MewithoutYou Questionnaire

[Brandon Herbel]

I have the pleasure to sit down and interview the guys of MewithoutYou (http://www.mewithoutyou.com) next week. Leave any questions you might have for the band and I will do my best to get them all answered.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Why'd you make the band name one word but still capitalize the Y?

[WakingTheMisery]

Why'd you make the band name one word but still capitalize the Y?

hahahahahahahaha....

[GoWaitInTheCar]

What event happened that they decided they had to turn their lives to God?

[leary0315]

Who are your favorite bands to play with?

What is your favorite venue to play at?

What bands are you guys listening to at the current moment?

Will you guys be playing any of the holiday shows w/ Thursday this year?

What are your favorite mwY songs?

What songs dont you like anymore?

[MOOF]

Why'd you make the band name one word but still capitalize the Y?

"You" represents God.

[loveofliberty]

How come you guys haven't played any A-->B Life songs live recently? Is it because since you've been doing mostly opening gigs, you have limited time and prefer to showcase your latest material? Will you play music off all three albums if you do a headlining tour for Brother, Sister?

[Scott Weber]

When The Operation (MWY's former band, where Aaron was the drummer) disbanded, how did you decide to change your sound so dramatically to where MWY is now? Were there any other bands/musicians that influenced such a radical change?

[hmmmmmm]

How did you get Jerem Enigk to sing on your new album?
How did it feel like working with him?

[china white]

What's your reaction to meeting fans that have been affected greatly by you?

How does it feel to be a true inspiration to some people?

[Shatter_Glass]

These are mainly directed at Aaron:

1. What's your favorite Neutral Milk Hotel album ?

2. What songs are the Anathallo horn section on for Brother, Sister?

3. You guys have one more record left on your Tooth & Nail contract where will you guys go next?

4. How is the van holding up now?

5. What have you guys been reading?

6. Any recent colaborations with other T&N artists?

7. Aaron what did you do with the "suitcase" that you bought from the Goodwill with Jared and Mitchel?

8. Have you heard from Critter recently? (This will evoke a great story for a great cause, if you liek eating out of dumpsters that is)

9. Any side projects in the works?

10. Aaron have you ever thought of doing your poetry Bradley Hathaway-slam-style?

[Scott Weber]

These are mainly directed at Aaron:



7. Aaron what did you do with the "suitcase" that you bought from the Goodwill with Jared and Mitchel?

8. Have you heard from Critter recently? (This will evoke a great story for a great cause, if you liek eating out of dumpsters that is)



please don't ask these, haha. personal questions and inside jokes are lame for 99% of the other people who read the interview.

[Brandon Herbel]

Why'd you make the band name one word but still capitalize the Y?

Thats how they spell it on their website, their albums, and if you google search it.

[spikestoyou]

Any plans to rerelease that ol' ep or rerecord Flamethrower like you did w/ 4 Word Letter?

Has anyone passed out while performing outside at a festival in a freakin' turtleneck sweater?

Where can I find me a copy of The Operation's cd? Ha.

[thewebguy]

Thats how they spell it on their website, their albums, and if you google search it.

he was asking it as a question for the band, not for you lol

[saysmydoctor]

Influences?

[scottwouldkill]

How did the idea of the potluck come about?

[gobicamel]

Europe tour in the works?

[tskat]

1) Does Aaron actually play the accordian... in concerts i can never tell if he is just messing around or actually playing it?

2) Were any unique instruments used on the new album?

3) On the new album, what is the meaning of the "Spider" songs? I was kindof scared at the end of "Brownish Spider" with the closing line.

-scott

[wypij]

questions:
1. why do you drive that horrible van? Isn't there any other options?

2. What do you do with all your money?

3. Is it true that you dig through garbage everyday?

4.what kind of families did you grow up in? strict? religious?

5.Explain your beliefs on animal rights and how it relates to the Bible.

6. Explain your wardrobe.

[zac_LS:M]

Is it true that Aaron eats out of garbage cans?

[MarkyMark1984]

cornerstone seems to be a place that you guys enjoy very much. i saw you guys mingling with fans and friends all week. is cornerstone your favorite place to play or do you even have a favorite place to play?

[soashamed]

What is the thinking behind making part twos of songs, such as nice and blue and four word letter?

Do those songs have a linier meaning or does the part two move the meaning in a different direction?

Are there any plans on reprising any other song, cough, cough uh… Torches Together part 2?

I heard Aarron once say that he feels like he rips off other lyricist, such as Bob Dylan (a hard rains gonna fall) on brother sister what are some of the lyrics that are ripped off? If there is any.

[Corbet]

Thought I'd point out ALOT of these questions are asked in this month's AP magazine. Theres an interview with Aaron and the Drummer. Check it out.

[thisisadisaster]

How come you guys haven't played any A-->B Life songs live recently? Is it because since you've been doing mostly opening gigs, you have limited time and prefer to showcase your latest material? Will you play music off all three albums if you do a headlining tour for Brother, Sister?

i miss hearing the a-->b life songs live...

[lookingiswrong]

Who's idea was it to have three songs about different colored spiders on the new album?

[-Aaron-]

This should be fun. Interviewing Aaron is always a blast.

[alexxxisonfire]

How did the collabo with Norma Jean come about? (it's old, I know, but I've never seen a full explanation)

What happened to the flowers on stage (i.e. on the drums, the mic-stand, etc.)? Are you gonna bring that and the potluck dinners before shows back?

