Born from a high school friendship, The Chance is the product of years of tooling around on instruments and mucking with the lineup. As they stand today, the band is Joshua Padgett on lead guitar and vocals, Viraj DeSilva on drums and Finley Martin on bass. The band's gone through several incarnations over the years, but Padgett and DeSilva are the constants. They grew up together, cultivating a friendship and learning how to play. As The Chance started to grow into a real deal band, they played a lot with locals Gist, and even recorded a split 7" together. With Gist now scattered over a few states and The Chance in need of a bassist, they took Martin on loan and formed the band as it is today. Constant giggers and gaining favor among local media, the band's a mainstay on the local venue circuit, so we felt it was time we gave The Chance a gander.

We took in a set from The Chance at the Black Cat's back stage recently and were pleased to find a polished live act that's lots of fun. The thin weeknight crowd was made up mostly of friends and fans, but that made for a friendly crowd that got excited for each song. The Chance bring a really rich sound to the floor. DeSilva's technique could only be described as power drumming; he drums with his whole body with energetic, pounding results. Think Dave Grohl. It's strange that I say that, because I also noticed some heavy-handed Foo Fighters-era Grohl influence in Padgett's guitar playing. His vocals, however, lean more towards the post-punk monotone stylings of people like Interpol's Paul Banks. The Chance offer up some pretty straight forward rock with the tease of some new ideas in the background. I'm looking forward to hearing how their sound plays out on future recordings; they've definitely got the ability and the drive to do some interesting things. Or, if you're feeling punny, a heck of a chance.

Visit them online at: myspace.com/thechancedc

See them next:: No gig plans at the moment, but they're planning to ramp things up in the spring.

Questions for The Chance:

So, give us a little background — when and where did The Chance come together? How do you guys all know each other? What’s the background story?

Joshua Padgett: The Chance was born in late 2001. Viraj and I learned to play instruments together when we were adolescent best friends in high school. Obsessed with music, we knew from that first burst of feedback that this is where our lives would take us. We just had to purge the arias out of our bodies. We’ve been in about 1000 bands since then, with 1000s of musicians, but the constant crux has been V and I. The Chance has seen many, many, lineup changes (particularly in the last year) since playing its first shows in the winter of 2001. Finley Martin is our latest, greatest, and most def permanent addition. We are still purifying.

Viraj DeSilva: It actually started back in 1996. Josh and I learnt to play our instruments together by playing along to records on his boombox. I would drum on Josh's bed with a pair of sticks using notebooks for a snare while he strummed away on his now signature Fender. After I was able to actually afford a real drum set, we set up base at my house and started jamming there. We have been in a number of bands together since the beginning. It's been a sort of a roller coaster ride having that we have gone through numerous forms of the now "Chance". It's been a difficult task with the revolving door of members that have come in and out of the band. Earlier this year we were lucky to obtain Finley Martin from one of my favorite bands Gist. He's amazing and I think with his addition The Chance is finally ready to take on the world.

Finley Martin: I'll refer to Josh & Viraj for the historical background of the band. My
chapter in this book has really just begun. We met a few years back through
some mutual friends. We began playing shows together (The Chance & Gist) and
have become good friends since then.

Once upon a time, The Chance was with Red Stapler Records. Is that relationship or label still alive? What’s your current label situation?

Joshua Padgett: We released our self-titled debut on Red Stapler Records in 2004; the label is still very much alive. RSR is our first sonance-drenched family unit, a tight bewailing community of supportive musicians and friends. We’ve sold out the first edition of the CD, so we’re planning on re-releasing it in the future.

Viraj DeSilva: We released our first E.P. through Red Stapler Records. As well as a 7" with fellow label mates Gist (who also started the label). We have a great working relationship with the label; however, I also believe in not preventing ourselves from exploring other options. Red Stapler has been a great label to work with up to date and I think we've accomplished quite a bit with them.

Finley Martin: Red Stapler is still very much alive. It's been a transitional couple of
months while Nayan [Bhula] settles down in New Orleans and Gist get used to
being a multi-state band.

You released a split 7” with label mates Gist last spring. How was that experience?

Joshua Padgett: The experience was great. We’d always wanted to put out vinyl. With Gist on board, the process became a joint effort of producing the 2006 record as effectively as possible. And it’s on red wax, so very pretty.

Viraj DeSilva: Putting out that split was one of the most exciting experiences yet. They’re such a great band and I was ecstatic to be able to release something with them. I have a copy of that record framed and hanging in my music room. Truly inspiring.

