The Influents

We the influents all had known eachother for years. Bill and Jason from the influents acctually went to Highschool together for one year. Jason ( the influents ) had moved here from Little Rock because his Mom had a job in Oakland. They went to Northgate Highschool in Walnut Creek, CA a middle upper class area with the classic 80's movie demographic. Bill ( bass, the influents )and his friends (The Skinflutes, later Sawhorse & Monsula) were Seniors and Jason was a Softmore. Jason seeked them out as friends cause they were the skater punks just like the influents. Jason liked Skot Meyer (singer) because he had colored hair, tatoos and had the hottest girlfriends. Skot also had the jocks scared of him. He once drew a smiley face on his hand and walk up to some asshole and said. "You see this" and smashed it into the guys nose. Anyway, Mike Kirsh who played in Pinhead Gunpowder was also there. Jason later replaced him and played with Bill and Billie and Aaron. The Influents was an off shoot of Pinhead Gunpowder because Billie was in Green day, and Bill and Jason were hungry to play some tunes. So I ( greg from the influents ) took it on wrote some tunes that Jason liked and bam we started it up through long nights and ended up kicking out a drummer, Eric before we even had the name the influents. Willie recorded our first demo, we liked willie so we got him to play drums in the influents. Jason and I continued working off eachother to write songs for the influents. The influents played in the basement of Univibe a Music Store that Bill Owned. We practiced in between just hanging out and going out to dinner. Jason and I had shitty jobs so we would go out every night after practice and get drunk talking about music, the influents and girls or whatever. Jason, the singer of Samiam ( not from the influents ) worked at Thelosa a Bar in Berkeley he would hook us up and hang outside with us smoking cause he supported the influents. Jason White ( one the influents singers ) was 2 or 3 years older than me and he was like the wise older brother to me until he was wasted then i took care of him.
Anyone who has sat next to Jason on a bar stool has to love the man, he loves to drink and feels euphoric when talking about people and music past and future and all that jazz. I was about 22-23 and all I cared about the influents. Jason was living in Billie Joes basement during the first years of the influents so we would go up there and record songs influents on the 4-track. We would hang out with Billie who often wore only his underwear and a tee shirt (not a shirt of the influents though) listening to things like The Replacements, Guided by Voices and Big Star. We would drink til the sun came up and pass out on the floor wake up and go to the Alameda skate park or out to breakfast, then go to work. When I started writing songs for the influents I worked for Sonny Kay at his punk record distribution and Jason worked at adeline ( who put out the influents records ). Our worlds went together and collided it all made sense. We finally decided to do a record and think of a name. We first had names like Fallen Angels, Dirty Floors, The big influence... The we went with The Influents (kinda like The Replacements) and kept going out to dinner and playing. Jason and I would get together at the music store after hours and play all the guitars and think up lyrics and songs together in the spirt of the influents. I spent a lot of time at home writing riffs and things to work out also for the influents and my other bands redscare and murder takes no holiday ( east bay hardcore punk or whatever, we blew away all those other "punk" bands
Anyway, One of Jasons band mates/best friends from back in Arkansas was in a freak car accident and killed. This is when Jasons best song (in my opinion) was born. Before this had happend the song was similar but had different lyrics completely. It had a GBV inspired chorus "Please Captain give me a sign" This song became "Up in Arms" Jason told me he got the name from and interview with Pres. George Bush Sr.  In reference to a bombing in the middle east that killed hundreds of inocent civilians. The song obviously had a personal meaning to Jason about his friend but thats where the title came from.
Around the same time I was writing such tunes as Tears not Suicide and Where Ill Go. Tears not suicide was written while i worked delivering flowers in Alemeda (an Island near Oakland) It was were there used to be a Naval Base, it remained the same as it was in the 40's and 50's. I delivered to a lot of funeral homes. theinfluents I had just broken my own heart for the feeling of empowerment through desperation. And I was feeling holy, alone with no direction to turn but to record songs on my 4-trak. the influents Where I'll go is when I had to decide between a good job and the band, guess which one I picked. The Influents. Our first song we recorded with Willie and as the Influents was "Simple Girls" I had the music Jason had the words. The Influents. I remember writing it after having a Van halen song stuck in my head. I was also teaching myself songs to play one the guitar all the time. We went out to Willies studio and recorded Simple Girls. I recorded the guitar solo off the top of my head first try. 
      

Posted by skatemaster at 03:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

 We went on a couple U.S tours that were the most fun we had. One night in Chicago Bill and Jason got into an argument about something dumb and later Jason didn't want Bill in the band anymore. :( You could imagine that was hard he was my brother. But I talked to Bill about it and told him I still wanted to do the influents because I was still inspired and had more songs. Oh, and here is when Billie played bass for us at a couple shows when we didn't have Johnny yet. He said he was stoked, we all were. The shows were in Alemeda, CA and Pleasanton, CA. Half the show had a party in the cargo van we rented in the parking lot of the Veterans Hall
We got Johnny Wentz to play bass in the influents and we played many Bay Area shows as locally that went over great. We also did a few U.S treks. The Influents got together after Jason Got back from one of the Green Day tours and decided to make another Influents record. We met at Billie's and drank much red wine. He kept refilling my glass to get me to talk I think. Billie wanted to produce but Willie and the rest of the band later just did it all ourselves as the influents only. We were staying up too late and working during the day. I got really sick and went to the hospital. Jason drank. Willie had taken over record and everyone else hung in the balance. We all wanted the record to turn out really good, of course. But now I think I would rather have had "mistakes" and a good feel than technically perfect edits. Us having a van that broke everyother influents show and all of us being burned out alchoholics was the demise of the band.

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Click on the link below! 

http://www.theinfluents.net/media/flash/vinylbuy.htm

 

 

 

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By Christopher Hudson

 

The Influents are a rad band from the Oakland Bay Area punk scene in California. Check out their official website here, or the record label they are signed to, Adeline Records. Recently, I got the opportunity to interview The Influents singer and guitarist, Jason White, who is also co-founder of Adeline Records, a member of another Bay Area punk band, Pinhead Gunpowder and is currently a temporary second guitarist on the road for Green Day. Here is the interview...

Hudson - You have a lot on your plate at the moment, with Adeline Records, Pinhead Gunpowder, The Influents and touring with Green Day, what priority do you give to The Influents? Is it a serious thing or just a side-project?

Jason White - It's definitely a "serious thing" to me, not a "side project". I put a lot into it with songwriting, arranging, singing, etc. and I get a lot out of it for those reasons. It's high on my priority list.

H - Are you guys currently doing any work on a new album – how long can we expect to hear some new stuff or a new disc?

JW - We are working on some new songs, we'll probably release a new record sometime early next year after some more touring and things.

H - I know it may not be for some time, but are The Influents planning to come out for an Australian tour?

JW - I would absolutely love to! I've been there only once and can't wait to go back. I got to know The Living End fellas on this last Green Day trip, and I'm trying to swindle our way over there to open up for them! They're great people.

H - As a member of the band The Influents, what bands/artists influence you?

JW - Hmmm... to name a few for myself: The Replacements, Tom Waits, Dylan (of course), Colin Brooks, Bobby Matthews, the list goes on and on...

H - I’m a little hazy in the area of The Influents’ history. When and how did you guys form?

JW - We first got together in the early months of 1999. Bill (bass) and I had been friends for years. I had recently moved back to the bay area and we were looking to play some music. It was shortly after Pinhead Gunpowder finished up "Shoot the Moon". So, he got his friend Eric to play drums and his brother Greg to also sing and play fiddle.

H - What is the song "Give The Anarchist A Cigarette" about?

JW - In general... just being sort of fed up with the music scene, and a few of the attitudes involved, etc, etc, etc. It's a little too personal to completely give away.

H - Who plays the harmonica on "Check Please"?

JW - That'd be Robert Plant... I'm kidding, it was me, silly. Actually we did pretty detailed liner notes in the record and CD. You should've already known. Shame.

H - What was the best show/venue that The Influents have played?

JW - Wow. That's a tough one. I'd say First Ave. in Minneapolis and The Fillmore here in San Francisco were among the best. Really great places to play.

H - What advice can you give to young bands and songwriters who are just starting out?

JW - Don't be shy, let it all hang out... and get a 4 track.

H - How did you get involved with Adeline Records and what kind of stuff do you do for the label?

JW - It's owned by my friends. They needed some help and I needed a job. I do many things for Adeline: wash the dishes, love on the bands, build things occasionally, the promo thang, package objects, proofread like a motherfucker, count t-shirts, buttons, records, cds, patches... and spend way too much time staring at computer screens.

