PDA

View Full Version : Almost, The - 12.9.09


Adam Pfleider
12/09/09, 12:43 PM
-I'd like to thank the users for helping a lot with the questions. Good work guys!-

Aaron Gillespie certainly has had a busy end of the year. With going back on tour with UnderOath around the same time of releasing the next album, Monster Monster, for his project The Almost. Mix that with his new AP blog about food, and well, it's a way to cap a decade. Gillespie took some time out to answer some of our questions via e-mail.

How much of your beliefs run through Monster Monster as opposed to Southern Weather?

I think and hope the same amount. I feel it super important to pour all you are into everything you do, so I'm trying to put who I am in this music.

Do you feel like there were aspects you were able to explore and spend more time on with the new album that you hadn't had the chance to do with [I]Southern Weather?

Yeah, for sure. For starters, the whole record was written and recorded by the whole band, this afforded us to create a more "viby" record, not to mention it just has a "band" feel.

How does it feel having two ex-Beloved members in the band now?

Haha, good! They are killer musicians, and I've known them for ten years.

How do you feel about concertgoers' reactions when you speak about your faith onstage?

People are great. They are respectful. If you give it, you'll get it. People don’t want to be stuffed [and] honesty is the best.

Have you ever had vocal lessons? Any advice for aspiring singers? For drummers as well?

I have had vocal lessons. My advice with any instrument is confidence. If you go out and believe you can do it, you can. If you go up scared, you're going to fail.

After playing with The Almost for a few months/focusing on that aspect of your career, is it hard to get back in the groove of playing music in the vein of Underoath?

It’s a bit hard to make the physical transition, but that’s the worst part. My hands take it badly as well as my neck, but otherwise it adds a little positive, "honeymoon" type stage to each tour.

So what do you prefer, drums or frontman?

Loaded question... drums though. I'm more comfortable, but it is really awesome to be able to reach out and touch people.

How does it feel to know your music has affected someone in positive way?

I hope it does. I don’t really like to think about it a lot. I want to feel like a part of it. I know I'm no one special, and I know that no one will probably remember this music. I mean I hope they do, but let's face the facts, I'm getting old and I'm not getting any better looking, not to mention I also don't really like neon. Man, I just want God to use me, and I feel he is.

With your blog here on Absolutepunk.net, do you think you'll ever put out a cookbook?

I would rather do a travel-type show, but who knows.

Oneurwaitingfor
12/09/09, 01:06 PM
aw. one of those questions was mine. cool interview. I enjoyed it

Jordan_Huyser
12/09/09, 01:18 PM
Really good interview. I love Aaron's answers. He seems to be a really cool dude with a lot to offer. I hope I eventually get to see him with The Almost(seen him with Underoath) and or meet him.

topher465
12/09/09, 01:46 PM
Dude is a sick sick drummer. No one can argue with that.

the1
12/09/09, 02:12 PM
"I also don't really like neon"

lol.
Thanks for asking my vocal question!

Nick Le
12/09/09, 02:37 PM
Lol at the neon part of his answer. And I love that Dusty and Joe are in the band, haha.

andresr200
12/09/09, 02:39 PM
Great interview. The "How does it feel to know your music has affected someone in positive way?" answer was really nice. I know The Almost and Underoath will stay strong in this business as opposed to those neon bands. Even if he says he's no special, I think he's a role model for young people and that's important! I love the new album, been listening non-stop.

PoweredbyPJ
12/09/09, 02:42 PM
awesome interview

Yellowcard2006
12/09/09, 02:56 PM
My question wasn't asked. Kinda short interview. Good though

xsinkshipsx
12/09/09, 03:50 PM
Lol at the neon part of his answer. And I love that Dusty and Joe are in the band, haha.
it's cool that they are in the band...but truth be told, give me beloved back anyday...

youngmountain
12/09/09, 04:36 PM
it's cool that they are in the band...but truth be told, give me beloved back anyday...
definitely

scotlandft
12/09/09, 05:04 PM
the most genuine person ever. def. only gonna be one Aaron Gillespie in this world.

swt_catastrophe
12/09/09, 05:56 PM
love him. and the new album is legit.

