200 North
Virus: Tell me about recording Watching the World Die.
Brian: It was cool, we finally had someone to tell us when things weren't good. Eric Klinger. He was brutally honest. So that was nice for a change, plus we respected his opinion because he knows what he's talking about.
Virus: Did he produce the album?
Brian: Yes.
Virus: How long did recording take?
Brian: About 5 days, which is long for us.
Virus: How did you hook up with Da-Core?
Brian: We met Eric Corbin in like 96 when we were in punk bands. He is originally from our area so he would pop in now and then. When he found out about 200 North he wanted to sign us on the spot but we were working with Eulogy. After our album on Eulogy we wanted to work with him.
Virus: Moving around must take it's toll, how do you adjust?
Brian: We just go with whatever happens.
Virus: The 200 North bio mentions you learned a lot in Florida, what kind of things did you have to go through to learn what you needed?
Brian: We were a very small fish in a very huge pond. We shared practice place with Poison The Well, Until The End, Forever and a Day. Those bands are amazing. We looked like little kids compared to those guys. So we had to be on the ball. Plus everyone was really helpful. They taught us how to present ourselves and tour and book. All the stuff you learn on your own. We had people there that had been through it a hundred times. So it helped.
Virus: What are your plans for the summer, doing any promo for the new album?
Brian: I'm trying to book everything I can but it's hard sometimes. I would like to tour all summer, but mainly I just have weekend tours booked which keeps the band strong.
Virus: Where have been your favorite places to tour?
Brian: Louisville KY is always great for us. Small towns are awesome because they are sincere there are no trends they're just happy you're there.
Virus: So going back to Da-Core for a sec, would you rather stay with them, or move onto a larger label?
Brian: I would love to go bigger, but they give us a lot of support. And thats all we ever really wanted.
Virus: How do you feel about arguments regarding 'keeping it DIY'?
Brian: I think that term is impossible to use correctly. Like when it comes from labels.
Virus: Why is that?
Brian: There's nothing DIY about this business anymore. Everything is getting too big. If you're a local band and you're DIY, I support you 100%. But I don't want Victory, Revelation, Equal Vision, Da Core, telling me about DIY. There's too much money going around right now. And I always run into bands that know that and that hurts that they're looking to get signed and make money. I support DIY, but I rarely find it.
-=Totally random question that turned up an interesting answer=-
Virus: What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you on tour?Brian: Some girl told me the other week that she was positive that no one at this particular show we were playing, liked my band except her, and that it was alright for her to like 200 North because she's a girl. She exited by saying, 'I'll probably get beat up for buying your CD'. I laughed.
Virus: Where the hell do you find people like that?
Brian: Everywhere.
Virus: What is your most played CD?
Brian: Right now it's The Posies. They were a band from Seattle in the late 80's. They played power pop. I love music with hooks. The Beatles, Oasis, Smash Mouth, Stevie Wonder. I grew up on stuff like that and I understand it. People pass off popular music, but if you look at it well enough you can spot the fakes from the real deal. Well at least I can. I like to look at music in depth.
-=Question I always ask because I always want to know=-
Virus: 200 North exist because...Brian: ...of the people who support us. I would have quit a long time ago if it wasn't for people e-mailing me and saying that I need to play their town, or that a song I wrote in my bedroom means so much to them. Otherwise I would have moved on. When I was listening to bands and I got the chance to meet them in person, I found that a good majority of them were dicks, and they weren't grateful for anything. I make it a point to never be like that. When I become insincere I'll quit.
