i want to capture the movement. i like the focus on the lights. these kids were crazy. so many moving bodies. the whole show was just thrilling.
29.9.08
CC Denial (backdate) female form & lighting
through shivers my friend said there was no use in being bashful. we all learn through criticism. trial and error. even the errors can be beautiful. and there are secrets hidden in a cobweb ridden basement.
All Time Low (backdated) November 2007 excerpt
In September, your latest album So Wrong It's Right came out. Can you tell us a little bit about it and the writing process?
AG: The writing process was short when it came down to it. We had written a bunch of songs while we were touring and during a little bit of time off we had between one tour and the next tour yadda yadda. When we finally got into the studio with Matt Squire we basically… the fifteen songs we had were reduced to about three. But that's the point of preproduction you take the good parts of all the mediocre crap that you wrote and then you make it better. We basically wrote most of the record in the first week of the studio—preproduction. From there it took about a month after that to record the whole record. As far as the writing process went it was mostly smooth. The music came really smoothly. For me, writing lyrics and stuff, I kept getting hung up and questioning myself whether they were good enough. I don't know it was kind of mixed. At times it would be really smooth and at others it would be really stressful that we had to cram it in such a small amount of time.
How do you feel this album compares to your previous material—writing and song-wise?
AG: I think its' the best stuff we've ever done, for sure. On each release that we've done we've had I think songs where we've been really lucky and written a really phenomenal song. Even from back in the day when we released The Party Scene independently. I still hear people go today 'Oh that album was better' and stuff like that. I think what it is—I wouldn't necessarily say that that album was better. In my opinion, I don't think it is. I think we've grown. But, I think we've been lucky with each release in the sense that we've written at least one song that has been a really solid song. So I think people can still be attached to those releases. To date, I think this is our best work consistently through the album. I think they're all good songs.
Did you find it hard to balance the band and school? How did you organize your priorities when that was still the case?
AG: I didn't… I wasn't really a school body. I hated school. I wanted out so for me it was more a matter of how can I get this band good enough so that I don't need to do anything worse. I can just bank on the fact that I'm going to graduate and do this. So that became my mission. The other guys all applied to college and were accepted as a back up plan. I didn't bother. I did graduate high school, though, which I'm pretty proud of.
What has been your most memorable moment with All Time Low?
AG: There are so many. A lot of the things that have happened in the past year have been benchmarks for us. Releasing this full length, walking to like Target and seeing your CD on an end-cap in a store like that is really cool. Just cause everyone goes to Target so even if they don't know who our band is, even the fact that they like walk passed it and glance at it. Going to the UK was huge for us. In February we're going to Australia, which is another huge thing for us. The Warped Tour because we were always those kids that went to Warped tour and stalked the bands. We were always the kids that we stalked the bands but we knew that we were in a band and we wanted to be taken seriously. We would always be like walking up to someone from some band and being like 'we're in a band'. Looking back now they probably thought 'who are these fucking kids' but it's cool that we actually did it. It's like 'haha'. We weren't lying. That was the funniest part, actually, because there was a couple bands on the tour that we had previously gone and seen and like introduced ourselves to as a band a couple years before. To be on the tour and be like 'what up' and they were like 'how do we know you' and we were like 'actually… funny story'. For that to happen was a really big deal.
Okay, we have to ask… what was the inspiration behind the underwear banana photo shoot?
AG: A mix of things. The album was called So Wrong It's Right so we wanted to do everything a little bit messed up but to the point that we knew people would dig it. But I think that's the effect that it had. I think we hit the nail on the head. Also, as a tribute to the whole attitude that Blink had. We're very much a band that was influenced by that band and have developed ourselves by watching what they did. So it was kind of, a few things that were done with this record were subtle tributes to them.
From your perspective as an artist, what do you feel is one of the most pressing issues in the music industry?
