you know, it's showing love.

Listen,if you do a show in Ireland, the audience is going to become part of your backing vocals,whether you like it or not.

Like,you know, we will get involved.

We're not there just to watch.

No, I we love it so much.

That was very evident inthe first show that we played.

And it was, you know, the one of the thingsthat I think was really amazing was,you know, music is truly sacred in that, in that cultureand in that space.

And, we were just blown awaywith how incredible, one how quicklypeople pick things up musically.

And, and then to how thoughtfulthey were after the concert, the lyrics, the melodies,the this that, you know, it was just like the waythat they described, the way that I was playingguitar or whatever.

It was just it was so sad.

It was like, wait, I have to saythis, after the concert, there's a line of Irish peopleand they said, they're like, Nathaniel, the way you'replaying the guitar, it sounded like you werebringing angels to Earth.

I mean, never happenedthe exact poetry and imagery?

It was.

It was really cool.We really enjoyed it.

You know, poetry and, wordsand storytelling is a big part of our culture.

we like to say storytelling.

Some people say thatwe're full of it.

you know, butI prefer the storytelling thing.

But yeah, yeah, if you listen to Irish music,it's all storytelling, you know?

And people always ask mewhat kind of music do I like?

And my reaction is alwaysthe same.

Any songs that have lyricsthat are meaningful?

That's that'sthe only way I can describe it.

And as I get older,I think that's because of part of mymy Irish heritage and just how importantstorytelling is.

But, tell me a little bitabout you both and your connectionto this area.

I know most people know,but maybe people don't.

But for example, I mean,you're celebrating the holiday at the July 4th holidayin New Buffalo.

So.

And what is your connectionto this area?

Yeah.

So both of us,we actually met in high school, born and raised in South Bend.

He was born in Michigan City,and we met at Marion High School in 2003, 2003.

Yeah.

And we actually startedcreating music together because our art teacher,Kitty Gunter, was like, hey, I need you two to write a song to represent our schoolin a statewide competition in which we ended upout of thousands of, entriesmaking it to the top ten.

And yeah, so our rootsin this area go quite deep.

my mom was from a family of ten.

My dad comes from a very largefamily as well.

Jillian's mom's from our family.

Ten Irish as well.

When I got married in South Bend, there was,I think, 330 people.

And those are all just likefirst, first cousins.

Yeah.

so to say that we know somepeople in this area and we're, you know, we always love comingback is an understatement.

We always love being here.

And, yeah, I think the other day we were outside,it was 72 degrees, no wind.

And we were like, yeah, this is this is the good life right nowin the Midwest.

And we always lovebeing here for, this timeand also celebrating the fourth and getting readyfor some big stuff coming up.

right after it.

Yeah.

Of course, AcornAnywhere is.

Also,while you're on to chat with us.

So, tell me a little bitabout Acorn, anywhere,obviously the Acorn Theaters and Three Oaks,but they're actually holding an eventthat's on close by.

And Niles, tell me about that.

Yeah.

So the Acorn Theater, for thosewho have maybe never heard of it or who do know thatone of the things that we think is songwriters isit is a staple of, you know, music culture, independentvenues here in the Midwest.

That is truly a gem.

I mean, you just don't seethese type of venues.

And, one of the cool things thatthey do is they actually take their independent mindedprograming to beautiful spaces during this time of year, which we talked aboutis so incredible.

And one of the placesis the Fernwood Botanical Gardens, where you canliterally be under the stars supporting independent venueand independent musicians.

And, and I think it's, it'san interesting time, precarious, to say the least,for musicians and venues.

but I think that you canyou can be a part of it.

You can enjoy the music,enjoy the atmosphere, and really enjoy a truesummer day.

It's going to be, a night ofwhat we're calling pontoon rock.

It's like, yeah, rock.

It's like, yeah, rock,but a little bit more, storytelling involved.

Yeah.

You might not be able to fit45 people.

and it doesn't cost 100,000to fill it.

So it's, when you go on, like, sunsettingthe glitter off the lake, but this timeit'll be glitter off the trees and the sunkind of just dancing, but it's going to be justa big celebration of summer.

We are going to be bringing a lot of different songsto the table with our full band.

So already performing originals like PBR and mayfliesand things like that.

And then we'realso going to be adding in some really fun cover songsthat we really love as well.

Well,I can see why you guys have been together for 21 years,because, like, you'd never questionwhen I come up with a pun or a phrase as bad as pontoonrock, like my wife eye rolls.

But you two are just like,totally.

And like you both loved itas much as each other.

So yeah, it was awesome.

Yeah, yeah, we figured it was,we like making fun of ourselves.

Yeah.

Now.

And we were like, you know, theI love yacht rock.

But the problem is,it's like it's married to the 70s in the 80s.

So we need something new.

We need something fresh.But I'm.

We knowwe're going to be playing number one original music,which is our number one passion.

