Archive for the ‘Interviews (Q & A)’ Category
Published by
Rhea on
November 21, 2009
Having been over a year ago, Mayday Parade still remains the same, but many changes have occurred since then. Now with the recent release of a second full-length, Anywhere But Here (October 2009) these guys are getting to where they’ve always dreamt to be. Catching up on lost time, the guys quickly began to act in their quirky ways. Discussing how they’ve gotten to where they are today, their thoughts on the band, and their input on the album, Mayday Parade doesn’t fail to impress anyone put in front of them. (This interview was done with the entire Mayday Parade band on October 3, 2009 at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, NE).
SDS: If you could state who you are and what you do.
Jeremy: I’m Jeremy and I play bass in the band.
Alex: I’m Alex and I play guitar.
Derek: I’m Derek and I sing.
Jake: I’m Jake and I play the drums.
Brooks: I’m Brooks and I play guitar.
SDS: It’s been since February of 2008 since I lasted interviewed Derek.
Derek: Uh huh.
SDS: How would you say that you guys have changed since then?
Derek: Since February 2008?
Jake: Well, Derek’s facial hair has grown out a lot more.
Jeremy: *points at Derek* He got a tattoo.
Jake: Yeah, he got a tattoo.
*Derek shows his arm*
Alex: We all….
Jake: We’ve all gotten tattoos *shows his leg*
Alex: We’ve all learned how to play our instruments.
Derek: Yeah
*everyone laughs*
Alex: We’ve figured it out.
Jeremy: We’ve got a new album coming out October 6.
Derek: I don’t know. We’ve toured a lot since then and wrote a new cd and we’ve obviously grown as people, changed as people and hopefully for the better.
SDS: Who or what is your main inspiration?
Jeremy: Who is what?
SDS: Who or what is your main inspiration?
Jeremy: For the new cd or just in general?
Derek: In general
Jeremy: Saves the Day and The Get Up Kids for me just because without their music I probably wouldn’t be playing in a pop-rock band
Alex: Any band, any musician. Anybody that I look up to
Jeremy: Like who?
Alex: Like George Washington
*everyone laughs*
Derek: Abraham Lincoln
Alex: People that have overcome adversity. I don’t know.
Brooks: I come across new ones all the time. Especially music. For me it’s mostly music
Derek: We respect a lot of the bands that we tour with and stuff and we look up to them and learn a lot from them, but Freddie Mercury from Queen is the big one.
Jake: Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters for me and some of the guys from Green Day.
Brooks: There’s a lot of new ones that I come across a lot *laughs*, but I like Guns n Roses.
SDS: What are some of the obstacles that you guys have had to face to get where you are today?
Jake: A lot of obstacles.
Derek: Yeah
Jake: We sold cds at Warped Tour in 2006?
Derek: It was 2005 I believe
Jake: It was one of those years
Derek: It was 2006, I’m sorry.
Jake: We rode around in our van and sold some cds. We wrecked in that same van, but we’ve pushed through. We’ve lost a singer. Well, not a singer, but another member and we’ve had to figure out how to perform without him, and I’m glad that we did and we eventually made it to Atlantic Records and we’re now putting out our sophomore release so it’s good. Anything else? What else have we done?
Alex: That’s it
Derek: Yeah, just all that stuff.
Jake: We’ve got tattoos and stuff. *points at Derek’s arm*
*everyone laughs*
Jake: That’s pretty cool.
Derek: That’s probably the hardest thing that band has had to go through was my tattoo
Alex: I think one of us had food poisoning
Jake: Really?
Jeremy: Alex had rabies at one point
Derek: Alex had to overcome his rabies. That was bad
*Jake bursts into laughter*
Jeremy: He had is brother Balex fill in for him
SDS: What has been your most memorable experience since being in Mayday Parade?
Alex: Going to Japan
Jeremy: Yeah, Japan was awesome
Derek: It’s hard to just pick one as the most significant, but for sure, going to Japan. Really, all of our overseas stuff, going to Australia, going to the UK. Going to Alaska was awesome.
Jake: I think all of us are on the same boat that we’ve touched down in every state except for Hawaii, so we’re trying to get there soon. That’d be awesome.
Brook: Playing for extremely large crowds. Those all stick in your head.
Derek: Lots and lots of kids at a show.
SDS: Your second full-length Anywhere But Here, what can people expect from it?
Alex: A huge difference in sound.
*everyone laughs*
Derek: Craziness! No, they should expect a Mayday Parade album you know? We didn’t try to do anything too different. We did the same thing that we’ve always done, which is try to write the best songs that we could.
Jeremy: It sounds the same as the last album. It has a Mayday Parade feel to it. It’s not too off.
Derek: It’s still us.
Brooks: But at the same time it’s totally different.
Derek: *laughs* What?
Alex: Oh, it’s gonna be different. You’re gonna be surprised. *laughs*
Derek: *laughs* Oh, you better get ready. I’m sorry, we’re just kidding.
SDS: I’ve heard it already. It’s really good.
Alex: Thanks
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name Anywhere But Here for the album?
Jeremy: I came up with it I think.
Brooks: I think Cabbage came up with it.
Alex: I’m pretty sure it was Cabbage.
Brooks: Was that? Wait.
Jeremy: That was the one when I was telling Chris Fortell to use.
Brooks: Is it what we were talking about…
Derek: It was basically….
Brooks: Derek!
*everyone laughs*
Derek: Oh no, we can’t give serious answers. It was just a lyric to one of the songs, obviously Anywhere But Here. It was the lyrics to that. Once we decided to name that song that, I don’t know who…
Jeremy: Cabbage did
Jake: I’m pretty sure it was Cabbage.
Alex: Cabbage did it.
Derek: To call it Anywhere But Here.
SDS: Where did you guys record at?
Derek: In Elmwood Park, NJ
Alex: With David Bendeth
Derek: With David Bendeth at the House of Loud Studios
SDS: How would you guys say that Anywhere But Here is going to compare to A Lesson In Romantics?
Jeremy: I hope it does equally as well if not better.
Derek: There’s no way to really say right now. It’s very possible that it could go either way. It’s extremely possible that it could not close to as well and it’s possible that it could do way better.
Alex: I think that we all hope it opens us up to other fans, other people, a new market of kids. We’ll just expand our fan base. Were just trying to do it.
Derek: Yeah, while trying to keep the fan base that we have as well for sure. We don’t want to loose any fans, but we also wish to reach out. It’s a goal you know.
Brooks: And you have to. You can’t just stay in the same spot because then you get such a changing scene of music. There’s different sounding new bands emerging and they become the favorites so if you’re not growing and moving and changing towards other things, you’ll just die off like all the others.
SDS: How did you guys manage to get yourselves on the AP Tour?
Jake: We paid lots and lots of money
*everyone laughs*
Jeremy: They just contacted us to see….
Jake: They contacted us to see if we wanted to do it and we said alright.
Derek: We’re really stoked about it. We found out that we were offered the tour and of course we wanted to do it so yeah.
SDS: That’s cool. I’m glad you guys are back.
Derek: Yeah
Alex: Absolutely
Derek: It’s been a different period
SDS: I saw you guys in Des Moines too.
Derek: It’s been awhile
SDS: It was the Cont… whatever, that tour with All Time Low.
Derek: Uh huh
SDS: Okay, now that you guys have 2 full lengths and an EP, what is your favorite song overall?
Derek: That’s really hard to say. It’s really hard…
Jake: Be careful what you say! Be careful!
Derek: One of my favorites has always been the last song on the EP, The Last Song That Meant Anything. That’s always been kind of my favorite Mayday Parade song. It’s hard to say though because, I don’t know. It would have to be that one or I Swear This Time I Mean It from the new album. It would be one of those two for sure. I don’t know, maybe not though.
Jake: I would say You Be The Anchor…. I got a tattoo *looks at his foot*. I got an anchor on my foot.
Alex: I don’t know.
Jake: It changes
Brooks: It’s too hard for me to answer *laughs*
Alex: Maybe just say you’re not into it *laughs*
Brooks: Maybe say that I’m not into it?
Alex: Because honestly I’m not answering it
Brooks: Yeah, you’ll have to come back. I truly can’t give an honest opinion comparing the new cd with the others because it hasn’t sunk in enough, but it would probably have to be… I don’t know
*everyone laughs*
Alex: They need an answer Brooks, right now.
Brooks: When I Get Home! Let’s just go with that.
Alex: Wrong! *makes sound of buzzer*
*everyone laughs*
Derek: Boring.
