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| Hint: Have a band you'd like to see interviewed? Tell us. | | Countless Thousands - 01.31.12 | The following is a mini interview of generic questions that we posed to all bands that wanted to answer:
Countless Thousands
www.CountlessThousands.com
CountlessThousands.Bandcamp.com
www.Facebook.com/CountlessThousands
1. How did you get your band name?
We had been 'Everyman' for a while, until i realized that that was a crap name and anyways someone in Maryland had it already. I have something of a fascination with the way little things can add up to become powerful, how the things you can ignore can become important because you ignore them, and thinking about the Statue of Liberty one day on a drive home i thought, "'Huddled Masses' sounds a little squeamish, but 'Countless Thousands' is snappy." Plus it tastes nice when you say it. Go for it, i'll wait.
'ou... ou...'
Two vowel sounds in a row is called 'assonance'. It's delicious.
2. How did this band get started?
Started playing and writing terrible music when I was in high school - Orange County High School of Arts, an island of protected weirdness in a sea of teenage angst - and beckoned the carnival of rotating bandmates. At some point I realized my music had transmuted into stuff I actually wanted to listen to, and by then I had figured out that Craigslist is a damn miracle. Davey (bass) joined the band and redefined it with his peerless musicianship, so now suddenly I was playing catch-up to his skill, and seven drummers later we found Jon and sealed it all up.
3. What bands are you influenced by?
For me personally: the Weakerthans showed me that you could have an intellect and poetry in rock music, and their stuff is so deep and rich that I'm still today finding new meanings and emotional angles. Rancid have always been awesome - casually badass. Ted Leo is the single most energetic fella I've come across in my musical journey and I can only pray that I am allowed to one day challenge him for the Upbeat-Sweaty-Nerd-Rockstar Championship.
4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Justin Timberlake. He's a studmuffin, and he's hilarious.
5. Best food to eat on tour?
There is something unbelievable about Taco Bell in Wyoming. Where we're from in California, Taco Bell is generally regarded as garbage, but the local beef they have there is dynamite. It's also the only thing Fort Bragg has going for it at 9AM in the driving snow, so there you go. Simplicity.
6. Why should people listen to your band?
Because you can tell that we love doing what we do. I've long believed in the contagious nature of enthusiasm and have always sought out seeing movies or bands or art where you get a sense of how much the artists enjoy what they're doing. If music makes you happy, well, guess what: music makes us happy. Let's go seek the communal experience of awesomeness.
7. If you could be any athlete, which athlete would you switch places with?
Have you heard of Jon Jones? UFC Light Heavyweight Champion? Look at that man and tell me he's not the next evolutionary step for humankind. 25 years old and already the greatest in the world at what he does, and he still comes off like a sweetheart.
8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
I'd like to thank the Academy. Wait, wrong one. uh, come back to me on this one.
9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
The concept of competition in music making is ridiculous to me. Battles of the Bands, American Idols, all the different ways that we're led to believe that only one person deserves the contract and only one band gets the record deal. It's poison to creativity to have a pyramid structure of who gets to do this and who doesn't. That said, it'd be really nice if the music industry forked over a pile of cash so my two best friends and I can do this without worrying about our rent next month.
10. Memorable tour experience?
I had a dude in middle America thank me sincerely for getting a bar full of rednecks to cheer for gay rights. He'd only come out last month and was possibly the only gay dude in town, and he told me that what I said had made him feel like he could be who he wanted to be where he lived. It was unbelievable, I was speechless.
11. What does AP.net mean to you?
If i'd heard about this place in high school, I would have read every damned entry on here - the mythical treasure trove of all the good music. It took me a long time to figure out who the hell Rancid are (I'm a late bloomer!), so if you're reading this, count your lucky stars that you've found this place. The cool kids get to pick the music at the dance, so the rest of us get AP.net to figure out the soundtrack of our youth.
12. What is your favorite song to play?
"A Sailor's Shanty" is an epic rock tune about pirates, and it's got a pair of awesome guitar solos I get to do - although "The Devil and Davey Munch" has the bass solo to end all bass solos, and watching Dave dismantle everything anyone has ever known about the limitations of bass guitar is awe-inspiring every time.
13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Savannah, Georgia. Gorgeous.
14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
The theme song to Animaniacs, Pinky & the Brain, Batman: the Animated Series. Awesome music, amazing shows. They still hold up, too.
15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
The power to have a quick and very welcome chat with anyone I wanted to at any given time. For example, if I'm having a rough day I can just call up Patton Oswalt, who - because of my super power - will be stoked to hear from me and would love to chitty chat for a bit. Or I could call up Judd Apatow and see if it's cool if I have an itty-bitty role in his next movie, to which he'd say, "Why of course, dear friend!" So I guess my super power would be just to be the most popular and likeable version of myself that is cosmically possible. It's good to have goals.
16. Any pre-show superstitions or rituals?
I have to warm up my voice, which is always really loud and embarrassing since the places we play don't usually have green rooms. Vocal exercises make you look like a lunatic even when people know what the hell you're doing.
17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
My measurements. No hints!
18. What is your assessment of the current state of radio? Do you think it's a place where your band could flourish?
Radio is a murky business if you don't have major label backing, but we have had the benefit of substantial radio support in places like Wyoming and have seen a lot of people come out to shows because they heard us there first. So anyone that has a station: let's talk.
19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I train MMA when I'm feeling energetic and I play Xbox when I'm not. Eventually when I'm a bajillionaire from my massive success I'll learn how to cook really outrageous gourmet food.
20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
I am a respectable amateur kickboxer and a very skilled marksman. Line up some tin cans and I will put them in a world of hurt. |
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10:01 AM on 02/01/12 | Great band. Great blokes. Free download of their album is here and well worth checking out. | | |
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