Yellowcard
Toronto - September 9th, 07
I went to Toronto in September to meet up with Yellowcard. It was the band's first show in Canada since the release or their latest CD 'Paper Walls' that came out on July 17th, 2007.
I had the chance to chat with Yellowcard's violinist, Sean Mackin, and former bassist, Pete Mosely, for almost an hour.
Unfortunately, on October 17th 2007, while Yellowcard was on tour across the US with Blue October, Pete announced on the band's official website and MySpace page that he was leaving the band.
"Message from Peter
Hello everyone,
We wanted to let you know that I have chosen to leave Yellowcard and pursue other endeavors. It has been an honor creating music together and I want to wish them the very best in everything they put their hands to. It’s been a blessing to have been able to travel the world and perform music. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us through all these years and will continue to support yellowcard.
Thanks,
Peter"
As Yellowcard fans may know, this is the second time Pete has left the band. The first time was back in 2003 when the band was in the recording process of "Ocean Avenue", their second studio album, after having signed with Capitol Records. About a year later, Pete Mosely asked the band if he could rejoin and he was reinstated as bass player.
Since Pete's departure in mid-October, no long-term decision has been made, but their good friend Josh Portman is filling in the role at present.
CONFRONT: CONFRONT Magazine's goal is to redefine mainstream, so I would love to know what would be your definition of mainstream nowadays?
PETE: I don't know, I guess mainstream is whatever appeals to the larger general population. You know, you may be a band that has a mainstream sound, but you have to actually be in the mainstream to be that, like any band exposed on major radio or television. Maybe setting the trend of that time as well, if not following it.
SEAN: I feel like it's anything that has been accepted by the masses. As Pete said, you can have a mainstream sound, but you have to have an engine to catapult you into that mainstream. Like Panic At The Disco! comes to mind because they don't necessarily have the most mainstream of sounds, but through connections with Fall Out Boy and whatever, they were able to catapult and to be very sort of recognizable in that mainstream.
CONFRONT: What is your point of view about the internet? Would you say it has something to do with what mainstream is in 2007?
SEAN: I think so!
PETE: I think it definitely brought a different spectrum. MySpace is probably a different level of mainstream. Some people might not even watch MTV or listen to the radio to get new music, they might just use MySpace. There is probably a whole new community around MySpace. So whatever is starting up on that website can be considered mainstream.
SEAN: Like television ratings are super low because people are getting their entertainment fix from YouTube. At first, internet affected music and record sale, so it's pretty amazing to see it happening to all forms of entertainment and communications.
CONFRONT: Let's talk about your new CD ‘Paper Walls’. You've been on tour for a little while; The Vans Warped Tour, then with Sum 41 and with Blue October as well. How's the reaction from the crowd so far?
SEAN: Everything has been amazingly positive for ‘Paper Walls’. Especially on the internet and at the shows. We've played some different songs, like more obscure songs and it starts a little slow at times, but then we'll play "Fighting" that has been on our MySpace page forever and it's on Madden NFL which is an EA Sports game. We're having a good time discovering in ourselves how to play the new songs from ‘Paper Walls’ like "Takedown" and "Five Becomes Four", and watching them really take their own shapes with the audience. That's really exciting, especially for a band like Yellowcard to have such a great relationship with the fans, to watch that sort of grow on its own and to see how the songs translate live at the show.
CONFRONT: If we look back to ‘One For The Kids’, ‘Ocean Avenue’, 'Lights & Sound’ and now ‘Paper Walls’, when we listen to the evolution through those 4 records, would you say it was something the band was looking forward to do or did it come naturally?’
PETE: I would say a little bit of both! Ummm, I think as a band, you look forward to change; you don't want to get stuck in the same place the whole time. You look forward to see who you can grow into. But the natural part of it is that you don't really know how you're going to grow and you can't really force it. In some ways, some things that we've done have been forced and said "Let's see how it'll come out" and it just kind of comes together, but it's definitely a combination of both.
CONFRONT: On this record, one of the difference is that Ryan Mendez worked with you during the creation process of ‘Paper Walls’. Did it change the dynamic in the group or the way you work?
