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| PUSHING UP DAISIES Interview |
03/03/04 |
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 PUSHING UP DAISIES is band from Salt Lake City/ Utah USA. They just got a little E.P. out. After listen to this E.P. they just satisfied me so much that I did a little interview with them. But just read it by yourself what those six nice guys have to say.
TSM: Hey, could you please announce the band members?
PUD: Pushing Up Daisies is currently running a six member line up consisting of Gary (Vocals), Mike (Guitar), Daryl (Bass), Ian (Guitar), Kel (Drums), and Scott (Keyboards/Drum Machine). Gary, Mike, and Daryl are originally from the band Tempered (local hardcore band from Salt Lake). Ian has played in a number of bands including Haloraker, Queen Anne’s Revenge, and The Lazarus Project. Kel is formerly of the metal band Anima Nera as well as the hardcore band Compilate. Scott and Mike are currently singing/playing guitar for an up and coming Salt Lake rock band called El Toro. In general, the members of Pushing Up Daisies have years of band time under their belt and have enjoyed long careers of playing music for all kinds of different genres. This line up is definitely the best the band has seen in its three year tenure and everyone is deeply involved in the writing process.
TSM: What’s up? How is the band going so far?
PUD: Right now the band is extremely busy with five shows lined up for the month of March alone (Dillinger Escape Plan, Crisis, Bleeding Through) and two tours: one in Calgary, Canada and another that will span the West Coast scene of the U.S.A. Pushing Up Daisies is also getting ready to record a split with another Utah local called Tamerlane. The split will consist of three songs apiece and it will really give the listeners a chance to see what Pushing Up Daisies is aiming for as far as transitions from the first EP to the full length LP. We’re also working on getting a Pushing Up Daisies website with more information about the EP, lyrics, bios, tour dates, shows, and merchandise.
TSM: You guys have a nice CD out. Could you tell us something about it?
PUD: The EP known as Gunslinger is a four song (through five tracks) disc that runs 34 minutes. It was recorded at BOHO Digital by Bruce Kirby about two years ago. The songs on the EP include Bus Ride, Clipping Cupids Wings A, Clipping Cupids Wings B, Perfect Love, and finally Neuron 35. The concept of the album, as we were writing it, was to create a record that moved away from any set genre of music. We didn’t want to be included in metal or hardcore or rock. We wanted to create a sound that was unique and original and as a band we feel that the EP has definitely achieved that. So far the album has received great reviews and garnered us attention from various labels.
TSM: What do you expect from it?
PUD: So far the album has done much more than we ever expected. With the positive reviews and the amount of interest created by the album, we really couldn’t ask for more. All we ever really wanted from the album was to create a sound that communicated to listeners on a different level than that of other bands. Right now the EP is making waves in the music community and we’re really pleased with the feedback.
TSM: Who influenced you to this music? I mean you play a very different style. Sometimes it seems like you play a nice clean sound and in the other second it turns in to chaotic experimental thing.
PUD: Pushing Up Daisies was something that Tempered started to change into. We originally took two concept songs from Tempered and made them into something much more through Pushing Up Daisies. The Perfect Love actually includes some Tempered riffing from a song originally called Severed. After Tempered broke up over a want for something more creative, Gary began talking about his want to start a new band more metal oriented. Mike and Daryl agreed to that and eventually found a second guitarist (Tim Myers) and a drummer (Nick Foster). Tim really introduced everyone to the pedal phenomenon that has become a huge part of Pushing Up Daisies weird side. Daryl alone plays through seven different bass pedals and the two guitarists have about fifteen pedals between them. It creates a sound with a lot of space to it. With influences ranging from Deicide to Radiohead, Burning Airlines to Converge, and Failure to At the Drive In, the original line up of Pushing Up Daisies quickly began writing songs that became epic in stature. Mike really likes the rocking sound of Led Zeppelin and that really contributed to the length of our songs. We’ve never planned on them being five, six, or seven minutes they just pan out that way. Our influences have been huge in helping us achieve such a unique sound, but more than anything, as a band, we’re not afraid to play what we want. We’re not afraid to step in new directions even if it means we’re unsure about how an audience will respond.
