1. Tell us about your craziest touring experience?
The craziest experience was probably when we were in the south of France. We had just played this small festival. Earlier that day, on our drive, we saw this group of 5 guys at the gas station off the side of the highway who looked young and somewhat fashionable, so we were joking like “Oh maybe they’re going to the festival too.” So were back at our hotel after the show, hanging out on the balcony, and those same guys walked by! We yelled hi to them, and then all of a sudden they started scaling the walls of the hotel (we were on the second floor) and came into our room and were jumping on the beds. Then the hotel owner and his wife came up to the room in their pajamas, screaming at us in French, and threatened to kick us out of the hotel. They ended up just kicking the guys out, but they were NOT happy. What a wild night!
2. What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
I’d like to take a class in astrology. It’s something I’ve been reading and studying on my own for a little while, but it would be great to learn from someone who really knew what they were doing, in real life.
3. What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
Aside from the obvious ones (New York, LA, San Francisco, etc) I really like visiting Lawrence, Kansas. It has a really cute downtown, awesome record and clothing stores, good restaurants, and cool people.
4. What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
Someone recently told me that I shouldn’t be afraid of competition, which is good advice for me but probably not great advice for a lot of other people!
5. What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
Tim Cohen – The Two Sides of Tim Cohen, King Tuff – Was Dead, Bob Wills – The Tiffany Transcriptions, the Lost Horizon soundtrack.
6. The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to?
I’m currently addicted to Project Runway. It almost makes me wish I’d pursued fashion design.
7. What’s the first concert you ever saw – how was it?
The first concert I ever saw was No Doubt on the Return of Saturn tour, in 2000. It was a great concert – I experienced my first mosh pit, Gwen Stefani had the pink hair, and I still like No Doubt so it’s not something that I’m at all embarrassed about.
8. What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
A notebook to draw or write notes in, a laptop to kill time in the hotel or backstage, and spending money so I can buy souvenirs at gas stations.
9. Who are your major musical influences?
The Wipers, Burt Bacharach, the Shangri-las, the Bananas, the Ramones, Dead Moon.
Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
If you go a few days without washing your hair, spray it with a ton of hairspray and then brush it out once it’s dry – it’ll give the appearance of clean hair.
