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| ::Interviews:: |
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| review & interview content, as well as web site graphics & design, copywrite 2003-2004 Euphonia Online. use of materials granted only with reasonable purposes. |
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| interviewed by robby sumner |
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| Interview with Tom, Jarrett, and Josh July 30th, 2004 |
Tom Chitty - Vocals, Guitar Kenny Ryan - Guitar, Vocals Rich Okamoto - Keyboard, Vocals Jarrett Seltzer - Bass Josh Grigsby - Drums |
| E: Houston Calls is a band with irresistable songs and an entertaining style. How similar is HC music to what you all played in bands prior to this one? Josh: I think Houston Calls' style is very similar to Riding Bikes. Jarrett: Josh was previously the drummer of Riding Bikes. Tom: I think the songwriting that goes into this band is a lot more involved than that of Face First-- the band I was previously in--in the face that a lot of ideas don't always make the cut. We spend a lot more time writing what we think are amazing songs as opposed to keeping everything. Jarrett: I think we have always tried to write catchy songs, but in Face First we didn't execute them as well as we at least try to. We also strive to play the tightest live set, opposed to Face First where it was always just a crazy loud mess. Tom: We also all have plenty of input in Houston Calls' songs, rather than one person pretty much writing a song and everyone just going along with it. E: Is there any specific location where a majority of the band's songs get written? Tom: On the sh*tter. Jarrett: Most songs start in someone's home just with an acoustic guitar, but then move to the practice room in Rockaway, NJ. Tom: Yeah, we pretty much all bring ideas to practice and go from there. E: Do you think that New Jersey as a scene has its own consistent sound that you have been affected by? Tom: Not at all. I just think New Jersey is a breeding ground for amazing music. It must be something in the water, but there is so much good music that comes out of this state. Everyone constantly strives to outdo each other and so each band is constantly growing. Jarrett: There are so many bands, so some will end up sounding the same, but NJ definitely has some amazing bands with different sounds. I don't think we have been affected much by it. We just try to write the best songs we can. E: How happy has the band usually been with the groups it ends up playing shows with? Jarrett: We are so happy to have been playing with the bands we have over the past year. We have gotten to tour with great friends and just play countless shows with others. That is one of my favorite things about being in the band. Tom: I'm always incredibly happy with pretty much everyone we play with--especially when we play New Jersey shows with amazing bands like Foster, Madison, John Connor, and so on. Jarrett: When we get to a show and it's with our friends, there is nothing better. E: Are your live show experiences almost always positive ones? Jarrett: We have our up's and down's. With the addition of our new drummer, there have been way more up's. We push ourselves to play the best live set possible, and we end up being quite hard on ourselves, but that's what makes you stand out from any other band. Tom: I love to play shows, so every show is a postive experience for me. Obviously there are shows that aren't the best, but I just like to be playing out anywhere. Josh: Yes, ninety-nine percent of the time I come off stage with a smile on my face. E: When it comes to touring extensively, what do you usually look forward to the most? Tom: I look forward to playing amazing shows that turn people to liking us as a band and as people as well. That's the first goal. Secondly, I look forward to wasting ass loads of money on stupid little sh*t at every rest stop USA. Jarrett: I love to be out on the road playing every night. It's the best thing in the world. I am really looking forward to the PureVolume Tour we are doing in August. It should be amazing. I also enjoy just building friendships with all the bands on the tours. You get to meet so many people and make new friends. Josh: Rock shows. E: Will any new songs be debuted at shows on this tour? Jarrett: We'll be playing a lot of the new sampler on this tour. Tom: Personally, I'm always trying to squeeze in writing one brand new song before we leave, but as of now, I can't tell if that will get done. E: When you play at venues, how many of the fans present would you estimate came specifically for you? Jarrett: Not enough right now, but it is growing, which is good. Tom: If we're playing in New Jersey, I'd say we do pretty well, but as for this upcoming tour, I'm sure most of the kids will be there for HelloGoodbye and Hidden in Plain View. But it's awesome because we'll get tons of exposure. Josh: I think that all the hype for the upcoming tour will help out a lot for our pull. E: Will this tour be taking you to places you haven't played before? Jarrett: Yeah, a lot of places we haven't hit. And if we previously hit them, the shows weren't nearly the size of the shows we're expecting on this upcoming tour. Tom: I'm incredibly excited about the venues we're getting a chance to play, I think they're all pretty damn awesome. E: Anywhere specific you're looking forward to? Tom: I'm really looking forward to the Chicago show. Having The Academy Is... in their hometown environment will be disgustingly amazing. Jarrett: The New Jersey show should be the biggest NJ date we have ever done. Chicago is supposed to be at the Metro, which holds like 1,200, which is just insane. Some of the other venues are great as well. I am excited to play in New York City since a few of my family members live there. Josh: All the shows... they're going to be awesome. E: How much equipment does the band bring itself when it goes on tour? Jarrett: We bring all the normal equipment, plus a keyboard cabinet in case some of the smaller venues have crappy sound systems, so he will at least get some control over his volume. Tom: Pretty much your standard stage set up, plus an extra guitar or two and serious amounts of strings and beer and water. Jarrett: And vodka. E: How would you compare what your music means to you to what it means to your fans? Tom: Our music means the world to me--it's our accomplishment. To the fans... I really don't know what it means to them--what would be the key for knowing it gives them at same feeling when first listening to music and how much of a rush it was and how fresh and new and awesome it was. Jarrett: I think everyone could take our lyrics and relate them to a certain part of their life. To me, I just enjoy the songs music-wise, I don't always think too much about the lyrics as much as just enjoy the song for what it is. Tom: I'm in this for fun, and I hope the fans have as much fun listening to the music as I have playing it. E: Well, thanks for interviewing. It's been fun. Jarrett: Awesome man. Tom: It sure has been. |