So first, some basics. How did you guys meet, and how long have you been playing together?

We met through an ad that I placed looking for a bass player, over ten years ago. Zac [Zidron, bass] came to a gig with the musicians I was playing with at the time and wanted to audition. He auditioned within that week and after the first rehearsal, I knew I met my partner in crime. The rest is history. Larry [Beers, drums] entered the picture through a friend who owned a recording studio, a few months later. Zac and I were unhappy with the drum tracks we had recorded with the previous drummer and through the studio owner's suggestion, he asked if we would mind if he called upon a very good drummer friend of his. Larry is an amazing drummer and is the final piece to the Gidgets Ga Ga chemistry set.

The sound of Gidgets Ga Ga fits pretty well in the power pop mold. Who are some influences that you all admire?

There are so many great power pop bands, it is very hard to pinpoint them all. I really don't want to leave anybody out, so I am going to say the entire British invasion. Some influences are more obvious than others. We would really love the listeners to decide who they think influenced the band. My influences are such a part of my musical DNA that I don't know where it starts and where it stops.

You’re a Chicago band. Have you found it more difficult to find and get big gigs in a city as busy as your hometown?

We've been playing long enough to know there are politics in any city or music market. We have been at it for many years. We are still here. The music industry as a whole is not easy. We have been fortunate enough to play on just about every major stage in Chicago. We are selective about the gigs we take...some gigs are like a crap shoot, some are easier to get than others. Chicago is no different than any other city. It can be as hard or as easy as any band makes it!

Has Gidgets Ga Ga had the chance to do any touring? What would be a choice destination for the ideal Gidgets show?

We have played in other cities and states. Touring is fun and can be expensive. We are setting our sights on other goals this year. The ideal Gidgets show would be anywhere in the UK, maybe The Empire in Liverpool.

As time goes by, what plans do you have for Gidgets? Do you guys ever consider expanding the line-up, or getting super fancy in the studio?

We have found that a power trio is the Gidgets Ga Ga sound. Playing in a power trio keeps you on your toes and makes you a better musician. We are currently in the studio and what I love about being an independent band is being able to make the choice of any and all given production techniques that we use on our recordings. I really think the trick is to not get carried away with production value, to remember that the song is king and to serve the song well with appropriate instruments and subtle production value. When you hear a Gidgets Ga Ga recording, we really try to capture the blood, the sweat and the tears, not necessarily in that order.

Speaking of new plans, what’s the next move for the band?

We are currently trying to wrap up two EPs before the end of the year. One of those is more of the Ga you know and love and the other is a holiday EP, both of which will be ready in time for the holidays.

What has been your best live show so far as Gidgets Ga Ga?

We'd have to say that without a doubt, our best shows have been at The Abbey in Chicago. We love the stage, the lights and especially the acoustics of the room. The sound men are awesome!

Your band seems to have embraced taking your music online. Do you think this is a good time for a musician, or kind of a scary and uncertain one?

I think it's an exciting time for independent musicians. The challenge for the new artist is to figure out a way to draw attention to the band without giving it all away for free. The music industry on the world wide web is very much like the Wild West at this very moment, as major labels and independent labels are looking for new ways to make money online with their artists. The biggest expense the music industry incurs is advertising online.

There have been a few bands who have broken into the mainstream with internet savvy, such as OK Go, The Arctic Monkeys and My Chemical Romance. Huge bands such as Radiohead and Trent Reznor have managed to release without a record label and make millions of dollars through their own unique brand of marketing.

The www. has made it possible for a band to create a buzz online and reach the world a lot faster than traditional touring. I am a huge fan of the internet because after all, knowledge is power. Gidgets Ga Ga believes in the DIY work ethic and we believe in using every free promotional online outlet available. At the end of the day, the marketing doesn't matter. It's always about the quality of the music and the songs. The cream will always rise to the top and people don't keep good music to themselves - they tell their friends.