AG: The fact that no one buys CDs anymore. That's probably the biggest; I wouldn't say problem but change that the music business is going to face now. It's no longer going to be about how many records that a band sells in regards to what tours they should get and all that. That basically used to be the standard. That was a bands credentials. You want on this tour how many records have you sold? Not only that but labels are not going to make any money any more off of records sales so they're going to have to find new ways to make money. So are bands, really. It's a really weird time to be in a band. But at the same time, I think it's a really good time. It's going to be one of those situations, I think, where no one really knows what to do and the bands who do it right will get really lucky and somehow flip through the system and probably benefit from it because what tends to happen… A label will find a system that works in their favor and then every band gets fucked by it. But there are a few lucky bands here and there—because of some sort of change—kind of slip through that while the labels aren't aware of what's going on. Like Fall Out Boy for example. They don't have to give their label their merch money, which is something that a lot of labels do now in order to make more money, which a lot of labels do now because the record sales don't matter. It's one of those situations that hopefully we're in a good enough time where we can slip through under the radar.
What bandmate would you most likely slow dance with?
AG: Jack. Uh, Rian. Rian because we actually slow dance all the time really randomly. I'll just walk up to him and we'll start dancing. It's actually funny you should ask that…
If you woke up as a woman, and it was only for one day, what would your first thoughts be? How would you spend the day?
AG:Wooow. Good question. I'm going to leave the obvious ones to the imagination. No I'm kidding. I think I would probably go to Victoria's Secret and see what I look like in a thong and a bra. I might actually walk around the mall in just my underwear and high heels and get everyone's attention. What else could I do that women aren't supposed to do… I don't know. Oh, I would have a reason to watch really girly movies because I usually like to watch really girly movies. I go home and watch 'The Notebook' like nine times. And cry. Is that okay? Don't judge me.
If you could be a superhero or a villain, what powers would you possess?
AG: I've actually said this before. It's not a very good crime fighting power but for some reason I would choose to shoot different condiments out of my fingers. Like you know on one hand you'd have ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish and barbecue sauce or something. On the other hand you'd have dessert. Whip cream, chocolate syrup, syrup for pancakes, jam, and powdered sugar. You could always be prepared for any eating situation. Or if someone didn't have ketchup just… I would name myself Really Convenient Boy.
If your band were to be stereotyped as Wes Craven like characters what would you all be?
AG: Jack would be the token black guy. He would definitely die first. Zac would by like the Macho dude that has the chic that dies and then he turns out to be the killer. Rian would probably flip. He'd be the one who would manage to live. I would just… I would be the guy who would be hung. You know how there is one person who always dies accidentally, the person doesn't kill them, they like slip and fall and curb stomp themselves… that would be me. That's what I would do.
Any final thoughts? I know that's a sweet note to end on…
AG: Yeah I know! Really, no, just thanks for checking out our band!
the whole interview can be read at www.hollyanne.net
AG: The writing process was short when it came down to it. We had written a bunch of songs while we were touring and during a little bit of time off we had between one tour and the next tour yadda yadda. When we finally got into the studio with Matt Squire we basically… the fifteen songs we had were reduced to about three. But that's the point of preproduction you take the good parts of all the mediocre crap that you wrote and then you make it better. We basically wrote most of the record in the first week of the studio—preproduction. From there it took about a month after that to record the whole record. As far as the writing process went it was mostly smooth. The music came really smoothly. For me, writing lyrics and stuff, I kept getting hung up and questioning myself whether they were good enough. I don't know it was kind of mixed. At times it would be really smooth and at others it would be really stressful that we had to cram it in such a small amount of time.
How do you feel this album compares to your previous material—writing and song-wise?
AG: I think its' the best stuff we've ever done, for sure. On each release that we've done we've had I think songs where we've been really lucky and written a really phenomenal song. Even from back in the day when we released The Party Scene independently. I still hear people go today 'Oh that album was better' and stuff like that. I think what it is—I wouldn't necessarily say that that album was better. In my opinion, I don't think it is. I think we've grown. But, I think we've been lucky with each release in the sense that we've written at least one song that has been a really solid song. So I think people can still be attached to those releases. To date, I think this is our best work consistently through the album. I think they're all good songs.