And we've been involved in the number one time, and we're putting outa lot of new material.

it's been hard for usto get the music out right now, because we just put out a filmlast fall called state of the unity,which has been a whirlwind and is continuing to still spininto this year and forward.

So we're putting outnew music and, this iswe do love the beach vibes.

And we were just like, hey, if you have a better idea of what we need to namethis type of music, we would totally be interested.

But yeah, PontoonRock was a fun way for us to just laugh about it and say, hey, it'sgoing to be a good time.

No, I like it, I like it,it's good and it's fun.

And who doesn't love a good timeon a pontoon?

So I mean, it's perfect.

I grew up on a pontoon,you know what I mean?

That's that's life.

Oh my Goodness Yeah.

I mean, what'snot to love about pontoons?

They're very spacious.

you know, they don't wave aroundtoo much now.

Was kind of.

So it's not like there's toomuch about pontoons, I guess.

But no, but I do love that.

And what I love about,you know, it's not like I've.

I've, followed your careerso closely, but what happens is I've noticed is you guys are, like,riding along, and then something really cool happens that everyone'stalking about you, and then you kind of ridealong again, and then it's like, okay, when will we hearfrom them again?

And then it's just likesomething cool happens again.

You must be really pleased aboutjust how your career overall has had such varietyin the spotlight as well.

Yeah, it's been a grind.

You know, as independents, we work tirelesslybehind the scenes and we're going up againstthe biggest names in the world.

You know whatwe do, how we create.

So, it's been so cool for us to to like, show up every dayand then to have these breakthroughsand just keep climbing.

and obviously,because we're indie and we have a lot of integrity,there's been opportunities where we said, hey, this doesn'tseem like a right fit.

So it's taken a little bitlonger, you know?

But we keep showing up every dayand we work our asses off.

And so to be able to createoriginal music in a landscape where, you know, you havethere's a lot of money, tons, millions, billions of dollarsin the music industry being pushing upjust like 0.1% of the group.

And so to be independent and working our butts offto get that music out in an organic and authentic way,it means a lot.

And that's why it's been cool for these different thingsto pop off.

And in particular,the film that we dropped said unity has been doingreally well, which got us, in variety magazine, and it got usa huge distribution deal in North America,which was insane for us, took eight years for us to direct the film, and it'staken us all over the world now.

And I want to saythat's a really great question, because actually, this came upjust at the last performance that we didin Traverse City, Michigan.

Someone after a fan after cameup after the show and said, hey, I really want to thank you guysfor doing it your way because what you've doneis so distinctively you and it's so interestingand it's so different.

And that hasn't come without itsmajor drawbacks, obviously.

I mean, everybodyevery year is like, so are you guys going to try outfor The Voice?

And it's like, look, if you still think we're goingto try out for The Voice, you probably have missed this whole thingthat we've been doing.

but I think that that's the value of independentthinking of independent minds in the art space right nowis that you can't just say, hey, you know, I grew up loving Tompetty and Bob Dylan and, you know,they grabbed their guitars, they sang every the teamassembled around them, and then they protected themversus we don't livein that space anymore.

We have to be as artists,creating, innovating and also thinking differentlyabout how we can get our music out there, howwe can get our story out there.

And, and I just think right now,in this particular moment and like with the questionyou said, and also with our fan, there's something about being distinctively authenticin this time that is so important.

And I think thatthrough the arts and through the one thing that'sconsistent is the hard work.

Whether you're writing a songor making a film, you're going to be bustin,bustin, bustin.

We just got out of the studio.

We're going to go back herein the afternoon, but it's, you know,it's all about the hard work, and the art is allowing usto create authenticity.

And hopefully that's meaningfulto the fans.

You know, as somebody who's been living my own wayfor about the last three years, I can tell you that true wealth is being a free to do itwhatever way you want to do it.

I would rather make just enoughto get by and do it my own way.

You know, people, little things,like never having to fill out a holiday request formor a vacation request, like little things like that.

But of course, yes,there are ways that you could have gone and different opportunitiesthat you could have taken.

But what does it matterat the end of the day?

Because it.

Yeah, as I said,having your own freedom, having your own way of doing it, you'll get to your last dayon earth.

You're already richbecause you have each other.

So everything else on top ofthat is just a bonus, right?

Oh, leaveit to the Celtic people but I, I oh my gosh, I love it when I, I think that yeah, I mean, I think thatwe were just recently that, somebody who does deathtransitions was talking to, some an interviewer,and they were saying, what's the numberone thing that comes up when people on their deathbedand it's, I wish I wouldn't have livedthe way that other people's wanted me to live.

And I think that that vibratesso deeply right now.

As you know,things are tough on the world.

We see it.

We're out in the world,we're filming, we're actually talking, we're making another film and talking about howwe're going to be doing that.

But the vibe that's coming upin 2024 is that, yeah, people are a littlethey're detached, they're angry, they're they're gettingthey're getting isolated just because they're tired ofwhat's going on.

