Econoline Crush – Interview

Are you guys getting burned out from touring so much?
– Jay from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Yes and no. I think that there is always a burn out factor, but I enjoy playing live and the band does as well. There are days when you are down, but most of the time it is so much fun that we can’t complain.

How do you keep the energy in your live show up to the extremes with your unbelievable schedule? I’ve seen you many times live, each time more intense than the next, even had my nose broken at one show but I didn’t notice till the next day. How do you do it?
– Heather from Edmonton, Canada

First, I’m sorry about your nose. It is really easy with the music that we play. The music kind of motivates us. You can’t just stand there and play Econoline Crush music; you have to kind of kick it into gear. So I think it’s that, and eating well. (Laughs)

Have you been playing new material on the tour?
– Chad from Detroit, Michigan, USA

Yeah. We’ve been playing one song so far. We might work in some more, but we just have one song right now. It’s called “You Don’t Know What It’s Like”.

Do you have any show in particular that was most memorable?
– Bee from Edmonton, Canada

I think Edgefest, last year (in Barrie, Ontario, Canada), because my parents were there and they haven’t seen me play in a really long time. And the crowd was really good. It was just great for them to see what we have become as a band.

Any plans for a new album?
– Kristi from St. Albert, Canada

Oh yeah. We are working on it right now. We kind of got to work on touring on our latest single (“All That You Are (X3)”) and to support the record in the U.S. So, when we can, we want to get back into the studio.

Do you feel that the album was ahead of its time since it came out two years ago and still seems fresh today?
– John from New York, New York, USA

I don’t know, but I guess it is still current. It’s weird that it has such legs. I didn’t know at the time that we’d be playing it this far down the road, but I’m glad we are.

What inspires you to write?
– Sarah from Chicago, Ill., USA

For me, it is life. The questions like ‘why are we here?’ and ‘what is it all about?’. I kind of use song writing as a way to search my own soul for answers or the right questions to ask; that is really what inspires me to do it.

How do your songs go from an idea to actually being on a record?
– Jerry from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

We do what we call a lego process of writing songs. We start with the basic idea, like a chord progression, and I may take it and write the lyrics. Then, from there we’ll go and work on some programming for it. Then we’ll add some guitars. We basically just build and build and build, and once you get to the demo stage where you know where it is going and it is a sketch, then you get into the studio and develop it further. Really, it starts with a few chords and some lyrics and builds to the finished project. I don’t know when we know when to stop, but we just know.

Why do all the key members keep leaving?
– Lexy from Burnaby, Canada

Well, I don’t think that they’d be key members if they leave and there would still be a band. Niko and Tom were sidemen. Everybody that has left were sidemen and the only key member that has left was Rob. It was just a decision that we part was because I think that he was going in a different direction and it was also [that] the environment on the road wasn’t always a positive one. We really wanted to stay out on the road and maintain a positive attitude and outlook. That is why that had to end.

Does it bother you that people feel that it is necessary to say that you are a Canadian band and not just a band?
– Chris from Ontario, Canada

Yes. Not that I’m not proud to be a Canadian, but I’m not a real nationalist. I mean our drummer is from Los Angeles, and I think he is going to be our drummer for a long time, and our crew is also from different parts of the world. Ziggy was born in Detroit. I just don’t feel very nationalistic. I think music is universal and it is more regional than it is nationalistic. I think there are some things that could identify a band as a Canadian band, but you could more easily distinguish a band from Halifax or from Seattle. There is that sound rather than a nationalistic sound.

You said previously that a lot of Canadian bands couldn’t handle leaving Canada where they are stars, only to come to America and play in front of forty people. Do you think that work ethic is what is lacking with music today? And do you think that is why so much music is boring?
– Samson from Chicago, Illinois, USA

Yes. I think some bands find it hard. They get success in Canada to the point that they are carrying a big production, they have a ton of crew, and they are used to playing sold out shows. It is pretty tough sometimes to come into a club and play in front of twenty people when you are used to playing in front of thousands, but I think in the same respect you had to do that to get to that point in Canada and to relive it isn’t such a bad thing. It is good to be humbled a little bit and to remember that all of this could go away. You’ve got to value your fans and build them one at a time and just keep working at it.

Why music is so boring is because like any band with a number in its name kind of sucks. I just think that there are really a lot of flaccid, faceless bands that are making the kind of music that is engineered, produced, and recorded for a radio audience that wants background music while they are at work. There is no personality. I think we are lacking rock stars. We desperately need rock stars.

How involved are you guys with your web site, www.econolinecrush.com?
– Dee from Niagara Falls, New York, USA

Actually, not as involved as we should be. We are actually pretty hands off. I may visit every once in a while. There are so many aspects of your career to watch that I just don’t have the time for it.

Do you ever check out any of your fans’ sites?
– Joe D. from Buffalo, New York, USA

Yeah, I do. I have checked out some sites and I know we have some amazing ones. It is weird because sometimes you get on there and there are so many crazy rumors and lies that it just makes you crazy. So, I ban myself every once in a while from all sites and then I go back and look at them again.

You guys were on the T.V. show The Crow?
– Jill from Quebec, Canada

We did two songs. It was like we were in a ‘battle of the bands’ with the guy, The Crow. It was fun and kind of crazy.

Did you guys lose?

Yeah, we lost. You gotta lose to The Crow; it’s his damn show. (Laughs)

Lifestyles Condoms are going to sponsor some of your shows. Will you get some kick backs?
– Kim from Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I’m hoping for some kickbacks. I asked my manager, ‘What is the deal with this? Why do they want to market this new condom? How can they change the condom?’ I guess it is the easy on for your hard-on. It’s not confusing to the way for which it goes on and it opens real easy so you don’t get that stuff in your mouth. (Grins evilly)

Do you get paid in Canadian money and are you afraid to read the paper in America because you are afraid to see how low the Canadian dollar has dropped?
– Brett from Toronto, Canada

(Laughs) Good point. My salary is in Canadian and, yes, I am afraid to look at the papers.

Are you ever coming back to Canada?
– Sissy from Ontario, Canada

Although I really like America and I like touring down here, yeah, we’ll be back. We’re Canadians. We’ll be back.

+ interviewer: charlie craine