Interview with Broken October
So who the heck is Broken October? They're a Northern California band just trying to make it in this big, crazy world. They were also one of the featured bands on the November 2004 Gamestar CD. We recently had a chance to sit down with them and discuss the state of the world and where they're coming from.
Gamestar: Which band/artist changed your life? How?
Shane: I would have to say Jawbreaker. They made me realize that music can be more than sounds violating your eardrums; it can be your life. Schwarzenbach's lyrics transformed and transcended a genre that struck a chord with me and thousands of other kids who were fed up with being spoon-fed Top 40 music. Their music was, and still is, the most honest thing I've ever heard.
Pete: As cool as it makes me sound, Guns N' Roses. I grew up listening to MC Hammer, Garth Brooks, and Billy Ray Cyrus until I met some new friends in sixth grade who listened to GNR. The first time I heard "Get in the Ring," I thought, "This is awesome. This guy is so pissed off and I don't know why, but I know that I'm not a punk with a bitchy little ass so I'm going to be pissed off too." I bought all the GNR I could get my hands on, and that led to more music like Pearl Jam and Nirvana, and then it exploded from there. So in a way I guess I started at the top of the mainstream and dribbled down through bands until I hit Sub Pop. Sunny Day Real Estate was the first indie CD I ever bought and I listened to it non-stop. Thanks Guns N' F---ing Roses for turning me on to indie music. Axl will always have a place in my heart.
GS: Describe the exact moment you knew you wanted to be a musician.
Guy: After seeing the dueling banjos part in the movie Deliverance.
GS: What pisses you off in the world today?
Pete: When people say stuff like, "You should never eat the eggs at IHOP." To which I say, "Why not?" They respond, "I just heard they do stuff to them." So now I can never eat eggs at IHOP again because some third-party person thinks they do stuff to the eggs. I like eggs. Why do people have to ruin stuff like that? And beef? Why did someone have to feed cattle to cattle? I mean, come on, how smart do you have to be to figure that probably isn't a good idea? Can we just leave the food alone so I can eat without freaking out?
Shane: Our current administration. Never in my life have I been so discontent and frustrated with politics and our nation. It's unbelievable how ignorant some people are. Open your eyes and realize that our future is seriously in jeopardy. If you think your vote doesn't count, then you're obviously not thinking. I'm sure you'll change your mind when you're writing your girlfriend from a ditch in Iraq.
Guy: The new show on TV, "Dance 360." Whoever thought that one up is going to burn in hell.
GS: What video games do you play on the road?
Tim: Madden 2004, MVP 2004, NHL 2004, and all the Resident Evils.
Guy: MVP 2004, Resident Evil, and NCAA Football 2005.
GS: Describe the weirdest show you've ever played.
Pete: This was probably the weirdest for me. We play a Broken OctoberFest every year, and last year's was held at a friend-of-a-friend's apartment in the ghetto of Oakland. Shane, Tim, and I got completely lost in the ghetto trying to find this place. When we finally made it, we had to get our friend to unlock this huge rolling gate that was held shut through a Goonie-esque pulley system. So we make it to the show, we're safe, and everything seems good. Then we can't find our bass player. He has totally vanished in the woods by Shane's house. He won't pick up his phone, his girlfriend is in hysterics, Shane's parents are out on four-wheelers with flashlights looking for him?and nothing. It takes over three hours before we hear anything from him. He said he was right outside and he didn't hear anything. That was all he would say. So he finally makes it and we're all at this apartment that looks like it used to be an auto shop. The front door leads straight into a bedroom with sliding windows looking into the living room/kitchen. We store our stuff in this back room with no windows and wait through the opening two bands. During the opening bands we lose our drummer (who was later found making out with a girl he was not dating) and get yelled at by the guys upstairs for parking in their spot. It was either move the van or take a knife in the stomach. We finally went on around 1:30 a.m. dressed like the Donna's (breasts and all) and opened with "Take It Off." It was a long night; random guys kept grabbing my fake Donnas boobs, our bass player disappeared, and I found out that I look a lot like my mom when I'm wearing a red wig.
GS: What's your signature stage move?
Tim: Wet hair?
