The Crash Moderns




1. When were The Crash Moderns formed as a band and how did you all get to know each other in the first place?

The Crash Moderns became a band officially on Halloween 2004, which marks the day that our drummer Doug Schmitt and bass player Eric Shean permanently arrived in NYC from Pittsburgh, PA. The concept of the band actually started over the summer of 2004, when my long time friend Jon and I decided that it was finally time to put the exact band together that we had always talked about. We both share such similar influences in music that we just knew someday we'd have the opportunity to make it happen. We started writing and recording tracks in NYC in August and by late Sept. we're already holding auditions to find the band to share the vision. Doug and Eric drove out here together from Pittsburgh after having already established themselves as a great rhythm section in PA. Once the four of us started playing together it was blatantly obvious to everyone that this was a perfect match. They drove back to PA, and when we spoke a couple of days later, the feelings were definitely mutual. They made their plans, and arrived in NYC 4 weeks later. In the meantime, Jon and I spoke about the different ways that we could really take this new band completely over the top. We realized that to achieve this, we definitely needed to find the extra ingredient, a musician who could bring to life the various vintage keyboard sounds that we were experimenting with at the time. As luck would have it we found that very necessary and integral part of the Crash Moderns in Matt Jaworski. Matt has such a great understanding and feel for what the Crash Moderns are and how we dip back a little and mix a somewhat vintage vibe into our modern sound.


2. Who have been the bands main influence musical and where do the band get it's ideas for the lyrics, are they taken out of everyday and personal experience?

The bands influences are so varied and to list everyone would really be hard, but touching on a few, I would say, of course the Beatles. The Cars for sure, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, The Ramones. It's so hard to sum it all up because there really are so many different flavors coming together. I guess the best musical description would be if you took all of the things that we love about sixties pop music and slammed it together with a fair dose of eighties new wave, and tossed it into todays music world, that's probably where you'd find The Crash Moderns. The lyrics to our songs are always taken from personal experiences, both good and bad. I have a lot of things running thru my brain and it’s not all pretty. haha. But seriusoly, I find that in order to be able to get behind a lyric and have it mean something to both myself and the listener, it must come from a place of truth, and a place of sincerity. I don't even change the names or places anymore, screw it right?


3. The band have recently recorded it's first EP, when will it be out and are the band happy with the overall result looking back on it or are there things you would have liked would have been done different second time around?

The EP was officially released on Tues. March 29^th. The band is very happy with the final results. The recording of the entire EP took about 2 ½ months, but the recording of it was absolutely the best. There’s nothing I would have done differently with this EP. I will say that we are really excited to get back into the studio to record some of the new songs.


4. Has there been any interest from any record labels for the band from Japan or Europe and what about within The States?

Yes, we actually just started sending the EP around recently. All of the feedback has been wonderful. Yes, there are a couple of US major labels showing interest but it’s a little too soon to tell. We’re definitely hoping for a major with international distribution. That would be amazing, but we would be just as happy with an indie. that was willing to put their heart and soul behind us, and really believe in this band.


5. Could the band tell us a little about the tracks featured on the EP, just to give a inside look on what they are about and when can we aspect it to come out?

Sure, the first song on the EP is a track called “This Time”. It’s loosely based on my knack for finding myself in the wackiest relationships and not realizing it until you meet someone who is perfect in every way. Six months down the line, repeat story. It’s the history of my life, haha.

Second track is a little love song called “Everybody Hates Me”, which tells the story of again being in a screwed up deal with a compete psychopath, we’ve all had those. Only to have the tables turned on you by that same person, who makes you out to be the one that’s completely nuts. Only until the former ends up really cracking up does everyone, even your own friends and family, finally believe your side to the story. The third track is called, “Hello World”. This is a song that I think everyone in someway or another can relate to. It’s a song about how hard it is to make your mark in the world and how even though people may come from all different

backgrounds and classes, we all want the same thing in the end. Our day to shine and be noticed.

