Life & Work with The Head Trips

Today we’d like to introduce you to The Head Trips. 

Hi The Head Trips, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The Head Trips started in 2018 with good friends Lance Batton (bass, vocals) and Chris Vivo (drums) jamming together in Youngstown, Ohio in 2018. They began flirting with original instrumentals that eventually evolved into what would become “The Head Trips” a year later in early 2019. Their journey as a band started with a few shows at Westside Bowl in Youngstown. They played as a trio with a few different guitarists before discovering Ethan Milford, who became a definitive member in the lineup. The band moved back and forth between Youngstown and Kent for practices and gigs due to Lance attending Kent State University and given some of the previous members’ affiliations with Kent. Prior to joining the band, Ethan was looking for people to play and write music with. He was connected to Lance through a local musician friend, and then Ethan met up with Lance and Chris during the summer of 2019. The trio connected almost instantly. Eager to record original material, the band quickly started to develop their sound and become comfortable playing as a unit. They recorded their first album in late 2019 and early 2020, and it was released on October 24th, 2020. The band recorded the album in the Vivo’s basement, while the production was penned by Ethan, who is going to college for Music Production. 

The band took a break from shows throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In this time, Chris stepped down from drum duties due to personal reasons and was temporarily replaced by Austin Hosteter. Austin played a handful of shows with the band before moving on to work solely on his project The Smokey Honey Bluesband. He definitely left his mark, however, helping The Head Trips win a battle of the bands competition in Sharon, PA in August of 2021, expanding the fanbase in the Youngstown area, and even making some creative contributions. In early 2022, Austin was replaced by Cole Collins, a young up-and-coming local drummer from Ravenna. Cole is the third member in the current lineup, and he has quickly established himself as a powerful force in The Head Trips. Since Cole joined the band, they have continued expanding their base, playing multiple shows in northeast Ohio and even playing more out-of-state shows in PA. As of summer 2022, the band has been busy with shows but is also going to transition back to recording and setting their sights on the next album, along with whatever else may come in the future, 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The transitions between members have been challenging, but we are very pleased with the lineup we have now, and we have “weathered the storm” in this sense. We have also had some challenges with other musicians and bands who were difficult to work with. This has given us the mindset of not wasting our time and finding people who are collaborative to help ourselves and help others in the process. We have had some trouble finding more cooperative types of people in some cases, but we are very happy now to have a well-established network of friends who we are always happy to work with. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Lance – currently going to school for a master’s degree in School Counseling at Kent State, working as a substitute teacher in Kent City Schools. 

Ethan – currently going to Stark State for a bachelor’s degree in Music Production, working as a pizza delivery guy at Pizza Joe’s. 

Cole – just recently graduated high school, currently working at Giant Eagle. 

When it comes down to it, we all recognize and appreciate the value of hard work. This is something that is reflected in our jobs as well as our contributions to music. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those who are thinking about starting to get into music, start as soon as you can. Anyone can benefit from starting at an early age. 

Communication is key, whether that’s between musicians, with people running the venues, the fans/audience, etc… This is key for making connections and leaving a good impression with others. It can benefit you and the band as well as being an enjoyable experience overall. 

Stay organized. The process of making music and performing can be exciting, but also overwhelming. Keeping yourself organized can help you plan effectively and make smart decisions regarding whatever you’re working on as a musician. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheadtrips_band/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheadtrips.band
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc1jTBSrpCit4HGYdG7uHXg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/franklindeadrose
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3wwSJQX8tyhSQ5FsRRSXqU / Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-head-trips/1536972833

Image Credits
Stephanie Sheronovich