There for Tomorrow

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There for Tomorrow is an alternative rock band that was formed in 2003 in Orlando, Florida. Since then they’ve been making a name for themselves across the United States by touring with We Are the Kings, Hey Monday and more. The group released their second studio album, ‘A Little Faster’, on June 9^th, 2009.

When Warped Tour stopped in Montreal on July 11^th I sat down with guitarist Christian Climer and bassist Jay Enriquez. Below is the interview that took place in a crammed media tent on a very rainy day.

CONFRONT: This isn’t your first time being a part of the Warped Tour is it?

CHRISTIAN: It’s our first time doing the entire tour!

CONFRONT:  So you guys only got a taste of it last time. How does it compare so far?

JAY: Well last year we only did four dates and we went around in a van so it’s a lot different than doing the whole thing. We played odd dates like Orlando and Jacksonville or something like that. This has been a completely different experience for us since we’re not just doing a few stops.

CONFRONT: What’s the experience been like so far?

JAY: Oh it’s been a blast! Tons of fun.

CHRISTIAN: We were telling the girl who was interviewing us right before you that it’s like summer camp out here. It’s a lot of fun and there’s just so much stuff going on every day. Everyone says that they’re long days, which they are, but they just go by so fast and I can’t even believe we’re already two weeks into the tour.

CONFRONT: That’s great! You’re always busy but in the best way possible.

CHRISTIAN: Exactly!

CONFRONT: Do you prefer this over club tours?

JAY: I’d say that it’s apples and oranges.

CHRISTIAN: Yeah!

JAY: Club tours are another world.

CHRISTIAN: It definitely took us some getting used to when we got out here because we’re so used to playing in clubs and it’s such a different environment. The way your show comes off outside is so different so we had to adapt to playing outside. It’s a different feel because you’re completely exposed with no lights or anything like that.

CONFRONT: What’s a day in the life like on this tour?

JAY: Well everyone has a different one. I wake up around noon every day and I find something to eat and it all really depends on what time we have to play. It’s really the same routine. Wake up, eat and find out what time you play. Then from there we have all the media stuff.

CHRISTIAN: I really like to wake up early. I’m usually up at around 9 a.m. and go to catering to get some breakfast. Every day we have to find out what time we’re signing and where we’re doing it. Then we have to find out where we’re doing press and which one of us will be doing it, like today it’s me & Jay. Then, like Jay said, we have to find out when we’re playing and then we just kind of go and hang out with the kids at our tent. Meeting new fans is a big part of Warped and I like to be out there with everyone.

CONFRONT: That’s awesome to hear because not a lot of bands do that. Have you had a favorite stop so far?

JAY: I like it here!

CHRISTIAN: I really liked today until it started raining! I think the area that we’re at is really cool and this entire park is awesome. The view of the city from here is incredible.

CONFRONT: Have you discovered any new bands yet?

JAY: Not necessarily. We were advertised with all the other bands doing this tour so we got a chance, before all of this started, to get into all the bands that we would be on tour with.

CONFRONT: Are there any bands that you knew prior to this tour? Bands that you’ve toured with in the past?

CHRISTIAN: There have been a lot of bands that we’ve toured with! There’s this guy right in back of you!

*Christian points out one of the members from Scary Kids Scaring Kids who’s hanging out near our interview table*

JAY: Yeah! There’s Scary Kids Scaring Kids!

CHRISTIAN: There’s so many of our friends on this tour. There’s one band that I knew about that I’d never seen live until this tour and that was The Devil Wears Prada. They’re awesome live.

JAY: They’re so sick.

CHRISTIAN: I always try to catch their set.

CONFRONT: There’s thousands of people that come out to these shows every single day. Is there something special that you guys do on stage that grabs people’s attention?

CHRISTIAN: I don’t know! We usually go out during the day and try and promote our band talk to as many people as possible and tell them to check out our set. We mention our set time as well. Usually when we go out on stage we’re hoping that what we’re playing and what we’re doing will attract people that are just kind of walking by. We’re hoping people will stop and be like “Oh hey who’s this band?!” and that we’ll make new friends everywhere we go.

CONFRONT: Is there one song that you love to play live?

CHRISTIAN: Yeah we have a few! There’s one that we’re going to start playing live soon and it’s off our new CD. It’s called “Sore Winner”. I think when we start to play that live it’ll be my favorite.