Jake: Which song? The EP or the full-length?
Brooks: Oh, uh, the EP. I’m cool, yeah
*everyone laughs*
Derek: I liked it first!
SDS:: Okay, did you answer. *points at Jeremy*
Jeremy: Nope.
*everyone laughs*
SDS: I was going to say…
Jeremy: I would say Your Song from the EP.
Jake: Your Song?
Derek: *with country accent* Your Song. Y-E-R. Yer Song.
*everyone laughs*
SDS: What is another band other than yourselves that you think people should know about?
Jeremy: City Lights
Brooks: I like trains…
Derek: The City Lights
Brooks: Wait, did I miss, did I get the question completely wrong?
Derek: You got the question completely wrong.
Brooks: I thought you asked…
Derek: Trains!
Brooks: Trains. The City Lights.
Derek: There’s a band called….
Alex: By the way, Brooks really likes trains
*everyone laughs*
Brooks: Oh yeah, the City Lights and I like trains a lot
*everyone laughs*
Alex: He just wanted to get that down
Brooks: I was prepared for that question and I thought you were going to ask that.
Derek: Do you like trains?
*everyone laughs*
Alex: Yes I like trains!
Derek: Yes, yes!
Brooks: Trains!
*everyone laughs*
Derek: There’s a band called The Dangerous Summer that I’ve listened to recently that I like a lot. They’re really good. *says something to Alex* I’m done, sorry.
SDS: Don’t apologize, you’re like me. It’s okay.
Derek: Alright.
Jake: You’re like our old bus driver.
SDS: What is an interesting fact about you or the band that you think people might like to know?
Brooks: Trains!
*everyone laughs*
Derek: Umm…
*everyone laughs*
Alex: *laughing* Trains…
Derek: We’re not very interesting
Brooks: I like football
Jeremy: *pointing at Derek* Derek’s tattoo is a line from his favorite book.
SDS: What book is that?
Derek: It’s a series of books called Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. They’re amazing
Brooks: I really like football a lot and it’s college game day Saturday.
Jake: Brooks has been on a massive football kick
Brooks: Florida State just actually lost 21 to 28
Derek: Dang! Wah wah wah.
Jake: *pats Brooks on the back* It’s okay, it’s okay. They’ll keep loosing. They’ll get better.
Brooks: You don’t even have a team
Jeremy: There’s always next year
Derek: There’s always next year
Jeremy: Alex likes to use his cell phone a lot
Alex: Yeah, I listen to my Ipod a lot and read
Jeremy: Yeah, I do every now and then. I haven’t a lot on this tour
Alex: You just started Curious George didn’t you?
*everyone laughs*
Jeremy: I just started, what’s that…
Derek: He finished the Berenstain Bears
*everyone laughs*
Jeremy: I just started One Fish, Two Fish…
Derek: Red Fish, Blue Fish
Alex: Yeah, how was that?
Jeremy: It’s actually very good.
Derek: He’s a big Dr. Suess fan. The Cat in the Hat is one of his favorites. Green Eggs & Ham, All The Places You’ll Go
Jeremy: I still read at a third grade level so…
Jake: So you moved up?
Jeremy: Yeah
Jake: Last week you were at a second grade level.
Jeremy: I’m getting there
Alex: Slowly but surely.
To view pictures from the show, work your way on over to the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
September 20, 2009
Being the newest signings to Fearless Records, reality has yet to hit the guys of Let’s Get It. With touring and meeting some of their favorite bands to playing sold out shows, Let’s Get It has lots to learn, but now have their foot in the door. If you’re looking for a band that is pop-rock with a slight electro influence, Let’s Get It is for you. Either way, check them out! (This interview was done with singer Joe Gilford and Kevin Hammond on August 11, 2009 at House of Bricks in Des Moines, IA).
SDS: If you could first state who you are.
Joe: I’m Joe, I sing in a band Lets Get I.
SDS: What made you guys decide to name your band Lets Get It?
Joe: The phrase lets get it is just kind of like our motto. It’s not very original, but it’s still uniquely inspiration. I mean we listen to a lot of hip-hop and a lot of other types of music and it’s kind of a common things in a lot of hip-hop albums and we’re also big fans of Young Jeezy and he named a couple albums that and it’s a common phrase in that kind of structure which influences us.
SDS: How did the band first come to be?
Joe: Lets Get It came to be a clash in of two local Dayton, Ohio bands. We were always good friends me, the drummer Kevin, the guitarist/keyboardist Chris, we were in a band together. Tyler was the front man for another band, we’ve always played shows together and had really get relationships. Everyone in the scene in Dayton is pretty tight and when our bands fizzled out and people went to college, we kind of gravitated to each other. We came together kind of organically. Taylor shot both of our bands before and he was a common friend of the band. He wanted to get into playing music outside of his photography, so it’s really awesome. He’s pretty cool.
SDS: Who or what is your main inspiration?
Joe: Our main inspiration? Gosh, uh. I don’t know, that’s a really hard question to answer. We just really really love music and all types of music. We just have a ton of different influences and our reason for doing it is, what most bands would say, that we just love it so much. We love being expressive and getting to be creative and getting out and feel the same way we do.
SDS: As far as I know, you guys are the newest signings to Fearless…
Joe: Fearless Records *nods*
SDS: How does it feel to be a part of that family?
Joe: It’s amazing, I’d be lying if I said it was anything short of a dream come true, like literally when I was in the 7th grade I was on the Fearless Records street team, promoting bands like Sugar Cult and the first Punk Goes Acoustic and stuff and we look up to bands like At The Drive-In and Plain White Ts and to be even be considered, in like the same sense with any of those bands, it just blows my mind. Everyone there is very very friendly and the welcome us well. I guess it’s a dream come true. Their reputation is good. They are a really great company, they know what they are doing and they love music the same as we do.
SDS: On top of that idea, I do street team and stuff.
Joe: Awesome, thank you.
SDS: A week ago, August 4, you guys released your EP Digital Spaces…
Joe: Yeah
SDS: What has the reaction been like from fans?
Joe: They’ve been digging it. Again you know, we’re the newest signings to that label and honestly as far as I know, we’re the newest band. We’ve been a band just over a year now and so we’re just getting our feet wet. Not a lot of people knew who we were prior to so when they see us live, it’s usually the first taste they get. Everyone hits us back on myspace and we read all their views and stuff, it seems to be positive. There’s a lot of different types of genres going around right now and we’re getting a lot of flack as far as electro genres and stuff of that nature. Sometimes we get associated and clumped in with those sorts of acts and so from some markets, the cards are kind of stacked against us, but we’re really diverse and don’t like to categorize our selves as anything more than just a pop-rock band. We come at it from that angle and I think people are more pleasantly surprised. We’ve been getting that a lot from fans, and just the newer fans as well. It’s really cool, I’m proud of it, and I’m glad people can just gravitate to it.
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name Digital Spaces?
Joe: Digital Spaces… Um, it’s kind of like… It’s literally just the world we live in now a days. It’s the way our band came together and any sort of successes that we’ve had as far as what’s very much accredited to the “digital age”. You know, there’s a ton of myspace bands out there and I’d be lying if I said myspace didn’t play a huge role in what we do. Before we even toured, we had gotten so many thousands of plays on myspace and by some peoples standards shows some type of progression and success and reach out to people digitally and online this was us kind of playing up on that, the whole Digital Spaces thing is how we’re connected, it’s the way we live our lives, and it’s just forward thinking, it’s just modern and we like to think of our music that way as well.
SDS: What was it like recording under Fearless Records? Like recording your EP.
Joe: Yeah, it was awesome. We demoed out the songs and we were stoked on that and got real excited. The label stepped in and we said “hey we want to do something for real with this. Let’s go back, let’s fine tune everything, let’s play with the stuff on there and see what we can do”. They were really really supportive the whole time and again, they love music and they happen to share our vision with where we want to be in the future and with where we are and they can see that progression and they know how it’s done, so they kind of kept us on track. Some of the guys flew out from California, we recorded in Indiana with Joey Sturgis at Foundation Recording Studios, amazing producer, and it was the first time he got to work with that label. You know, he’s worked with bands like The Devil Wears Prada and Attack Attack! on Rise Records and even he said that the relationship with Fearless is a really good one because they’re really hands-on, they want you to succeed, and they know how to get it done, so it was really cool.
SDS: Speaking of tour, what is one of the craziest things that has happened to you guys so far?
