E: So Josh, the Goodwill is getting to be a rather seasoned band as it's gone through many of the experiences bands go through in their careers. What point in a band's life would you say is the most crucial to their development and success?
Josh: I think the point when you realize that being in a band is your life. I realized that pretty much for the better part of 2003, I didn't see my own bed... which is pretty cool. I think those bands that further themselves to national status are the ones that take the touring life seriously, because as an independent band, that's how you build your audience. The bands you see being successful and gaining recognition on a larger scale are those that give up all the creature comforts of home for the thousands of miles logged on highways and endless nights sleeping on floors.
E: Do aspects of the musician lifestyle ever get routine or repetitive?
Josh: Of course. Every day you're on tour, it's always driving countless hours where all you do is listen to music, play video games (if you're pimpin' your van that way), watch movies or read books to get to a show where you're going to play for thirty to forty-five minutes. But no matter how routine or mundane these activities during the day are, it's all worth it once you get to the show and get on stage.
E: When you are onstage, how slowly or quickly does time seem to go?
Josh: Always goes quickly. It's bizarre how you will play a set pretty comparable in length to the other acts on the show in an evening, but yet your time on stage seems to always be a blink of an eye and you're done. I think it has something to do with the whole idea of you seem to wait a lifetime in anticipation of an event you are really looking forward to, then when the time comes for the event, it comes and goes in a matter of seconds.
E: The band is from the Long Island, New York scene... would you say that this area is your favorite to play?
Josh: Absolutely. There's a whole bunch of cities I love playing, but home is where the heart is, as they say. In general, though, the northeast region tends to be a real good time whenever we're on tour.
E: Do you enjoy taking the time to go into the studio? Or would you prefer to be on the road?
Josh: There's things I like and dislike about both. I love being in the studio and seeing the creation of the CD you're about to spend a year or two of your life supporting. It's also amazing to see the structure of the songs you've been writing part by part... you hear things you didn't even know where there, a lot of the time. I don't like the stress of perfection in the studio, though... I'm extremely picky about every single aspect and it tends to drive myself and others insane. On the tour side, nothing beats playing cities far from home and kids coming out who you've never met before and being excited to see you play music you wrote in your basement. The dislikes of touring are, of course, not being able to sleep in your own bed at night... the constant moving from location to location... getting sick... and being overtired. The good outweighs the bad in both studio and touring, though.
E: In what ways would you say that age affects the current direction of a band? Would you say that your own age is fitting or unfitting for aspects of the career?
Josh: Well... I look older than I am, and have many times been asked if I'm the tour manager of the band rather than the bassist by promoters. It used to bother me; now I just laugh at them. I don't really think age is a factor in aspects of your career. You could be fifteen or 25... if you want something bad enough, you will be mature enough to get where you want to be and do whatever it takes to get there. I myself am 24 going on 25, but there's nothing that separates me from someone who is twenty and in a full-time touring band.
E: How much of the band would you say has gone as you had hoped?
Josh: All of it. I wouldn't change anything for where we are right now.
E: Would you say that those primarily responsible for the band's success are the members of the band itself? Or have others contributed prominently to getting you where you've gotten?
Josh: Different times of this band's existence dictate the answer to that question. When we first started out, it was 100% the people in this band that got us to where we were before getting signed. After signing to Negative Progression, of course, they were a big help in getting our music out there and people starting to take a little more notice to our music. Again, though, we as a band toured to get our names out there, so we still were the majority contributing factor to our success at the time. We then were picked up by management, and then larger bands started offering to take us out on tours, as well as booking agents giving us some opportunities, and those people all definitely had an impact on our increasing name in the music world. Again, though, the band is the one who is touring all those days out of a year, but we definitely have been lucky to have people with more connections than we have offer to help us out to further our career.
E: Now that you're where you are as a band, what's it like seeing other bands who are going through stages that you've completed?
Josh: I don't really think we're that far ahead, honestly... I think we're still very much in the building stage of being a young band. We have some extensive touring under our belts now, but I feel we have a lot more work to accomplish still, so I don't know if I can really answer that question properly. But, for those bands I see starting our where we were about a year and a half ago, I offer the advice of roll with the punches, because nothing comes easy, but if you work hard and are determined, it will pay off in the end. The biggest lesson I learned while being on tour the past year or so is the kids that come to your shows are your lifeline, and I thank those kids that support us for giving me this opportunity so far.
E: Well, thanks for talking. Keep up with the great music.
Josh: Thanks. |