CarouselBoy
12/09/09, 09:21 PM
He always sounds like a standup guy.

Best part:

I'm getting old and I'm not getting any better looking, not to mention I also don't really like neon

cng9590
12/09/09, 09:49 PM
i love the almost aron is amzing in general in the almost and underoath


"http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/1299927?src=embed"
"http://a1.chase.contextoptional.com/images/vote_for_us.jpg?1258698490"


Choose TWLOHA as your charity and Vote!

fart_cloud
12/10/09, 05:19 AM
Dude is a sick sick drummer. No one can argue with that.

I've never heard him play anything really noteworthy...just normal metalcore drumming, which doesn't require a whole lot of special percussive talent.You must have shit-low standards for your drummers.

Whatever. Beloved members should stop fucking around with these bands and reform already.

topher465
12/10/09, 08:00 AM
I've never heard him play anything really noteworthy...just normal metalcore drumming, which doesn't require a whole lot of special percussive talent.You must have shit-low standards for your drummers.

Whatever. Beloved members should stop fucking around with these bands and reform already.
I don't consider Underoath a metalcore band, and I don't consider Aaron a metalcore drummer. Who do you consider a good drummer who plays in a band? There's a large difference between solo drummers and drummers who actually play in bands, and the types of bands they play in. Who do you consider a good drummer? Buddy Rich? He's in a different category. Chris Pennie? Ilan Rubin from NIN? I know my drummers. Don't insult my intelligence.

InclineLine606
12/10/09, 09:44 AM
Short interview, but I enjoyed it. The questions were definitely out of the usual musician interview mold. :D

fart_cloud
12/10/09, 09:59 AM
I don't consider Underoath a metalcore band, and I don't consider Aaron a metalcore drummer. Who do you consider a good drummer who plays in a band? There's a large difference between solo drummers and drummers who actually play in bands, and the types of bands they play in. Who do you consider a good drummer? Buddy Rich? He's in a different category. Chris Pennie? Ilan Rubin from NIN? I know my drummers. Don't insult my intelligence.

He may be good, he just hasn't done anything a third year student couldn't do. Metalcore (or whatever the fuck you want to call it) doesn't have a lot of great drummers. Usually they would move on to more technical heavy music. A few of the best I've heard is Justin Foley (Blood Has Been Shed stuff, not the typical shit he does in Kilswitch), Branden Morgan (7a7p, Misery Signals), Kenneth Schalk (ex-Candiria, not really metalcore purely).

There's probably a few more, but if you're looking for good drummers, pass on metalcore

topher465
12/10/09, 11:46 AM
He may be good, he just hasn't done anything a third year student couldn't do. Metalcore (or whatever the fuck you want to call it) doesn't have a lot of great drummers. Usually they would move on to more technical heavy music. A few of the best I've heard is Justin Foley (Blood Has Been Shed stuff, not the typical shit he does in Kilswitch), Branden Morgan (7a7p, Misery Signals), Kenneth Schalk (ex-Candiria, not really metalcore purely).

There's probably a few more, but if you're looking for good drummers, pass on metalcore
yeah to be honest I don't listen to many heavy bands. Underoath, The Bled, Every Time I Die, and Meshuggah about wraps it up for me.

sullivancares
12/11/09, 11:08 PM
The man.

Codi23
12/12/09, 08:25 PM
Short and sweet. Nice job!

inthemidst
12/29/09, 02:46 PM
Good interview, great guy.

jaredisrad_9
03/15/10, 09:04 PM
Aaron G. is such an inspiration as a musician, a songwriter and a human being. All of his outlooks, despite a few disagreements, give me insight and remind me daily of why I do what I do. I love music more than anything physical on this planet, and it's nice to listen to music that someone else has written that they've poured so much into.
Gnar article. :)

rivevideo
04/27/10, 01:08 PM
Great interview!