HEAD 2 HEAD WITH BRAND NEW

Music Head interviewed Jesse Lacey, vocals and guitar for Brand New, after their show at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia on April 29th, 2003. Our interview was originally scheduled for before the show but an impromptu meeting with A&R reps  from Island Records caused a change in plans. The guys played their set, consisting of tracks off Your Favorite Weapon and several new songs, as little kids wearing Brand New T-shirts and record label executives loomed in the back. After the show the members of Brand New met with their fans outside.  Once the fans had all dispersed we walked downstairs with Jesse and discussed sushi, record labels, the new album and success.

Music Head (MH): What’s going on? What have you been up to?

Jesse Lacey (JL): Mostly touring I guess. We just got done recording the record and we were over in England with Finch for a while. We got a week off before we started this tour. This is really our first full-on headlining tour and it’s sold out; it’s sold out like every night. We’re so excited about it.

MH: How’s the sushi here?

JL: It was actually really good. We went to this totally posh place. We walked in. We (had) just woken up in the van. We were all raggedy and everyone was all good looking and like staring at us like, ‘Who are these little punks coming into the sushi restaurant?' We like to dine sushi all over the country, so that restaurant’s pretty good, I gotta say.

MH: I heard you guys had a meeting with a label today.  Is that true?

JL: Yeah, we’ve been doing that. Well, technically speaking we’re an unsigned band right now, so labels are allowed to talk to us. It’s kind of been like a riot. 

MH: How did the meeting go?

JL: It went well. One thing I have to say about the record industry and especially a lot of the major labels lately (is) no matter who you meet with they’re going to be giving you a line. They want money from you basically. They want to sign you and they want to make money. That’s business. But the people we’ve been meeting with have been really great. They know about our band; they follow our band; they’re fans of our band. And that’s important to us. A lot of these people aren’t as cutthroat and monstrous as people make them out to be.

MH: So it’s not as evil?

JL: No. I mean, when they’re lying they might be, but a lot of the people in the industry right now came from the same place that we came from. They grew up in the underground scene listening to underground music, so now that they’re working for major labels they still have their fingers on the pulse of the scene. That’s encouraging because it’s good to know that someone is paying attention, I guess.

MH: Can you mention any of the labels that have been looking at you?

JL: You name it really. To tell you the truth.

MH: Pretty much all the majors?

JL: Yeah. It’s cool though. I got to meet a lot of people. I’ve hung out with Matt Pinfield like five or six times in the last two weeks and that’s cool. We were hanging out with him in the city and I was talking to him and came to the realization that I’ve been listening to Matt Pinfield’s radio show for a long time. Like back in high school and stuff. My manager brought to my attention that he kind of influenced you to be playing the music you’re playing right now. And I was like, ‘Yeah, a little bit.’ He’s just a cool guy. He knows everything there is to know about every band in the entire world; in the universe. (To Vinnie): Do you want to sit down?

Vinnie Accardi (VA): Um, yeah I’ll sit.

JL: Okay. You don’t have to.

VA: But I’m not going to have anything to do with this.

MH: Are there any labels that you may want to sign with on your mind right now?

JL: I’m not going to say. You know what, to tell you the truth, we’re really not far along enough even in our own minds to really know. We just handed over those masters. This is kind of a new thing and the first thing you really want to do at this stage is really develop a personal relationship with the people at the label so you get to know them; really get to know if they’re bullshitting you or not. It’s kind of like a judge of character thing. It’s personality over offer.

MH: So you don’t really want to rush into it then?

JL: Of course not. I don’t think anyone does. So many bands have been going that way like Thrice, Recover, Saves The Day, Dashboard just went to Epic I think.

VA: Really?

JL: Yeah.  By the way.

VA: I didn’t even know.

JL: Yeah, cha’ching by the way.

VA: What are you gonna do?

JL: And so, I hope those bands made the right decision because I know those guys and I wish them the best. I hope we make the right one too because it’s either going to make or break you. Signing to the wrong label could kill you.

MH: Are you thinking you may sign in a year from now?

