Archive for the ‘National Artist Interview’ Category
Warped Tour ’08: 3OH!3
Band: 3OH!3
Genre: Electronic Hip-Hop Rock
From: Boulder, Colorado
Band Members: Sean Foreman, Nathaniel Motte
How do you guys collaborate with writing and making beats?
Sean does most of the lyric writing and I (Nathaniel) finalize most of the beats.
Influences:
Sean- Old school hip-hop, and some new, I like Lil’ Wayne’s new album. I like really good lyric writing, that’s what it’s about.
Nathaniel- Seal, Kelly Clarkston.
How would you describe your music in 3 words?
Nathaniel- Celine Dion ice, and I’ll steal one of Sean’s: Abercrombie Fitch revival.
Sean- David Hasselhoff Underwater.
How did you meet each other?
We both grew up in Boulder and we met at class in college together. We started doing it for fun, just by making beats.
Highlight of this year’s Warped:
Nathaniel- In Denver like 8-10 thousand kids were there just going crazy. It was crazy. Later that night Sean punched our booking agent in the face and did the slip and slide, but it was on tile.
Bands you’ve enjoyed on the Warped Tour:
Bring Me The Horizon, Cobra Starship, there is a lot. It’s a cool Warped this year.
After Warped:
We’re going to play some hometown shows, we haven’t played there in awhile and hopefully a headlining tour.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yea, we’re just a couple of dudes.
Albums:
Want
Listen and Visit on the web:
Interview By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour ’08: DRMANHATTAN
Band: drmanhattan
Genre: Alt Indie Experimental Pop Rock
From: Wauconda, Illinois
Band Members Interviewed:
Andrew (keyboards, percussion, vocals),
Nick Vombrack (drums, vocals)
Getting on Warped:
In 2007 drmanhattan was part of the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands at Warped and they won the spot on this year’s Warped tour.
Influences:
Lyman, granola, nature, the sun and the moon, each other! Oh, and Say Anything, yeah!.
Band Name Origin:
It’s from a character in a book [comic book] called Watchmen. It’s a really good book, you should check it out!
Highlight of this year’s Warped:
It’s amazing to be here, I mean we get three meals, actually we eat better here than back at home! People are nice everywhere we go. And it’s like a big dance block party after the shows, we play with soccer balls. Hanging out with Bring Me The Horizon is fun,
they recently joined and they are hilarious.
What’s next after warped:
A world tour! No, really we’re going to play a birthday party maybe, and then do some laundry and shave.
Upcoming Ohio Dates:
August 29, 2008 at the Toledo Civic Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Albums:
drmanhattan on Vagrant
Listen and Visit on the web:
Interview By Neil Shumtae, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour ’08: ANIMO
Band: Animo
Genre: Punk Rock
From: Arvada, Colorado
Band Member Interviewed:
Brian Johannsen (lead guitar, vocals)
Getting On Warped:
A few years back the band drove to Las Cruces, New Mexico on a mission to meet Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman. Drummer Jimmy Blair happened to run into Lyman and he liked the band’s persistence to perform at Warped. Lyman let Animo perform that night and for five years they have performed at the annual Warped tour. In exchange for a spot on Warped, Animo is part of the stage set-up and break-down crew. Johannsen says, “we’re just staying alive, we start set-up as soon as we arrive at the venue early in the morning and usually start break down around 6:30PM that lasts throughout the night.”
When did you first become interested in music?
I was 15 and I was given a bass guitar for my birthday.
Highlight of this year’s Warped:
In San Francisco seeing all the Gibson guitars was pretty cool.
Between Warped Dates:
Sometimes we go to a movie theater, that’s a place that is opposite of Warped: dark, cold and quite!
After Warped:
We’re working on setting up a fall tour, possibly with some of the bands on this year’s Warped, nothing’s
set just yet, but we are crossing our fingers.
