Have you ever had soo much fun at a show....
Did Chris finish the tree house (based on an interview I read in which chris mentioned he was building a tree house for his kid)
Yea he did. Well actually hes been doing that and working on this swing set with a slide. I live five minutes from him and in the neighbourhood
Are all the guys married?
No just Chris, myself and Jerry the bass player.
Generally what were the most influential points of your childhood & neighbourhood growing up, who were the people you looked up to / respected?
You know what just the most important thing that I remember as a kid growing I lived in a suburban area just outside of playing with all the other kids and having back yard football and backyard baseball and swimming, the golf clubs and all that kind of stuff. When I moved to the capitol of South Carolina, Columbia, because my folks were divorced I alternated weekends with my dad and would spend the other one home with my mum. So that rules sports out, I couldnt practise and stuff, so I started finding my own things that I could do skateboarding, surfing and music one thing led to another and that whole culture starts to mesh in skateboarding and loud fast music. So I think just like that really working, studying getting into music and playing loud stuff, touring and all that.
What were the first shows or bands that you wen to see then?
You know what actually a few o the guys, Scott the other guitar player, Chris the singer and our original singer used to be in a band called Straight Up. Id go see their shows and Id go see you know Agnostic Front, NOFX actually our very first show was with NOFX it was amazing them and Lagwagon, my earliest memories of shows would be like Biohazard, at the local club where we started playing shows called Rockafellows. Then I saw one of the all time legends Agent Orange and that was just the most incredibly amazing thing I had ever seen at that moment.
Do you feel a level of privilege touring the world -doing what most kids can only dream of? This is your first time in the UK right, but not the first time for the band in Europe is that right?
Yea, well let me kind of back it up a second, when we were doing the band and we all had careers and everything it was amazing that the band was successful enough that people actually wanted us to come to their state or to their country or wherever. So we kept working these careers that had shaped our lives, besides I was a school teacher, Chris and I were both school teachers and so it was amazing back home wed practise at night and do these crazy shows in Boston. Then it was amazing because in the Summer school was let out and we got on tours. We felt really, really fortunate to have that opportunity and as a band we just kept playing and playing just doing two careers each. We were just continually fortunate that people were still interested in us and now that were here everything to do with music, Im just blown away. We wake up get in the van you know, and we just drive and today were in London and Ive never been to the UK. Certainly Ive not seen the whole of London and Im playing a show tonight and its so amazing that we can pick up a guitar or whatever and people want us to come and play there town. Its been a long time coming and its taken a lot of work and a lot of years, but I cant help but just be kind of humbled by the whole experience and I cant believe were here and I cant believe these kids would like to see us play. You talking to me about what I am doing, its just amazing you know? Its really good and I think sometimes you lose track and that when other people are listening to it we feel really blessed.
Do you get much time off on tour?
Not really, on the 6th (Sept 03) we played Iceland, then we flew out on the 7th, which has been the only, day weve had off so far. That was the day we flew to Amsterdam, where we met up with Martin our driver. Were pretty excited because were here tonight and tomorrow night also (supporting Rancid). Were pretty stoked to have at least two days in one town, although there are two nights of shows to be able to stay in one town and stay there the next day is really amazing. Then after that weve got a thirteen-hour drive to southern Germany so well need the two days in London for sure. We generally dont have enough time on tour; we just go at it hard and when we go home just try to relax a little bit.
The conversation starts to turn more into a discussion about David Blaine and his Tower Bridge stunt the guys were interested in checking it out and I explained how to get there and that Id been to see him earlier in the day.
What have been the happiest moments in S.A.S. and are there any particular events that the band have taken part in which really blew you away? Tours /crowd reactions Hey dont worry about it
I remember the very first time we really got into the van and went across the United States because thats what the others in the videos you watch, like the state of mind video in the east coast or vice-versa. I just remember the very first time Ensign from New Jersey invited us to go on tour with them (I mention Im friends with Tim) oh great, they invited us to go on tour with them and it was like we were so absolutely blown away, just besides ourselves. We were playing shows all over and then we were bam in California, playing a club in California and these kids had actually heard of our music, that was a big stepping stone. It was a big milestone; it was the first time we were like yes! This is real and things like that would start to happen bands that we were into like Sick Of It All asked us if wed like to do this number of dates were like your kidding me! It was so killer to have that happen, these icons, these idols who thought enough of us to say want to come and go on this tour. Things like that.
Its always the firsts, like the first tour in Europe 2000, we just couldnt believe it, and it was amazing. Recently we did some dates in Puerto Rico worlds away from when we started up, that these kids want to hear your songs and want to meet you.
Whats it like when you start noticing kids singing along?
