Interviews: Halfwayhome
We shot over a quick e-mail to the fellows in California's best export--Halfwayhome--and talked to Chas. He likes watermelons, the Olsen twins, and long walks on the beach.
Smother: So how did you guys first get together and start writing such kick ass music?
Chas: We all met about 2 and a half years ago and started the band in Orange County, CA. Our main goal was to just write solid music and tour as much as we could on our own. After a couple years of doing just that we finally have some help from The Death Scene! Oh and I'm glad you think we write kick ass music...thanks!
Smother: What I like most about your album is that each song has this one unique niche whether it's a breakdown or a little nifty melody. Were those pieces things you added yourself or did the producer start you guys down that road?
Chas: Actually, we produced the album completely on our own so every breakdown or melody or riff or anything at all was crafted in the songwriting process.
Smother: What's been the most memorable experience since the band started?
Chas: About a year ago we did a month long tour in Europe and the entire experience was just amazing. I could go on for days about the time we had over there...we want to go back soon!
Smother: On that note, what's been your guy's favorite tour or band to play with?
Chas: That's a tough call...every band has such a unique personality. When we were overseas we toured with an Italian band called Fine Before You Came and the guys were just amazing people. The Sleeping is probably the craziest bunch of guys we've toured with...we're on tour with them now and everyday is an adventure in itself.
Smother: If you had the opportunity to tour with anyone dead or alive, who would be your opener (or who would you be opening for)?
Chas: I'm sure we'd all have very different decisions on this one: Chuck would want to tour with Journey probably, Keith without a doubt would choose The Police, Jared would definitely say Avril or Prince, JM would most likely choose Underoath or someone along those lines, and I would have to say that I would want to tour in Germany with David Hasselhoff...or any hair metal band would be hilarious to tour with...maybe Poison or Whitesnake!
Smother: So California is known for lots of things least of all is great music, but with so many bands coming out of that scene lately, what do you guys think sets you apart?
Chas: Just about everyday I find myself thinking about what the future of music looks like. It seems that just about everything has been done at this point so it's tough. We've just always held to the adage that if you can't go wrong with well-written songs. There are so many bands out right now thatit's tough to set yourself apart so it really comes down to the music and performance.
Smother: So which is more true to Orange County? The movie, 'Orange County' or the Fox show 'The O.C.'? I mean does anyone actually say 'OC'? Over here on the right coast, when someone says 'OC' we think of 'Ocean City'—and that could get a bit confusing eh?
Chas: Haha...actually I've never actually seen either one but people say OC out here all the time. Even people on the road say OC when they find out where we are from...then they usually ask us about the television show and we have to play dumb.
Smother: There's a massive buzz in the underground and its starting to eek its way into the mainstream about Halfwayhome, how's that make you guys feel? Are you buying bling and getting diamonds put on your front teeth?
Chas: So far we've just bought Cubic Zirconia but maybe someday we'll move on up to diamonds. Honestly it's completely overwhelming when we read reviews by people who like our music or when we see people we've never met singing all the lyrics to all of our songs at a show. It's a feeling that is hard to put words to but it is very flattering.
Smother: With Arnold being your governor, do you think that politics in California are important or have they been made less legitimate after the whole recall fiasco?
Chas: I think that the recall made people more aware as a whole. The political climate seems a little more informed than it did before when it seemed that people didn't pay too much attention to what was going on around them.
Smother: Speaking of politics, this election could be easily determined by young voters this year who make up an estimated 48 million of the electorate. How important do you think political activity is for young people?
Chas: Extremely important...I think that it's always good to be informed and aware at a young age so that you know the political trends during your lifetime and have a clue as to what is going on.
Smother: Any advice you guys would give to the young kids out there that are forming a band and want to be as super-cool as you guys?
Chas: Practice! Really I think the one thing that is hurting the music scene is bands that are not at all ready to be playing out yet. You have to be solid at your instrument before you join a band and the band has to be solid before you start shopping around for a label or playing shows. You only get one first impression so you want to put your best foot forward. Songwriting takes work to so don't rush it trying to write and record a full length in a week. Most of the songs on "A Brand New Subdivsion" took weeks and sometimes months to finish...it's more work than people realize.
Smother: Speaking of your favorite things, what's rocking your Playstation/Xbox/Gamecube? Any movie recommendations or music that's been blowing your mind recently?
Chas: We don't have any video game systems in the van which is our home right now. We stick to good old fashion cards. The Killers album has been owning my CD player right now...they are solid songwriters.
Smother: Chocolate or vanilla?
Chas: Watermelon
Smother: If you could date one of the Olsen twins which one would it be—Ashley or Mary Kate?
Chas: Do I have to choose just one? I could care less which one...I'd be happy either way!
Smother: And continuing in that vein, who was the better dope king—Scarface's Al Pacino or Johnny Depp in Blow?
Chas: Al Pacino. Although Johnny Depp is rad also...I just wouldn't screw with Pacino...I'm even scared to say anyone is better than him in an email interview!
Smother: Enough of the drug talk, what's up with the straightedge scene in punk and hardcore music lately? Some of the stalwart icons of sXe have faltered and become total booze hounds, do you think that makes it less righteous?
Chas: I don't follow who is edge and who isn't too well so I'm by no means the authority on the subject but I would say that it's a fallacy to say that because some of the sXe icons have faltered that the whole scene has faltered. You really can't generalize and entire scene by what a small percentage of it's members do.
Smother: What would be your porn name and what is the funniest porn title you've ever heard of?
Chas: My porn name would be a symbol like Prince...it would really confuse people! I've never heard any porn title that didn't make me laugh...I'll leave it at that haha.
Smother: What's your future plans for the band?
Chas: The immediate future is to tour as long and as hard as possible. It looks like we'll be out until about Christmas time, then we have a couple weeks off, then we go at it again. We love touring and have no desire to sit home and hope people buy our record...plus you meet so many amazing people on the road and the stories alone make it worthwhile. Our plans are basically to take Halfwayhome as far as it can possibly go...and in the end have gold teeth!
Smother: Do you think that the Internet is now the best venue for promoting new music?
Chas: Definitely. I don't think there is anything better out there.
Smother: Speaking of the Internet, what do you think of all those lawsuits that the RIAA has filed in the name of 'protecting the artist's interests'? Do you think they sometimes go too far or are their actions correct?
Chas: I think they have a legitimate complaint but yes I do think it goes too far sometimes. It's a catch 22 because as an artist you want as many people as possible to hear your music and know who you are but at the same time if everyone is pirating it then the funds are simply not going to be there to actually make the music and promote it. I think people forget that while it may just take time to write music it takes money to record and promote it. I always buy music because I want to support bands that I enjoy and I don't like CDRs.
Smother: We always ask this one question of all the people we interview to see who gives us the funniest or most interesting response--What would do/say if you met a guy named Carbomb?
Chas: I don't know but it's catchy...I think I'll name my first child Carbomb! If I ever do meet someone named Carbomb I'll just shake his hand and say "Nice to meet you...I'm Hijack."
Smother: Thanks for doing this interview. Got anything else you'd like to add?
Chas: Thanks!! Feel free to e-mail anytime. Sorry it took me awhile to get around to getting this back to you. We haven't had much internet access on the road.
Links:
Official Site
The Death Scene
Halfwayhome Pure Volume site