Did you find it hard to balance the band and school? How did you organize your priorities when that was still the case?
AG: I didn't… I wasn't really a school body. I hated school. I wanted out so for me it was more a matter of how can I get this band good enough so that I don't need to do anything worse. I can just bank on the fact that I'm going to graduate and do this. So that became my mission. The other guys all applied to college and were accepted as a back up plan. I didn't bother. I did graduate high school, though, which I'm pretty proud of.
What has been your most memorable moment with All Time Low?
AG: There are so many. A lot of the things that have happened in the past year have been benchmarks for us. Releasing this full length, walking to like Target and seeing your CD on an end-cap in a store like that is really cool. Just cause everyone goes to Target so even if they don't know who our band is, even the fact that they like walk passed it and glance at it. Going to the UK was huge for us. In February we're going to Australia, which is another huge thing for us. The Warped Tour because we were always those kids that went to Warped tour and stalked the bands. We were always the kids that we stalked the bands but we knew that we were in a band and we wanted to be taken seriously. We would always be like walking up to someone from some band and being like 'we're in a band'. Looking back now they probably thought 'who are these fucking kids' but it's cool that we actually did it. It's like 'haha'. We weren't lying. That was the funniest part, actually, because there was a couple bands on the tour that we had previously gone and seen and like introduced ourselves to as a band a couple years before. To be on the tour and be like 'what up' and they were like 'how do we know you' and we were like 'actually… funny story'. For that to happen was a really big deal.
Okay, we have to ask… what was the inspiration behind the underwear banana photo shoot?
AG: A mix of things. The album was called So Wrong It's Right so we wanted to do everything a little bit messed up but to the point that we knew people would dig it. But I think that's the effect that it had. I think we hit the nail on the head. Also, as a tribute to the whole attitude that Blink had. We're very much a band that was influenced by that band and have developed ourselves by watching what they did. So it was kind of, a few things that were done with this record were subtle tributes to them.
From your perspective as an artist, what do you feel is one of the most pressing issues in the music industry?
AG: The fact that no one buys CDs anymore. That's probably the biggest; I wouldn't say problem but change that the music business is going to face now. It's no longer going to be about how many records that a band sells in regards to what tours they should get and all that. That basically used to be the standard. That was a bands credentials. You want on this tour how many records have you sold? Not only that but labels are not going to make any money any more off of records sales so they're going to have to find new ways to make money. So are bands, really. It's a really weird time to be in a band. But at the same time, I think it's a really good time. It's going to be one of those situations, I think, where no one really knows what to do and the bands who do it right will get really lucky and somehow flip through the system and probably benefit from it because what tends to happen… A label will find a system that works in their favor and then every band gets fucked by it. But there are a few lucky bands here and there—because of some sort of change—kind of slip through that while the labels aren't aware of what's going on. Like Fall Out Boy for example. They don't have to give their label their merch money, which is something that a lot of labels do now in order to make more money, which a lot of labels do now because the record sales don't matter. It's one of those situations that hopefully we're in a good enough time where we can slip through under the radar.
What bandmate would you most likely slow dance with?
AG: Jack. Uh, Rian. Rian because we actually slow dance all the time really randomly. I'll just walk up to him and we'll start dancing. It's actually funny you should ask that…
If you woke up as a woman, and it was only for one day, what would your first thoughts be? How would you spend the day?
AG:Wooow. Good question. I'm going to leave the obvious ones to the imagination. No I'm kidding. I think I would probably go to Victoria's Secret and see what I look like in a thong and a bra. I might actually walk around the mall in just my underwear and high heels and get everyone's attention. What else could I do that women aren't supposed to do… I don't know. Oh, I would have a reason to watch really girly movies because I usually like to watch really girly movies. I go home and watch 'The Notebook' like nine times. And cry. Is that okay? Don't judge me.
If you could be a superhero or a villain, what powers would you possess?