Joe: Craziest thing that has happened to us so far. There is a few. We hung out with a freaking pop music legend, one of the members of N’SYNC. Some how we stayed the night at his house, he was really awesome. No, I don’t know. He’s a super cool guy. Aw, I don’t know. *Yells to rest of the band sound checking* What is some of the crazy things that have happened besides that?
Voice: Besides the…
Joe: Besides the… We hung out, we went to an after party in Chicago with one of my favorite bands Passion Pit, I met the lead singer, The Plain White Ts, some of the guys were there, and the lead singer from The Killers was there…
SDS: Was that last night?
Joe: Yeah it was. No! It was two nights ago. It was after Lollapalooza, that was nuts. *To band* What else Chris, what else crazy happened?
Chris:
Bourbon Street
Joe: Bourbon Street we hung out in New Orleans. I don’t know, this tour’s just nuts. Nuts, nuts, every single night. I feel like I have a ton of stories, I don’t know how appropriate they are, but they’re fun.
SDS: So, have you guys gotten the chance to meet any of the other bands on Fearless?
Joe: Yeah, again, we’re one tour with Artist vs Poet, those guys are awesome, um… Who else specifically? In a round about way, the Plain White Ts. Oh we went and hung out at Warped Tour and got a chance to meet the guys in The Maine, we’re all really big fans of that band and it was awesome, love their music, I’ve always been a fan and they were really really cool people as well. I don’t know, we’re slowly… I don’t know, we’re really new obviously still. The more we get to hang out and tour different shows, the more bands we get to meet but The Maine I think is kind of the coolest one. I’m a fan boy I guess, very cool guys.
SDS: Out of all the songs that you songs have written, what is your favorite?
Joe: Wait, sorry, really fast. Actually, Eye Alaska. I don’t know why that slipped my mind.
SDS: *starts laughing* I love them
SDS (P): That band is awesome.
Joe: That band is so, so good, they’re new record freaking amazing, they’re EP is amazing, that band is awesome.
SDS (P): Those guys are good.
Joe: I’m sorry.
SDS: It’s cool, I interviewed them in November too.
Joe: Really? I love that band.
SDS: I’m also going to see them the 21st.
Joe: Is that with The Cab?
SDS: No. They’re just heading back home and stopping in Omaha.
Joe: That’s cool. I’m sorry.
SDS: No, it’s fine, it’s fine.
Joe: I’m sorry.
SDS (P): It’s cool when you just have this thought and you have to let it out.
SDS: Okay, out of all the songs that you guys have written, what is your favorite?
Joe: My favorite… *At Kevin who just stuck his arm around him* You can chime in also too. My favorite song is one called Shoot For Teams. We always have different formulas for our songs, and you know collectively as a group, and lyrics as well. Sometimes it will just be a story and other times it will be really really personal sometimes, I don’t know. I like to play with things sometimes and that song is one that my personal lyrical style from the same point in time is something really personal and I kind of transformed it to be a bit more universal, which is always cool
and I love the groove of it, I love the way it combines genres, the way that it is. I don’t know. When we write songs, it’s really really organic and I feel like that song more than the others for me personally shows that. *Turns to Kevin* What is your favorite song?
Kevin: My favorite song…
Joe: Kevin, drummer
Kevin: Hi guys, I just kind of barged in on this interview. My personal favorite is probably Do Not Disturb. I don’t know why. For me, that song seemed to come together the most effortless in a way. I think it translates really well. It’s the song that we play last and it’s super powerful, that’s my personal favorite.
SDS: Who in the band would you say is most picked on?
Joe: Gets the most picked on?
Kevin: Oh, that’s easy.
Joe: Chris Lairmore. He plays the keys…
Kevin: Christopher Lairmore
Joe: He plays the keys, he plays guitar…
*Everyone laughs*
Joe: He is our Benjamin Button, he gets younger everyday. He’s right there. *points to a guy in a green shirt with short black hair*
*Chris waves to the camera*
*Everyone laughs*
SDS (P): He doesn’t even know what we are talking about
Joe: He’s just a great guy and he’s fun to have fun with. We’ll say that
SDS: That’s my favorite question.
Kevin: I’m trying to think of a good Chris-ism.
*Camera turns to watch Chris mess with guitar*
Kevin: I can’t think of one right off the bat.
Joe: We’ll go to malls. We’ll go to really big malls and everybody is really really stoked on going to the H&Ms the Louis Vuitton stores and if you can’t find Chris, he’s in the Lego Store.
*Everyone laughs*
Joe: You go to the Cheesecake Factory, you go to get a nice piece of cheesecake, I don’t know you go to a nice Italian restaurant and everyone’s getting the calamari or the this and that and Chris gets grilled cheese.
Kevin: And macaroni and cheese
Joe: And pepperoni pizza and that’s Chris and he’s awesome. I love him
SDS: And there he is *turns camera to face him messing with guitar cases*
SDS: What is one band other than yourselves that you think people should know about?
Joe: God. I want to say, I have to say more than one for sure. Callahan, this amazing band from Spring Field, Ohio, there just really really really really really great. Pierce the Veil, I mean they’re big name, but yeah.
Kevin: Miss May I, they’re from our hometown, they’re kind of metal gods in our area, they’re cool. Who else?
Joe: If you don’t listen to Passion Pit, you really really should.
Kevin: The Early November, they’re not really a band anymore, however they greatly influenced me and you should check them out. The Early November or Ace Enders and a million other people.
Joe: And uh, yeah. I’m trying to think. There’s a ton, we could probably go on for days, but those ones for sure. You’ve got to get them on your Ipod if you don’t have them yet, and Kid Cudi, he’s an Ohio guy, gotta represent. *Turns around, notices table is gone and makes a funny face*
SDS: They’re taking them away.
Joe: That’s kind of weird
SDS (P): So if they pick you up, you’ve got to run.
Joe: *pretends to be lifted and carried away*
SDS: My last question is, what is an interesting fact about you are the band that you think people should know about?
Joe: It could be about me or the band?
SDS: Yes.
Kevin: I’m thinking about you.
Joe: The band. All of us dropped out of college, Tyler has literally half a semester left, he’s an English major, he dropped out to do this. I grew up playing high school football, I don’t know.
Kevin: He was really good, I’ll speak for him because he’s kind of matched up. He was in our newspaper like every other week. He was football captain, he broke, how many school records?
Joe: I don’t know. Seven
Kevin: Seven school records
Joe: This is stupid we should stop.
Kevin: Hold on a second, we should talk about Joe. *walks over and rests his arm on him* Joe is a charismatic guy, super out going, he’s accomplished a lot in his life and I feel privileged that he’s a part of Let’s Get It and I’m glad he’s our lead singer because he’s done a lot.
Joe: Kevin plays a lot of World of Warcraft. I’m pretty sure he’s a level…
Kevin: Not anymore
Joe: He’s a level 80, which I’m pretty sure is the highest you can possibly be.
Kevin: That is true
Joe: He has really really really good gear. He is a math wizard, was an engineer major, he also dropped out of school to pursue his music career and he’s doing pretty well right now. Chris was a music, he knew everything about music theory, he’s really, he’s really smart.
*Camera moves to face him just standing there*
*Everyone laughs*
Kevin: He denies it.
Joe: He likes cheese, he likes plain pizza, he likes plain foods, he like diet coke. Taylor’s a really accomplished photographer, he’s really really good. He shoots for various magazines, I’m not going to name jobs. His photography’s terrible, don’t hire him, don’t go to taylorfoiles.com . I don’t know, and our band is really really really nerdy and we watch Star Wars
Kevin: We watched two episodes of Star Wars today.
Joe: We watched episodes 5 and 6 today. We watched Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi.
Kevin: I’d never seen them before
Joe: He’d never seen them before. We watch Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, those are our movies. And Back to the Future.
SDS: Those are all very good movies.
Joe: I could keep going actually. We actually like Ghost Busters a lot.
Kevin: *laughs* I actually like both of those
Joe: Mortal Combat 1 and Annihilation. We also like…
Kevin: We’re recently getting into Lia Nidus jokes
Joe: We’re getting into Lia Nidus jokes.
SDS: I have never heard of her.
Kevin: They’re not funny
Joe: They’re not funny at all. We’re not funny people… I’m going to stop there, but yeah. You should check us out because we’re Let’s Get It and we just had an album come out August 4th called Digital Spaces and it’s dope.
To view more pictures of Let’s Get It from their show, be sure to visit the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
July 31, 2009
With our last interview having been a little less than 2 years ago, The Audition is still going strong. Catching up on lost time, they now have a total of 3 full lengths and are dealing with a member recently leaving. These guys appear to be still at it and going for the gold. (This interview was done with singer Danny Stevens on June 28, 2009 at The Waiting Room in Omaha, NE).
