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This was supposed to be an in person interview with Love Equals Death, but I got sick at their show (my friend later told me that they were really good), and left. Instead, the questions were answered via Email by bassist, Dominic Davl. Their album, Nightmerica, has really grown on me over the past few months, and they are a band with a great future ahead of them.
1. State something interesting about yourself.
I am a nerd. I love Dinosaurs and Ancient History. I tend to jump a lot when I play.
2. Do you worry about crowds when headlining tours?
Of course. You want to do well, you want to prove yourself to everyone...especially to yourself.
When you headline a tour there is a lot more pressure to deliver and show that you can carry the show and draw people. Its the key to moving forward and getting better tours. In the end though, all you can do is what you can do....you have to be patient and realize, especially in our case, we are a new band and still coming up. That said, this last tour has exceeded expectations and we are very excited about it. There have been some areas that have been stronger then others...but its growing and that's exciting.
3. What was it about your previous bands that frustrated you?
That pretty much is the key to our name. Our love of music will equal the death of us. All of us were hurt by our past bands because we had all put so much of ourselves into it, only to have it (for various reasons) backfire on us. Not to overstate it, but it can be tremendously heartbreaking. Yet...here we are. Again. Together. What can you say about that other then either we are fools or we love it? Probably both.
For me, Tsunami Bomb got to a point where the others in the band burned out on what we were, and wanted to continue for the success of the project rather then the love for the music and the band itself. It was hard for me, because all of them had reached a unified state of mind on where they wanted the direction of the band, and I found myself standing alone. I let them continue and it was hard, to suddenly be on the outside after all the songs I wrote, and all the work I had done, but I found a place that I am much happier and was able to focus on making music that I love in a band that feels the way I feel about music and the direction. I know it didn't end up working for them, but they have continued to do music in new bands so I wish them luck.
4. Do you think that your previous bands helped Love Equals Death get on some good shows early on?
In a way...the Tsunami Bomb connection helped because of how much touring I had done in Tsunami Bomb. So for the first few tours and on our first EP release (because it was a small label) they used that as a reference...but in the end a band has to stand on its own. If we couldn't stand on our own merits we would have never even come this far. It's nice when Tsunami Bomb fans give Love Equals Death a chance, for the most part they seem to be getting into it. Which makes me feel good of course....but we don't see any more Tsunami Bomb references with Love Equals Death now, and that just makes me feel even better. It means we are making our own legacy.
5. Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart?
That's a tough one. I'll roll with Stewart. I think his humor matches our onstage banter more. We are a sarcastic bunch...beware. If we're in the mood, we will make fun of anything.
6. Whats one movie everyone should see?
I love movies and collect them, so that's a hard one. CITY OF GOD was an impressive work. If you don't want to read subtitles then you should watch REAR WINDOW by Alfred Hitchcock. It's a fantastic movie.
7. Whats a little known fact about Bay Area Punk Rock?
It's one of the strongest scenes I have ever encountered in all my travels. It will probably never die. As long as their are kids picking up guitars, and venues like The Phoenix Theater and Gilman St....there will be amazing Bay Area Punk Rock bands being born.
8. Name one album, besides your own, that you think all people should have
in their collection.
Anything by The Clash, The Cure, or Johnny Cash. Take your pick.
9. Anything else you'd like to add at the ending.
Look for us live. You don't know us until you see us live. We'll play with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Short of that...visit us on our site at http://www.loveequalsdeath.com or our myspace....drop us a line. We'll be there.
