An Interview To Remember

Photos by Gage Young

by: Crystal Lowe

When I first heard A Day To Remember’s latest album ,For Those Who Have Heart, I didn’t know quite what to think of them. The record is a unique mixture of hardcore riffs mixed with poppy influences. If you haven’t heard of this band yet you will soon. Despite horrible phone reception I was fortunate enough to have a brief conversation with Josh, the band’s bassist. He blew me away with his friendly demeanor and his great taste in music.

A Day To Remember mixes so many different elements to its music. How would you describe your style?

It’s weird because we have always liked a lot of hardcore and pop-punk stuff. We basically just started to play the stuff we liked to listen to and it kind of came out the way it does. We have never really had a genre. I still tell people we are just a rock band. I guess kids and other people started calling us pop-punk, which I don’t know if it’s a gay thing or cool I don‘t know. But, that’s what people are calling us and to me that’s better than a pretty good description, because its pop and its punk.

Who are some of your influences?

Definitely, New Found Glory, Blink 182, some of the heavier types of things like some of the older Bury Your Dead, Saves The Day, Alkaline Trio, bands like that. A lot of like pop stuff a lot of pop-punk. Then I just got interested in some heavy bands like Bury Your Dead. I’ve listened to that band like forever. Just like heavy bands the ones that play mosh music and stuff. That’s what I came from.

So your latest Album (For Those Who Have Heart) was just re-released are you guys currently working on a new one?

Yeah, actually we are not exactly taking our time but, we are working diligently on this latest record. When we have time we are working hard on it. We are the road from now until mid-August. So it’s going to be kind of rough to find time to write while we are on the road, but it is necessary. We are knocking it out. We have Warped Tour coming up and we have friends on the tour that bring recording gear with them so I think we are going to demo some stuff out. We are ready to have a new record out later on in the year or maybe early next year.”

You guys tour incessantly. What are some of your tour essentials?

Honestly, when I first started touring I used to bring a humongous bag on tour.  Just thinking I was never going to be prepared enough. I’ve definitely learned you don‘t need as much stuff as you think you do. I need like a pair of basketball shorts, a few shirts, a couple pairs of jeans, a couple pairs of shoes and my little bathroom bag. That is about it.

So I see you guys will be heading out on Warped Tour this summer. Is this going to be your first time?

We have never played the whole tour. We have played one date in the past. Like in 2005 or something we won some kind of contest and got to play on the Ernie Ball stage. We are so excited though, because we grew up going to Warped Tour. We originally were only invited to do half of the tour, but then just recently (like a week ago) they called and asked if we wanted to do the entire thing. It is just such an honor because it is something we have always wanted to do. We have always looked up to the Warped Tour so we are really excited, it’s just really amazing.

Any Warped Tour bands you are looking forward to playing with?

You know I’m not even sure. I know Paramore is doing a few days, and I’m kind of in love with Haley so I need to see that band. Other than that, to be honest I don’t even know who is doing Warped Tour this year. Do you?

As far as I know, Angels and Airwaves, All Time Low, Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals, a lot of good stuff.

Of course! Those bands rule so I’m going to love to see that. I know there is going to be tons of bands that I love. Clearly I have been just so wrapped up in this tour that I don’t know what is going on. I haven’t even had a chance to look over the roster.

Are there any cities you are particularly excited about playing in?

Yeah , well we love like California and Florida.  It’s going to be cool to play the Florida dates because those are the ones we used go to when we were younger. We would always go to the Jacksonville, Florida dates. So to be on the stage that I used to watch is just unreal. We also love the Northwest, the West coast, we just love a bunch of different places so it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Do any of the band members have girlfriends?

Yeah a few of us do. Not the whole band, but like two or three of us do.

How do you handle a relationship being on tour so often?

It is definitely not easy. Most people think to have a healthy relationship you need to spend an adequate amount of time with each other. I don’t think it is necessarily true. As long as you have an open relationship and are really honest with each other and talk well then you are fine. As long as you guys are talking then it is going to work out.

I really like the Kelly Clarkson cover. What made you guys choose that one?

You know people either think its lame or love it. There really is no explanation or secret to it. Like, a lot of people think our label made us do it, but it is nothing like that all. One day we were driving down the road and someone put it in and we were like this is a great song. We listened it so much we decided why not cover it. We just love the song period.

At this point, the bad reception got the best of both of us and brought the conversation to an abrupt end. Unfortunately, the world will never know if any of the band members will ever try out for American Idol or what their parting words were. However, If you really need to know don’t hesitate to get in touch with any one of them and ask. The guys from A Day To Remember are extremely nice and personable. They offer fans both links to their personal Myspace’s, as well as their AIM names to keep in touch. Also, rest assured A Day To Remember will be tearing up the stage at a town near you come warped tour. So be sure to check them out and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the there new album coming out late this year, which will indeed be another eclectic ass kicking mix.

Related Links

• ADTR MYSPACE
• Victory Records

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