On Blood In The Water album:
With a Masters in recording, Johannsen produced Animo’s full length album with the cover art designed by legendary punk rock artist Arturo Vega (Ramones logo designer). The band released the album independently with no help from major label distribution under their own Sans Radicles Records. Kevin Lyman calls them “ultimate DIY kids.” With many bands turning to the internet for free releases to fans and independence from large scale record labels, Johannsen says, “online is becoming a new physical medium… most of the kids just put CDs on their i-pods now anyways.”
Albums:
Blood In The Water (2008), One Hope, One Mind (2007)
Listen and Visit on the web:
Interview By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour ’08: ALL TIME LOW
Band: All Time Low
Genre: Pop Punk
From: LUTHERVILLE TIMONIUM, Maryland
Band Member Interviewed:
Alex (lead vocals, guitar)
Describe the Warped Tour in three words:
dirty, sweaty, fun!
Highlight of this year’s Warped:
Last night [7/28/08] our band went to Denny’s with Say Anything and Family Force 5, there were a ton of kids that went there too.
It was so fun, I even started serving the kids myself!
Struggles of this year’s Warped:
We’ve been on the Warped Tour about 7 days now, so none yet. But, in Pennsylvania our set got rained out
and we had to stop after about four songs.
On the bus:
We play X-Box sometimes, and I watch movies all the time, sometimes like 3 a day! I haven’t really been listening to any new music, but I’m really stoked for the new Jack’s Mannequin CD.
With the release of So Wrong, It’s Right, you guys faced a little controversy with high school students displaying the band photo of you guys in whitey tighties… how did that all play out?
We just waited it out, it was pretty funny! The kids never worried about it.
After Warped:
We’re going to the UK for a couple days and then playing some Six Flags shows, and headlining this fall with Mayday Parade and Every Avenue. We’ll start recording next year too.
Advice to local bands:
Make good relationships with every band. You can’t do it alone.
Upcoming Ohio Dates:
November 20, 2008 at Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio
November 22, 2008 at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio
Albums:
So Wrong, It’s Right (2007), Acoustic Remixes (2006), Put Up Or Shut Up (2006)
Listen and Visit on the web:
Interview By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour ’08: FAMILY FORCE 5
Band: Family Force 5
Genre: Alt-Rap Electronic Dance Rock
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Formed: 2004
Band Members Interviewed:
Derek “Chap Stique” Mount (guitar), Nathan “Nadaddy” Currin (keyboards, turntables)
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, The Secret Handshake, drmanhatten. There’s so many more too!
Highlight of this year’s Warped:
Our show usually ends up being a big dance party and this year, at one of our earlier dates, these three girls showed up with glittery gold costumes! It was great, they even had their own dance moves choreographed to our music! We like to have that element.
Struggles of this year’s Warped:
Derek: Our bus driver put gasoline in our bus! Nate: Yea, when it was supposed to be diesel! Derek: So, we had to take it to this place to get it cleaned out, everyone thought our bus would be destroyed! It set us back a little, but it all worked out and we were actually able to fix it!
On the bus:
Derek: We spend a lot of time hand washing and drying our costumes. We wear these Voltron future looking suits on stage. Nate: We end up using a lot of Febreze on them! Derek: We write a lot on the bus too, we wrote much of our new album on the bus. We also watch Transformers.
What advice can you give to local bands?
Nate: Pay your dues and work really hard, become friends with every band that you perform with. Appreciate the free meals and showers you get if you head out to tour. Derek: Treat everyone with respect, if you’re in it to get rich and famous, you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Nate: Form relationships with everyone you work with and assist them, because they may end up assisting your future and career.
After Warped:
We have a new album release, Dance or Die on August 19th and there is a fall tour planned called “Dance Rawr Dance II” with PlayRadioPlay!, Danger Radio and UltraViolet Sound.
Upcoming Ohio Dates:
October 19, 2008 at Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio
Albums:
Dance or Die (2008); Business Up Front, Party In The Back (2006)
Listen and Visit on the web:
Interview By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour ’08: GYM CLASS HEROES
Band: Gym Class Heroes
Genre: Alternative Rap Rock
From: Geneva, New York
Formed: 1997
Band Member Interviewed: Disashi (guitar)
On the bus:
We make music and hang out.
