Interview with Straight To Video It’s easy to be a fan of your local music scene when said scene includes a bunch of guys who love Tenacious D, songs about global thermonuclear war, and the classiest car on the block – the IROC-Z. Straight to Video are four guys from Billerica who make some of the funniest, most self-deprecating rock music around. AvoidPeril recently had the opportunity to ask Willie (vocals, guitar), Pat (bass, vocals), Brian (guitar, vocals) and Ray (drums) questions about their favorite albums of 2004, the return of hair metal, and potential titles for songs about boobs. 1. Where is your favorite place to play in Billerica? Willie: “We've never played in Billerica as Straight To Video, but we have played as other bands (The Janet Reno All-Stars and Chezwick) and I would have to say that my favorite venue in Billerica was our friend Laura Leone's living room. We played there as the Janet Reno All-Stars, which was a 9-piece ska band. There wasn't enough room to fit the drums in the living room with the rest of the equipment, so we had to set them up on the adjacent porch. Needless to say, the neighbors didn't the appreciate this given the fact that the drums were outside and the sliding door was open to the rest of the band. This was the best time we ever got broken up by the cops because one of them just stood there in front of the band looking all bad ass with his arms crossed for a while. He stood there for quite some time before we even realized he was there, and everyone just kind of slowly stopped playing one by one.” Ray: “I’d love to play at our old high school’s cafeteria…. during lunch. Just show up guerilla style, and rock out for the kids.” Brian: “Yeah, we’re still waiting for that sweet K of C gig to come in.” 2. Since you guys play a lot locally, who are some of your favorite local bands? Is there any band that you particularly enjoy being on a bill with? Ray: “I’m a fan of Waltham, Favorite Atomic Hero, and Endway. We also like playing with Audrey Can’t Die (who practice right across the hall from us). We’re huge supporters of the local scene, and are so appreciative of other bands. I always try and add the links of bands that we play with to our site.” Pat: “Yeah, the last time we played with Endway was at Evos Arts in Lowell. They played last, and got so drunk before they went on. By the end of their set they were literally playing in nothing but their boxers. It kind of supported the whole rock out with your cock out saying.” Willie: “My favorite local band would have to be Four Way Anal Touchfight. It's two guys —supposedly from Denmark – that write these funny weird songs with titles such as “Powerfinger”, “Super-Danish”, and “Space Ass.” They're so funny but actually kinda cool at the same time. They’re just an all-around great act. The band I most enjoyed playing with is Schleicher. They are fun to watch because they have great songs and can legitimately rock hard while having a great sense of humor.” 3. Have any of the members of Straight to Video ever actually owned an IROC? More importantly, if you wrote a song about the wondrous experience of driving an IROC-Z, what would such a song be called? Willie: “None of us have ever owned one, but WOW is that a great song idea. Is it okay if we actually use that? [‘Of course…I await my cut of the royalty check.’ – Jessica] I think it would be called “I Rock the IROC.” Potential lyrics: Everybody knows when the band's IROC-in' Blast a little Foreigner and panties start droppin' Runnin' over helpless old ladies you'll agree that it’s always fun to kill in the IROC-Z Eh?” Brian: “Uuhhh……. Yea, maybe we’ll let that simmer for a little while.” 4. Which 80’s hair-metal band would you most like to see stage a reunion tour? Why? Willie: “None, really. Watching a hair metal band after they have grown old and sobered up is usually just sad. Tommy Lee of Motley Crue even admitted that they should never make a record while sober when asked about the upcoming reunion tour. The only band that can really pull it off is Iron Maiden, and really the band doesn't pull it off so much as Bruce Dickinson does. He's still running around the stage like crazy and looks bad ass doing it. I saw them like two summers ago and I was in the third row. It was so amazing. Bruce Dickinson was screaming rock at my face.” Ray: “Are there any hair bands that haven’t already gotten together to support whatever greatest hit record they’re putting out because they need to pay for their botox injections? Maybe we should contact Aamer Haleem over at VH1 and see who he’s got slated for the next season of Bands Re-united.” 5. Your online poll regarding the topic of your next song seems tied between “thermonuclear war” and “boobs.” Have you guys decided which direction you are going to take? Any potential song names? Ray: “It’s actually ‘GLOBAL’ thermonuclear war, but yea we’re working on something.” Willie: “Yea, right now the song is about boobs, but I would like to eventually work in global thermonuclear war as well and combine the themes somehow. As it stands, we have a working title of ‘The Mighty Twins of Bosom Born.’ It’s a nod to 80’s metal inspired by bands like Iron Maiden and Dio.” 6. A lot of your influences are older bands – have there been any recent bands that have helped to shape your musical style? Willie: ”I would say our biggest most recent influence is Tenacious D. Most of their influences are older bands as well, so I guess they are really just a transitive way to be further influenced by older bands. Nonetheless, I think we are trying to kind of achieve the same goal as them, which is to poke fun at these older bands but kind of pay homage to them at the same time. We try to make our songs funny but actually kinda awesome as well.” Pat: “The Darkness is also a big recent influence, but really they might as well just have stepped out of 1982. When you think about it, they're kind of like a reunion tour for an 80's hair metal band that never existed.” Brian: “Avril Lavigne is also a major influence on us lyrically. “He was a boy, she was a girl!!!” No Avril, you couldn’t make it any more obvious.” 7. What are some of your favorite records from 2004? All: “Beastie Boys – To the Five Boroughs.” Willie: “They never cease to amaze me. Every album they have released is just absolute gold, and this is no exception. “You gotta party for your right to fight” ... come on, how awesome is it that you can reference one of your own songs from like 20 years ago while still being bad-ass in the present.” Ray: “Yea, I hope we’re still that cool when WE have gray hair.” Willie: “I also was a big fan of Air – Talkie Walkie. Picture a bunch of lanky French guys sitting around in a room smoking cigarettes and being generally arrogant.” Brian: “The Streets – A Grand Don't Come for Free. This is one of those albums that you listen to at first and you're kinda like, “Is this for real?” But then a few days later you find yourself getting the songs stuck in your head and you have to go back and listen to them and they become more awesome. Also, the album gets bonus points for being a concept album that is the exact opposite of crappy. I’d also add Dresden Dolls – Self Titled to my list. I’m pretty sure Amanda Palmer barks on that album. She scares me.” Ray: “I’d definitely put Butch Walker – Letters on my list. He’s one of the most underrated songwriters out there. He’s also producing for about 1,203,456 bands a year it seems. I’d love to have him produce some of our stuff. Butch Walker, or Dave Grohl who is my freakin’ idol. Also on my list I would add Reeve Oliver – Self Titled. These guys absolutely nail the pop-rock genre.” Pat: “Van Halen – 1984.” 8. What is the number one reason why people should go see Straight to Video? Willie: “You will get laid.” -- 02/10/05 |
