ACES OVER KINGS

Aces over Kings is a poppy punkrock band which should be wellknown all over the world and here I give them the chance to be that. Josh and Brian from the group answers my questions in the end of September 2006.

History?
-B: James and Josh were boyhood chums that grew up with a common love of pop
punk music and learned to play guitar and sing together.  Aaron comes to us
from the California scene bringing with him a good tan, jaw-dropping
songwriting skills and a mean bass guitar.  I think they let him into the
band because he promised to marry Josh's sister. Me - I'm a veteran rocker
from Colorado originally, but I've been paying Seattle dues for the past 15
years. Seattle's famous coffee helps me keep up with these young pups!

Please tell me a little about every member, age, family, work, interests and something bad about every one?
-B: Josh, James, and Aaron are all in their mid twenties, and I'm in my
thirties. We all have families, and none of us were cloned in a laboratory.
We uniformly like eating, sleeping, pooping, and sex. James has the most
amazing "bad hair days" you've ever seen, and a home decorating aesthetic I
can only describe as "cryptic".  Josh cannot seem to find a functional belt
for his pants and displays his buttcrack far too often.  I think he was a
plumber in a previous life. Aaron has a giggle like a villain from the old
"Batman" TV series, and drinks a lot, but I can't blame him.  I sweat so
much when I play it looks like I showered in my clothes, and I have
annoyingly prominent nipples. I also drink too much, but I can't blame me,
either.

My review of your record is like this ACES OVER KINGS-WHAT DOESN´T KILL
YOU(MINI-CD ) Wow, this I really became happy to hear. I know when I first
heard Green Day(one of the early records on Dr Strange) I became really
happy too. It's the same feeling I have here with this poppy punkrock which
AOK gives us. With the right promotion will the group be really big because
the songs is going along really good in bigger consistency also and it
feels really professional the whole concept. It's only five songs on the
record but it feels anyway as I can get a real opinion of the band because
it feels like if they own the most bands in the style poppunkrock. Check
this out and become really happy.(EIGHT) 7/9-06
What about it?
-B: Glad you liked it! We had a very small budget and limited time to record
and mix, but I think the result speaks well for us. The idea was to give our
fans some of the songs they hear at our shows, to take home with them, and
also to give the industry folks an idea of what we can do.  If the music we
produce on a shoestring budget is good, imagine what we might do with some
real backing...!

Is there any other bands you´re being compared with?
-B:Oh, the usual suspects.  The Greenday comparison is inevitable.
J: Hopefully we’ll be compared with the likes of Face to face, MXPX, Millencolin, Goldfinger, etc. .. I love those bands and being compared to them would be an honor!

Do you care about reviews?
-B:I like to hear what people think of my music.  But I always remember that
people come from different backgrounds and have different tastes.  When I
read reviews, I look closely at what it is they don't like about the music -
it says a lot about the reviewer.

Aces over Kings, where did the name come from?
-B:When you are playing poker, a five-card hand with three aces and two kings
is called "Aces Over Kings".  We though it sounded catchy and would be
remembered.

What´s the best and the worst with being a punkband?
-B:The energy we get back from the audience at a good show in amazing in punk
rock. When we play to the wrong audience or a poorly attended show, that is
the worst for me. We pour out all this energy, literally blood, sweat and
tears flying everywhere, noise, pandemonium, tightly controlled mayhem on
stage, and when the song is over I hear a polite "golf clap", a stray
whistle, and the clink of glasses at the bar.  Depressing.

How is it to live in USA today?
-B: Living here is what you want it to be, but most people don't realize
that. The media, spurred on by politicians and certain big businesses, would
have us be afraid of the world, of our neighbours, even of ourselves, to
their profit. So many put choice into the hands of others and deny
themselves freewill, and certain powers feed off of this control and the
consent it gives them to pursue their ends.  If you don't stop to consider
it closely, it is easy to fall into this culture of fear. America is as it
has always been when power is in the hands of the more cruel, greedy and
undeserving element, and living here is as wonderful as good people have the
courage to make it.

What about your government?
-B: I think I covered that...

