Bright Calm Blue

Although I've seen Bright Calm Blue play, I've never met the members face to face. Javid and I did this interview by e-mail, I had hoped to have the whole band involved, but only Javid was able to participate. Here's what he had to say about the band.

SCS: Why don’t you give us a rundown about the band, the current members, the history, how and when Bright Calm Blue formed as a band? Etc, etc.

Javid: Bright Calm Blue is made up of four people named Austin, Dustin, Javid, and Mike. We started playing in january 2000 with our former singer and bass player. After we learned how to play music together, our bass player quit so we got austin. After three summer tours and after our singer quit in october 2002, we started what we do now. Our music-making process is comprised of stream-of-consciousness and conscious thought.

SCS: What other Lincoln bands have your members been in over the years?

Javid: Holy shit--we have had lots of side projects and other bands...let's see--Dustin and Mike were in Slay the Balanced (currently in taint scrape), Mike and I were in Dancing Makes You Fuck, Austin and I were in July the Hard Boner, I was in International Band, Dustin was in Mathazaar and the Slutty Benjamins, Mike himself was in the Peeons and Seasick Bob with Jesse (our old bass player). Austin and I are currently in For Richard or Pryor, and I'm also in Ghostrunners.

SCS: How would you define your sound to someone who’s never heard you?

Javid: We sound like a botox killer escaping from a prison that is surrounded by a mote with mathematical equations that he has to solve in order to get away. At least that's what everyone else says.

SCS: Wow, that sounds like the lyric to a Suzy Dreamer & Her Nightmares songs. If people come to see BCB live, what can they expect?

Javid: It depends on how drunk Mike is.

SCS: What types of music and which musicians/groups influenced you and the rest of the band?

Javid: In all honesty, I think the bands that influence me are usually local bands...Her Flyaway Manner is a general influence on us, Thunderstandable is a new influence, playing with other people from Lincoln has been a huge influence...I think every one of our friends who hangs out with us and plays music challenges us and we challenge them back...it's all very positive and it's great to see your friends' ideas evolving along with yours. It's also great if you have octopus friends.

SCS: What was the adjustment period like after Ian (Whitmore) left, and how has the band grown since then?

Javid: Well, to be honest, I think we all saw it coming. I was trying to prepare for it but didn't know how it would work...basically, we sat around for a while going "oh shit, oh shit" and then we figured out who could sing and still play their instruments. We started writing and got used to it--we recorded a demo with Brendan Mcginn and that really helped us get used to everything. We went on tour for a week and everything started to fall into place. There was a lot of support from our friends, which was essential.

SCS: What is the band's working relationship now, as far as the musical process is concerned. Is there a single songwriter in the band, or is everything worked on together?

Javid: It varies. Sometimes I write an entire rough draft and we revise at practice, sometimes we write each other's parts, sometimes we write our own...it all depends on how everyone likes the ideas. It takes us forever to write anything now-a-days.

SCS: What was your first local show?

Javid: We played with Boycaught and The Sound Of Rails in April 2000. It was in the basement of the 14th and F st. house--a venue/house where a lot of us hung out and played. Back then, i think we were more of a community and that house symbolized that...lots of kids have moved away since then.

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

Javid: I like the drink tokens, i don't like the 18+/21+ policy.

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

Javid: If sideshow continues to play again, they are one. Her Flyaway Manner and Thunderstandable--I already mentioned them. Ideal Cleaners are spectacular, Wasteoid is excellent, Creagrutus, Plaque Blague, Call In Call Out, Mr. 1986, The Show Is The Rainbow, Tie These Hands...there are tons of good bands...I know I left some out.

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

Javid: For me, it was Columbus, Ohio a couple of years back. We played two shows after an entire night of driving. We played our biggest show at More Than Music fest in front of a billion people, and then, at about 2 am, we played in an alley/backyard of someone's house (with pg. 99 and an albatross). Anyway, people were throwing lit cigarettes, fireworks, bottles, bread, bed foam, shoes, etc, and everyone was dancing like it was mandatory. We were pretty out of it from the lack of sleep but we were surrounded by two or three hundred kids who were absolutely horrible dancers. I know at least one of them was from Canada, so...ya know...

SCS: Charlottesville, VA label, Level Plane, released your most recent E.P. "A Direct Approach for Casual Conversation". How has that made a difference for the band?

Javid: It has gotten us world-wide distrubition, opened more doors for us in the music industry for exposure, it has saved us money. Basically, it has made things a lot easier for us...we don't have as much time to do a lot of the promotion for ourselves and it's nice to have people who are dedicated to us (and know what they're doing) backing us up. Pretty soon we'll all have platinum teeth that say "honk if you're hectic or marginal" just because we can.

SCS: Why did you choose Her Flyaway Manner’s Brendan McGinn to produce, and how was the experience of recording with him?

Javid: We chose Brendan because he is our best friend, he has real talent for recording, and we can trust him...he continues to improve his approach to recording...he knows us as individuals and knows our songs better than anyone...he has moral value in the recording studio (he won't let us 'punch-in', overdub, etc.) which produces a more authentic, natural recording...and takes for fucking ever...I don't have a clue why we use Brendan.

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

Javid: Adrian Zmed

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

Javid: Besides us? It's Fat Day without a doubt--or Faith No More.

SCS: What was the first album/CD you bought?

Javid: Public Enemy--it takes a nation of millions to hold us back. What a great tape that was. It's only NOW that people are starting to appreciate it.

SCS: Whose music are you listening to right now?

Javid: I'm listening to Fad Gadget right now.

SCS: What other bands would you recommend people check out?

Javid: Check out Ikara Colt if you haven't. They are the next big thing in my book--interesting ideas, great music...they have the perfect formula for a good band--simple, catchy music and complex, thought-provoking lyrics for those who are interested...they are a new influence for me.

SCS: List off your top five albums of all time.

Javid: I don't have all-time favorites but right now it is: