ATHENAEUM
December 14, 1998

Zoogerator: Thanks for joining us today everyone! Today, we're proud to welcome into the Zeethatorium rock group Athenaeum! Their new album "Radiance" is in stores now! So let's welcome to the stage Mark and Alex!
Athenaeum_Alex: Hello-o-o!
Athenaeum_Mark: Hello!
airiss: Hi! How are you? I'm glad to chat with you.
Athenaeum_Mark: Alright!
froggy8bug22: Hi, My name is Meghan, and I was wondering, how did you guys think of the name ATHENAEUM for your group and what does it mean?
Athenaeum_Mark: Our drummer's mother came up with the name Athenaeum, because his father was in a literary club in high school whose name was (It was an excuse to get out of class!) Athenaeum. But since Nic's mom let us use her attic to practice, we decided to use the name.
Athenaeum_Alex: Look up the word "athenaeum" and you will find it's Latin for Jamiroquai.
curtzooger: How did you become a group?
Athenaeum_Mark: I met Nic through a mutual friend who had a karaoke machine in high school. After a year of playing with Nic, we found Alex, who lived in our hometown. A few years after that we put out an independent record, then we found Grey who was going to college at UNC Greensboro.
basketballzoog11: Did you ever want to be a singer when you were little?
Athenaeum_Mark: Not really, I used to sing in front of my mom a bit, but never thought of it until 7th grade. I had a crush on this girl who was in choir, so I took it the following year and found out I could sing!
zonez: You guys are cool. I love your songs.
Athenaeum_Alex: Thank you!
Athenaeum_Mark: Thanks a lot!
tippy21485: I love your album "Radiance." I just bought it yesterday. What song did you like best from the album?
Athenaeum_Alex: Picking a favorite song is almost like picking a favorite child. Something no mother could do. So songwriters can't do it either. But "Keep Away" was a favorite. The title track "Radiance" is maybe the one I liked best.
airiss: I really like you guys. How old are all of you?
Athenaeum_Alex: Nic, the drummer, is 21; Ray is 22. Mark has the maturity level of a 15-yr-old (*grin*) , and I am 23.
zonez: What was your first song?
Athenaeum_Mark: The first song that we ever performed that we wrote was"Summertime", either that or "Gypsy Rose".
ziggy86: Was it hard to learn to play your instruments?
Athenaeum_Mark: For me, singing was something that came naturally, and through practice I became better. The guitar was also fairly easy to pick up for me.
Athenaeum_Alex: The bass was something I knew I could always play, so it came natural.
bisgrrl: Hi, you guys are awesome! I'm going to see you guys this month with Laughing Colors...who are they? Are they kewl?
Athenaeum_Alex: We haven't heard of them, so it'll be new for us, too!
laser6irl: What made you want to get into music?
Athenaeum_Mark: For me, one of the main reasons I got involved in music was that I loved to sing so much. It was sort of a natural addiction for me.
Athenaeum_Alex: It was something I always knew I wanted to do, how I express myself. I think I was born with the desire to do it.
basketballzoog11: What are your major influences?
Athenaeum_Mark: We all have different individual influences, but for myself, there's two bands; Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Dillon Fence.
gayle531: How do you all feel about people recording your shows?
Athenaeum_Mark: We hate the quality and sound of board tapes, so we hate it, but we've never turned anyone down when they show up with a tape recorder.
froggy8bug22: What else do you guys like to do besides playing music and performing?
Athenaeum_Alex: I study martial arts, and watch TV!
Athenaeum_Mark: Also, Alex is the computer whiz of the band!
gayle531: Which do you prefer
Athenaeum_Alex: They both have their ups and downs, but I think I prefer the smaller clubs. Not as crowded, much more fun.
Athenaeum_Mark: Generally, I prefer the middle sized clubs. The arenas are too big for intimacy, but the small cubs are too small.
Athenaeum_Alex: That's true.
tippy21485: Are you going to have a concert in Washington? If So, when?
Athenaeum_Alex: DC or state?
Athenaeum_Mark: We are playing in Washington DC on the 28th, but as for Washington state, we don't have plans currently, although we'd love to come out there.
froggy8bug22: Hi, my name is Meghan, and I was wondering if you guys would say hi to my friend Elissa and me?
Athenaeum_Alex: Hello!
Athenaeum_Mark: Hi!! Thanks for writing!
tippy21485: Do you have girlfriends or wives?
Athenaeum_Mark: None of us are married, but Grey and myself both have girlfriends.
gayle531: I think it's so so wonderful how you guys take the time at shows to talk to fans, hope you can keep doing that!!! =)
Athenaeum_Alex: We feel that that's part of the show, because the fans make it happen for us. It's always nice to meet them.