TSM: And how would you describe your sound?
PUD: Pushing Up Daisies has a very unique sound. It’s really quite hard to explain. If you’d like you can check out the songs for yourself at http//www.hxcmp3.com (XCheremX also has some songs you can listen to. Check them out!). Just type Pushing Up Daisies into the search menu and click on us. Four tracks from the album are listed. There’s also a review of the album at http://www.allmusic.com. (Again, type in Pushing Up Daisies in the search menu).
TSM: How did you start?
PUD: After Tempered broke up Pushing Up Daisies began. From there it’s all been for a want of a sound that has a lot more creativity to it.
TSM: Why did you call your band Pushing Up Daisies?
PUD: Gary actually coined the name and it stuck ever since. In a way the name is thematic to our scope of music. It sounds kind of nice, but at the same time describes something more dark and sinister. We also have a weird fascination with cowboy movies. (I.e. The good, the bad, the ugly).
TSM: The first song on your mini CD is dealing about the fear and confusion of Jewish concentration camp sufferers. Are you politically and historically influenced?
PUD: Some of the songs definitely contain influences either political or historical. Perfect Love for example contains a lot of historical information including different angelic titles and the fall of the morning star. Bus Ride was actually penned by Daryl and is the only politically charged lyrics that we have right now. Bus Ride is about a group of Jewish women that were bussed to what they thought was a camp. Instead they were taken to a small valley and told to undress. They were then shot along with their children. The song tried to exemplify the immense pain and suffering that these women went through. Daryl actually found the influence for these lyrics in a book that included pictures. From a distance you could see the women trying to cover themselves in the cold. It was disgusting. Politics aren’t really something we’re interested in conveying through the music, but we’ll do whatever comes to mind when it come to lyrics. Right now Gary is writing all of the lyrics and they’re really starting to form around that deeper feeling that we’ve wanted all along. His lyrics have become a lot deeper over the years and stronger in their themes.
TSM: Could you tell us what is going on at one of your live shows?
PUD: At our last show a kid was swinging a chair around in the pit. That really describes the energy that is present during a live performance. Whatever you hear on the record is what you see on stage. We all love to rock out and have a good time while we play. We’re all so motivated by the music that we become enthralled by it and the sound just takes us away. We literally become mad men. During the sets we play, we also change up little things like solos and effects so every live show is different and unique in its own way. You also might notice changes in the songs that aren’t on the disc. We try and keep everything open to change. Basically, the live show is a real connection between us and our listeners. A blatant display of crotch thrusting and badical attitude.
TSM: Let’s talk about future plans. How about yours? In what direction will you bring the band? What about a new record and some tours?
PUD: Like I said earlier, we’re already headed up to Canada as well as the West Coast. We’d love to go on a European tour, but it’s not scheduled as of yet. We have a lot to focus on right now and that will come later. We’re also still trying to work something out as far as getting signed so our next big step is our split with Tamerlane. As soon as that’s finished we’ll have it on the internet for people to review and listen to. We’re really excited about the future and we have a lot of music already written for our LP that will follow the split.
TSM: Guys, thanks for the interview. Do you have any shout outs?
PUD: Thank you for interviewing us. We really appreciate your interest. Shout outs to all the bands that we’ve played with and all the locals in Salt Lake City. To all the kids that have set us up with shows, THANK YOU. If you’re interested in Pushing Up Daisies, then be sure to check out other bands from Salt Lake. Here’s a listing of a few: Tamer lane, El Toro, Hi If Massacre, Willem Dafoe, Aftermath of a Train Wreck, Glacial, Charmed, and many more. Thanks again, Pushing Up Daisies. |
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