Interview: Jessica Pietrzykowski of Tail Light Rebellion

Today we're talking with Jessica Pietrzykowski, accordion player with Tail Light Rebellion, a roots rock and folk punk band in the Fistolo Records family and with Outlaw Waltz Media Group.

So you've been with Tail Light Rebellion about a year now, right? What's it been like stepping into the band?

I will have been with TLR for a full year, as of early May. It was honestly really intimidating at first. I had no idea if I was going to have what it takes to keep up with these guys, seeing as I hadn't been playing for very long, but these two have been really encouraging and helpful. All in all, it's been one of the best experiences of my life. Trying to adjust to tour life as opposed to hobo life has taken some time, but the two match up pretty nicely. I really enjoy the constant challenges and being in an environment that always strives to be better.

What has the transition from hobo life to tour life like? Were there any particular struggles or challenges?

Honestly? Money management has been a bitch to try to learn. Having a financial base has become important because I dont have nearly as much time to busk, fly a sign or pick up random craigslist work and I fall into self loathing when I cant feel autonomous in my own self care, so it will be an important skill for me to learn. Also, going from never using a phone or social media to needing to have a presence for promotion and booking took some time to adjust to. It was and still can be really overwhelming to have so many conversations going on at once, when I'm much more used to being engaged in those directly in front of me. I've come to learn that it's all about striking a balance. The skills and mentality that I gained from riding freight and hitch hiking have come in handy though. There is a certain level of thoughtfulness about others around you, combined with self accountability and humility, that I believe is required to make a community function smoothly, and I personally learned that through being homeless. Also, hobo hacks are always good tools to have under your belt. The ability to creatively problem solve is invaluable. It gave me a sense of self reliance that has greatly helped me these past few months.

So you're just coming off a tour? What were some of your favorite moments?

You ask that like I can remember them! Really, there have been so many great moments and badass times with some of the best folks I have had the pleasure of meeting. We saw a lot of old friends, and made some fantastic new ones. Like I said, it's hard to pick favorite moments when they have mostly all been unbeatable.

What made you choose to play accordion?

I was in a really shitty engagement and we used to escape by trying to find new music. Well, he had a Gogol Bordello CD (I believe it was Trans-continental Hustle) that he hadn't listened to, so we threw it on. To say I was enchanted is an understatement. I was never really exposed to music growing up outside of classical and whatever throw backs my parents listened to, so their sound and their passion overtook me completely. Hand in hand with a healthy lust for constant movement, the accordion just possesses a sound that fills me with that same fire that I heard in Gogol Bordello years ago.

Do you have any particular influences?

World/Inferno Friendship Society, The Zydepunks, Mischief Brew, earlier Gogol Bordello, and the desire to live a life that I deem fulfilling, on my own terms. Something about working to make a corporation or rich asshole money, just so I can die 'comfortably' paying off debts and rotting in front of the television just doesn’t do it for me. I want to be so much more than that, and I want to encourage others to do the same if they so choose.

What's your life like outside of music?

What life outside of music? I spend most of my time booking, practicing, writing, and playing shows. We try to go to the gym daily just to keep up with our mental/physical health, and occasionally I find time to read a book or sketch in my notebook. I wouldn't have it any other way. What else has Tail Light Rebellion been into recently? We have been really into Rhymesayers lately, which has been influencing Jonny and myself in our own writing. Expect the next album to be a real booty shaker.

What are some projects you're working on now, or are anticipating?

I, personally, am writing some new accordion songs and we are working towards recording a new album this year on top of releasing a traditional folk EP that will consist of Irish/American/Canadian/Slavic folk songs.

I saw there was a recent re-release of Six Strings and Gasoline?

Yep! More notably, we released Broken again with both Richard on acoustic bass and myself on accordion. You can check it out on Bandcamp and Spotify!

Go listen to some Tail Light Rebellion! Also, check out this interview with Isaac Alexander of The Hills and the Rivers!