The Receiving End Of Sirens Interview-Part I

[Frank Giaramita]

Part I of my interview with Casey (guitarist-1/3 vocals) of The Receiving End Of Sirens (http://www.eastwestrock.com/ecards/treos/) can be found right here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=68505). The interview is extremely informative so check it out! Also, be sure to check back for the other two parts because I'll be posting them at later dates. The band's upcoming record, Between The Heart And The Synpase hits shelves April 26th through Triple Crown Records.

[CIMA]

It's a really good interview. Can't wait for part two.

I've been listening to their album, and it's one of the best albums I've ever heard. Just amazing. Also, that hidden track was kinda scary cause I didn't realise it was there.

[two_days_slow]

This is by far the best album of the year in my opinon, hands down!

[resUrectMe617]

casey is one cool mofo. great interview frank. i am still uber jealous about the show this past monday.

bamboozle will be GINORMOUS SEX.

[Aileen]

aw frankie, you had someone good to converse with on a thursday night!
not me, i'm boring. and knowing you it was probably something like 3am too.


hahaha adam they talked about you. east west foster dad, how cute.

[splatoutofluck]

really nice job, i cant wait until they come to seattle, hopefully soon

[modestCT]

wow, there is a few things really off about this interview.

first off, anyone who says Ben was holding TREOS to a 'post hardcore' genre is just stupid. have you listened to any of Ben's projects since he left TREOS? None of it sounds anything like anything that could be considered post hardcore. I think it'd make more sense to say Ben left TREOS because they were holding HIM to a genre. The point is, new TREOS sounds a lot more like old TREOS then anything Ben has done. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but you should have your facts straight.

Also, your comments about Ben's voice were tottaly uncalled for. Again, i'm not saying he has a better voice, or that Casey has a bad voice, but I would never say 'Ben whipes his ass with Casey's face', it's just disrespectful and way uncalled for. If you like Casey's voice better that is fine and understandable, but there is definitly better ways to express it.

I can't believe these arguments are still going on this long after all this shit went down. it's completly ridiculous.

Also, people on here (on the board, not just Frank) might want to stop acting like TREOS is the first band to ever have 3 guitarists or use keyboards and computers. Have you guys ever heard of Grade? How long ago were they around? Plenty of 'post hardcore' bands use computers and keyboards, it doesn't mean they are some groundbreaking band. Paulson makes use of these things just as much, if not MORE than TREOS, yet I don't see anyone here giving them 1/100 this hype. Again, nothing against TREOS. I dig them and think they make good music, I just don't get you people.

[projectmayhem16]

I love it when they are talking about the sandwich and frank says "theres no way that can be healthy for you" coming from Mr. "White Castle" himself, nice interview and I'm looking forward to the next few installments.

[LeftWideOpen]

wow, there is a few things really off about this interview.

first off, anyone who says Ben was holding TREOS to a 'post hardcore' genre is just stupid. have you listened to any of Ben's projects since he left TREOS? None of it sounds anything like anything that could be considered post hardcore. I think it'd make more sense to say Ben left TREOS because they were holding HIM to a genre. The point is, new TREOS sounds a lot more like old TREOS then anything Ben has done. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but you should have your facts straight.

Also, your comments about Ben's voice were tottaly uncalled for. Again, i'm not saying he has a better voice, or that Casey has a bad voice, but I would never say 'Ben whipes his ass with Casey's face', it's just disrespectful and way uncalled for. If you like Casey's voice better that is fine and understandable, but there is definitly better ways to express it.

I can't believe these arguments are still going on this long after all this shit went down. it's completly ridiculous.

Also, people on here (on the board, not just Frank) might want to stop acting like TREOS is the first band to ever have 3 singers or use keyboards and computers. Have you guys ever heard of Grade? How long ago were they around? Plenty of 'post hardcore' bands use computers and keyboards, it doesn't mean they are some groundbreaking band. Paulson makes use of these things just as much, if not MORE than TREOS, yet I don't see anyone here giving them 1/100 this hype. Again, nothing against TREOS. I dig them and think they make good music, I just don't get you people.

agreed, on all points. i absolutely love treos, but i loved them w/ ben too. ben was, and still is, an incredible singer. treos was on their way to big things before he jumped ship. they were awesome then, they are certainly awesome now, and all this drama that has lingered on is bullshit.

[TJ Wells]

Good work my friend.

