By: Jamie Steinberg
Photo By Dennis Pike
Q) The band is often described as alt-rock, but how do you all tend to describe the music that you make?
A) We’ve been deeply connected to the American reggae rock scene for decades and we have been called Reggae Rock; I like calling us “Beach Rock.” I don’t normally refer to our sound as Reggae. It’s more of a fusion. I’ve always seen us as a rock band first and then we play reggae grooves and such. We tend to mix it up a lot. It’s pretty evident in our live show. It’s very rock oriented.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Green Day, Goldfinger, Sublime, 311…Honestly, the list goes on between all the band members.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Bad Summer.”
A) I was just messing around one day in the studio here. Had this idea for this cool kind of 80s inspired guitar riff. I love all that stuff. I was a kid in the mid-80s and saw my first arena glam rock show. It was Rat and Poison. And I just knew one day that I wanted to be in a band…So, yeah, I’m just sitting around trying to come up with something and this demo just kind of came out. Ended up feeling like a Y2K pop punk song with 80’s glam rock elements. The premise of it, I just wanted to keep it fun and lighthearted and just make it just sound like a fun song when people listen to it.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think they think it’s fun. Has a really upbeat melody. The guitar stuff is great and familiar. And the hook is just big and explosive. And I just think people feel that.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) We’ve always wanted to make a video like this and there was just no other way that we were gonna do this one. I knew pretty much immediately what the video should look like. To me, it was a no-brainer. We had a lot of fun making it. It turned out great. We think it’s our best video we’ve ever made. It’s just again a lot of fun and I think it just goes with the song really well.
Q) Your album also named Bad Summer is out now. What are some themes you explore on it?
A) A lot of nostalgia, a lot of looking back through the band’s history. There’s a lot of mental health stuff, trying to stay positive and keep moving in a world that feels like it’s trying to kill you all the time…feelings of doubt. Some love songs.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) It comes in different ways. Sometimes I have a line with a little melody in my head, and I’ll just flesh it out and come up with a guitar riff for it. And then sometimes the music comes first, and I gotta figure out what to sing over it. I try to let the music tell me what the song should be about…I really like writing upbeat sounding music and then coupled with dark lyrics.
Q) John Feldmann helped out on with production on Bad Summer, but how much of a say do you have as a band in the production of your music?
A) John was incredible. The guy is a beast as a songwriter and a producer. And we were there to just let him work. But we also understood that he wants the artist to be involved. And so we stepped up and sometimes you have to fight for things here and there and sometimes you gotta let the producer do his job. So, we were able to find a nice balance between the visions and we’re very happy with what we did. John would push back on things here and there, and I appreciated that, but he also wants to see the artist’s vision come through in the end.
Q) “Thunderstorms” and “Sixteen Forever” are my favorite tracks off the album. Which of the song(s) has a special place in your heart and why?
A) “Thunderstorms” was a song that I wrote last year sometime, and I didn’t think it was ever gonna be on a Ballyhoo! record. It’s such a straightforward modern rock power ballad. Again, something that probably stems from my Childhood Glam Rock phase. I just think the song is great and the chorus hits really hard. The guitars are heavy, and the drums are huge. I still can’t believe that we sound like that. [laughs]
Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new album as a whole – either as a message or emotion?
A) I just hope that they love it. I hope that they find songs on there that really connect. And I want them to make them their own. Just like everything we’ve ever done. Everyone’s interpretation is a little bit different, sometimes drastically different, and there are sometimes songs that we put out that people say they connect really heavy to and I just didn’t expect it. So, yeah, I think I just want them to love the record and listen to it a lot and come sing along with us at the shows.
Q) What can fans expect from a live Ballyhoo! performance?
A) Big fun rock show!
Q) You’re currently on tour. What songs off the album have you been loving performing live?
A) We’re gonna be playing “The Alchemist,” “I Guess I’ll Go Fuck Myself,” “Blood Money,” “Bad Summer” and I’m sure we’ll get into a bunch more over the next several months.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I really like playing at Jannus Live in St. Pete, Florida. It’s usually just a beautiful night when the weather’s right and we pack the place out and everybody sings along and it just feels like a huge show. Production is great, the sound and lights; it’s just an awesome place to play. I’ve wanted to play there since 1994 when I heard some live Green Day tracks on an old single CD, and it said that those performances were from Jannus Live in St. Pete.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Bilmuri. Such a great rock band. I’m not a country fan really, in any way, but they have just enough country elements and it still sounds great to me. I just love the melodies and the breakdowns and just that heavy guitars. There are definitely a couple songs in this album that are influenced by their sound.
Q) Nearly 25 years into your music career, what advice would you give to upcoming artists?
A) Keep your eyes forward. Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing. Play the music you want to play. Build your own little community. Make them love you by overdelivering on your promises and on your merch, put on a great show every time, and you’re not gonna make money for a long time. [laughs]
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) We cannot do this without you, and we are so grateful for your support. I hope that we can keep putting out music that you love and putting on the best shows ever. Enjoy the new album and we’ll see you soon.
All Questions Answered By Howi Spangler