What music are you into now?
Muse is one of the biggest right now, I’m really into them… and Kanye’s stuff.
After Warped:
Releasing the new album, and we’re doing some more touring in the UK and
then plans for a headlining tour in the Untied States with The Roots.
On the upcoming release of The Quilt on September 9, 2008:
I’m excited to see the reaction on the new album. We’re all over the place with a wide range of genres that we cover.
The CD is ready to go. We play 3 new songs from the album on Warped.
Question from “out of the blue”:
My favorite food is mac and cheese and mom’s rice and beans and butter.
Albums:
The Quilt (2008), As Cruel As School Children (2006), The Papercut Chronicles (2005)
Listen and Visit on the web:
www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes
Interview By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour ’08: COBRA STARSHIP
(photo credit: Lauren Dukoff)
Band: Cobra Starship
Genre: Alt-Pop Dance Rock
From: New York
Formed: 2005
Band Member Interviewed: Alex Suarez (bass)
Who’s idea was “Holla Back Boy”?
That was Gabe (lead vocals), he made it and brought it to us!
Highlight of this year’s Warped:
Some girl came up to me asked me for my sock. I ended up giving one to her… so I didn’t have a sock on one foot for the whole day.
It felt kind of weird. I’m not really sure what she did with it.
Struggles of this year’s Warped:
There really hasn’t been any obstacles.
On the bus:
We play Halo on the bus, and we write too.
Maybe some of the stuff we are working on will end up on a new album.
After Warped:
We’re going to Europe for some dates with Panic at the Disco! and The Academy Is…, and then coming back to the states for a headlining tour with Forever The Sickest Kids, Hit The Lights and Sing It Loud.
That tour is called The SassyBack Tour!
Upcoming Ohio Dates:
October 12, 2008 at the House Of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio
Question from “out of the blue”:
My favorite fruit would have to be blackberries.
Albums: Viva la Cobra (2007), While The City Sleeps, We Rule The Streets (2006)
Soundtracks: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007), Snakes On A Plane (2006)
Videos: “Guilty Pleasure,” “The City Is At War,” “Little Superstar”
Listen and Visit on the web:
Interivew By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Warped Tour 2007
Written By Tiffany White (TW), Out Of The Blue Publications
I woke up early on one warm August morning to experience the most insane and cutting edge tour I have ever attended. It’s a place where the fans are die hard, and the talent is even more die hard. Yes folks, Warped Tour here we come.
I spent the hot day in the press room, awaiting the oodles of muscians I would encounter. My first interview was with Joe Beck of the band Spill Canvas.
TW-So what’s the best thing about being on the Warped Tour so far?
JB- The exposure and making friends with the other bands
TW-What’s the worst about the tour so far?
JB-The heat is definitely the worst part.
TW-What bands are you the most excited to see?
JB-Definitely Killswitch Engage and New Found Glory
TW-Where do you draw your inspirations from when making your music?
JB-My friends and family, and love sometimes
TW-What are some of your influences?
JB-Fleetwood Mac, Saves the Day, and Nicklecreek
My next interview was with Rob Kirkman from the Vincent Black Shadow. This Vancover band is a mix of new school punk with an old school ska twist.
TW-How’s the Tour been going so far?
RK-Amazingly. We’ve play all the stages at least once, I guess you could say we are stage whores.
TW-Any juicy stories from the tour thus far that the world must know?
RK- It’s been pretty easygoing and tame so far, I’ve been reading the new Harry Potter book a lot.
TW-Who are you the most excited to be on this tour with?
RK-Bad Religion, Tiger Army, and Killswitch Engage
TW- Who are some of your personal influences?
RK-I would definiately say Hunter S. Thompson and Gonzo style music influence me. I also love Danny Elfman, Les Claypool, and Danzig
Next in line was Joey Westwood, the bassist of the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The pop punk band is based out of Jacksonville, Florida.
