Posted on Oct 21, 2004 by Tom

Hailing from Ventura, California, The Army Of Freshmen recently celebrated it’s 7th birthday, shortly after succesfuly completing all their dates on this years Warped Tour. With a touring schedule that is so relentless you’d almost have to calculate in astronomical units, it’s no sheer luck that these guys are starting to get quite a name for themselves. Their self-titled EP scanned 10.000 copies without any kind of promotion except what the members could dig up by spending most of their days (and nights for that matter) behind their computers. The proof that if you just sink your teeth in a little, you’ll draw blood eventually. Their second CD, aptly titled “Beg, Borrow, Steal”, is availabe trough 33rd Street/Tower Records and allowed these lads to do a short tour around the Uk with The Littlest Man Band featuring Dan and Scott from Reel Big Fish fame during the summer of 2004. One can only hope they make ti to mainland Europe shortly, because if you like bands like Motion City Soundtrack or The Reunion Show, you’ll surely want to check out their synth-rock pop-marvels spiced up with some Buck-O-Nine rapping like of vocals.

So where did you get your name? Ok I was just messing with you ;). Don’t even bother answering that one hehe. Thought I’d give you a scare and wake you up at the same time.

Thank God. I've created 3 different stories to keep myself interested in answering that question.

So basically we’re from mainland Europe so I’m guessing there will be a lot of people who haven’t heard from the band yet, so please tell me who you are, what you do in the band and what you would rather be doing than sitting in front of your computer screen answering annoying questions for some shabby webzine?

My name is Chris and I am the frontman for a band called Army of Freshmen, we're from Ventura, CA. and I would rather be listening to Tom Waits with a Playboy Mate but being I'm freezing in a van I suppose this will suffice.

So if all the information I’ve been fed in the press-release that came with your album you’ve pretty much only yourselves to thank for where you are now, with you guys dealing with everything that comes with being in a band and trying to make a shot at it. Now tell me, is there time for anything else but the band?

Wow. This is a serious interview. Interesting. Well you know what you're right- I really don’t do anything else. It's kind of pathetic- I love it though. I enjoy nearly every aspect of it besides being broke. It'd be nice to have some help but the industry is fucked right now though.

I love music, don’t get me wrong, but that seems to be a big sacrifice to make personally. How hard is it to deal with the consequences of your choice(s) sometimes?

Well there's a lot pressure from parents and relationships are hard to keep. I am lucky on both counts but some of the other guys aren't.

If you’re going to spend that much time together (being the touring addicts you are and all) you guys must be really close, but tell me what little

things annoy you the most about each other when on tour. Who takes the

longest time in the bathroom, who is more concerned with his clothes

and looks than actually playing things right and those sort of stuff? We

love all the dirty info haha.

Kai is for sure the longest in the shower. Owen is the last guy out of everywhere. Dan can be pretty stubborn when he's in a bad mood. Aaron sleeps too much. As for me- they hate my driving.

So about the band name, “The Army of Freshmen”. Suppose you’re still touring your asses off in 30 years. How will you feel about the band name then? Or would you consider changing it into the “Army Of Not-So-Freshmen-Anymore”? (sorry couldn’t let that one pass)

You know since it's our name it doesn't have the meaning I think most people think of when they see it. So I'd be cool with I think. Hell the Beach Boys are still the Beach Boys well not really but that's another story.

So basically you guys met at an open mic when Chris moved from New Jersey to California, and he has been shooting his mouth off on the internet how he had like 500 songs ready. So I’m wondering what’s up with those other 460 or so songs J. All that just to ask what we can expect from the band in the near future. I know “Beg, Borrow, steal” ain’t out for a long time yet but I’m wondering if new material is in the works as we speak or not?

Well as for the other 500 songs or so most aren't that good but I learned alot by writing them. As for new AOF stuff funny you should mention it- we'll be demoing some new songs in January. Owen and I wrote one today called "The World's Permission" which is pretty good.

How did you get in touch with Tower/33rd Street Records? Did you approach them or did they approach you? Happy with the kind of promotion they are doing for the band?

Our manager got them a copy of the record and they were into it. Thank God. We're very happy with the promotion it's a lot better then the other option- nothing.

Why did it take you guys so long after recording the album to find a label? Where you just being picky or is the music industry in such a bad state at the moment that bands like yourselves have a hard time coping?

For sure the latter. I like to think we'd be treated alot differently by the industry if it were back when we started. It's a terrible, bands we consider our peers are breaking up left and right. We just found out our friends Solemite broke up and they were an amazing band that now no one will know about. Would they still be together if a label had come along and helped them financially- I'm sure they would. The whole thing sucks.

I think “Beg, Borrow, Steal” was actually released in Japan before it even reached stores in the States. What kind of weird feeling does that generate?

Well you always hear about those bands who have a record out somewhere else and it turned out we became that band. It was weird. I felt bad that a hardcore fan in our hometown couldn't get our record but a kid in Japan could.

