SCS: How and when did J.V. All*Stars form as a band?

Nick:We started in 2000 when Sean Jervey (former drummer) and I jammed together a few times a week to some lyrics that he put down. We found Eric through a friend of a friend and started out. After two tours for the Distance record, our first full-length, Sean quit and we snagged Sean Hill from The Cover Story and Mike Elfers from Same Old Crap. Sean and Mike recorded with us for the third SPR comp and went on one big east coast tour. When we came home, Sean and the band separated. Enter Matty Sanders, the current drummer for JVA. He's wanted to be in the band since he first saw us, and cut his rock and roll teeth practicing to our old songs. He's awesome. Best of all, he's one of us. Friends, I mean. Its great having him in the band.

SCS: How would you define your band or your sound to someone who’s never seen you

Nick: Four-piece pop-punk. Lots of singing and harmonies.

SCS: How would you describe a J.V. All*Stars show? -- If people come to see you live, what can they expect?

Nick: Expect to see four friends rocking out to the songs they wrote, having an awesome time. Lots of energy from the music and singing. We have three singers, so there's a lot to pay attention to. We like to loop songs so the show stays energetic. Unless we're on tour, dont expect to see the same set twice in a row. We distance ourselves as much as possible from that, because its one of the easiest ways to ruin your local fanbase. Our friends come out and see us when we are in town, partially because they are our friends, but also because they want to see what we've been cooking since the last show. For the larger majority of kids we dont know that are there, they want to see a good show. Hell, they paid five bucks, so they ought to get something original. Gotta stay creative or youll get stagnant.

SCS: How have you grown, musically and creatively, since the band first started?

Nick: Its really helped having Mike and Matt join the band. When JVa was a three-piece, most of the songwriting was done by me. The arrangements of the songs were done by all of us, but the actual songs were mostly done by one person. Before the band has come to this lineup, we were far less cooperative. We experimented less. Now that we have four guys interested in writing and arranging songs, its really helping push us past our boundaries. Its like this band has finally become what we've been trying for all along. When we were writing the new record, almost every song was written with the help of someone else in the band. Thats kind of a big deal for any band I think. You have to get into a groove with people you trust and care about. Its hard to write a song that has personal meaning to you with someone who doesnt think like you or care about the same things. Its a matter of trust and closeness. As the album was coming together, Mike and I got together almost every night and demoed songs at his house on the computer. We had bouts of drunkenness and sobriety. I helped him on his songs and he helped me on mine. When Eric had some stuff he was ready to work with, we all helped there too. Matty, who was still in high school and busy keeping his parents from finding out he was breaking their rules by practicing and writing with us, came over and wrote some of his tracks on a drum program called fruity loops. When we had demos of songs we knew were going to record at Presto, we sent them to Matt online. He burned them to a CD and practiced them to a click at his house in secret. The whole undertaking was the craziest thing we've ever pulled off. But thats what happens when you have a band where every member really wants to be proud of every release.

SCS: Do you have a favorite song of yours to play live?

Nick: I dont know. I know which songs are the hardest to sing, so I try to get them done in the early part of the set... but really no. I dont have one favorite. I love playing everything off the new record, and some old select old ones. I think Matt hates play "A Toast For The Times," cause its reallllly fast.

SCS: Are there any you don’t like playing anymore?

Nick: We all agree that the oldest of the old songs are cheesy and unrepresentative of the band, so those are off the list UNLESS we are in Lincoln playing for the old school JVA fans (a.k.a., the Joyo crowd.). We will still play a song or two off the first EP "Document the Fall," and a couple off "Distance," but anything earlier or any of the demos or compilation tracks that got released at different times we dont usually play. We do have a show coming up with the now defunct 8th Wave, where we might go back and do an exclusive old school set, but for the most part -- and especially out of town -- we play new stuff.

SCS: When and where was your first local show, and how did it go?

Nick:I think it was at the Havelock Social Hall, and we played with this ska band I was in at the time. Im pretty sure it was a mess. :) We had five songs and no name yet. Maybe we had a name... I dont know.

SCS: What was your most memorable live performance and what made it that?

Nick: I think our CD releases were probably the most fun and most memorable. We've had a bunch of them. Suckapunch Records did a show called "Kill Kill Death Wish," a long time ago that nearly sold out knickerbockers and is still the high-water mark for crazy/rowdiness Ive seen at a show we've played. The shows at Warped we played were a big deal to us, but not so memorable I guess.

SCS: Most embarrassing moment in a live show?

Nick: Hoo. I dont know. We just played a show in DC where the PA blew up during out set, and there were a ton of people there watching. That was kind of embarassing. We just kind of packed up and started drinking.

SCS: What's your best fan experience?

Nick: Its the most rewarding thing in the world to have someone tell you a song you wrote helped them through a hard time. Hands down. No matter how small or insignificant your band may be, you feel like you really matter when that happens.

SCS: What do you like and dislike about the music scene in Lincoln?