Finley Martin: Since the 7" was released prior to my joining The Chance, I can only
speak from the Gist side of the vinyl but suffice it to say that the
collaboration was a lot of fun and something that more local bands should
consider doing.

Any more recording plans in the future?

Joshua Padgett: We are planning on recording an entire full-length new album, hopefully to be released sometime summer. This record is going to be a huge new leap off the edge, a glorious din of evil rock’n’roll to fill headphones in darkened bedrooms and cavernous D.C. nightclubs alike.

Viraj DeSilva: We intend on recording our first full-length album soon. It's been a long time coming but we take alot of pride in our music. I think all the time we've had has helped us really evolve with our art and I'm looking forward to putting out an extraordinary album that we're all proud of.

Finley Martin: There's a new album already in the works. We've nearly completed 2 tracks (Wings of Red Leather/Why?) and we've been writing feverishly with the goal
of recording more material by the end of the spring.

You seem to have good relationships with some other local bands. Who are some of your favorites?

Joshua Padgett: Gist has been friends and supporters of us since we started playing live regularly in 2002. Their records are so powerfully raw. We have also become tight with The Mirror Script in 2006; they are a fantastically heavy psychedelic trio and we look forward to touring the landscapes together. As well as the fondly missed Red Right Return, Len Bias, Carol Bui.

Viraj DeSilva: I really dig Gist, The Mirror Script, Len Bias and Revel. They really whoop butt!!!! Opake's great too:)

Finley Martin: Gist (though I'm particularly biased). Also Carol Bui, Verbal, The Glory
and The Majesty, LeJeune and Alphabetical Order.

What in the world is going on with your website?

Joshua Padgett: The website was up for a few years, but was recently taken down to undergo major reconstruction. More MP3s, images, videos, the works. Soon.

Viraj DeSilva: The website has been AWOL for awhile now. It was horrifically outdated. However, it should be up and running soon.

Finley Martin: The lack of website falls squarely on my shoulders. The new site is in
the works and will be operational again in early March.

Where can a fan find out when and where you’re playing next?

Joshua Padgett: As of now, MySpace is the best bet. (www.myspace.com/thechancedc) We plan on playing live again and recording in late April. Until then, Viraj is working on his electro/folk group Opake, Finley is touring and recording with Gist, and I’m starting a new avant-drone rock band with Simon Ley (of Morris fame). Our itineraries may also be found scrawled on the filthiest bathroom walls of D.C. See, we’re still underground!

How would you classify your music? Where would you like to see it go?
Joshua Padgett: Our music was born from post-punk, from rock, from electrical white noise. Storytelling of a bleak, horror nature has always been dear to my heart. I love setting our lamentations to an atmosphere of unrelenting sadness. It’s just right to me. I’d love the music to expand to symphonies of the beauty in torment, to affect so deeply that everyone just cries in their beer. And to tour Europe as well.

Viraj DeSilva: We have distinctive sounds that may be comparable to a mix between rock/punk/experimental. However our sound is always striving towards new directions and as it takes a life of its own I would classify us as ARTROCK.

Finley Martin: I think it's safe to call The Chance a beautifully dissonant art rock
band. I don't know where I would like to see the music go but I can hardly
wait to find out where it takes me.

What do you see as the plusses and minuses of D.C., musically?

Joshua Padgett: The plusses of D.C. are that a lot of bands on the same mental page support each other and stay up all night together. Solidarity in the streets. Musically D.C. bands have a lot to say because of the oppressive political climate. We all need to break free and live free, and you can hear it in all our aggressive guitars. Minuses, oh, the usual.

Viraj DeSilva: Plusses-all the same things that I've loved about it. Minuses-The No-Smoking ban!!!

Finley Martin: Plusses: It's like a pub where everyone knows your name (cue theme song to Cheers). Minuses: People that are too cool to dance at shows.

What’s your favorite venue to play?

Viraj DeSilva: Black Cat. It's a great venue for all local music with a friendly atmosphere. Wonderful sound and really accessible for bands when loading, which is always nice:)

Finley Martin: The Black Cat because it's the focal point of the D.C. music scene.
There's a tremendous amount of respect for local independent music without
the airs of snobbery. Not to mention the staff are really nice and treat
bands incredibly well.

Joshua Padgett: The Black Cat, without a doubt. I grew up there. As a teen I’d come as much as humanly possible to see local and touring bands. Vast memories from then till now, all great. Best bartenders in town, some of whom I love dearly. Best sound, best ambience, best everything. I will always love playing there the most, no matter where we go—it’s our home.