Posted on Feb 13, 2008 by Tom

Just like a thousand score of other Belvedere fans, I was pretty washed up after the band decided to throw in the towel, and for a while it seemed like we'd have to be content with musical brilliancy in the form of "T'was Hell Said Former Child" and "Fast Forward Eats The Tape", but luckily Steve Rawles was bitten so severely by the musical bug that it didn't take him long to gather some old and new band mates to form This Is A Standoff. Like a Phoenix arising from its ashes, the beast known as Belvedere finally has a worthy follow-up, one that easily fills the gap in the melodic hardcore scene left by the demise of Belvedere. We talked with Steve about all things Belvedere, the formation of the band and the bands aspirations.

Please tell us whom we’re talking to, what instrument you play within TIAS, and if there’s something else you’d like to share about yourself with our readers, knock yourself out.

Hi, I’m Steve, I sing and play guitar in TIAS, um...I sleep standing up.

It didn’t take Steve and Graham long to gear back into action with TIAS after the demise of Belvedere, but I’d like to know what state of mind you were in just after disbanding Belvedere. Ever thought of just throwing in the musical towel altogether as I can imagine it must have been a hard period seeing the end of a band you’ve been in for so long and had so many great memories with?

Yeah when I finally had enough with belvedere it was really tough for me, I went for almost 6 months without picking up a guitar. But after working construction for a while, I realized that I loved touring (even if it was part time) and missed the shows, and the people. Most of my friends were people in bands that I saw a few times a year. A lot of other friends were people I met at shows. The only way I was going to visit them was to start playing again.

How did all you TIAS guys meet up eventually because as I understand it there’s quite some mileage between members. Doesn’t that cause logistical problems for practice and whatnot, or does Steve still do most of the writing so that it’s not much of a problem?

We all do the writing though I’d say john comes up with a lot of the riffs. We don’t get a chance to jam as a full band as much as we'd like. Corey and I get together here and there, and we send files over the net to each other. Every once in a while, john will fly out from Ottawa and we get together. This is where most of the magic happens.

It didn’t take you long to release a debut album. How did you live up to it? Were some songs already in the pipeline even before the band was officially formed as I can imagine Steve just kept on writing after the demise of Belvedere?

I really had a bad writers block before john and I started jamming together over the summer of 06. We had 12 songs written by the time we started our first tour which was to Europe. When we got back, that's exactly what we recorded a month or so later. The songs really flowed quickly in the month john and I hung out.

It’s obvious TIAS is working from the same musical principle as Belvedere, keeping it extremely melodic yet technical and fast, so I’m wondering why Steve and Graham didn’t just consider continuing under the moniker of Belvedere?

You cant continue with belvedere without Jay and Scott. Besides the fact they were a huge part of the writing in the band, it just wouldn’t be the same.

I ask this because it’s obvious the Belvedere legacy had its impact on the band already, since I’m guessing all the excitement of a new band formed around Steve and Graham is the reason you toured Europe just some 8 months after the bands inception, without an album under your belt and without having played a single show together. How was that tour like, how important was it to forge a tight relationship between the members early on and how did each member experience it?

Great question. Yu know I'm very lucky that I was able to reach out to some old friends in the music industry. The main one was Bjorn who booked the whole thing. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the open mindedness of the promoters and people who came to the shows. That tour was booked off 2 songs on Myspace and the belvedere track record. I'm a very lucky person.

That tour was amazing. 24 shows in 24 days. It was really the best way for us to get together (given the distance we live from each other), and it was so exciting for me to be touring there again but even better as I got to see how stoked Corey and John were as it was their first time. We all got along like best buds and the shows blew away any small expectations I might have had.

I understand the band is not a “full-time” thing just yet, and yet you’ve been touring relentlessly ever since the release of the album. Care to explain?

Well I wouldn’t say relentlessly. You probably remember I’m used to belvedere playing 250 shows a year. So 80-100 shows a year seems like part time to me. It feels part time anyways.

What are you guys up to inbetween tours then?

I'm a store manager for a coffee shop you've probably heard of. Graham works at a music shop, John is a freelance web designer and Corey works construction/real estate.

Are you still in touch with the other members of Belvedere? What are they up to nowadays, both musically and otherwise?

Yes I speak to Scott and Jay from time to time. I think that it would be inappropriate to discuss their private lives but they seem happy.

How do you feel about the Belvedere tribute album by Japan’s bells on records? Will TIAS feature on the disc?

I think it's so amazing and I’m so flattered to be in a band that moved some people. I'll never take that for granted. TIAS won’t be featured on the disc. I've already recorded those songs and I'm interested to see what other bands do with them.

Happy with how your debut album has been received so far?

I really am. I'm surprised at how many good responses I've gotten and even more surprised at how many copies it's sold in 3 months.

I saw that you even have an interview from Greece. I don’t think you’ve ever even been there (not even with Belvedere)? How crazy is that?

Really cool. That guy happened to be at our Paris show and he kept in touch through email. It's a small world.

There’s no mistaking that melodic hardcore is pretty popular in Europe still, and all of Steve’s projects have always been received enthusiastically around these parts. The fact that you decided to first tour here without the support of an album says it all I think, so just how important is the European fanbase to a band like TIAS?

I'd say it's huge. It's been awesome to see the same people at the shows that were there 2 years ago the last time Belvedere played. I'd be happy to tour Canada/Europe and Japan. Any more than that is way more than I expected.

How is the Canadian scene like in comparison?

I think it's very good, we flew out to Ontario and did 10 shows in Quebec/Ontario. They were awesome too.

There’s some pretty well known acts like Billy Talent, Sum41, but also great lesser known bands such as The Reason, The Flatliners and Gob just to mention a few. Are the bands generally supportive of each other? And what other up-and-coming bands should we keep an eye out for?

I met the guys from Billy Talent in 99 at a show we were playing in Toronto with bad religion. They were super nice and very supportive. I showed the same enthusiasm to them just before they walked out to play in front of 25,000 people 6 years later at warped tour. I'm very happy for those guys. The reason, Flatliners, Gob and most bands we know from Canada are great people and deserve all the good stuff that happens to them. Look out for Daggermouth and The Little Millionaires though.

Why the name “Be Excited”. Is it a reflection of the state you guys were in to be a touring band again, dishing out melodic punk across the globe?

I think that's pretty dead on, yes. And we just watched requiem for a dream while in Spain.. It all just made sense...

Are you guys perhaps already working on the follow-up?

The writing pens have already come out...yes.

Since TIAS is pretty much for “fun” as you guys put it, what specific goals do you still have set for yourselves? Anything particular you’d like to achieve?

Sure its' for fun but we'd all love for it to be our full time work if we could. I want to tour Europe every year, probably Japan, South America. Maybe even hit the US. It's been 5 years since I've toured there. I feel like I got pretty far with belvedere so I'm just happy to be here again.

Time to get a bit acquainted with your personal preferences: What song that is currently on the radio that you shamefully admit to liking?

That's easy. “I'm Coming Home” by Chris Daughtry. It hurts to type that.

What’s playing in your stereo at the moment?

Actionmen from Italy and 5 Bugs from Berlin.

Any famous last words?

Looking forward to seeing people at the shows. www.myspace.com/thisisastandoff if you need to kill 10 minutes. Thanks!!

Taken On:

February 12th, 2008

Interviewees:

Steve - Guitar, Vocals

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/thisisastandof...
• www.thisisastandoff.com

Interviews

Feb 12, 2008