The fourth track is called, “All About You”. I guess this one is the most self explanatory of the songs. It’s just simply about how people can be very self serving.

The last song on the EP is one of my favorites. It’s a song I had written a while ago that has a special meaning to me. It’s about when you meet a person, and instantaneously know that they get you and you get them. The connection between two people that is immediately understood but so impossible to find. I guess that’s why it’s so easy to spot when it happens.


6. Danny you used to be a band called No Soap Radio, but the band recently split after releasing it's debut album. What happened back then and what are the other members up to today?

No Soap Radio was kind of a disappointment on many levels. I truly think it was just a matter of a group of guys who didn’t all agree on what was needed on a daily basis to make a band successful. It became an uphill battle that wasn’t worth fighting anymore. When you’re in a band or project or whatever, all of the members have to share a common goal, they all have to want the same thing, and work towards it together., and that just wasn’t the case.

As far as what the other members are up to, I could only tell you that my old bass player Pete and I keep in regular contact. He is really working hard at getting his art company, Eye Kandy Designs off the ground, and I only wish him the best of luck.


7. What's the bands personal point of view on todays music industry and the general music scene as it's seen on MTV and heard on the mainstream radio stations?

I think that things are starting to get a little bit better, I hope. A few years ago, when the whole American idol, one hit wonder craze was in full bloom, and no one was buying CD’s and supporting their favorite bands anymore, I thought we were all doomed. But to be truthful, I’m starting to see a little bit of a swing, back to the days of the record labels truly hanging in there with their artists for more than one record. I really hope that it keeps turning around. It’s sad to see any lack of commitment in the music world, especially when we’re all working so hard.


8. Hows the local area where the band hails from when it comes to get gigs to play and get played on the local radio stations?

NYC is truly the greatest city in the world. Even though it’s so massive in size and population it still really takes care of its own and has a sense of pride when one of its bands starts to gain some attention. I guess it recognizes all of the hard work it takes to try and stand out in a city like this. I’m sure it’s the same anywhere when it comes to getting shows. It’s really a matter of dollars and cents. Draw is definitely a factor in returning to a club. Radio on the other hand is a little bit trickier. Most of the radio stations in NYC are all major, and as such they have strict requirements placed on them as to what can and can’t be played. There are specialty shows on these stations which do feature up and coming artists. Q104.3 is a big one that took a chance on us, and has been playing our single. A big shout out to Jonathan Clarke for taking a shot with us on his show, “Out of the Box”.


9. What's been the bands best moments in it's short time of existence and so far do the band itself feel it's been a struggle to get to where the band is now?

The bands best moment to date would definitely be when we shared the stage this past weekend with American Hi Fi in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They are some of the nicest guys I’ve ever met on top of it. The show was a blast, and I got to sing with them on their cover of Surrender by Cheap Trick, my favorite group of all time. How can you beat that? We look forward to playing with them again soon.

To answer your other question, Is it a struggle? Absolutely. It is day in and day out Crash Moderns. We do at minimum eight hours a day band business, booking, contacting radio stations, everything related to getting the name out there. Then we rehearse at night, and somehow try to find the time to keep writing new material. We are touring constantly on a shoe string budget in an old van with no AC that has been so faithful to us. We love being out on the road and wouldn’t trade it for the world, but we certainly would welcome the opportunity to take on less of a business role so that we could focus all day everyday on the music.


10. What does the future holds for the band at this moment in time, any plans of touring in the progress?

Our future is the same as our present, touring, touring, and more touring. We are going to be heading into the recording studio this coming week to lay tracks for a couple of brand new songs. We are so excited about that. A few days later we will be back out touring the Midwest. There are some dates in the works right now with another cool recording artist, but I won’t know anything definite until early next week.


11. Any last words to the fans People out there here in the end?

Thank you so much for supporting us, for lending us your floors to sleep on, and for buying our records. We promise not to disappoint you. Have a great summer and we promise to meet each and everyone one of you at the show.