Do you think that music and politics goes hand in hand?
-B: More to the point, life and politics go hand in hand, and as art is a
reflection of life, it follows. Even music that does not have political
lyrics can be a reflection of, or a reaction to, the political environment
the artists find themselves in.

Best political band?
-B: That's a toughy.  Anti Flag, maybe, or Thrice...

Is there any good bands in your homecountry now?
-B: No, they all suck.  America has no good bands left.  Just kidding!  There
is so much music here - I don't know where to begin... If you are talking
about local bands, I'd have to say that Minus the Bear, Glass Republic,
Jaded52, The Postal Service, and Dead Moon are among the most exciting and
vital bands out there.  But there are so, so many...

J:  Don’t forget about Martian Memo to God, they’re one of my local favourites!

What do you know about Sweden?
-B: Scandanavian country, not as touristy as Norway, not as "Europe-ish" as
Denmark, not as bizzare as Finland.  Known for its extremely thorough
interviewers, spicy meatballs, excellent high-end furniture, really cheap
low-end furniture, expensive but hardy automobiles, and women prized for the
sexual secrets they've developed and passed from generation to generation
over the millennia during the long, cold, dark Swedish winters. The low-end
furniture thing might be a myth.  Rumour has it it's actually made in Taiwan.

Have you heard any good swedish bands?
-B: Hmm. I don't think I've ever heard a Swedish band. Wait - wasn't ABBA
Swedish? I'm open to the idea, though - can you hook me up?

J: Yes definitely, Millencolin, Smalltown, Randy… I think True Confession is Swedish too, but I could be wrong.

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or is it a lifestyle?
-B: "Punk lifestyle" is a bit of an oxymoron, in a way.  Being a punk to me
means living on your own terms.  Freedom.  "Lifestyle" implies that you
follow trends and fashion.  Punk is more of an attitude than anything, and
it presupposes that one NOT follow trends or fashion.

Please rank your five favourite records, five favourite concerts and
five most important things everywhere in life?
-B: Good gravy, man, are you writing an interview or a biography? I'll give
you my five favorite records - that's tough enough: 1) My Bloody Valentines'
"Loveless" 2) Deftones' "Around the Fur" 3)Nirvana's "Nevermind" 4) Cocteau
Twins' "Blue Bell Knoll" 5) Sugar's "Copper Blue"

J: Ok, here’s my five favorite bands to see live:  Face to Face (RIP), Big in Japan (RIP), Millencolin, One Man Army (RIP), and Mxpx … wait, but what about Goldfinger and Reel Big Fish?!  They’re very good too J

First, last and most expensive record ever bought?
-B: I think my first was a Jethro Tull album, on vinyl. The last was a
replacement copy of my "Loveless" CD, which I have worn out.  The most
expensive?  Probably a Peter Gabriel recording - I always end up paying for
those in blood.  Long story there.

J: The last record I bought was Dead to Me on clear vinyl, very cool!

Most embarrassing record in your collection?
-B: I own a "Celtic Christmas" album that is a horror.
J: Probably Brian Adams, it was given to me, HA!

Is this the only record you have released?
-No. We have another, earlier EP, available on our website.

How would you describe your music in three words?
-B: Bippity Boppity Boop.

Is it many interviews? Is it boring?
-B: Not too many.They can be tedious sometimes, but not boring.  Yet.

Which is the question you never get, please ask it and answer it?
-B: Q: Are you available for weddings, birthdays and bar mitzvas?  A: Is
there an open bar?

Is it any chance to see you in Sweden soon?
-B: God willing.

Where is the best place to play?
-B: Where the punks are - I'll play in a rat-infested back alley behind a
dumpster if there's a crowd ready to listen!

 

How is a good gig with you?
-B: It's all about the audience. Fancy clubs are nice, but the kids have to
dig it or it might as well not even happen.

 

What shall we do about the racists?
-B: Take them bowling.

 

Future plans for the band?
-B: Writing new songs, recording, touring as soon as possible.

 

For yourself?
-B: I want to learn to make sushi.

 

Wisdom word?
-B: "Jesus."

Something to add?
-B: I like Swedish meatballs.  Do you have a good recipe?