What’s in a name? If you’re the roots, rock and soul band from Orange County William Pilgrim and the All Grows Up, you may say everything. Named after the protagonist in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, the duo, made up of singer Ishmael "Ish" Herring and producer PM Romero, write songs inspired by their personal situations: songs on social justice, the environment and civil rights.

Herring, a self-taught musician who plays guitar, piano and drums, answered a Craigslist ad that Romero (who owns a music studio) put out in 2011; when they met, Herring was homeless. Shortly after, William Pilgrim released an EP that was championed by punk legend Exene Cervenka. The pair just released their second album, Epic Endings, which features collaborations with gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama, Cervenka, and Brenton Wood. They also collaborated with Exene Cervenka on their latest song and video, “Metaphor for America,” premiering today on MySpace.

Hometown:

Ish: Kansas City

PM: I was born and raised in Orange County. I can actually walk from our recording studio to the hospital I was born in. Guess I don't get out much.

Current residence: Orange County, California

How did William Pilgrim come together?

We've been performing together for more than four years now. We both bring some dissimilar music styles to the table and we really like how it comes together. The William Pilgrim sound is the end result.

You’re named after a Kurt Vonnegut character. Why?

Much like our music style our name came from mashing up a literary novel character and a pop culture movie line. Two things that don't normally go together but when you grind them up in a blender, Voila! Art!(Or at least we like to think [that].)

What's your earliest memory of realizing you wanted to make music for a living?

Ish: My earliest memory of liking music is being alone as a toddler and singing to myself in a bedroom. At that time Michael Jackson was nearly a god on earth, he was my strongest inspiration when it came to making the decision to do music for the rest of my life. Once I saw his music video for for the song "Bad", the deal was sealed.

PM: As a kid, I would convince my cousins to dress up like rock stars, grab tennis rackets for guitars and lip-sync our favorite albums. ‘70s rock was always best: Led Zeppelin, Boston, Allman Brothers.

What inspired the music in Epic Endings?

PM: I think the inspiration for our second album, Epic Endings, came from the feeling that we still had something to say after our first. We are storytellers and we try to weave cautionary tales into songs that make you tap your foot.

Who would you love to collaborate with and why?

PM: On this last record we had the honor of working with the Blind Boys of Alabama, ‘60s icon Brenton Wood and punk rock legend Exene Cervenka. Never before and never again will that cast of characters appear on the same record. So, I'm done, happy. Unless Jason Isbel calls.

Ish: I would love do a old school duet with Anita Baker. That would just make my day.

Which artists are you listening to now? Who inspires you?

Ish: I listen to just about everything. I mainly dig on ‘70s music and hip-hop

PM: I'm an old country and an old R&B fan. Dream band would be Sam Cooke fronting the Flying Burrito Brothers.

If you were trapped on a desert island, what three things would you take with you as a band?

Ish: I would bring a Walmart store, a SAT phone and season 3 of the wire.

PM: I would bring protest signs to picket in front of Ish's Walmart store, an acoustic guitar and a hammock.

What's been the highlight of your careers as a band?

Ish: The People's climate march in NYC (featured in their video of the remake of “Gimme Little Sign” by Brenton Wood) was a pretty big deal for me. Marching with half a million folks ain’t no joke.

PM: Me too. It felt like music can make a difference, that what you say in a song can say something meaningful. I miss that in much of modern music.

Does living in Southern California influence your music in a good or bad way?

PM: Southern California is fantasy compared to most places on the globe. As a songwriter I have to disconnect from what's here sometimes to make sure I am not getting too arrogant with my lyrics. Afterwards, I'll grab a beer and enjoy the sunshine and law and order. Can't be brooding all the time.