Madcap is: Alfred-Guitar/Vocals, Johnny-Guitar/Vocals, Lee-Bass, Jake-Drums (Jake was not present during this interview)

 

Cynthia: So what made you guys want to be in a band?

Lee: We went to a pawn shop.  He bought his guitar from a friend and I bought my bass and...we went to a show. 

Al: We ditched school and went to a show and we had a good time.  It was a band called Deli.

Lee: It was a bunch of radio bands.

Al: Yeah, but it was fun and we were like, man we could do this.

Cynthia: So how did you all meet?

Al: Me and Lee met at school.  And then we met Johnny.

Lee: We started going to shows and stuff and playing and then he knew a friend of ours band, and he went to a show and pretty soon we got to know him.  Johnny became our manager.

Al: He actually paid for our first tape we put out.  Then he joined the band.

Cynthia: How do you think you guys have evolved as a band since you've been around?

Al: Oh yeah.  Totally. 

Johnny: I think the more that you play live and in front of people and like, I don't know, you really have to be serious about your band.  There's bands out there that will come out and for a long time they'll just kind of play and don't care.  There comes a point where you realize that someone might actually hear your music and you want it to be the best possible that it could be.  So that's what kind of makes you step up and say I really want to focus on writing the music.  And you always do what you want.  You really don't have to cater to anybody.

Al: Even from the last album, we have evolved.  The new album will be a lot better.

Cynthia: So when's your new album going to be out?

Al: We're thinking like in April or May...something like that.

Lee: Yeah, we're recording in January so...it takes a little while to get it all together.

Johnny: It will be awesome.

Cynthia: What are some of your musical influences?

Al: Well, I got into punk listening to 7 Seconds, stuff like that.  Minor Threat.  Then I started discovering like other kinds of bands.  I always liked Bad Religion, but then I discovered like the older stuff that's pretty cool.  The Clash and shit like that.  Blitz now.  I didn't used to like them, but they are kind of an influence now.

Johnny: All kinds of stuff.  It just doesn't go to punk.  Rolling Stones, the Who, Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Bouncing Souls.  We've all been listening to them for years.

Lee: I agree.

Cynthia: What do you guys like to do when you're not touring?

Al: Go out to bars, other shows, hang out.

Johnny: Drink.

Lee: If it's not sex, drugs, and rock and roll, it's just sex and drugs.

Al: Sleep.  I like to sleep.

Cynthia: What kinds of things inspire you to write about what you write about?

Johnny: Social stuff.  Not so much social stuff, but a lot of our music's pretty personal.  I always write about stuff that's happened to us, stuff that we know goes on in the scene.

Al: I think it's become more personal.  The last album wasn't as personal.  This one is more...you'll see.

Johnny: You always want to make music that people will relate to.  It's always cool when I hear a band and I feel what they're saying.

Cynthia: What are some things that you think set your band apart?  What makes you guys not just "another California punk band"?

Al: We really don't sound like a California punk band, that's the thing.  Especially southern California.  I think that's what sets us apart in California, in L.A.  I don't know about the rest of the country.

Johnny: I mean musically, we don't really play our instruments all that great, but we are definitely very original sounding.  We do a lot of harmony with vocals like in older stuff.  You don't find that anymore.  I'm not saying other bands can't sing, we just really concentrate on vocals and lyrics.

Al: Vocals are very important to us.

Cynthia: Did you guys have fun at Warped Tour?

Johnny: Amazing.

Lee: The best fun I've ever had.

Cynthia: You got along with all the other bands?

Al: Yeah, that's how we got this tour.  We met the Bouncing Souls and they were really cool and they liked us so they asked us to be on this tour.

Johnny: I found myself in the crowd most of the time at Warped Tour, watching the bands.  I wasn't just hanging out.  It was great to see bands that I love like old days.

Lee: It wasn't just the bands.  All the sports guy were cool, the skaters and BMX guys.  It was a good experience.  Last night we were watching ESPN2 and they were interviewing some skater guy and all of a sudden they played one of our songs.  It was so cool.

Cynthia: What are some things you hope to accomplish in the future in this band?

Al: We want to get as big as we can possibly get in this band. 

Johnny: The music scene sucks right now.  You turn on the radio and everything's just the same.

Al: We're staying true.  We're probably not going to become a metal band.  Like if we get really huge.  We want to get as big as we can get with the music that we're doing.

Cynthia: Do you know of any small bands that are deserving of recognition that aren't getting it?

Al: There's a lot. 

Johnny: GC5.  A band out of Cleveland.  They're like four, average looking guys but they rock hard.

Al: In L.A. there's Blue Collar Special.  I think they have some MP3's. 

Lee: Locally, Deceiving Ralph.  They're really good in Cincinnati.  You should check them out.

Cynthia: Alright, thanks for the interview.  Any last comments?

"Stand Your Ground".  Buy it please.