WALLY JOSEPH OF CRASH ANTHEM
Before playing a show at the band's CD release party, Crash Anthem frontman Wally Joseph and I got a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather on the patio of The Rock and have a drink. While enjoying our beverages, we got to talk about the band changing their name, shooting their first video in their home state of Minnesota, auditioning for Fuel, Sturgis, and much more.
Asif: What's up! So, you guys just got back from Chicago.
Wally: Yeah!
Asif: …and you did a show with Seven Mary Three. How did that go?
Wally: Great guys. Really like a different mix of music. (laughs) We're more of a modern rock band so you could just see the difference in times. They played a lot of their older material, like their "Cumbersome" hit. It was cool! Great dudes – we hit it off. Their road manager was cool. We had a good time and the crowd was decent. I think our best show was in Eau Claire [Eau Claire, Wisconsin] actually out of all places.
Asif: Who did you guys play with that night? Seven Mary Three again?
Wally: Yeah, it was just us and Seven Mary Three again. It was sold out and it was awesome! It was a really cool show and I had a lot of fun!
Asif: I know you have a couple shows upcoming with Crossfade. I think that'll be more of your guys level sound wise...
Wally: (laughs) It'll definitely be interesting! I always like getting in front of modern rock bands who have established themselves. I'm pretty sure they went platinum with that first album. So I am looking forward to it. It's gonna be definitely more of our crowd and anytime you can get on with somebody like that; that has industry clout, it can definitely benefit you.
Asif: Being back home right now, are you expecting a good reaction from the Minnesota fans tonight?
Wally:
I hope so, because we just changed our name! (laughs) So I'm kinda
thinking from the way everything has been going with internet response and
even turning the new name to our friends and our families and see what
they think of it, and everyone has been completely supportive of it. So, I
can only expect good things for the evening – hopefully (laughs)
Asif: (laughs) I think you guys will be just fine! So, when did you guys decide to change the name of the band?
Wally: You know, we've been wanting to do it for years.
Asif: Really!?
Wally: It's one of those things where it was a timing issue. It was the worst because we were charting Top 5 in St. Louis, Top 3 in Madison, Top 3 requests at 93X at the time with Skywynd. But because of its spelling and stuff like that, people would mispronounce it. So literally we'd go to these towns where we were having success on the radio, and nobody could say the name right!
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: Seriously man! That sucks man! If you’re a baby band trying to market yourself? It was a horrible name! The person who thought of it initially is no longer in the group. It was kinda one of those things where when we initially came up with it, we didn't have a name. We were literally sitting around our studio and we threw out the first thing, Skywynd, and were like "okay, let's run with it." Low and behold, we started drawing some decent crowds and we didn't want to go backwards, especially when you are just starting out. So, it just kinda stuck. Crash Anthem is actually a name I've had about two years now…
Asif: So you came up with the new name?
Wally: Yeah!
Asif: How did you come up with Crash Anthem? What does that signify?
Wally: I think you wanna try to come up with a name that best describes your sound or what you're all about, you know? Like I think the best name in the world is American Headcharge. I hands down think that is the coolest name because even though the "American" thing doesn't mean squat –
Asif: Their music is headcharged!
Wally: Exactly! I love that band and stuff and for them, it's awesome! You know what your gonna get when you go see them. So, for us –
[At this point, the
venue starts blaring music from their stereo to the speakers on the back
patio.]
Wally: (laughs) Of course! Why wouldn't this happen right now!
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: We had some line-up changes and stuff and that kinda made it where it wasn't Skywynd anymore. We wanted something to label ourselves as. A lot of the theme behind Crash Anthem is the fact that people in the industry – from entertainment attorneys to radio personalities – were describing our sound as a big anthematic theme. It has a lot of that energy to it.
Asif: I just got the new album man.
Wally: Oh, did you?
Asif: Yeah man, it is fantastic! I'm really loving it and I'm totally getting that "anthematic" theme from the album.
Wally: Cool! Thank you man! Hey, you wanna move somewhere else?
[At this point, we re-locate on the patio to get away from the blaring speakers above our heads.]
Asif: Alright, where were we!
Wally: Umm…oh yeah! The Crash part of it kinda comes from the difference in styles in ourselves – to what we all listen to, to what we all are - it just kinda meshes together. Even within our fan base, we have all different walks of life. We're not pigeonholing ourselves to one group of people. Our songs in the past have crossed over to different radio stations and stuff. So, the name makes sense from that point of view. At least I think so! (laughs)
Asif: (laughs) No, it totally does dude! I read that graphic art is a hobby of yours. Do you do any art for the band, whether its merch or the website or whatever?
Wally: Actually the
whole visual representation thing is in my hands!
Asif: Nice man!
Wally: (laughs) Thanks!
Asif: That's good man! You get to show off some of your other skills! And you probably are saving money!
