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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 Steve and Pete March 22nd, 2005 |
Tyson Stevens - Vocals Stephen Kirby - Guitar Chad Crawford - Guitar DJ Wilson - Bass Peter Costa - Drums Poufan Afkary - Keyboards |
| E: Scary Kids Scaring Kids have held a solid footing in the music
community for a respectable period of time now, and just recently you guys
have achieved even more of a spotlight with your release of the After
Dark EP and a string of shows in support. Do you think there's been an
undeniable jump in recognition for your band since the release?
Steve: I can say that it's definitely noticeable once you release a CD everywhere and people hear it, show their friends, and so on and so forth. For instance, we were listed in the Feb. issue of AP for "Top 100 Bands To Look Out For in 2005." Pete: I guess there has always been a steady growth with the amount of listeners our band has... it's been so awesome to see the fanbase spread. When we first got done with the album, and we heard that people in Utah or California had heard of our band, we were blown away. Steve: *Laughs* Now we get almost as many CD sales a week in New York as here in Arizona. Pete: And now our CD is in stores in Japan, Europe, and the U.S., and we are getting e-mails from every type of person all over the world. And when you think about it, knowing that is pretty humbling, and is just awesome to know. But, to answer the question... yes, the EP is really helping us out a lot. But I think the internet is the main thing. Without the internet, we probably wouldn't have been a band anymore. E: What do you think are the pros and cons of making music in this highly technological age, as opposed to back when buying a record or turning on the radio was the only means of hearing a band? Pete: The cons of making music during this time is, of course, CD sales. Labels can't go and sign any band they want... you aren't going to make as much money on that stuff. But being a band in the underground scene, it doesn't really matter, because we'll proably never see a royalty check. So unless we're Guns n' Roses or Britney Spears, it doesn't matter. Steve: The pros... well, the internet! It's amazing; you can hear pretty much any CD before you buy it. There's an infinite amount of promoting you can do online as well. Pete: So the postive end is that you can copy CD's easily. Anyone can make a good-quality recording in their home for cheap, and not go to these places where they are charged thirty bucks an hour to make a POS demo. Also, music sharing is the best thing ever invented. Like, if I really like a band, I will buy their album. But I'm not gonna go and buy an album that I've never heard before. Twelve bucks is a pretty big risk for me. I mean, I don't make much money--definitely not in the band, and that's where all my income goes, basically. And then you know kids from Europe or Japan or Australia can hear you a lot easier than they could ten years ago. I think touring is the main thing. Like, you can get so many more kids out to your shows. So unless my name is Lars Ulrich, I'm not going to complain at all about this day and age. I mean, even digital recording is amazing now... I can't even tell the difference between Analog and Digital. But that's not saying much. E: Have there been a lot of changes for the band since the EP's latest release? Pete: Well, we had three releases of the EP. I mean, there have been many changes since we recorded the EP... but since February, there haven't been many. We recorded the EP more than two years ago. Steve: Changes for one... another guitar was added--me! The style has somewhat changed because of that. I bring a different influence to the band now. Pete: Yeah. Steve: We've started touring non-stop... got signed... recorded a new CD with the amazing Brian McTernan. Pete: We had three guitars for awhile... switched back to two guitars. Tyson just sings now. E: How have the tours been? Pete: Average. Some shows are awesome. Some suck. But our first tour went a lot better than what we thought it was gonna be like. Steve: Some are stressful. Some are a breeze. Pete: We've toured with some cool locals--Not Quite Bernadette... those guys are awesome guys. And same with A Change of Pace, our labelmates. It's definitely much better touring with a band, especially when you have six people in a van... then one or two dudes can ride in the other band's sprinter. Steve: The toughest part is eating well... Pete: Yeah, definitely. Steve: Half the time we are starving, eating Top Ramen. Which isn't cool. Pete: We had one tour where we ate only twinkies, because one of our band member's girlfriends was in charge of getting food for us. Bad idea. Steve: But show-wise, we have fun. Pete: *Laughs* Steve: That's all that matters. We meet a lot of awesome people. Pete: Definitely. Steve: Which makes it worth it. Pete: I just love talking to other bands about music... like, you learn a lot. And I