Team Stray Interview
1.How did Team Stray get started ?
Team Stray started when my friend Justin and I (Tom) started recording silly songs on a four track cassette recorder some years ago. Eventually we coerced more of our friends into joining us. The band didn't reach its current lineup and "serious" status until about a year and a half ago.
2.Were any of you in bands prior to Team Stray?
Eric (drummer) was in Inside Recess and Dead Mission. I used to play bass in a bunch of bands, most recently (we're talking three plus years ago) Caruso and Low-L Relay. I'm sure you've never heard of 'em. Mike and Jeff fiddled around a bit, but I don't think there were any "official" bands for them.
3. Tell Us About your band.
Team Stray was created with one thing in mind: for my friends and I to have fun. So far that's what we've been doing. I was really tired of dicking around in bands that either took themselves too seriously or couldn't keep it together long enough to even put out a cd.
4. Style of Music (political, EmO, Funny, hardcore, rockstars, ..etc)
Pop punk, oldish school Ramones-by-way-of-Screeching Weasel style, with some fairly buried indie rock and power pop influences.
5.Favorite place to play and why?
In Cincinnati, it's the Glendora House. Nothing like playing all-ages basement shows surrounded by friendly faces. Out of town, just about everywhere we've played so far has been great, especially Baltimore, Columbus, and Cleveland.
6.Funniest thing you've seen at a show?
The first time we played in Berea (outside Cleveland, OH), we were in this fairly large church hall that was divided into two sections by a bunch of tables and chairs. We were playing in one section, and some of the kids at the show decided they needed room to rock, so dozens of them went to the far section (about 50 feet or so away) and formed a huge pit. It was just so surreal to be playing and look far left into the distant mosh across a sea of tables and chairs. I guess it was also a shock to see people pitting to our music.
7. Craziest place you've played?
Probably this little all-ages theater in Cincinnati called The H.A.T. At one point, the kids were skankin' to our stuff. Now that's crazy.
8.Are you on a label? If so, who?
Self-released right now, not that we'd sneeze at an offer. "Popular Mechanics" was almost released by Cold Feet Records, but they were busy working on putting out that incredible Steinways record, and we didn't want to wait to release our cd, so we just went ahead and did it ourselves. Maybe we can work with them in the future, who knows.
9.Who's your favorite band right now?
For a long time it's been Guided By Voices. They're not exactly pop punk, but it's important to have other influences.
10. Who writes your songs and how are you inspired to write them?
I write the songs. Inspiration can come from anywhere...people I know or used to know, past situations, listening to music I really like, singing nonsense in the shower, etc. I tend to take the seed of a real situation and/or feeling and then fictionalize the details if I feel it fits the song. I have a lot of small notebooks filled with scribbled jibberish, and sometimes when I'm looking for a song idea I'll comb them for lines. Often the lyrics come first, but not always. I don't really have a set method.
11. When you play at a show are you all serious or do you just fuck around?
We are as serious as we need to be. Sometimes less so.
12.What's your favorite song that you play right now and why?
All the new ones that aren't on the cd. Not that I don't have fun playing those older tunes, but I'm always infatuated with the new stuff.
13.What does it mean to you being in Team Stray?
It means getting to do one of the things I love most in this world with some of my closest friends, and sometimes as an added bonus strangers join in on the fun.
14.What do you do when you are not playing?
I teach English at Miami University and spend (never enough) time with my wife.
15. How do your families evaluate the fact that you are musicians and not a banker or whatever?
My mother still wants me to be in a cover band so I can finally "make some money doing this." It's easier for them to take now that I have a career outside of music, but I still don't think they "get it."
16. If you check out TV on any given day often you see "punk" video clips or sound bites from bands like Something Corperate, Rise Against, AFI, Greenday, etc.. What are your thoughts on the influences of Punk Rock on the mainstream?
Although there are a few positive aspects to it (at least some of Green Day's recent soapboxing might open a few eyes, for example), for the most part it's the same old co-opting of the surface representations of genuine spirit that's been going on for decades now. I don't really like it, but for the most part I'm past caring about it.
17. What is your current evaluation of the current punk scene?
There really does seem to be a bit of a resurgence in pop punk these days...thanks to bands like The Ergs, The Unlovables, The Steinways, Delay, Teenage Bottlerocket, and so many others. I love that, for obvious reasons. There are less fans than say, ten years ago, but the ones that are here are that much more dedicated. Kind of like many "true" metal fans, but less evil.
18.Who are your musical influences?
