Strike Anywhere is a band which I compared to Offspring mixed with straight edge. Why donīt read this first and then go out and find their records and buy them. Matt Smith is the one who plays guitar and he is the one who answers my questions in January 2004
History?
-Strike Anywhere formed in the spring of 1999 in Richmond, VA.
We played locally for several months and then planned our first short tour.
We went down to Florida to play at a festival called "Gainesville fest"
and met Chuck from Hot Water Music.
When they came through town later in the year, they asked us to play with
them in Richmond. Var (owner of no idea) was with them and offered us to put out our first
record..It's just kind of progressed from there..
Please tell me a little about every member, age, family, interests, work
and something bad about every one?
-Matt Smith: guitar
I'm 25, live in Baltimore, Maryland.. I run a recording studio, and
skateboard in my free time... I once accidentally burned down a couple
acres of woods..
Matt Sherwood: guitar
30 years old.. Fixes video games when we're not on tour. He skates a lot
and his dungeon master name is "zon".
Thomas Barnett: sings
Also 30, married, and lives in the woods of Vermont.. He sells organic
produce at some hippie market. He thinks he's Bob Marley, but doesn't
smoke weed..
Garth Petrie: bass
24 and lives in Richmond, Virginia. Moves furniture when home from tour.
He also burned down a bunch of woods as a kid.
Eric Kane: drums
23 and lives in Richmond, Virginia. He parties and drinks cheap wine with
his friends when home.. Lives in a closet.
Previous bands and bands on the side of the group?
-Thomas was in a band called Inquisition for a long time in the mid '90's...
Garth was in Count Me Out..
I was in Liar's Academy, Eric and I were in the Exploder...
Strike Anywhere, how did the name come up,?
-We robbed it from an old Inquisition song.. We had a really hard time
choosing a band name...
Jade Tree seems to be a good label or??
-The jade tree guys are great.. Really down to earth guys who have a lot
in common musically with us..
Fun guys.. Darren (one of the owners) toured Australia with us last
summer and it was a blast..
What do you like the other bands there?
-The Jade Tree bands I'm into are Jets to brazil, Pedro the lion, Kid
Dynamite, Lifetime, From ashes rise and Milemarker.
Have you done anything more than the latest album, if you have how can
get it?
.
.
-We've done an ep called "Chorus of one" which is now out of print, and two
LP's.. "Change is a sound" and "Exit english".. Both can be bought
direct from www.jadetree.com, or downloaded from itunes.
What do you know about Sweden?
-It's really cold and dark all winter.. We passed through once several
years ago, and it was really cold.. And everyone was really hot.. I'd
like to go back during the summer. Oh, and all the bands are really good
musicians..
Have you heard any swedish bands worth to mention?
-Well Refused.. Final Exit.. In Flames.. INC.. The Crown, At the Gates,
Fireside, Starmarket, Last Days of April, This Beautiful Mess..
What is typically swedish do you think?
-Meatballs and Ikea..
What other groups are you being compared with?
-We got compared to CIV with the last record.. That was cool. Minor
Threat, Good Riddance, Ignite.
Do you care about reviews, do you believe a good or bad the most?
-I try to get stoked on the good ones and laugh at the bad ones.. They
don't really matter that much do they?? I don't let reviews stress me
out..
Which is the most peculiar review you ever have got?
-In a magazine called While you were sleeping (a grafitti culture mag. from
Washington DC).. It said absolutely nothing about us.. I just talked
about Richmond (our hometown) and how it used to be the capital of the
confederacy during the civil war.. They're famous for absurd reviews..
How is good gig with Strike Anywhere? Is it much people on stage?
-Most of our best shows have a lot of people stage diving, getting on stage,
or singing along.. We definitely give a better show when we get energy in
return from the crowd...
What is the most peculiar which have happened on stage with the group or
in the audience?
-Thomas knocked one of his front teeth out with the microphone once.. He
caught it in mid-air and we had to take him to the dentist the next
morning..
Is there any good groups in USA right now?
-Some bands we're really into right now are The Exit, Fifth Hour Hero,
Darkest Hour, Tragedy, Cursive, Ted Leo and Engine Down
How much does a group of your caliber sell?
-UHHHH.. I don't know.. We've done better than I'd ever hoped,
considering we're a hardcore band.. I think It's because we've worked
hard and made a conscious effort to tour outside of the states. The
European punk scene is amazing and it's great to be a part of it.
How would you describe your music in three words?
-Fast, Pissed, Fun.
What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or is it a lifestyle?
-I think it's both.. To me, it means a way of thinking more than a fashion
statement..
Does music and politics goes hand i hand?
-I would agree. Most of the subjects of our songs have political themes.
The best political group ever?
-Rage Against the Machine tie with Billy Bragg.
I f you could choose five group to make a really good concert with, which
5 groups are you choosing? Dead and alive groups..
-Led Zeppelin, Gorilla Biscuits, The Smiths, Oasis and The Replacements...
Please rank your five favourite records, five favourite concerts and five
most important things in life?
-Five fav. Records
1. The Smiths - hatful of hollow
2. Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today
3. The Beatles - Revolver
4. The Lemonheads - It's a shame about ray
5. Minor Threat - first album..
Five fav. Shows
1. Nirvana in Williamsburg, VA 1994
2. Billy Bragg in Baltimore
3. American Nightmare at CBGB's
4. Jeper fest in Belgium 2003
5. Pete Yorn in Washington DC
Most important things in life
1. Having fun
2. Friends
3. Travelling
4. working to live, not living to work
5. Passion
First, last and most expensive record ever bought?
-First was a 7" of a local punk band called Action Patrol.. Last was the
new Blocko LP (from England), I've never spent more than $20 on a record..
How is it to live in USA today, politically?
-Tense.. Hopefully the next election will bring some change..
.
What about Bush? Is he planning nay new war?
-Let's hope not.
What does the american think about all this warthings and that USA want
to be everywhere and "help" when itīs a war?
-I think the majority of the American public supports anything that makes
them feel like we are a powerful country. The average American doesn't
even think about it because it doesn't effect their daily life..
Future plans for the band?
-Tours this winter/spring in the US, then back to Europe/Japan for the
summer, Australia in the fall!
For yourself?
-To travel other than with the band..
Wisdomword?
-Positive.
Something more to add?
-Nope!