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Strung Out | 25.09.2006 |
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 The interview took place at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California. I interviewed Chris Aiken, the bassist of Strung Out.
Why did you guys decide to have a 10-year anniversary show to celebrate the release of STWB?
Chris: It was Jake’s idea but Alternative Press had a thing where it had the best albums of 1996. We were listed as number 2 so we were stoked. This show came up at the same time and Jake said lets play the whole record and we decided to have a 10-year anniversary of the album. We talked about doing this before and this would be a challenge for us and we tried to do this with other albums. So we decided to do it with this one and we’ll play it from start to finish. It would be cool for all the fans that like this album and all the people that don’t know it they would get to hear new songs.
How much of a lyrical influence did Jim Cherry have with Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues? On the songs he wrote, could you relate to what he was feeling?
Chris: He wrote four songs on the record. It was many Jason that wrote the album. There are definitely songs that really mean something to you. I was a fan of the band before I got into the band so I definitely love Suburban and Twisted By Design.
What songs off Suburban does the band get excited about the most?
Chris: Were excited about playing the entire thing. We want everyone to be like, wow, they played the entire thing. We’re stoked about the whole thing.
How far have you gotten with recording your new album? When do you expect it to be released?
Chris: Hopefully it will be released next summer. We are working on some new songs and jamming on some of them now. There is a title for the album but I’m not at liberty to say it. Actually, I just said it in the room we were just in while we were hanging out. My friend asked me and I told him but I guess you weren’t paying attention. We don’t want anything leaked out.
What is your opinion on the local Simi and Thousand Oaks scene? Pennywise, Bad Religion and others have played here, how did you guys finally get a chance to play here?
Chris: I’m not familiar with the whole scene around here. I see a few shows around here but I’m out of the loop with that. I see bands play at the Other Place in T.O. or play at Conejo Valley Days. I see bands like Laydlaw. I have been out of the loop just because of touring and writing.
This is a local place in town and we saw some friends bands play here. Also, we watch the Spazmatics play here every Thursday. It’s a good local place near our house and it’s an excuse not to play Ventura Theater. We changed it up a little bit and make it closer to home.
Your live show is out of control? How do you guys stay in shape to go off every night?
Chris: I work out at the Jim. Jordan works out at his house and Jake works out, works out his vaporizer. We feed off the crowd all the time.
You guys aren’t the biggest jocks in the world?
Chris: Haha, naw more skaters and surfers.
Who still lives in Simi Valley? Where do the rest of the guys live?
Chris: Jake and I still live in Simi Valley and the rest of the guys are scattered in the San Fernando Valley and L.A. area. Were not to far from each other. Me and Jake are real close. We we’ll wake up in the bed close, we sit in the same seat together. Who cares if my hand slips, its all good.
Do you plan to play any songs that are NOT on Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues tonight?
Chris: Yeah we plan on playing a few songs off other albums.
I know you guys released a statement on your website about the whole South America tour. Did what happen in South America make you guys stronger as a band?
Chris: Read the thing, it says exactly what happened. We generalized it a little bit so people won’t have to know the details. Every other band goes through the same thing. We had problems with the person we were working with and that’s what it was. It was nothing to do with the band at all, it was with this person. We thought it would be better if we came back home and rescheduled the whole thing out. We wanted to show everyone that the band is still together by playing the whole Suburban album. It’s nothing more than arguing with your girlfriend that you do all the time.
What are your future tour plans?
Chris: We just have two shows next month. One show in Salt Lake City with Rancid and then a show in Arizona. That’s pretty much it. Our booking agent called us about the Rancid show, we were stoked that we can have a chance to play with them.
Further Links:
 strungout.com
Fatwreck.com
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| Author:
Adam |
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