TW-How many times have you been on the Warped Tour?
JW-Its our third time this year
TW-Who are some of your biggest influences?
JW- I would have to say Hendrix and Pink Floyd are big ones. I also love Blink 182
TW-Who are you the most excited to see on the tour this year?
JW-Alkaline Trio, this guys are awesome
TW- If you could play with anyone who would it be?
JW-U2
Derek Sanders was my next interview. His band, Mayday Parade, is a mix of punk and pop, with a hint of rock and roll. The band calls Florida home.
TW-What are some bands that influence you?
DS-I have always love Queen and Freddie Mercury. I am really into the Goo Goo Dolls also.
TW-What’s been the best part of the tour so far?
DS-Playing everyday is an awesome experience. The exposure to new fans is great, and its fun of course.
TW-Who would you like to open for if you could choose anyone?
DS-I’ve always been a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins and Queen. I would also love to play with Fallout Boy.
TW-What band are you excited to see?
DS- The Spill Canvas
TW-Any hobbies?
DS-Video games and reading are things I love to do.
TW-What is one album that has come out recently that you are really into?
DS-I am totally into My Chemical Romance’s Black Parade album. When I first heard it, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. But as I listened to it more, I began to really love it.
TW- What advice do you have for other bands who are trying to break into the scene?
DS-Work hard and be dedicated
Dave Aguilera from Bleed the Dream was my next interview. I hadn’t intented on interviewing him, but we struck up a conversation and the magic happened from there. The band is a good ole rock and roll band from California. On 9-24-2007, Dave announced via myspace that the band has broken up.
TW-How long on have you been on the tour?
DA-Its our 4th year. We know everyone, they are like family
Who are some of your influences?
DA- Well, Danzig is a huge one. I also love Fugazi, Slayer, Coldplay, and Radiohead
What were you listening to on your iPod?
DA-Fleetwood Mac, Rumors
TW-That seems to be a theme today, you are the third person to mention Fleetwood Mac!
TW-What do you do when you are not on tour?
DA- I write music a lot. And since I’m from Cali, I love to skate and surf.
TW- Any Crazy tour stories?
DA-Our Bassist is lazy and doesn’t like to wait until we stop to go number 2. Instead, he poos in a plastic bag and throws it out the window. Well, after us warning him about getting caught, he finally did and was fined $200.
TW-Sounds like a gross lesson to learn…..
One of the biggest buzz on the Warped tour this year revolved around Paramore. The band was on tour last year and made a huge impression. Their lastest album, Riot!, is blowing up the airwaves and MTV with a mix of punk and rock and the explosive vocal style of Hayley Williams.
TW-Hows the tour been?
HW-Its been so much fun, we have truly been enjoying ourselves.
TW-Who are you most looking forward to seeing play?
HW-Newfound Glory and Killswitch Engage
TW-How’s live on the bus with all those boys?
HW- Its our home on wheels, and we are all equally as messy. In fact, I may be more messy than the guys!
TW-What are you looking forward to doing after the tour?
HW-Possibly seeing No Doubt, we heard they are going on a reunion tour.
Warped Tour 2006
The Vans Warped Tour’s distractive groundwork appropriately compliments the chaotic DIY punk lifestyle. Upon entrance a convoy of tents bearing the names of various sponsors lead the way to a mirage of music, vendors, games, and fans sporting Sid Vicious, meticulously styled, colorful mohawks. This, the second stop of a 49 city trek across the country resides here, in Columbus, Ohio.
The eight stages scattered throughout Germain Amphitheater house the music of every explored musical genre in existence. The feature of indie label bands is abundant—from Fat Wreck and Fueled by Ramen to Vagrant and Victory. Kevin Lyman’s eleventh year run of the Warped Tour features nine hours of back to back music with 78 bands traveling in over 120 tour buses, motor homes and vans that crawl across the United States covering over 17,000 miles. On the side, Lyman co-owns an indie record label and also organizes the Taste Of Chaos Tour every Fall.
