Forever The Sickest Kids were one of my favorite acts at Ventura’s Warped Tour. Aside from teasing me about my inability to work my own microphone, they were funny, nice, and talented! No wonder they’ve gotten so big in the two years they’ve been around. I had a chance to speak with Austin (bass and vocals), Kent (Keys), Jonathan (lead singer), Marc (guitar), Myke (drums), and Caleb (guitar and vocals), the whole group about playing Warped Tour, their favorite bands, and even TRL at one point. La.CityZine brings you Forever The Sickest Kids…
Winnie: Your new album, Underdog Alma Mater, was released almost 2 months ago. How do you feel the reaction has been to the new album, whether it be with the music world, or with your fans?
Austin: I think [the reactions] have been really good, we put some of the EP songs that we did on the full length. We kind of juiced them up and everything. All we’ve really heard has been good responses, and every time we play shows, they’re always shouting new songs that we should play, so it’s cool.
Kent: I agree with Austin.
Jonathan: I’d like to say that I agree with Austin.
Kyle: I agree with Jonathan.
Caleb: I agree.
[This whole agreeing thing becomes a running joke throughout the rest of the interview.]
Winnie: This album was also your debut album, but you’ve done EPs before in the past. How does putting an album out differ with putting out an EP?
Caleb: It’s a lot of work. Obviously, there are more songs and more preparation in making an album. The reason why we did our EP in the first place was just to have something to give the kids while we were out on the road because we didn’t have an album out at the time. So we kind of just went into the studio and did it really fast. The full length took a lot of preparation, a lot of time, and a lot of effort to get done.
Marc: When we got it done, I know that for me, it was like the biggest feeling of accomplishment, because it was three months in the making. It was on our minds the whole time. None of us had ever put one out, so once we finally got it done, everything was fixed. It was just like a big weight off your shoulders â you know, “you finally did it!”
Kyle: By the time we finished the album, we were just getting into the groove of writing and recording, so it kind of felt like we got cut off short on this album. I can’t wait for the next one.
Winnie: A while back, you guys gave your number out to fans and told them to call or text. How do you think that helped with promotion? Did you get a lot of weird texts?
Kyle: We weren’t trying to promote our band or anything as much as just trying make friends and pass the time while we were in the van.
Jonathan: I’m going to agree with Kyle on that last one.
Kyle: I’m going to agree with myself.
Winnie: You guys did a chat with Absolutepunk back in February. It was interacting with fans on a whole new level. How do you think these ways of promoting yourselves help your band? Do you think you are gaining new fans by doing this? Or do you think you are just appealing to the fans you already have?
Jonathan: I think that was something that was really cool, because the new way of meeting with fans is online. AbsolutePunk set that up in a very coordinated way. We were able to go in and there were hundreds and hundreds of kids in there, and we were actually asked some intelligent questions, so we were able to answer some questions that maybe those fans wouldn’t be able to get at a show, because something’s hectic, or they missed us, but we were able to answer a lot of questions for the fans that they were really curious about for a long time.
Kent: It was also really cool to be able to talk to Dan Hunter [of PlayRadioPlay] in our chat.
Caleb: I agree with Jonathan.
Jonathan: I agree with Caleb.
Winnie: How do you think your music differs from the music that is playing on the radio now? Do you think it’s harder to reach out to people, or easier?
Caleb: I think it’s easier to reach out to a lot of fans’ MySpaces. It’s an amazing tool for advertisement. A majority of our fans found us on MySpace. It’s a good thing.
Marc: In the same sense, I think it’s harder too, because everyone has their music at everyone’s fingertips. It’s just as easy for another band to get out and promote like we do. There’s so many bands now on the internet and stuff like that, so in that sense, I think it’s harder to get people to listen to your music.
Winnie: Warped Tour is really hot. How do you guys manage to stay cool in this heat?
Austin: We actually got a bus for the first time ever in our entire careers and although we haven’t chilled on the bus, we plan to if we get steaming hot.
Kyle: We bought Crocodile Mile, which is like this slip n’ slide which we do in the middle of the hallway on the bus. We fill it up with soap and water and we slide around.
Winnie: Do you have to share your bus with anybody?
Jonathan: No, we don’t share our bus with anybody. [at this point, he smacks his head against my microphone.] ow.
Winnie: Are you looking forward to seeing any particular bands on Warped Tour?
Caleb: Angels and Airwaves I’m pretty stoked about, and Farewell.
[I lose track of who speaks after this.]
- Alter Bridge.
- The Beach Boys.
- Pantera.
- Yeah, the Beach Boys. I’m really looking forward to seeing them.
- Yeah, I agree. Alter Bridge is pretty dope.
- Relient K and Three Dog Night.
Winnie: This year’s tour is very eco-friendly, or at least trying to be. Do you notice a big change from last year’s tour?
Jonathan: I noticed that Eco-Initiative has had fans go out in front of bus doors to pick up the plastics and the aluminums I’ve never noticed that before. And apparently they’re getting free VIP bracelets for doing it, and that’s awesome. I totally support that.
Kyle: I mean, they had it last year, but [this year] all the silverware is recycled, and really weird.
Caleb: It doesn’t work that well, I’m not going to lie. I was trying to cut some meat last night. I ended up picking it up with my hands and eating it.
Winnie: That’s the best way.
Kyle: Very eco-friendly.
Winnie: What are the best and worst parts about Warped Tour?
Caleb: Worst part, I would say the heat. Best part is the ability to play in front of a large new crowd every day.
Jonathan: Worst part is the heat. Best part is being able to network with other bands and see bands that you’ve toured with in the past. Kind of similar to a family reunion.
Winnie: Have you guys toured with anyone previously that you’re touring with now?
Yeah, we have been out with Farewell, Valencia, The Maine, and Cobra Starship is on it, and we’ll be going out with them in the future.
Winnie: Do you guys have any plans for after Warped Tour? [I stutter as I say 'plans for' and it comes out sounding like I said 'before']
Kyle: Before Warped Tour, I planned to work out for a little bit. Get it? ‘Cause you said ‘before.’
Jonathan: After Warped Tour, UK for a week with Cobra Starship. Before Warped Tour, the AP tour.
Winnie: Do you guys have anything else to say to our readers?
[Once again, I'm befuddled as they all try to speak into the microphone]
- On Tuesday, Total Request Live, MTV, “Whoa oh!” Premiere! Vote for It!
- Thank you!
- Thank you!
- I just want to say to all the fans â see you all on Warped Tour.\
- Thank you!
- On Tuesday, Total Request Live, MTV, “Whoa oh!” Premiere! Vote for It!
- Thank you!
- Thank you!
- I just want to say to all the fans â see you all on Warped Tour.
- Thank you!
I interviewed these guys before they went on to play two sets - an acoustic one at 2:15pm, and an electric one at 7:15pm. Both were solid sets, and as I left the fairgrounds, I saw quite a few people walking away with newly purchased “Forever the Sickest Kids” shirts.
Me with Forever the Sickest Kids, minus Jonathan, who disappeared.
For Further Warped Reading:
- Interview with Scott from Reel Big Fish
- Interview with Fred Mascherino of The Color Fred
- Interview with Valencia
- Warped Tour Review
- Warped Tour Photo Essay
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