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Grandaddy
Interview by Kate Jarvis
Talking to Aaron from Grandaddy
GRANDADDY INTERVIEW 18/07/2004 by Kate Jarvis
GRANDADDY are currently over here and I managed to pin down drummer
Aaron in Dublin for a phone interview to see how the gigs are going
and how life is treating them in general. Jason, Kevin and Aaron
formed GRANDADDY and in 1995 three became 5 when Tim and Jim came
on board to form the band that we have come to know and respect.
With their distinctively bold and ambient sound they make a statement
by coming up to you and giving you a verbal wake up call to make
you sit up and take notice of their spaced out poppy sounds. I found
out that Aaron is quite a dab hand in the kitchen, that he laughs
a lot and that the band are growing up and chilling out a little.
Katie Jarvis:
So you guys got together in 1992 and are still going strong, that's
really good going in today's very commercial, constantly changing
musical world. You have obviously made an impact on the industry.
I take it that you are still enjoying the ride?
Aaron Grandaddy;
Yeah if we didn't like it we wouldn't be doing it (laughs), I'm
kinda surprised that we lasted this long we must be doing something
right.
KJ
How is Dublin treating you?
AG
Dublin is a great place though it's really expensive; we're loving
the Guinness though. We've had a walk around and it's a really cool
place.
KJ
Any problems understanding the accent?
AG
No we haven't, it's not so hard to understand I actually find the
Scottish accent harder to understand as it's spoken a lot faster.
So far I haven't had any problems finding my way around.
KJ
Highlight of the trip so far?
AG
GUINNESS!!!!! We haven't played together for 3-4 weeks and today
is coming together really well. The sound check went well and the
night is a sell out i'm really looking forward to it.
KJ
What do you miss most when you are on tour?
AG
My family and my kitty cat, she gets cross with me when I leave
her for a few days she is worse than a woman (laughs) in fact my
girlfriend wouldn't require as much maintenance as my kitty cat.
KJ
What were you doing this time last night (6.30pm)?
AG
What time is it now… erm let me think…walking to get
food.
KJ
What do you think of the kebab shops?
AG
Not the worst ever but not the best ever (laughs).
KJ
Gig or party?
AG
I'm into tours so much anymore I suppose i've grown up, but they
are good once you get into them.
KJ
What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
AG
Man - I get a coffee and a smoke, I like to sit in my garden and
read a skate mag or the paper, that's a good way to start the day.
KJ
If I came round for dinner what would you cook for me?
AG
Italian used to be my big thing but now we have moved onto BBQ's,
we always have two big BBQ's on the trailer on tours now as it's
a really good way to bring everyone together, it creates a good
atmosphere between all the people we are on tour with.
KJ
Do you wear an apron to cook in?
AG
No I don't (laughs) I have a big set of leather gloves but no apron.
Perhaps I should get one though I keep ruining my shirts, but then
again the bonus of being in a band is lots of free shirts.
KJ
I've heard a rumour that you are quite the party animals, any behind
the scenes news for me?
AG
It's all too bad to tell (laughs a lot) we're a bunch of dirty skaters,
actually we have been pretty well behaved for quite a while now,
mostly we skate and ride bikes. We have a trailer full of gear you
have to keep yourself amused on tour. We always get people coming
up to us though, asking us what wild things we are going to do and
it gets kinda lame after a while.
KJ
What have you been doing to entertain yourselves between albums?
AG
Boarding, camping and enjoying home, we spend so much time on the
road that it's nice to get back home and relax.
KJ
Your music style has taken on a different slant since sophtware
slump, would you say that your music is growing up with you?
AG
Maybe i'm too close to it to notice a difference, I don't feel that
the music itself has changed I think that it's more to do with the
technology being used nowadays. The sound is clearer etc and it's
not as lo-fi as it used to be. All our stuff is written quite consistently.
KJ
What's the first thing that you are going to do when you get back
home?
AG
I'm gonna hang out with my daughter and my kitty cat and do a bit
of camping. I'm looking forward to chilling out a bit i'm working
over a boarding injury at the moment as soon as that's fixed I'll
be a happy little dude.
KJ
Do you have a half pipe in you back garden?
AG
We always used to but now there are so many skate parks that we
just used them. There are like eight really close to my house so
I have no need for my own half pipe anymore.
KJ
What specifications do you have for venues when you tour?
AG
Yeah we have a list, you have to remember that we are away from
home with no fixed place so we need certain things if you don't
ask you don't get. It's usually stuff like diet soda and fruit and
veg.
KJ
So you are quite clean living then?
AG
Yeah we are, we usually specify no candy or cookies it's easy to
make a pig out of yourself. We do sometimes put drugs on the list
though, we don't get them but it's worth a try (laughs).
KJ
How do you feel when you are compared to bands such as Radiohead,
Flaming Lips and Pink Floyd?
AG
They are awesome bands - good ass bands! Its good to be compared
to them, it seems funny as they are all so highly esteemed and there
we are being compared to them.
KJ
So in 5 years time where do you see GRANDADDY?
AG
I have absolutely no fucking idea we could still be going strong
or we could be all done. It's best to never have too much of a plan.
It would be neat to do it for a long time.
KJ
Last but not least, tonight is your last night over here and then
you head home, are you looking forward to tonight and are you having
a big party afterwards?
AG
Yeah i'm looking forward to it, it's a big sell out show and it
should be fun. It's our last show for a while and we're super happy
to be ending it in Dublin. As for a party, well we'll see what happens
it's best never to force it, we have nothing to prove and i'm sure
we'll have some fun.
KJ
Thanks a lot for your time Aaron and good luck for tonight.
AG
It was a pleasure, thanks a lot.
http://www.grandaddylandscape.com/
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