H - Do you have any inside information on any upcoming bands or releases on Adeline that you would like to share?

JW - Well... okay. We ARE putting out a live in Japan Dillinger Four record sometime next year. The rest is sworn to secrecy. I could tell you... but then I'd have to kill all who read about it.

H - Even though I live in Australia, I am a big fan of the East Bay punk scene and the Gilman Street project etc. What is your opinion of life there?

JW - The winters are remarkably mild. Life is good in the east bay, except for the fuckin' rent prices. SHIT!!! Don't get me started on the rent...

H - What is your favourite guitar?

JW - Mine. It's a 1959 Les Paul Special.

H - Finally, you have cool hair.

JW - Thanks for noticing. Really.

END. 

Posted by skatemaster at 06:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Basic info

 Name: Jason White
Date/place of birth: November 11th, 1973 / Little Rock, Arkansas
Height: 5"10
Marital Status: Long term girlfriend
Drives: 1996 Toyota Tercel "when it works"
Band position: guitarist, backing vocals
Plays: guitar, bass
Other bands: Pinhead Gunpowder, The Influents, Chinohorde, The Big Cats

Adeline Records, Pinhead Gunpowder

Jason met Billie Joe when he moved California and lived in the Bay area. They soon became good friends and started a record company named Adeline Records with Adrienne Armstrong (Billie Joe's wife), Jim Thiebaud and Lynn Parker. As well as co-owning a record company with Billie Joe he is also in a band with him, Pinhead Gunpowder, where he plays guitar and vocals. Jason joined Pinhead Gunpowder in 1995 to replace Mike Kersh. On the album 'Shoot the Moon' Jason wrote 'Cabot Gal'. He and Bill Schneider (bass) wanted to try something new, recruiting Bill's brother, Greg Schneider (vocals and guitar) and Willie Samuels (drums) of The Receivers. Jason and Greg began writing songs and sharing the vocal duties - sometimes collaborating, other times bringing in their own compositions. After taking their time working and playing together for a little over a year, and after only a handful of live shows, they went in and self-recorded and produced their debut album, 'Check Please', in the summer of 2000. The articles and reviews came in. They were taken back by the praise it was receiving in the press and in magazines from all over the globe. 'Check please' was a Top Five Artist Pick in Rolling Stone and a Top 10 Best Seller at local chain Rasputin's that same year.

Green Day

 Soon Billie Joe needed his help on an album (Jason to the rescue) and became second guitarist for Green Day on the Warning album to add a richer sound. When asked in an interview about it Billie Joe said, "Well, there are different layers on some of these songs that we needed. It's hard to be a three-piece sometimes. You have limitations. This way, Jason can play acoustic sometimes or electric when we need him". If that wasn't enough he then played on tour with Green Day on the Pop Disaster, Warning and American Idiot tours. Green Day must like this guy a lot as he has appeared in two of their videos, When I Come Around, he's the guy kissing his, then, girlfriend by the car whilst that man is perving on them, and their most recent Wake Me up When September Ends. Whist playing with Green Day he likes to stay out of the spotlight. He says "I'm just a helping hand to the band; it's all about them three" A lot of people have been wondering and saying that he is the fourth member now but that isn't true at all and isn't planning to be. Billie Joe has said "He'll be playing with us for this tour, but we're not going to a four-member band from now on." Jasons going to carry on working with Green Day whilst they are on the American Idiot tour.

Posted by skatemaster at 07:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

By Graham Provan

02/05/02

Graham - Since the bands formation, taking into consideration all of the shows you have played and people you have met, what is your fondest memory so far?

Willie Samuels - I'm sure it's different for each of us and I don't know that I could pinpoint one moment but playing the Fillmore (San Fransico) was an amazing moment for me, as was First Avenue (Minneapolis). Making our record was also a load of fun.

G - Your not yet travelling internationally but talking of touring and having your own family and loved ones how do you find the whole touring experience?

WS - It's always a little difficult to leave the people you see everyday and I think everyone gets homesick on the road but I have found that friends and family are usually very supportive and excited for us to be out travelling. And with this band, we haven’t done any real long tours yet, they have all been around 2 weeks, and I find that that’s the point right about when the homesickness starts to kick in.

G - I knew there was a proposed Influents/One Time Angels tour for here in the UK back in January but it didn’t happen due to understandable logistics and costs etc. What’s the latest news in a development to that? You do know I'd pay for you guys to come over if I could? Please tell me I can live in hope of seeing The Influents live some time not too far away.

WS - In hindsight I think we all wish that we had made that trip, but as you said it just wasn't coming together all that well logistically and it was such a scary time to be travelling. I know that we would all really like to get over there as soon as possible and I think that as soon as it makes sense for us to do so, we will be there.

G - Not of your own bands but as a loving music fan what is the best show you have ever been to and why?

WS - Honestly, I don’t think I could pick one. Unfortunately, most of my favorite bands are either no longer in existence or are so awful today that you wouldn't want to see them so it makes it difficult. And being that I am really into recording, live shows always sound so terrible its depressing... so on those grounds I'd have to say Rush in like 88 or 89 hahaha...

G - Of people and musicians you have grown to love and admire who do you cite as your biggest influence in life so far? Be it a person whom has made you live life the way you do or to put the passion you have in your band and music in its place.

WS - It would undoubtedly be The Beatles for me. Nothing has affected my interest in music like them. They are the reason I started playing music and one of the main reasons I still am. A huge source of inspiration.

G - A simple one what are your favourite bands and records of all time? I find it far too hard myself decide one on each myself so name a few if you can.

WS - Well, as I just said, The Beatles of course. I could sit here all day and try to pick a favorite record, but its different everyday... Led Zeppelin's "Houses Of The Holy" and "Physical Graffiti" were huge for me. Tom Petty's "Damn the Torpedoes." Man, there are so many, its hard to distinguish what are true favorites and what I'm into at the moment... On the last tour we listened to The Band alot and Wilco and Big Star. I'm also a very big fan of The Buzzcocks. Anyways I could go on and on...

G - What Influents song are you most proud of?

WS - You are really good at asking questions that are impossible to give a singular answer to... Well I am really proud of "Up In Arms." Because it meant so much to Jason and it was really kind of thrown into the record at the last minute and I felt that for a song with almost no rehearsals it came to be one of our best moments. And "Simple Girls" as well just because it was the first thing we worked on.

G - How is work on the new Influents record coming along? What has been written or recorded if anything and do you have any other more specific details on it such as working titles release date, etc?

WS - As of right now, we haven't done much specifically for a new record. We have I think about 5 tunes that are completed that we have been playing live and maybe 2 or 3 more on the drawing board. We are really eager to get back in the studio and get the record out. A few titles and artwork ideas have been kicked around, but its usually easier to come up with that stuff when you have some music recorded to inspire you. We are planning on recording the record in September 2002 so that would probably put the release date in November sometime.

G - What motivates you each day to continue what you keep doing, what fulfillment does being a drummer have in your eyes?

WS - Honestly, I just play the drums because that is the instrument I picked and what comes most naturally to me. But I am almost completely uninterested in being a "great drummer." Not that I would be any happier playing another instrument, I just play because I love music.

G - Is there anything special we would find beneficial as fans as to how The Influents all work together and how you all get along together all the time?

WS - I have to say that this is the only band I have ever been in that doesn’t bicker and nag at each other. Its really amazing. We are all so confident in each others abilities to do what is best for the songs that nobody ever finds the need to get on somebodys case about what they are playing. When they asked me to join the band, I was really busy and said no for a while and that I didn’t want to make a commitment blah blah.. But the way they talked me into it was that "its just going to be a group of friends hanging out, playing music and maybe going out for a beer afterwards". That’s all its ever been.

G - You recently acquired the talents of bassist Johnnie Wentz who I have heard only good things about. I was told Bill left on his own accord on good terms which is always nice to hear but where did you come across Johnnie?

WS - Oddly enough, Johnnie works at Univibe Guitars which is right next door to Univibe Drums, which is the drum shop that Bill owns. And I had recorded a county record that Johnnie played guitar on a few months earlier as well. So I knew he was great. We always joke around that Johnnie is the best guitar player in the band...


G - We know Jason now finds himself busy a lot now touring with Green Day so The Influents aren’t exactly touring all year long and you have your own studio at Nu-Tone set up. You must have worked with so many bands through that and you promised me a list one day (I'll hold you to that you know). Who has been your favourite band to work with and why?