[trash zoo]

Why are the lyrics always so similar in rhyme scheme ?

not that I don't like it or anything :|

[lilhockeybro]

not a question.

its so respectable that you dont change your faith for anything.

[jordan22]

how do you feel about tooth and nail?

what books have meant a lot to you?

[gregxthor]

-Are the lyrics to your songs written beforehand, or written to the music?

-Is there any significance of the date January 1979?

-What does [A -->B] Life mean or symbolize?

[12:46AM]

how do you say [A --> B] Life? square bracket A dash dash greater than B square bracket life? lol.

[gregxthor]

how do you say [A --> B] Life? square bracket A dash dash greater than B square bracket life? lol.

I beleive it's either "A to B Life" or "A.B. Life". My guess is A.B. Life.

[12:46AM]

and just as a little observation: does anyone else think that it's funny how brandon herbel is interviewing one of the greatest lyricists ever? he said that the best lyrics of 2005 were "we're just a wet dream through the webzine"- panic at the disco. hahaha. strikes me as ironic.

[12:46AM]

I beleive it's either "A to B Life" or "A.B. Life". My guess is A.B. Life.
i say a to b is life. i'm a math major though. so i dunno. maybe it's pronounced "the limit of life as a approaches b"? who knows...

[Scott Weber]

i think it's a to b life.

[Scott Weber]

and that's not irony, dude.

[Fading Elysium]

Who are you main influences?

What current bands are you listening to?

[AktionFists]

Even though it's already been mentioned, I really want to know how Jeremy Enigk (sp?) got involved in the new album. As well as if there was anybody else involved, cause I heard a lot of rumors about that.

[leary0315]

For Aaron:

What do the tattoos say on your wrist?

Is there any significence to the hat that you wore at the holiday show in AC?

[youcomebeforeyo]

There's an obvious musical progression from A-B life to Catch for us the Foxes. CFUTF seemed a lot more textured and layered, is there another noticable progression on the new album Brother, Sister?

What kind of gear do you guys use? You guys have wicked tone on CFUTF.

Can you explain the reason why in your sites blogs you address God G-d?

Do you believe you have a noticable reputation within the christian music scene? If not is this frustrating to not be reconised for being so devout?

From my own interpretation in the song The Soviet the 'Foxes' reffered to seem to be a metaphor for something else, care to elaborate?

Will you ever make your way on tour to New Zealand?

And please just pass on my message that they're an amazing band. The depth and conviction of their music has had a lasting and positive impact on me, and they seem like great and selfless people.

[gregxthor]

i say a to b is life. i'm a math major though. so i dunno. maybe it's pronounced "the limit of life as a approaches b"? who knows...

Who knows... well, mwY does... and we will soon (I imagine).





Fuck Panic! At The Disco. They are just terrible, gay-looking, Fall Out Boy-posers.
I like Fall Out Boy though. They're fun....

AND CATCHY AS FUCK!

[gregxthor]

and...........



cue non-stop ridicule from P!ATD fans...

[squared82]

Where did you guys get your killer dance moves?

[squared82]

on a more serious note:

Who would be on your dream tour?
What's your song-writing process like?
Where did the title [A->B] Life come from?

[12:46AM]

and that's not irony, dude.meh. like i said: math major.

[gregxthor]

What's your song-writing process like?

yeahhhh, that's what I asked.

[gregxthor]

-Can you explain the reason why in your sites blogs you address God G-d?
-From my own interpretation in the song The Soviet the 'Foxes' reffered to seem to be a metaphor for something else, care to elaborate?


To answer the first question...
"According to Jewish tradition, the sacredness of the divine names must be recognized by the professional scribe who writes the Scriptures, or the chapters for the tefillin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin) and the mezuzah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezuzah). Before transcribing any of the divine names he prepares mentally to sanctify them. Once he begins a name he does not stop until it is finished, and he must not be interrupted while writing it, even to greet a king. If an error is made in writing it, it may not be erased, but a line must be drawn round it to show that it is canceled, and the whole page must be put in a genizah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genizah) (burial place for scripture) and a new page begun...
Many Jews do not actually ever write God's name on paper or say it, this is to sanctify his name and not to come to desecrate God’s name. In many Jewish communities one would say Hashem instead of God's name. It has been the tradition of many Jews including Chabad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chabad-Lubavitch) to write G–d or L–rd instead of actually spelling the name out."
- Wikipedia: "G-d"

To answer the second question...
"The album's title comes from Song of Songs 2:15, a verse of the Bible that says, "Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." (NIV) Song of Songs has long been considered by Christians to be not only a love poem between a man and his lover, but also an extended metaphor for a Christian believer's relationship with God..."
- Wikipedia: "Catch For Us The Foxes"

Wikipedia kicks ass.

[grace we bestow]

For Aaron:

What do the tattoos say on your wrist?

I saw this in an interview not to long ago. I tried finding it and can't. Ughhhh. It's bothering me now.

Edit:
Just kidding. I found it.
"The three of us sit in a thoughtful silence, Aaron catches us eyeing his tattoos. He rolls up his sleeves and rips off a few neon-colored wristbands to give us a closer look. The Hebrew words beautifully engraved on the inside of his wrists translate: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Source: http://www.sandiegopunk.com/interviews/mewithoutyouinterview.php

[Pedersen22]

Will you play Germany in the next months?
And if so, would you be so kind to let me invite you on some coffees? I'd love to meet you

[squared82]

yeahhhh, that's what I asked.

my bad