JL: I don’t really know. It could happen in a week or it could happen in a year. It’s nice being in the position that we are because we have great fans. So many kids come out to see our shows and so many kids listen to our record every day and we don’t even have a record label right now technically speaking. The one that we do have, the one we’re associated with, Triple Crown, I couldn’t ask for a better guy. Fred Feldman who owns that label is like our dad basically. Our best friend in the world, so we kind of like where we are.  We’re not rushing into anything.

MH: You don’t think Triple Crown would be able to handle it?

JL: No. Well, we got to turn this into something that we can do for a living and Fred can’t do that and he knows that. That was actually one of the reasons that he signed us for such a short deal. He only gives bands two records or three records and they’re welcome to do whatever they want with it. But two records is a really good chance for you to get yourself off the ground and then who knows, but like he lets you go.  He lets the baby out of the nest so to speak and that’s it.

MH: During your set you mentioned the Skate and Surf Fest. How was that?

JL: The show was great. We spent a lot of the morning doing press. A lot of England press because we’re going over there soon. We had met a lot of the people while we were over there last time with Finch, so it was kind of like a little reunion with a lot of those people. And seeing all of those bands over there. Like just waking up in the morning and walking out and Midtown was unloading and Starting Line just showed up and all the guys we’re on tour with right now like The Fight and A Static Lullaby were there. It’s a good time.  You get to say, ‘Hey,’ to everyone and shoot the shit and talk about nothing or talk about something and it’s cool. So that day was great weather. The sun was shining. Good bands were playing. I saw this band called ,I’ve been talking about them nonstop because I just like them, this band called, Against Me. They played the last spot on the small stage and they blew me away. I just happened to be walking through and going to the hotel and I saw them playing and they were amazing. They were like this awesome drinking music; a hardcore band. It was cool.

MH: What has been your favorite show to play  so far?

JL: This tour has been full of them to tell you the truth. We’ve had some good shows, but lately on this tour (it’s been) a lot of fun. Like tonight was, seriously every second of tonight, I couldn’t get enough of it. I was eating it up, but home is always great too. Last time we played New York it was just packed out. All our family was there and that’s a great feeling in itself. And Sunday (Skate and Surf Fest) was pretty sick.  Sunday was probably the most fans we’ve ever had in one area. When that happens you don’t even know what’s going on. You’re out of your mind on stage because you don’t believe it. You feel like you’re just doing sprints up and down the stage. The songs go by so fast because you’re just totally overwhelmed by how many people are singing and how many people are there and how big the place is. It was cool.

MH: How did recording go for your new album?

JL: It went really well to tell you the truth. (Vinnie leaves.) Take care Vin. It went really, really well. We recorded in a place called Reflection Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was great. It was great and it was horrible to tell you the truth. There were some bad moments and I think that has to be expected whenever you’re recording a record or doing anything. You got to take the bad with the good. But it was nice that we were able to take some time off, stay in one spot, separate ourselves from everything going on in our lives (and) go down to North Carolina and just concentrate on recording the record. I don’t know. I’m a little skeptical of the way it turned out to tell you the truth. We’re very critical of ourselves, so that’s to be expected. We gave it to our friends. Their opinion means a lot to me so to speak; it means everything to me really. So when I do something I give it to them and I know they’re going to be truthful with me and tell me what they think of it. That’s what I really count on. Everyone really enjoys it, so I really hope that everyone else does. You know, all the kids. It comes out June 17th, I think.

MH: I heard the first single and it struck me as something a little different. It’s not like the other Brand New material out there.