SDS: If you could state who you are.
Danny: Am I looking at the camera or am I looking at you?
SDS: I don’t care
Danny: I’ll look at you so it’s not weird. Well, I’ll look at the camera for this.
*everyone laughs*
Danny: I’m Danny and I sing for The Audition
SDS: It’s been about 2 years since I last interviewed you.
Danny: Yes
SDS: How would you say that you’ve changed since then?
Danny: Personally? Musically? Band wise?
SDS: Any of them. All of them.
Danny: Obviously I’m a few years older as are you. Things, well the obvious things. We’ve released another album, wait, 2 albums since you interviewed me last. We’ve released 2 albums, wow. A lot of touring, all of the good stuff. We’re all the same people you know, traveling around the world in our piece of crap van, you know, it’s good.
SDS: I think that was new the last time I saw you guys.
Danny: Definitely not new, newer. Probably a few hundred thousand miles less on it, but it works.
SDS: Recently Joe left the band. What was the reason behind this?
Danny: He just wasn’t into it anymore, you know? You can’t force somebody to do something if their heart isn’t fully into this lifestyle. There’s just not a lot you can do. We’re still friends. We hang out when we’re in Chicago, I still talk to him on the phone you know it’s cool, but you just can’t force somebody to do something their heart isn’t in. It’s no ones fault.
SDS: I was just wondering that because I noticed he was gone, but that’s cool
Danny: Yeah
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name Self-Titled Album for it? Could you not think of anything?
Danny: *laughs* Yeah we were lazy
SDS: *laughs* Okay
Danny: We were totally lazy….
SDS: Okay
Danny: *laughing* No, uh, no. We uh, that’s the answer I like giving because I’m lazy and that’s an easy answer. No, basically we wanted to, not really reinvent ourselves, but we didn’t really want to give the album a stigma before it was released because you know when you hear a band name, a song title, or an album you can kind of already tell what that song sounds like or already know what that bands going to sound like, you know what I mean? We really didn’t want to do that with this so we just Self-Titled Album. It’s just, we didn’t want to put a label on it and you take it for what it is. Take it for what you want.
SDS: About how long did it take for you guys to complete the album?
Danny: Writing actually was awesome and we actually took a few months to write. Our last, our Champion we wrote within 90 days which is unheardable, really fast. This one we have we took a few months off just to strictly write which is great because we had so many song ideas and so many cool things and we just got to work it all out instead of rushing it together, so for 2 or 3 months we wrote, and then we were only in the studio for a month though and funny story about that is I didn’t actually finish my vocals in the studio. We uh, the day after recording we flew to England to tour with Alkaline Trio and then we went Australia to do the Sound Way Festival in February so I was doing the vocals in our hotel rooms and in the bus with our little thing so it worked out really well, it was cool.
SDS: How would you say that Self-Titled Album compares to Champion and Controversy Loves Company?
Danny: I think it’s a good blend, it’s uh. We like, we really, we like certain aspects of our music that we think makes it different and you know, we had, on Controversy we had really big, powerful, fast, in your face sing along choruses, Champion we had a good kind of R&B feel where you could really dance to it, and on Self-Titled we tried to blend those 2 together and add on top of that. I think we really accomplished what we wanted to accomplish, I think we did it. When you sit down you go we want this album to do this and to actually do it is a really good feeling.
SDS: Who in the band is the most picked on?
Danny: *laughing* Tim. 100% Tim Klepek. He is so easy, he says some of the dumbest things I have ever heard, seen, it’s just really comical when you just sight back and *sigh*. Him and Ian, our guitar tech, are just two peas in a pod. No offense to them, but they are just so dumb. They’re just so dumb.
SDS: *laughing* I think that’s my new favorite question because I love the reactions.
Danny: Oh, it’s so good. It’s like, okay, Ian our guitar tech, he may slowly be taking the cake on this. We have a GPS on our van, have you ever used a GPS?
SDS: Yes
Danny: It tells you exactly where to go, where to turn, and it tells you in writing at the top. We have like 6 GPS’ in our van because we all have to tell Ian where to go and how to follow the GPS. He’s like *deep voice* wait wait wait it says turn to the right on this street *deep voice* What do I do? Do I turn left do I turn right I don’t know what to do guys, where do I go?. You know, it’s clearly directing you right, like everything. He’ll pull into a gas station and pull out and will be like where did I come from? I don’t know where to go. Am I going the right way? I’m going the wrong way aren’t I? Oh what am I doing? He just like freaks out.
*everyone laughs*
SDS (P): It sounds like he panics.
Danny: He panics…
SDS (P): And then it sounds like he can’t think straight
Danny: He never knows like where he is
SDS: That’s actually kind of sad really
Danny: *laughing* It actually is kind of sad, but we love him. It’s all in good fun.
SDS (P): It sounds real entertaining
Danny: It can be kind of irritating sometimes, but for the most part it is pretty entertaining
SDS: What is one band other than yourselves that you think people should know about?
Danny: A band in our scene or a band, any band?
SDS: Either, don’t care
Danny: Their called Avett Brothers. They’re coming to Omaha, I say a sign out there. August something. Their like a folk, blue grass, indie band. Even if you don’t like blue grass or folk, which you know, most people don’t, it’s really really good songs. They’re probably in the top 3 bands of mine. Their two brothers and this other dude, they play acoustic, banjo, and stand up bass and it’s some of the best songs I’ve ever heard.
SDS: What’s an interesting fact about you or the band that you think people should know about?
Danny: Uh, *laughs*. Ryan has a criminal record right now. Well, not a record, but he’s a felon. He’s a running felon. We got pulled over in Ohio and we didn’t have proof of insurance for our trailer and we hadn’t been back to Ohio, he missed his court date to prove that we had the insurance, so he’s wanted for arrest in Ohio right now.
SDS: That’s sad
Danny: *laughing* He’s a felon. He’s a fugitive running from the law. It’s all getting taken care of, so it’s not a big deal
SDS: There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you about a song.
Danny: Okay
SDS: Approach the Bench, what is that song about exactly?
Danny: That songs about cheating on a significant other.
SDS: Okay, I’ve always wondered that
Danny: Not that I’ve done it, but I…. When did I write that? I wrote that before I had a girlfriend. I don’t know, you don’t really write…. Sometimes I just write songs about nothing, about an idea I have you know, but yeah, that’s what that song is about.
To view more pictures of The Audition from their show, be sure to visit the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
June 26, 2009
Commonly known for their cover of Lil Wayne’s Lollipop, Framing Hanley is a band that they put total heart and dedication in their music and what they do. From dealing with death of a close friend of all in the band to re-releasing their debut album The Moment. Framing Hanley is a strong band and they seem to just be getting stronger. (This interview was done with guitarist Ryan Belcher on May 25, 2009 at The Waiting Room in Omaha, NE).
SDS: How did Framing Hanley first come to be?
Ryan: How did they first come to be? Um, Chris, Branden, and Luke all met in high school and they worked together and then they got Nixon at, there was just like a college bulletin board looking for a new singer and they found him and then I joined the band a little over a year ago.
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name Framing Hanley for the band?
Ryan: Our drummer Chris’ fiance died and she was just a good friend of all of ours and she used to help out with the band so it’s kind of like in memory of her. She was a photographer too so that’s where the framing comes from, it’s like framing Hanley.
SDS: Who or what is your main inspiration?
Ryan: My inspiration? Um, I don’t know. I listen to a lot of Elliot Smith and Circa Survive and Cursive. Some of my original inspirations were like Jimi Hendrix and Metallica.
SDS: Your album is called The Moment, how did that come as name?
Ryan: I guess it was really. I don’t know, things started happening all at once for the band and it was the time that we all decided that this is really something that we wanted to do. It’s just like the moment when things started to come together the way we wanted it to.
SDS: Your album was originally released August of ‘07 and then re-released in November of ‘08. Was there any particular reason you re-released it?
Ryan: Um, well, we went down to Florida a few months prior to the re-release and recorded 3 new songs and we recorded Lollipop and we didn’t want to wait until our next cd and we already put it out as a single so we thought that we would just put that on the cd and re-release it. Yeah
*loud car drives by*
Ryan: *laughs* Sorry
SDS: It’s okay, don’t worry about it
Ryan: And yeah. That was the main reason.
SDS: Why did you guys decide to do a cover of that song?
