Get to know Sing It Loud a little better when lead singer/guitarist Pat Brown and keyboardist Ben Peterson sit down in our Hot Seat and answer our burning questions.
1. Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
Pat Brown: We were on tour with the Spill Canvas and Motion City Soundtrack in Canada, and some people from our band, all of Motion City Soundtrack, and all of Spill Canvas were hanging out in this bar having some drinks (those that were of age of course !!!!), and for some reason I thought that I was catching a ride with one of my guys back to our van and trailer. Turns out I was wrong, and while Spill Canvas and Motion City were leaving I just stayed and hung out. I was there alone for like an hour and a half, then the bar closed and I was stranded in the cold outside for like another hour and there was a bunch of homeless people around that wouldn’t stop talking to me. I couldn’t use my phone to call anyone cause I was in Canada and didn’t have service and the guys couldn’t get a hold of me either. We had no idea where each other were. It was a total fiasco, but after about another hour they came by and saw me sitting on the curb.
Ben Peterson: We were driving to Upper Michigan, I happened to be driving, and I looked around and everything looked waaaaay weird. I realized shortly after that I had missed our exit and brought us to the Canadian border!!!
2. What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
Pat Brown: Probably home economics because then I could learn how to cook a bomb meal, and instead of taking a girl out to eat I could cook for her. Way more impressive.
Ben Peterson: I’d love to be in a fashion marketing class. That’s what I wanted to go to college for before I was in this band. The fashion industry has always been super appealing to me. Also I love the business aspect of things so combining fashion and marketing is perfect!
3. What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
Pat Brown: Definitely Los Angeles. The weather is perfect, the nightlife is great, and the ocean is there. I also have a lot of friends that live in LA.
Ben Peterson: I’m going to go with the cliche and say New York City. Although I’m sure everyone says New York, I just love the energy everyone has something to do and somewhere to go.
4. What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
Pat Brown: The best advice I’ve been given was from my friend Gabe from the band Cobra Starship. He told me no matter what you do or who you are, people will always try and bring you down. You have to believe in what you are doing and who you are and live it and if anyone tries to tell you differently, all you can say is “kiss my sass.”
Ben Peterson: Righty tighty, lefty loosey.
5. What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
Pat Brown:
Fall Out Boy’s Folie A Duex
M.I.A’s Kala
The Starting Line’s Make Yourself At Home acoustic EP.
Ben Peterson:
Fall out boy- Follie A duex
Tegan and Sara- The Con
John Legend- Evolver
6. The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
Pat Brown: The Office, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Arrested Development, and I’m fascinated by anything you can watch on History and Discovery Channel.
Ben Peterson: I’m absolutely 110% addicted to Gossip Girl on the CW. Blake Lively and Leighton Meester…if you’re reading, let’s kick it!
7. What’s the first concert you ever saw - how was it?
Pat Brown: Hot Water Music, Less Than Jake, and Bad Religion at the Roy Wilkin’s Auditorium in St. Paul Minnesota. It was the most captivating experience ever. It was me and all my junior high friends and our dad’s didn’t trust us to go to our first concert, so they all came with ear plugs and sat in the stands - so funny. I was 14.
Ben Peterson: My first concert was, Glassjaw, Brand New, MXPX, and Dashboard Confessional. This show changed my life. It made me want to go on tour and play for a ton of kids every night. This show kick started my interest in bands and this “scene” that we’re in.
8. What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
Pat Brown: My iPhone, my electric shaver (because I never have time to use shaving cream and a real razor), and macbook.
Ben Peterson: iphone, UGG slippers, Cinnamon Life cereal.
9. Who are your major musical influences?
Pat Brown: My mom and grandfather because they pounded piano and music in general into my brain since I was 3 years old. Without them pushing me, there would be no chance of me being involved in music today. As far as artists go, Taking Back Sunday, Bjork, and The Early November.
Ben Peterson: The Early November, John Mayer, Dashboard Confessional, Kayne West, The Starting Line.
Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
Pat Brown: Something that many people don’t realize is that everyone that’s born into this world has the ability to create their own reality, Whether you want to be a rockstar, a professional athlete, a doctor, or a teacher. Fight for what you want to be and don’t ever give up.
Ben Peterson: Love Life. I’m Hungry.
