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Interview with
Mike
The Black Maria
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Amy: Can you tell us your name and what you do in the band?
My name is Mike and I play bass and some piano in The Black Maria.
Lex: You’ve played with bands such as QOTSA and The Distillers. Who’s been your favourite band to tour with?
I don’t know, every tour is great so it’s hard to pick a band who’s our favourite. Last time we were here in the UK we toured with Atreyu and that was definitely one of our favourite tours, I think. It was our second tour ever. Our record wasn’t even out but we got to be here and obviously we were far away. It was a great opportunity and had lots of fun. We became good friends with Atreyu and loved it here. So I’d say our last time here was one of our favourites and this one’s been good so far too.
Lex: Why did you name your band after early twentieth century police vans?
We just liked the imagery that drew up. It sounded kinda dark and mysterious and it seemed the whole weird idea of having this police wagon that just actually went around and looked for people to round up to put into jail. It kinda sounded really interesting and eerie to us so we just liked the imagery it brought up.
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Amy: What’s your favourite word to say in on English accent?
I like “bollocks”, I like “rubbish”. I can’t even understand you guys half the time (laughs). Not you guys in particular but I’d just go into a store and someone will ask me something and even though it’s the same language, I totally miss it. But I’m getting used to it. I love it.
Amy: Say “Aluminium” (English way)
Alu…How do you say it? Aluminium.
Lex: Aluminium.
Aluminium (American way).
Amy: No (laughs). The English way. Aluminium. I can’t say it myself!
(laughs) You can’t even say it. It’s the English way to say it.
Amy: How would you describe your band in three words?
Dark, intense, rock and roll but rock and roll has to be one word.
Amy: How would you describe yourself in three words?
Oh man, that’s a lot harder. Curly, haired, musician. How’s that? That’s ridiculous (laughs).
Amy: Who inspired you when writing the album, ‘Lead us to reason’?
Each of us listen to a variety of different music and have our own different inspirations so, when the five of us come together we’re all coming from different directions, putting something together. Yeah, as far as the musical influences go, everyone listens to completely different stuff. Everything from Derek listening to Metallica to Chris listening to Jeph Buckley to Kyle listening to Black Sabbath to me listening to Radiohead. I listen to Deftones. Everyone listens to all their own stuff and it kinda came together. Each of us brought in our own influences and when it all came together, the result is what you hear on the album.
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Lex: What makes your live shows stand out from other bands?
I just like to think that every night we try to go it better like it’s our last show ever. It really doesn’t matter to us if we’re playing to ten people, a hundred people, or a thousand people, like whatever. We’ve done all those and every night we try to give it all we have and I think the result’s just really energetic. A special show even though we’re doing it every night.
Lex: If you could be someone else for the day, who would you be and why?
I would be the President of the United States. Then I’d try and fix a couple of things that he’s messed up and also it’d be kinda cool to find out all the secret stuff going on. That’s who I’d be.
Amy: And a lot of people might hate you?
That’s true! (laughs)
Amy: What are your plans for the future in The Black Maria?
We’re gonna keep touring and touring on this record and our plans are to stay on the road non-stop. We’ve already been on the road non-stop for six months. Besides breaks for two days here and there at home. We’re totally down with doing that and hopefully we’ll be on the road at least until the end of the year, keep building our fan base and go and write another record eventually.
Lex: What’s keeping you occupied in between shows while travelling?
Luckily we have a bus on this tour so we don’t just have to
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sit in our van and drive. ‘Cos that’s what we usually do and it gets a bit tedious sometimes. The long drives and sitting in one place. This tour we’ve been playing lots of poker games with Silverstein. And I would like to say that I almost won yesterday, but I didn’t. We’ve been watching movies, just kinda hanging out. Silverstein are friends of ours back home in Toronto so it’s nice to be touring with them and sharing a bus with them, because we’re hanging out with old friends and just having a good time.
Amy: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
What’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done, like period? Oh man, I don’t know. I haven’t done anything that crazy. Are you guys talking about as a band? (laughs) It’s hard to think, what did I do? I’m like drawing a blank. (At this point, Aiden walk in.) What’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done?
Aiden vocalist: Stuck your finger up my butt.
Yes, last night. It’s true, it happened.
Aiden: Avoid that on the interview!
It’s on tape! (laughs) Sexual encounters with Aiden. Yeah, we’ll keep it at that. (laughs).
Amy: That’s it. Do you want to add anything or ask us?
I want to add to check out our website at the blackmaria.com and our myspace page, because we love Myspace and all that stuff. Anyone reading hasn’t seen us yet, please do. And hopefully we’ll be back here in the UK soon.
www.theblackmaria.com
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