Ok, thanks for all your questions, it's pretty cool, I'm getting to think about things I've never thought about, plus it's nice to have some different questions, for a change...
so here we go with part two...
1. Does it bother you that people say you guys are a punk Springsteen/or compare you with The Boss?
Well, there's kinda a couple parts to this answer,
a.) no, I don't mind it, Bruce was my hero growing up, it was Bruce, Joe Strummer, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Mike Ness. So to be compared in the same realm as one of the biggest influences you could have, it's redeeming, and to have his approval is validating in a way that allows me to not care what people say about it, because the man likes us, and he invented it, so that makes it legit in my mind.
b.) Yea, I'm tired of people inventing a genre called Springsteen Punk, which goes onto the Hold Steady, Against Me, and all sorts of bands, even the National. It's silly. It's not a genre, and it's disrespectful to the many other great artists like, Hot Water Music, The Bouncing Souls, Lifetime, The Replacements, Leatherface, Husker Du, etc... etc... etc... that helped shape all of our sounds. They're also neglecting Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and countless others before Bruce... he's great, don't get me wrong, but we're not ignorant to the many things that make up what we do, but "genre corralling " is the media's kool aid, and everyone's drinking... always has.
I will say I'm glad it's Bruce, because he's legit. He's an honest, kind, and truly amazing person, so better him if it's gotta be one guy.
c.) but even after all that, it's still so rad that he likes my band, that I just don't care what anybody says.
2. How do you deal with releasing your art to the public and having it scrutinized by critics?
Well, there's a great lyric Conor Oberst wrote, where he says... "I do not read the reviews, no I am not singing for you."
3. The Chuck/Brian record, what's up?
We're going on tour for a month in Oct. and I hope to write all the songs with Chuck on that tour.
4. What do you eat on tour?
We eat pretty healthy, most of us watch what we eat pretty well, junk food and sugar make you really tired on tour, but we like pizza, and we're not afraid to eat a taco or twenty.
5. What song to do you wish you'd written?
Well, it changes all the time, sometimes it's Layla, but right now I'm totally mystified by the song Blood Bank by Bon Iver. Also, I always wished I wrote "Nineteen" by Tegan and Sara.
6. If I ever got to play with Pearl Jam on stage what song would I sing?
"Smile" for sure.
7. What song are you most proud of?
Maybe Great Expectations. That one is special to me.
8. How did you balance music and work while you were working?
Well, I'd work two jobs and save enough money for one tour, then do the tour, then go back home to work and save up again. It was rough, you gotta want it more than anything.
9. How long does it take you to write a song?
It's different, like The '59 Sound I had that title for a year, then the song popped out in 15 minutes, but say... Old Haunts... that took forever, weeks.
10. Do you collect vinyl?
I don't, I have a few records that I love, but I don't really collect it... Benny and Alex R. are avid collectors though.
11. When did you learn to play guitar and did you take lessons?
When I was 11 my parents moved from the shore to a town called Hackettstown, NJ where I spent my high school years, and it was rough there, not much to do, very woodsy... not what I was used to coming from a shore town. So when I was 12 I started taking lessons from a guy named Tim Fogarty who probably is my hero, because he taught me everything I know, and had the grace to help me stick to it. God bless Tim Fogarty. But after that, there were so many people who helped me on my way, there was an author/chef named James Kaleda, a songwriter/producer named Chris Eissing, there were honestly too many to even name, but it all happened one year at The Timestill Cafe in Panther Valley, NJ. and I wouldn't be here without them.
12. '49 Mercury or '68 Charger?
'49 Merc, Candy Apple Burgandy, done by Selinas Boys Customs... but also a '68 Shelby Mustang, with a 396, flat black, double white racing stripes.
13. What's your favorite guitar?
I love the '56 and '58 VOS Gibson Les Pauls. I am also sucker for a Bill Nash T-52 or T-57.
14. What is the main thing that drives you to continue living?
Life is amazing, even when I had no money and no band, and worked mornings at a gas pump and nights at a pizzeria, my friends and my wife, my family... it's the best, nothing beats a long drives in New Jersey, and when I can finally afford a classic car, it'll get even better. but I'm also on an endless search for redemption, I come from a real old school religious family, one foot in the otherside always. The rest of the boys in the band come from all sorts of faiths, so I'm not answering for everyone here, just me... I found this early on, the why's and the how come we're here stuff... it's what I've found to be true, I don't expect everybody else to agree with me or think how I do, but I'm all right with that. I feel like I'm working toward something. I doubt I'll ever get it right.
15. What is the Bad note Pig?
I have no idea? where is that from?
16. Some guy hassling me about baseball in the comments...
dude, I answered you in the first FAQ... you gotta realize that when I say things on stage, it could mean anything... have you heard some of the craziness I've belted out over the years? snakes and fireworks and all that? that particular instance was an inside joke between myself and benny, we do that from time to time, no harm, no foul.