JL: Yeah, and I have to tell you the truth. The songs on the record are even a lot more different than that song. I think we put that one up first because it was kind of easing people into what was going to happen.  I’m not saying it’s that much different because I listen to it and I hear Brand New, but we were over our first record right after we recorded it. It was like we love pop songs man. We write pop songs and we’re always going to. That’s the kind of music we play. But the songs we had written for that, it just kind of felt like after we were done with it, we were done with it. It was like we had gotten that out of us and we wanted to do something more. And like me, being content with the songs that we just put on this record, on Deja Entendu, I don’t think that’s going to last much more than a couple months for me and I’m going to be itching to get on with something else. I’ll tell everyone right now, don’t expect the same thing from us ever over and over again because it’s not going to happen. I don’t understand how a band could put out the same record twice. I really don’t understand it. I feel like that would be cheating ourselves and everyone else who’s buying it and that’s not fair to anyone. I look at a band like U2 or like The Chili Peppers or even bands like Get Up Kids and Saves The Day. Whether you like it or not you got to respect those bands because they were constantly changing; constantly trying to do something better. That’s why bands like that last. If U2 had put out three Joshua Trees in a row, yeah it would have been cool, but so what? Then what?  You know, but they didn’t. They put out that Achtung Baby and that was sick. It was like totally weird and then they went on and did all that stuff on the new record. (It's) just amazing and we respect that and we’re going to try to do it. If it fails then we weren’t cut out for it, I guess.

MH: What do you attribute the changes on the new record to?

JL: I would say it has to do with a combination of everything. I mean first of all the experiences that have gone on in our lives. New things happen so you feel different things about your life. You age physically. You grow up and start looking at the world a different way and your life a different way, about what you’re doing a different way and also your tastes mature. You stop listening to certain things. You start listening to new things or you start realizing that the things you used to listen to when you were a kid are a lot better than the things you got into as a teenager and it’s like you kind of come full circle. Especially Vinnie. Vinnie was like 17 when he joined the band and now he’s 20 or 19 and so many things happen in your life in those three years and he did it all on the road with us. Those last three years. And to tell you how much he’s changed, I couldn’t even describe it. I couldn’t even begin to tell you. And that’s amazing to see someone like that change personally and then the group change as well and him in the context of the band. That’s why it weirds me out when a band puts out two of the same record. Because you didn’t grow up at all or nothing changed in your life? Everything’s the same as it was two years ago? It doesn’t make any sense to me. I think it goes the same for the people who are listening to us. They’re going to grow up and hopefully they’ll grow up with the music and that’s why they’ll want to keep listening I guess. At least that’s what I’m hoping for.

MH: How would you describe the music on the new record?

JL: Someone said it was sadder. My friend Dave, he’s in Orange Island, and he was one of the first people to hear the whole record. They’re great because they can’t get over it and that’s cool. Like they just listen to it non-stop and that makes me feel good. A lot of people go, ‘I can’t believe it’s Brand New,’ and I don’t know what that means. That scares me. And they say, ‘but it’s not in a bad way,’ they say, ‘it’s in a good way.’ Then everyone else says it’s sadder and I don’t know what that means. I think lyrically I’d have to say that it’s a little more sad and it’s a lot more honest. The last record was honest, but when you’re writing something like, ‘home on a Saturday night,’ yeah, it doesn’t really get it and like I got it a little more on this record. I didn’t get it all the way, but I got it more. I know that’s very vague, but that’s how we feel about it. Like we don’t got it yet, but we’re getting it and that’s all. The harder parts are harder and the slower parts are slower.

On Deja Entendu:  "I think lyrically I’d have to say that it’s a little more sad and it’s a lot more honest."

MH: Do you have a favorite track off of the new album?

JL: Yeah, actually the last track on it is called, “Play Crack The Sky,” and I recorded it actually about three weeks after we got out of the studio. We went to England and I came back and I had another song and I really wanted to put it on the record, so I went to my friend’s studio around the block from me and I laid it down and it’s my favorite song I’ve ever written in my life. When I listen to it, I can listen to it objectively, it feels like what I was feeling when I wrote it. I think that’s all you can really ask for a song when you’re writing it. It’s definitely my favorite one.

MH: Can we be expecting a video any time soon?

JL: Yeah, actually me and my manager, Tom, actually just wrote up a script for one that we’re going to try to shoot in May. It’s called, “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows,” and if it turns out how I wrote it, it’s going to be a cool video. I got to admit. When we wrote it we were just sitting in his office and started off with an idea and he would write a bit and then he would stand up and I would sit down. I would write a little bit more and I would stand up and he would sit down. After it was all done we put the song on and we kind of read it while we were listening to the song and I got some chills picturing it. So hopefully the director, we haven’t picked a director yet, hopefully he will be able to convey (it). I got to admit I’m really into (it). I mean a band is music and when you get right down to it that’s all they have to be, but I’m really interested in other things. I’m interested in movies and film and art and stuff like that. We haven’t been able to expand on that very much as a band and now that we’re getting an opportunity to do something a little more in depth that excites me. So hopefully this video turns out the way I want it to. 

