Keagan Ilvonen
03/25/10, 11:30 PM
The following is a mini interview of generic questions that we posed to all bands that wanted to answer:
No Second Troy
nosecondtroy.com
www.myspace.com/nosecondtroy
www.facebook.com/nosecondtroy
www.twitter.com/nosecondtroy
[url]www.youtube.com/nosecondtroymusic[url]
1. How did you get your band name?
We stole it from the title of a Yeats poem about unrequited love and the Irish revolutionary movement at the turn of 20th century. Although we stole it more because we thought it would be a cool name than the other stuff....
2. How did this band get started?
Tom (guitar) and Mike (keys), had played in a previous band that had dissolved. They put a classified ad in the Washington City Paper advertising for a lead singer. Jeff showed up in Tom's basement with a well-traveled acoustic guitar, sang a Cyndi Lauper cover, made some inappropriate jokes, and still ended up the lead singer of what became No Second Troy.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
Influenced by (not always the same as sounds like), would be Radiohead, Arcade Fire, the Beatles, Crowded House, Damien Rice, The Frames, Athlete, Kings of Leon, U2, Stars, Death Cab for Cutie, Blur, Doves, Stevie Wonder, The Shins, Bon Iver
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
Led Zeppelin -- because we could record an album with a bunch of 5 to 6 minute songs on it that would sell really well and draw huge crowds. For this particular tour, however, we'd all be a year or two younger, impervious to pain, and able to function without sleep.
Kings of Leon -- before they blew up in the U.S, but were huge in Europe, because that would be cool to see.
5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
I'd have to say a giant rabbit, since I'm unable to remove from my mind the visual of Johnny Drama at the end of the Entourage episode involving Furries. A strategically placed cottontail would be a good thing to have if things got dicey.
6. Why should people listen to your band?
Because we honestly think you'll like it. Not that we're aiming for it, but with three songwriters in the band we think there's something for everyone. also because this new record is not an effort to sound like anyone but ourselves, you're not going to hear a bunch of autotuning, and we hope the songwriting and the lyrics go hand-in-hand in a way fans of both pop and indie rock will relate to.
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 Grounded because it's such a rocky guitar driven song. But it'd probably only be a level 1 since it's a no brainer riff.
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
our families, our childhood music teachers, our producers and engineers and benefactors, our fans, the guy down the street who yelled at us at 11pm saying "you guys are awesome, seriously, but it's fucking late, and you guys are way too fucking loud."
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
The whole radio bureaucracy, and any part of it that prioritizes image over songwriting and (actual) live performance.
10. Memorable tour experience?
Coldplay told us to turn down. We were playing an opening show for Coldplay and Pete Yorn in the VIP section of the Nissan Pavilion. Apparently those guys were eating dinner nearby and dispatched a Live National rep to ask us to turn the volume down. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure we had the sound guy turn it up
11. What does AP.net mean to you?
The backbone of indie music support. I love it.
12. What is your favorite song to play?
'This Is the End of Me' just gets me going.
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
The Carribean for Tom and Jeff, any non-tropical location for Mike and Mike -- preferably the Adirondacks or the Boundary Waters.
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Huey Lewis, love that band. Anything 80s. Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, which Mike Beach listened to on an old cassette while reading the Lord of the Rings. He was a nerd.
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Probably invisibility. Can you imagine the access you'd have? Unlimited! That or super speed like the Flash, but on the guitar or drums, to be able to make money doing guitar or drum battles while sandbagging the competition.
16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
Yes and No. Yes if you count the moment several years ago when we were just starting out and our friends, actually trying (unsuccessfully) to be nice, said "hey, you guys sound like a real band!", but in reality no, you count the moment that hasn't happened, and probably never will, when Paul McCartney calls us up and says "Hey NST, love you guys, won't you come on tour with me and the fellas?"
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
Jeff played in a cover band in South Korea for three years, Tom played guitar in the pit orchestra in "Tommy" in college, Mike Smirnoff can play guitar and keys.
18. What's your favorite holiday?
Christmas, (hells yeah!), or Halloween.
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Aside from writing music, reading non-fiction and novels, drinking good beer and wine when we're not on the road, watch the Food Network, go see and support other DC bands.
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
Mike Beach plays a mean saxophone, though thankfully not on the records, and Mike Smirnoff can fit twenty-two cherry tomatoes in his mouth at one time.