[Jesse2]

frank, you are using a search and replace for changing the screen names to frank and casey right? you mentioned something in there that seemed like you were changing them by hand.

sorry for the nerd post.

[shane hennessey]

wow, there is a few things really off about this interview.

first off, anyone who says Ben was holding TREOS to a 'post hardcore' genre is just stupid. have you listened to any of Ben's projects since he left TREOS? None of it sounds anything like anything that could be considered post hardcore. I think it'd make more sense to say Ben left TREOS because they were holding HIM to a genre. The point is, new TREOS sounds a lot more like old TREOS then anything Ben has done. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but you should have your facts straight.

Also, your comments about Ben's voice were tottaly uncalled for. Again, i'm not saying he has a better voice, or that Casey has a bad voice, but I would never say 'Ben whipes his ass with Casey's face', it's just disrespectful and way uncalled for. If you like Casey's voice better that is fine and understandable, but there is definitly better ways to express it.

I can't believe these arguments are still going on this long after all this shit went down. it's completly ridiculous.

Also, people on here (on the board, not just Frank) might want to stop acting like TREOS is the first band to ever have 3 guitarists or use keyboards and computers. Have you guys ever heard of Grade? How long ago were they around? Plenty of 'post hardcore' bands use computers and keyboards, it doesn't mean they are some groundbreaking band. Paulson makes use of these things just as much, if not MORE than TREOS, yet I don't see anyone here giving them 1/100 this hype. Again, nothing against TREOS. I dig them and think they make good music, I just don't get you people.
well said matt.

[Frank Giaramita]

wow, there is a few things really off about this interview.

first off, anyone who says Ben was holding TREOS to a 'post hardcore' genre is just stupid. have you listened to any of Ben's projects since he left TREOS? None of it sounds anything like anything that could be considered post hardcore. I think it'd make more sense to say Ben left TREOS because they were holding HIM to a genre. The point is, new TREOS sounds a lot more like old TREOS then anything Ben has done. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but you should have your facts straight.

Your argument can obviously both work ways becasue Treos' sound has changed A LOT since Ben left, so how come one can't say Ben held them to their old sound, just like you say the opposite? Also, when you say "you should have your facts straight", music style, labels, genres, etc. are opinions. What's "post-hardcore" to you may not be to someone else and if you THINK the band held Ben to a certain sound, it's an opinion, not a fact. In my opinion, Ben blows horribly compared to Casey, and even compared to Alex and Brendan. I think they were MUCH better off without him, and the new disc proves that point to the fullest.

frank, you are using a search and replace for changing the screen names to frank and casey right? you mentioned something in there that seemed like you were changing them by hand.

sorry for the nerd post.

I just copied and pasted in microsoft word... it's still a lot of copying and pasting when SEVENTY NINE questions were asked (no, i am not exagerrating..79 questions were asking in this interview).

[shane hennessey]

In my opinion, Ben blows horribly compared to Casey, and even compared to Alex and Brendan..
i think ben was terribly generic with TREOS but his new stuff is much different and quite good. but i think they sounded like everything else with ben

[modestCT]

Your argument can obviously both work ways becasue Treos' sound has changed A LOT since Ben left, so how come one can't say Ben held them to their old sound, just like you say the opposite? Also, when you say "you should have your facts straight", music style, labels, genres, etc. are opinions. What's "post-hardcore" to you may not be to someone else and if you THINK the band held Ben to a certain sound, it's an opinion, not a fact. In my opinion, Ben blows horribly compared to Casey, and even compared to Alex and Brendan. I think they were MUCH better off without him, and the new disc proves that point to the fullest.



as far as TREOS sound changing, yes, it obviously has. but their purevolume page still has them listed as post hardcore. ben is in a folk band now. which is more of a change? it seems pretty obvious who was being held back more.

it's fine for you to have an opinion and like anyone better than anyone. i just think there are better ways to go about it. i prefer ben to casey, but i would NEVER say that ben wipes his ass with caseys face, or that casey blows horribly. it's just disrespectful to a very respectable artist. like you said, it is opinion, and opinion does not warrant that sort of tastelessness.

[Frank Giaramita]

as far as TREOS sound changing, yes, it obviously has. but their purevolume page still has them listed as post hardcore. ben is in a folk band now. which is more of a change? it seems pretty obvious who was being held back more.

it's fine for you to have an opinion and like anyone better than anyone. i just think there are better ways to go about it. i prefer ben to casey, but i would NEVER say that ben wipes his ass with caseys face, or that casey blows horribly. it's just disrespectful to a very respectable artist. like you said, it is opinion, and opinion does not warrant that sort of tastelessness.

