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Four Year Strong
By Kaila Rovine
Published: November 10, 2008
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I recently got the chance to chat with Alan from the band Four Year Strong. Hear what he has to say about life on the road, superpowers, and Hannah Montana.

Date: September 30th 2008.

Location: Recher Theatre Towson, MD.

 

Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.

Alan – My name is Alan and I play guitar and sing in the band Four Year Strong.

Could you tell us a bit about the history of the band and how you guys came together?

Alan – We formed the band in 2001. It started off as an acoustic type of thing because everyone was in hardcore bands before this, and other pop punk bands and we all wanted to try something new. So we met through friends, Jake(the drummer) and I grew up together and we both went to high school with Dan. We’ve had a bunch of lineup changes since we formed but we all just wanted to try something new and something a little bit different, kind of mixing all the stuff we listen to into one thing.

Where was your first live show as a band and how did that go?


Alan – Our first live Four Year Strong show was on an island in Worchester, MA across the street from my house, there’s a pond and a place called The Island Club, it’s not a place where shows happen it’s like a country club of sorts. Since my dad was a member, my sister had a Halloween party there and Four Year Strong played.

How did you guys end up getting signed to I Surrender Records?


Alan – We were searching for a label for a while, just sending out press kits and everything. We met up with a lot of people just by doing showcases and stuff. We did a showcase in New York City and met up with Rob Hitt, who owns I Surrender, and we just kind of talked and hit it off and started talking more and more and decided that we both kind of wanted the same things.


You guys released your full length last year, could you describe the writing process you went through on that?


Alan – Well it’s kind of hard to describe, since it was our first full length it was a lot of songs that had been written for our whole lives. It was like bits of pieces of things we’ve done all along the way. I feel like that’s how everyone’s first full length is, it’s like all or just pieces of old songs that you just resurrect to put together to make the album. It’s the first thing that people hear from you and you want to make sure that it’s something you worked really hard on to bring together.


What is your writing process in general as far as songs go, who puts together the music and lyrics?


Alan – Dan, the other singer, and me we do the majority of the writing. We usually write the music first and then vocals after. We’re really picky about writing and it usually takes us a long time to finish a song but we try to do our best.


Were you guys planning on doing a follow up release anytime soon?


Alan – Yes, were writing for a new record right now. We’re having a little bit of trouble because of our schedule since were touring so often. It’s hard to sit down and really work when were in a different place every day, were touring in a van right now so we can’t just sit on the bus and start playing. We’re taking some time off soon to really write the record and were hoping to record this winter.


What are some things you can’t live without on tour?


Alan - I wouldn’t say I couldn’t live without my computer because I’m doing that now since my backpack got stolen the first day of this tour, and it had my brand new Macbook in it so I’m pretty bummed about that. I do have a blanket that I bring on every tour, it’s not really something that I’ve had since I was a kid, my sister made it for me for Christmas a couple years ago. I’ve brought it on tour ever since so it’s been on a lot of tours, it’s nice, it’s fleece and cozy, and it’s the perfect size for the van.


What’s your favorite thing about touring?


Alan – Definitely meeting new people, making friends, getting to know bands. There’s a lot of really cool people out there. It may be one of my least favorite things as well because then when I’m done tour I end up not seeing them for a while.


Who are the pranksters of the group, or is there a lot of pranking going on?


Alan – There’s not that much because everyone gets really mad at each other, every one has really short fuses. We try to pull pranks on each other and mess around with one another a good amount. Like Josh our keyboard player, if you pull a prank on him he gets furious but it’s funny. I’d say we probably prank him the most, because it’s the funniest when he gets mad.


What are some things you guys do to keep busy while on tour?


Alan – Go to Walmart, as much as possible. I went today and bought How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, and some tissues because I’m sick. Walmart is always good, because they have everything. They have food, movies, and other stuff.


If you could have one wish granted what would it be?


Alan – I’d be able to control time. I could stop and rewind. Not even, I just want to be able to stop time and I wasn’t stopped. Like freeze time, kind of like Zach Morris in Saved By The Bell, you know when he could do his thing and everyone else was still frozen. Because right now I’m sick and with that I could stop time, drive the van home, sleep for a few days and get better, than come back and get right back into it. I also want to be able to unfreeze someone who’s with me so I could hang out with people. I’ve thought about this, if you couldn’t tell.


What are some of your favorite snacks while on the road?


Alan – Salt and Vinegar Pringles. That’s my favorite thing in the world right now. Not everyone has them, so when I do get them it’s amazing. Salt and Vinegar chips in general are good but Pringles are delicious.


Do you have any favorite places to visit or venues to play at?


Alan – One of my favorite venues is The Palladium in Worchester, MA. It’s our hometown. It’s just a great venue; the people that work there are great. Shows are always great. There are a lot of great places our there but I always have to stick with our hometown venue.


What do you think about the increase in digital music as far as ITunes and MP3 downloads goes versus physical cd’s and cd stores?


Alan – I’m kind of learning to make peace with it, because it’s inevitable. Downloading music illegally is rough for a musician because it just hurts everyone’s career, and everyone else who trying to make a living off of it. At the same time it’s almost a blessing, because when our record came out it leaked two months before release, and the blessing behind that was, we were playing songs from the record then and kids were going nuts and singing along. They liked the new stuff, they were coming to shows, and they were buying merch. It was like a blessing in disguise really. As far as iTunes goes, I still don’t really understand it so I don’t know if I can really answer that. I’ve never bought anything off of iTunes or anything. I know everyone else in my band has but I have just never done it. Like my dad does it and stuff, but I just never had any reason to.


As a musician, how do you think the tough economy is effecting the music industry?


Alan – The one thing that’s killing musicians is gas prices. I have a lot of friends in bands that are kind of just starting out. A huge thing to do when you’re just starting out is to get out on the road and expose yourself to new fans and places. I know you can do that with the Internet these days but it’s so easy to make a Myspace and all that you just get lost in all the crap. I just know so many bands that can’t go out on tour because they are only getting so much for a guarantee every night and the drive is 10 hours so they can’t afford the gas to get to that show. It’s definitely hard.


This or That’s


Miley Cyrus or Hannah Montana?


Alan – Aren’t they the same person? I don’t follow it at all but I will go with Hannah Montana, Because the name rhymes.


Pen or Pencil?


Alan – Pen, definitely pen.


Apple Pie or Cherry Pie?


Alan – Apple pie, not a huge fan of either but I’d prefer apple. Raspberry is my favorite fruit.


Unicorns or Leprechauns?


Alan – Unicorns.


What are you guys planning for the future once your current tour is up?


Alan – Well we want to record a record this winter. Before that were going to the UK with New Found Glory, Set Your Goals, and Crime In Stereo. After we write and record, were going to get right back on the road. Maybe we’ll take some time off because we basically have been touring since our current record came out. Maybe take a month off or so and just keep touring and writing more records and touring.


Is there anything else you would like to add to your fans and the readers at ForTheSound.com?


Alan – I would like to tell everyone to just keep coming out to shows and supporting us and any other band you like. Go ahead and download the records if you need to cause I know you’re going to anyway but if you do that, come to shows and buy some merch. Help bands keep doing what they’re doing, because we can only keep doing it if you guys care.

 


Thanks to Alan for chatting with For The Sound and to Mara Frankel at I Surrender Records for helping to make this interview happen. For more information on Four Year Strong and to check out upcoming tour dates, hit up their myspace page HERE.



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