WS - Yet another one of these questions...hahaha. Man there have been so many. Well I would definitely have to say The Receivers, a band that I ultimately ended up joining. They will always be a favorite just because those were some of the first "real" records I did and it was such an experimental and creative time for me. I have really liked working with Divit for the past few years as well just because they are so open to ideas and input. And of course Green Day, just because of the sheer talent factor. I mean those guys are so good it would be impossible to make them sound bad.

G - Speaking of bands such as One Time Angels and Green Day, both are two bands you know and admire and have worked with. Both are another two favourite bands of mine, what are your favourite songs and releases by them both. Well OTA are a lot newer but equally awsome in many respects.

WS - Unfortunately, I'm a little bad with actual titles of songs and don't have the records with me but maybe you can fill in the titles to the ones I don’t know. For OTA, I really like the song on the Lookout! record that I think is called "Two Steps To The Edge?" - the one Jesse sings on. And on the Adeline record "Sidetracked" it might be called, that has always been a favorite of mine because it was one of the first demos that Doug had played me when we were talking about doing a record together. With Green Day its tough because they are all so great. I mean every record is kind of its own thing. I mean the whole Dookie record is great, it just flows so nice. I really like the song with the harmonica on Nimrod. Also "Worry Rock" and "Redundant." On the Warning record that one that I think is titled "Hold On" is one of my all time favorites. I have always felt that Billie is just amazing at writing lyrics that are so personal yet so easy to relate to and interpret to your own thing.

G - Working with bands behind their albums and production must have its own rewards for you. How does it compare in the pressures you have to that of being in a band yourself, and ultimately which do you prefer?

I don’t like to think about this all that much myself but where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years. Would you like to be involved in some way with what you are now?

WS - Well first of all I have to say that there really is no pressure of being in a band. The thought of that actually seems funny to me because if anything its the exact opposite. The studio on the other hand can become a little trying at times, but I think its really where my heart is. I cant ever see doing one without the other. I would get burnt out on one if I couldn’t take off and do the other for a few weeks. Its a perfect balance. So hopefully in 5 or 10 years I will be doing exactly what I'm doing now. Making records with friends, whether its playing or recording, I would be very happy. (hopefully making a little more $...) So many people look to the future for greater things without realizing how lucky there are right now...

G - What was the last CD you bought?

WS - Wilco's "Summerteeth."

G - What was the last movie you saw?

WS - Swordfish

G - What bands do you like presently, like some new acts maybe or relatively new. Who does it for you?

WS - I've been kind of disillusioned with new music for about 5 or 6 years. I do however really like a lot of the new Jimmy Eat World record. Ummm....

G - Here is the mother of all questions for you, Willie be afraid. What does punk mean to you, like your own definition of it? It's OK you don’t need to be conscious as coming across as an authoritive figure on what punk is and isn’t but I am curious to your own views on it.

WS - Well to start off with, if you haven’t noticed by now, I am far from an authoritative figure in the punk rock movement. I mean I grew up on The Beach Boys and The Beatles (thanks mom and dad). To me, punk means a lot of great records that have changed my life starting with The Buzzcocks and The Ramones all the way up through Op Ivy and Green Day. It also means a lot of really bad records... so I mean I guess its an attitude as people say, because that’s really the one thing that links all of those bands together. But in the end, its all just music, some has more attitude than others, and some is good and some is bad.

G - What do you think constitutes a band "selling out?" which is another thing I hate to hear so easily mis-understood and thrown around but again I’m curious to your own thoughts on it.

WS - In my mind, there really isn’t such a thing. I mean people change. Like you said, it is very often thrown around without people realizing what they are saying.

G - If the influents were offered a major label deal one day, if you can place your mind forward to a time where that would happen. What would be your own thoughts on it? Dis-concerning your band members perhaps opposing feelings.

WS - It all depends on how much money they offer us... hahaha. No really though it just all depends on wether or not the label has the band's best interests in mind. On Adeline we have the freedom to do whatever we want, we could hand them a record of yodelling and they would probably put it out for us. So really any label that would retain that kind of trust in us and at the same time be able to get our records out to thousands more.... that’s OK in my book. I mean if Green Day had stayed on Lookout!, one of two things would have happened either Lookout! would have become a major and would probably be owned by Sony or Warner or something, or more likely, over half the Green Day fans in the world wouldn't exist. In my mind, all it did for them was open up the door to make bigger and better records. But either way why would anybody expect them to stay somewhere where they wouldnt be able to reach the amount of fans that they are capable of, the thought of that is just ridiculous. And besides, who wouldn’t want to make some money...

G - We once talked on AOL, where I being a fan of the whole California Gilman St scene talked about how I wish I could experience it for myself some time.

We got to some understanding of each others views where I understood how you found yourself fortunate but that you also considered yourself jaded to it almost. And that you understood my position being a fan thousands of miles away never haven experienced it and perhaps never will. Could you explain and expand on your own thoughts on the whole Gilman scene today and how you think it has changed?

WS - Well, its tough because its always easy to look back on something and remember how great "it used to be" because I think people tend to hold on to the good parts and forget the bad. I think that Gilman today really isn’t much different from 10 or 12 years ago. I mean there definitely was something kind of special happening around that time but there was also a lot of crap as well. And while it's true that there aren’t any Op Ivys, Green Days, or Jawbreakers right now I think that is more of a sign of how bad music has been for the last 5 or 6 years. So I wouldn’t say that I'm jaded or disillusioned with Gilman but more just our music scene in general. It's just sad that in order to go out and see a good band, you have to sit through four Blink 180's before getting to see it.

G - Is there any questions you have in your position you would like to ask me.

Maybe something you would like to hear my perspective or thoughts on?

WS - Yeah, I am always curious as to what it is that draws someone like yourself to The Influents? I mean you are obviously a big fan of pretty up-tempo "punk." And I never have felt like we fit in to the style of music that most of our fans usually listen to. It kind of bewilders me sometimes. Like the last few times we have played at Gilman, there is this group of guys with liberty spikes and big mohawks right up front singing along with the songs... don’t get me wrong, we think its great, but I don’t really see the connection.

G - I admire and respect a lot of bands, all of whom fall under different specific categories and genres. But if you were to group the similar genre bands they would collectively be up tempo punk bands as you say. That does no way mean that’s where my taste stops that’s just where its fixed on. You don’t fit into the fast tempo or hardcore punk or any genres like that as that’s not your type of music. My own definition of punk revolves around a way of thinking, or a lifestyle or an attitude. For me The Influents have that. You have catchy songs, amazingly written lyrics with good music behind it and your doing it for the love of music. That for me is punk and that’s why I like The Influents. If you list certain bands I have cd’s for they don’t exactly coincide with one another for example: Propagandhi, Sick Of It All, Green Day, Fugazi and The Influents all of which fall under different sub categories and whom I all admire for my own reasons.

Thanks for your time Willie.

Posted by skatemaster at 07:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

 

Tears Not SuicideGreg
You’ve got a couple things that turned out right
Well throw another one in the bag
You’ve got no rest from yesterday
No payback for tomorrow
Try to tell it to a world
Of old and new.
And I’ll tell you
Tears are not suicide
I can’t cry at all
It makes no difference to the world
It’s just for you
All the difference in the world
It’s just you being here
Yeah
Tears are not suicide
And I can’t cry at all
Tears are not suicide
And I can’t cry at all
It sounds dumb but it’s do or die
No one else will do it for you
Take your time to write it down
It’s only up to you
I’ll take you by the hand
‘Cause
Tears are not suicide
And I can’t cry at all.
Tears are not suicide
And I can’t cry at all.

 
    

Chain Parades (Colin Brooks/Jason)
Chain parades, and no one's going back again.
Sad charades.  We’ll always turn our back on them.
Time on floors will never turn you into a man.
 
Life in here has been a very lonely one.
Time out there shows you what is to become
And everyone will surely bring you back this way
 
Can you stay for too long?
Can you stay for too long?
I will come down over just to save your lies.
 
Say hooray!  And everyone’s in town again.
Flank foorays.  The flirting children will begin
Golden tunnels will surely bring you back this way.
 
Chain parades, and noone's going back again.
Sad charades.  We’ll always turn our back on them.
Time on floors will never turn you into a man.
 
Can you stay for too long?
Can you stay for too long?
I will come down over just to save your lies.

