.:Heavy Trevy Interview 7/1/03:.

Heavy Trevy are a fucking awesome band emerging from the San Diego punkrock scene. For those who havent heard of them, go check them out here or you will miss out. I caught up with Brandon, the vocalist driving the melodic sound of Heavy Trevy; this is what he had to say…

Brandon: yo yo
Brandon: yeah i just finished giving a vocal lesson
Brandon: what’s going on
Jez: cool man u rite to answer some Questions…
Brandon: yeah for sure
Jez: u do singing lessons? That’s pretty rad
Brandon: yeah
Jez: What's the music scene in San Diego like?
Brandon: San Diego is pretty much a blue's and jazz/top 40 pop hits music scene. There are a few places to play punk rock here, but most the clubs in town are 21 and up. Brandon: As far as kids coming to shows its pretty good i'd say. Im starting to see more kids show up to punk rock shows more frequently
Jez: but I've heard Soma has been re opened… thats a classic old skool punkrock venue right? have you played a show there?
Brandon: yeah thats really the only place for kids to play in SD. i mean there are a couple of places but Soma has really helped bring back the whole "rock show" scene vibe. more kids are coming just to come verse how it was about 3-5 years ago when all the all ages venues in SD were pay to play
Brandon: Soma has definetly given the SD punk bands a chance to shine
Jez: oh yeah so the punkrock scene is picking up in recent eh? Were blink or Unwritten Law involved? They’re old timers of the venue.
Brandon: yeah this is how it was...back in early 90's when there was the old Soma, bands like Blink and Unwritten Law were pretty much regulars at Soma along with some other really great band in the area. When the old Soma closed down a lot of the bands and fans died out, thus slow moving punk scene for the last 3-5 years. Im not sure if Blink really had anything to do with Soma re-opening. Im sure the owner just saw an opportunity to make some money.
Brandon: I know that bands like UL and Fenix TX contributed financally to the re-opening of Soma. Blink was also recently in town and played a show at Soma during their Dollar Bill Ya tour.
Jez: yeah UL are pretty dam good eh... have Heavy Trevy had any chances to play with bands like that you've looked up to or listened to when you wernt in a band?
Brandon: no not really cause a lot of the show we do in SD we're headlining, so it would be pointless to put two headliners on a local show down here. We have talked to UL's tour manager, but nothing concreat tour wise has been confirmed.
Brandon: Everything....and i mean everything has been done on our own!
Jez: Serious thats awesome your fully giving it your all
Jez: I love your sound for being so energetic and pretty catchy but also very hard hitting, who have been artists that have influenced your song writing?
Brandon: Everything from pop music on TRL to bands like Rise Against and Strung Out and AFI
Brandon: anything with good melody...
Jez: What do you guys talk about on stage?
Brandon: ehh...how eric is a smelly jew and fuckin' chicks in the ass?
Jez: hahahha thats the stuff
Brandon: I don't really talk too much on stage Im not funny or interesting so I let Adam and Eric do most of the intermission shit
Brandon: I always say that the only reason Eric is in our band is because of Affirmative Action....hahah but thats about the extent of my talking on stage
Brandon: since he's the only dark guy in Heavy Trevy
Jez: hahahha
Jez: yeh
Jez: When it comes to song writing are you all pretty critical with your music? like do you scrap songs or improve them until they are as good as they can be?
Brandon: yes to both questions
Brandon: we wont give up on a song if its not coming out right. sometimes we'll shelve a song if its not up to par with the rest of our stuff. But most the time we'll work though a song until we get it right. Most the time we dont really have problems with through out shitty songs. But it does happen every once in a while.
Brandon: Especially if we feel the song drags or is borning. We'll put more hooks or whatever to spruss it is up,
Jez: yeh sounds good keeping it fresh
Jez: Do you just let yourself flow in song writing or do you aim for a specific sound?
Brandon: since all of us listen to relitively the same music and we're all pretty much going for the same sound we'll usually just take a riff and jam through it, i'll start singing a vocal melody, and we'll just go from there if we're feeling the songs.
Brandon: for sure
Jez: because you guys practice a lot as a band, can this be tiring sometimes or does everyone have the full passion to endure long hours?
Brandon: everyone is super passoinate about this. we dont' want to work shitty desk jobs and go to school, so we're trying our hardest to make this thing work. we practice about 6 days a week for about 3 hours a day. so we don't get too burnt out by going for long long periods of time. we, like you said, like to keep things fresh
Jez: yeh thats what i love about your music and i think thats the only place music can go eh, takin it to the next level and pushin yourselves to reach what u can reach, ya know
Brandon: exactly
Jez: What was the first band you saw live?
Brandon: it was a local show here in poway. it was during the time when ska was really big and Blink was just starting to get big in SD. I don't remember the bands but i do remember moshing my ass off and having one of the best times of my life in the pit.
Brandon: i think i was 13
Jez: awesomeee, Tom delonge went poway high rite?
Brandon: yep
Jez: your shows must go off judging by the bands rhythm and melody... how has your response been over the period of the bands existence?
Brandon: it just keeps getting bigger and better. we've sold out the last four shows we've played in SD and without an album or label backing us either.
Brandon: people just seem to dig it
Jez: sick
Jez: And do you think you've had any doorways of opitunities to break the San Diego scene and expand further?
Brandon: im sure we will when we're on more of a national level
Jez: I heard about how you got signed to IKM that's a pretty cool story. What are the plans for your band this coming year?
Brandon: we're doing a video for "later" in Jan or early Feb and then we're in to do pre-production for are album right around that time too. Hopefully by summer we'll have an album out and will be touring. Thats pretty much what i expect for the next year
Jez: do you want to get a record deal or keep running things as a band yourself?
Brandon: the record industry is kind of a catch 22 most punk bands would rather do without the hassle and politics of Major label, but at the same time it's that same label that gives you money to record and tour and distributes your CD, and gets you on the radio.....so to anwser your question yeah i think getting signed would help
Brandon: but there still a lot we can still do on our own
Jez: yeh because egttin signed to a decent label like epitaph wud surely rock
Jez: you gonna try gettin on the warped tour?
Brandon: gonna try bro
Jez: good one
Brandon: i hope we can cause that would be some good exposure
Jez: hellyeah
Jez: ok a few last questions…
Jez: What type of car do you drive?
Brandon: Nissian 89' maxima
Jez: Do you have a favorite Joke?
Brandon: Sorry, all i know are racisted jokes and that wouldn't be very PC now
would it...
Jez: What's been your biggest highlight in Heavy Trevy?
Brandon: playing four sold out shows in a row in my own home town
Jez: Are there any bands you'd like to give props to?
Brandon: Ya we practice right next door to Marco's (formerly the guitarist in
POD) new band called The Accident Experiment. These guys fucking rock you
should definetly check them out.
Brandon: hey man i have to bounce out
Brandon: thanks for the interview i really appreciate it
Jez: ok no worries love your sound and keep at it
Brandon: thanks
Brandon: take care
Jez: cheers mate
Jez: later
Brandon: bye