By Johnny Griffith
One of the perks of this gig is getting to listen to a lot of really good music from some fantastic musicians as I prep for these interviews. It’s always fun to catch someone early on and watch them as they develop, grow their catalog and fan base, and a few of that break out from behind the pine curtain to go on to develop fans in other regions. This month I get to interview some guys who’ve actually been on my radar for several months now: Post Profit.
Post Profit is a Longview based band made up of Matt Jackson and Nick Hawner on guitars and vocals, Zack Hicks on drums, with Jordan Conley on bass guitar, and these guys are really, really good. Playing loud and energetic, they have a big modern rock sound that keeps you engaged, grabs you and won’t let you go. With some significant shows under their belt and a growing list of originals for their loyal fans, Post Profit is poised to be the next band from this area to gain traction in places like Dallas and Austin. We sat down with them this month to get to know them a little better:
Johnny: How did you all individually get started in music?
Matt: I started out with my dad showing me rock music at a very young age. I was inspired by him to start playing guitar. He showed me a few chords on the guitar when I was 3 years old, and I took it and ran with it. I locked myself up in my room through most of high school playing guitar. In 6th grade, I joined the marching band and played the snare drum on the drumline. In 2008 I joined my first band which was called United Glory, where I played guitar and sang. That band is what helped me sort of learn how to become a frontman!
Nick: My Mom has exposed me to great music all of my life. She tried to learn guitar when I was about 4 or 5 years old and when she gave it up, I adopted her 1979 Les Paul as my own. When I was 7, my parents bought me a drumset, and in 6th grade, I joined the marching band and played on the drumline. In high school, I would go to shows where Matt was playing and really got inspired to join a band. In 2014 I joined a band called Twenty West and started playing shows and playing solo on the side. Once I met Zach and was reconnected to Matt, Twenty West broke up and Post Profit was born.
Jordan: I started playing keyboard when I was about 6 years old, and I learned melodies and notes by ear. I joined marching band in 6th grade and played saxophone which I picked up really fast. In 8th grade, I was first chair in the high school marching band. I really enjoyed the band through high school, and when I started college I got my first guitar. I started keys and then switched to playing bass in our youth praise band when I was a junior in high school. I eventually joined the college marching band and the music program, graduating with my associate’s degree. I met Matt in some of my classes in college.
Zach: My uncle played drums and had a drum set at his house. I started playing them when I was about 2-3 years old. I got my own set when I was 4 years old and I started playing drums in church when I was 11. I joined marching band in 6th grade and played trombone at first, then went to drumline. I was put in the high school marching band in 7th grade and played the snare drum. In 2012 I fronted my first band called Zodiac Braves. I took a few years hiatus after Zodiac Braves, then formed Post Profit with Nick and Matt, and the rest is history.
Johnny: How did you guys meet?
Post: Matt and Zach have known each other most of their lives, and Nick starting doing open jams with them when they met through an ex-girlfriend. Those open jams turned into us having a few solid songs we would always play. Then those songs turned into a setlist that we would practice pretty much every day. We formed a band and started booking shows! Jordan would come to almost all of our shows and eventually became our bass player!
Johnny: What about the name? What is the significance behind the name Post Profit and how was that born?
Post: Post Profit is kind of a play on words. It has many meanings depending on how you think about it. The word “Profit” could be interpreted as “Prophet”. Or it could mean “after the money”. It’s ultimately up to the listener to decide what it means to them.
Johnny: When and where was the first Post Profit show?
Post: Our first real show outside of a jam was Halloween 2017 at a venue called 9muses in Tyler, TX
Johnny: How would you describe your typical show to someone who hasn’t seen you guys?
Post: Energetic, engaging, loud, and unforgettable.
Johnny: How many originals do you have at this point?
Post: We are currently wrapping up our EP which will have about 6 original songs on it.
Johnny: When I listen to your originals, I hear threads of lots of bands I enjoy: Breaking Benjamin, Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, maybe some Muse in there as well with a big sound, great vocals, and great guitars. But that’s what I hear…how would you describe your sound and your biggest influences?
Post: That’s about right! We are going for a modern alternative sound. Something that’s familiar yet has a new edge to it. Some of our favorite bands include Foo Fighters, Nothing But Thieves, Thrice, Radiohead, Deftones, Incubus, Citizen, Highly Suspect, Red Fang, Royal Blood.
Johnny: If I’m correct, Post Profit has a couple of singles and accompanying videos you’ve recorded. Anything you learned from that process that’s helped you grow as a band?
Post: We just recently finished filming our first “real” music video. It is a surreal process, to be honest. We learned not to take ourselves so seriously, you know? We are a goofy group of guys that love to have fun, and we want to show our fun side to people. Whether it’s making a video or playing a show, we know that our energy can translate to the audience. If we are having the time of our lives, it’s easier for our audience to cut loose and enjoy themselves in the same way. It’s all about bouncing good energy back and forth.
Johnny: Post Profit does some killer covers in addition to your original stuff that is really all over the spectrum, from Post Malone to Chris Stapleton. What are the individual favorite covers that you do?
Post: Some of our favorite covers would be “I’m Not Made By Design” by Nothing But Thieves, “Out of the Black” by Royal Blood, “Seratonia” by Highly Suspect, and “Man of Constant Sorrow” by the Soggy Bottom Boys.
Johnny: About how many shows a month are you booking?
Post: Usually between 8-12 shows per month.
Johnny: What’s the farthest you’ve traveled for a show to this point?
Post: The farthest show Post Profit has played from home was about 4 hours away in the Galveston area.
Johnny: You have had some pretty cool opportunities in the last two years for some amazing shows. What would you say the most memorable has been so far?
Post: Some of the coolest things we have done would include opening for Filter at the last InkLife Tour, opening for Drowning Pool and getting to meet and become good friends with another band called To Whom It May, playing the So What Music Festival in Houston TX, and opening up for Picturesque in Deep Ellum.
Johnny: What are some “must-see” shows coming up for the band the rest of the year?
Post: Definitely Downtown Live in our hometown of Longview, TX, August 2nd, 2019. We are opening for A Killer’s Confession at Clicks Live in Tyler, TX, August 16th, 2019. Post Profit is also very excited to announce we will be playing in Downtown Tyler on the Square, November 8th, 2019 for UT Tyler Patriot Nights.
Follow Post Profit at.facebook.com/postprofitofficial.
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