CONFRONT: Oh that’s something for fans to look forward to!

CHRISTIAN: *laughs* I’m looking forward to it too!

CONFRONT: Is there one item that you absolutely could not live without on this tour? Something you had to pack with you in your suitcase.

CHRISTIAN: Boxers!

*Everyone laughs*

CONFRONT: Surprisingly you’re the first person to give me that answer!

CHRISTIAN: *laughs* Gotta have my boxers! Well aside from the obvious stuff like clothes I’d say you have to bring something to do. We have a lot of down time so we play Xbox 360 a lot.

JAY: I brought a Harry Potter book…

CHRISTIAN: Yeah I brought along a book too. Anything that will help out if you can’t fall asleep. We brought a lot of different things to do.

CONFRONT:  Can you guys just give the CONFRONT readers a brief description of how the band came together?

JAY: Well me & Chris were jamming for awhile with our previous guitarist and we didn’t have a singer at the time. Chris knew Maika from football when they were younger and he joined up with us. Christian came into play about three years ago and I had known him from high school so it just all came together from there.

CONFRONT: You have a brand new album out called “A Little Faster”, what’s the reaction been like so far?

JAY: I feel like it’s been a pretty decent reaction!

CONFRONT: How have you guys evolved musically since you released your first album?

CHRISTIAN: I think a lot of it has to do with maturity. There’s a lot growth on this album. Most of the songs we had done on EP’s prior to this album were written by Maika when he was 17 and now he’s 20. We’re definitely growing as a band. Now that we were actually able to do a full length there’s a lot of sides of this band that people get to see. I don’t think anyone really heard songs from our band until now thanks to this CD.

CONFRONT: What’s the writing process like?

CHRISTIAN: Usually it’s our singer Maika who will play out the skeleton of a song but writing out the lyrics and the melody and the basic guitar line. Then he brings it to us and we take it from there and work out the song until everyone feels comfortable with it.

CONFRONT: What are your plans after Warped Tour?

CHRISTIAN: We’re doing a fall tour with our friends Hit The Lights! We’re looking forward to it. It should be fun. Hopefully we’ll be coming through here again very soon.

CONFRONT: Finally I have 5 questions that the magazine asks every artist we interview.

JAY: Okay!

CONFRONT: Finish the sentence: I would never..

JAY: Kiss a dude

CHRISTIAN: Oh!! I would never poop in public.

CONFRONT: And I have never…

CHRISTIAN: Kissed a dude! *laughs*

JAY: Can’t say that! I have never eaten mustard on a turkey sandwich.

CONFRONT: What were the first and last albums you bought?

CHRISTIAN: First album I ever bought was N’Sync?

JAY: Third Eye Blind self titled.

CHRISTIAN: Last album I bought? I can’t remember!

JAY: The last album I bought was Third Eye Blinds EP Red Star.

CHRISTIAN: *laughs* Really?

JAY: Yeah!

CONFRONT: What were the first and last concerts you attended?

CHRISTIAN: That I attended as a fan?

CONFRONT: Yup

CHRISTIAN: The first concert I ever went to was New Found Glory and the last one I went to was..I have no idea.

JAY: First concert I ever went to was The Used and the last one I went to was one in Orlando. I can’t remember.

CHRISTIAN: Wait! Wasn’t the last show I went to Third Eye Blind?

JAY: Yeah! I think so.

CHRISTIAN: Alright! Third Eye Blind.

CONFRONT: Finally, looking back 20 years from now what do you hope to have accomplished?

CHRISTIAN: It’s all in the name. The reason we chose the name of our band was because we wanted to have some sort of lasting power in music. We want to be remembered for something and we don’t want to be one of those bands that’s here and gone next year. We want to stick around and be doing this for as long as possible.

CONFRONT: Thanks so much guys!

CHRISTIAN: Our pleasure!

JAY: Thank you!

While the 2009 edition of the Vans Warped Tour has come to an end you can catch There For Tomorrow on tour with Hit the Lights across the States this fall. Keep an eye out on the bands myspace for tour dates and be sure to swing by your nearest music store to pick up their brand new album “A Little Faster”

To learn more about There For Tomorrow you can visit the following websites:

www.myspace.com/therefortomorrow

http://twitter.com/THEREFORTMRW

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