On Saturday, December 19th, Hindsight’s Holiday Happy Time returns for its fifth festive year! For the second season, the Hargray Capitol Theatre will be hosting the event and will be providing a limited and socially distanced concert designed for maximum safety and volume. The band and the venue also encourage showgoers to bring new and unwrapped toys to be donated to and distributed by the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia. Hindsight frontman Caleb Melvin shares details on the band’s latest efforts including new music, live performances, and what he hopes to accomplish in 2021.
AI-What a difference a year makes! The last time you and I had a conversation about Holiday Happy Time, the world was a much different place.
CM- Yes, it was, man! We didn’t know if we were gonna be able to do it or, really, if we should do it or not. But we’re limiting tickets, so I think we’re doin’ it about the only way we could do it.
The last time we spoke, there was a great deal of behind the scenes action going on. You had some real definitive goals for 2020, and I want to start with one. The band is still called Hindsight. You had mentioned at one point in time that there was a possibility of a name change. Have you guys got that stabilized? Are you able to stick with what you’ve been working with?
No, not yet. We’re still tryin’ to get all of it pieced together in terms of figuring out something that’s cool to us. Hindsight’s cool and all, but you type in Hindsight on Spotify or something like that from somebody who’s never searched us before and you can’t get to us easily. That is obviously an issue because, in the modern world of convenience, nobody wants to have to dig. They want to be able to click a link and then take you right there to it, or just type it in and it be the first thing that pops up.
This summer you guys released, “At Home”, and I know, originally, the plan was to continue putting out singles while you continued to work on an album. Has that still been the focus thus far?
Yeah. We’re working on a music video, and the coronavirus kinda put a hold on that. We’ve got one more single that’s finished up and ready to be dropped at literally any point. But this past year has been such a roller coaster of everything, man! You never know what next week is going to hold. We still have plans to do that, and we’ve got some very exciting stuff happening at Holiday Happy Time V, so it is going to be a beautiful weekend coming up! I don’t know when we’re gonna have that last single out, but like I said, we’re tryin’ to get all of our ducks in a row. Not knowing when everything’s back to normal, it’s like you don’t want to start puttin’ out music or start releasin’ stuff or start makin’ too many changes because there’s not really much of an active world to release it into– as far as like being able to tour around stuff and go around and play shows and whatnot.
That new single, is that something that you guys recorded at Toast & Jam during those original sessions? Or is it something that you guys have worked on in the last 10 months?
No, it’s something from Toast & Jam. And like I said, we were gonna do a big music video and it would have been the most, I guess, involving music video that we’ve done so far. But it’s hard to get groups of people together. Especially, initially, when this thing popped off. But you just try to be respectful of people. We don’t want to make anybody feel uncomfortable. We’ll see when that finally rears its head (laughs)!
I wouldn’t call it full-time or even really part-time, but Hindsight has been able to perform as a band for a few different events. What have the challenges been when it comes to safety for you and the guys and gettin’ everybody together to do stuff like that?
Just tryin’ to stress the social distance aspect of it has been the most difficult part. We opened up a couple shows for Colt Ford, which was really cool and not necessarily what we expected to do (laughs)!
I saw that, and I have to say, I was surprised to see that pairing. I wanted to ask you how that worked out.
It went really good, man! You know, considering, yeah, I think it did go really well. We actually didn’t meet Colt because of the coronavirus, but all his guys were super cool– and not our style of music, but still fun! We played at the Jesup Drive-in Theatre in Jesup, Georgia and that was cool. Everybody was at their cars. And other than that, we played the High Rock Makers and Music Festival.
Yeah, there was a lot of outfits that got to get on that bill and play down there. As I understand it, they pulled it off pretty well!
Yeah! It was awesome! We were super blessed to be a part of that. Shout out to Matt McMillan and The City Limits, James Worsham, all those cats! Love those guys!
Holiday Happy Time V. You’ve got to feel pretty good about being able to actually pull this off. Tell me about what you got planned. Is there anybody else on the bill with you guys?
There’s not anybody else. We’re gonna keep it short and sweet. We don’t want to keep people there any more than we have to, and we’re only selling like 150 tickets. We’re requiring you to wear a mask upon entry– and I will make you wear a mask upon entry. I don’t care if your a family member or not, doesn’t matter. All you have to do is put on a mask for a couple of minutes. It’s not that big of a deal. We’re gonna have 150 seats. There aren’t any other bands playing. We’re gonna play roughly like an hour and a half and you can come in, get a little taste of the holiday season, here’s some songs, and then leave and go home and have a good time! And there’s no pressure! I understand it’s a weird world we’re living in right now. I, obviously, want people to be safe, so if you want to come then come. If you don’t feel comfortable comin’ that’s okay. You can see videos, and truthfully, you’re not missing that much, I don’t think (laughs)!
Well, I don’t know about that. An opportunity to get out and see a live show? That is a rarity.
Right! That’s the main thing, man. That’s the main thing right now is I just wanted to give people an opportunity if they wanted to come out for an hour and a half and forget about everything else that’s going on, you know? That’s all I can hope for. We’re gonna try and be as safe as possible. Obviously, that is the main goal, but I feel like if I can turn on the TV and see people on talk shows and stuff like that, [socially distanced] audiences or whatever it may be, I’m not tryin’ to beat myself up too bad about doing an event.
Another thing you told me last time we spoke was that some of the new stuff that Hindsight was working on was going to be completely different than anything you’ve done in the past. Have you still got plans of that variety coming in 2021?
Oh yeah, definitely! For sure. We actually spent the entire weekend at the house just working on tryin’ to finish up these songs. So far we have got five songs completely done except for vocals– and that’s five totally new songs. And then there’s still two more we’ve gotta finish that we started doing tracks for yesterday.
You’re recording at home this time around? Everybody in town?
Yeah, we’re recordin’ at the house. We’ve got all the bare necessities! It’s comin’ good, man. Honestly, there’ve been times where we’re like, “Well, I don’t know if we really can do this…” But just figuring it out as you go is part of the fun, part of the experience! It definitely is a bonding exercise for all of us!
Tickets for Holiday Happy Time V are available now! Don’t miss Hindsight LIVE at the Hargray Capitol Theatre on Saturday, December 19th! Doors open at 7pm! Masks will be required at entry and while moving throughout the theatre but not while seated. The Hargray Capitol Theatre will also be accepting new, unwrapped toy donations to be distributed by the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia!
