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Interviewee:     Chris Jay - Army Of Freshmen
Interviewer/s:   Kate James & Matt James
Date:              11 October 2005
Venue:            Bristol Academy
© Up-Load (UK) Ltd 2005/07
 
 
Upload What was it like to work with jaret from Bowling For Soup?
Chris It was an amazing experience we have all been big fans of Bowling For Soup for quite a while now and we always thought he would understand the kind of music that we are doing right now , because you know, some people don’t accept any humour in rock and roll now and its such a serious, serious business and they (BFS) are the masters of just sticking enough in there. It was an awesome experience and everything that we ever wanted. He’s such an amazing song writer and we thought that his contributions to the songs made them genuinely better, sometimes you work with a producer and it’s like your pretty much just stood there but we were really involved and even got to write a song with him which was really great, especially when you are sitting opposite a songwriter that you really admire and swapping lyrics back and forth . It was a really great experience and in the studio when he is without the guys (BFS) he is a lot more focused and at any given time he is doing 20 things and having the ability to drink while doing 20 different things is what I really admire about him.
Upload You have been working together for 8 years now, often not earning money, at any point did you feel like chucking it in and getting "Proper Jobs"?
Chris It will be 8 years that we have been together officially while we are on this tour. A few of us do have jobs while we aren’t touring and things can be really frustrating sometimes because our band has been on a steady forward momentum so it’s been a slow build as we didn’t have the serious injections of money where they put you in the public’s consciousness at an accelerated pace . America is so big and hard to crack, that’s what blows my mind about touring in the UK, it’s like the drive last night (from Manchester) is only a couple of hours and I’m used to the drive to the next city being, like 8 hours, touring in the UK is pretty much like touring in the state of California. It’s so big over there and I would say that the press is fickle over there but I think the UK press is even more fickle, I mean you guys (UK Press) crucify people quick , it’s like the NME you are on the cover one month and then your out. But in America I think the main problem is that it’s just so big so bands will get big in one area and never get the chance to get anywhere else, we are one of the few exceptions in the states of a band that has become successful without the backing of a label simply because we wouldn’t quit because we are determined, resilient and probably stupid , we were willing to take the vow of poverty longer than most , but it’s very hard as you get older and I understand the number of bands that break up constantly and they often wonder how we have managed to stay together , but it’s through the hard work and determination that brilliant experiences like these come up (BFS Tour) and we are thrilled to be here.
Upload What do you want for Christmas?
Chris Great question, ummm that’s a great question that I have no answer for , that’s how good it is ummmm this year , (thinks) I got the ipod last year, that was really great but I think I’m just going to have to cheese out and say I’d like good health for me, my friends and family.
Upload Your EP "At The End Of The Day" is only for sale in the UK, why is that?
Chris Basically we are friends with a very small label called Brand New Hero Records which is run by a wonderful, wonderful guy who was more than happy to put it out here but only for the month of the tour , but not in America , we have had to sell it on pre order there as when people found out we woke up the next morning to 150 e-mails from people that were angry, so we decided that we should make it available, just for a short time for the people in American that are really into us and then there are the ones who just say “I’ll wait for the next record” but some fans just have to have it as soon as it comes out .
Upload What has been your most memorable gig to date and why?
Chris Ummm I think the most memorable gig was probably in Japan at a festival called Summer sonic and it was like every 14 year old wet dream fantasy that I ever had about rock and roll come true. We were so lucky to be at this festival and sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in music, it’s like there’s Radiohead , Blink 182, Blondie and the New Doors and just to be sitting in catering and theres all these people around. We felt like a band that had sneaked into this world – it was amazing. I will give you the worst one too - the worst one was actually in Manchester, last year we did a small tour and it was our first time over here and we played Satan’s Hollow, it’s like a really cool place , I had recently sprained my ankle and between my ankle being sprained and the sound being bad , it was just one of those nights when everything went wrong and we had all these 20 year old rude boys in checkered hats just kind of staring at us for half an hour . That was really a rough one, just one of those nights where everything went wrong and the weird twist was that it was my birthday and now I’m going to be constantly in fear of playing on my birthday ‘cos I feel like it’s cursed .
Upload You have a hugh fan base in Japan, how do British or American fans differ from the Japenese ones?
Chris Well you can talk to them and that’s a big start, you’d be surprised at how nice that is . That’s a real funny joke by the way (laughs) . The Japanese fans are maniac about us. I think the British fans are great, I really do, but the Japanese fans , well, I don’t know if it’s the language barrier, but they almost put you on a pedestal ‘cos it’s so frantic, because they can’t talk to you it’s like Wow , it’s kinds interesting. What’s different about them though is that they are deathly silent in between songs, which is weird, it’s like (whistles) you’re not expecting that, you are expecting someone to shout out ‘hey asshole’ or something like that, and you are almost embarrassed by the silence, but it’s awesome. American fans are definitely the worst, they are completely spoilt and maybe that’s the American culture, we take things for granted so much over there, and the minute a band breaks up, it’s like “why did you break up?” and it’s like ‘cos you didn’t come and see us the last 12 times we played in your town ! I like the UK fans a lot, they have the energy of the Japanese fans but with the communication of the American fans, it’s like they are really, really great, and you can hang out with them after a show and that provides for some great, great moments.
Upload We saw your show last night in Manchester, and the look on the Security guys faces when you jumped onto the barrier was great.
Chris Yeah, yeah it was good, it’s the first time a UK man has ever put his hands on my buttock but it sort of worked (laughs), I’m being honest here …
Upload What is the worst present you have ever been given?
Chris That’s the thing about the Japanese, their whole culture is very strange and very present orientated. When you meet anybody you almost always exchange gifts, it’s like, I’ve only just met you but I’ve bought you this , you know what I mean ? you always exchange gifts and that’s so neat ‘cos you’re constantly getting stuff.
Over there a girl made, I don’t even know how to put it, a huge, almost like a wind chime, massive, almost 24 inches, and is was made from 15,000 post it notes. The girl went to Office Depot or some stat