Do I really have to go into this? We're a pop punk band, for pete's sake. Ok, I'll just assume readers will know all the obvious pop punk and oldies stuff, and aside from that, I'm influenced by indie guitar gods like J. Mascis, the guys from Silkworm and Chavez, and Mac from Superchunk. The Archers of Loaf. Elvis Costello. Sugar. Sebadoh. Most of Mike Watt's career output. Tons of other diverse stuff. Eric likes metal, and Enya. He's weird.
19.Any bands you really want to do a show with and why?
We've been really lucky that we've gotten to play shows with many of the best active pop punk bands around, but if I had to pick one we haven't played with, I'd say Chixdiggit. We've been learning a bunch of their songs for a Halloween "tribute" show, and it's made me appreciate them that much more. I've never seen them live, so that'd be icing on the cake.
20.Who's the craziest band you've ever done a show with?
Two Inch Winky's Christmas shows are unstoppably nuts, year after year. Love those guys. Worth a trip to Cincinnati just to see the spectacle, I promise.
21. Descibe the stage presence of Team Stray
Eric has the best drum faces ever. Jeff looks down at his guitar whenever he's not singing backups. So does Mike. I look angry while singing and make goofy faces while screwing up my leads. Between songs we laugh and yell at each other. I think we give off a "Who told these guys they could get up there and do this?" kind of vibe.
22.Has your style of music changed at all since the band started? If so, why?
It's changed a little since this version of the band got started. We've gotten ever so slightly better at our instruments, and at singing. I like the songs I'm writing now better, but again, that may just be because they're new.
23.What's your favorite part of being in a band?
Live shows, without a doubt. Though the feeling you get after you're finished recording is pretty nice.
25. When you look into the crowd, what would you say are the kind of people at the shows?
If it's in Cincinnati, it's our drunk friends, who are much like us. If it's anywhere else, it's either enthusiastic youth or confused hipsters. The occasional mildly offended (or at least confused) parent happens by. Once in a while a "frat" will bang his head.
26.How did you come up with the name Team Stray?
Sometimes when you see a stray dog, it's hangin out with one or more dogs of a different breed, seeing the sights, searching for food, etc. They're Team Stray.
27.What makes Team Stray different from other bands?
We don't take ourselves seriously...almost to a fault.
28.Anyone you want to thank?
I'll go ahead and thank Trevor Spaulding, for no particular reason. And of course the kind folks at punkrockreview.org, especially Lura.
-Tom Strayhttp://www.myspace.com/teamstray
Team Stray started when my friend Justin and I (Tom) started recording silly songs on a four track cassette recorder some years ago. Eventually we coerced more of our friends into joining us. The band didn't reach its current lineup and "serious" status until about a year and a half ago.
2.Were any of you in bands prior to Team Stray?
Eric (drummer) was in Inside Recess and Dead Mission. I used to play bass in a bunch of bands, most recently (we're talking three plus years ago) Caruso and Low-L Relay. I'm sure you've never heard of 'em. Mike and Jeff fiddled around a bit, but I don't think there were any "official" bands for them.
3. Tell Us About your band.
Team Stray was created with one thing in mind: for my friends and I to have fun. So far that's what we've been doing. I was really tired of dicking around in bands that either took themselves too seriously or couldn't keep it together long enough to even put out a cd.
4. Style of Music (political, EmO, Funny, hardcore, rockstars, ..etc)
Pop punk, oldish school Ramones-by-way-of-Screeching Weasel style, with some fairly buried indie rock and power pop influences.
5.Favorite place to play and why?
In Cincinnati, it's the Glendora House. Nothing like playing all-ages basement shows surrounded by friendly faces. Out of town, just about everywhere we've played so far has been great, especially Baltimore, Columbus, and Cleveland.
6.Funniest thing you've seen at a show?
The first time we played in Berea (outside Cleveland, OH), we were in this fairly large church hall that was divided into two sections by a bunch of tables and chairs. We were playing in one section, and some of the kids at the show decided they needed room to rock, so dozens of them went to the far section (about 50 feet or so away) and formed a huge pit. It was just so surreal to be playing and look far left into the distant mosh across a sea of tables and chairs. I guess it was also a shock to see people pitting to our music.
7. Craziest place you've played?
Probably this little all-ages theater in Cincinnati called The H.A.T. At one point, the kids were skankin' to our stuff. Now that's crazy.
8.Are you on a label? If so, who?
Self-released right now, not that we'd sneeze at an offer. "Popular Mechanics" was almost released by Cold Feet Records, but they were busy working on putting out that incredible Steinways record, and we didn't want to wait to release our cd, so we just went ahead and did it ourselves. Maybe we can work with them in the future, who knows.
9.Who's your favorite band right now?
For a long time it's been Guided By Voices. They're not exactly pop punk, but it's important to have other influences.
