25. Březen 2005
Jump Little Children - (Matt Bivins) Harmonica, Accordion, Mandolin
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Recently Aftertheshow.info had a chance to sit down with Matt Bivens the multitalented musician of the group Jump Little Children. He is known for his on stage antics, and variety of roles in the band. Below is the interview. Also, you can watch clips of some answers from the interview.
ATS: How did you get started?
MB: We met in the North Carolina school of the arts, a small school.
ATS: Did you have classes together?
MB: Well I knew everyone even before college in regular school. My old room mate was from Ireland, and wanted to play Irish music and Ward and Jay were playing and we just merged in time.
ATS: In the early music it was folk Irish sounding. Its gone away from that. Why have you changed?
ATS: Where do you want jump to go in the next five years?
ATS: Your latest album got the best reviews from the critics. Why do you think this is true?
ATS: What is your favorite album?
MB: This last album is my favorite. That’s a good sign. It was easy to make, fun to make. We liked our producer. It was a great experience all around. The making of Vertigo was not fun. We didn’t like the producer. We did like the album, but we didn’t like the experience. Between the Dim and the Dark just felt good. In fact we are about to finish some EP’s based on the B side of the Dim and the Dark. I’m excited about that.
ATS: Between the Dim and the Dark had more consistency through the album than previous releases. Why is that?
MB: I think it is because we are releasing through our solo works. In magazine we would have a loud song, a soft song, an artsy song. But now that Jay has a certain place for his type of songs, and the others have release for there styles in there own bands: Now we get to know what the Jump Little Children sound is. So we can come together and make a song for this band. It features everything, but is better.
ATS: Do you care what the critics say? Or are you in it just to do what you want to do?
MB: I would lie if I said I didn’t care completely.
ATS: Does what critics say change your music?
MB: No. People have always wanted us to play our old stuff. When we came out with Vertigo people wanted us to sound like Magazine. Now they want us to sound like Vertigo. If people except something from you get in trouble
ATS: What’s your most requested song?
MB: Cathedrals Certainly. Then Higher energy songs: My Guitar
ATS: Do you hate request?
MB: No. In the end we have to decide what is best for us to play. Within reason we’ll play earlier stuff. But we want to play our new stuff.
ATS: Does touring become tiring?
MB: Yes it does. It would be nice to be at a point so we don’t have to tour as much. That’s where most our income is from. Many bands don’t do tours as much as us anymore. Things have changed. It makes more sense to … It’s just how we have been. I could see changes in the future though.
ATS: Who would you open for if you could open for anyone?
MB: REM, U2
ATS: Who are you listening to lately?
MB: U2, I like what the Postal Service did. Rilo Kily. I’ve been listening to Love and Rockets, INXS, the Cure. I think music is starting to get good again. Music is finally turning around and getting good again.
ATS: So you mentioned you were writing a rock opera. Is there something that inspired that? A certain rock opera?
MB: Yes! Hedwig and the Angry Inch. It’s a great movie you have to see it. John Cameron Mitchell did it. It’s a movie and it was an off Broadway play.
ATS: What part of the country do you enjoy playing in?
MB: New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Athens. Why I like these areas is because people are more open. They will let you play anything. They are willing to hear anything new and different. But we get surprised other places too. I love the west coast. My favorite part of the world: We got to play in Paris. That was just an incredible time.
ATS: You seem to have a lot of energy on stage what creates that in you?
ATS: Well if you decrease in touring wouldn’t that hurt you?
MB: Well yes in music but I could be in more plays, last year I was in a ballet. It was a rendition of Alice in Wonderland. It was really fun.
ATS: Are you jealous of Jonathan’s mustache?
MB: NO! Because it would look so stupid on me.
ATS: So for being from the south you don’t have much a southern accent.
MB: I was raised in North Carolina but my mother was an actress so that influenced it. But when I lived in Boston and New York, people would be like; you have such a southern accent. I love the southern accent. I’ll always live in the south. I’m proud to be a southerner. I feel the south is where it’s at. The most exciting arts, the most passionate people: I’m definitely proud of that.
ATS: What else have you done besides the ballet and rock opera you are working on?
MB: Also, my friend made a folk play. It was part of a thesis. But it turned out really cool I just want to do a whole bunch of different things.
ATS: Have you always wanted to be a performer?
MB: Yes since 5, my mom put us on stage. And its always been in me since then.
ATS: Have you ever thought there was a time when Jump would be no more?
MB: Yes. A couple of years ago we were dropped from our label. Well not just dropped. Lots of people are dropped, but the label was destroyed. Yet we were still stuck, because we still owed them lots of money and they owned Vertigo. Everything was depressing and dealing with money. It was not good. We wondered if that would be a good time to stop. There were a lot of bands that stopped that year, and they had every right, Antheaeum, and some crazy band, 2 Skinny J’s. They all had the same story. It was sad. We had all worked hard… and. Even now it’s not a great time to be a band.
ATS: Has the internet helped or hurt you?