 

Where I’ll Go Greg
I will try
‘Cause I’m on the side of what’s going by
I’ll tell you everything
If you want to know
Where I will go
No one will follow me
Far from where
No one can follow me
Everyone do what you want
But don’t follow me
I will try
‘Cause I’m on the side of what’s going by
Tell me everything
If you want to go
Where I will go
No one will follow me
Far from where
No one can follow me
Everyone do what you want
But don’t follow me
You!, if you want to go right now
Wake up ’cause I’m leaving soon
Another try
‘Cause I’m on the side of what’s going by
I told you everything
You didn’t want to know
Where I will go
No one can follow me
Far from where
No one can follow me
Everyone do what you want
But don’t follow me
Where I will go
Why don’t you follow me?
Far from where
No one can follow me
Where everyone can do what they want
So just follow me.

 
    

Longest Nights Greg, Jason)

 Another long night on the route and tired of all the same old sounds.
It’s a lonely feeling when the moon goes down.
Wasting time still on the clock.  Can't hardly wait 'til my last stop.
I can’t help but thinking that you'll be there.
 
But it has to happen
All this flirting can’t be wrong now
I only hope to see you working.
 
Only hope to see you working all night.
 
I can’t wait to hear the sound of your voice.  Don’t want to come off like the other boys.
It’s a fleeting feeling that will do for now.
Should I approach you if I dare?  Just can’t wait to lock your stare.
Will this desperate motion bring me closer to you?
 
But this has to happen.
All this flirting can’t be wrong, dear.
I only hope to see you working.
 
Only hope to see you working all night
 
Because it’s your heart I want to steal.  Forget my lines, just say what I feel
and just hope that maybe you’ll come around.

 

Simple Girls Greg, Jason)
It’s always ones like her.  
Can’t wait to tell all your friends.
She’ll keep reminding you
of all the dumb things you did.
They say, “Don’t take it!  Don’t take it alone.”
And it's simple things occur
that every little girl will see.
She’ll close the barrooms down
or just stay home for weeks.
They say, “Don’t take it!  Don’t take it alone.”
 
It’s always simple girls that I know
That seem to know the simple things that I don’t
But it’s always the easiest answers,
A simple “Yes” or “No”
They say, “Don’t take it!  Don’t take it!"
But, baby you can take my heart if you just say so.
 
Even in that simple dress
and her sensible shoes
She's still a complicated mess
and ain't got one thing to lose.
And they say, “Don’t take it!  Don’t take it alone.”
“Don’t take it!  Don’t take it alone.”  “Don’t fake it!  Don’t break it alone.”
 
It’s always simple girls that I know
That seem to know the simple things that I don’t
But it’s always the easiest answers,
A simple “Yes” or “No”.
They say, “Don’t fake it!  Don’t break it!
But, baby, you can break my heart if you just say so.

 

 
    

Not the Same Greg)
I’ll give a hand out to you
Because you’re walking around
Looking for yourself
How it goes sometimes
You can’t decide
Exactly where to take it from here
I try to tell you
But you talk too much.
I’m giving up
Over and over again
Give a hand out to you
Because you’re hanging around for something more.
You run and hide.
You can’t decide
Exactly what you’re doing with yourself.
And you talk too much
I’m giving up
Over and over again
You try to tell yourself
It’s all the same
But it’s not
When it comes to you
You try to tell yourself
It’s all the same
But it’s not
When it comes to you.
I try to tell it to you
Because the words
Are always in my mind.
Am I alone?
Are you with me?
It’s not exactly what you’d call
A day in the park.
And you talk too much
I’m giving up
Over and over again
You try to tell yourself
It’s all the same
But it’s not
When it comes to you
I’ve spent the time
And I’m not waiting for you
Any longer now.
You’re just the girl…
See how you’ve made me change my,
Make me change my mind.
I spent the time
And I’m not waiting for you
Any longer now.
You’re just the girl…
See how you’ve made me change my,
Make me change my mind.

 

Nothing New Greg)
This song’s been ringing in my head for a while.
I got to tell you I don’t know how
You’ve been living in this life so long
Like you don’t know what you’re doing.
You haven’t given it a thought
For all the years
You said it’s hard enough for you and me
Can you tell me who to be?
You didn’t listen to the ones that tried
And now you wish you had taken the advice
‘Cause you don’t know where to go or what to do.
Can’t I leave it to you.
And I’ll put it in a song
I sing to you.
Always thought you’d help me. I don’t know
If you’re taking the best out of me.
It’s nothing new that I’m here with you.
Because it’s all I want to do.
You know that
It’s nothing new that I’m here with you.
Because it’s all I want to do.
And if we end the fight
It’s still a matter of who was right
So I would rather lay here and watch
The shells fly by, so fire away
And I’ll put it in a song
I sing for you.
And you could ask me how I spend my time
Because that’s all that matters to me.
It’s nothing new that I’m here with you
Because it’s all I want to do.
    

Up In Arms (Jason)
Nobody knows where you went.  
Now it seems like our time spent
Is fading away in pictures now
But, I still talk to you out loud.
 
Nobody knows what to say.  
It just seems like yesterday...
complaining, laughing, out on the town.
Swearing our feet would never hit the ground.
 
Nobody knows what to make in the afterthought of this mistake.
You were stolen away in your prime, and I can’t live on limited time.
 
My heart sinks.  
I walk through the door.
All our friends staring at the floor.
Nobody knows what to say ‘cause it just seems like yesterday, my friend.
You were supposed to be there until the end.
 
So please someone give me a sign.  
Because I know not how to unwind.
No explanations, no reasons why.
Because they always leave me up in arms.
 
So please someone give me a sign.  
Because I know not how to unwind
No explanations, no reasons why.
Because they always leave me up in arms.
 

See You Again Greg)
I’ll see you again
Why does it always seem like
It’s the last time?
You call me on the phone
About things that I know.
Is there something you forgot to say to me?
With our last words in mind
Seems like you don’t know
It’s over now.
Stop asking how
Had a dream that it went well
I’ll see you again
Why’s it always seem like
It’s the last time?
I’ll see you again
Why’s it always seem like
It’s the last time?
It’s sad it feels this way
Is there something else to say.
You just want me to hear you call my name.
With our last words in mind
I think that we both know
It’s over now.
Stop asking how
Had a dream that it went well
What do you want me to know?
What do you want me to feel?
I’m going inside
I’m not gonna stand out here all night.
I’ll see you again
Why’s it always seem like
It’s the last time?
I’ll see you again
Why’s it always seem like
It’s the last time
I’ll see you again.
 
    

Show Me
 Show me how you do those things so well.
I just want to hear you tell it.
Explain to me just what you see somehow.
What does it tell you?
Color me in those crazy dreams you’ve had.
I promise to listen closely.
Just come on out with me.
Don’t be so sad, girl... and we’ll take it slow.
 
We could take that ride.
Make a chance for you and I.
Take it slow.
Leave the world out for a while.
 
Show me everything.
Do kiss and tell.
Just want to read you. Spell it.
Just careless ways and holidays on end
What have we got to lose?
Untold things unseen turned upside down.
I promise to listen closer.
Just come on out with me.
Don’t be so sad, girl... and we’ll take it slow.
 
We could take that ride.
Make a chance for you and I.
Take it slow.
Leave the world out for a while.
 
There’s no use thinking ‘bout what its all about
You should come on out for a while.
There’s no use thinking ‘bout what its all about
You should come on out with me.

“Give the Anarchist A Cigarette” (Jason)
 Follow the trail of fall footsteps
And find your spot on top of the fence.
It’s your best self defense.
Just find a rhyme and drop your pen in a drink.
And carry on without so much as a wink.
Oh, but what will the neighbors think?
But there is still something happening here.
That won’t further your career--
Pontificator of the year.
 
He said, “Take me out to the end of town
and drop me off at the lost and found.
And tell everyone just keep waving to the crowd.”
 
Up every night until midnight hour
Staring out at the pale watchtower
She said she still look deadbeat tired.
She keeps her hands tight on his chest
in case his heart jumps out.  What a mess.
Don’t want to ruin those Sunday’s best tonight.
 
He said, “Take me out to the end of town
and drop me off at the lost and found.
And tell everyone just keep waving to the crowd.”
He says out loud, “Take me out to the end of town
and drop me off at the lost and found.
And tell everyone just keep waving to the crowd.”
 