AG: I've actually said this before. It's not a very good crime fighting power but for some reason I would choose to shoot different condiments out of my fingers. Like you know on one hand you'd have ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish and barbecue sauce or something. On the other hand you'd have dessert. Whip cream, chocolate syrup, syrup for pancakes, jam, and powdered sugar. You could always be prepared for any eating situation. Or if someone didn't have ketchup just… I would name myself Really Convenient Boy.
If your band were to be stereotyped as Wes Craven like characters what would you all be?
AG: Jack would be the token black guy. He would definitely die first. Zac would by like the Macho dude that has the chic that dies and then he turns out to be the killer. Rian would probably flip. He'd be the one who would manage to live. I would just… I would be the guy who would be hung. You know how there is one person who always dies accidentally, the person doesn't kill them, they like slip and fall and curb stomp themselves… that would be me. That's what I would do.
Any final thoughts? I know that's a sweet note to end on…
AG: Yeah I know! Really, no, just thanks for checking out our band!
the whole interview can be read at www.hollyanne.net
The Academy Is (backdated) November 2007 excerpt
The Academy Is…'s second full length, Santi came earlier this year. Can you tell us a little about what the writing process was like?
AS: We were doing some ideas on Warped Tour of two summers ago? '06 maybe. All these years are blurring together… but we started writing, came off the tour and everybody took about three weeks off vacationed, did whatever they wanted to do, to clear their minds and finish up writing. We came in for about a month in Chicago and we wrote the record then and Michael, our new guitar player joined us during that time, which was interesting, to go through a lineup change when writing an album, but it turned out to be very inspiring. We spent a month writing the record together then went in on Halloween of last year started recording the record and we finished the music in about eight days and then did vocals for about a month. Butch Walker was a great producer great guy. Michael, our guitar player, actually used to play with him so there was a lot of chemistry in the studio.
How did the writing process compare to that of your previous albums?
AS: We always say, "You have a lifetime to make your first record. You have a very short, limited amount of time to make your second record especially nowadays when there are such high expectations and such a high demand for music. I think there was a lot—I wouldn't say pressure—making the second record. I think, we were in a place that we wanted to be as far as the label's interest, and we had a producer that we were really confident with. Writing is always a little different with the second record I've found that bands, especially with ours, it's a little different to draw on inspiration because before you're hungry. You're trying to get out of your hometown. You're trying to make it and on the second record you've been touring for the past three years with the same guys. You kind of lose touch with reality. It was good that we did it, the writing in Chicago. It brought us closer to ourselves and to each other.
Why did you choose Butch Walker to produce Santi? What was it like working with him?
AS: We chose Butch because we were big fans of his band, Marvelous Three, in the early 90s and we always knew he was a great song writer and great musician, as well as a great producer and so when we were recording Almost Here, our old album, we actually got a copy of Gabe-- from Cobra Starship's old band, Midtown, did a record Forget What you Know with Butch Walker and we really liked the production on it and we said "one day we'd like to do a record with him." It just so happened that we share management with him so we asked him to do the record and he was very much interested. We just always had the idea for Butch to do the record and so we were really happy.
What was it like adding Mike to the second album? How do you feel it affected the writing?
AS: I think Michael brought a new life into the band and creatively inspired all of us. I wish we had had a little more time to really gel while making the record, but that's the beauty of it, I think, is that it was a pretty spontaneous record. He was very new to the band at the time playing his parts in the studio. We were finding our own in the studio with him, which was really interesting. He's a brilliant studio musician and a great guitar player. We learned a lot from Michael. We're going to work that into the next record that we're going to be recording this winter.
What is the idea behind TAI TV? What made you start filming it?