In reference to the atmosphere, Mike Carden, The Academy Is bass player, told me “it’s like being in a carnival; it’s a great life, just different. Everyday is exactly the same. I wake up, find our set time, play the show, do interviews and autographs, then eat dinner.” Carden said a difficult part of the tour is keeping clean. “Yea, we have to like share three showers between hundreds of people! It’s been five days for me so far!” After noticing the location of the showers near the press area, Carden commented, “yea, I’ll probably hit those real soon!”
Less Than Jake’s sax player Peter “JR” Wasilewski told me “you ought to see it here at eight in the morning! Everyone’s walking around like a bunch of fucking zombies trying to find things! It’s fully a summer camp.” Idle time is unacceptable at Warped. While walking around (oblivious of the fact that well-kept-hidden-inside pallid visages would soon be erased by the antipathetic, inescapable fireball casting rays of intolerable heat from above) fans can read posters plastered throughout the venue, sit and rest at the myspace tent, pick up condoms at the Trojan canopy, meet random Warped performers, play video games or fosse ball, receive a makeover with face paint, and have the opportunity to skateboard.
What about a set list? Nobody was predictably handed a schedule–instead an enormous blow up balloon posted band names, stage names, and set times. Fans were provided sheets of paper with empty spots to fill in their favorite acts to catch for the day. The two main stages (The Jack-N-The Box and Teddy Bear) are housed atop a parking lot, formerly known as Germain VIP Parking. These stages carry the majority of attention considering veteran performances by Less Than Jake, Buzzcocks, Helmet, NOFX, Joan Jett, and Bouncing Souls. The same stages also share the likes of new wave metal punk core acts including: Anti-Flag, Senses Fail, Motion City Soundtrack, From First To Last and Underoath.
Smaller Warped stages feature newbies such as rap trio Gym Class Heroes, AFI affiliated Aiden, Listed M.I.A., and Amber Pacific. The Academy Is’ Carden said “small stages act as an incubator toward reaching the main stage. There is lots of good stuff on the Hurley and Ernie Ball Stages.”
The possibility of witnessing every act is 0/78, but we were able to catch some between interviews. From First To Last, fresh off tour with Hawthorne Heights and Fall Out Boy,is more appropriate for Ozzfest—all members wearing black with matching body paint. Former Limp Bizkit bassist Wes Boreland pranced around in his black underwear while throwing out killer note for note clarity. Eighteen-year-old lead singer Sonny Moore recently battled internet rumors about being dead and committing suicide, but his stage presence proved him very much alive.
The 15 years and running Less Than Jake threw out a mix of ska and punk off their classic Pezcore and current album, In With The Out Crowd. JR commented about their long lasting success: “I’m shocked everyday that kids still come to look at us and play. They always expect to hear ‘Johnny Quest’ and ‘(All My Best Friends Are) Metal.Heads!’” It’s the Johnny Cash rule man—no matter what, he always closed with ‘Reign of Fire,’ people expected that. We get some major shit sometimes for not playing ‘Quest’ or ‘Metal!’”
Buzzcocks and Bouncing Souls represented the closest form of true old school punk pulling it off CBGB’s style. Buzzcocks hit the stage with “Ever Fallen In Love” and hits off A Different Kind of Tension from 1979 as well as their current release, Flat-Pack Philosophy. The endurance of this late Sex Pistols era band was hallucinatory. The Manchester band burnt down the house with a Mod-like anarchist style to share with adoring fans. Bouncing Souls’ lead Greg Attonito sported a blue business tie with an untucked casual shirt. The band threw out fast-paced hardcore songs from The Good, The Bad, and The Argyle, their self-titled album, and mixed in some current tracks off The Gold Record released 6/6/06.
New York City’s Helmet launched hits from Strap It On and last year’s Size Matters. Helmet blew the crowd away as Page Hamilton’s vocals reverberated in unison with thick plucks from his heavy hitting pink guitar. When Joan Jett and The Black Hearts took stage everyone piled in front to watch the 46-year-old Runaways punkstress sing “I don’t give a fuck about my reputation!” Jett, the first female to launch her own record label, also hit up “Cherry Bomb,” and closed with “I Love Rock and Roll.”
