From sickness on the road to astrophysics, The Dear Hunter’s Casey Crescenzo enlightens us in this week’s Hot Seat.
1. Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
I think the craziest thing that ever happened is quite embarrassing, but since it happened to literally everyone BUT me, I can tell it, and laugh a little.
One night after a show, one of the members of our band started to feel a little ill. The window was open in our van, and when I went to close it, I felt a hand stop me, and then the words “I need this…” came from the dark. Moments later, the van came to a halt as said member rushed out to evacuate his stomach of whatever terrible material had found its way in. My instinctual reaction- “was he drinking?” was met with the answer “no, he didn’t drink anything.” I didn’t think much of it, maybe he just got sick.
The next day, as the sick member was recovering, sickness struck a new member. After eating at a well established sub chain, he felt woozy, and had to lie down- obviously I thought “the sub made hims sick”. This was not the case.
That night, sickness struck a third, and luckily it struck right next to a hotel. So, the 5 other members, our FOH engineer, and our tour manager got 2 rooms at a cheap hotel. I opted to sleep in the van so that everyone could get a bed.
5 AM rolls around. TAP TAP TAP. I wake up to our TM banging on the van window. In a daze I open the door and say ,”Whats up?” his response? - “We have to cancel the show. Everyone is sick.”
Apparently the bubonic plague had struck- everyone was in the hotel rooms, violently vomiting, and causing quite a bit of damage to the glossy finish of porcelain. All but 2 people had contracted the bug. For the next few days, it was a standoff- waiting for someone else to fall to the sickness. We had high hopes, but were reading into everything, waiting for a sudden fit.
Finally, it took its last victim, leaving our FOH engineer, and I, unscathed.
Obviously not really a rock star story- but then again we aren’t rock stars.
2. What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
Astrophysics. I am already quite interested in the subject, but don’t have anywhere close enough to the ability to teach myself anything- so the idea of sitting in a room with an astrophysicist sounds pretty awesome.
3. What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
San Luis Obispo was probably the most fun for me. It was the kind of town where everyone smiled- that is no exaggeration- EVERYONE smiled. Standing outside of the venue, I had someone just walk up and say-
“You playing here tonight?”
“Yessir.”
“Awesome man, well enjoy yourself, its a great club.”
That was it- he just felt the need to make my day a little better.
I also had a waffle cooked with cheese on the inside and topped with a cilantro vinegar dressing. Strange but amazing.
4. What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
Don’t gauge your success by the success of others.
5. What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse
6. The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
I am addicted to V, FlashForward, The Office, Family Guy- pretty standard stuff.
7. What’s the first concert you ever saw - how was it?
The first concert I saw (as far as I know) was when I was a toddler- and my parents were performing in a warehouse.
8. What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
Shoes, Shirt, Pants.
9. Who are your major musical influences?
Beatles, Beach Boys, Hendrix, Mike Patton, Bjork, David Bazan.. the list is endless
Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
Try this- Take a toffee flavored rice cake, cover with natural peanut butter, and add a drizzle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then enjoy an amazing treat.
