Trent Harlow prepares to join Bad Reception onstage as Jace Holloway remains away

Bad Reception will begin the new year with a temporary change to its lineup as bassist Trent Harlow prepares to make his first live appearance with the band later this month. The group announced Harlow on social media Dec. 28 as the bassist who will fill in while longtime member Jace Holloway remains away from touring. Harlow’s first announced performance with Bad Reception is scheduled for Jan. 12. Harlow is best known as the bassist for Los Angeles alternative rock band The Ivory Divide, with whom he has toured for several years. He has also worked as a session and touring musician between the band’s recording and performance schedules. The arrangement was made through Studio B - Hollywood after the label determined Bad Reception would need an outside bassist to continue performing without Holloway. Guitarist Evan Parker said he initially offered to move to bass himself rather than bring another musician into the group. “I told them I could do it,” Parker said. “I know the songs, I can play bass, and it would’ve kept everything in-house.” According to Parker, Studio B rejected the idea. “They weren’t interested,” he said. “They wanted somebody whose job was bass. That was pretty much the end of the conversation.” No timetable has been announced for Holloway’s return. Harlow said the opportunity came together quickly. “They needed somebody who could come in without slowing everything down,” Harlow said. “I’ve done enough of this that walking into somebody else’s set doesn’t really bother me.” His work with The Ivory Divide has given Harlow experience joining established touring productions, though he acknowledged that stepping into Bad Reception carries a different expectation. “You’re walking into something where everybody already knows each other,” he said. “You have to figure out the rhythm of that. Not just the songs. The people.” Harlow said he has spent the days since his announcement learning the band’s material and rehearsing with vocalist Riley Carter, guitarists Cole Mercer and Parker, and drummer Nico Alvarez. He does not intend to imitate Holloway’s playing. “I’m not Jace,” Harlow said. “Nobody should want me standing there pretending to be him. I’ll play the songs the way they need to be played, but I’m still going to sound like myself.” Harlow described the first rehearsals as productive and said Bad Reception’s years of playing together make the group relatively easy to follow. “They communicate without really talking about it,” he said. “Once you start paying attention, you can tell what everybody’s going to do.” Asked whether joining a tightly established group had made him feel like an outsider, Harlow dismissed the concern. “That usually fixes itself,” he said. “Give people a little time. I tend to get along with people.” He said Carter has been more reserved with him than the other members. “Riley keeps to herself,” Harlow said. “She’s harder to read.” He smiled before adding, “I don’t mind a challenge.” Carter did not participate in the interview. Parker emphasized that Harlow’s presence does not represent a permanent change to Bad Reception. “Jace is still our bassist,” Parker said. “That part hasn’t changed.” Alvarez said rehearsing without Holloway has exposed habits the band had stopped noticing. “You spend years playing with the same guy and eventually you stop realizing you’re communicating,” Alvarez said. “Then Trent shows up and suddenly I’m discovering apparently Jace and I had an entire language nobody told us about.” Harlow said the distinction between a temporary position and permanent membership is clear to him. “It’s Jace’s position,” he said. “I know what I was brought in to do.” Still, Harlow said he intends to make use of the opportunity. “I’m not interested in disappearing into the background for a month,” he said. “If I’m there, people are going to know I was there.” Bad Reception’s first announced performance with Harlow on bass is scheduled for Jan. 12.