And I think that right now it's all aboutlooking at your life and saying, how can I maintain my happinessand my well-being regardless of what I'm told to do?

And as artists,I think, you know, we make music and we're gladother people like it.

But ultimatelywe're making the music because we're put on this earthto do that absolutely workthat we love doing.

Absolutely.

You know, I have a daughterwho just turned one and when you watch.

Right.

She learned to smilebefore she learned to talk.

She learned to dance before.

She can't even walk yet.

And I think these thingsshe learned to explore before she can do anything else.

And so all of these things arewhat God gave us, in my opinion.

And they're the thingsthat we need to never let go of.

We need to actually work every single day to rememberthe things that we were given beforewe start opening our mouth.

Yeah.

Oh, it's so true.

It's, you know, I think for us and and obviouslyyou being from Ireland and us loving it so much,but originality, authenticity, using your voice, following yourintuition and heart and gut, even when you're you havean opportunity that's huge.

But it doesn't feel rightor it's something is weird and you could makea ton of money doing that.

But we've chosenin a lot of ways to just continue the course,and we're carving out our own path.And I think it's so powerful.

And when you come to the showat Fernwood with Acorn anywhere, you're goingto hear the stories of our life.

We were writing thingsthat have happened to us.

So it's a very it'sdeeply personal and it's going to be deeplyjoyful.

I think a lot of people think,oh, songwriters is going to be like a boringnight.

Oh, no, no, no, there's dancing.It's high.

We have high vibes, fun songs.

And then you'll also getsome really juicy, magical, intimate songs that like,really go deep on like a topic.

But it's so fun to also performoutside.

It's one of my favorite thingsto do.

And we actually flew infrom Los Angeles because we've been kind ofsplitting our time right now from out West in the Midwest.

And, it was just it's so greatbeing back here, and we cannot waitto see everybody.

Yeah, and I love it.

Well,thank you for bringing this conversationback to the point of that.

I really appreciateyou honing back in on that.

Yeah.

I think you should also bringout a comedy relationship album.

Like, why can't you just put the toilet seat back downand yeah, it's oh my God, you and we get a lot of that.That's all.

Yeah.

No.

And, one of the thingsthat I wanted to say, talking to the point that you were sayingabout music, the meaning and power of music,is that that's subtly what the film state ofthe unity is about.

It's reallyabout the power of music.

And that's what we bring, hopefully to the stageevery time that we play.

And what I thinkthat you said is it, you know, even when children,before they can even speak, if you're playingclassical music and this has been documented that you can actuallyit allows them to experience the musicbefore they can even kind of really put wordsto what they're feeling.

And there's a power to that,regardless if you're in infancy or if you're in midlife,end of life music has such a deep, full meaning, that deepmeaning that gives you some sort of connectionto your past, your future, and where, you know,and I think music, you know, especially under the stars,is a really powerful thing.

And we hope that people can come and just be be togetherfor one night and enjoy music.

And, I think that's a gift.

I hope it isfor the people who would say, hey, we could get realdeep on music about the energy and the wavesand, you know, the.

But but I have a secondsuggestion for your song, for your comedy relationship album, stopstealing my hair products.

That's probably anothergood song.

Hello.

So we also that's actually start upour Q&A is after the film.

We say, hey,anything is on the table.

If you guys want to ask Jesus, a little bitof silence, uncomfortable.

And we're like,and you can even ask us like, what's our dailyhaircare routine?

I mean, always people are like,yeah, okay.

Yeah, that'sthat's not kind of interesting.

So I'm not awesome.

I hope everybody shows up.

And I know you have other gigsin the area too, but I know it's goingto be happening rain or shine.

Part of me like I don't.

There's nothing wrong witha bit of rain during a concert.

I mean, it's kind of romanticin a way, you know?

But it can be.

It really can be,and it can.

If it gets really crazy,they will move it to the Acorn theater in three oaks And and last thingbefore I forget, here we are going to be bringingour film stay to the unity two Three Oaks, August 9thit will screen and then at the Vickers Theaterand then on August 10th at the Vickers Theater.

We're going to be doingthis really beautiful kind of more stripped backset, more storytelling behind the scenesstuff like that.

So it's a two night pairingat Vickers in the Midwest.

So you have the Acorn,you have the Vickers.

If you haven't been to either one, definitelycome out and support.

It is worth worthsupporting very cool places.

And just finally,that's for your movie in August.

But, in July, what's the datefor the Acorn anywhere?

Saturday, July 13th.

So it'snot this upcoming weekend, but it's it's the next one.

So July 13th.

All right.

Well, whatever your hair careroutine is, it's work.

And you're both lovely people,so keep it up.

Thank you very much.

I will have to talk to you about the color of the greenyou're wearing.

Not very.

I know it was kind of rough, and I feel like the light'snot doing it neon It's like.

Yeah, it's.

We'll work on it.

Okay.

Next time.Thank you so much.

Thank you.