Ryan: We were at this hometown show in Nashville and we kinda wanted to do something different and it was thrown out there as an idea. It kinda got tossed around and laughed at, but we all started figuring out the parts and stuff. And like I said, we only intended on doing it one time, but then our label caught wind of it, we recorded it and yeah, here we are
SDS: What is one band other than yourselves that you think people should know about?
Ryan: The Veer Union. The V-E-E-R Union, we got to go on tour with them, they’re from Canada. Those guys are a really great band. They’ve got a new single out called Seasons. You should really check them out.
To view more pictures, go right on over to the gallery and enjoy!
Published by
Rhea on
May 17, 2009
“We’ve made this dream turn into a reality”, as quoted in song All In is just what these guys have been doing. From high school to touring the United States and getting signed to Fearless Records, Artist vs Poet is slowly getting the recognition they deserve. Nothing seems to stop them from reaching their goals and at the same time, their music seems to impact many. (This interview was done April 15, 2009 at The Waiting Room in Omaha, NE).
SDS: How did you come up with the name Artist vs Poet for your band?
*random guy walks by*
Tarcy: I had the name a while back. Probably about two and a half years ago, or something like that and it was an acoustic project that I had and then they broke up, I was looking for something new, then he came around *pointing at Craig* and then we joined forces and then brought what we have now.
We’ve had it for a while.
SDS: Who writes the lyrics and music for the band?
Tarcy: So far it’s been me and him *points at Craig*, but for the next album all of us. We’re all going to have a part in it
SDS: Do you have any songs written for it yet?
Tarcy: Yes, we have a few songs, we have a ton of concepts already, but completed songs we have.
SDS: What are some of the obstacles that you have had to overcome to get where you are today?
Tarcy: Going from a Suburban to a van, that was kind of an obstacle. Sleeping in a Suburban with all these guys. School
Craig: Yeah
Tarcy: That was an obstacle
Joe K: I think that’s pretty much it
Joe W: Girlfriends, we all had to break up with our girlfriends, that was fun
Jason: I did not
Joe W: While on tour
Tarcy: He’s lying
Craig: Not being able to see your friends at home. It’s really hard to be honest with you. Not being able to see anybody back home is, I guess a constant obstacle. In the past some of the member changes, we never had a solid line up and now we finally have things right so.
SDS: How do you guys keep yourselves occupied while on tour?
Tarcy: In the van? We play a lot of games., there’s a ton of them. There’s a bad word in one of them though. Myspace.com/bandgamesandshit . So there’s this list of like 20 games on there and that’s what we do basically. We do…
*huge, loud truck drives by*
Tarcy: Now that we have a tour manager, he drives a long way and we just hang in the back. We hav ea full length to write and…
*everything suddenly gets quiet*
Tarcy: Red light.
SDS: Speaking of games, have you guys ever played the bird game?
Tarcy: The what?
Joe W: The one where you do this *does bird game mask*
SDS (D): Yeah
Tarcy: I will never ever play that game. I played it for like two days…
SDS: The crack game?
Tarcy: The what?
SDS: The crack game?
Tarcy: I’ve never heard of it
Craig: I have no clue
SDS: Someone shows crack, you extend it
Tarcy: Okay, I was like what?
Joe K: Oh look, it’s a school bus
*everyone claps*
SDS: In your opinion, what’s the difference between an artist and a poet?
SDS (D): Ohh, good one
Craig: Oh, I know this
Tarcy: Uh, oh
Craig: A poet is… Oh, I’m sorry. A poet is also an artist, but an artist… Oh no no, we’ve had this one before. An artist is not necessarily a poet
Tarcy: Aren’t they both?
Jason: Not really
Craig: A poet is an artist, but an artist isn’t necessarily a poet
Jason: It’s crazy
Craig: I just think we should write that one down
SDS: Okay, which one are you?
Craig: Personally? Both
Tarcy: Both. The versus thing is like wight here *pretends to divide him from rest* and that’s them all the time. It’s really weird
Joe W: Artist, I’m not good with words
Jason: Artist because I’m not good with words either
*everyone laughs*
Joe K: Neither….
SDS: Who would you say in the band is most picked on?
Tarcy: Most picked on…
*everyone points at Joe K*
Tarcy, Jason, Joe W, Craig: Kirkland!
Craig: That one was easy
Tarcy: He’s just really easy
Joe W: He’s a loser
Tarcy: We love him to bits
SDS: What was your first instrument and how old where you when you started playing?
Tarcy: First instrument? I don’t know if vocals can be an instrument, but I started singing when I was 7
Craig: I started playing guitar when I was in about 8th or 9th grade
Joe W: Drums when I was 8 or 9
Jason: Drums when I was 12
Joe K: *whispers* Piano when I was in the 4th grade
Tarcy: He said piano when he was in the 4th grade
Joe K: *yells with accent* Piano in the 4th grade
SDS: For people who have not heard your music, how would you explain it?
Tarcy: Rock & roll
Joe K: *Pretends to do guitar solo*
Jason: Pop rock
Joe W, Craig, and Tarcy: Pop and roll
Joe K: Pop and roll!!!
Tarcy: Hey!
Joe K: It’s new, that’s new
Joe W: New genre on Itunes
Tarcy: Pop and roll
SDS: What is one random fact about you or the band that you think people might like to know?
Tarcy: The one that I’m always saying… I’m the last of 8 kids in my family with all T names, we’re all Mexicans…
SDS (D): Say it
Tarcy: Tony, Terry, Trudy, Tracy, Tammy, Tory, Tavy, Tarcy
SDS: Can you say it again? *laughs*
Joe K: Magnifico
Tarcy: What can I say?
Joe K: If I knew that was going to be my last kid, I would probably name him Rick.
*everyone laughs*
Joe K: Tavy, Tarcy, and Rick
*everyone laughs*
Craig: Um, I don’t know. I can’t think of anything so.. I’m kind of quiet, not a dick
*everyone laughs*
Craig: It’s not because I’m rude or anything, I’m just kind of shy
Tarcy: For all who see this, and no he’s not a dick
*everyone laughs*
Tarcy: *pretends to post imaginary banner on wall* And Craig is not a dick
*everyone laughs*
Joe W: Well, when I was 8, my parents signed me up for ballet, tap, and jazz
*everyone laughs*
Tarcy: There are pictures all over the internet
Joe W: Actually if you go to myspace.com/the….
SDS: What? Say it again
Joe W: The February Heartache, it’s actually a profile pic of me in dance
Jason: I was completely home schooled. Tarcy was too
Tarcy: But it was fake home school, it was fake
Joe K: Uhh… *looks at Craig* What? I’m a very slow eater.
Jason: He’s a very picky eater
Joe K: I ate Belgian waffles and I took too long
Tarcy: This is Kirkland at a McDonalds *walks up to camera*. I would like half of the burger with mayonnaise,
Joe K: No!
Tarcy: Half with mustard, three quarters of the pickle in the middle of the burger, if you could shave off half of the sesame seeds that would be great
*everyone laughs*
Joe K: I guess that’s how I eat…
Tarcy: I’m joking, I’m joking
Joe K: What’s wrong with saying only mayo?
SDS: Well, because mayo is nasty…
Craig: I agree with you
Tarcy: Well, I agree with Joe (K) *gives him a high five*
To view more pictures of Artist vs Poet on the Guys Guys Guys Tour, be sure to check out the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
May 16, 2009
Having only 2 band members, a song on the radio, and having the opportunity to co-headline the 2009 AP is the one and only 3OH!3. Singers Sean Foreman and Nat Motte started 3OH!3 in their hometown of Boulder, CO in 2007 and from when they started, they have gotten farther than they could have ever imagined. (This interview was done April 9, 2009 at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, NE).
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name 3OH!3 for your band?
Nat: 3OH!3, 3-0-3 the prefix is the area code of Colorado and Sean actually got it tattooed on his leg as like a formage thing
Sean: And then I got it quickly removed with a cheese grater
Nat: No and then it came down to naming our band and we were already making music and were like, he kind of has a cool tattoo so we should just name it that
SDS: What is it like being a band starting out in Colorado?
Sean: It’s cool. Colorado is a great scene for music. I think the fans are super supportive, there’s a lot of new grass root kind of bands and lot of scenes that are in Colorado and a lot of bands that stop through Colorado, obviously because it’s in the middle of, I don’t know it’s kind of literally the crossroads of America. A lot of people drive through so they play there. We got to see a lot of different music growing up so it’s cool
Nat: Yeah, people really support our music a lot in Colorado. I mean coming from there, obviously, everything is a result I think from how supportive people are and how they go to shows and buy music and go crazy, so it’s great. It’s great to know that we’re from such a tight place.
