Interview : Paramore
on October 6th, 2010There’s no denying that Paramore are one of the hottest bands on the planet. Their rise to universal adoration has been a well documented one but it’s also due to the band’s dedication to their fans and their touring that has earned them such a massive reputation. The band are due to kick off their Australian tour on Sunday which includes what will be some massive shows. Deborah Konopnicki had a chat to bass player Jeremy Davis about how excited the band is to be coming back to Australia for the second time this year and how they were pranked while on tour with Green Day. Click below to check it out.
Hey, Jeremy.
Hey, hey! What’s going on, man?
Not too much. How’s your tour going at the moment?
It’s good. It’s awesome. I love California. I love the weather and our fans are usually pretty wild over here. I’m definitely excited for the show tonight.
You just wrapped up the Honda Civic tour that you’ve been on for the past while with Tegan and Sara and New Found Glory. Do you have any memorable dates from that run?
Oh, man! I think the best show, actually it was one of our favorite shows for sure was when we played at Red Rocks in Denver, Colorado. It’s a natural amphitheatre and it’s the most beautiful place on the planet. Just to be playing a show there… wow. I can’t explain what it feels like to have a played a show there at Red Rocks. It’s so cool.
How would the acoustics be at a place like that?
Well actually I thought that they were going to be terrible, but the way that it’s set out, like the higher that you sit the better the sound is because of the acoustics of the place and the view behind the stage is just, wow. It’s like an hours drive away from downtown Denver, but you can see it from where you’re sitting. It’s crazy. It’s really beautiful.
How was performing at the VMAs recently?
It was awesome! It was kind of a surreal experience, you know? We played at the VMAs before, but this time it was just totally different. We were up for more awards just as a band and with Hayley. We had more time on stage and stuff – it was just crazy! We met a lot of really cool people and I was really happy with our performance. It was cool to work with B.O.B.
Does that put more pressure on you guys? Being there and having more nominations or does the extra effort mean that you don’t really have much time to think about it?
It’s kind of like you said, we don’t really have time to think about it. It’s funny because whenever they’re calling your name out and mentioning that you’re maybe going to win, that’s the first time that you really start to think, “Ok. So, what am I going to say when I get up there?!”. That made me a little bit nervous. It’s a bit scary. You’re doing so much other stuff all of the time that you don’t really get a chance to stop and think about what would happen if you won or what you’d say if you won! We still haven’t won anything from that but one we’ll figure out what it is and try to figure out what to say to stage. It’s probably something stupid and funny because we’re too busy focusing on everything else.
Well, you did win an award with Kerrang a little while ago for Brand New Eyes!
It was pretty crazy! We weren’t actually able to be there. We were touring which we always are but it was a cool feeling. Other than us holding it that first time for the video we still haven’t gotten our award or any of that stuff. Kerrang awards are a big deal so it’s cool. It’s definitely an honor! We’ve won awards but we’ve never really been at the award shows to get them. But, yeah. It was pretty crazy!
Well, in a few days time you’re due to return to Australia for the second time this year for some massive shows.
We’re so excited. You know, we’re going to be able to have the biggest production that we’ve ever had over there which is always nice. I’m so excited about this tour that we’re on right now. Not just the Honda Civic tour but just like our setlist and everything. We’re really stoked on our setlist at the moment because we really think that it’s a strong one. Hopefully everyone agrees, and we think that they will because it’s a great show. I’m super excited and if anyone wants to come and see Paramore come and play in Australia then this is going to be the tour because the production that we have is sick.
It was also just announced that Relient K are going to be joining you on tour. Did you approach them for the slot?
Yeah, yeah! We’re friends with them and Matt (lead singer) lives in Nashville and some of the other guys in the band live in Nashville . We love every time that we get a chance to tour with them. We always love seeing them. We were so excited to hear that they were available during the time so that they could come with us because I totally love hanging out with those dudes.
As I mentioned before, it wasn’t so long ago that you were playing shows as a part of this years Soundwave festival. What were the things about that festival that stood out for you?
Oh, dear. The WHOLE festival was amazing. There’s a lot of awesome bands and a lot of bands that we as a band that we have looked up to forever. There were a lot of people that really took us under their wing. It was really cool to be there and meet people that you really look up to and share the stage with. Jimmy Eat World we’ve known for a while and we would never have been a band if they weren’t a band. To be able to hang out with them was a really amazing thing. It was a really cool experience.
You guys are no strangers to massive crowds and your shows in Australia really typify this. You’ve gone from playing small club shows to large venues and this time around you’re playing at some of the largest venues in the country. How has the band dealt with such a meteoric rise?
You know, it’s funny. Like you said with the VMAs, because you’re so busy with everything there’s a lot of stuff that we don’t think about and see until we get there. Until you just said that we were playing at some of the biggest venues in Australia I didn’t even know that we were playing at some of the biggest places in Australia! It’s going to be even more exciting when we get there. Even we’re not ready for what’s going on over there. It’s going to be so cool. We’re definitely excited. Australia is one of the most beautiful and fun places to go. It’s amazing weather and everyone is incredibly nice. We’re so looking forward to coming back. You’re telling me that there’s going to be big crowds? Then I’m so excited about that because of course it’s going to be amazing. I can’t wait to see it.