MH: You just told me you are shooting a video, but I don’t know what it's about.

JL: I can’t tell you because it’s a secret ending. That’s why.

MH: You mentioned a desire to express your artistic interests in other ways. What are some things you are considering?

JL: Yeah. When I was in high school I used to do stupid video edits. I would hook-up two VCRs or three VCRs and do film edits for the basketball team and stuff like that because I was always just into doing that.  (I) took Photo in college and still do it a little bit. Actually, I bought the illest camera two days ago. Oh my god, it cost me so much money, but it’s my favorite thing in the world and I’ve just been walking around (with it). I slept with it this morning on the van and Indy (Brand New’s road manager) kept trying to grab it and slide it out of my hand and I would like freak out about it. It’s so good though. I haven’t spent money on something like that in a while and I’m glad I got to. But yeah, I like all that stuff. I watch movies nonstop.  When I get home I just sit on the couch and watch movies with my brothers and sisters. So yeah, did that answer the question? On that topic though, I just got to see the artwork for the record.

MH: How does it look?

JL: I’m so blown away by it. I love it. I’m freaking out about it. It looks so good. I’m so excited for it. That’s what I mean. The visual stuff. When a band gives you everything; when they give you a cool looking website and a great looking package and a good sounding record and a great show that’s great. We care about the audience. We care about the people buying our records. I was really upset about the first record and the way things like that turned out. We’re trying a little harder to be up on it now.

MH: Can you give us an idea on what the artwork will look like?

JL: Yeah. This guy, Don, at Asterisk Studios, you can actually go to asteriskstudios.com. It’s just this beautiful layout. It’s got this guy ,actually I don’t know if it’s a guy because it’s just this space suit, and it depicts the space suit in different scenarios like over water, in a wheat field, in space and on this mountain range. The colors are so vibrant and it’s so sharp looking. We’re going to try to do some limited edition lithographs for the live shows and some huge, giant, twenty-foot posters and stuff like that. I like it though.  I’m like, ‘Yeah, lithograph.' I love that word.

MH: For all the kids who have bands out there, what would be your advice to them on how to be successful?

JL: Well, I know one of the major things with us – it’s kind of an unspoken thing and I’m glad about it because I respect the guys in my band so much - but it’s like really respect for other people and your band.  In previous bands, you know I used to be in a band with Brian and Garrett and Brandon from The Movielife and they’ve been in other bands with each other and I’ve been in other bands with them and other people, and a lot of times when those bands didn’t last it was because someone else would get on someone else’s nerves or someone would do something that someone else didn’t like. When you’re in a van with four guys three hundred days out of the year that’s going to happen. They’re going to eventually do something that you don’t like and ,you know what, that’s not their problem that’s your problem. You got to deal with that and you really got to put the person’s feelings before the band because that matters. So when we’re at home and we’re playing this tour and someone says, ‘I can’t go out that week. I have to be home. I have to see my family,’ that’s it. No discussion. We’re not going. Because if we go and that person doesn’t want to be there and they’re on stage every night and are hating it, the band’s not going to play well and no one’s going to be happy and we don’t want that. We want it to be fun and we want this to be our life and we want to enjoy it. So that and we just stay out of each other’s way for the most part. You can be sitting next to someone and they can be yelling at their girlfriend and you can stay out of their business. That’s really important. You don’t have to get into it with them. And just keep playing. Keep playing and playing and playing. Not necessarily practicing because we don’t ever practice. It’s so bad. That’s horrible. I shouldn’t tell anyone that, but we don’t practice, but just keep playing. Keep finding shows to play and keep playing out of state. Because when you start a band you’re going to find hundreds and hundreds of people that hate you. That don’t like you. They don’t want to listen to you. They don’t want to have anything to do with you, but eventually you’re going to find people that do like you and those people tell other people that will like you and eventually everywhere you go there will be someone who is dying to listen to you and that’s what being in a band is all about. So that’s all.