SDS: You guys only have two people in your band?
Nat: Yeah, just me and *points and Sean whistles*
SDS: How would you say that this would compare to having more people?
Sean: You know, a lot more doe
Nat: A lot more *whistles*
Sean: You know, a lot more women, a lot more dude friends to split up
Nat: Wait, if there were more people in the band, there would be a lot more women on
Sean: Okay… Well then, maybe not that. There’s really not…
Nat: Maybe we should just stick to the doe part of it. Well we only get payed according to… They wouldn’t pay a five person band more
SDS: What are some of the obstacles that you guys have had to overcome to get where you are today?
Nat: Um, lets see…
Sean: I don’t know
Nat: There has been some. I think anytime you make something and it’s a little bit more different than the normal bridge your on, people get a little uptight sometimes
Sean: I think every time you’re rapping at a metal show that’s one, or if your rapping in a real, it’s like…
Nat: Bulldogs in harmony, that California show. I mean we’ve done so many different shows in so many different kinds of scenes, I mean, it’s been cool. The vast majority of the time, everything has gone so good and we’ve learned from when stuff is harder and when it isn’t, so I think people are open to having fun and having fun with music and having fun at shows and I think that’s kind of our deal, I think that’s what we wanted to do and people seemed to respond.
SDS: Your album came out last July correct?
Nat: Correct
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name Want for it?
Nat: Actually we were throwing names around, what was it going to be? Bedazzled?
Sean: Bedazzled Mucho Mass
Nat: Bedazzled Mucho Mass, but we ended up calling it Want. I was getting excited and I woke up to tell my brother about it, I was telling him everything and how I was pumped about everything and what we were going to do and I was talking about how I want I want and was sent to him in all caps.
Sean: It’s kind of like over advertisement. It’s like if someone sees want on a cd they’re going to buy it
SDS: In the past week, I’ve heard Don’t Trust Me on the radio 20+ times, did you guys ever expect this song to do as good as it has been?
Nat: No, no we didn’t. I mean when we wrote it, we knew it was fun and we had fun with it. I think it’s like everything. We don’t have high expectations but we sound super super low
Sean: I think that’s our goal in life, set your expectations low and you’ll be impressed with the outcome
Nat: No, I mean we work very very hard, but after all it’s been super amazing and for us I think it’s been great. It’s been great. It’s really satisfying with what we’ve worked for and we’re going to keep doing it
SDS: For people who have not yet heard your music, how would you describe it?
Sean: Uh…
Nat: Um….
Sean: An M80 in a toilet
Nat: That’s pretty good. Exploding or….
Sean: Just hanging in there
Nat: It’s like an electronic influence, a rap influence, I just think it’s, it’s just party music I think. We just do the best we can to have fun. We just have do a crush a little, some electro
SDS: Okay, to Sean. What is one random fact about Nat that you think people would like to know?
Sean: One weird fact? He can put both of his legs behind his head
SDS: Okay, and then the same question about Sean.
Nat: Sean’s a really nice guy
To view pictures from 3OH!3 on the AP Tour 2009, feel free to visit the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
April 30, 2009
Having seen these guys for the first time in May (2008) and my last interview with them in July (2008) these guys have really seemed to and excel. Going from just being an opener on The Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour to co-headlining The AP Tour, these guys have gained experience as well as a loyal fan base. The Maine has been around since 2007 and have seemed to grow up along with their fans. The Maine is currently on The AP Tour (until May 9) and will be on the whole Warped Tour this summer, so be sure to find the date closest to you and support these guys! (This interview was done April 9, 2009 at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha, NE).
SDS: I interviewed John Ohh last July. How would you say that you’ve changed since a year?
Garrett: Since a year… Well…
Pat: July…
SDS: Since the Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour.
Garrett: Since then?
Pat: A lot and then not a lot
Garrett: Definitely, I feel like we’re the same people
Pat: I feel like we know how to tour and stuff, we know how to set up our equipment actually
Garrett: Benji from Good Charlotte came out to the L.A. show and he said it was such a huge change from…
*Someone comes onto bus*
*Everyone laughs*
SDS: *whispers* You can come in, join us
Pat: Aaron, come on man.
Garrett: It was such a huge change from seeing us on that tour back with us and seeing us in L.A. a week ago it was almost seeming like a completely different band on stage, but we’re just like the same dudes. So, that was cool to hear.
SDS: No longer using your van for this tour and you have this nice bus…
Garrett: Yeah
SDS: Is this permanent or just for this tour?
Garrett: Well… We’ll see.
Pat: Yeah, we’ll see. I think we’re going to share a bus on the Warped Tour with A Rocket to the Moon so, that’s kind of what the plan is for now.
Garrett: We’ll just have to see what’s going on after that.
SDS: Previously people were able to write on your van, what would you do if they wrote on your bus?
Both (Pat & Garrett): Uhh… *both laugh*
Garrett: It would be a little different because it’s not ours.
Pat: We’d probably get very upset
Garrett: We’d probably have to pay a lot of money. Yeah, it would not be fun.
Pat: Oh, that would suck
SDS: So, do not write on the bus
Garrett: Yeah, hopefully they don’t
SDS: Almost all of the shows on this tour sold out and did so several months before. How does it feel playing all these sold out shows?
Pat: It’s absolutely insane
Garrett: It’s an absolutely crazy feeling
Pat: I don’t even know
Garrett: I don’t think it has anything to do with us, but yeah.
*everyone laughs*
Pat: It’s awesome playing in front of a lot of kids. It’s been great for us.
SDS: Okay, you guys had recently gotten adopted by Denny’s All-Nighter.
Garrett: Yeah
SDS: And are stopping at 2 Denny’s on the tour starting here.
Garrett: Yeah it’s tight
SDS: Did you guys get to choose the cities or is it just random?
Pat: They just chose them randomly I guess. I don’t know if there was a reason for why they chose here or wherever else we’re doing it.
Garrett: We just got an email and were like alright, let’s do it
Pat: We’re excited about getting some free food
*everyone laughs*
SDS: Do you know how long the all-nighter lasts? Does it really last all night?
Garrett: No
Pat: *laughs* No… I think…
Garrett: We’re just going to eat dinner
Pat: We’re going to eat, hang out with the kids for a little bit, then we’re going to take off
Garrett: Come back to the bus, watch Lost season 2
SDS: You guys are on tour with A Rocket to the Moon and from my previous knowledge you guys are pretty good friends. What is it like touring with them?
Garrett: It’s weird because it’s really like our best friends from home. It’s like Max, well Max isn’t really in the band, but Max, who is our tour manager, John’s at Max’s house almost everyday and then Halvo used to live there which is Eric, their bass player. It’s like this big group of friends who actually hang out every weekend when we’re home. It’s just like everyday, one of them or two of them are staying on the bus every night
Pat: It kind of makes it feel not like tour
Garrett: It’s really weird. I mean it’s awesome, it’s probably the funnest thing ever
SDS: On April Fools Day, you guys announced Kendra Wilkinson being on tour with you guys
*Both Garrett and Pat laugh*
SDS: Whose idea was this and did you guys get the chance to read any reactions from your fans?
Pat: Um
SDS: What do you think about that?
Pat: The people at buzznet, we’re pretty close with them over there, we do a whole bunch of stuff with them, and they said, I guess they were doing something with Kendra and they asked her to make a video and sent it to us. We saw it and we were like we should put this up.
Garrett: We were just thinking what. I was just so…
Pat: It was just so. We got, we heard the idea I think the day before and were thinking this is the most random thing I have ever heard but were just like, whatever, lets just do it. I read some reactions and for the most part everybody just knew it was a joke and for everybody who didn’t, I guess that’s kind of funny
Garrett: I don’t know how you wouldn’t
SDS: I remember reading some comments and this girl was talking about how she was going to go cry now
Garrett: It would be funny
SDS: It would be
Garrett: If she played keytar in our band
*Pat and Devin laugh*
Pat: It would be ridiculous man
Garrett: We would be so much cooler. She would be like
*Garrett and Pat imitate playing keytar*
Garrett: *To Pat* Was that the keytar?
*everyone laughs*
SDS: *To Garrett* I know you have tattoos.
Garrett: I do
SDS: I don’t know about Pat.
Pat: I do not
SDS: How many tattoos do you have? And describe one.
