I got the chance to catch up with Texas boys Thee Armada a few weeks ago while they were on tour with Select Start and the Downtown Fiction.
EastScene: Excluding your hometown show, what was the best show or city you’ve played so far on this leg of the tour, or the Back to the Futour?
Josh: Well apart from our hometown, Metamora Illinois.
Brian: Great show, great town, great kids. We loved the venue.
Josh: Yeah, Johnny’s Coffee House, every time. I love that place. They’re really nice to us.
EastScene: How many kids came out to that show?
Josh: Like 200.
EastScene: What’s the best thing you’ve gotten from a fan on this tour so far?
Brian: I’m looking at it right now! (Referring to a box of macaroni and cheese he got that night.)
Josh: This is Brian’s favorite food, Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese. But I’m going to say that these two girls from Plano, Texas.
Brian: San Antonio.
Josh: Well they come to Plano shows, so think that area. They make us tote bags, write all over it, decorate it, and then put a bunch of candy, and snacks, and goodies inside. Like one time, they made me a shirt.
Brian: Yeah, Ariel and Gabriella!
Josh: Yes, Ariel and Gabriella rock.
EastScene: What exactly is “Rock, Shock, and Load”?
Brian: It’s the meaning of everything.
Taylor: It’s the meaning of life.
Bryan: Every rose has its thorn.
(5 second pause)
Mike: What?
Bryan: Haven’t you seen Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey? He’s like what’s the meaning of life!
Josh: Rock Shock and Load is a quick, little Texas anthem…quote. You know Rock, Shock, and Load. Texas anthem.
EastScene: Where’d you get the idea for the Rock, Shock, and Load video?
Brian: It’s supposed to be like a spin off on like, Houston’s supposed to be like a rap scene, it’s known for it’s rap scene and we’re a rock band reppin’ Texas, talking about reppin’ Texas and that’s what a lot of rappers do. So it’s supposed to be like we’re a rock band from Houston.
Josh: And we wanna rep too.
Brian: We tried to bring out some of the rap, like Slim Thug let us borrow some of his cars for the video.
Bryan: He’s a famous rapper from Texas.
EastScene: I heard that a few people were disappointed by the girls in the video.
(All laugh)
Bryan: There were a few, haha.
Josh: Yeah, a few girls hit us up on myspace and were like “I thought you guys were better than booty dancer girls”.
(All laugh again)
Bryan: They didn’t get the fact that it was a joke.
EastScene: Have you guys been tossing around names for the new full length?
Brian: Yes.
All in unison: Yes, “Grizzly”.
Brian: It’s got a good chance, but we’re still talking.
Bryan: Yeah, but we do have the name for our upcoming EP. That’s coming out really soon. The full length we have ideas for, but the EP is going to be called “Sweet T’s”. It’s a good play on words.
EastScene: So when’s everything scheduled to release?
Brian, The full length is tentative.
Josh: Yeah, the EP maybe 3 weeks.
Bryan: Maybe a month, possibly 2 at the latest, but the songs are going to be out within the next few weeks.
Brian: We’re going to actually release it in Japan as well with an extra bonus track.
Bryan: Found exclusively in Japan. We’re stoked to have the opportunity to go to Japan and tour on that EP.
EastScene: So you’re going to Japan?
Josh: Eventually.
Bryan: That’s the goal.
Brian: Yeah, it’s in the works.
Josh: Also, for those of you looking at this, you can go to our Myspace and you can listen to all of our new songs and come say hello!
EastScene: So have you guys recorded with any producers we might know?
Brian: Our EP we recorded with Geoff Rockwell, he recorded them. Matt Squire produced one of the tracks that are going to be on the EP.
Josh: Yeah, we don’t have anybody were solid with.
EastScene: What’s the difference between hyper, super, and ultra guitar?
Josh: Which one are you?
Bryan: I’m ultra.
Taylor: I’m super.
Josh: Am I even a hyper or anything?
Taylor: A long time ago our songs used to have a lot of dual leads where Bryan would play lead and I would play lead. But now I guess it’s leaning toward me to play more lead, but I don’t want me to be lead guitar and Bryan to be rhythm, because it’s just lame. We’re both lead guitar.
Josh: Honestly, in a lot of our new songs, we all 3 play guitar
EastScene: I saw you picked up a guitar for a few songs. Is that going to be a permanent thing?
Josh: Yeah, definitely. If it’s need. I’m gonna play it.
EastScene: There was a breakdown in one of the new songs. What’s up with that?
Josh: Yeah, it’s in one of our new songs “Hell Yeah”.
EastScene: Are there going to be more?
Brian: It’s the first of many to come.
(All laugh)
Bryan: No, they’re gonna be very far and few between. We try to keep it tasteful.
Josh: I think it’s just from our background.
Brian: It really is. We really enjoy mixing it up. Different sounds, different stuff. It keeps people not expecting it.
Mike: If it fits, we’ll put it in. We’re not going to add unnecessary breakdowns (laughs).
EastScene: So have you seen any bands or played with any bands that we might hear of in the future?
All: All the Day, Holiday.
Brian: Really really good music.
Bryan: They’re amazing live. They have a great warmth to their set.
Brian: All of our friends: Asteria, Good Guys, Callahan.
Taylor: Mechanical Boy. Check out Mechanical Boy from Houston, Texas.
Bryan: The guys we’re on tour with now, Select Start and The Downtown Fiction. They’re going to do great things.
Josh: Also, check out the Jonas Brothers. If you don’t know them, they’re a really good band.
EastScene: What are you guys most excited about to go home to?
Brian: Bed.
Mike: My bed.
Taylor: Bed.
Bryan: It would be nice to see my parents. And I don’ have a girlfriend, so all I have is a bed.
Josh: I’m just stoked to go home and see my girlfriend, and go to a skate park. I got a new skateboard today!
Bryan: Taylor’s getting a better phone than me when we go home.
EastScene: You pissed?
Bryan: I’m pissed. I’m the phone guy, and his girlfriend got him the phone I’ve been wanting forever.
EastScene: Sounds like some bad territory problems.
Brian: It is.
Bryan: It’s cool though because I know he’s gonna be like “How do I do this” and I’m gonna be like “I don’t know, you got the phone dude”!
EastScene: Any last shout outs?
Josh: Ey Carla. And hey Lyndsey!
Brian: We just wann say thanks to all of our friends and fans for getting us where we are today!
EastScene: Oh, and what drops this week?
Bryan: Our new song called “Real World” and a new myspace! We’re really stoked about it and the kids are really gonna dig it. So new myspace, new music, new us. So Stay tuned!
Hit up Thee Armadas Myspace. Watch out for new music, and a giveaway with them!
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