Nick:I like to steer clear from negativity, so Ill say some good things. After all, the bad things are common everywhere. Any scene has bands that are friends with other bands and blah blah blah. Some of the nice things about Lincoln's scene: * Like small towns, people around really appreciate good bands. I remember talking to vinnie from Less Than Jake after their show here. They were completely knocked off their feet by the rabid energy at their sold out early show at Knickerbockers. Thats pretty cool. * People generally stick around and watch bands they paid to see, as opposed to leaving when the band they know is off the stage. That speaks alot for your fans. If you have open minded fans that are interested in checking out a band they've never heard of, then you have a group of smart, music junkies that like your band. I cant think of better people to respect you. :) * Young bands, and bands with sizable all ages followings, can play all ages shows in Lincoln. Believe it or not, some cities dont even allow all ages shows in bars. Denver was that way for almost a year and it was horrible. * The good rock clubs in town are clubs where I want to see music. The clubs in lincoln, for the most part, have decent sound. They are definitely small enough to be intimate, but large enough to pack a bunch of people and really get rockin. I've seen the Reverend Horton Heat at Knickerbockers a few times, and every time I realize how much I fucking love that bar. :) Oh, and I just thought of one thing I hate about the music scene in Lincoln. And its funny, because it doenst have anything to do with the scene itself, more the people that are in constant control of it. I hate dance permits. I fucking hate them. When I was angling for a dance permit at the Joyo in order to keep having shows there, I was denied one by the cops, who were too lazy and ignorant to see what a great, important place that was for young people. I talked to the chief of police. I went to two city council meetings. Shot down every time. That still burns my ass every time I think about it. Fuck those stupid withered up, stiffs.

SCS: Have you learned anything in your experiences in a band that you feel newer local bands could learn from, or made any mistakes they should avoid?

Nick: A few. I think bands that are starting out should play once a month in town, max. That includes house shows, and bars that you dont consider the best place you play. There are lots of bands around here that play two clubs in the same week, and 4 time in lincoln during a single month, and they wonder where everyone is. Cutting back makes each show a bit more special and it gives the band a better chance to make that show interesting and unique. Your friends will thank you for it.

SCS: Who are some local bands or musicians that you admire or feel should be recognized?

Nick: The guys in Keller Hamilton. The horn section for Totally Awesome Fun Band.

SCS: Who’s your favorite local band to play with?

Nick: Gah. Theres a ton. Lets just put it this way: If youve seen a show with us on the bill, it was most likely with someone we dig to play with, if not all the bands on the bill. There are some guys we've never played with, but should have and will. The Hooligans have been our friends forever. I love those guys and we've never played a show on the same bill. Same bar on the same night, but different shows.

SCS: Do you think living in Lincoln influences your music in any way?

Nick: This is where our lives are, so yes, of course. There are lots of references in our songs to living in Lincoln or just in Nebraska. Totally.

SCS: What are your feelings on reality TV?

Nick: Reality TV is the most marginalized use of the word 'reality" I've ever heard. I hate it, but sometimes the remote stops on celebrity fit club or something like that and I watch for a minute. To be honest, none of us really watch TV. Oh, I must be honest. Mike and I love trailer fabulous. Absofuckinglutely love it. Eric prides himself as never having owned a TV. Matty is too broke right now to know what a TV is.

SCS: If you could wipe any two bands off the face of the planet, who would they be?

Nick: Hmm. Some new metal band I havent yet heard. And...all of pop-country.

SCS: Are you working on a new album now, and if so, when do you expect it to come out?

Nick: Not really. We released our new album independantly in July/August, and it was released by Medic Records in October, so we're really trying to roll with that now and sell some records. As far as they are concerned, the record isnt even a few months old. We are always writing though. Mike and I have some new songs written already and Eric writes more than anyone in the band. Matty has some stuff he'd like to try, too. We are always writing but right now we're pushing our new CD and getting ready for tour in Feb.

SCS: Was there one defining moment which led you to a life of rock and roll?

Nick: I just always liked the idea putting my ideas and experiences into songs. I like songs alot.

SCS: What's your take on the current state of modern rock music?

Nick: There are definitely two sides to it. I think major labels are still surviving, which is a travesty to music itself, but indies are picking up the slack. Every new band I like now is coming from some tiny label somewhere with no budget. And that gives me hope. Clear Channel hurts everyone. MTV is shit. The internet, however, is providing so much alternative, its incredible.

SCS: If you could tour with any band in history, who would be your dream band to tour with?

Nick: For me personally, it would be the Dance Hall Crashers. Ive never seen them, and once I do, I can quit listening to music forever.

SCS: Who was the first person or band you saw that made you want to play music?

Nick: My friend Andrew Shaw.

SCS: What was the first Album or CD you bought?

Nick: Kriss Kross, "Totall Krossed Out".

SCS: The most recent?

Nick: Uh, Benefit of a Doubt - "With This We Win." Its the newest release from Suckapunch Records. Wink Wink.

SCS: What's your favorite album of all time.

Nick: I totally cannot do that. I tried when Mike put up our new website and now Im pissed that my top eleven doesnt include the Gamits and a score of other damn good bands.

SCS: What’s the best gig you've ever seen, local or otherwise?

Nick: Jimmy Eat World, Sokol Underground.

SCS: Who do you think is the most underrated artist in the music industry?

Nick: Piebald or the Weakerthans. Or Ben Folds.

SCS: What can we look forward to in the next year from the band?

Nick: Lots of touring, lots of writing, and lots of pictures

SCS: Cool, thanks for giving us the lowdown.


- Tery Daly