Jon Wark
05/05/04, 05:12 PM
Classic Case
by: Jon Wark
May 5th, 2004
1. How and when did Classic Case form? Wanna give us some background about your past bands and all of that?
Me (Jared, vocals/guitar) and Mitch (guitar) used to play in a band called Blankface from North Carolina in high school. We did some touring on the east coast , not much though, and eventually we broke up. He ended up moving to NYC for school where he played in other bands such as Sound Of Speed. It was up there that he met our bassist, Eric and current drummer Durajah (he played in Glassjaw for awhile). After some time we decided to start up another band and we based it out of Brooklyn. Everything else just started to come together after we wrote some tunes and recorded what is now our first EP.
2. Your EP sounds huge for being self produced in a basement, wanna talk about the recording process?
Well, we worked hard on it to get it to sound as good as it does with not the best of equipment. We did it ourselves in various basements on Long island and in brooklyn. The huge sound is credited to Mitchell's many hours pulling his hair out while trying to mix this thing in our brooklyn apartment with our G4 Mac and the subway train passing by our window every 5 minutes. He did and great job.
3. What kind of Amps, Guitars and pedals do you guys use?
I use a Marshall jcm 2000 TSL head with an SG standard. Mitch is playing through a mesa dual rectifier with a Les paul studio. Eric plays a fender through an Ampeg rig and Ry plays DW kits. For effects we use the Line 6 delays and various other boss pedals. Mitch has one of those roland syth pedals to pull off piano and string sounds live.
4. How has it been to tour with bigger bands without even being signed? Any cool tour stories?
It's been amazing to get out there and play shows to hundreds of kids every night and hope to win them over. We are very fortunate to be in the place we are now not being signed and all and doing what we are doing. It's important to us though to just get our music and our name out there. A few months ago i got my right ring finger slammed in the car door and had to get a few stitches while we were touring. I ended up playing 4 or 5 shows with this hugh bandage on my hand. That was a good time.
5. What bands would you compare your sound to? I think you guys are a lot better and original than a lot of the bands that are coming out today. Have your influences made you a better band, or do you just have a lot of musical experience?
We have a lot of influences for sure, and all of us bring our own influences into the writing process. I guess we could be compares to stuff like what Cave In, or Moments in Grace are doing, but i think there are elements of Seaweed, Jawbox, and Quicksand to Yes, Radiohead, and Nirvana. We aren't hoping to fit into any one genre of music. Pretty much just Rock music I guess but even then we have R and B, jazz, and classical influences. I'm curious to hear what others would say.
6. A lot of labels would sell their soul to sign you...How does that make
you feel, and can you tell us who've you been talking to?
It defintly feels good to know that some label believes in you enough to put alot of time and money into what you are creating. We are talking to a bunch or labels, independant as well as majors. We just want to find the right team of people that wanna help us continue on the the path we have started, so i guess we are taking our time while we keep writing and touring.
7. What are your favorite movies?
Adaptation is a newer favorite. Office Space definatly. I'm a Lord of the Rings nerd too.
8. Favorite records to listen to?
Recently it's been the newest Muse record, The Bled's pass the flask, and Moments in grace. There are so many more but those are my favorites for this week.
9. Favorite curse word?
Damn. You can never go wrong with that one.
10. If you could pick any actor to play in a movie based on your life who would it be?
hmm, Maybe Johnny Deep, but he is way to cool for me.
11. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Boy, you better get in here.
by: Jon Wark
May 5th, 2004
1. How and when did Classic Case form? Wanna give us some background about your past bands and all of that?
Me (Jared, vocals/guitar) and Mitch (guitar) used to play in a band called Blankface from North Carolina in high school. We did some touring on the east coast , not much though, and eventually we broke up. He ended up moving to NYC for school where he played in other bands such as Sound Of Speed. It was up there that he met our bassist, Eric and current drummer Durajah (he played in Glassjaw for awhile). After some time we decided to start up another band and we based it out of Brooklyn. Everything else just started to come together after we wrote some tunes and recorded what is now our first EP.
2. Your EP sounds huge for being self produced in a basement, wanna talk about the recording process?
Well, we worked hard on it to get it to sound as good as it does with not the best of equipment. We did it ourselves in various basements on Long island and in brooklyn. The huge sound is credited to Mitchell's many hours pulling his hair out while trying to mix this thing in our brooklyn apartment with our G4 Mac and the subway train passing by our window every 5 minutes. He did and great job.
3. What kind of Amps, Guitars and pedals do you guys use?
I use a Marshall jcm 2000 TSL head with an SG standard. Mitch is playing through a mesa dual rectifier with a Les paul studio. Eric plays a fender through an Ampeg rig and Ry plays DW kits. For effects we use the Line 6 delays and various other boss pedals. Mitch has one of those roland syth pedals to pull off piano and string sounds live.
4. How has it been to tour with bigger bands without even being signed? Any cool tour stories?
It's been amazing to get out there and play shows to hundreds of kids every night and hope to win them over. We are very fortunate to be in the place we are now not being signed and all and doing what we are doing. It's important to us though to just get our music and our name out there. A few months ago i got my right ring finger slammed in the car door and had to get a few stitches while we were touring. I ended up playing 4 or 5 shows with this hugh bandage on my hand. That was a good time.
5. What bands would you compare your sound to? I think you guys are a lot better and original than a lot of the bands that are coming out today. Have your influences made you a better band, or do you just have a lot of musical experience?
We have a lot of influences for sure, and all of us bring our own influences into the writing process. I guess we could be compares to stuff like what Cave In, or Moments in Grace are doing, but i think there are elements of Seaweed, Jawbox, and Quicksand to Yes, Radiohead, and Nirvana. We aren't hoping to fit into any one genre of music. Pretty much just Rock music I guess but even then we have R and B, jazz, and classical influences. I'm curious to hear what others would say.
6. A lot of labels would sell their soul to sign you...How does that make
you feel, and can you tell us who've you been talking to?
It defintly feels good to know that some label believes in you enough to put alot of time and money into what you are creating. We are talking to a bunch or labels, independant as well as majors. We just want to find the right team of people that wanna help us continue on the the path we have started, so i guess we are taking our time while we keep writing and touring.
7. What are your favorite movies?
Adaptation is a newer favorite. Office Space definatly. I'm a Lord of the Rings nerd too.
8. Favorite records to listen to?
Recently it's been the newest Muse record, The Bled's pass the flask, and Moments in grace. There are so many more but those are my favorites for this week.
9. Favorite curse word?
Damn. You can never go wrong with that one.
10. If you could pick any actor to play in a movie based on your life who would it be?
hmm, Maybe Johnny Deep, but he is way to cool for me.
11. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Boy, you better get in here.