Interviews

Reach The Sky

Interview with Ian on Nov 30, 1999 by Archive Bot

PB: I admire the energy and leadership you bring to the stage at all of your shows. Where does that energy come from, and what keeps you going?
RTS: The energy part is just natural. It's not contrived, and it's not like we are messing around about everything. It's not like a show or anything, we get the same expression or release from the music that we hope other people get too. The reason I think I'm in the band, and doing the band to the extent that we are is simply because you get that reaction or that feeling from punk and hardcore and that's really why we do it, by the same extension that comes out on stage. It's something that's a part of us ya know? I don't wanna see a band just stand there. It's not hardcore or punk bands are like Rush of Led Zeppelin with all this intricate music going on. It's really full throttle or at least that's the way I see and think it should be. We try to release it on stage and that's where the energy comes from, and hopefully a lot of it comes back to us and the kids are into it more and reacting. You can feel the energy there and build on that, and snow ball into a great show.

PB: I know you're from Boston and I'm sure it's your favorite, but what are other cities that have been very supportive of Reach The Sky?
RTS: Ya know actually almost everywhere we have ever been to some degree has had something that is worthwhile for us. I think the only bad place maybe was North Carolina and that was one show we walked away from the place going this is a waste of our time. The people didn't get it and simply didn't care. Every place has their place and minuses. Chicago or St. Louis, of course the west coast is good too…. every place but of course Boston is our top spot.

PB: Your new album "Friends, Lies, and The End of The World" has a different feel to it. Instead of the Reach The Sky hardcore we are all accustomed to, more punk influences can be heard this time. Did you go into the studio with a different philosophy or was it coincidental?
RTS: I think it was more what we wanted to do and I think we allowed ourselves to overwhelm early on with like the first record. Overwhelm in the sense that we have to write a full length, the pressures on, and we kind of wrote what I consider a "safe record" the first time around. People thought we were a hardcore band and they dig aggression and when things break out. That's what we gave them but we learned over the year or year and a half touring on that record that we were able to branch out to more people that were into like more punk or even a ska show. It was just like traditional hardcore kids could relate to what we were doing and I think that just freed us up and gave us the confidence to write what we wanted to write. I think our demo has more like melody and a different feel to it than our first record. It was more like who we were and not as much constrained. That's really our fault, and it's not like the first record isn't good but the new record is more what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. A lot of people say it's a complete departure but I don't really see it as that. I see it as we just focus on a lot more of our strong points ya know. There's only so many times you can play the same thing over and over, so we tried to write more of what we were feeling. We just really put together the record we wanted to.

PB: I have had the chance to see Reach The Sky many times including the most bizarre show with The Dropkick Murphys at a frat party. You have mentioned on stage losing some of your closest friends. What was it like and did it effect the way you write music at all?
RTS: I think they have little to do with music really. It's more a part of like… they just effected day to day life. The connection is that occasionally.. when I write lyrics it is what comes to me when I hear music. I always write the lyrics after and I may have some ideas laying around, but if the music doesn't inspire me like what I'm thinking, then I won't do it. It's more like a song or two that has something to do with those tragedies because the song brought it out in me. It goes back to energy and how it affects people. The most universal thing with all of us is our emotions and our feelings and experiences. Essentially all of our base line emotions are the same, and we try to do that with music. Stories and feelings that people can relate with are the few songs I talk about. Generally, I don't like to talk about what songs are about because I'd rather someone else have their own interpretation of the song rather then me telling them what it's about. Every little thing that has happened in my life has helped mold who I am with the good and the bad.

PB: Soon you guys will be heading over to Europe with The Dropkick Murphy's. How many times have you been there and please compare the difference in the scenes of the U.S. and Europe?
RTS: We were the just once about this time last year. This is going to be totally different. The last time we went over we drove ourselves and rented a van, and played some bigger festivals and got on some bigger shows, but we played a lot smaller places by ourselves with like one or two other local bands. That was like the first time we ever toured America. The scene is basically the same for everywhere in the world. There are different quirks that make up each area. The kids don't dance, or the kids do dance, how they dance, and a lot of the places we went to last time were places I think that were excuses for kid to hang out and drink and smoke cigarettes. We played like political squats and got a different taste of things over there. This time around with The Dropkicks taking us along these are like "big concerts"… they're not a small band any where in the world. A couple of the festivals are like 75,000 people and at one The Dropkicks are opening because like Godsmack is playing Hahahhaha. That's the benefit of being with The Dropkicks, and that they are still as big as they are but so low to the ground that can bring a shitty band like us along with em. It will be a totally different experience though. It was alright and it was fun, and we get a lot of response and the people over there buy the record so we'll see what happens. I'd rather be in American though.

