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Monday Memories: Interview with The Used
Topics: Bakersfield, music, Bakotopia, Bakotopia.com, the Used, USED, csub, concerts, entertainment, Events
Posted by Chase Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:00:26 PDT
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0 responses 2 comments Location: 9001 Stockdale Hwy., Bakersfield, CA 93311

Monday Memories
The Used return to Bakersfield Monday, May 5th at 6pm at CSUB with Straylight Run, Street Drum Corps, and Army Of Me

By: Chase Brockett, Bakotopia Staff

They will leave you feeling used… but in a good way. 

Formed officially in 2001 in Orem, Utah, The Used became a signed act after only twenty shows.  And it takes only a few moments of their self-titled debut to gain insight into why.  Bert McCracken’s guttural screaming and melodic crooning wrap around a dynamic and raw musical attack, catching the listener by the limbic system and forcing an emotive frenzy.  They are the definition of screamo.



Following their debut up with strong studio albums, live releases and the most recent release, a collection of B-sides exclusive to i-Tunes titled "Shallow Believer", The Used remain strong in a new generation of music fans.  

The Used – comprised of Bert McCracken (Vocals), Quinn Allman (Guitar), Jeph Howard (Bass), and new drummer Dan Whitesides – are making their way through a run of University shows and return to Bakersfield to play CSUB’s Icardo Center on May 5th at 6pm. 

Bakotopia spoke with bassist Jeph Howard via telephone about their tour, prepping for the new album, and Jerry’s Pizza.

Used drummer, Jeph Howard

Jeph Howard: Helloooo….

Bakotopia:  Hey, how are you?

J:  Good how are you?

B: I’m not too bad, thanks for doing this for me!  So you guys are touring now for Shallow Believer?

J: Kind of.  It’s sort of a left of center tour - smaller areas than we normally play.  Make it easier for the kids to come and see us right before we start this next record.
 
B:  Is that why you guys chose the universities?

J: Yeah, its like a college run.  Which colleges are the best because they are kind of out from the major cities.

B: So Shallow Believer is the B-sides to Lies for the Liars right?

J: Well, some of it.  It some B-sides from there and some older B-sides and some random other stuff.

B: So can people still listen to if they’re not big on lying?

J:  No.  Actually, hah, actually I like this record a lot more than I liked the Lies for the Liars.  There’s a lot of my favorite songs on it.  I always think B-side songs are fun, you know what I mean?  You find that special song where you are like “The same band did this?!  Really?!”  I always like that little searching, because that searching is kind of over with almost.  Somebody’s record collection, they just burn it over to you.  It just takes a second.  But it was kind of fun finding those little B-side songs floating around.

B: Is there a lot of pressure in making follow up records - to try and make them reach the same heights as the previous ones?

J: There’s always label pressure, but at the same time we don’t give a shit. We’re writing songs because we love to write music.  We’re just trying to make ourselves happy.

B: Is there any influence that comes from the fans?  Those one’s who tend to say “The first one was the best!” 

J: Not really.  I mean, no matter what you’ll have that record that sticks to you.  It’ll be your favorite record.  Maybe it’s the first one the most because it hit you the most, maybe the second or third.  We’re writing music to make us happy, and hopefully other people get into it and get stoked on it.  This next record is a whole different approach for us – a totally different area – we have a different drummer that’s been in our band for a year now and…

B:  Do you guys actually have a permanent drummer now?

J: Yeah, we’ve had him for a year.  He’s permanent.

B: How has that affected the creative process?

J: It’s great actually!  He’s a force that has been added to us – a power force!  And writing-wise it’s excellent too because it’s a whole different world that we can kind of jump into and get into.  That’s what I was meaning, this new record is going to be a lot different than the last three in a very good way - A step in a total different direction.

B:  How would you say it’s ‘different’? 

J:  It’s kind of hard to explain.  Who knows what happens once you get in the studio.  Definitely some keyboard action.  Some very dirty sounds – it’s definitely going to be very dirty.  All these songs are going to be “gross pop” songs. 

B:  Dirty’s always good.

J: Dirty, dirty gross pop.

