Are you actually good kids? And, if so, are you actually sprouting horns? And if not, where did the name come from?
I would say we’re good kids (or as good as any of us can be), and probably not sprouting horns anytime in the near future. Other people may have a different opinion… I don’t know, and I don’t really worry about it. The band name though, came from an Andrew Bird song, “Opposite Day”. I have a long list saved in a word document of random song lyrics, lines from books, etc, that I thought would make for good band names, good album names, song ideas… really any sort of inspiration. When I decided to name this project, I opened up the .doc and picked the phrase I liked best. It was a very “current mindset” sort of decision and I’m not sure how I feel about it now, but it will remain, at least as long as this project is making music.
Tell me about your record release schedule for this year.
I have lots of plans for future releases, I always do, but the next definite album will be EPthree. I hope to have it ready in the next couple of weeks for a free download and a limited edition hard copy available at future shows. It will consist of a few original re-workings and a cover of the Jawbreaker song “Sea Foam Green”.
After that I have ideas for two cover records I want to release over the winter, one being called “Junior High” the other “High School”. Essentially covering the music that made me who I am as a musician, and explaining a little bit about where I’m coming from. Maybe I will even throw in some revamps of songs I wrote during those periods in my life.
As far as other projects I’m involved in. Great Western Plain will be recording and releasing a new free full length by the middle of October I predict, and the guys at [dog]and[pony] said they would help us put out a proper release sometime in early 2012. I am no longer a member of Captain Hollow or Wood Burning Cat, but I hope to help both bands put out records sometime this fall or winter, as well as a new LP from the dream-folk project of my friend Pat Cunningham, In Houses In Trees.
Is that too much? I don’t think so.
You play a variety of styles in more than one band, who do you find yourself listening to consistently, locally and from wherever else?
I listen to a lot of random music. My mood determines most of my choices. The most common music will be some sort of loud rock or mellow folk. Micah P Hinson, the Mae Shi, Dismemberment Plan, Leonard Cohen, etc. I’m a pretty boring guy when it comes to music, I don’t explore new stuff nearly as often as I should, to much to do in the day, and not enough hours driving around.
What all instruments do you play? What do you enjoy the most?
I only “play” a couple of instruments, but I can make a lot of instruments sound good. I can only really play the drums, guitar, and bass, and out of the three I would say bass is my favorite. There’s no bigger a reward for me than a well-constructed bass line. I also manage to get by on piano, organ, banjo, and a few other string and keyboard-like instruments.
When you are in more than one band, how do you make decisions about which one to say play with if both are offered a show the same night? Or if one wanted you to focus on one, what would you do? Is it like juggling two girls your dating a bit? They think they have some idea you're doing something with someone else, but they can't really be mad because it isn't exclusive?
I’ve never struggled with the idea of multiple bands being offered a show on the same night. I have played with multiple bands in a night a few times. I don’t see it as a problem, since I only front GKSH, and in all other bands I’m more of a background member. As for my focus, it comes and goes. There is no predicting which project I will want to focus on at any given time, it puts most of my band mates in a constant state of “uh, what should we be doing?” and I am sure that gets annoying. I don’t think any band gets jealous of any other though, because for the most part everyone else has other things going on as well. I’m a man of my word, and I do my best not to let down anyone in the bands I am in. If I don’t think I have the time to dedicate properly to a project, I will let them know so they can find someone who does have the time (like with Captain Hollow. I was replaced with good friend Jakob Battick, because I unfortunately just didn’t have the time).
What does your songwriting process look like as a group in GKSH? How about Great Western Plain?
The songwriting process is drastically different for both bands. GKSH is more of a solo effort. Ryan and Jessamy add their own personal touches to parts I have already put in place. With Great Western Plain any one of the three of us may come up with an idea and as a group we work it out, arrange it, and write new parts. In GKSH I am the only lyricist, but in Great Western Plain we all throw in pieces of the overall puzzle. The bands really couldn’t be much further apart in both style and the way the songwriting process is approached. It’s refreshing to be a part of such different groups.
What are you studying in school? How does that end up relating to your music? If at all.
I got my bachelors in the science of communications. Mostly new media, a little bit of web design, a little audio engineering, some radio broadcasting, and a bit of television production. About halfway through this degree I came to the realization I didn’t want it as my career. Too many 19-hour days, too little pay, no room or time for a family of any kind. I finished up the degree, and moved on. I am now enrolled in an education program, and I am working to be a High School English teacher. The schedule could not be more perfect for a musician, or a family.