    "To: Anybody" Greg)
 
Its been a long, slow so lonely weekend
and she can't stand to sit here another day
another day spent well starring out of the windows
too close to someone to far away
she cries out to the night, to anybody
never think of tomorrow  
now shes wondering does anybody care at all now her friends stop slowly calling out from the weekends
and she can't help but feel them sliping away
take your plans and dreams and throw them out of the window
cause everyone said they had to work in the morning
 
she cries out to the night, to anybody
never think of tomorrow
now shes wondering does anybody care at all
shes been doing time inside her cell
all the same as everyone
she calls you up but you had something else to do

she cries out to the night, to anybody
never think of tomorrow
now shes wondering does anybody care at all
does anybody care at all tonight

Posted by skatemaster at 07:21 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Wonderful Twist of Fate

We're having a good time now.
Perhaps it's too much fun for you.
Welcome to the wonderful twist of fate.
And now we're all out tonight.
Out of luck and out of our minds.
Looking for a wonderful twist of fate.
And the psycho's going out tonight to instigate another fight.
It's got nothing to do with problems.
Must be just his vice.
Unaware of time and place or expression of profession on your face.
Everybody do the wonderful twist of fate.
And the psycho's going out tonight to instigate another fight.
It's got nothing to do with problems.
Must be just his vice, oh yeah!
Now we all want something more.
You always try to settle the score.
It doesn't matter it's a wonderful twist of fate.
And the psycho's going out tonight to instigate another fight.
It's got nothing to do with problems.
It's all just a vice.
    Legions of Their Lame

How many times you cry youself to sleep?
Or truly landed on your feet?
Or tried to sweep it under your bed?
You wanna be a part of what don't exist.
Of all who you know, who you kiss.
When you gonna realize their ways?
I see you starving for affection not hearsay.
And I'd hate to see you throw it all away.
I heard you say one time.
You can't believe how they can deceive now.
Please don't join their legions of their lame.
Girl, I hate to see you get stung.
By wells of worthless spit from their tongues.
You even try and defend them at times.
Make everything out to be a joke.
And pretend to know what they don't.
Who's next on their list to defame?
I hear you screaming for affection not hearsay.
And I hate to see you throw it all away.
I heard you say last night.
You can't believe how, it's time to leave now.
But it's still what's in your blood they can't stain.
I see you walking with ghosts hand in palm.
Searching for somewhere you belong.
I heard you say one time.
You can't believe how they can deceive now.
Please don't join the legions of their lame.
'Caues it's still what's in your blood.
As if everyone here should know your name.

Life and Life Only

With laughter in you eyes.
And a fire at you feet.
You spend a lonely lifetime.
Burning out of steam.
Try and get so involved.
You shoes are on the wrong feet.
But it's not where you came from.
It's where you've always been.
We climb so high.
Climb so high, never fall.
And I guess we owe it all to some of the young.
When the light falls from your eyes.
I hope you regain on your feet.
Don't spend this lonely lifetime burning out of steam.
Get yourself so involved.
If you don't you can't break free.
Don't spend your only lifetime waiting for you life to begin.
Don't spend a lonely lifetime waiting there for it.
    Y'All Ever?

Dear dysfunctional family, are we in California still?
I'm emotionally stranded with cigarettes and herbal pills.
Did Robin Hood sleep on dirty floors?
Be careful what it is that you wish for.
Now the back wheels are spinning.
Drove the nose into a ditch.
With population zero.
Hiding from the motel heat.
Hey! Play that one that's punk.
Looks like we'll load the van drunk again.
Plug us in and we'll play too long.
You can't go wrong.
There's no mistakes when you don't even know the songs.
Bring out the brooms, sweep out the hall.
Just write it down.
Forget your name and we wont remember to call.
No one remembers at all.
It don't matter at all if we don't remember to call.
Substitute For Falling In Love

What do we have here and what's it all become?
A glaze across you eyes.
A substitute for falling in love.
Do you get what you want?
Is it not enough?
All you need, all you dream.
Is it out of heart?
What you get, all you get.
Is it not enough?
I'm not saying anything.
And it just might wreck my heart.
I still hear it in her voice.
But she never finish what she starts.
Do you get what you want?
Is it not enough?
All you need, all you dream.
Is it out of heart?
What you see is what you get.
But it's not enough.
You know you're not so good.
At saying goodbye.
And now it don't do no good crying.
On my shoulder.
It's what its all become.
'Cause we believe our relationship's.
A substitute for falling in love.
You've had enough.
You're falling in love.
You've had enough.
Now you're falling in love.
You have had enough.
    Time To Kill(Wish We Had)

Out of bed, you're in my head.
I can't remember a word you said when you left.
So did my dreams I can't recall.
Force my eyes and windows shut.
But these downtown busses don't give up.
Pull the blinds, throw the alarm clock at the phone.
Another day late and dollar short.
Let all these memories wash ashore.
Forget all the frivolous things we can't afford.
I'll take you out on the town first chance we get.
We'll revel in bewilderment.
But I guess we had tomorrow planned.
Too many wasted afternoons.
Honey let's start anew.
But I guess we had...
Thinking all those lonely days are gone.
And I'm daring that tonight won't be outdone.
Now I'm begging that the rain has just begun.
And I think you had your fill.
Leaning out the window sill.
I just wish we had the time to kill.
Out of my head and you're in bed.
You can't make sense of a word you've read.
Lost all hope, you feel all you touch it just turns to lead.
Moon goes west, we yawn at best.
And this room is so small.
I have to go outside.
To change my mind, to be alone.
My shoes scuffle down the sidewalk ends.
Looking for a way to blend in.
I wish we had...
Thinking all these days are gone.
And I'm daring that tonight won't be outdone.
Now I'm begging that the rain has just begun.
And I think you had your fill.
Leaning out the window sill.
I just wish we had time to kill.
Taking Time

Do you see my child, it's not what's been done.
And there's so much more that's yet to come.
That's where I'm at anyway.
I'm not wasting time.
Running away with you.
I'm just taking time.
Running away with you tonight.
Lights shine down on us.
And we see the singns telling us.
Just where we want to be.
I'm not wasting time.
Running away with you.
I'm just taking time.
Running away with you tonight.
I'm gonna know that you're the one.
And how it feels to know it's right.
now we're taking back our lives.
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
I'm not wasting time.
Running away with you.
I'm just taking time.
Running away with you tonight.
    From the Start

Baby knock, I'll let you in.
Won't try and sweep you away.
Said you'd like to be just friends.
I'd like to see you try.
Find the truth is in.
Better hide the truth is out.
If somethings everything to me.
You're still nothing I want more.
And even though we've been apart.
You keep running circles 'round my heart.
Nevermind what's past is passed.
I fix to make it last.
You got one foot in the poison.
And one in the past.
I thought I'd make a promise from the start.
Like radar circles from my heart.
And when the end don't seem so far away.
We're gonna take you for a ride.
Carry you off from walking on broken glass.
My only hope.
We're gonna take you for a ride.
This is a ticket for a ride.
Perception of Depth

Everybody sings and everbody shows.
To pay dues to the king who wore different clothes.
But they never quite understood what he said.
Let's just appreciate him when he's dead.
4-3-2-1 take deep breaths.
Don't let'em try to find you perception of depth.
Everybody thinks that everybody knows.
That last years' fling was all just a pose.
Small talk and big smiles, now let's all cling.
And careful not to fall victim to the latest thing.
4-3-2-1 take deep breaths.
Don't let'em try to find your perception of depth.
And through all the rain and drizzle.
It never seemed more clear to begin with.
Everbody sings and everbody shows.
To pay dues to the king who wore different clothes.
But they never quite understood what he said.
Let's just apperciate him when he's dead.
4-3-2-1 take deep breaths.
Don't let'em try to find my perception of depth.
And through all the pain and fizzle.
It never seemed more clear to begin with.
    To Anybody

It's been a long, slow, so lonely weekend.
Your weary legs can't stand to sit here another day.
For hollow days spent well staring out the windows.
Too close to someone too far away.
She cries out to the night, to anybody.
Never think of tomorrow.
Now she's wondering, does anybody care at all?
Now her friends stop slowly calling out from the weekends.
And she can't help but feel them slipping away.
Take your plans and dreams and throw them out the window.
'Cause everyone said they had to work in the morning.
She cries out to the night, to anybody.
Never think of tomorrow.
Now she's wondering, does anybody care at all?
She's been doing time inside her sell.
About the same as everyone.
She calls you up, but you had something else to do.
She cries out to the night, to anybody.
Never think of tomorrow.
Now she's wondering, does anybody care at all?
She cries it's alright, to anybody.
Never think about tomorrow.
Now she's wondering, does anybody care at all?
Does anybody care at all tonight?
Somewhere I Don't Belong

Is it just me, does seem strange?
No one here seems to have a complaint.
Something just ain't right.
I can't seem to step out of my skin tonight.
Your petty gossip wastes you breath.
You're overstated and unimpressed.
It might seem impolite.
If I crawled this table to hide.
It's somewhere I don't belong.
That feels completely wrong.
In a place with someone where I don't belong.
Don't get the jokes or recognize the names.
I guess there's just some things you can't explain.
I won't apologize. If I deviate from you design.
It's somewhere I don't belong.
That feels...it's all wrong.
In a place with someone where I don't belong.
    Last Good Bad Idea

Caught pissing by the front steps.
Just a sentimental train wreck.
I can't even remember what we were saying.
I get a bruise on my birthday.
I'll make it up on Monday.
I'll take a swim, I've never been caught before.
It was the last good bad idea I had.
They say what doesn't kill you makes you stonger.
They couldn't have been any wronger.
No credit cards or hand grenades.
Just a hundred bucks left to my name.
And a day in New York to spend it all.
It was the two of us drowning.
It was you first time in town then.
No holding back, it's our last hurrah.
It was the last good bad idea I had.
They say what doen't kill you makes you stronger.
They couldn't have been any wronger.

