Motion City Soundtrack Interview

Interviewed By: Mike Kantor
Band Member: Tony Thaxton (drummer)
Location: On The Phone

Mike: What are some of your favorite cities to tour in and why?

Tony: It's hard to pick favorites. We really have amazing crowds in Chicago, Detroit, anywhere in Jersey; even London has become a great city for us to play. We got to tour Japan last August and Tokyo is probably my favorite place I have ever been. I can't wait to go back.

Mike: If you could organize your own tour, who would you put into it?

Tony: My dream tour would be Ben Folds, Green Day, and us. It's a weird mix, but it would rule. Ben Folds is my favorite ever, and Green Day is still that high school obsession i would love to tour with.

Mike: Are you bias to any venues in Minnesota, if you could play anywhere, what venue would you play and why?

Tony: We got to play at First Ave back in December and it was really rad. That was sort of a dream show for Justin and Josh especially, they are the two who grew up in Minneapolis going to shows at First Ave always wanting to play there. What was extra rad was that it actually sold out. I'm not sure any of us were expecting that.

Mike: What was your most memorable moment as a band?

Tony: There have been a lot of memorable moments, but I think one that will always stand out to me would be this past December when we played The Metro in Chicago and it sold out. At that point, that was by far the biggest headlining show we had ever sold out. When the tour was booked I was worried the room would be half empty, and the next thing you know, they are turning kids away at the door because it's sold out already. I remember standing backstage waiting to go on, the lights dropping, and hearing people screaming, for US. That was an amazing feeling.

Mike: How have you grown as musicians since the release of your Back To The Beat EP. or even I am The Movie?

Tony: Definitely. I didn't play on Back To The Beat, so I can't speak so much for that. Only Josh and Justin(of remaining band members) were in the band back then. But even since I am the Movie I think we have come along nicely. Commit This To Memory was the first time the 5 of us all got to write together, and we love the result. People seem to be responding well to it also. I hope they aren't lying.

Mike: Do you feel it is important to have a good sense of the local music scene?

Tony: You always have to start there. If you don't start there people don't take you seriously sometime, I don't think. There are some cool bands from here now like Cardinal Sin, Somerset, and Small Towns Burn A Little Slower to watch out for.

Mike: How did it feel being the #1 Most Added Artist on college radio stations earlier this year?

Tony: That was rad! I mean, it was really no surprise to us...I'M KIDDING! We were stoked about that. I guess you never fully know what to expect when you jump into this stuff, so it was nice to hear. Let's just hope they KEEP playing us. I'll send money.

Mike: On Myspace, you list the Pixies and Jawbox as your influences, among others, how has their music influenced your music?

Tony: I think anybody you listen to on a regular basis, especially when you're growing up is going to come out in your music some. It's only natural. You might not even intend for it to, but it happens. Sometimes, you don't even realize it, until you go back and listen to a song, and realize, "I totally ripped that off of John Mellencamp!"

Mike: Is there one song that defines you as a band, or one that you are most proud of?

Tony: I think "My Favorite Accident" is a great representation of our band. If someone hadn't ever heard us, but wanted to know what we sound like, I think that song might be a good summary. Even though we have probably played it the most out of any of our songs, I'm still not sick of it. But I'm incredibly proud of everything on our new record. That's not just a plug to make you go and buy it, it's the honest truth.

Mike: How your feelings on file sharing changed since you first started as a band?

Tony: It's a sticky subject. We've all done it. Who hasn't? Hell, we're still guilty of it at times, I'm trying to be better about it though. It's a great way for new people to hear your band, but at the same time, it totally takes away record sales, which can take away success to an extent. You know, it's how we make a living, so we still need those sales sometimes. So, I think there is good and bad in it. We knew our new record would leak eventually, but we were just bummed that it seriously leaked a few days after it was mastered, and 3 months before the release date!

Mike: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Tony: Nothing too crazy. Bite off heads of chickens, eat raw eggs(shell and all), rob the nearest bank. You know, the usual. I always warm up on a practice pad for a while. Justin warms his voice up, and paces around frantically trying to remember all of the words.

Mike: Do you ever get tired of playing show after show?

Tony: Honestly, no. I mean, you may have a night every now and then where your tired, or had a bad day and maybe you're not ready for it. But once you get on the stage, all of that goes away. You forget about it. Don't get me wrong, it is nice to have time off sometimes too, but we have been touring so much these last 3 years, it's just part of life now. I don't even think about it anymore.

Mike: What CD's are in your CD player right now?

Tony: I can't stop listening to the new Ben Folds, Songs for Silverman. Like I said, he is my favorite ever. I'm still obsessed with the band This Is Me Smiling, who is playing our release shows with us. And, this may surprise you, but I actually really like the new System of a Down record. Truth.