mean, that's all you are surrounded by. It's awesome. E: You know what... I'm sick. You guys can write your own next question and answer it. Steve: *Laughs* "Are you excited for you new CD release?" Fuck yeah! Pete: Schyea! Steve: This new CD turned out amazing, and I think it's going to blow away the EP. The CD is completely well-rounded. Nothing really sounds the same on it. Pete: Yeah. Steve: It should definitely go over well with our fans. Pete: Definitely. The energy is a lot bigger. There is just a bigger punch in this, album I think. Especially with the drums and bass. *Smiles* E: When is it due to come out? Pete: July 5th, hopefully. E: Awesome. Pete: "How was it working with Brian McTernan?" E: Hey, hey, no taking over entirely! Steve: *Laughs* E: I still need a job here. Pete: Oh, okay. E: So... how was it working with Brian McTernan? Pete: *Laughs* Sobering, of course. You get there thinking you have all your stuff ready... then he's like, "Man... that song sucks." Steve: *Laughs* Pete: "You should do this with the drums... BOOM BooBApDOoo!" "Why don't you write good lyrics, Tyson?" "Don't play crappy keyboard parts, Pouyan." "You guys shred too much on the guitar." Steve: *Laughs harder* Pete: And after the slaughterfest is over, we have an awesome song that sounds really clean after you get done recording it. I think everybody learned a lot from him... he's really awesome, really chill... his dogs are awesome, and he's hilarious, I think. And he remains a mystery. You never can find a picture of him. *Laughs* And he won't let you take pictures with him. He wants to be the man behind the curtain. Steve: He's just the coolest, nicest guy you could ever meet. Pete: Yeah. Steve: Very hospitable. And awesome. Pete: Unless... you fill his brand new Jetta Wagon with Unleaded fuel, when it's supposed to take Diesel. E: This could just be the Nyquil kicking in, but... you guys are the best interview ever. Pete: *Laughs* Wow... people usually think I'm a freak, nerd, dork, or all of the above. Maybe I am. Steve: *Laughs* Pete: Maybe that's why this is the best interview ever. Steve: ...I think he was joking. Pete: No he wasn't. He's serious. Geez. *Laughs* We really are cool. Steve: *Laughs* I know I am... Pete: Let me get my glory, man. Steve: I wear a fur coat. Pete: I wear a fur hat! Hua hua! *Laughs with a French accent* E: So what plans do you have for after the new album's release? Warped Tour, I hear? Pete: Yeah, we are getting on Warped from the 24th to the 29th so far. And I am hoping that we will be invited to play more. But I mean... being accepted to play those is an honor alone. Like, there are so many bands that want to get on that, I'm just glad that we got on some. It's awesome. Steve: Basically the game plan is just non-stop touring. Everywhere. That's what you have to do, and it's what we need to do. Pete: Yeah. I want to tour. I think it'll be fun this season--we have a larger following, and we are just more organized as a band. E: Right on. Pete: How about this question: "What do you think of the Arizona scene? I hear there are a lot of bands from AZ that are getting recognition... what do you think about that?" E: *Laughs* Pete: Ask it! Ask it! Oh oh oh oh oh! E: Asked. Pete: Oh, I don't know. Steve: *Laughs* Pete: Just kidding. The AZ scene is freaking awesome. There are so many good bands coming out of AZ, and it's awesome to see all these bands touring and what not. I am proud to be representing the 480. I think it's rad that Local shows here are bigger than big touring acts, almost. Everybody is like... "Dude, are you going to the Greeley Estates show, or the Scary Kids show, or Goodbye Tomorrow?" There are tons of bands that are making a name for themselves. And I mean... it's just a big community... none of the bands really sound alike. We're just all friends, and it's awesome. It's not like "the Arizona sound" or anything. Everybody is just up inside of this. Like seriously, there are so many AZ bands that should be way ahead of where we are at. But yeah... that's about it. Arizona Represent. E: What can you tell me about Tim Harmon? Pete: Tim Harmon is from Hourzero Records, a local label, and he was the dude that helped us release our EP in the first place. He's the reason why we are here today, basically. He's the tightest. He is the one harvesting all this Arizona stuff--he's the local band farmer. *Laughs* Wow, that was cheesy. But yeah... Tim Harmon, he also takes awesome pictures. So bands, if you need a picture check, www.timharmonphoto.com. He'll take a picture of you in a cage... naked, even. E: Well thanks a whole bunch... anything else you guys have left to say? Questions to ask yourself? Pete: Come and check us out on tour--we just love to play, and we have a reputation for having a high-energy live show. Steve: "How good am I at Halo 2 on X-Box live?" I'm fucking awesome! Level 17, bitch! Pete: Oh, but Steve's comment totally overruled mine. Steve: Yes. Pete: Thanks man! That was fun. Steve: Thank you! |