In case you're not familiar, Washington Square Park is a Pop Punk/Punk band from New Jersey also taken under the wing of Jesse Cannon (Man Overboard, Transit). Earlier in the year the band released a free 3-song EP and also re-released their self-titled full-length on vinyl through Animal Style Records. We hope you enjoy our interview with Max and Brian, which we conducted before Late Nite Wars had announced that they'd be breaking up.
Can you start off by introducing yourselves?
Max: We're Max [singer/guitarist] and Brian [bassist, not much else].
So bring us up to speed - what was the inception of the band like? When and how did the band get together?
Max: I started writing songs a long time ago, then I left my old band so I started to focus on this full time. I got my high school classmate Keith to play lead guitar and that's pretty much our history.
Brian: Max found me while I was a male hooker living in the gutter of 42nd street and taught me bass.
Now, you guys are getting ready to go out on your first full US tour with Late Nite Wars, tell me, how do you feel about the band right now?
Brian: Well Late Nite Wars dropped off the tour so now it's just us but it still rules, we're really happy to be out here. The band is doing great, morale is high as fuck, and things are only going to get better.
What are you looking forward to the most about this tour? Which states are you the most excited for?
Max: We're looking forward meeting a ton of people in cities, gaining a new perspective on the band and life in general.
Brian: I'm looking forward to California and medical marijuana.
Aside from the cover song for the Alkaline Trio tribute CD you guys are part of, have you been working on any new music since the Simple With No Explanation EP?
Max: Yes we have a lot of new music, we recorded a 7" in May, it will be released in the fall.
Brian: We've also started writing for a full-length that we'd like to have out by Spring 2012.
Speaking of, how stoked were you to hear that you'd be on the Pacific Ridge Records tribute to Alkaline Trio? How did you get involved with this?
Brian: Really stoked, there's a lot of good bands on that comp and we all like Alkaline Trio. Pacific Ridge hit up Jesse Cannon about it and we jumped on it, we wanted to record a song off Goddamnit since it's all of ours favorite ALK3 record so we went with Cop.
Your sound evolved a noticeable amount from your self-titled full-length to the EP. What would you say this was mostly due to? How has it been working with Jesse Cannon?
Max: It's just a natural progression of our band, nothing we ever consciously planned.
Brian: Jesse has been awesome, the recording environment with him and Mike is really funny and positive.
Are there specific or multiple themes that your lyrics generally revolve around? What are some of the band's lesser-known influences when writing music?
Max: My lyrics revolve around the up and down swing of human emotion.
Brian: That's some serious hippie shit dude.
On a similar note, your full-length was re-released on vinyl earlier this year through Animal Style Records. Did the label approach you or was this something you were aiming for?
Brian: Both, it was a mutual love affair. Matt is sexy as fuck and wanted to release our album and we always wanted to release it on vinyl but didn't have the money.
While in the band, what've been some of your more memorable moments?
Brian: Getting banned from a venue in Kentucky for making fun of Jesus and destroying our instruments was definitely a highlight.
Thanks for your time, really. Would you like to add anything else?
Brian. You're welcome!
Max: Read our zine, Horse Feast!
Keith: 8========D O;
Exclusive: Life On The Sideline EP announcement, music video premiere
Since releasing Honesty Is A Dying Breed two years ago, Life On The Sideline has remained active on the road and is now ready to unveil its upcoming EP, Never Settle. To kick things off, we're premiering the music video for the band's new single, "Echo", which tells the sad story of a young girl reminiscing times spent with her deceased partner. While not a pop punk song per se, it's as catchy as one with an infectious chorus that you'll inevitably get stuck in your head. The band's sound could be compared to that of Transit's and The Early November's. Fans can pre-order the EP on iTunes and CD here, before it's released on June 7th. […]