AS: A few years ago we were bored on tour and we had a little video camera w some funny footage we came up with the idea to put a little TV up on our old website and have tai TV which was a little inside look on the life of the band, or things that we find funny or anything that we feel like sharing with our fans we stopped doing that because our camera guy actually plays bass in Panic! at the Disco now. He was originally our camera guy, and then they parted ways with their bassist. We were on tour together at the time and Jon, our camera guy, expressed that he would really like to join the band. And that was that so it was excellent he joined the band everyone was happy but it left us without a camera guy and at this point we were trying to write not worry about having to film and edit all our stuff so when we were in the studio and finished the record I came to the guys and said I have this friend Jack who I went to high school with, he's going to college for photography and videography and I think it'd be really cool to try bringing him out and maybe bring TAI TV back. It seemed like something our fans had fun with and we did that and Jack as really expressed himself as an artist and tai TV. I think he has a great talent for editing and we put up weekly episodes whether it be funny stuff or serial stuff or just completely goofy crazy crap we're making up on the spot it's a fun way to end the weekend. Give the kids something to go back to school with put one up every Sunday night. Sunday night was always a bummer you have school the next morning, and you have something to check out before you go to bed.
Being recognized as one of Rolling Stones top ten to watch out for had to boost your moral as a band. How has it affected your career, if you feel it has?
AS: Absolutely, I think every press, whether it be good or bad affects your career. I mean, I guess not. Rolling Stone, when they would do Led Zeppelin albums always tore them apart and said Led Zeppelin was terrible. And yet that's the band that our generation views as incredible. So, we can never take what a critic says too seriously whether it is good or bad. You just have to stand for what you stand for and hope the fans relate to it. But, the fact that Rolling Stone did recognize us was very awesome to me. I've been a fan of that magazine forever. It is the music magazine of our time—not just our time but for other generations as well. It's a very respected magazine. To have our photo in it and for them to say something nice about us, it was cool.
Can you share with us your most memorable, and most embarrassing tour moments?
AS: Most memorable… you know I think although I said the over seas tour was kind of a blur; I think the memories I do have are the most memorable going to new countries. I think in Germany I went out on a boat on the middle of the lake. Forget where you are you realize how small the world really is. Some good memories had overseas. It's interesting to go away from your family and friends for a while and also turn your phone off the entire time. See the world. Meet new people. New countries. That has been the most rewarding, and in turn, most memorable thing we've done. Most embarrassing… I fell off the stage once, many years ago. Our guitar player's leg had gotten wrapped around my leg and I moved and he moved at the same time and I was close to the edge. I fell but I don't think there was anyone really there to see us that long ago. Whoever was coming then I don't think still comes now. No one really brings it up but it sucked.
If all of this ended tomorrow, would you have any regrets? Or, do you feel that you have accomplished everything you set out to with The Academy Is…
AS: I think if all this ended tomorrow I would have many regrets. Since I was fifteen and this band started, I've put a lot into this band. It's not to say that we haven't achieved an amount of success that I'm proud of or made records that I'm proud of, I just feel that I haven't done this for as long as I want to and I'm hoping we can continue to do this for awhile. We're all good friends and we have the good chemistry to make music together so I hope that we continue to do that. If it all ended tomorrow, I think I could very much be satisfied and happy with what I had done but I would always have regrets. There are other things in life I'd like to try. Maybe I'll be a teacher. Who knows!
From your perspective as an artist, what do you feel is one of the most pressing issues in the music industry?
AS: That's a very good question. I think in the industry I would say illegal downloading, for sure. It has changed everything. More important than in the industry, I would say in music as a whole, I think a lot of people—not all people, by all means—but a lot of people have closed the door and pigeonholed many genres of music and don't give incredible bands a chance just because I guess the order of press that surrounds them. For example, Pete Doherty, everyone knows he's a junky so they slam him but he's actually made pretty great music. It's my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own. I think that because of press and because of many things people have cared about the wrong things as opposed to what's good music. The perspectives of fans have changed a lot with the Internet. People know a lot more about artists or bands, people can read up about anything about their personal lives and that can sometimes kill to the connectedness you feel to what someone is singing about. In the industry though I would definitely say illegal downloading. Every industry schmo is panicking, but I think music will continue to be made and continue to be loved and that's all that matters. It's going to evolve as time goes by.
Knowing what you do now, if you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing what would it be and why?