 

 

The Influents Copyright, Strange and Chalmers music ASCAP 2004

Posted by skatemaster at 07:24 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

| Gregory:::Robert:::Schneider |

Bay Area Buzz Mag 2003

What was your initial idea for the album in terms of sound, lyrics, music, and production? How if at all, did you want it to be different from your first album?

I'd wouldn't say we had initial idea for the record really. It is more like a lot of ideas that progress within themselves. (lyrics, instruments and sounds) I try to do my best as one of the songwriters and everyone else in the band makes them progress further. The next song or album you write isn't tring to build on previous material, it is kinda always like starting over. I don't think I/we did anything different or tried harder than the last record really, it just comes naturally.

Did the outcome come close to what you wanted? What, if anything, would you have done differently? Are you happy with the outcome?

I am happy with the outcome, I think it sounds and feels pretty good. I wouldn't change a thing (laugh) I think of the songs already as history before they are even recorded. Got to move on to new things or working on the live show.

How do you write songs?

It doesn't take more than a few hours to come up with a song but the spaces in between is where you take in things with intuition. Or just laughing and thinking I'm going to do it. ha ha! The music and words happen at the same time as companions. Kind of a devil or angel on your shoulder kind of thing. Joking. But seriously, thats an interesting one because I think we only had about 4 songs for a long time and then somehow songs happened. The only thing I remember about writing them is usually where I was driving or something I observed someone do or say.

You recorded the album on a song-by-song basis, which is rather unusual. How did that affect the process of recording?

Recording song by song allowed for our short attention spans to wander in a smaller backyard together, picking apples and oranges for the same basket.

What music were you listening to during the recording of this album?

I usually just have a few favorite songs from different albums stuck in my head or stereo that turn into a song with what ever i feel like at the time.

How long did the project take?

A 2 year timeline of writing and like 3 months of production.

What are you two favorite tracks from the album?

I guess "Somewhere I don't belong" and "Life and Life only"

What is the meaning behing the title, "Some of the Young"?

Some of the Young is the original song title for "life and life only" cause we wanted to use it's song title for the record. "Life and life only" is the last line of Bob Dylan's, "Its alright ma I'm only bleeding" The melody was kind of Dylan inspired too. Willie talked us into it as an album title I think, and Johnnie thought I should change the song title to not seem like a title track. I originally wrote "Some of the Young" down on a tape case while seeing some kids crossing a bridge in Walnut Creek. And it was inspired by the buildings and life of Frank Loyd Wright the greatest arcitect of all time in my opinion. Individuals that have always had a hold on a vision for things to come.

Do you see your band as consciously doing something different that the norm? Do you feel any expectations to sound a certain way or to appeal to a certain audience?

There is no real attempt to please any one artistic taste. It just reflects varied tastes from our own convictions of what carries a song from begining to end.

What, if any do you think is the biggest misconception about the band?

I don't know of any. That sounds scary. (laughs)

What do you hope people will take away from your music?

I hope they take a good hard lesson... Just kidding. A lyric of ours is "carry you off from walking on broken glass, my only hope, we're going to take you for a ride" kind of an outlook at the rest of our days as a band. Keep buying album after album please.

What can we expect from the influents in the future?

Hopefully, More records more shows!

Greg's Other Bands; Tunstin Gat, Multi-facet, Redscare, Murder Takes no Holiday, Uranium 9 volt.

Posted by skatemaster at 07:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

December 20th, 2000 Company of the Wolves Cafe, Benicia, CA

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December 22nd, 2000 Kicks II, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Love Kills Love, Eddie Haskells, Left Out Lamont

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December 23rd, 2000 Kicks II, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Love Kills Love, Eddie Haskells

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February 10th, 2001 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS One Time Angels, Fetish, Frustrators

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February 16th, 2001 Koo's Cafe, Santa Ana, CA

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February 17th, 2001 X-Records, Norco, CA -NOTES Instore performace

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February 17th, 2001 Che Cafe at UCSD, San Diego, CA

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February 18th, 2001 Modified, Phoenix, AZ

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February 21th, 2001 Emo's, Austin, TX

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February 22nd, 2001 Rubber Gloves, Denton, TX

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February 23rd, 2001 Clunk Music, Fayetteville, AR

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February 24th, 2001 The Parlor, Little Rock, AR

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February 25th, 2001 Replay Lounge, Lawrence, KS

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February 26th, 2001 Cat Club, Denver, CO

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February 28th, 2001 Kilby Court Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT

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April 7th, 2001 The Stork Club, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Librarians

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April 14th, 2001 Cafe DuNord, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Red Planet

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May 13th, 2001 First Ave, Minneapolis, MN -OTHER PERFORMERS Dillenger Four, The Bellrays, The Hostages

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May 15th, 2001 High Dive, Champaign, IL -OTHER PERFORMERS Jets to Brazil

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May 16th, 2001 Mississippi Nights, St. Louis, MO -OTHER PERFORMERS Jets to Brazil

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May 17th, 2001 Colonial Street West, Fort Wayne, IN

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May 18th, 2001 Metro, Chicago, IL

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May 19th, 2001 Unknown, Chicago, IL

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June 9th, 2001 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Groovie Ghoulies, Red Planet, the Mallrats, Goat Shanty

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July 13th, 2001 The Minnow, Alameda, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Plus Ones, The Simple Things the effection

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July 14th, 2001 Pleasanton Masonic Center, Pleasanton, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Ruth's Hat, Red Planet, The Potatomen, Pawn Takes King, Sewing With Nancie

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September 16th, 2001 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA Taking Time Chain Parades Not The Same Longest Nights Simple Girls Nothing New Tears, Not Suicide Up In Arms Show Me Where I'll Go "Give the Anarchist A Cigarette" -OTHER PERFORMERS The Thumbs, Agent 51, One Time Angels, Green Day

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October 10th, 2001 Slim's, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Agent 51, Fetish, The Frisk

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October 19th, 2001 Chaser's, San Diego, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS One Time Angels

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October 20th, 2001 Showcase Theatre, Corona, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Frustrators, One Time Angels, Agent 51, Bikini Bumps

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October 21th, 2001 The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Frustrators, One Time Angels, Fetish

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October 26th, 2001 U.C. Berkeley, Sproul's Plaza, Berkeley, CA

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October 26th, 2001 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Plus Ones, Divit, Summerjack, Bobot Adrenaline

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November 10th, 2001 Capitol Garage, Sacramento, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS If All Else Fails, The Librarians

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November 13th, 2001 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Anniversary, The Mars Volta

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December 1st, 2001 bEASTfest, Imusicast, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Fetish, The Frisk, The Locals

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December 16th, 2001 The Ivy Room, Albany, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Applesaucer

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January 26th, 2002 Slim's, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Bobbyteens, Mr. T Experience

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March 9th, 2002 KALX FM, Berkeley, CA Taking Time Chain Parades Where I'll Go Time To Kill Not The Same Simple Girls To Anybody Up In Arms Tears, Not Suicide Wonderful Twist Of Fate Longest Nights See You Again Perception Of Depth Show Me "Give the Anarchist A Cigarette" -CIRCULATING RECORDINGS -Soundboard Audio

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March 12th, 2002 Suite 13, Lindon, UT -OTHER PERFORMERS Endear, Blind The Fold

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March 13th, 2002 Tulagi's, Boulder, CO -OTHER PERFORMERS Sean Na Na

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March 14th, 2002 Burt's Tiki Lounge, Albuquerque, NM