B:  So what would you say to people – why should they come to see you live?  What do you guys try to present in your live shows?

J:  Bert is a very unpredictable person.  He’s kind of out there, and you never know what he’s going to do.  You never know if he’s going to do something crazy, or something fucked up. And it’s really fun for us because we really have no clue most of the time.  I just say, a good rock show.  A seriously good rock show is what we put on. 

B: I have seen you guys twice, once here at the Dome and once in Universal City.  You guys do put on a very good show, I just like to hear from the bands their perspective on their own thing.

J:  Hah, thanks.  We love playing live!  My favorite thing ever is to be on tour!  And to be touring and playing shows. We try to put everything into it.  We want it to sound the best it can, we want it to be great visually.  We want it to just be a fun time.  It’s really for people to get away from life… to get away from whatever their problems are.  Just come and have fun, you know?  Nowadays, a lot of people are not going to shows.  Music is in a weird state.  No matter how many times you watch a band on YouTube, you’re never going to get the same experience as watching that band live - no matter what!

B:  I totally agree with you there.  So do you guys get involved in politics much with the election coming up?     

J: Not really.  I mean, there’s not a person on Earth that likes George Bush.  And I’ve never met a person – ever - which is even weirder.  That’s pretty much it.  Whoever you vote for, they’re all evil. 

B: So it’s not even a matter of “lesser of two evils.”

J: I mean, right now, as long as George Bush is gone, we’ll be happy but… who knows what will happen then.  It really sucks having people who hate you for being American.

B: Do you guys get that a lot touring?

J: A little.  You just get that awkward vibe of like “Oh… Americans.”  It just depends where you are.  There’s a lot of good people and they’re just kind of putting it all together into one.  The more people we meet, they’re like “We really don’t hate you guys…” The world’s a great place but it sucks that we have to carry that image.  It sucks that we have to please the world.  It is what it is.

B: So how do you guys like to connect with your fans? 

J: We try to meet as many people as we can.  I’m definitely out there everyday trying to talk to kids and hang out cause what am I going to do, sit on the bus?  Of course there are other factors that sometimes prevent that.  I kind of get it from when I would see my favorite bands and thinking “If I could just meet one of them…” and to be able to do the same, but on the opposite end, it means a lot to me in a different way. 

B: So where do you guys see yourself in the grand scheme of the music scene? 

J: We’re just kind of doing our thing.  There is a lot of music out there.  It’s good and bad.  There’s a lot of crap right now.  And I don’t mean that as a bad thing against any band, I’m just not into anything lately.  But things change.  It’s just waiting for something to wipe it clean and start over.  But it is what it is.

B:  Yeah.  So do you have any words for your fans before your show here?

J: We’re fucking stoked.  The very first time we ever played Bakersfield was in the basement of this pizza place... 

B: Jerry’s Pizza.

J: I’m never going to forget that show.

B: Nobody ever does…
 
J: It’s pretty funny.  It was all jacked up in the corner.  It was cool.

B: Yeah… it’s uh… it’s still there.

J: Well that’s good to know.  Hopefully we aren’t playing it this show.

B: No, you guys are playing at Cal State. 

J: Oh cool.

B: Which they are actually moving Jerry’s Pizza there for you guys.

J: Nice… sounds great!  Haha.

B:  Well that’s all I’ve got for you, but I really appreciate you doing this for me.  I look forward to the show!

J:  Hey, thanks man!  I’ll see you there!

On the Web: www.TheUsed.net

Get a Life Tour, featuring The Used
-May 5, 2008 / 6 p.m.,
-CSUB Icardo Center, CSUB campus
-$23 plus $4 fee per ticket
-For tickets, visit: www.timgardeapresents.com or the following locations: World Records, Wavelengths, Outer Limits, Going Underground Records, HowCool.com the Shoppe, Stuffed Pipe, Impact Streetwear, Stockdale Music, Rockit Records, Mainland.

Also printed in Bakotopia Magazine issue #27 5/1/08

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Comment From: Bakontributor

Excellent job Chase! Matto.. Comment From: Malface

Brilliant I must say.