Life & Work with Petrov The Hero of Los Feliz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Petrov The Hero

Hi Petrov, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The band started before we even knew it was a band, way back when we were teenagers playing subpar renditions of our favorite Pearl Jam & Nirvana songs in Tyler’s attic. Then we figured out that playing other people’s songs weren’t half as fun as playing songs we could make from scratch. We wrote hundreds of them, most of them bad, but eventually stumbled across a few that were pretty good. We’d record those on Nick’s old 4-track and play them for everyone we knew, even harassing Smashmouth’s manager at a coffee shop.

Life took us in separate directions once we hit college. Tyler went back east for acting and writing. Nick stayed on the west coast and cut his teeth in the local L.A. music scene. Once we found ourselves in the same city again, we wanted to play some shows. Luckily, the best bassist and drummer we knew were between bands. A lot of the music Nick and Tyler initially brought to the band setting was softer and more melodic. After jamming and writing together as a band, the music morphed into more upbeat art rock with post-punk leanings, and it was begging to be played live and loud. Now we play all over L.A., Long Beach, the Inland Empire, and up in Northern California.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our road has not been a smooth one. But the weird stumbling blocks along the way tended to be the stones that knocked us onto the path of change. This is where we are discovering our real sound, and what feels like the most authentic music we’ve ever made. We’re thinking of shows now as a journey we engage in with the crowd through a curated set of sometimes disparate songs that, when folded together, create a full circle experience. We want to go on a ride with the folks at our shows.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We count ourselves among an emerging second wave scene of bands that are interested in the high energy catharsis of being part of a live event. The bigger bands leading the charge such as Idles, Fontaines D.C., etc., have a message buried among the angular grooves and distorted chords. So do we. There is space for musicians who want to tell a story and leave a positive impact at a show where the audience still gets to dance and scream along. It’s okay to play music that is sometimes loud and fast but has love underneath it all.

What does success mean to you?
Success for us is tied to gratitude. When people come see our shows, we’re grateful. When people respond to the music, we’re grateful. When we have any chance to share our art with others, it feels like a victory. Like success. Some shows pay more, some less, but anyone in music tying success to a monetary finish line is usually disappointed. We’re successful when we play a show the way we want to play it, for an audience open enough to receive it. Music isn’t complete until there’s someone to hear it. We are a success when we connect that loop. It feels good to show up for ourselves and for each other. This world is crazy, and we take as much solace as we can in the simple victories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Petrovthehero.com
• Instagram: @petrovthehero
• Youtube: @petrovthehero

Image Credits
Studio photos taken by Holly Lynch Photography