Garrett: *mentally counts* I have 5. 4, 5. *Pat and Garrett count*. 5.
Pat: Oh, I forgot about that one.
Garrett: Describe one…
SDS: Your favorite one or whatever.
Garrett: *Points to upper part of right arm* The one I have right here is this peace sign kind of looking thing, but at the top it’s a cardinal. It’s actually the symbol of Ryan Adams, his album cardinology and that’s where I got the idea for that one, and that’s pretty much it.
SDS: Cool
Garrett: Thank you
Pat: And I am too afraid to get a tattoo, so I will probably never get one.
Garrett: Plus I will probably remember this one because it hurt so bad
SDS: Is that why you’re afraid to get one?
Pat: Well… That and the fact that I would probably change my mind the next day and be upset about it, we’ll see
SDS: Who would you say is the most picked on person in the band?
Garrett: In the band or in our crew?
Pat: Band?
Garrett: Band, Kennedy and in the crew…
Pat: Our guitar tec Aaron
Garrett: Aaron
Pat: Definitely
Garrett: They’re both ridiculous
SDS: Previously looking at the things I have gotten signed by you guys, they have mustaches on them, is there a reason you sign things with mustaches?
Garrett: Because we all want to have mustaches. Well at least me and John want to have mustaches
SDS: That’s what I thought
Garrett: Or beards. I want a beard, he wants a mustache. I mean, he does it then we try to have a who can draw the best mustache or whatever
Pat: It’s just drawing
Garrett: It will usually start out with a mustache, then it goes to a beard and then an eye patch and then some chest hair, then hats or something, I don’t know. We seem to change in our own pictures
SDS: Yeah, my copy of you The Way We Talk EP has like a bearded woman on it with an eye patch and some glasses…
*everyone laughs*
Garrett: We like pirates I guess
*Garrett coughs*
SDS: Are you okay?
Garrett: Totally
SDS: That would suck being sick on tour
Garrett: It was worse, I had to go to the hospital thing. *To Max* What’s it called?
Max: Urgent care
Garrett: Urgent care? Thanks Max.
Pat: I think the worst thing about him being sick is that we can’t kiss anymore
*everyone laughs*
Pat: I’m completely kidding
*everyone laughs*
SDS: You guys seem to receive many gifts from your fans. What is the most memorable gift that you have received?
Pat: Speedos, with all of our names embroidered on them
Garrett: That was yours?
*everyone laughs*
Pat: That’s a memorable gift
Garrett: We got this huge, huge bucket one time filled with all of our favorite things. Pat got the first year of Full House, it was just like insane. That was in Austin, I remember that. I remember it took up the whole… No one could sleep in the back for…
Pat: And I remember we got another bucket on the last day of the All Time Low tour
Garrett: That was awesome too. Yeah, big buckets
Pat: Anything we get
Garrett: Anything we get is awesome for sure. We got brownies the other day and munched on those for awhile.
SDS: Easter’s on Sunday, do you guys have any special plans?
Garrett: *shocked sad voice* Easter’s on Sunday?
SDS: Yeah
Garrett: Where’s the time gone?
Pat: We’re going to be playing at The Rave *to Max* right?
Garrett: It’s haunted there…
Pat: Yep, it’s haunted there.
SDS: Is that the one place you took the video of Kennedy in the pool?
Garrett: Yeah
Pat: My mom sent us a big package
Garrett: Whoa… You said the Easter Bunny sent us a package…
*everyone laughs*
SDS: Oh, no…
Pat: Sorry.. It was my mom. So really…
Garrett: *sounding disappointed* Just don’t tell Jared
Pat: He still believes, he’s still a kid at spirit…. Hopefully my mom sent us some sweet stuff and something to do
Garrett: Yeah
Pat: And if not, we’ll have nothing to do
SDS: So Pat, *laughing* online you have been spotted throwing tantrums and acting as rat boy. How did these start out?
Garrett: Rat boy? What does rat boy mean?
SDS: Does it have a meaning or is just something random?
Pat: Well no, there’s actually this band called The World Alive got signed to Fearless…
Garrett: I was seriously just about to say that
Pat: Their guitar player Tony, me and Garrett and have known him for a long time, he gave me the name Rat Boy and that was before I did the whole freak out thing, just because I have really big ears
SDS: That’s sad
Pat: No though, actually I do *shows ears*
Garrett: No you did it and they saw your ears and your hair behind your ears and said wow you look like a rat and then that’s when it happened
Pat: And yeah, that’s…
Garrett: That’s a band you guys should know about The World Alive
SDS: New band on Fearless?
Garrett: Yeah
SDS: I’ll probably interview them
Garrett: They’re awesome
SDS: And just so you know, those videos make my day
Pat: Thank you
To view pictures from this show, feel free to check out the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
March 16, 2009
Having been almost a year since last interviewing The Cab on their very first tour, singer Alex Deleon to be exact, The Cab seems to be getting closer to where they are wishing to be. From playing on stages with Panic at the Disco and recently heading out on their 5th tour with We the Kings (Bamboozle Roadshow), The Cab has been getting more recognition than they could ever ask for. They have just had a Bounce Dance Contest on Buzznet, were hinting at a possible headlining tour in the summer, and were talking about writing songs for a new album. Keep your eyes peeled and watch out for The Cab because ready or not, here they come.
SDS: It’s been nearly a year now that I interviewed Alex D. How would you say that you guys have changed since last April?
Cash: As people or as a band?
SDS: Either
Cash: As people we’re still the same, we’re all brothers hanging out in this little van. As a band I feel like we are developing. More and more kids are coming out to the shows. We’re happy, we’re thankful for everything, we’re in the process of writing right now, hopefully trying to pump out a new record as soon as we can and then, that’s about it.
SDS: Whisper War has been out for almost a year now. If you had to estimate, about how many copies have you guys sold?
Cash: I think we hit the 50,000 mark, I think we’re just a little over that, which is cool, just based off of touring and stuff.
SDS: Well congrats
Cash: Thank you so much. This is good enough for us with our first record. We’re proud of what we’ve got like I said, with our next record, you never know.
SDS: You’ve been talking about how you guys have been writing a new album and stuff. Have you guys gotten any complete songs done yet?
Cash: We have a few. Obviously, we have more than a few. It’s probably more done at 20 or 30 right now, but you could write 100 songs for one record. It’s just that we keep writing and when it comes down to the day when they’re like alright it’s time to record guys we’ll just be like which ones do you like, here’s 100, pick a couple.
SDS: Is it the label that picks the songs?
Cash: No, I mean, it’s not like they have a say, but they’re going to speak their opinion. Obviously they’ve been in the business longer than us so when they feel one song is stronger than the other, they’re going to state their opinion about it and we usually agree with it after a talk.
SDS: A while ago, you guys had done music videos for I’ll Run and Bounce. How did you guys come up with the ideas for these videos?
Cash: We had a great group of people working on both videos. The first one, I’ll Run, basically we wanted that vie of more natural keeping faith and all that. I think you get that message from the video. Bounce we just wanted it to be abnormal, I guess you could say We were all dressed in white and then the paint came out of nowhere. I guess that’s what we were going for, but the teams we had for the videos were really good behind us and great working for, it was just awesome.
SDS: What do you do to keep yourselves occupied while on tour?
Cash: Anything possible. If there’s gear to be loaded, I’ll load it, if there’s a drive to do, I’ll drive. You make yourself very ADD and OCD on tour to keep your mind occupied because if not, you’re just going to sit around and be like Okay, I’m bored. Okay, now it’s time to play a show. Okay, now I’m bored again. So you’ve just got to keep active and just find jobs for yourself to do or else you’re just going to turn into a blob
SDS: What is one band, other than yourselves, that you think people should know about?
Cash: Well if they don’t know Something Corporate or Jack’s Mannequin then they just shouldn’t be listening to music.
*Both laugh*
Cash: No, I’m just kidding. I mean, there’s a few friend bands of mine. This band called Play For Keeps out of Vegas and this band Anarbor, I don’t know if you’ve heard of them
SDS: I’m going to see them in March.
Cash: Yeah, they’re amazing, I love them. You’ll see them on Take Action right?
SDS: Yeah, without Cute and without Breathe Carolina.
Cash: Well, when you do see them, all you say is Cash loves you.
SDS: Where do you guys see yourselves in a couple of years?
Cash: Hopefully still around. I don’t want to be one of those bands you hear a song on the radio or you come see and few shows and you’re like What the hell happened to them? Where did they go?. In a couple of years I want people to still know who we are. I’d like to be touring, I’d like to maybe expand and do some other wild and crazy stuff musically. Just playing music, I think that’s every musicians dream.
