Jeff Manion of Faded Line – An Xperience Interview

Photo by Stephanie J Bartik.

Interview by Rob Smittix.

(Phone Rings)

RRX: Alright, looks like we’re in business.

JM: Cool.

RRX: I reached out to my good friend Vegas, and I was like, hey man, we gotta talk to Faded Line because I know you got an album coming out, and also the release party that’s gonna be at Empire Underground. It’s also the halfway to the Extreme Music Awards, the EMAs, which we’re involved with as well … so I was like, no offence, Vegas, but I’ve interviewed you way too many times, and I would like the chance to talk to one of the founding members of your band. And he’s like, Jeff’s the guy. So here we go.

JM: I’m the only founding member (laughs).

RRX: Well, there you go.

JM: It’s been it’s a long haul, that’s for sure. Just before I called you, I had to go back into Facebook and try to figure out through my page how long it’s actually been. One of the oldest pictures I can find is from May of 2019; that was probably around the time when it really started to get kind of serious. But I think I started this thing probably in 2018, I would say. So it’s been … what’s that, eight years or something like that?

RRX: Yeah, in that ballpark. So you guys existed a little while without Vegas.

JM: Yeah, we did. We had another singer for a bit there; his name was Frank Smith. He was a local guy. I didn’t know him. He was a little bit younger than me. He was in the scene, probably the generation after me, here in Western Mass. We had a couple different drummers along the way as well.

RRX: You guys got a solid lineup right now. 

JM: This is the best it’s ever been, yeah, 100%. And I’m completely thrilled with what we have accomplished over the last few years.

RRX: I love the music, but also Vegas is like the frontman of frontmen. 

JM: He’s great; he was introduced to me by Mike Valente, who I’m sure you know very well. 

RRX: I sure do, he’s an ass****

JM: (Laughs) Yeah, he’s an ass****, but he’s a great guy. And if you know him that well, you know that they both go hand in hand. He introduced me to Vegas, which was a freaking blessing, you know? Vegas and I, artistically, have worked very well together, and we’ve also become very close personally. I’m definitely fortunate to know him.

RRX: Yeah, he’s a good guy to have on your team for sure.  So … the new album that’s coming out, tell us about that. 

JM: The new album that’s coming out, we’ve been working on it for close to a year now. I’m sure you probably know Walter “Monsta” as well.

RRX: Yes, I do. 

JM: Best drummer in the business and a carbon copy of what I said about Vegas, you know what I mean? We’ve become very close personally as friends; he’s one of the nicest guys you’re ever gonna meet. He’s been around for a couple of years now, maybe a little less than two years. When he joined the band, we had just released an EP with our other drummer, George Shetterly.

RRX: Mhm.

JM: We were getting ready to write some new stuff, and I had some things already in the tank, ready to go. We also recycled a few old songs from our very first release that we put out, but they are basically dissections, though. We took some riffs here and there, put them together, and changed it around. And bringing Walter in really changed things in that dynamic as well, as far as building the songs and arranging the arrangements. It’s all good stuff, man. I’m excited.

RRX: Talk about experience, I don’t even know how Monsta juggles as much as he does, but he does.

JM: Yeah, I get the same thing from people. They always say to me, “We don’t understand how you do it.” People that I barely know, who just see me on Facebook because I play in another band from New Jersey, Silence Equals Death. And Carlo, my bass player in Faded Line, he’s also in Silence Equals Death. So, we’re juggling a lot, too, but I’ll tell you, it’s worth it. It really is.

RRX: Definitely, but I mean … we ain’t no spring chickens anymore, you know? We got kids, and some of us got grandkids and stuff like that, but to still be able to make the time to do what you love so much is a blessing.

JM: Yeah, I mean … 

(Call drops)

RRX: I think I lost you. You there? If you can hear me, I’m gonna call you back.

(Phone rings and Jeff picks up)

RRX: I always say we’re in business, but now we’re back in business!

JM: I don’t know where we left off, but yeah … music, the hardcore scene in general, has been a huge part of my life. There’s even the guys in my other bands and friends in other bands that we collaborate with all over the place. Faded Line has been fortunate to play quite a bit down in the New York City area, New Jersey, we’ve been out to DC, Pennsylvania … not much out in eastern Massachusetts. Western Mass has always been a part of the Albany scene. Like when I was a kid, us guys over here, we were always over in Albany. We were always at the QE2. We were at Saratoga Winners, you know? A lot of those guys, I remember from back then, like Valente when he was in Attica and some of the older guys… Joel from Intrusive, I remember him from back in the day. There’s people our age everywhere in this scene that are still passionate and going strong with it. I just think it’s a way of life for us. Hopefully, these young guys will be doing it when they’re our age, too.

RRX: I hope so, man. I wonder about these young kids. A lot of them just like to stay home and lock themselves in the room with some video games.

JM: It’s hard to get people out to shows sometimes. We have a good product, though; people will come. But I’ve heard comments here and there, you know? Like, “That’s an old guy show…” Well, the old guys are the ones that paved the way for you young guys, so… I don’t remember having that mindset, but I’m not gonna judge anyone.

RRX: No, times are different. I noticed the trajectory of it all. I go to all genre shows in this business because I gotta cover it all. I can appreciate most of it, but I don’t get down with smooth jazz. Not the hardcore shows as much, but at many shows, I find myself to be among the younger people in the crowd, and I’m a 48-year-old grandfather. That’s not cool.

JM: (Laughs) No, it’s not! The younger crowds are very particular about what they will listen to. The hardcore scene’s always been a very diverse spectrum of styles. But there was never names for all of it, though, you know what I mean? Now you’ve got beatdown, you got deathcore, and all that. They separate themselves. I don’t get that either. I wish everyone supported everyone.

RRX: Well, they certainly should. At least you guys are killing it. 

JM: I appreciate everybody. I appreciate all the love, respect, and support. Look forward to seeing a lot more from us in the future, and don’t forget July 25th at the Empire Underground. It’s our album release show, and we guarantee not to disappoint!