Damn Tall Buildings

Tonight, Brooklyn-based Damn Tall Buildings take over the Geneseo Riviera for a lively night of Bluegrass music with their high-energy performances, tight three-part harmonies, and a unique blend of traditional and contemporary influences. For over a decade, the trio has performed across the country and beyond with heartfelt Bluegrass tunes.  I sat down with Avery Bollatta, one-third of the band, to talk about their journey, songwriting process, touring habits, and, most importantly, what listeners can expect from tonight's show and their upcoming studio album. 

[Start of Interview]

Kyle Bulger
Has your tour begun, whats it like?

Avery Bollatta
It's a back-and-forth thing—on the road, then home in Brooklyn. Right now, I’m on my block in Brooklyn.

Kyle Bulger
OK. Are you guys from Brooklyn?

Avery Bollatta
Not originally. I'm from Montana, Max is from New Hampshire, and Sasha is from Philadelphia.

Kyle Bulger
Does being from different places influence your music?

Avery Bollatta
Of course. Everything we were raised with sneaks into our playing. The old-time and Bluegrass world is full of traditional music, shared in groups, and that tradition shaped us. We all come from different backgrounds, and that definitely influences our music.

Kyle Bulger
Were you raised on Bluegrass, or did it come later?

Avery Bollatta
It came to all of us later. I probably had the most exposure early on—my first fiddle teacher was a composition fiddler and an elementary and middle school orchestra director. She taught me to read music but also introduced me to fiddle tunes, some of which we still play. Beyond that, we really cut our teeth playing on the street in Boston.

Kyle Bulger
Did you meet other Bluegrass artists doing that? I’ve heard the Bluegrass culture is very connection-driven.

Avery Bollatta
Absolutely. Bluegrass is one of the most community-driven genres. The music world is small in general, but Bluegrass is a microcosm of that. We all cross paths, play together, and make friends. We’ve been doing this for over 12 years, and the world just keeps getting smaller.

Kyle Bulger
Does that community aspect extend to your audience? Do you see the same people often, or is every show a different experience?

Avery Bollatta
Great question. Since we play all over, the initial energy varies, but we always make any space feel like we’re in it together. The audience and band connect quickly. That’s partly due to the style of music we play, but also how we’ve learned to break the ice—getting people singing, dancing, and warming up with us. It just becomes a really cool, relaxed, new experience for everyone. Even if it’s the same, it feels new every time.

Kyle Bulger
Right. Would you say there’s a key to making the audience feel comfortable?

Avery Bollatta
I think the key is trusting that you don’t have to force them into it. Being forced into anything is uncomfortable for everyone. It’s more about opening the door and letting them walk through. That’s the best way I can put it.

Kyle Bulger
Yeah. I noticed you’re playing in the UK next month, have you played outside the country before?

Avery Bollatta
We have, but not in the UK. This is our first UK run, so we’re really looking forward to it.

Kyle Bulger
Is there a big difference in audiences outside the country?

Avery Bollatta
Yeah. Once we get into a certain part of our show, it finds a similar stride to every other show, but each audience is definitely different. Like how our backgrounds influence our playing, each audience brings their own history, baggage, and thoughts to a show. That varies by region, whether we’re in the U.S. or abroad. Everyone has a different heritage, and it’s fun to tie all of that together. We’re learning about the audience’s energy just as they’re learning about ours. Again, it’s all about opening the door and being there with them.

Kyle Bulger
Yeah, that makes sense. Do you think that comes through in your songwriting? Obviously, everyone has a different background that impacts their music, but would you say your songwriting is very personal, or is it more general and fun?

Avery Bollatta
I’d say it’s less about an intentional approach. Speaking on behalf of all three of us, whenever we write songs, we’re just writing—whatever is true to us, whatever is inspiring us, or whatever we’re working through emotionally or mentally.

Avery Bollatta
Sometimes, we recognize something general or relatable in the lyrics or music that makes us want to share it with a wider audience. Not every song makes it into a set or a record, but the process of being true and honest with ourselves in writing often leads to the realization—"Oh, this is actually what we’re all feeling. I thought I was alone."

Kyle Bulger
Is that how you decide which songs make it onto your studio albums? Do you have a process for eliminating some and keeping others?

Avery Bollatta
Yeah, a lot of it is feel—whether or not it fits the vibe and whether it’s fun to play. That’s a big factor because if we enjoy playing it, it brings the song to life. We also test a lot of songs live before recording them. This upcoming record, which we’re almost done with and will be releasing later this year, has gone through that process as well.

Kyle Bulger
Right. Would you say Damn Tall Buildings has a specific vibe, or does it transform with each album?

Avery Bollatta
It definitely transforms every album. We’re figuring it out like everyone else. If there’s a main theme, it’s that we’re constantly searching for an understanding of what the heck we’re doing here.

Avery Bollatta
That search shows up in different songs, different versions, and even different sounds on each record. We cover the spectrum—from a more traditional Bluegrass sound to punkier, exploratory studio work, and everything in between. We like to experiment first and then refine things rather than trying to make something fit a specific mold right away.

Kyle Bulger
Right, that makes sense. Do you think being an independent band helps you do that—helps you fully encapsulate the vibe you want between the three of you?

Avery Bollatta
Yeah, I’d say so. It definitely helps, especially since we record and produce a lot of our own stuff in Brooklyn these days. One major benefit is being able to set our own deadlines. Deadlines are important because they push things forward, but it’s really nice not to have them forced upon us. That flexibility has definitely given us more creative freedom. Being independent gives us a really nice foundation to build on when putting things together. The process starts informing itself, so yeah, the independent thing is really nice. But then it comes down to being able to afford it. There’s that balance between creative freedom and figuring out how to pay for something that costs money to make. So far, so good—our fans and audiences have been incredibly supportive. That support has really been a blessing.

