Jamie Pham
12/28/08, 07:13 PM
Can you state your name and what you do in Four Year Strong?
Dan O'Connor and I sing and play guitar.
How did you guys all meet and how did you guys land on your unique style with double bass drums and synths and such.
Myself, Alan and Jake met in high school and started playing together. We met Joe through a friend after we were out of school and josh was a friend of Joes. We all grew up listening to heavy bands from Boston and the surrounding areas so when we decided to start a pop punk band we just kind of natural wrote the song with a more aggressive, high energy feel.
How did the switch over to Decaydance happen? And how are they treating you?
Well we knew Pete and he liked our band. Rob from isurrender is also good friends with him and the two of them thought it would be cool to have both of the labels work together with us. We thought it was also an awesome idea so we started working with Decaydance and isurrender jointly. And everyone is treating us amazing.
What is in store for the future of FYS? Are you looking to go more of the pop route or hardcore route?
We don't ever think about fys that way, as being able to go either way. We know what we are and that won't change. The band isn't going in any specific direction other than trying to write better songs and be better at what we do. We are a high-energy band and that's what we will always be. Some songs might be heavier on the next record some might be poppier but that the way RODT was. Anyone who is afraid that we will change ourselves or anything, don't be.
When is your next album coming out?
We are gonna record after RTOC in April so it'll probably drop something late summer.
Any songs written and/or demoed yet?
Yeah we have been working on new stuff for awhile. We are super stoked on it and really think kids will be too.
Can we expect more reinterpretations or rerecorded versions of some older songs on the next record? Particularly, Go Long Dad. That one would be sweet all spiffed up and produced better.
Haha I don't know, those kind of just happen on the fly in the studio. While we aren't planning on it, I wouldn't count it out.
Any ideas about what the new album's artwork is going to look like/who is doing it?
Not yet, we have a couple ideas but we definitely want it to be crazy.
Are you guys excited for the Taste of Chaos tour?
Yeah definately, there's awesome bands on it, and lots of friends so it'll be a real fun time.
Gonna play Warped Tour this summer?
I don't believe we are playing warped this summer. But we will do something awesome this summer that get to you guys.
How was it being on Starting Line's last tour?
Surreal, I've listened to that band since middle school and not only touring with them and being friends but be invited on their final tour was just so insane. I love that band and I was honored to do that tour. They've done so much to help us out its crazy, I'm glad they got to do it the right way, and go out as amazing as they were when they started.
What has been your favorite tour so far and why?
That’s impossible to say. We been so lucky to be able to tour with some amazing bands and some even more amazing people. Starting line, bayside, set your goals, new found glory, I am the avalanche, from first to last, I can keep going on and on. This year has been one gigantic amazing tour
Do you guys simplify your parts a bit while playing live?
No not at all, we play exactly what we play on the record live, we do a fair amount of improvising as well but mostly we play it the same way.
Were you guys surprised at how you suddenly your fan base seemed to surge over the past year?
Extremely surprised. We didn't have huge expectations when the cd came out. We planned on putting it out doing some small touring and just doing what we wanted but we had no idea it was going to do as well as it has. We couldn't be happier and its all because of the kids, they made this happen for us. They rule!!
What's the craziest thing you guys have done in order to get to a show (ex. weather, money, van or trailer problems)?
All of the above, we've broken down, had to drive through huge blizzards, cross our fingers while sitting in the van during a tornado, sleeping our van and trailer every night in below freezing weather, drive straight to Florida from mass for 1 show turning around and coming home, they keep going but we always will do anything in our power to get to a show.
If you had to play in different genre of music, what would you choose to play instead?
Hmmm, well I like tons of different music. I've been in hardcore bands, pop punk bands, haha a ska band for like 10 seconds freshman year of high school (keep that on the DL) and all sorts of others. The fact is, I don't care what type of band I'm in as long I'm having fun, writing music I want to write and some kids wanna come hang out and watch. I love music, I would play anything I can to keep playing it.
How do you manage to keep your beards so manly but unitchy? Any advice on growing a beard?
The only advice I can give is don't shave. They only it for like 1 week at about 3 weeks in, if you can be manly enough to work through the itch, u will be rewarded with a beard. You've got to earn it!
How do you feel about twitter? I know you guys have a twitter account and updated it frequently.
Twitter is awesome. Josh is our twitter MC, and he does an awesome job with it. Its cool cuz kids can keep up with what we are doing all the time.
What bands do you think more people should take notice of?
A Loss for Words for sure, they are writing some amazing stuff. Energy, their new record is so tight. Those are hometown bands we know and love.
Anything else you would like to add?
Yeah, I want everyone to know that I know my calculus, it says you + me = us! Live it!
Visit Four Year Strong's AbsolutePunk.net profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/fouryearstrong) and myspace (http://www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong).