AS: Enjoy the early years. I wish I had documented them better whether it is in photography or anything like that. I feel like what I was saying before about the blur of a tour, what we were talking about before, with many of our tours we can think back but we can't actually remember being there. Certain things that's just how memory works but I wish I had somehow cherished those moments a little better. There was something great about our first tour and like pearl street nightclub. I wish I could relive those times. They were very fun. Not to say that we're not happy now, but the early years were definitely exciting.
If you could live your life for one day as someone else, who would it be? What would you do during that day?
AS: I would become O. J. Simpson and I would confess. No I'm kidding. Maybe I'd become president Bush and go on TV and just make a hilarious fool of myself. I would run with it and say some crazy shit. People would just be like "woah." Then I would hang myself or something. As long as I cold wake back up as myself the next day.
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us!
AS: No problem. Enjoy the show!
the full interview can be read at www.hollyanne.net
AS: We were doing some ideas on Warped Tour of two summers ago? '06 maybe. All these years are blurring together… but we started writing, came off the tour and everybody took about three weeks off vacationed, did whatever they wanted to do, to clear their minds and finish up writing. We came in for about a month in Chicago and we wrote the record then and Michael, our new guitar player joined us during that time, which was interesting, to go through a lineup change when writing an album, but it turned out to be very inspiring. We spent a month writing the record together then went in on Halloween of last year started recording the record and we finished the music in about eight days and then did vocals for about a month. Butch Walker was a great producer great guy. Michael, our guitar player, actually used to play with him so there was a lot of chemistry in the studio.
How did the writing process compare to that of your previous albums?
AS: We always say, "You have a lifetime to make your first record. You have a very short, limited amount of time to make your second record especially nowadays when there are such high expectations and such a high demand for music. I think there was a lot—I wouldn't say pressure—making the second record. I think, we were in a place that we wanted to be as far as the label's interest, and we had a producer that we were really confident with. Writing is always a little different with the second record I've found that bands, especially with ours, it's a little different to draw on inspiration because before you're hungry. You're trying to get out of your hometown. You're trying to make it and on the second record you've been touring for the past three years with the same guys. You kind of lose touch with reality. It was good that we did it, the writing in Chicago. It brought us closer to ourselves and to each other.
Why did you choose Butch Walker to produce Santi? What was it like working with him?
AS: We chose Butch because we were big fans of his band, Marvelous Three, in the early 90s and we always knew he was a great song writer and great musician, as well as a great producer and so when we were recording Almost Here, our old album, we actually got a copy of Gabe-- from Cobra Starship's old band, Midtown, did a record Forget What you Know with Butch Walker and we really liked the production on it and we said "one day we'd like to do a record with him." It just so happened that we share management with him so we asked him to do the record and he was very much interested. We just always had the idea for Butch to do the record and so we were really happy.
What was it like adding Mike to the second album? How do you feel it affected the writing?
AS: I think Michael brought a new life into the band and creatively inspired all of us. I wish we had had a little more time to really gel while making the record, but that's the beauty of it, I think, is that it was a pretty spontaneous record. He was very new to the band at the time playing his parts in the studio. We were finding our own in the studio with him, which was really interesting. He's a brilliant studio musician and a great guitar player. We learned a lot from Michael. We're going to work that into the next record that we're going to be recording this winter.
What is the idea behind TAI TV? What made you start filming it?
AS: A few years ago we were bored on tour and we had a little video camera w some funny footage we came up with the idea to put a little TV up on our old website and have tai TV which was a little inside look on the life of the band, or things that we find funny or anything that we feel like sharing with our fans we stopped doing that because our camera guy actually plays bass in Panic! at the Disco now. He was originally our camera guy, and then they parted ways with their bassist. We were on tour together at the time and Jon, our camera guy, expressed that he would really like to join the band. And that was that so it was excellent he joined the band everyone was happy but it left us without a camera guy and at this point we were trying to write not worry about having to film and edit all our stuff so when we were in the studio and finished the record I came to the guys and said I have this friend Jack who I went to high school with, he's going to college for photography and videography and I think it'd be really cool to try bringing him out and maybe bring TAI TV back. It seemed like something our fans had fun with and we did that and Jack as really expressed himself as an artist and tai TV. I think he has a great talent for editing and we put up weekly episodes whether it be funny stuff or serial stuff or just completely goofy crazy crap we're making up on the spot it's a fun way to end the weekend. Give the kids something to go back to school with put one up every Sunday night. Sunday night was always a bummer you have school the next morning, and you have something to check out before you go to bed.