To view pictures from the show, please be sure to visit the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
March 11, 2009
Listed in AP’s 100 Bands You Should Know In 2009 is one of the most creative bands out there. The theatrical piano and strings, the creative lyrics, and the connection seen between the members is just beyond amazing. Who is this band I’m talking about? It’s the one and only, VersaEmerge!!!
VersaEmerge first started in 2005 and had gotten signed to Fueled By Ramen late 2008. VersaEmerge is a quintet from Port St. Lucie, FL consisting of members Sierra Kusterbeck (vocals), Blake Harnage (guitar), Jerry Pierce (guitar), Devin Ingelido (bass), and Anthony Martone (drums).
With a female vocalist, these guys exceed all expectations and will absolutely blow you away. “If they wear a hair piece, hopefully it will be knocked off,” laughs Pierce. When VersaEmerge comes out to play, they usually start with a prerecorded introduction (song 1 entitled Theatrics on their EP) and go straight into The Hider. Mainly being an opening band, these guys are starting small, but one day hopefully will make it big.
VersaEmerge is currently on the Craig Owens Tour and will be on most of the dates on Warped Tour. When you get a chance, find a date near you and check them out!
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name VersaEmerge for your band?
Blake: I came up with it. At the time, we were switching between bands, the drummer and I. Versa comes from vice-versa, meaning the opposite or to change and Emerge we felt at the time, it’s kind of what we are doing. It’s to change and emerge.
SDS: Online I have seen your name spelled several different ways, Versa Emerge and VersaEmerge. Which is it?
Blake: It’s supposed to be one word with a capital “E” in emerge.
Jerry: It’s one word!
SDS: Who or what is your main inspiration?
Blake: Personally, anything. We’re proud not to be one of the many bands who take influence from a lot of other bands. I feel it’s important just to take influence from going back in time. I think more diverse influence makes more diverse music.
Jerry: Personally, everything. I don’t think there’s anything that I don’t get influence from
Blake: Life. Life influence.
SDS: How did you guys get first recognized by them?
Blake: First we put up a demo on myspace and after that, I mean, the demo got a lot of attention, it was awesome for us and then after that it was just, we self released our first EP and I think that’s what the industry is always looking for, it’s just that kind of assurance. The demo is kind of like the attraction and then the EP is just the showing that we have what it takes.
SDS: For people who have not yet heard your EP, how would you describe it?
Jerry: Blake says cinematic a lot, I think it fits very well. I think that it definitely has that kind of texture to it. I never really know how to answer that question, which is a good thing.
Blake: Theatrical rock and roll. It’s almost like we score lyrics.
Jerry: I think there’s just times like riding a unicorn through the solar system with a rocket ship setting off.
*Everyone laughs*
SDS: That would be an interesting sound, but okay.
Jerry: It’s a good metaphor. I think it’s well thought out.
SDS: What is one band that you wish to go on tour with one day?
Blake: Muse
Anthony: Michael Jackson
Jerry: Totally. I want to go on tour with Mozart. That would be awesome.
Blake: Is that really possible?
Jerry: He’s no longer living, unfortunately
Blake: On the label, Panic (at the Disco) would be cool
Anthony: That would be awesome
SDS: What is one band, other than yourselves, that you think people should know about?
Blake: That people don’t know about?
SDS: I don’t know, they can I guess.
Blake: Eye Alaska or The Arrival
Anthony: The Arrival definitely. Eye Alaska too.
Jerry: That’s close.
Blake: We were on tour with Eye Alaska and The Arrival and they’re awesome
Jerry: They were like amazing
Blake: To see them get recognition would be awesome
Anthony: It would be great
SDS: I interviewed Eye Alaska like four moths ago
Blake: You’ve heard them and saw them?
SDS: I interviewed them
Blake: You interviewed them? Cool
Jerry: Who? Who?
Blake: Eye Alaska
Anthony: Brandon’s awesome
SDS: Brandon kicks ass
Blake: Check out The Arrival too
Anthony: Yeah, you have to
SDS: I will. Okay, that’s all
Blake: Cool
SDS: Thank you.
To view pictures from the show, be sure to visit the gallery.
Published by
Rhea on
February 13, 2009
Coming from Fairfax, Virginia and starting out in 2006 is one of the newest additions to the Fueled By Ramen family. The Friday Night Boys is a band consisting of singer Andrew Goldstein, guitarist Mike Toohey, bassist Robby Reider, and drummer Chris Barrett.
The Friday Night Boys had gotten signed to Fueled By Ramen in August (2008) and have recently released their newest EP, That’s What She Said. These guys are currently on the Almost Have A Bus Tour with Automatic Loveletter (until February 21) and will be heading out with Sing It Loud soon after. Pick up yourself a copy of their EP and find a date near you and check these guys out!
SDS: How did you guys come up with the name The Friday Night Boys?
Andrew: It’s our favorite day of the week and time as well
Robby: And we’re all boys
Mike: We’re all boys
Robby: Some of us are men
Chris: *laughs* Well, now we are.
SDS: What was the first instrument you guys played and how old were you?
Chris: Banjo and I was about 14
Andrew: Guitar and I was 11
Mike: Piano when I was 9 or 10
Robby: Me too, then I graduated into guitar, then eventually bass
SDS: Who or what is your main inspiration?
Andrew: Main inspiration…
Mike: Licorice
Robby: Like musical inspiration?
SDS: It can be anything
Robby: Video games
Mike: Hand stands
Chris: Rainbows
Robby: Flying black people
Mike: Naked
*Everyone laughs*
Chris: Tarantulas
Robby: Oh yeah, dinner plates
Andrew: Filled with dinner food
Mike: Hot lunches
Andrew: Hot plate specials
*Everyone laughs*
Robby: Tater tots
Mike: Napoleon Dynamite
Andrew: Borat
Robby: Joey Kovar of the Real World Hollywood
Mike: Bicep girls
Andrew: Danger
Mike: Sweat, lipstick
*Everyone laughs*
Chris: Steroids
Mike: Mascara
Andrew: I think that’s it.
Chris: Yeah, I think we’re good.
SDS: Okay, that works. I think that explains everything.
*Everyone laughs*
SDS: What is a must have for you guys while on tour?
Robby: Tuna!
Andrew: Eww, no
*Everyone laughs*
Mike: We watch what we eat
Robby: Water and pretzels
Andrew: Video games, good attitudes
Robby: Computers
Mike: Lipstick, danger.
Robby: No danger!
*All of the guys knock on wood*
SDS: For the people who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your sound?
Robby: The greatest band of all time
Andrew: Catchy, hot
Mike: Ketchup!
Robby: *laughs* Catchy, hot, rock
Chris: *laughs* Molten
Mike: Beatable, busted, bros
*Chris laughs*
Robby: Hot, hairless hunks playing burgundy bust ‘em bass driven beasts
Mike: Audio, danger, man juice
Andrew: Something like that
SDS: By the way, who writes the music for the band?
Andrew: I write everything. Lyrics, melodies, chords, drum lines.
*Chris laughs*
Mike: It’s all Andrew
Andrew: I write it all
SDS: What… *guitar plays* What is… *guitar plays* What is one other… *guitar plays*
Robby: *Yells* Your guitar works!
SDS: What is one other band other than yourselves that you think people should know about?
Andrew: The Dance Party and Runner Runner
Mike: Runner Runner
Robby: People In Cars
Andrew: Yeah
Mike: American Lovers. Ryan!
Chris: Ryan!
*Everyone laughs*
Andrew: Definitely The Dance Party and Runner Runner
Chris: Just these two
Mike: You, Me, and Everyone We Know
Andrew: Oh yeah, Selena y Los Dinos
Robby: *laughs* Selenos y los Dinos
SDS: Okay, my last question is, what is one random fact about you or the band that you think people would like to know?
Mike: I paint my toe nails. Only a clear coat. *Laughs*
Andrew: I lose my socks and underwear all of the time.
Robby: He has a lot of my socks and underwear and I did really well in high school
Mike: Yesterday I was wearing my boxers backwards on accident.
*Chris laughs*
Mike: For the whole day
Chris: I’ve been thinking that I was wearing Andrew’s boxers this entire time, but they are actually Robby’s because he stole them from Robby.
Robby: I have to buy all new boxers now.
SDS: Okay, well that was it and thank you very much
All of Guys: Thank you!
To view more pictures from the show, please visit the gallery.