PB: You recently finished a tour with The Dropkick Murphys and Lars Fredrickson and The Bastards. How was it and what memories did you take away from it?
RTS: Some nights it was kind of tough being the hardcore band on "The Superstars of Punk Rock Tour" but overall it was one of the most amazing experiences. The Dropkicks are the biggest punk band in the world right now and kids go so crazy for them, and they put on the best show. We played in front of a lot of new kids and different crowds. We also went to cities we never went to before. Lars Fredrickson was great and everyone got along so that was probably the best thing and that's what we take from it…. that everybody got along. Some cities were really off the wall for us so hopefully that translates later on. 

PB: What are your thoughts on the death penalty, especially in the case of Timothy McVeigh?
RTS: I would think that…. generally death penalty I am pro and I'm for it. Obviously, there are some questions in the way it is administered and if it is completely fair, and the way the dole it out in some places. This McVeigh thing heheh I was watching the news again today and it's taken some more turns. I don't know, the whole thing seems sort of shakey. I don't doubt that he's not responsible but there are people that have sat on death row for twenty years, but this guy was on the fast track hehehe. I can understand that because it was a pretty terrible time for the country and people involved, but the country wants closure on it, but to what degree. I don't have that much respect for the man, but you have to have respect for the system. I'm not saying the F.B.I. totally botched the whole thing just to get somebody convicted of it. Far worse things have happened so I don't know. I have been following it in the newspapers but they don't give you the whole story. It's sort of questionable.

PB: At some point in our lives we have suffered a tragedy or disappointment we never thought we ever thought we'd be able to overcome. Are there ones that have effected you more than others?
RTS: Absolutely! I think that would be true of most people. The ones that you can't foresee are the ones that are so shocking. I think those are the greatest lessons to be learned. Everything you put your faith in can be uprooted by no fault of your own. The things I never could have imagined had the biggest effect and the biggest slap in the face in some regards.

PB: Please finish the following sentence…… If the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup next year I will be so happy I will………..
RTS: Cry! Hahhahahahahha

PB: I'm sure when you first came onto the hardcore scene there were some bruises and bloody noses. Are there any events that stick out more than others?
RTS: Hahhahah. I can tell you some stories. Yea absolutely, I have done some things that weren't so great. Ugly things that have happened at shows and were very regrettable ya know. Not things that I heave personally done…….

PB: Yea right!
RTS: Hahahaha. I'm sure I've been a dick at a lot of shows and done things when I was younger that I wish I hadn't done and some of the most horrific things and stupid shit to be honest with you. That stuff is far beyond me nowadays and is in the past for a lot of people.

PB: Do any of you have a special talent such as lighting your farts on fire?
RTS: Not that great. We're really a bunch of really boring folks. We gotta be. We get such a kick out of spending so much time with each other in the band that there can't be anything that shocking.

PB: If you four could wrestle any band past/present WWF style who would it be and what are the odds?
RTS: Blood for Blood…. Just to kick their asses like we can!

PB: What would you like to say to all those uncool zines that ask you the same damn questions in every interview?
RTS: TO READ THIS AND TO GET A CLUE! We're actually going to put a thing on our website "frequently asked questions". I don't why people do that anyway. They ask…. Who produced your record? Well, who cares and it's on the record anyway. I just delete their emails now, which is not very fair but hahahahaha.

PB: Would you rather to be a back-up dancer for Britney Spears or roadie for Blink 182 and why?
RTS: I think I'd rather be a dancer just to get my move on.

PB: Hahhahahahahah!
RTS: Hahhahaha, just to get up there and show people what I got. Hahahhahaha

PB: Hardcore style!
RTS: Yea right……….

PB: Lastly, how many band whores has the band hooked up with and never saw again?
RTS: ZERO! We don't do that stuff!