SEAN: Working with Ryan Mendez was really positive for Yellowcard. I think Yellowcard still now to this day shares that passion for music through friendship that Yellowcard was first known for. So, having Ryan Mendez in the studio, he was staring back and had had other bands, and loves music, and loves recording, but he’d never had the opportunity to work with a great mind like Neil Avron. So everyday he'd be like "Oh let's do this!" or "What happens if I do this?", just that eagerness like a Christmas morning type feeling everyday really brought a sort of light for the rest of us, especially me, because this record was more collaborative, so if I got stuck he'd be like "Oh I have this" and then I’d play an harmony or I’d go "Yeah I have this new thing" and he'd be like "I can play this here" and then I’d say "And what if we do this?" It was really nice to bounce back and forth, and have one real strong guitar player. That's what we always have with Yellowcard, you know, but to have that new energy kept things fun and light and really enjoyable in the studio.
CONFRONT: Which song would be your favorite off ‘Paper Walls’?
SEAN: I really like the song "Shrink The World". I think it's a really strong recognizable Yellowcard sound. It has a little bit of an edgier thing and because of how many different sounds we have on the album, from "Keeper" to "Shadows and Regrets" and the end of "The Takedown" that's kind of that “in your face” type of song. So I'm really excited to play that, maybe a little bit later on and I feel like that one will really get the room going.
PETE: I'd say probably "Five Becomes Four". The subject, the matter of the song relates directly to the band and for me it's fun to play. It's a challenging song to play and I love the energy we get back from the crowd.
CONFRONT: And which song, from any album, is your favorite to play live?
SEAN: My favorite song to play live is "Believe". It has such a strong and heart-warming message. It really radiates every time we play it.
CONFRONT: If you were only able to choose one word to describe ‘Paper Walls’ to the world, which one would it be?
SEAN: If I would choose one word to define ‘Paper Walls’ for Yellowcard: Strong. I think it's really strong for us.
PETE: I would say fresh air.
CONFRONT: If Yellowcard were able to do their own dream tour, who would take part in that tour?
SEAN: I would say Foo Fighters, we all always say that.
PETE: I'd say Foo Fighters as well. That is definitely common with all of us.
SEAN: I'd also like to say Me First and the Gimmes Gimmes. Just to keep it light you know! Not too serious!
PETE: Ben Folds Five and ummm...
(Long silence)
SEAN: Yellowcard!
PETE: Yeah. Yeah!
SEAN: Can we play our own show? Haha.
PETE: And... ummm... let's say like...
SEAN: You're going deep!
PETE: Damn! I think I would be happy with that!
SEAN: That's good yeah! I mean, sorry Ben, but put them [Ben Folds Five] to open, then The Gimmes Gimmes, then Foo Fighters and then we can just close it out!
CONFRONT: That sounds like an awesome tour! Now, I would like to know what is the meaning of the "X" symbol.
SEAN: The new logo is... actually... there are 5 pieces that represent each of us. But the original "X" symbol had to do with like a band-aid on a head sort of like to keep it together. It's always been something that was simple and recognizable. Now with the new version it represents all of us, we all have a piece so we kind of keep it together.
CONFRONT: Do you have any guilty pleasures musically right now?
SEAN: I do. Not really that bad, but Ryan Mendez and Ryan Key became friends with Paramore. I've listened to a couple of their songs and that girl can sing! It's not something that I'm like "Hey guys! Let's listen to my Paramore CD!" So they are a good band, but I call them a guilty pleasure.
PETE: Recently, a CD that I bought that I thought I'd never own...
SEAN: You're really embarrassed about that! You're like rubbing your face and you're kind of red now!
PETE: No! I just don't want it to come out wrong, because this was a really great experience for us. But we did three shows with Nickelback recently. I knew Nickelback was huge but I've never been so much of a fan of their music. Nickelback have always been "Oh yeah! The big rock band" or whatever. Then we did these shows that were absolutely incredible. They were incredible guys and it was just a great experience. I just had two of their songs stuck in my head! So I went on iTunes to purchase one of their records and the funny thing about iTunes is that you click to buy and usually there is that message "Are you sure you want to buy Nickelback ‘Silver Side Up?’ and I was like "Ummm.. I don't know! Good question! Yep! I'm pretty sure!" So I don't know if it's guilty... well obviously I feel I little bit guilty because I really wanted to give an explanation before saying it. (laughing)
CONFRONT: What would you say is your biggest achievement as a band?