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March 15th, 2002 Nita's Hideaway, Phoenix, AZ -OTHER PERFORMERS Sean Na Na

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March 16th, 2002 The Scene, San Diego, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Agent 51, The Classified, Pensive

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March 18th, 2002 Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Sean Na Na

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March 19th, 2002 Capitol Garage, Sacramento, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Sean Na Na

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March 20th, 2002 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Sean Na Na

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March 21th, 2002 Blackbird, Portland, OR -OTHER PERFORMERS Sean Na Na

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March 22nd, 2002 The Usual, Tacoma, WA

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August 15th, 2002 Phoenix Theatre, Petaluma, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Flipsides, The Phenomonauts

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August 23rd, 2002 Stork Club, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Bobot Adrenaline, Sticks & Stones

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August 28th, 2002 Talk of the Town, Oakland, CA

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September 8th, 2002 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Common Rider

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September 19th, 2002 Starry Plough, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Plus Ones

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September 27th, 2002 Bear's Lair, U.C. Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA

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October 18th, 2002 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Flipsides, Solea, The Mercy Mile, The Americas

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December 20th, 2002 Slim's, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS One Man Army, Reducers SF, Angry Amputees

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March 22nd, 2003 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Repuations, Good Clean Fun, Affront

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April 11th, 2003 Danville Grange Hall, Danville, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Plus Ones, Short Round, Skapegoat, My New Life

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April 21st, 2003 Capitol Garage, Sacramento, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Jesse Malin and His Band

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April 22nd, 2003 Amoeba Records, San Francisco, CA -NOTES -This instore was played to help celebrate the release date of "Some of the Young"

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April 22nd, 2003 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA -NOTES -This show was played to celebrate the release date of "Some of the Young" -OTHER PERFORMERS Jesse Malin and His Band

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April 23rd, 2003 Glasshouse, Pomona, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Jesse Malin and His Band

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April 24th, 2003 Filthy's Music, Lake Ellsinore, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Fuzz

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April 25th, 2003 The Roseary Room, San Diego, CA

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April 26th, 2003 The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Jesse Malin and His Band, Tommy Stinson

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April 27th, 2003 4th Street, San Pedro, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Drinker's Puragatory

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May 17th, 2003 Stanford Radio Show, Palo Alto, CA -NOTES -This show was all acoustic -OTHER PERFORMERS The Effection

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May 22nd, 2003 Thee Parkside, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Effection

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May 24th, 2003 Carmel Youth Center, Carmel, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Silent Film Stars

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May 30th, 2003 Starry Plough, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Communique, Milwaukee

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May 31st, 2003 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA

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June 6th, 2003 The Outhouse, Los Gatos, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Locale A.M.

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June 7th, 2003 Eagle's Hall, Livermore, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Silent Film Stars

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June 13th, 2003 Kimo's, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Phuzz

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June 18th, 2003 Larry Blake's, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Effection, The Fuzz

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June 21st, 2003 Private Party, Pinole, CA

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June 28th, 2003 The Pound SF, San Francisco, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Quitter, DU*DS, The Effection

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July 3rd, 2003 iMusicast, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS UVR, Silent Film Stars, The Slicks, Broken Dolls

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July 6th, 2003 The Zephyr, Reno, NV

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July 7th, 2003 Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT -OTHER PERFORMERS Sixer

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July 8th, 2003 The Starlight, Ft. Collins, CO -OTHER PERFORMERS Teenage Bottlerocket, The Efixeated

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July 10th, 2003 Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA

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July 11th, 2003 Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis, MN -OTHER PERFORMERS The Crush, Black Print

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July 12th, 2003 The Warehouse, LaCrosse, WI -OTHER PERFORMERS Knockout, Much The Same, The Crush

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July 13th, 2003 The Love Ugly Cabaret, Rochester, MN -OTHER PERFORMERS The Soviettes, Head & Bodies

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July 14th, 2003 Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI

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July 15th, 2003 Fireside Bowl, Chicago, IL

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July 16th, 2003 Lime Spider, Akron, OH -OTHER PERFORMERS Annabelle

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July 17th, 2003 Mac's Bar, Lansing, MI -OTHER PERFORMERS Mumbler, Bit

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July 18th, 2003 The Cruise In, Buffalo, NY -OTHER PERFORMERS Sweet Ass Cream Corn

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July 19th, 2003 Mass Skate, Westfield, MA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Boardlords, The Damaged, Incident 14, Crash And Burn

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July 20th, 2003 Middle East, Boston, MA -OTHER PERFORMERS Stereo Soul Future, Central Falls

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July 21st, 2003 Piano's, New York, NY

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July 23rd, 2003 The Khyber Bar, Philadelphia, PA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Henchmen

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July 24th, 2003 Cafe Metropolis, Wilkes Barre, PA

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July 25th, 2003 Jimmy's, Detroit, MI -OTHER PERFORMERS Hoppin' Mad, Propdown

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July 28th, 2003 Cowboy Monkey Bar, Champaign, IL

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July 29th, 2003 Bender's, Kansas City, MO Somewhere I Don't Belong Simple Girls -UNCIRCULATING RECORDINGS Private Video -OTHER PERFORMERS Magic Cropdusters

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July 30th, 2003 Kirby's Beer Store, Witchita, KS -OTHER PERFORMERS Magic Cropdusters

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August 2nd, 2003 Climax Lounge, Denver, CO

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August 21st, 2003 Starbucks Parking Lot, Danville, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Nate Stephens, The Ted Dancin' Machine, Caffine Free

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September 12th, 2003 Stork Club, Oakland, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Lucero, Drag The River

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September 20th, 2003 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS The Enemies

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September 25th, 2003 Starry Plough, Berkeley, CA -OTHER PERFORMERS Spinning Jennies, The Flipsides

Click here for a different version of influents shows

Posted by skatemaster at 07:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Influents Take Philadelphia - Live at the Khyber Bar

by Michelle Lawlor
July 23, 2003

One thing the Khyber bar is not known for is it's huge, sprawling layout. Sat snugly between two buildings on 2nd Street in Philadelphia, it's anything but spacious. However, it does boast an incredibly busy lineup of local and national music acts.

Tonight the Khyber was comfortably populated - seats at the bar were easily attainable and it wasn't anuphill battle to get a drink. Having missed the end of happy hour by about 20 minutes, my wallet didn't take that much of a beating. And that, dear friends, is always nice.

Sitting at the front corner of the bar, I saw that the band had already arrived, so I bought a Budweiser and made my way back to say hello to The Influents - Jason White (Vocals/Guitar), Willie Samuels (Drums/Vocals), Greg Schneider (Vocals/Guitar) and Johnnie Wentz (Bass).

You might remember Jason White as the spare guitarist sharing the stage with Green Day on last summer's Pop Disaster Tour. Drummer Willie Samuels also contrtibutes his talents to Adeline Records (along with White) - scouting and recording new bands. Bay Area natives, they've all had their hands in several different areas of the biz.

Now together as The Influents, these guys have just polished off a killer second album entitled "Some of the Young" (Adeline Records), and are on their way across the country promoting it. Overall a genuinely nice bunch of guys, here's what they had to say in the few minutes I had with them.

Rockzone: Do you have any pre-gig rituals?

Willie: (looks around at band members, each holding a drink) [laughs] You're lookin' at it.

Jason: Um, drink? Maybe change, put shit in our hair.

Rockzone: What are some of your favorite bands right now?

Willie: Bands that are out now?

Rockzone: Not necessarily, whatever you're listening to.

Willie: Wilco, Bob Dylan, classic rock.

Johnnie: The Replacements.

Jason: Yeah, the Replacements, the radio, sometimes, just to see what's out there.

Rockzone: Is this your first time on tour to east coast? Are you going to the UK anytime soon?

Jason: Yeah, this is our first time east as The Influents. We'd love to play anywhere overseas.

Greg: We'd like to play bigger venues, you know, so more people can hear us." [laughs] "Somewhere that pays us good. [Rest of band laughs]

Rockzone: How did you all meetÉ How did the Influents come about?

Willie: Well, it just sort of happened. We all come from the same area, but were all in different bands.

Greg: We originally started just as a project band, and we started playing in the basement of a music store.

Jason: And it just sort of went from there.

Rockzone: Will Jason be touring with Green Day again?

Jason: Um, probably.

Rockzone: Will Pinhead Gunpowder play any more shows?

[sighs] If I had to choose to check a box that said yes, no, or maybe, IÕd check 'not likely'.

Willie: I guess you could have said that a few years back, too. [band laughs]

Jason: [laughs] Yeah.