MH: Name 5 albums that you are currently listening to?

JL: What am I listening to. I really got to think about it because I always get stuck on this question. I’m probably listening to the last Sigur Ros record and Ten Summoner’s Tales by Sting I bought the other day. It’s like one of my dad’s favorite records and I’ve always been into it, but I never owned it. The Faint remix record that just came out. Jersey’s Best Dancers by Lifetime is like always in my CD player. Sea Change by Beck, the last Beck record or Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen. I actually do that, where I’ll take six CDs out with me on the road instead of taking my whole collection and just try to concentrate on listening to those because I get so scattered when I start listening to music. So I really like to concentrate on what I’m listening to. I’ll listen to Sigur Ros’ record thirty times in a week just over and over and over again because I don’t get sick of it. It’s just beautiful. Then when you go to a record that you haven’t listened to in a while and you put it back on, you haven’t heard it in a year and you’re like, ‘Oh my god.’ Like Can’t Slow Down by Saves The Day. Every time I put that record back on I’m like, ‘Oh my god.’ You know, it feels like I’m nineteen or whatever and I was hearing that record and that’s cool. I like that record a lot. And so that’s what I try to do. Listen to them for a period of time and then put them aside and listen to something else and then listen to them again. That way you don’t get too sick of everything and you get to appreciate everything.

MH: Are you looking forward to going over to the United Kingdom?

JL: Yeah, we’re doing Scotland and the UK. We just got back from there with Finch. It was totally off the hook. So many kids were there for us. So many more kids were there for Finch. It was just an unbelievable time. Everyone was drunk all the time. I don’t even mean the bands. I mean the kids. Like (at) 11am kids are drinking. They’re like twelve years old. They don’t care. Drinking – it’s the thing to do over there. It’s awesome. I mean it’s bad. It’s bad. Don’t drink. But yeah, I can’t wait to get back over there. Hopefully we’re going to get to Japan and Australia later in the fall. I can’t even talk about that. That’s going to leave me speechless. Everyone says it’s just the experience of a lifetime being over there. Fans make you presents and stuff. They can’t talk to you at all. They don’t know a word of English, but they love your band.

MH: What’s your one goal for the band for the future?

JL: Honestly, we have surpassed every goal we really set for ourselves in the first place. Just the fact that we’ve been a band for two or three years now and have gotten as far as we can or as far as we have, you know on an indie label with limited funds. You know, really working hard. That means a lot to me and I’m really proud of the guys in the band and really thankful for the team we have behind us. Our label and the manager we just signed, they help us out a lot. But I think the whole point of this is to really make good records and write good songs so when it’s over – because it’s going to be over – and it could be over soon and it could be over years from now. But eventually it’s going to end and we’re not going to be in a band anymore. We’re going to have different lives. For that to happen and for someone to pull our record out in ten years and listen to it and be like, ‘Man, that’s a good record,’ and still love it. That’s all I could ask for from anyone. That we’re remembered. That sounds kind of like, I don’t know, maybe selfish or egotistical that like we want to be immortalized, but you know, we do. I want to be remembered and this is our way of leaving our mark. We’re trying to write songs that mean something to people and that are always going to mean something to people. That’s it.

MH: Is there anything else you’d like to add or comment on? 

JL: No man. I mean the tour has been great. Thanks so much to all the kids that have been coming out.  Like you guys especially. You guys don’t know, but this is great. Press and people wanting to interview you.  Three years ago if someone was going to tell me I would be doing three interviews a day, that people want to talk to me and record it, yeah. So thank you.

Thank you too, Jesse. Also, special thanks to Indy, Brand New's road manager, for making sure the interview went down.  Be sure to pick up a copy of the new disc from Brand New, titled Deja Entendu, which will be out on June 17th. Brand New will be on tour all summer and will join The Warped Tour beginning July 23rd.  -Todd Wojtowicz