“Brand New Eyes” did exceptionally well in Australia when it came out last year. How was the time leading up to the album’s release? Did you feel pressured by the swell and anticipation of the public and the media after “Riot”?
We were very serious and none of us had a clue. We knew that the record was going to sound different to ‘Riot!” but we just had no idea. We decided that what we would do was just to try and let it all happen as naturally as possible and that’s what we did. The guy that produced the record kept us thinking inside the box instead of over thinking it. Like, if we were writing a song he’s tell us to keep it simple instead of over thinking it. He was just like, “Yeah! Let’s rock ‘n roll and keep it simple”. He was really good at keeping it simple for us. Just, us writing everything and him making sure that we didn’t go outside of that and over think it too much which was awesome. It really allowed us to write whatever was natural and whatever came out was the real deal. I think that it’s the best way to do it if you’re got a lot on your mind. It just let us let is flow naturally. We never knew where it was going to go, but we’re stoked. It’s all of our favorite records.
What are you favorite songs to play live from that CD?
We just started playing a song called “Feeling Sorry”. It’s really fun to play. It’s a pretty intense song to play and we just started playing it live on this tour that we’re on now. “Brick By Boring Brick” is definitely a lot of fun because the crowd just goes insane and I just love that song. It’s so much fun to just start bouncing around to it. “The Only Exception” is a lot of fun because it’s totally different for us. It’s funny to see people in the crowd slow dancing with their boyfriend / girlfriend. It’s just fun.
Do you guys get a chance to hash out any new material on the road, or are you still very much focused on the “Brand New Eyes” era?
We still think that there is a little bit of life left in the record and we think that there is still some touring to go. We don’t really have any time for anything. When we’re on tour we don’t have time for anything at all except for touring. No, we’re not writing. We’re not getting ready for a new record right now. We still have a lot more to do thought out the end of this year. We’re still trying to push and push and push to keep on touring.
How was playing with Green Day a little while ago?
Our shows with Green Day were awesome. For some reason we only played a couple of shows with them. I didn’t think that they were going to meet us or get to really talk to them very much because usually guys like that are so busy, but no. It was awesome because they were all super nice and really hospitable and always wanted to hang out. They even pulled a prank on us on our second show with them. It was in the middle of our show right in the middle of one of our songs. They blew off one of their big pyro gags that just went “POW!!”. None of us knew what going to happen so we were just scared half to death on stage. That was pretty funny. That was good.
I saw recently that Paramore are going to be one of the featured artists on the ‘Tribute To Loretta Lynn” album. Were you approached or was that something that you sought out?
That was just something that we decided that we were going to do in Nashville because the stage in Nashville that we played at a little while ago maybe last year used to be this massive grand stage. The way that this place was built worked like, if you went to the very centre of the stage and you sing with no microphone or have an acoustic guitar that’s not even plugged in or anything and you play a song, the acoustics in the room will carry your voice throughout the whole place. So, we did a special thing where Josh and Hayley just went up there and took this acoustic guitar that wasn’t plugged in and no microphone and just sang that song and everyone in the whole place could hear it. It was pretty incredible. We just decided that we wanted to incorporate that on the tour and Loretta Lynn found out about that and it’s pretty crazy. She just contacted us and wanted us to contribute to the tribute album so that’s pretty cool!
One last question, and one that I seem to be hyping up for good reason, but what do you think is going to set this tour up in Australia apart from the others? The crowds? The production? The set?
We’re so excited for it. Personally, I’m stoked that I get to come back and hang out with all the fans again because they make it that much more fun. Now you’ve totally got me worked up about these venues and I’m so super excited and all of us just can’t wait to interact with our fans out there because that’s pretty much what we’re all coming back for. Definitely excited and cannot wait. And the weather’s going to be nice there, right?
Err… I hope so for your sake. It’s been pretty iffy lately. It’s a bit cold from time to time at the moment.
It’s a bit cold? Wooooo! Ok. I like a little bit of cold weather
———————————————————-
PARAMORE
With Guests RELIENT K and THE JURY AND THE SAINTS
OCTOBER
10th – Challenge Stadium, Perth [Lic/AA]
12th – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide [Lic/AA]
13th – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne [Lic/AA]
15th – Entertainment Centre, Sydney [Lic/AA]
17th – Riverstage, Brisbane [Lic/AA]
For ticketing information, head [Here]
———————————————————-
PARAMORE MUSIC ON SALE!
To celebrate the upcoming tour, Paramore CD’s are currently on sale. Top up your collection now!
Brand New Eyes - [Buy Now - $14.99]
All We Know Is Falling - [Buy Now - $9.99]
Riot! [CD] - [Buy Now - $9.99]
Riot! [Vinyl] - [Buy Now - $29.99]
The Final Riot [CD/DVD] - [Buy Now - $14.99]
———————————————————-
