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04.20.02 Show & Tell covered NJ’s Skate & Surf festival at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall in April 2002. Hours before their set, we walked down the Asbury Park boardwalk with front man Nate Barcalow looking for a place to sit and chat. Show & Tell: How’s here? Informal, ocean view. Nate: Yeh, this is alright. S&T: You guys are really from Temecula? N: Yeh. S&T: My best friend is from Temecula, I was like "the same Temecula?" So is this your first time out east? N: Nah, we’ve been out here before. We like it out here. S&T: What’s the biggest difference [between the east and west coasts]? N: Weather for one. And the kids. The kids out here are a lot more responsive. There’s something about them, they have a lot more energy. I think California kids are a lot more picky. I think it’s easier to win the crowds over out here. S&T: When they sent the CD over and we popped it in the sterio with two other CDs, I thought it was on random. Is this the same guy? Is this the same band? You guys have so much diversity across one CD. How did that happen, what was the process? N: I don’t know, we just get into a room and write things and if it sounds like a good song we try to make it into a full song. The record is very diverse and I think it’s good in a way because it can appeal to different kinds of music but it could also be inconsistent too and people might not like that either. S&T: You haven’t pigeon-holed yourself for the second album. Is it pop? Is it hardcore? Is it pop hardcore? N: We’ve been labeled a punk band, a hardcore band, an emo band. I don’t know. I don’t really believe in labels per se, I know it’s necessary for stores and everything. The first question is always what do they sound like, who do they sound like... You have to compare. S&T: I don’t like the "emo" title; emo rock, emo punk, emo core. N: It seems people don’t know what that word means anymore if it meant anything at all. They’re throwing it around so loosely it doesn’t mean anything anymore. S&T: Don’t know what it is? It’s emo. So tell me about this electronic press kit I read about. This sounds like a cool idea. N: We kind of stole the idea from the Deftones; it’s the only one I’ve ever seen. Instead of sending a press kit with just the CD you’ll be able to see the band performing. S&T: Very cool. Now on a show like this how do you separate yourself from the rest of the bands who are supposedly the same genre of music? N: You just play and hope the kids know the difference. It sucks sometimes ‘cause being on Drive-Thru people expect us to be a punk band because that’s pretty much what the label is about. But we’re really not punk. S&T: You’re not, which makes [producer] Mark Trumbino [Blink 182] a weird choice. How did you hook up with him? If you’re trying to stay away from that label and he’s the guy that’s doing that kind of music, why him? N: Yeh. He used to be in a band called Drive By ??? and they’re not punk at all. They’re not really any style that he produces. He’s into a lot of different stuff, he’s like us. [I think] he’s a genius. S&T: How’d you cut yourself? N: I got some stitches in my head. We shot a video last Sunday and the very last shot, the crazy shot, we were jumping around and stuff and I got hit with a guitar. S&T: How’s the guitar? N: [laughs] It’s good. I should be getting [the stitches] out today actually. S&T: After this you come back around on a club tour? N: Yeh, I think we’re coming through with Starting Line and Brand New as well. S&T: I know you're a big fan, have you heard [Deftone’s singer] Chino’s side project? N: Team Sleep? I actually saw them live, they were amazing. S&T: We’ve only heard the one song. What other stuff are you listening to now? N: Glassjaw. I still can’t believe I’m playing with them. They’re like my favorite band. S&T: Very cool, Nate. Thanks for your time. N: Thanks for the etch-a-sketch [Nate had picked a mini etch-a-sketch out of the Show & Tell prize bag after doing 12 Questions with Kris]. We sat through a lot of crappy bands that day waiting to hear Finch. It was worth it... interview by Scott Sisti |