Illinois’ The Academy Is, fresh from sharing the stage with Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and Hellogoodbye, pleased fans with their smoldering combo of punk, rock, and pop. William Beckett’s confident vocals can tease the mind with more quality sound than produced from a car stereo. Bass player Mike Carden joined with Beckett in 2002 after their individual rival bands split up. Carden told me they plan to release a new album following the Warped Tour in early 2007. “It’s real hard writing on the road, but right now we’re working on writing. We’re ready to do something new.”
Highly energized Motion City Soundtrack played Warped with the distinct moog synthesizer aligned with a catchy, rhythmic, fun, danceable, head bopping beat! Motion City’s animated stage presence exceeded the barricade. Bass player/backing vocalist Matt Taylor told me he recently watched Nine Inch Nails perform and “that show changed me forever. It was a cathartic experience, and I admire those shows as a performer practicing.”
Lead singer Justin Pierre, sporting finger-in-the-socket hair, told me he can’t believe how artists like “Superchunk [can jump] up and down and [manage] to maintain note for note. They act as role models. Them and Flaming Lips. But, I still need more practice,” laughed Pierre. Pieere’s advice to local bands starting out: “Play as much as you can. Leave your jobs, go on tour! Try it and keep doing it. Go ‘till your broke then come back home, find a new job, make money, and do it again and again. A lot of luck is involved.” Motion City just released a deluxe edition of Commit This To Memory on Epitaph Records.
The Warped Tour is not about success, it’s about fans who attend consistently, every year. JR from Less Than Jake told us, “When I was younger, I thought it (success) was to sell tons of records. But, that’s not it. Real success is being able to do what you want to do, no matter how much money you make, and see kids still come to our shows. Kid’s get jaded, but they know they can always count on music.”
Written By Neil Shumate, Out Of The Blue Publications
Animosity
Mike: So you guys are from the Bay Area, how are the local shows around there, do they get pretty crazy?
Animosity: We really got it great here in the Bay. Our musical community is nearly completely free of all of the bullshit that gives metal and hardcore a bad reputation. Our scene is focused on music, friends and fun; as opposed to fashion, popularity and being tough. The shows out here are pretty awesome. The honest, gimmick-free bands thrive out here, whereas fake ass trendy conformists are ignored.
Mike: How long have you guys been a national touring band?
Animosity: I started the band about 6 years ago in of 2000, We have been touring ever since I was old enough to have a driver’s license, which has been the past 4 years.
Mike: What motivates your lyrics?
Animosity: Unfortunately, my lyrics are usually motivated by the sickening, horrible shit I see in the world. By no means do I carry around mindless hatred and anger with me everyday–I can’t just ignore the harshness of our society. Our latest album Empires has a focus on international and societal issues of domination and abuse of power. I expect my future lyrics to be much more personal as a lot has happened to me since the last album, and my mind seems to be in another place at the moment.
Mike: Do you have any crazy road/ show stories you’d like to share?
Animosity: One time in Nashville, TN this dude named “trademark” poured gasoline on himself and lit his face and legs on fire for us after the show…Another time in Nevada we were getting on the highway and this dude hopped out of the passanger seat of the car in front of us and dropkicked an infant onto the side of the road, and then drove off. We called the police, but I don’t know if they got him or not. That shit was crazy.
Mike: What song would you say is your overall favorite to play live?
Animosity: ”Thieves”
Mike: If you guys could open for one band, still in existence or not, who would it be and why?
Animosity: I don’t really know…I guess Jimi Hendrix…because that would just obviously rule. Need I explain?
Mike: What bands would you say influences Animosity the most?
Animosity: Frank Zappa and the Mother of Invention, Jimi Hendirx Experience, All kinds of Metal, Punk and Hardcore… Written By Mike Coburn, Out Of The Blue Publications
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