Kyle Bulger
That’s great. Being independent, does that mean there’s a lot of compromise between the three of you—especially in terms of songwriting? You mentioned earlier that some songs don’t make it onto an album, and since all three of you are vocalists, is there ever a debate over whose voice will take the lead on a song?

Avery Bollatta

Yeah, definitely. Thankfully, we’re all best buds, which helps a lot when making creative decisions—especially about who should be singing lead.

Avery Bollatta
Once a song is written, the big question we ask is: How does this song demand to be performed?
A song will feel different depending on who sings it. Putting it in Sasha’s voice will give it a different energy than if Max or I sing it.

Avery Bollatta
Thankfully, we don’t fight about it. We tend to agree on what fits best. But we experiment—we change keys and figure out where a song sits best. It’s always evolving, which I think is a good thing.

Kyle Bulger
That makes sense.

Avery Bollatta
There’s sometimes a misnomer that an artist writes a song and that’s just the version. As a songwriter, it can feel that way at first—like, “This is what it is.” But working as a group, we’ve learned that the more we experiment, the better. Often, the best version of a song is one we hadn’t even thought of at first.

Kyle Bulger
Is there a song you think holds the most meaning for the three of you or has the most personal significance to you?

Avery Bollatta
Yeah, that’s a great question. I think they all have meaning in different ways. We’re very much existential humorists—that’s kind of the main vibe of our writing.

Kyle Bulger
Right.

Avery Bollatta
Speaking personally, " Location" is one that I wrote, and it really resonates with me. It’s not just about my own experiences as a rambling spirit, but also about how that applies to this lifestyle of touring and playing music. I know the three of us really connect with it every time we play it.

Kyle Bulger

Going back to touring, have you found a guide for maintaining energy on the road? What’s the best philosophy for handling a tour?

Avery Bollatta

Prioritizing nutrition and sleep as much as possible. It’s tough with a crazy schedule, but you can’t just live on granola bars and fast food. Hydration is key too—even if you’re driving six hours and don’t want to stop, you have to. You can only push your body so far before everything else starts to suffer. The best advice I’d give is to focus on eating well and maintaining good communication. If you're sitting in the back of the van stewing over something minor from last night’s show, it's going to eat away at you just as much as bad food would. Being honest and open with each other makes everything more sustainable.

Kyle Bulger

Was being open with each other something that came naturally? Were you friends before forming Damn Tall Buildings?

Avery Bollatta

Yeah, I’d say so. It all kind of happened at once, but we didn’t start doing this professionally for a year or two. We were all in music school, so it was already part of our lives. We were friends first and have stayed that way, but the communication side of things was something we had to learn. You have to go through it, sometimes in a negative way, before realizing how important it is.

Kyle Bulger

We talked earlier about the community aspect of a live show. For people who aren’t familiar with Damn Tall Buildings or bluegrass in general, what should they expect sonically when you come to Geneseo?

Avery Bollatta

Sonically, we use a pretty traditional bluegrass setup—one microphone on stage that we all play and sing into. It’s just a single stationary mic. There’s a lot of three-part harmony, and we use our instruments both melodically and rhythmically since there’s no drummer. But we’re still very groove-focused—we like to bring that feel into our playing. And of course, we love to rip it up with solos. There are a lot of beautiful textures, and we love harmony. We do fun sing-alongs—some are songs people already know and love, and some are our own that the audience may not be familiar with yet. But it’s always a great time.

Avery Bollatta

Even if no one in the audience knows a song, we’re gonna sing it anyway. It’s a great icebreaker—it gets people involved and lays the groundwork for everyone to feel like we’re all in it together. Because we are.

Kyle Bulger

Exactly. Besides live shows, where can people find your music?

Avery Bollatta

Sure! We have music videos on YouTube, and we’re on all streaming platforms—Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, all that. We’re also putting out a live record soon, which will be a Bandcamp exclusive for a while, so people can find and support us there. Our website has links to all of that, including tour dates.

Kyle Bulger

Right. And you’re working on a new studio album on top of the live album?

Avery Bollatta

Yeah, that’s right. The live album is done, we’re just getting ready to release it. The studio album is almost finished—we’re finalizing the order and getting it mastered. We’re aiming to release it end of summer or early fall.

Kyle Bulger

Yeah. What can people be most excited about on the new album that they might not have heard in your earlier albums?

Avery Bollatta

Totally. There’s a lot more of Sasha singing lead, which is exciting for all of us. Also, we have one of our favorite covers on there. We haven’t really done many covers on our recorded work, so that’ll be great. We also have a lot of guest musicians. We always love having friends play with us, but this time, we’ve got a wider array of guests on the record. It’s fun because you get to hear us the way we sound live and how we produce our own work, but then there are also some absolutely monster players bringing their energy into it.

[End of Interview]

Through their commitment to honest songwriting, dynamic performances, and the camaraderie that fuels their creativity, Damn Tall Buildings continue to carve out a unique space in the Bluegrass music scene. As they gear up to release both a live album and a new studio record, you can expect fresh sounds, guest collaborations, and an ever-evolving approach to their craft. Whether it's their thoughtful storytelling, or the infectious joy they bring to the stage, Damn Tall Buildings prove that live music is about more than just the songs—it's about the shared experience. They are playing tonight at the Geneseo Riviera for what promises to be a Bluegrass master class. To listen to other independent bands, folk and beyond, you can tune into our 24/7 rotation of Alternative Indie just for you on 89.3 WGSU-FM.