PETE: Still being here. It's very fickle and tough, changing… I don't know we kept with the front of the line, but we're still in the race sometimes. For as long as Yellowcard has been a band, it's been a pretty long time.
SEAN: I want to answer that as well. People sometimes ask what is your greatest goal as part of that question as well, and longevity has always been part of our goal or one of the only goals that we have. But just to do this and to be in Yellowcard and have my friends surrounding me and play music for a living and have fans to who we give has much as we do. That in itself is such a great achievement. I want our fans to know that we appreciate it.
CONFRONT: What would be your daily urges?
SEAN: We just played a show for Target and we met Sara Bareilles. She's a singer, songwriter who just got her first major label record out and she was fantastic and I hope that everyone goes out and buy her record. She's probably one of the most amazing voices I've ever heard. Actually, hearing her live was so strong that when I bought the record, it was produced and pretty much a product instead of an organic beautiful thing like we heard it. Everyone should still go buy her record.
PETE: People should see her live as well!
SEAN: Yeah!
CONFRONT: So I presume that your answer is the same as Sean's?
PETE: Yeah... I got to back my friend!
SEAN: (Laughing) Thanks man!
PETE: We've always been friends with a band called Reeve Oliver. They had a label deal with our label, but due to some politics they weren't able to put the record out. They're going to put one out on their own. They are a great, great rock band! Amazing melodies, amazing musicians, fun to watch, good chemistry.
SEAN: Good looking too. The drummer is one of the sexiest people I've ever come across!
CONFRONT: First and last CD purchased
SEAN: My first CD was Metallica's ‘Ride The Lightning’ and the last one was Paramore's ‘Riot’ CD.
PETE: My first CD was a tape in a Wal-Mart when I was six! It was a Beach Boys cassette tape called ‘Do It Again’. My last purchased was... something I can't remember... so I'll have to say ‘Silver Side Up’ from Nickelback.
SEAN: I bought Paramore on iTunes so the actual last CD I bought was Sara Bareilles that I found at Target.
CONFRONT: First and last concert attented?
SEAN: Not including our own?
CONFRONT: No...
SEAN: My first concert was a Face To Face concert in Jacksonville, Florida. My mom never let me go to rock shows, so when I turned 16, I just hung out with my friends and Face To Face was my favorite band. It was pretty awesome because I got to be in the front row and Trever Keith was playing at me and I was singing every song. It was pretty rad! The last concert I went to... (thinking) Wow! I can't remember! I saw Ben Folds about a year and a half ago. That was the last concert I went to. He was amazing.
PETE: My first concert was actually a Beach Boys concert when I was six, again! (laughing) My last concert was Rufus Wainwright. I saw him in Hollywood. No! I'm sorry! My last concert was a band called Butterfly Jumps that I just happened to see in Hollywood a couple months ago. I do this every night before I go to bed, I routinely check bands to see when and where they are playing. So I was on their website and saw they were playing at The Whisky, I jumped in my car and went to the concert.
SEAN: You know what? I lied too! My last show, I went with Ryan to see the Fall Out Boy concert in LA on the Honda Civic Tour, hung out with some old friends.
CONFRONT: As a conclusion, what would you like your legacy to be?
(Silence)
CONFRONT: Seems like a hard question!
SEAN: You get to choose your legacy? That's kind of rough!
CONFRONT: What would you like the world to remember from Yellowcard or from you as an individual?
SEAN: I don't know. Maybe that I always gave it my all, with the band and with everything.
PETE: I'd say that either of the band or of me as an individual, that we're good people, good company. We're fun, honest, true and good looking!
(Laughing)
PETE: Just kidding!
SEAN: (Using a funny voice and laying on the couch at the same time) We are good looking!
PETE: Haha! Just good people!
CONFRONT: I'll most definitely remember that from you guys! Thank you so much for your time and enjoy your time in Toronto!
SEAN: Looking forward to it!
CONFRONT: Should be fun!
PETE: Yeah! Thank you so much!
SEAN: You did an awesome job Vanessa and that French accent was refreshing!
After being on tour with Sum 41 for a few shows towards the end of the summer, Yellowcard just finished a long eight week tour with Blue October across the US and they will be touring Japan in November and December as a support act for Linkin Park.
Visit them online:
Website: www.yellowcardrock.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/yellowcard
