Photo by Bob Sanderson
While the full interview will be the main story in the first issue of
Ricochet Magazine, (more to come on that later) here are a few key snippets of the interview I conducted.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Going back to your older stuff like the All in Time EP. From there to Anytown Graffiti it seems that there was definitely a shift towards more aggressive songs, was that intentional?You know I was reading a great interview with Hüsker Dü who are one of my favorite bands and they were talking about the difference in their first album which was very fast, and I think what they said was that they were playing fast because they were an opening band and they didn’t have a whole lot of time to play their set so they wanted to get as many songs in as possible. I think that its kinda possible that the aggressive sound was more of the live stage experience and I think that we feel like we’re getting out point across that way with the tempo and the tone.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now you’ve had some past issues on tour, you had the hand injury in Chicago and you broke your foot in Seattle, are you more careful on stage now do you take any special precautions?Yeah, I take it into consideration now. I went to the hospital forty times this year with physical therapy and surgery and I think it’s just an altitude thing. I think the precarious situations were about me climbing up things so I probably won’t be doing that as much anymore, although, if you get a couple beers in me who knows.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As a Native Philadelphia, I’m interested as to where the song "Philadelphia" comes from?I have an old friend I went to grade school with that lives in Philadelphia that was going through some upheaval personally, I think, with the fiancé and it was very difficult for me because I went to visit once and I really didn’t appreciate the way he was treating her. And it was strange to be in an adult frame of mind with an old friend that I remember as a childhood friend and I believe that I wrote it thinking of her and how much I really didn’t like this dude. I mean I grew up in Northern California so a lot of it’s kinda imagined, it’s like how believed Philadelphia would be in this scenario I guess. So it was kind of me meditating on the situation my friend had found herself in and the backdrop would be Philadelphia where she lives.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Well on the topic of YouTube videos and bootlegs and that stuff, what’s your outlook on that stuff?Um...I think in the new landscape of music, you can’t get enough music out there. Personally, being a musician, money comes and goes and I haven’t purchased a record in a while because I also don’t like to accumulate trash and I try to be as green as I can and it makes me feel weird. I mean, I buy it for the album art often and some people don’t even do album art anymore, so I’m stuck with this piece of plastic so I understand it. I mean, I know people get precious about it but they really have to understand that people just want to listen to music and any way that can happen is okay. If we can get past money and all the ridiculous business bullshit I think what you got is people finding their way to music and I wouldn’t want to impede that at all. I mean, people want to listen to art and that’s kinda why we’re doing this right?I can’t even begin to list how many bands I’ve found through music blogs and those kinds of things, especially through their live stuff. I mean I’ll look for live stuff just as much as studio stuff because music is a live art.Yeah, thats a big Pela value. A thing we’re really proud of is that, I think when we step on stage it’s not really conscious, but the show is not about us. It’s about the listener, it’s about the audience you know? You guys are coming out and our comfort level is secondary. We’re trying to give you a good time and help you forget, you know, whatever recession or bullshit is going on in people’s lives and we’re trying to elevate and forgot about our mundane lives. I wish more people felt that way because I’ve seen people pull rockstar moves and be ridiculous and it’s like, “man, if you could just understand that it’s not really about you, it’s about the fans that come up to you and talk to you about their lives and what stuff means to them,” that’s what it’s about.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As I mentioned earlier, the full interview will be the main story in the first issue of Ricochet Magazine. So what is that?
Ricochet Magazine is a fan zine written and produced by music fans. Some of us are writing majors trying to get a head start on the business we want to be a part of, and some are just fans who want their opinions heard. We will soon become you number one stop for interviews, reviews, commentaries, and whatever else you want. The first issue is coming in May so keep a lookout here for more information about the zine, and where you can find it once it's out.
Well, it's finals week. What does that mean? It means life sucks. You want to drink, party, and be tan for summer, but instead, your stuck in the library or planning your leap out a 12 story building, depending on how extreme you get. And so far, I've only had one final exam - in Electronic Media. Granted I'm retaking the course, but it was still a slap in the face kind of final, just because it was more intense than the Normandy invasion of 1944. That is one course that I will definitely not miss. Sorry Professor, but during class, I mainly counted down the clock, wrote song lyrics, and predicted the next time some nerd would make a stupid audio/video comment. Good lord.
April 24, 2009 (Playlist):
From KUR Manager Mike Regensberger:
Tonight is the last waltz.
Yes. The Battle of the Bands is tonight. A long and strenuous journey is over and now our hard work will pay off - hopefully. The weather might be shitty, the bands might not sound the best, and a slue of other things could go wrong, but we're committed to pulling this off and gaining money for the Mary Therese Rose Foundation, which helps kids with genetic disorders. So I'll be there. So will Jim, among other KUR DJs. We promise great fun and a night of ... music. For more information, check out our homepage @ kur.kutztown.edu. The event starts tonight at 7 PM out on the DMZ. C-ya then!
Man, that's summery.
Oh yes, some serious crunching of numbers and organizing took place, but this is really something crazy. I never realized how many tunes we play in total, not including background music! Here's what we had played in the Fall of 2008, when our show was in it's first months of life. Aw. And to make it fun, it's all alphabetized. Thanks, Internet!
April 17, 2009 (Playlist):
You know these guys. They're basically the welcoming mat for all those who wish to journey into the independent music circuit. Yes, they are a springboard. Yes, they are from Seattle. Yes, they have had their major label battles. And yes, they're a hit with the ladies (chicks dig the sensitive and shy indie nerds). They've been around for awhile, since '97 to be exact. Since then, they've made some really interesting music videos - some released officially, others released on limited edition DVDs. With all that being said, the videos are worthy of a NMTM countdown. Let's start, shall we?
We always make good on our promises. And mark this down: we promise that our show, this Friday, from 6-8 PM on Kutztown University Radio, will be stellar. Hell, it might be our best show ever - that's how confident we are. It's crunch time, radio-listeners. The semester is nearing the end and you'll soon be without our lovely program for an entire four months. But don't fret, because before the seasons switch yet again, we'll provide you with the soundtrack for your summertime blues. Take a gander at this poster: The Sex Pistols! Cursive! Silversun Pickups! Los Campesinos! Variety, variety, variety! So call a friend and fill him or her in on this great occasion. Rock and roll is alive with Never Mind the Mainstream and our calling is to bring the tuneage to you. Call in at (610)-683-4058 or IM us at KURRequest all show long! See you then (at the low end of the dial).
April 10, 2009 (Playlist):
We talk on the show, frequently these days, about the changing of the seasons. Winter seemed to linger like a bad dream. We had snow on our Spring Break (if you want to call in that). And the early parts of Spring tantalized us with cold weather trickery (kind of a slap in the face when on days like St. Patty's Day, the high was in the 70's). Weird stuff. So what is it people say about April? In like a lion, out like a lamb? April showers bring May flowers? What does this have to do with alternative rock? Good question. Here's a good answer (on Good Friday): I've devised a nice little mix for you all to enhance your springtime merriment. It socks. It's called being a nice guy - I'm trying it out. These songs have to do with the time, the feeling, and the greatness that
New music is the essence of tonight's show, kids. Half of our music tonight is from 2009! But for our older listeners, we still got a stacked line-up of great classics, just for them. The poster paints the picture. Also, our background music tonight is all your requests! So, call in or IM us with what you want to hear. This is a people's show. So it goes. Tune in and enjoy Never Mind the Mainstream!
