QUIETDRIVE

I'm enjoying a beer given to me by Kevin Truckenmiller of Quietdrive. The lead singer of the Minneapolis based band just got done playing to his home crowd and is enjoying his dinner – chips and salsa. Pretty soon, we engage in about a ten minute conversation about salsa. Apparently, every venue across the country provides it, but Kevin thinks that this is the best salsa ever. I'm kinda skeptical, but I don't dare touch the man's dinner. After being persistent, I finally give in and take a chip and dip it into the salsa. Sure enough, it is the best damn salsa I've ever had. After chatting about random things for about half an hour, we realize there are only about five chips left in the bag. The music stops outside, so we decide to get this interview on the road.

Asif: How's it going dude?

Kevin: Splendid!

Asif: How are the chips and salsa treatin' ya?

Kevin: (laughs) They are very hot! I don't know if I can eat anymore.

Asif: That is seriously some of the best salsa I've ever had.

Kevin: (laughs)

Asif:  How is the tour going so far for you guys?

Kevin: This tour has been amazing. All the bands are great. It's awesome to get to know these guys and also awesome to be able to share the stage with them.

Asif:  Out of all the bands you guys have toured with, what band has been the coolest to hangout with?

Kevin:  You know what? I can't really say bands because I'm all about people. There are certain people I like in each band and certain people I really get along with.  So it just kinda depends.

Asif:  Have you toured with anyone that was a complete a**hole and you were just really anxious to get the tour over with because of them?

Kevin:  Sometimes I feel that about myself. (laughs)

Asif:  (laughs)

Kevin:  I probably transfer it onto someone I don't like for that day. It never just stays with one person.  You might hate something specifically, but then you'll get over it. It's just like life – how you have to deal with people and you have to roll with the punches.

Asif:  What is the worst thing about being a full-time musician?

Kevin:  That I have to stay on the road a long time. But I really don't mind that, but sometimes it gets to be a little much.

Asif:  So is it like a catch-22:  when you are out on the road, you wish you were at home and when you were at home, you wish you were on the road?

Kevin:  Yeah, it's definitely a catch-22. I love being home for a little while, but I also love what I'm doing every night. It's just important to me, and I think it's important to a lot of other people out there. So it's just nice that people can share that with us.

Asif:  I noticed you singing "Can't Get Away" by Third Eye Blind on stage during sound check…

Kevin:  (laughs) yeah yeah yeah!

Asif: You a big Third Eye Blind fan?

Kevin: Yeah, I love Third Eye Blind.

Asif: You hear they are almost done with a new album?

Kevin: Well, we'll see with Stephan Jenkins.  He always talks about doing another record. I hope he does. Personally, he was a great influence for me not the sense that he wrote music that I really want to write, but he wrote music that really affected my soul.  That is why I like him so much.

Asif:  I think their first self-titled album is one of the best albums of all-time!

Kevin:  Yeah, it's really good. I really like that album.

Asif:  You guys played on Warped Tour a couple years back. Do you prefer the festival setting or playing bars or clubs?

Kevin:  Personally, whatever people like I like. I don't really care, I just love performing. Warped Tour has its advantages and its disadvantages. Clubs are really intimate, so it's nice to do that every once in a while. But Warped Tour is great because there are so many other bands that you can hangout with, go see their show, it's a great experience for everybody – not just for bands, but fans as well. So you really can't knock that too much.

Asif:  Is Warped Tour something you'd be interested in doing again?

Kevin:  Yeah, we'll see if the opportunity is right and works with what we are doing. We definitely would want to play Warped Tour again. I love Warped Tour!

Asif:  Being from Minneapolis, you guys have had the chance to play at a lot of the venues here in the Twin Cities. Do you have a favorite venue around town here?

Kevin:  Yeah, we have a great local venue called First Avenue. We had a great local venue called The Quest Club. We have a great venue called the Fine Line. We have a great venue called the Varsity Theater, which was one of our first sold out shows. So we have heart in every place around this town.

Asif:  In this month's issue of AP Magazine [April 2007], you guys are featured as one of the "100 Bands You Need to Know in 2007". Is the hype or notoriety something you guys concern yourself with or do you not really pay much attention to that kind of stuff?