MB: Oh its helped enormously! It has helped so many to hear about us. We’ve always had websites. I have a moblog I try to keep up. It has all been enormous.
Posted by itzjerm at 16:06 | Comments (4)
30. Duben 2004
Mason Jennings - Singer Song Writer
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Well we had the opportunity to take in a Mason Jennings show. And a nice relaxing show it was. Mason Jennings is a modern Bob Dylan of sort, focusing on his song writing in a lyrical fashion... then creating music with a folk sound - tempo. However its not folk in the standard fashion as much of the music even goes to the point of having a punk sound sometimes.
The show was a solid performance with clear strait forward presentation. Mason covered songs from his 3 last albums, with focus on his latest. He is truly a hard working artist, having been in the business since 14, his love for music more than performance is seen at the show. Not flamboyant or explosive, the concert is about the music first foremost and really... only.
We also sat down for an interview with Mason after the show. Since we have it recorded, simply enjoy his answers to the following questions, instead of me misconstruing what he said...
How do you think you have been effected by touring as an artist since the age of 14?
Some say you are a protest singer. Do you consider yourself a Protest Singer?
You have been called the modern day Bob Dylan, would you agree with this statement?
As your fan base grows, do you feel this limits i how creative you can be with your music?
What Genre would you consider your music?
Where does your accent originate? Is it supposed to be Southern?
What does the words Misconstrued Thoughts make you think of?
Mason Jennings a real nice down to earth guy, go see him in concert next time he's in your area. And check out his albums!
Posted by itzjerm at 21:52 | Comments (1)
22. Duben 2004
Pedro the Lion - (David Bazan) Lead Singer
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We recently sat down a bit with Pedro the Lion to learn more about the band, after a show in Birmingham, AL.
The concert was supurb. If you aren't familiar with Pedro the Lion they are a mellow indie rock band. Termed emo sometimes, it would be on the calm non tempermental scale of folk emo music.
David Bazan the mastermind of Pedro the Lion, is just a down to earth nice guy, with a thinking head on his shoulders. His concern and sencerity is seen in his music and shows.
Bazan is the only central part to a group that has been made up of over 30 people over the last 4 albums of release. However, based on this it is obvious who is the cohesive force of the group.
We were able to get some time with David Bazan (Lead Singer/Band Leader), as well as Tim Walsh (Drums).
Listen to his responses on:
Some have Called Pedro a Christian Band, what Is Bazan's Response to this?
What is the song Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives About?
The Latest Band Members Explain How they were added to Pedro
Does the Band Hope to make it Big?
What does the Word Misconstrued make Walsh think of?
Continue reading the extended entry to Read the entire interview with him, and watch some video clips of his response to various questions.
Of course there was more to the interview as well here are some other questions and responses of the interview with Bazan.
J- What do you think of the South?
D-I really like the south. Southern accent is so warm and inviting. People are really nice even in big cities. I love that. You think Mark Twain and such, its just great. I mean, I love black folks. They are a comfort to see. Make me happy. And there?s just not as many up north.
J-What do you think of the latest review of the album on allmuic?
D-Their review of the latest album?that was flattering. I don?t even know if its as good as they say it is.
Ben Kweller walkes in
Conversation with Ben
D-How?d it feel man?
B-felt like crap. Nah..its just dark, red lights and all. Hate that man. But I love the star. The star was awesome.
J-you guys do some great music.
D-well, these guys have some talent. Its just about working hard, filling in the gaps.
J-What was your best tour?
D-for me most special tour was with Bed Head. I just loved those guys. Texas Band. Mid 90?s broke up and formed New Year. Well they went on tour and asked me to open for them, and that amazing. I opened solo for them. I?d get to the show and hang out with them. Just asking them ?Ya know this song, what made you write that?? and ?This lyric here?that?s great!? just great times with them and hanging out. That was a great tour.
T-What is the meaning of the Priest and paramedics song?
D-My uncle, he was a paramedic. And so there was this one guy in the neighborhood who was ya know?drug addict, drunk, and all the time getting in trouble. And one night, I guess he just got way too messed up and ended up getting some 3rd degree burns. Yeah, real bad. And he?s in the ambulance and my uncles there with him. And the guy just would not calm down and seriously was freaking out. Coming in and out of consciousness and going crazy asking ?Am I gonna die!? Am I gonna Die!?!?? My uncle he was trained, as all paramedics are, to never tell the person they are gonna die. But this guy was just going nuts. So my uncle looks at him, knowing he was going to die cause he was just so bad off, and my uncle looks him in the eyes and knew he had to level with him. So he tells him straight up ?You are gonna die tonight man. In fact, prolly in the next 15 minutes. So you better get yourself straight with God and make sure your ready.? And the dude just calmed down and went into a daze and just? I guess got himself straight with God and such. And then of course he did die that night, about 15 or 20 minutes later he did die. So I just took that story about a man, and made it into a song about a husband and went from there.
T-well its an amazing song. One of my favorites.
Posted by itzjerm at 22:45 | Comments (0)