Dan O'Connor and I sing and play guitar.
How did you guys all meet and how did you guys land on your unique style with double bass drums and synths and such.
Myself, Alan and Jake met in high school and started playing together. We met Joe through a friend after we were out of school and josh was a friend of Joes. We all grew up listening to heavy bands from Boston and the surrounding areas so when we decided to start a pop punk band we just kind of natural wrote the song with a more aggressive, high energy feel.
How did the switch over to Decaydance happen? And how are they treating you?
Well we knew Pete and he liked our band. Rob from isurrender is also good friends with him and the two of them thought it would be cool to have both of the labels work together with us. We thought it was also an awesome idea so we started working with Decaydance and isurrender jointly. And everyone is treating us amazing.
What is in store for the future of FYS? Are you looking to go more of the pop route or hardcore route?
We don't ever think about fys that way, as being able to go either way. We know what we are and that won't change. The band isn't going in any specific direction other than trying to write better songs and be better at what we do. We are a high-energy band and that's what we will always be. Some songs might be heavier on the next record some might be poppier but that the way RODT was. Anyone who is afraid that we will change ourselves or anything, don't be.
When is your next album coming out?
We are gonna record after RTOC in April so it'll probably drop something late summer.
Any songs written and/or demoed yet?
Yeah we have been working on new stuff for awhile. We are super stoked on it and really think kids will be too.
Can we expect more reinterpretations or rerecorded versions of some older songs on the next record? Particularly, Go Long Dad. That one would be sweet all spiffed up and produced better.
Haha I don't know, those kind of just happen on the fly in the studio. While we aren't planning on it, I wouldn't count it out.
Any ideas about what the new album's artwork is going to look like/who is doing it?
Not yet, we have a couple ideas but we definitely want it to be crazy.
Are you guys excited for the Taste of Chaos tour?
Yeah definately, there's awesome bands on it, and lots of friends so it'll be a real fun time.
Gonna play Warped Tour this summer?
I don't believe we are playing warped this summer. But we will do something awesome this summer that get to you guys.
How was it being on Starting Line's last tour?
Surreal, I've listened to that band since middle school and not only touring with them and being friends but be invited on their final tour was just so insane. I love that band and I was honored to do that tour. They've done so much to help us out its crazy, I'm glad they got to do it the right way, and go out as amazing as they were when they started.
What has been your favorite tour so far and why?
That’s impossible to say. We been so lucky to be able to tour with some amazing bands and some even more amazing people. Starting line, bayside, set your goals, new found glory, I am the avalanche, from first to last, I can keep going on and on. This year has been one gigantic amazing tour
Do you guys simplify your parts a bit while playing live?
No not at all, we play exactly what we play on the record live, we do a fair amount of improvising as well but mostly we play it the same way.
Were you guys surprised at how you suddenly your fan base seemed to surge over the past year?
Extremely surprised. We didn't have huge expectations when the cd came out. We planned on putting it out doing some small touring and just doing what we wanted but we had no idea it was going to do as well as it has. We couldn't be happier and its all because of the kids, they made this happen for us. They rule!!
What's the craziest thing you guys have done in order to get to a show (ex. weather, money, van or trailer problems)?
All of the above, we've broken down, had to drive through huge blizzards, cross our fingers while sitting in the van during a tornado, sleeping our van and trailer every night in below freezing weather, drive straight to Florida from mass for 1 show turning around and coming home, they keep going but we always will do anything in our power to get to a show.
If you had to play in different genre of music, what would you choose to play instead?
Hmmm, well I like tons of different music. I've been in hardcore bands, pop punk bands, haha a ska band for like 10 seconds freshman year of high school (keep that on the DL) and all sorts of others. The fact is, I don't care what type of band I'm in as long I'm having fun, writing music I want to write and some kids wanna come hang out and watch. I love music, I would play anything I can to keep playing it.
How do you manage to keep your beards so manly but unitchy? Any advice on growing a beard?
The only advice I can give is don't shave. They only it for like 1 week at about 3 weeks in, if you can be manly enough to work through the itch, u will be rewarded with a beard. You've got to earn it!
How do you feel about twitter? I know you guys have a twitter account and updated it frequently.
Twitter is awesome. Josh is our twitter MC, and he does an awesome job with it. Its cool cuz kids can keep up with what we are doing all the time.
What bands do you think more people should take notice of?
A Loss for Words for sure, they are writing some amazing stuff. Energy, their new record is so tight. Those are hometown bands we know and love.
Anything else you would like to add?
Yeah, I want everyone to know that I know my calculus, it says you + me = us! Live it!
Visit Four Year Strong's AbsolutePunk.net profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/fouryearstrong) and myspace (http://www.myspace.com/fouryearstrong).