Interview taken by Paul
it must be hard to have some free time on your hands. So thanks again for
this opportunity. My name is Paul and I am from Useless Ideals. I will be
interviewing you.
Hi. I'm Bob.
Paul: First of all, I would like to say that your music is freaking good and
the fact that barely anyone knows of your existence is pathetic.
(No offense of course, its just that you're new) So, I am
hoping that this interview will give others and myself a better look at the
geniuses of this intense music.
Thanks.
Paul: The first usual question that I have for all the bands I interview is
how did you get the name Hey Mercedes. Also, what was the reason for the
last name Braid?
Hey Mercedes: We chose Hey Mercedes after a long and gruesome ordeal. For
months, we went back and forth on band names and no one could agree on just
one. Hey Mercedes was a mish-mosh of 2 different name ideas, so we just ran
with it. It was pretty much the same way with Braid. I just came to a
practice one day and said "Hey, let's call the band Braid", and everyone
said OK. Not very exciting, so I like to say that HM was named after the
movie License to Drive and Braid was named after a British hypnotist.
Paul: With the great guitar, the awesome vocals, and the mean drumming, you
certainly know how to rock! Has anyone ever insulted you up on stage? I know
you opened for hard metal bands before, and your music isn't what I would
consider metal, so maybe at those shows someone thought you might not have
been good enough for the opening act.
Hey Mercedes: We haven't played any metal shows. However, we are friends
with the band Kittie. They wouldn't dare heckle us, though, if they know
what's good for em!
Paul: "I spent the last three months/In mental traction/Woeing all I could
forsee/I slept myself free and/Cursed at all awake/The medicine I'd take."
Your lyrics are very deep and show that you put deep thought and you are
very sincere in what you write. When you write your music what mood do you
find yourself in? I love emo and I have a few songs myself, but it seems
when I am writing these songs I've learned to focus my thoughts only around
the song and I haven't brought myself to express it throughout my day. So, I
guess what I am asking is when you write your songs, is it a mood that has
held you for awhile or is it looking back on something then releasing it
when you are done?
Hey Mercedes: I write lyrics all the time. I constantly have notebooks
going, on tour and at home. Most of it's just journal type stuff, but it
comes in real handy when it comes time to put lyrics into songs. I wrote
most of the "Eleven to Your Seven" lyrics just after Braid broke up and I
was living alone. When the time came to put in the lyrics, it became more of
a "looking back" kind of thing.
Paul: You have been on tour for a while now with Saves The Day and Thursday.
The music from those two bands is extraordinary and the vocals are great.
Are they as cool in person as they are in their music? What bands have you
toured with or opened for that have had a bad attitude or didn't really care
to much about Hey Mercedes?
Hey Mercedes: They're all amazing people. We've been lucky in that all of
the bands we've toured with have become quick friends. If we weren't friends
with a band in some form, we wouldn't go on tour with them.
Paul: When you were growing up what bands caught your intention and had the
greatest affect on how you played your music?
Hey Mercedes: The summer before my freshman year of high school, I saw this
local band, Target, that seriously amazed me. They played music I had never
heard before and were so energetic and very approachable. They were the ones
that made me feel like I could (and should) start a band.
Paul: Where did you turn to for support in your music career and who gave
you the least support that was closest to you, if any?
Hey Mercedes: The people that gave the least support gradually got weeded
out of the equation. The way I saw it, if you were going to try and convince
me not to play music, than we just couldn't be friends... As for those who
supported me, there were tons. Mostly friends and other bands that I talked
to. My parents were cool with it as long as I finished school.
Paul: Explain to me the places you would hang out back in the day, when you
were in high school and were any of you friends back then?
Hey Mercedes: I met all the people I play with now when I was in college.
In high school, some friends and I just played shows in our friends'
basements, drank a lot, and generally acted stupid. We frequented the local
Denny's to torment the wait staff.
Paul: What were the last four bands you have listened to or what are the CDs
that hover over your CD player everyday?
Hey Mercedes: We're digging the new Strokes album, Pete Yorn, Pele, Aphex
Twin. And I constantly rock my personal Ron Sexsmith greatest hits CD.
Paul: I know that back in August you put out "Everynight Fire Works", are
you thinking of recording a new album soon or what about a live album? I
recently listened to No Use For A Name's live album and it kicks! Maybe you
can put out something even better. I'm sure it would sell.
Hey Mercedes: Actually, the album came out in October and we hope to record
something new at the end of summer next year. And there are currently no
plans for a live album. Personally, I don't like live albums that much.
Although I was a fan of Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhodes Tribute.
Paul: Have you guys ever come to Hawaii before? Hopefully, maybe after or in
your tour you can come down here. A few of my friends are thinking of having
a backyard show. I am trying for Homegrown, some local bands, and some
others. I will e-mail you with info to see if you wanna be a part. Maybe
after your tour is over.
Hey Mercedes: We haven't gone, but Braid played a few shows there on the
way back from Japan. Hopefully we'll do the same once HM gets to Japan. And
we'll only play your backyard if you can guarantee a hot veggie burger / not
dog grilling party.
Paul: Thanks for the interview! I will keep you informed on people that will
ask about your band and will give them the info I have and your e-mail
address! It has been fun!
Woohoo.