Rockzone: WhatÕs a place you haven't played yet but really want to?

Jason: Well a big deal for us was NYC, and we played there last night, so that was pretty cool.

Greg: Just big venuesÉ [laughs]

Jason: Yeah, Rome Ð the Coliseum. I wanna play the Coliseum.

Rockzone: What's the crappiest place you've played so far?

Jason: Ohh, hmm, well, thatÕd have to be the Zephyr in Nevada - there was like one person thereÉ

Johnnie: Yeah, the bartender. The two guys that were in there drinking wanted to listen to Tool, and when we came on they went outside.

Rockzone: Oh, and you guys don't exactly cover Tool.

Johnnie: It's not that the place itself was crappy, more the circumstances.

Jason: Yeah, we're definitely not badmouthing the place - it was more the circumstances.

Rockzone: Describe your sound... in as few words as possible.

[silence, several glances around the room]

Jason: Good Time Rock n' Roll.

Willie: I dunno, I usually just say Rock n' Roll.

Rockzone: What's your favorite song from the new record? Are there any that have personal meaning?

Greg: I'd have to say 'Simple Girls'.

Jason: No, no, the NEW record, dude.

Greg: Oh. [smiles]

Johnnie & Willie: Legends of their Lame.

Johnnie: Yeah, that song took lots of shaping. It came along during recording.

Rockzone: So, sort of a work in progress? Those always seem to come out the best.

Johnnie: It definitely works that way for us - that's how most of our songs come together. [Band members nod]

Rockzone: (To Willie) Is it difficult to record and mix for your own band? Do you find yourself nitpicking when everything's already laid down?

Willie: Well, I have to play drums and record, so I have to worry about all the levels and sounds, and all that, so I do it, and once it's done I actually nitpick less, because I know what we're each capable of. I think I'm tougher on other the records I work on.

Rockzone: What would you be doing right now if you weren't in this band?

Jason: Sleeping.

Johnnie: Probably looking for another band to play in.

Willie: Recording.

Greg: Writing Songs.

Rockzone: Thanks guys - have a good set.

Thanking them graciously, I made my exit and let them get ready for show time. Once taking the stage, they played a nice mix of old and new, wowing even my skeptical companion.

"The CD really doesn't do them justice," he said after the set had finished.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Posted by skatemaster at 07:33 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Influents, Check Please (Adeline) reviewed in Aiding & Abetting issue #208 (http://cent.com/abetting)  "Branching out from more straightforward punk, Adeline kicks out this disc. The Influents wander around the whole roots/punk sound, vaguely reminiscent of Armchair Martian (though much poppier).  Indeed, some of these songs are just about as pure pop as you can get. Simple, to the point and often poignantly gorgeous. Indeed, where more punk pop is fairly sarcastic and snarky, the Influents are clever, but generally earnest almost to a fault. These boys are holding their hearts in their hands for the world to see.  But don't get the idea that this stuff drips with sentimentality or suffers in any way from this idealism. Not at all. Like I said, the stuff is clever. Astonishingly well-written at times, the songs are almost universally engaging.  The kind of album I almost never hear. Mature punk? Geez, that sounds like an oxymoronic mess. Won't work. Can't work. But see, it does. And when folks are able to take such a seemingly unworkable sound and make it sing, well, the results are almost always great. In this case, great is just the beginning."  --Jon Worley

 

The Influents   Some Of The Young
(Magazine; www.bayareabuzz.net)

With the success of their first album, The Influents proved that even the most devout punk rockers could recognize a good pop record, even if the parameters of said genre were practically ignored. On their second album, Some Of The Young, The Influents show they can still craft catchy pop tunes, but this time they’ve taken those basic melodies and developed and explored them, resolving initial ideas into fully formed thoughts. For example, “Y’all Ever” starts off as a playful, Southern rock-tinged sound using Hammond, piano, and slide guitar, and then unexpectedly hushes into a lovely, complex bridge that Paul and John could have been proud of, incorporating vibes, trombone, trumpet, and a variety of percussive instruments. One of the strongest tracks on the album, “Time To Kill (Wish We Had),” begins with frontman Jason White singing an entire verse and chorus while playing his acoustic—over a minute and a half—before plunging into electric guitars, a melodic bassline, and driving drums that powerfully convey the sense of longing. This is the kind of album that could make a kid want to search his parents’ record collection to discover who influenced his favorite band, or make a seasoned veteran feel like pop punk had grown up too. —Damon Mailer


March/April 2003

 

Featuring: The Influents
plus: Hudson Bell, Drunk Horse

loquat, the junior panthers, the invisible cities, brett swain, johnny marr + the healers, interpol, division of laura lee, erase errata, the blood brothers, the clean, common, the go-betweens, bob log, tabil kweli, hot hot heat, mary lou lord, ludicra, the lovemakers, mellowdrone, october allied, erlend oye, the roots, virgil shaw, the stratford 4, summer at shatter creek, swingin' utters, under a dying sun... buy this mag

geovisit();

 

Posted by skatemaster at 07:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

	"at first they couldn't find their set lists and were about to just start playing any song they could think of, when the set lists appeared.  they started with chain parades (one of my favorites, i am glad they started with it) and started to rock the place, only to have Greg break a guitar string right away.  while he was fixing his guitar, Jason played a slow tune, but before i could grab my lighter and raise it in the air, the new string was on.  i think they got through 2 songs (one being the new one Wasting Time, very very good) when Willie broke his snare and had to borrow one from the Groovie Ghoulies.  Kepi made some sort of a joke that maybe they should just switch instruments now before they destroyed everything on stage.  :)  it was nothing but high energy from then on.  Greg really got down several times on his guitar and nearly blew the roof off in my opinion.  halfway through the set, Jason made some joke about breaking a G-string, i don't remember the whole joke, but it was funny and not a lot of people actually heard it.  i tried my best to sing along to the songs, but every time i see a band in person i nearly go blank on the lyrics. they played most of the stuff off "check please", simple girls, tears not suicide, where i'll go, nothing new, etc.  i must say that seeing them live is soo much better than simply listening to the album.  it must be insanely hard to capture this kind of talent in a studio.  i wish they could tour more so all the other fans can see them live, it is quite an experience.  after their set, i got up the nerve to look like a nerd and ask Bill if they got the note from my Cafe DuNord disaster.  Bill said they got it and even remembered that it was written on a ripped Winston cigarettes box, he said it stayed on the windshield throughout their last tour and was somewhere in the van now.  they should save it and post it on the website or something, i am damned proud of the note.  :)  after the Ghoulies set, i couldn't find the two friends i dragged along with me (Monica and Heather), i went outside to find them next to the Influents van getting a CD signed by Greg and Bill, i told Greg i was the Cafe DuNord note and he laughed and apologized that we couldn't get into that show.  after that my friends and i got into Monica's car and put the CD in, and drove past them, i had dared Monica to do something stupid, but all she did was yell "you guys rule!" as we left.  she didn't get Jason to sign the CD because we couldn't find him after the show, i thought i saw him walking out of the Brewery across the street with some people, so we turned around, but by the time we got back to Gilman, he must have gone inside or it wasn't him and Greg must have thought we were psycho when he saw us drive by him a second time.  but we are not, i swear, Monica just wanted to have all four of them sign her CD :) all in all, it was an AMAZING show, the Ghoulies ended the show with a blast, and the Mallrats were awesome, along with Red Planet.  but the highlight of the show for me was definitely seeing The Influents play." Brie  -  6/10/2001
	"This being my first Influents show ever, I was excited.  I heard "Check Please" and loved it to bits, to see them live was amazing.  They opened with my very favorite song "Simple Girls."  I danced with my friend Leeya.   The lyrics were presented in a heartfelt manner, it's plain to see that the guys in the band are up there doing what they love and are doing it for fun.  After the set, my friend Brian asked Bill for the setlist, whose response was along the lines of "Wow, no one's ever wanted our setlist before!" which goes to show how down to earth they are.  I highly recommend seeing this band live to anyone." Marisa
	"The Influents were awesome at Koo's in Santa Ana and just as awesome at Scooter's in Fremont. The guys were totally nice and their music/performance was superb. It was nice to see and hear Jeanne up in Fremont. Greg's new song was nice, hope to hear more. Hopefully I'll see them again, soon." Erika

Posted by skatemaster at 08:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

How'd they come up with the name "Check Please"?   "We found that most of our band practices revolved around us going out to dinner and having a couple drinks, we have always spent more time doing that than practicing." - Willie