No Second Troy
nosecondtroy.com
www.myspace.com/nosecondtroy
www.facebook.com/nosecondtroy
www.twitter.com/nosecondtroy
[url]www.youtube.com/nosecondtroymusic[url]
1. How did you get your band name?
We stole it from the title of a Yeats poem about unrequited love and the Irish revolutionary movement at the turn of 20th century. Although we stole it more because we thought it would be a cool name than the other stuff....
2. How did this band get started?
Tom (guitar) and Mike (keys), had played in a previous band that had dissolved. They put a classified ad in the Washington City Paper advertising for a lead singer. Jeff showed up in Tom's basement with a well-traveled acoustic guitar, sang a Cyndi Lauper cover, made some inappropriate jokes, and still ended up the lead singer of what became No Second Troy.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
Influenced by (not always the same as sounds like), would be Radiohead, Arcade Fire, the Beatles, Crowded House, Damien Rice, The Frames, Athlete, Kings of Leon, U2, Stars, Death Cab for Cutie, Blur, Doves, Stevie Wonder, The Shins, Bon Iver
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
Led Zeppelin -- because we could record an album with a bunch of 5 to 6 minute songs on it that would sell really well and draw huge crowds. For this particular tour, however, we'd all be a year or two younger, impervious to pain, and able to function without sleep.
Kings of Leon -- before they blew up in the U.S, but were huge in Europe, because that would be cool to see.
5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
I'd have to say a giant rabbit, since I'm unable to remove from my mind the visual of Johnny Drama at the end of the Entourage episode involving Furries. A strategically placed cottontail would be a good thing to have if things got dicey.
6. Why should people listen to your band?
Because we honestly think you'll like it. Not that we're aiming for it, but with three songwriters in the band we think there's something for everyone. also because this new record is not an effort to sound like anyone but ourselves, you're not going to hear a bunch of autotuning, and we hope the songwriting and the lyrics go hand-in-hand in a way fans of both pop and indie rock will relate to.
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 Grounded because it's such a rocky guitar driven song. But it'd probably only be a level 1 since it's a no brainer riff.
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
our families, our childhood music teachers, our producers and engineers and benefactors, our fans, the guy down the street who yelled at us at 11pm saying "you guys are awesome, seriously, but it's fucking late, and you guys are way too fucking loud."
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
The whole radio bureaucracy, and any part of it that prioritizes image over songwriting and (actual) live performance.
10. Memorable tour experience?
Coldplay told us to turn down. We were playing an opening show for Coldplay and Pete Yorn in the VIP section of the Nissan Pavilion. Apparently those guys were eating dinner nearby and dispatched a Live National rep to ask us to turn the volume down. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure we had the sound guy turn it up
11. What does AP.net mean to you?
The backbone of indie music support. I love it.
12. What is your favorite song to play?
'This Is the End of Me' just gets me going.
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
The Carribean for Tom and Jeff, any non-tropical location for Mike and Mike -- preferably the Adirondacks or the Boundary Waters.
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Huey Lewis, love that band. Anything 80s. Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, which Mike Beach listened to on an old cassette while reading the Lord of the Rings. He was a nerd.
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
Probably invisibility. Can you imagine the access you'd have? Unlimited! That or super speed like the Flash, but on the guitar or drums, to be able to make money doing guitar or drum battles while sandbagging the competition.
16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
Yes and No. Yes if you count the moment several years ago when we were just starting out and our friends, actually trying (unsuccessfully) to be nice, said "hey, you guys sound like a real band!", but in reality no, you count the moment that hasn't happened, and probably never will, when Paul McCartney calls us up and says "Hey NST, love you guys, won't you come on tour with me and the fellas?"
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
Jeff played in a cover band in South Korea for three years, Tom played guitar in the pit orchestra in "Tommy" in college, Mike Smirnoff can play guitar and keys.
18. What's your favorite holiday?
Christmas, (hells yeah!), or Halloween.
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Aside from writing music, reading non-fiction and novels, drinking good beer and wine when we're not on the road, watch the Food Network, go see and support other DC bands.
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
Mike Beach plays a mean saxophone, though thankfully not on the records, and Mike Smirnoff can fit twenty-two cherry tomatoes in his mouth at one time.