Kevin: It's important for your own sanity that you don't pay attention to it cause if someone is writing an article about you personally – if it was negative or positive – you don't want to let that get to your head cause how you live your life should be controlled by you.  How we write music and how we do things is basically controlled by us. You look at that and take it for what it is and then you put it in your pocket and you keep going.

Asif: What is the best positive piece of press that Quietdrive has received so far?

Kevin:  I don't know…I don't read much.  (laughs) I read The Onion. That's my magazine. I go directly to the opinion section and scroll down to the guys who make up sh** every time they say something.

Asif:  (laughs)

Kevin:  (laughs) You know, there is that same picture of that person but they say something different every time! And then there's just this crazy poll about the craziest thing! That is my favorite thing in the world!

Asif:  (still laughing) Is there a song that you play live that you wish you didn't have to?

Kevin:  There are a lot of crazy songs that we want to play, but I want to play what is on the record so people can experience that whole heart we are giving them. But we also like to throw in a few new songs every once in a while just to make sure people are getting something fresh in their ears.

Asif:  I was reading the consumer reviews on Amazon last night for the album. There are 23 reviews, 19 of them gave the album 5 out of 5 stars and the overall average is 4.5 stars. All of the reviews said lyrically and vocally the album was great and there wasn't a single weak track. How does that make you feel to know that the fans are reacting so positively to the album?

Kevin:  It feels great. I love that people are experiencing a lot more of what Quietdrive has to offer and they are giving us good ratings. But there are a lot of different people in the world and a lot of different people have different musical tastes. Every once in a while someone will say something like "listen to the CD" and they won't necessarily agree with it.  For a lot of people, I am glad they like our music. But other people don't like it? That's fine too.

Asif:  What do you like to do when you are not on tour?

Kevin:  Basically I love to be in the studio, and when I'm not in the studio….umm…

Asif:  Hangout with your girlfriend?

Kevin:  (laughs) Probably at the bars. Then after that, go over to the girlfriend's. Or she'll come pick me up!

Asif:  (laughs)

Kevin:  (laughs)

Asif:  What do you think of the Minnesota music scene?

Kevin:  It's great. A lot of great bands have spawned from this area. You got Prince. Soul Asylum. Husker Du. They are one of my favorite bands!

Asif:  Do you think the Minnesota music scene doesn't get too much recognition on a national level?

Kevin:  I think it does. Look at all the bands that are doing really well right now. You have Motion City Soundtrack. Atmosphere. Tons of other bands that are doing great. It comes down to population density!

Asif: You guys did tons of self promotion, using MySpace more than any other band I've heard of using MySpace to get the word out about the band.  Do you guys still use MySpace today to promote the band, or not as much cause of the label doing promoting for you guys now?

Kevin:  It is the pulse of the people, that's MySpace, so you have to pay attention to that pulse. People want the content.  Like if they want to hear our podcasts or see the videos, they have to come to our MySpace cause that is where we are pulsing at. Our MySpace and our website are where you can get the direct feed from Quietdrive. So that is very important to us.  That is why our fans are coming back.

Asif:  You can pop into iTunes and BOOM, there is a Quietdrive album on iTunes! Like, YOU guys have an album on iTunes! How cool is that?

Kevin:  It's great, it's like a dream come true. People can download our music anywhere.

Asif:  Dude, you've been super cool with me the entire night, ultra hospitable, and you've been treating me just amazing all night.

Kevin: Thank you!

Asif:  No, thank you! But  I've got to be honest, when I was researching you I've found out that a lot of  haters think you are a not that great of a guy or you are pompous or you are a prick. I have no idea why they said that because I don't have a single vibe like that from you! Why do you think that is the case and – here is your chance man – what do you want to say back to those people?

Kevin:  (laughs) I think everybody has their good days and their bad days. You can't be Jesus Christ Superstar. You have to be human. Some days are better than others and you can say that for everybody.

Asif:  Amen to that dude. Alright, last question. At the end of the Quietdrive career, what is it going to take for you to look back and say "YEAH! Yeah man, we were successful!"?

Kevin:  I just think longevity is my dream. I want to be able to make music for as long as I possibly can. If people are going to be willing to listen to it, then I'll keep making music.

Asif:  Alright man, thanks for you time!

Kevin:  Thanks for being here!

www.quietdrivemusic.com
www.myspace.com/quietdrive

PHOTOS: Asif and Courtesy of Quietdrive