Linda Ferreira
10/18/09, 09:24 AM
The following is a mini interview of generic questions that we posed to all bands that wanted to answer:
Across The Aisle
New York, NY
myspace.com/acrosstheaisle (http://myspace.com/acrosstheaisle)
Ska, Punk, Reggae
Interview completed by Jay P., Trumpet, Vox with help from the New Guy, Guitar
1. How did you get your band name?
"Across The Aisle" is a political expression which defines the relationship between democrats and republicans; they're so different in their mindsets, philosophies, ideals, etc. that they sit on different sides of a figurative aisle. Megg H, vox, originally came up with it as a band name, and we just kind of reinterpret the expression to mean, quite simply, very different...different in terms of our musical tastes and backgrounds, races, religions, orientations, genders, etc. Yet, we're able to come together, make music happen, and reach across the aisle.
-Jay
2. How did this band get started?
It's really Megg's brainchild. When I first met her in Spring 2006 when we did our awful original rock musical, she'd mentioned wanting to start a band and that she was really into ska. She had guitar (that guy bailed, soon), bass (Nicki Sick...quit via text message...spawned "Better Off") and drums (Joel...21, had two kids...still lived at home with his mama...didn't last either) Joe Brody (Previous Guitarist) and I joined about a week apart from each other. Later that year, JV, drums replaced Joel and Ashray, bass, replaced Nicki Sick. We also had a trombone player/sssssorta vocalist named Jon D. Good who was in the band for like, 3 months, maybe? We played our first ever gig in Joe's apartment in Brooklyn in October of '07 with that lineup. Jon quit in November, claiming he didn't fit with the group...he didn't. We left on what I think are good terms. It was just the 5 of us in Jan. '08 when we recorded. We brought on a studio musician/music teacher named Brad, who just happened to dig us. He did live shows with us (he's in the vids on myspace), but was never officially in the band. He wasn't able to come to do the Boston-area gigs with us, so I put an ad on craigslist, and we got Jackie C, Sax/Vox. Everyone was down, including her, so she's been on ever since. The chemistry with Joe had waivered. He quit, a day or two after a gig on Labor Day weekend in Asbury Park, NJ. Then, we got the New Guy, guitar in what I believe was early October, officially.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
Jeez, pretty much any and every band from the attributed genres: Mad Caddies, The Specials, Pilfers, Big D & the Kids Table, Westbound Train, Save Ferris, The Toasters, The Pietasters
-Jay
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
My top vote would be The Toasters, for their longevity. I'm sure Bucket's got stories, and I think we could learn a lot in the process.
-Jay
5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
Definitely an oppossum...marsupail + tail = fun times
-Jay
6. Why should people listen to your band?
The tunes are catchy, and they all sound very different. We'll make ya skank, listen, groove, laugh, and rock out. Also, there aren't that many female-fronted ska bands, so that alone is something fresh to listen to.
-Jay
7. If you were chosen to be in Guitar Hero/Rock Band, what song would you want in the game? How hard do you think it would be to five-star on expert?
Probably "Better Off," based on Ashray's crazy-moving bassline and the fact that there's a guitar solo as well. Having recently played Rock Band and been too afraid to attempt "expert," I'd go with..."pretty hard." :) -Jay
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
Parents, fans, any and all deities -Jay
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
Outlaw lip-syncing, except for drag queens -Jay
Stop the haterade distribution
-New Guy
10. Memorable tour experience?
On our way to the Boston area, we decided to do an a capella version of one of our songs in the van, a genre which we soon after called "ska-capella"
11. What does AP.net (http://ap.net/) mean to you?
You simply cannot beat the absolutely volume, yet readability, of news that comes through AP.net. News briefs with links to more information on a wide variety music is a great format. It's gatekeeper news where anyone can have a key, allowing for the most information without leaving readers to weed through crap.
-New Guy
12. What is your favorite song to play?
It changes. Right now, it's probably "Elephant," cause it's upbeat, and puts me in a good mood. It gets people's attention, too.
-Jay
Agreed, it's amazing set opener!
-New Guy
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Sunny Florida or California...someplace with sand and sun -Jay
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Early to mid-nineties grunge rock, when my brothers were all in high school -Jay
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Fly or teleport to save on airfare
-Jay
16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
I think the definition of "it" will be different for everyone in the group and will more than likely change all the time. Whatever "it" is for me, I don't think we're there, yet. Right now, "it" would mean making a living off the band and not having to wait tables, anymore.
-Jay
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
I play the ukulele -Jay
I opened for Fallout Boy... before anyone knew who they were. Including myself.
-New Guy
18. What's your favorite holiday?
Probably Christmas, 'cuz I get to see my whole family -Jay
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Sleep, write, search for random stuff on google and wikipedia, watch documentaries -Jay
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
I can flip my eyelids. My mom hates it.