Wally: I haven't seen anything [money] from it yet! (laughs) But, yeah – I'm not a really good web designer. I can design the look of it, but as far as all the flash and animation I have no clue. But yeah, the visual representation is just kinda fun for me.
Asif: That's cool man! So, what else do you like to do for fun?
Wally: Aww man. You know, I've been so wrapped up into this lately that I haven't had much time for fun. I mean, I have fun doing this!
Asif: So you have no life beside music!
Wally: Yeah, it's really been like that. Just been kinda running the boat on this. If I can ever get out to go to Twins games, or Vikings games – I come from a very sports orientated family – so I guess any chance I get to do those, I try to go do some of those things. Of course there is the occasional night out with my friends, but that is usually a schedule issue. Aside from that, you know, I might do some graphic design for myself just to try to mellow my brain out and get away from all this stuff.
Asif: I know you guys are about to record a video for "Red Room". Is that going to be the first video for you guys?
Wally: That's going to be our first video, yeah!
Asif: Oh man, are you pretty stoked!?
Wally: I'm pretty excited about it! It's a concept that we've kinda had for a bit.
Asif: So you already know the premise to the video?
Wally: Oh yeah, we know exactly what we are doing! Exactly!
Asif: Sweet!
Wally: If this is executed just right…I totally have faith in who is directing and who is shooting…I think that for being a low budget with the kinda gear we have access too, I can't help but totally think it's gonna be out of control!
Asif: Are you guys gonna shoot it locally?
Wally: Yeah, it's gonna be shot in Minneapolis!
Asif: Sweet!
Wally: I'm very excited for it! Lots of hot chicks! (laughs)
Asif: (laughs) Then you know it's gonna be a killer video if you have tons of hotties in it!
Wally: (laughs)
Asif: Stone Temple Pilots are a huge influence…
Wally: Huge!
Asif: …and I know Scott Weiland is one of your heroes.
Wally: Yeah!
Asif: I'm a huge Weiland fan myself. You like Velvet Revolver at all?
Wally: I love Velvet Revolver!
Asif: Man, the new album…I've heard it. And it hurts me to say this, but I'm just like "Scott man, what happened!?"
Wally: Oh really? It's not very good?
Asif: There are a couple good songs. But I definitely think it’s a huge drop down from the first album. I dunno, maybe I need to listen to it more or something.
Wally: Really? It might be one of those things like Finger Eleven. I've been a fan from their first record. I saw them back in '98 or '99 at the 7th Street Entry with a band called Econoline Crush. They totally killed that show and it was awesome! Despite all their success with that single that was played every five minutes on KDWB…
Asif: You know, I just
saw them a few weeks ago across the street at
The Myth.
Wally: Oh really, what did you think?
Asif: "One Thing" has been one of my favorite all-time songs. And I know it is totally different from the rest of their songs, but I still love it. And the whole show was really good!
Wally: Have you heard the new record?
Asif: Yeah!
Wally: It's completely apples and oranges! Even more than so in their past! At first listen I was like "ehh, I dunno guys, what are you doing?" then I started diving into the songs a little bit more and was like "this is great!" So, hopefully that's the same thing with the Velvet Revolver album.
Asif: Yeah, good point. I know you mentioned Econoline Crush. Have you heard of The Dreaming?
Wally: I have heard of The Dreaming!
Asif: They are excellent man!
Wally: That's actually the drummer from Econoline Crush.
Asif: Exactly! That's why I was asking. Of course with C Hall [Christopher Hall] of Stabbing Westward too.
Wally: I kinda get a lot of a cross between the first Stabbing Westward album and Darkest Days when I hear The Dreaming.
Asif: I can kinda see that, yeah!
Wally: You know what's kinda funny. When I got auditioned for the lead singer of Fuel…
Asif: You did!? Really!?
Wally: Yeah! It was like me, Chris from Stabbing Westward, Kevin [Kevin Martin] from Candlebox, and JR [JR Richards] from Dishwalla, and the guy they have now.
Asif: Yeah, I just interviewed Toryn!
Wally: Oh really? He's pretty cool!
Asif: Yeah, he's a really cool guy! He was telling me about the audition process and I was just like "wow that seems pretty intense!"
Wally: Yeah! I got to fly out to Hollywood and spend an afternoon with those guys and playing some songs. It was cool! We were all in the running for it. It was fun! It was cool just to be even asked to try it. The guys are great. It was cool jamming on a couple of their singles and stuff.
Asif: Sweet man!
Wally: It was totally weird cause they put you in this room. There is a stage and they have these bleachers and stuff where they have their management, their girlfriends, label people and stuff like that. They want to catch your look and your vibe. On this stage, your getting up and getting ready to do this and they start jamming and its like all of a sudden your like "oh sh**, these guys have sold millions of records" (laughs hard)
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: (laughs)
Asif: Were you nervous at all?
Wally: You know, I wasn't nervous at all going into it. But then I got on stage and I was like "sh**!" I kinda realized what kind of company I was in – cause who the hell am I?