Do you feel somewhat under-appreciated in the States where-as these Japanese guys seems to go crazy for everything that sounds good?

Yeah- I do. Japan has good taste. They really do. They appreciate music and musicians like I did when I was a kid. It was special. It was an important to go to a show and over there they still have that passion.

Is the title of the record connected with what I said earlier, that you guys seem to be ready to do anything required of you to make this band work?

Yup.

What’s the full story behind that title?

Well it's a pretty cool story. We were in line at customs in Japan and Good Charlotte was in the same line. We were both coming back from this festival in Japan and Billy from the band asked me what was next for us? I told him we were getting ready to beg, borrow, steal to get our next record made. He mistakeningly thought that was the name of the record- I told him that it wasn't and he said it should be- I thought about it on the plane ride home and it really grew on me.

At this point in time, where you guys seem to hit it off a little bit, can you live off what the band does or do you still have jobs on the side? If so, who has the shittiest job and who does what?

When were not on tour we have to get jobs. Lots of record store/video store shit- Dan is a computer tech- he prolly makes the best money when were home.

So you’ve just celebrated your 6th birthday as a band recently. What did you do for the occasion? I always wondered if bands do something special at those occasions or not. Do you like … blow candles and stuff or treat each other to new drumsticks/strings or what?

Actually last week was our 7th! Sadly we really didn't celebrate were playing a show in Omaha and kind of forgot about it.

I reviewed your last CD, and while I do admit there are some similarities, it was weird to see how people stated you where just ripping off bands like The Reunion Show and Motion City Soundtrack and such. How do you see this? Cheap comments or is there some truth to it?

Well we've been around for 7 years which is as long if not longer than MCS- you just dont hear about cause we're not on Victory or Epitaph. As for the Reunion Show they already broke up and are calling themselves something new. MCS- I think they rock. They came to see us recently and that was really cool but as for ripping them off- that's hilarious. Our biggest influence is the Hippos. Anyone who says we ripped those bands knows nothing about history.

Would you say those references where a comment or rather an insult?

I hope a reference.

What would you say where some of your main influences?

The Hippos, They Might Be Giants, Weezer.

Do you think you guys have nailed the “Army Of Freshmen” sound yet, or are you still growing towards it?

I think we totally have our own sound but we're always growing we've got a ton of acoustic oriented songs that will come out at some point.

The synth-pop genre seems to be very popular nowadays. Would you claim that you are one of the bands that helped infuse some life into it? Exactly how popular is the band in the States you reckon?

I dont look at it as that big really if it exists at all we are for sure part of it. As far as being popular we are still way underground. The name is getting out there but it's primarily a few kids in every city that are into the band and hopefully they can spread the word.

How did you end up with two keyboard players in the band anyways?

Remember that whole question about the name... put this in the same boat.

How does that help or strain the song writing process? Who does what

and how does a typical “Army of Freshmen” song surge into life?

Usually someone presents a riff or an idea to the whole band and we work it out together.

I think it’s fairly safe to say you’re an internet generation type of band. Where do you think you’d be without tools as the internet or email at this point?

It's been amazing. I can't imagine how it used to be before email.

How do you look towards the whole downloading issue? In favour or not?

If it's a big label- download away- if it's a small label- I think you should support the label and buy the record.

What was your biggest moment as a band so far, something you will one day tell your grandchildren?

Playing the Summersonic Festival in Japan- a total dream. The biggest festival in Japan, huge bands and us accepted and part of it all.

You made a quick tour of the British Isles with the Littlest man Band featuring Scott and Dan from Reel Big Fish. How was the reception there?

The Littlest Man dates were cool but it was really a serious ska crowd. The 3 dates with Bowling For Soup were totally amazing- their crowd totally got us and the shows went off. Those were incredible.

What would you say where the biggest differences between the states and Europe?

The food is much better in the States- not sure about the rest of Europe but English food is rough.

Would you consider yourselves ready for a headlining tour of mainland Europe yet?

Hell yeah- we're ready bow if anyone would show up that's another story!

Any concrete plans to come infect us mainlanders with your crazy tunes yet?(you should have regardless, dammit!)

The minute someone invites us and pays for the travel- we are there.

What can people expect from your typical AOF show?

Totaly energy and a good ass time!

On another note: what CD are you guys currently listening too? What’s

rocking the AOF boat?

Wheatus' second record which wasnt released in the states, Bowling For Soup's new record.

And what song currently on the radio do you shamefully admit to liking?

Good question- I have a weakness for that Lindsay Lohan song not because the song is good but every time I hear it I picture her singing it topless.

Any last words for the European fans? Any untruths about the band floating about the internet you want to clear up? Here and now is your chance to do so!

Thank you so much for taking the time to care about an American band that isn't big- we truly look forward to coming over and playing for ya! Please check out our site www.armyoffreshmen.com, email us and spread the word!

Taken On:

October 21st, 2004

Interviewees:

Chris Jay - Vocals

Related Links:

• www.armyoffreshmen.com

Interviews

Oct 21, 2004