10. Who writes your songs and how are you inspired to write them?
I write the songs. Inspiration can come from anywhere...people I know or used to know, past situations, listening to music I really like, singing nonsense in the shower, etc. I tend to take the seed of a real situation and/or feeling and then fictionalize the details if I feel it fits the song. I have a lot of small notebooks filled with scribbled jibberish, and sometimes when I'm looking for a song idea I'll comb them for lines. Often the lyrics come first, but not always. I don't really have a set method.
11. When you play at a show are you all serious or do you just fuck around?
We are as serious as we need to be. Sometimes less so.
12.What's your favorite song that you play right now and why?
All the new ones that aren't on the cd. Not that I don't have fun playing those older tunes, but I'm always infatuated with the new stuff.
13.What does it mean to you being in Team Stray?
It means getting to do one of the things I love most in this world with some of my closest friends, and sometimes as an added bonus strangers join in on the fun.
14.What do you do when you are not playing?
I teach English at Miami University and spend (never enough) time with my wife.
15. How do your families evaluate the fact that you are musicians and not a banker or whatever?
My mother still wants me to be in a cover band so I can finally "make some money doing this." It's easier for them to take now that I have a career outside of music, but I still don't think they "get it."
16. If you check out TV on any given day often you see "punk" video clips or sound bites from bands like Something Corperate, Rise Against, AFI, Greenday, etc.. What are your thoughts on the influences of Punk Rock on the mainstream?
Although there are a few positive aspects to it (at least some of Green Day's recent soapboxing might open a few eyes, for example), for the most part it's the same old co-opting of the surface representations of genuine spirit that's been going on for decades now. I don't really like it, but for the most part I'm past caring about it.
17. What is your current evaluation of the current punk scene?
There really does seem to be a bit of a resurgence in pop punk these days...thanks to bands like The Ergs, The Unlovables, The Steinways, Delay, Teenage Bottlerocket, and so many others. I love that, for obvious reasons. There are less fans than say, ten years ago, but the ones that are here are that much more dedicated. Kind of like many "true" metal fans, but less evil.
18.Who are your musical influences?
Do I really have to go into this? We're a pop punk band, for pete's sake. Ok, I'll just assume readers will know all the obvious pop punk and oldies stuff, and aside from that, I'm influenced by indie guitar gods like J. Mascis, the guys from Silkworm and Chavez, and Mac from Superchunk. The Archers of Loaf. Elvis Costello. Sugar. Sebadoh. Most of Mike Watt's career output. Tons of other diverse stuff. Eric likes metal, and Enya. He's weird.
19.Any bands you really want to do a show with and why?
We've been really lucky that we've gotten to play shows with many of the best active pop punk bands around, but if I had to pick one we haven't played with, I'd say Chixdiggit. We've been learning a bunch of their songs for a Halloween "tribute" show, and it's made me appreciate them that much more. I've never seen them live, so that'd be icing on the cake.
20.Who's the craziest band you've ever done a show with?
Two Inch Winky's Christmas shows are unstoppably nuts, year after year. Love those guys. Worth a trip to Cincinnati just to see the spectacle, I promise.
21. Descibe the stage presence of Team Stray
Eric has the best drum faces ever. Jeff looks down at his guitar whenever he's not singing backups. So does Mike. I look angry while singing and make goofy faces while screwing up my leads. Between songs we laugh and yell at each other. I think we give off a "Who told these guys they could get up there and do this?" kind of vibe.
22.Has your style of music changed at all since the band started? If so, why?
It's changed a little since this version of the band got started. We've gotten ever so slightly better at our instruments, and at singing. I like the songs I'm writing now better, but again, that may just be because they're new.
23.What's your favorite part of being in a band?
Live shows, without a doubt. Though the feeling you get after you're finished recording is pretty nice.
24.What are personal thoughts on the mentality of today's america?
Short answer: we're fast running out of excuses for ignorance, people. So stop making 'em.
25. When you look into the crowd, what would you say are the kind of people at the shows?
If it's in Cincinnati, it's our drunk friends, who are much like us. If it's anywhere else, it's either enthusiastic youth or confused hipsters. The occasional mildly offended (or at least confused) parent happens by. Once in a while a "frat" will bang his head.
26.How did you come up with the name Team Stray?
Sometimes when you see a stray dog, it's hangin out with one or more dogs of a different breed, seeing the sights, searching for food, etc. They're Team Stray.
27.What makes Team Stray different from other bands?
We don't take ourselves seriously...almost to a fault.
28.Anyone you want to thank?
I'll go ahead and thank Trevor Spaulding, for no particular reason. And of course the kind folks at punkrockreview.org, especially Lura.
-Tom Strayhttp://www.myspace.com/teamstray