You just freak out its like your always pumped, pumped to be playing and alwayss excited but when you see these kids like jumping up and down and singing its like this crazy energy flies up into your stomach.
As far as the band goes when we signed with Solid State, the new album, in fact every time we record it always feels monumental for us and I dont think we take anything for granted, were always pretty excited about the things, I guess thats about everything, those are just some of the things that strike me
Which songs always go down with the crowds? And why do you think this is?
The song for now of the rituals for life album, kids always love that. Outside looking in, is also one of our favourites; from a revolution transmission the song for the record the kids are just loving that. Then also worst case scenario off of Revolution and means to an end those are kind of like when we make the set list those songs are the anchors. I think like with the song for now its fast and just energetic and it has the sing a long parts those seem to always do well. What about you?
Thatll be answered in my next question
One of the most appealing aspects to Stretch Arm Strong the band is the way the songs speak out to people for me, for the record I can totally identify with the sentiments expressed in that song is how I feel.
The music was actually written, Chris & I had gone up to Washington D.C. to record with Brothers Keeper and we did a couple of back ups on there album. So we were driving home and we had a notebook and were like lets get it out and we were literally passing the notebook back and forth. We had some ideas and it just took on a life of its own.
I can remember listening to it the first time and even now and I had the funny shiver go down my back and it felt invigorating
Thank you very much, well definitely play it tonight. With that song its just sort of, you know we were talking earlier about shows that we remember and actually the first halve of the interview is about growing up and to do with that song. Growing up, being in this place and you couldnt wait for the next band and your just sitting outside the club and so many times, we had a million touring bands that came through our state but as a town we quite frequently got skipped over a got bit but there were times when bands were supposed play, that you were dying to see and they wouldnt show or maybe theyd be three hours late, I can see us all just sitting around and waiting for that band to play.
Who came up with the idea of covering Express Yourself an NWA song on your latest album Engage-I take it youve all got different tastes when it comes to music. Did you have to get permission to do that cover?
A couple of years back we were asked to contribute towards a compilation of bands covering rap songs and we always get excited about doing compilations and doing something different, actually Scott our guitar player was more into hip-hop than the rest of us was like well what about this song its good its fun its from the eighties. Its such a super energetic he came up with the guitar part then the bass line if you listen to it thats pretty much all the song the baseline. And we tried to think of music to fit around it, actually we almost did a run DMC cover but that didnt work out. Yeah we got permission to use the song.
Yea he did. Well actually hes been doing that and working on this swing set with a slide. I live five minutes from him and in the neighbourhood
Are all the guys married?
No just Chris, myself and Jerry the bass player.
Generally what were the most influential points of your childhood & neighbourhood growing up, who were the people you looked up to / respected?
You know what just the most important thing that I remember as a kid growing I lived in a suburban area just outside of playing with all the other kids and having back yard football and backyard baseball and swimming, the golf clubs and all that kind of stuff. When I moved to the capitol of South Carolina, Columbia, because my folks were divorced I alternated weekends with my dad and would spend the other one home with my mum. So that rules sports out, I couldnt practise and stuff, so I started finding my own things that I could do skateboarding, surfing and music one thing led to another and that whole culture starts to mesh in skateboarding and loud fast music. So I think just like that really working, studying getting into music and playing loud stuff, touring and all that.
What were the first shows or bands that you wen to see then?
You know what actually a few o the guys, Scott the other guitar player, Chris the singer and our original singer used to be in a band called Straight Up. Id go see their shows and Id go see you know Agnostic Front, NOFX actually our very first show was with NOFX it was amazing them and Lagwagon, my earliest memories of shows would be like Biohazard, at the local club where we started playing shows called Rockafellows. Then I saw one of the all time legends Agent Orange and that was just the most incredibly amazing thing I had ever seen at that moment.
Do you feel a level of privilege touring the world -doing what most kids can only dream of? This is your first time in the UK right, but not the first time for the band in Europe is that right?
Yea, well let me kind of back it up a second, when we were doing the band and we all had careers and everything it was amazing that the band was successful enough that people actually wanted us to come to their state or to their country or wherever. So we kept working these careers that had shaped our lives, besides I was a school teacher, Chris and I were both school teachers and so it was amazing back home wed practise at night and do these crazy shows in Boston. Then it was amazing because in the Summer school was let out and we got on tours. We felt really, really fortunate to have that opportunity and as a band we just kept playing and playing just doing two careers each. We were just continually fortunate that people were still interested in us and now that were here everything to do with music, Im just blown away. We wake up get in the van you know, and we just drive and today were in London and Ive never been to the UK. Certainly Ive not seen the whole of London and Im playing a show tonight and its so amazing that we can pick up a guitar or whatever and people want us to come and play there town. Its been a long time coming and its taken a lot of work and a lot of years, but I cant help but just be kind of humbled by the whole experience and I cant believe were here and I cant believe these kids would like to see us play. You talking to me about what I am doing, its just amazing you know? Its really good and I think sometimes you lose track and that when other people are listening to it we feel really blessed.