Personally, I think Ben held back the band from a vocal aspect, GREATLY. Why he was even in the band to begin with is beyond me, both Alex and Brendan blow him out of the water. The fact that he was the lead vocalist just totally killed any solid vocal progrssion the band could've had if Brendan or Alex were singing, kind of sad and I'm happy his departure set them free. Also, I'm very blunt, if I think something "sucks" I will have no problem saying "that sucks". If I think Casey shits on Ben from a vocal perspective I would be happy to say that, in those exact words, to Ben's face. If it's how I feel, it's how I feel, and how I would say it to myself, is how I say it to other people, tactful or not, I feel guilt within myself if I don't spill it how I would say it behind their back. I don't beat around things and I am brutally brutally honest with people. In my blunt opinion, Ben is 100% useless and meaningless compared to Casey, as far as vocals go... he BLOWS compared to casey... horrible, terrible, shitty, crappy, boring, horrendous, I am ashamed to even degrade Casey by the comparison. Also, as far as you saying "I think TREOS held Ben back...", if that was the case, Ben's band wouldn't be unknown and Ben wouldn't be a name nobody in the world is familiar with.

[modestCT]

Personally, I think Ben held back the band from a vocal aspect, GREATLY. Why he was even in the band to begin with is beyond me, both Alex and Brendan blow him out of the water. The fact that he was the lead vocalist just totally killed any solid vocal progrssion the band could've had if Brendan or Alex were singing, kind of sad and I'm happy his departure set them free. Also, I'm very blunt, if I think something "sucks" I will have no problem saying "that sucks". If I think Casey shits on Ben from a vocal perspective I would be happy to say that, in those exact words, to Ben's face. If it's how I feel, it's how I feel, and how I would say it to myself, is how I say it to other people, tactful or not, I feel guilt within myself if I don't spill it how I would say it behind their back. I don't beat around things and I am brutally brutally honest with people. In my blunt opinion, Ben is 100% useless and meaningless compared to Casey, as far as vocals go... he BLOWS compared to casey... horrible, terrible, shitty, crappy, boring, horrendous, I am ashamed to even degrade Casey by the comparison. Also, as far as you saying "I think TREOS held Ben back...", if that was the case, Ben's band wouldn't be unknown and Ben wouldn't be a name nobody in the world is familiar with.

wow. i don't even know where to start, this is some of the most ridiculous shit i have ever read. i'm glad youre sucking off TREOS a lot now, you need it to make up for shitting all over their past. Whether you like Ben's work or not, no one can deny that he was a very important part of TREOS history, much too important to be dismissed like you are trying to.

Regarding 'nobody in the world' being familiar with Ben: Ap.net is not the world. A LOT of people in MA and CT are familiar with Ben. To some people, it's more important to be a big fish in a small pond. It's really not accurate to judge someones contribution to music based on how much coverage they receive on ONE website, i don't care which website it is. if this was a website strictly for the MA scene then Ben would get a ton of coverage. would that mean that he was the biggest figure in THE ENTIRE WORLD, of course not. but it certainly means his presence in the music scene means a lot to a lot of people.

as far as Ben's bands gaining recognition..are you aware of the labels offering TREOS deals while he was still in the band? and since when has recognition been an accurate judge of talent? i don't think how popular a band gets is really an accurate measure of their talent, but if that is the road you want to take then you should definitly do some research and find out how big they would've been had Ben stuck around. any of Ben's new bands could have easily been huge, but it seems he didn't want that, and that doesn't take away from his talent at all.

[WithoutASoundXO]

Yeah, Alantic/ECA/countless other labels wouldn't of made them offers if they had no talent with Ben. Also, you have the right to your own opinion, but you don't have to be a dick.

[LeftWideOpen]

Yeah, Alantic/ECA/countless other labels wouldn't of made them offers if they had no talent with Ben. Also, you have the right to your own opinion, but you don't have to be a dick.

exactly. TREOS was going places with Ben. As was The Drive before Ben left them. Ben has had plenty of opportunities to hit it big, but he's chosen his education and his individual artistic vision and integrity over the fame. Ben is an excellent musician, as are the remaining members of TREOS