Being recognized as one of Rolling Stones top ten to watch out for had to boost your moral as a band. How has it affected your career, if you feel it has?
AS: Absolutely, I think every press, whether it be good or bad affects your career. I mean, I guess not. Rolling Stone, when they would do Led Zeppelin albums always tore them apart and said Led Zeppelin was terrible. And yet that's the band that our generation views as incredible. So, we can never take what a critic says too seriously whether it is good or bad. You just have to stand for what you stand for and hope the fans relate to it. But, the fact that Rolling Stone did recognize us was very awesome to me. I've been a fan of that magazine forever. It is the music magazine of our time—not just our time but for other generations as well. It's a very respected magazine. To have our photo in it and for them to say something nice about us, it was cool.
Can you share with us your most memorable, and most embarrassing tour moments?
AS: Most memorable… you know I think although I said the over seas tour was kind of a blur; I think the memories I do have are the most memorable going to new countries. I think in Germany I went out on a boat on the middle of the lake. Forget where you are you realize how small the world really is. Some good memories had overseas. It's interesting to go away from your family and friends for a while and also turn your phone off the entire time. See the world. Meet new people. New countries. That has been the most rewarding, and in turn, most memorable thing we've done. Most embarrassing… I fell off the stage once, many years ago. Our guitar player's leg had gotten wrapped around my leg and I moved and he moved at the same time and I was close to the edge. I fell but I don't think there was anyone really there to see us that long ago. Whoever was coming then I don't think still comes now. No one really brings it up but it sucked.
If all of this ended tomorrow, would you have any regrets? Or, do you feel that you have accomplished everything you set out to with The Academy Is…
AS: I think if all this ended tomorrow I would have many regrets. Since I was fifteen and this band started, I've put a lot into this band. It's not to say that we haven't achieved an amount of success that I'm proud of or made records that I'm proud of, I just feel that I haven't done this for as long as I want to and I'm hoping we can continue to do this for awhile. We're all good friends and we have the good chemistry to make music together so I hope that we continue to do that. If it all ended tomorrow, I think I could very much be satisfied and happy with what I had done but I would always have regrets. There are other things in life I'd like to try. Maybe I'll be a teacher. Who knows!
From your perspective as an artist, what do you feel is one of the most pressing issues in the music industry?
AS: That's a very good question. I think in the industry I would say illegal downloading, for sure. It has changed everything. More important than in the industry, I would say in music as a whole, I think a lot of people—not all people, by all means—but a lot of people have closed the door and pigeonholed many genres of music and don't give incredible bands a chance just because I guess the order of press that surrounds them. For example, Pete Doherty, everyone knows he's a junky so they slam him but he's actually made pretty great music. It's my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own. I think that because of press and because of many things people have cared about the wrong things as opposed to what's good music. The perspectives of fans have changed a lot with the Internet. People know a lot more about artists or bands, people can read up about anything about their personal lives and that can sometimes kill to the connectedness you feel to what someone is singing about. In the industry though I would definitely say illegal downloading. Every industry schmo is panicking, but I think music will continue to be made and continue to be loved and that's all that matters. It's going to evolve as time goes by.
Knowing what you do now, if you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing what would it be and why?
AS: Enjoy the early years. I wish I had documented them better whether it is in photography or anything like that. I feel like what I was saying before about the blur of a tour, what we were talking about before, with many of our tours we can think back but we can't actually remember being there. Certain things that's just how memory works but I wish I had somehow cherished those moments a little better. There was something great about our first tour and like pearl street nightclub. I wish I could relive those times. They were very fun. Not to say that we're not happy now, but the early years were definitely exciting.