Athenaeum_Mark: Plus we like the attention!
stormgirlie: Hey, I would like to say that I'm a 14 year-old-girl and that I have only heard the band Athenaeum once but I think that they rule!!!!!! When they come will you have them to give me a hello? If you would I would be soooooooo grateful................ )
Athenaeum_Mark: Hello from Athenaeum, thanks for writing, and thanks for listening to our music!!
laser6irl: Hanson listens to your music...do you like theirs?
Athenaeum_Alex: Yeah, their music is very catchy, and radio friendly!
Athenaeum_Mark: When we first started touring, we played a show in Hanson's hometown, and when I mentioned them, a couple of the fans in the audience started booing them, and I ended up defending them!
alycia123: Are you brothers?
Athenaeum_Mark: Nope!
Athenaeum_Alex: Based on the amount of time we spend together, we might as well be!
smemsvt: What up? It's Emma here. Do you have a fan club?
Athenaeum_Alex: The fan club can be linked to from our web site.
jtsldav123: Hi, my name is Sarah. Do you like being famous?
Athenaeum_Mark: Right now we're sort of at a very small level of being famous, but the attention has been great, but we're not totally overloaded with fans, so far it has been very fun!
stormgirlie: I LOVE YOU GUYS SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!! YOU TWO ARE VERY FINE AND I THINK YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!
Athenaeum_Alex: THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
decaflatte: What was the first song each one of you guys ever learned to play? Athenaeum_Mark: I'm embarrassed to admit it was a song by Poison.
Athenaeum_Alex: My first song was "Louie Louie."
bazokagirl: I thought all band members started out in the garage, but it's cool that you started in your attic!
Athenaeum_Mark: We would have started in the garage, but no one had one!
decaflatte: Do you guys compose songs while you're on the road?
Athenaeum_Alex: Sometimes. Occasionally, when we do sound checks, we have a chance to work on new material. Usually, we are so busy, we don't have the time.
cocomontycarlo: I saw you guys in West Palm Beach last month -- great time !!!!
Athenaeum_Mark: Thanks! We had a great time too, I remember that show being very hot -- the temperature that is!
monkeypack: What is "Radiance" about?
Athenaeum_Mark: Radiance was a house we lived in, a place where friends would come in and out, a lot of good times and memories. A few friends were very talented. If you're not at the right place, in the right part of the world to make it happen it can be very frustrating.
freakshowfreak: Hi! Do you guys have a song called "Rebel's Yell"?
Athenaeum_Alex: Yes, we do! How'd you hear about it? LOL
dzedze: Do you consider yourself a pop band or alternative?
Athenaeum_Mark: I definitely don't consider us an alternative band, if I had to choose I'd say a pop band. But I think we're more like a rock band.
gayle531: What's the funniest thing that's happened to you while out on the road?
Athenaeum_Mark: We were on the way to a radio station, to promote a song"Flat Tire," and the van got a flat tire!!
smemsvt: Why and how did you decide to that "What I Didn't Know" should be your first single?
Athenaeum_Alex: We picked that one as the first single because we thought it was a very catchy song. It would let everyone know what the group was like.
Athenaeum_Mark: We chose it because of it's catchiness, the first time you hear it you remember it and can sing it after that. It's an emotional song as well. It covers a lot of ground and a lot of audience.
brianagayle: I am having problems with my computer, say "I" if you see what I am saying.
Athenaeum_Mark: I!
Athenaeum_Alex: I!
gayle531: What's the most memorable thing a fan has ever done for or given you?
Athenaeum_Mark: We've had lots of memorable moments. We have great thoughtful fans. One event I remember was when these two girls made their own Athenaeum shirts, one for each of us, and it had a line from one of our songs on the back.
Athenaeum_Alex: We had a fan email us from Japan who then decided to come over America just to hear our show.
Athenaeum_Mark: She also brought us goodies from Japan!
nolvanacid: Favorite song to perform live?
Athenaeum_Mark: "Unnoticed" is one of our favorites because there's a rockin' ending that's really fun to play, and it's great to see the crowd reacting.
Athenaeum_Alex: I have to agree with Mark...it's a great fun song to play!
Athenaeum_Mark: Plus, it's one of the last songs we play, so it means we can go backstage soon and relax!
tippy21485: Do you guys ever do concerts at schools (like school dances)? If So, how can someone get you to do one at a school?
Athenaeum_Alex: Funny you ask! We just did a concert at a boarding school in Virginia last week. You'd have to contact our management via our web site.
smemsvt: I am 14 years old, and have been writing songs since third grade. I was wondering, was becoming a band easy? It hasn't been for me, and I was wondering if that's normal.
Athenaeum_Alex: We were fortunate that we all lived in the same area, and had the same musical tastes. So for us, it all came together, but for you, you have to find those who you can write and perform with.
Athenaeum_Mark: Also, there were times when we were just getting to know each other, and we'd go off in our own direction for a while. Don't get discouraged if this happens, you're still growing. So take your time.
milliezoog: Have you ever fought among yourselves?