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: (laughs)
Asif: I mean you have Carl Bell who is up there, who is just awesome…
Wally: Yeah! And then I'm the kid from f**kin' nowhere Minnesota! (laughs)
Asif:
(laughs) That's a feather in your cap though, man!
Wally: It was a cool opportunity. It was a weekend away from here. It was fun, I had a good time with it. I got to meet the guys. I wish them all the success with their new guy and new record and stuff.
Asif: Obviously that weekend away in California you probably didn't miss it! But when your away and on the road, what do you miss about home the most?
Wally: Umm…
Asif: Or do you not miss it at all! (laughs)
Wally: (laughs) No, you know, I do. I guess it just comes down to the personal relationships. I have a daughter. A 3-year old. A beautiful little girl. That is probably the one thing I miss the most when we're gone for an extended period of time because I know I'm missing things. I'm missing watching her grow. Her mother and I are very good friends and we are very close. They still include me in all the family activities they have and stuff. They are very generous and very accepting of what I do and try to be as supportive as they can. It's just wonderful.
Asif: That definitely helps…
Wally: Yeah. But there are little things they've done in the past like going up to the cabin. Just going fishing and going down waterslides. She likes to go down those! But you know, it sucks cause you just hear about it and then she gets on the phone when you are a million miles from home and you hear her voice and you just say "I wish I could see you grow right now." But that's one of the sacrifices you have to make in this industry is to know your going to take some kind of losses though you hope gain on the whole side of things, you know what I mean? Just trying to do it to make your dreams come true, but with dreams there is going to be those sacrifices.
Asif: Very true man.
Wally: She got to see her first show the other night at Myth when we opened up for Flyleaf…
Asif: Cool!
Wally: She got to come up on stage and she was up there dancing! She knows the words to the songs and everything, so that made her feel really cool.
Asif: Man, that's great! Did someone videotape it?
Wally: Yeah! Her mom is a camera freak! (laughs)
Asif: Nice! Good job on that one! You guys are playing a lot at Sturgis this year!
Wally: Mmm hmm! (laughs)
Asif: Have you ever been to Sturgis before?
Wally:
Never have! I've heard stories! (laughs)
Asif: Oh man! So you're going from "never been to Sturgis" to going up there for days! (laughs)
Wally: Uh huh! (laughs) Yeah! It's going to be nuts! (laughs) I have two acoustic shows myself, and then four shows with the band. I've only heard stories of the insanity and craziness that is Sturgis, but I've always wanted to see it for myself.
Asif: So I take it your not a biker then?
Wally: No, but I've grown up around it. All my friends are –
[Drummer Derek Abrams drives up to us on the other side of the patio fence]
Derek: D**khead, you want me back here at 10?
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: Uh, yeah! See you then bro!
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: Yeah, isn't that great!?
Asif: That's classic!
Wally: That's alright – I call him a**hole, so it's okay! (laughs)
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: For the record, that was my drummer! (laughs)
Asif: (laughs)
Wally: (laughs) But…umm, yeah. I'm getting thrown to the wolves for Sturgis, so that should be interesting. (laughs)
Asif: Totally! So, in case some of the people didn't know, you guys did this year's big annual Conclave event at the Marriot. With the major release album out, the Seven Mary Three shows, Crossfade shows, Sturgis…with all of that and a lot going on, do you think this is the year that Crash Anthem becomes a household name?
Wally: You know, you can only hope so. We've been really close before. We were really close with Skywynd. So close that [producer] Rick Rubin dropped excessive amounts of money on us but some internal things were going wrong with the band at the time. Atlantic also had interest in us too. We've been so close. Close enough to having the paperwork right in front of us. Granted that was four years ago. I can only think that with the people around us – we have a good camp. We've surrounded ourselves with people who are good decision makers who aren't about making bad choices with money. I think that was that was one of our biggest downfalls in the past. Be it through bad management or bad personal decisions of the group, we've made a lot of mistakes. So now I can only think because of who we have watching over us and who we have on our side to make sure we don't screw up, that even if we don't ink with a major label or a major indie or whatnot, I still have to think because of the way things have been rolling – where the band is making money now, we're an independent machine, we've figured out how to do it ourselves – I can't see why this thing wouldn’t be successful.
Asif: And I think the
fact that you guys are doing your first video –
Wally: Yeah!
Asif: - the video and like I said, the album is phenomenal…
Wally: Thank you!
Asif: I definitely think things are going in the right direction.
Wally: I dig it man! This can be a lot of fun! This can be a really fun year and a really big life-changing year! I don't expect anything to "just happen". It's gonna be like everything we've ever done – just a work in progress.
Asif: Alright man, thanks a lot! Have a good show tonight!
Wally: Thanks a lot man! Let's meet up after the show and have a drink!
Asif: (laughs) Sounds good to me!
PHOTOS: By Cho & courtesy of Wally Joseph & Crash Anthem