If you could live your life for one day as someone else, who would it be? What would you do during that day?
AS: I would become O. J. Simpson and I would confess. No I'm kidding. Maybe I'd become president Bush and go on TV and just make a hilarious fool of myself. I would run with it and say some crazy shit. People would just be like "woah." Then I would hang myself or something. As long as I cold wake back up as myself the next day.
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us!
AS: No problem. Enjoy the show!
the full interview can be read at www.hollyanne.net
Senses Fail (backdated) March 2007 excerpt
As of recent, Mike and Garrett have been kick starting their own side projects. Do you or anyone else in the band have any plans to start one of your own?
BN: Yeah, I'm going to start a side project with our guitar tech.
Any plans for what you're going to call that?
BN: I don't know what we're going to call that. But, it will be something really interesting.
Yes or no: Midtown reunion on the same stage as Senses Fail? You've got Heath...
BN: Yes. Definite yes.
Given the opportunity to play with anyone– past or present, alive or dead– what would your ultimate [tour] lineup be?
BN: I'd like to play with Black Flag and I'd like to play with Bad Religion. The Refused. That would be a pretty cool show.
Everyone has a hero as a child. Who was yours and why?
BN: Luke Skywalker. I don't know, I just always pretended to be him. I thought he was cool, thought he was badass.
We're going to have a dance party right now. What are the first five songs that come to mind to get it started?
BN: Michael Jackson. I think any Michael Jackson song. Rob Bass. M.C. Hammer. Shit… 2 Live Crew and Michael Jackson again.
What's the most embarrassing tour story you can think of, whether it happened to you or anyone you know?
BN: When we played with The Early November one time, the bass player knocked out their singer. He was like… knocked out. He couldn't finish the rest of the set. It was by accident but it was pretty funny, actually.
What do you think is one of the most pressing problems in the music and/or entertainment industry today from your perspective as an artist?
BN: That… labels do not understand that the music industry has changed. You can't do the same format you have to… well they're like catching on a little bit. But, I feel like they're still going by the old model with how things are supposed to work and especially what expectations of bands are supposed to be. And it doesn't really work like that.
If you weren't in Senses Fail right now, what do you think you'd be doing with your life?
BN: I don't know… working for a video game company? Doing something like that. Or, something in music.
the full interview can be read at: www.hollyanne.net
BN: Yeah, I'm going to start a side project with our guitar tech.
Any plans for what you're going to call that?
BN: I don't know what we're going to call that. But, it will be something really interesting.
Yes or no: Midtown reunion on the same stage as Senses Fail? You've got Heath...
BN: Yes. Definite yes.
Given the opportunity to play with anyone– past or present, alive or dead– what would your ultimate [tour] lineup be?
BN: I'd like to play with Black Flag and I'd like to play with Bad Religion. The Refused. That would be a pretty cool show.
Everyone has a hero as a child. Who was yours and why?
BN: Luke Skywalker. I don't know, I just always pretended to be him. I thought he was cool, thought he was badass.
We're going to have a dance party right now. What are the first five songs that come to mind to get it started?
BN: Michael Jackson. I think any Michael Jackson song. Rob Bass. M.C. Hammer. Shit… 2 Live Crew and Michael Jackson again.
What's the most embarrassing tour story you can think of, whether it happened to you or anyone you know?
BN: When we played with The Early November one time, the bass player knocked out their singer. He was like… knocked out. He couldn't finish the rest of the set. It was by accident but it was pretty funny, actually.
What do you think is one of the most pressing problems in the music and/or entertainment industry today from your perspective as an artist?
BN: That… labels do not understand that the music industry has changed. You can't do the same format you have to… well they're like catching on a little bit. But, I feel like they're still going by the old model with how things are supposed to work and especially what expectations of bands are supposed to be. And it doesn't really work like that.
If you weren't in Senses Fail right now, what do you think you'd be doing with your life?
BN: I don't know… working for a video game company? Doing something like that. Or, something in music.
the full interview can be read at: www.hollyanne.net
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