Athenaeum_Mark: Luckily, we've known each other for so long, the ups and downs are something we're very respectful about. It's usually just tiny details.
Athenaeum_Alex: Spending 24 hours a day together for a year, you have your ups and downs. It's like spending time with your family, but it's about the love.
decaflatte: Where are Grey and Nic?
Athenaeum_Mark: Nic is in Chapel Hill, and Grey is in Charleston, NC working at a horse stable.
Athenaeum_Alex: The reason Nic is not here is he is afraid of modern technology!
sugarbabey: Do you get nervous before you go on stage?
Athenaeum_Mark: Not so much anymore. Usually it comes at weird times. Lots of the guys in the band have weak bladders right before we play, but usually we're a very confident band!
Athenaeum_Alex: There was one show we played recently with the Goo Goo Dolls in Texas in front of about 30,000 fans, and it was a bit nerve-wracking!
barrysanders2: Oh well, ya'll prolly can't see me but I LOVE this band! I loved them when no one else in my town even knew who they were, and that's kinda cool! Just thought I'd share for no real reason at all.
Athenaeum_Alex: (referring to user name) Love your football! hehe
atp333: Does anyone in your band play soccer?
Athenaeum_Alex: Grey and myself grew up playing soccer. In fact, we played on rival teams. But we didn't find out until 6 or 7 years later that we played against each other!
Athenaeum_Mark: I believe I played a year and a half of soccer; it was way too much running for me!
susan07: Hi, this is Susan. If you could do a duet with anyone, who would it be and why?
Athenaeum_Alex: Sean "Puffy" Combs, because everyone is doing a duet with him!
uviaws: Are guys going to make a video for "Unnoticed"? It's one of my favorite songs!
Athenaeum_Mark: The only way is if it were released as a single, which we're hoping will happen in January. If it plays well on the radio then we'll make a video for it.
nicolepuzzo: Mark, Hi! Remember my friend Jen? (She said if you ever need a girlfriend she'd be happy to be yours.) I just wanna say hi for her.
Athenaeum_Mark: Myself and the guys say hello, and I hope you didn't freeze the last time we saw you!
marisa112: How do you guys come up with lyrics? Because I write songs, but it's really hard to write songs!
Athenaeum_Mark: Lyrics are always the most difficult part of a song. They're what people remember in the song, besides melody and structure. I try to take from everyday life experience.
susan07: Hey, I'm sooooooooooo excited about chatting with you guys! You rule! I was wondering if you ever miss your family when you're on the road?
Athenaeum_Alex: Yeah, we do quite a bit, especially on the long tours.It's nice to get home once in awhile.
Athenaeum_Mark: That's one of the hardest things about touring, is missing your loved ones. It's a huge drawback. Recently, we all purchased cel phones because of that!
seespot: When can I see your video? Is it on Zoog Disney?
Athenaeum_Alex: Yeah, you check out our video on Zoog Disney! They're playing "Flat Tire"!
zooggodess: What do you think of ZoogDisney???
Athenaeum_Alex: It's great! We really appreciate that they're playing our videos now.
Athenaeum_Mark: It was actually exciting to hear they were playing the video. We didn't know until one of my sister's friends said she saw it. I didn't believe it!
froggy8bug22: If you guys could be anybody else for one day, who would you be?
Athenaeum_Mark: That's such a hard question to answer! There's so many interesting people out there! I'd like to know what it feels like to be a huge NBA star like Michael Jordan, so it would be neat to be someone tall for a day! Since we're all short!
Athenaeum_Alex: I'd want to be Mark...who then would be Michael Jordan, and I'd know what that was like!
tippy21485: Who do you all have crushes on?
Athenaeum_Mark: My girlfriend!
Athenaeum_Alex: Nic and I both have a contest as to who will go on a date with Jennifer Love Hewitt first!
basketballzoog11: What advice would you give to kids who want to achieve big in the music business (like me and my friend Jacie. Hi Jacie!)
Athenaeum_Alex: The best thing to do is to follow your dreams. Stay with it, it'll happen. I know a lot of us have faced this, but the best thing is to stay with it.
Athenaeum_Mark: One of the biggest things you have to have is patience. Just know how to be yourself, and remain yourself. There are a lot of obstacles to face. Sometimes it can be disheartening, because it becomes a business instead of making music. For us, doing it for ourselves and putting it on an independent record was very beneficial to us.
Zoogerator: Guys, I'm afraid we've run out of time for today's chat.
Athenaeum_Mark: Goodbye! And thanks for writing in!
Athenaeum_Alex: Bye everybody!
Zoogerator: I'd like to thank Mark and Alex of Athenaeum for joining us today. Their new album "Radiance" is in stores now. Keep your eyes open for the next time their video for "Flat Tire" pops up on ZOOG DISNEY! Thanks for joining us here in the Zeethatorium!

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