Do you get much time off on tour?
Not really, on the 6th (Sept 03) we played Iceland, then we flew out on the 7th, which has been the only, day weve had off so far. That was the day we flew to Amsterdam, where we met up with Martin our driver. Were pretty excited because were here tonight and tomorrow night also (supporting Rancid). Were pretty stoked to have at least two days in one town, although there are two nights of shows to be able to stay in one town and stay there the next day is really amazing. Then after that weve got a thirteen-hour drive to southern Germany so well need the two days in London for sure. We generally dont have enough time on tour; we just go at it hard and when we go home just try to relax a little bit.
The conversation starts to turn more into a discussion about David Blaine and his Tower Bridge stunt the guys were interested in checking it out and I explained how to get there and that Id been to see him earlier in the day.
What have been the happiest moments in S.A.S. and are there any particular events that the band have taken part in which really blew you away? Tours /crowd reactions Hey dont worry about it
I remember the very first time we really got into the van and went across the United States because thats what the others in the videos you watch, like the state of mind video in the east coast or vice-versa. I just remember the very first time Ensign from New Jersey invited us to go on tour with them (I mention Im friends with Tim) oh great, they invited us to go on tour with them and it was like we were so absolutely blown away, just besides ourselves. We were playing shows all over and then we were bam in California, playing a club in California and these kids had actually heard of our music, that was a big stepping stone. It was a big milestone; it was the first time we were like yes! This is real and things like that would start to happen bands that we were into like Sick Of It All asked us if wed like to do this number of dates were like your kidding me! It was so killer to have that happen, these icons, these idols who thought enough of us to say want to come and go on this tour. Things like that.
Its always the firsts, like the first tour in Europe 2000, we just couldnt believe it, and it was amazing. Recently we did some dates in Puerto Rico worlds away from when we started up, that these kids want to hear your songs and want to meet you.
Whats it like when you start noticing kids singing along?
You just freak out its like your always pumped, pumped to be playing and alwayss excited but when you see these kids like jumping up and down and singing its like this crazy energy flies up into your stomach.
As far as the band goes when we signed with Solid State, the new album, in fact every time we record it always feels monumental for us and I dont think we take anything for granted, were always pretty excited about the things, I guess thats about everything, those are just some of the things that strike me
Which songs always go down with the crowds? And why do you think this is?
The song for now of the rituals for life album, kids always love that. Outside looking in, is also one of our favourites; from a revolution transmission the song for the record the kids are just loving that. Then also worst case scenario off of Revolution and means to an end those are kind of like when we make the set list those songs are the anchors. I think like with the song for now its fast and just energetic and it has the sing a long parts those seem to always do well. What about you?
Thatll be answered in my next question
One of the most appealing aspects to Stretch Arm Strong the band is the way the songs speak out to people for me, for the record I can totally identify with the sentiments expressed in that song is how I feel.
The music was actually written, Chris & I had gone up to Washington D.C. to record with Brothers Keeper and we did a couple of back ups on there album. So we were driving home and we had a notebook and were like lets get it out and we were literally passing the notebook back and forth. We had some ideas and it just took on a life of its own.
I can remember listening to it the first time and even now and I had the funny shiver go down my back and it felt invigorating
Thank you very much, well definitely play it tonight. With that song its just sort of, you know we were talking earlier about shows that we remember and actually the first halve of the interview is about growing up and to do with that song. Growing up, being in this place and you couldnt wait for the next band and your just sitting outside the club and so many times, we had a million touring bands that came through our state but as a town we quite frequently got skipped over a got bit but there were times when bands were supposed play, that you were dying to see and they wouldnt show or maybe theyd be three hours late, I can see us all just sitting around and waiting for that band to play.
Who came up with the idea of covering Express Yourself an NWA song on your latest album Engage-I take it youve all got different tastes when it comes to music. Did you have to get permission to do that cover?
A couple of years back we were asked to contribute towards a compilation of bands covering rap songs and we always get excited about doing compilations and doing something different, actually Scott our guitar player was more into hip-hop than the rest of us was like well what about this song its good its fun its from the eighties. Its such a super energetic he came up with the guitar part then the bass line if you listen to it thats pretty much all the song the baseline. And we tried to think of music to fit around it, actually we almost did a run DMC cover but that didnt work out. Yeah we got permission to use the song.