-Jay
Ew, gross.
-New Guy
Across The Aisle
New York, NY
myspace.com/acrosstheaisle (http://myspace.com/acrosstheaisle)
Ska, Punk, Reggae
Interview completed by Jay P., Trumpet, Vox with help from the New Guy, Guitar
1. How did you get your band name?
"Across The Aisle" is a political expression which defines the relationship between democrats and republicans; they're so different in their mindsets, philosophies, ideals, etc. that they sit on different sides of a figurative aisle. Megg H, vox, originally came up with it as a band name, and we just kind of reinterpret the expression to mean, quite simply, very different...different in terms of our musical tastes and backgrounds, races, religions, orientations, genders, etc. Yet, we're able to come together, make music happen, and reach across the aisle.
-Jay
2. How did this band get started?
It's really Megg's brainchild. When I first met her in Spring 2006 when we did our awful original rock musical, she'd mentioned wanting to start a band and that she was really into ska. She had guitar (that guy bailed, soon), bass (Nicki Sick...quit via text message...spawned "Better Off") and drums (Joel...21, had two kids...still lived at home with his mama...didn't last either) Joe Brody (Previous Guitarist) and I joined about a week apart from each other. Later that year, JV, drums replaced Joel and Ashray, bass, replaced Nicki Sick. We also had a trombone player/sssssorta vocalist named Jon D. Good who was in the band for like, 3 months, maybe? We played our first ever gig in Joe's apartment in Brooklyn in October of '07 with that lineup. Jon quit in November, claiming he didn't fit with the group...he didn't. We left on what I think are good terms. It was just the 5 of us in Jan. '08 when we recorded. We brought on a studio musician/music teacher named Brad, who just happened to dig us. He did live shows with us (he's in the vids on myspace), but was never officially in the band. He wasn't able to come to do the Boston-area gigs with us, so I put an ad on craigslist, and we got Jackie C, Sax/Vox. Everyone was down, including her, so she's been on ever since. The chemistry with Joe had waivered. He quit, a day or two after a gig on Labor Day weekend in Asbury Park, NJ. Then, we got the New Guy, guitar in what I believe was early October, officially.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
Jeez, pretty much any and every band from the attributed genres: Mad Caddies, The Specials, Pilfers, Big D & the Kids Table, Westbound Train, Save Ferris, The Toasters, The Pietasters
-Jay
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
My top vote would be The Toasters, for their longevity. I'm sure Bucket's got stories, and I think we could learn a lot in the process.
-Jay
5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
Definitely an oppossum...marsupail + tail = fun times
-Jay
6. Why should people listen to your band?
The tunes are catchy, and they all sound very different. We'll make ya skank, listen, groove, laugh, and rock out. Also, there aren't that many female-fronted ska bands, so that alone is something fresh to listen to.
-Jay
7. If you were chosen to be in Guitar Hero/Rock Band, what song would you want in the game? How hard do you think it would be to five-star on expert?
Probably "Better Off," based on Ashray's crazy-moving bassline and the fact that there's a guitar solo as well. Having recently played Rock Band and been too afraid to attempt "expert," I'd go with..."pretty hard." :) -Jay
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
Parents, fans, any and all deities -Jay
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
Outlaw lip-syncing, except for drag queens -Jay
Stop the haterade distribution
-New Guy
10. Memorable tour experience?
On our way to the Boston area, we decided to do an a capella version of one of our songs in the van, a genre which we soon after called "ska-capella"
11. What does AP.net (http://ap.net/) mean to you?
You simply cannot beat the absolutely volume, yet readability, of news that comes through AP.net. News briefs with links to more information on a wide variety music is a great format. It's gatekeeper news where anyone can have a key, allowing for the most information without leaving readers to weed through crap.
-New Guy
12. What is your favorite song to play?
It changes. Right now, it's probably "Elephant," cause it's upbeat, and puts me in a good mood. It gets people's attention, too.
-Jay
Agreed, it's amazing set opener!
-New Guy
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Sunny Florida or California...someplace with sand and sun -Jay
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Early to mid-nineties grunge rock, when my brothers were all in high school -Jay
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Fly or teleport to save on airfare
-Jay
16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
I think the definition of "it" will be different for everyone in the group and will more than likely change all the time. Whatever "it" is for me, I don't think we're there, yet. Right now, "it" would mean making a living off the band and not having to wait tables, anymore.
-Jay
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
I play the ukulele -Jay
I opened for Fallout Boy... before anyone knew who they were. Including myself.
-New Guy
18. What's your favorite holiday?
Probably Christmas, 'cuz I get to see my whole family -Jay
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Sleep, write, search for random stuff on google and wikipedia, watch documentaries -Jay
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
I can flip my eyelids. My mom hates it.
-Jay
Ew, gross.
-New Guy