THE LOVED ONES
by Christer Davidsson, June 2007
Live photo by: Wendy Shoenfeld
You just got back from Canada where you toured with Strike Anywhere, The Bouncing Souls and Static Radio NJ. How was that? It was as great as you could imagine, playing with great bands who are great friends to great audiences in a wonderful country.
I love all those bands. have you played with them earlier?
Tons of times. There aren't two bands we've played more shows with.
How's Canada compared to the US when it comes to punk rock shows?
Terrific, more appreciative, longer attention spans, it is similar to Europe that way. Our coastal shows in the states are fantastic though, East and West coasts.
You did a secret show in Ottawa, right? Did anyone show up?
Yeah we packed out a little record store up the street from the club that our friend Sean owns. You couldn't fit any more people in, and we collectively with the fans drank about a keg of beer. It was a good night. I also got a haircut from a nice young gal who is in cosmopology school, Thanks!
Anything extra fun that happened up north that you'd like to share with our readers?
We saw tons of wildlife, hung out with our friends in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, played Halifax and Victoria Island (most bands never get that chance) and had an overall unforgetable time in Canada.
I've been listening a whole lo to "Keep Your Heart" over the last few weeks. When is a new album due?
We will record in September and it will hopefully be out in Feb of 08.
Have you begun the recordings yet or are you still in the songwriting-phase?
We demo songs as we go, but we are definitely still writing.
What can we expect from the next record?
An honest perspective and dynamic songs. A bit more traditionally rock and roll I'd say.
So, Fat Wreck is releasing this one, right? How did you hook up with those people?
Yes, we plan to put the record out on Fat. They asked us to put out our first record.
Will there be a vinly version of the upcoming record as well?
I have no idea, hopefully.
Do you guys perfer CD's or vinyl? MP3's. I just like really good songs sung honestly, I don't care how I get them.
One thing that I really like about "Keep Your Heart" is that it's so even. I like the fact that every song is fantastic on it's own but all together it's really like a unit. I think a lot of bands make records with songs that are going in too many directions. What's the secret formula to write a good Loved Ones song?
I'm not sure, but we try not to make them too long, and we try to make the hook something you want stuck in your head, not the opposite. Lyrically just honesty I'd say.
For how long have you guys been writing music together? Have you been in bands together before the days of The Loved Ones?
Mike and I started the Loved Ones with our old bass player in 2003, and played our first show in 2004. We have been in a bunch of bands over the years, yes.
Are there more releases in the works? Maybe a single to get the people excited?
We hope to do so, yes. We still actually have some unreleased material from the Keep your Heart session, so ...keep your eyes peeled...
Have you found a new bass-guy yet? I checked your MySpace profile and it seems like you haven't got one at the moment.
We do have one, yes.
How's punk rock & hard core doing in Philadelphia right now? Any new upcoming bands that you'd like to recommend in particular?
I don't know how punk rock and hardcore music are doing, but we have a great music scene in general. We love the ERGS from Jersey, Armalite, Hey Angel, Ram and Ox, and Lighten Up.
What do you think of todays punk rock in general?
Eh..it's ok. Some of its cool, some of it sucks, just like anything else, you know?
Apart from writing and recording your new record what will you guys be doing over the summer?
Working, spending time with family, playing some shows with the Souls on the east coast, etc...
Anything else you'd like to say to the ones who are reading this interview?
Thanks for listening and reading about us, we really appreciate it.
Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview and good luck with the new stuff!
Thank you!
Links:
http://www.thelovedonesband.com
http://www.myspace.com/thelovedones