Box Car Racer

Bobby: First thing can you state your name and position in the band?

David: My name is David Kennedy and I play guitar with Box Car Racer.

Bobby: Alright, why did Tom and Travis ask you to be in the band?

David: Um, I suppose Tom originally actually asked me. Cause we had been hanging out a lot last summer or whatever. Talking about music or talking about different types of music we were kinda interested in, and coming together and playing and what we do. It came about that we were talking about a type of music we were gonna experiment and do and Blink had some openings and he said if we were gonna do it, that we had to do it now. And that’s really how things evolved in the band. Just hanging around really. *laughs*

Bobby: Cool. In the album, what would you say is your favorite song?

David: Either… Maybe “Cat Like Thief” or um… gosh, I don’t know. Maybe “Cat Like Thief” is maybe my favorite.

Bobby: Ya, that’s pretty good song. With Tim Armstrong .

David: Ya, that’s the one. Its just such a cool, simple song. Like it has just got like the simple drum loop. Well its just a really cool beat., you know?

Bobby: Ya.

David: And its just a drum loop over and over and the guitars barely change, its really based on vocals and the contrast between Tim’s and Tom’s voice I think is really cool. But um, that might be one of my favorite ones but, you know, I’m generally excited about all the songs on there.

Bobby: Cool.

**** Here we lost our connection, and the recording stopped for a little bit. I asked if him and Anthony would be writing some of the material on the next album, and he said yes. Then I asked how the transition from Over My Dead Body to Box Car Racer had been. Here is then end of his reply****

David: It’s with people I really like and like to be around. So it makes that transition easy and comfortable. But everything is pretty much, like playing music, just playing music, playing shows and stuff feels relatively the same just because it’s with people that you know, friends and people that I’ve always felt comfortable with.

Bobby: Ya. How was the success of being in a band changed your life?

David: Um, well *chuckles* It hasn’t really changed my life yet. I guess the difference is that I work on music. And that’s it, you know? Where as before its like you got to go to work everyday, so that you can live. And then you have a girlfriend, you hang out with your girlfriend and then, you have band practice. Music, you know, you try and fit music in there anywhere you can, but there’s only so much time in a day. That becomes really frustrating and hard to do. But um, that’s the coolest thing that has changed my life so far is that I spend more of my day working on music and then, that’s like my job right. So that’s the only thing that has really changed though.

Bobby: Why did you decide to become a musician?

David: You know what? I don’t know. It was something that just, I was probably fifth teen and maybe I had some older friends that were playing in some bands and it just seemed cool and I’ve already kinda learnt how to play guitar. I hooked up with a friend, my friend Jay. He was just, you know, he still is and was a really really good musician. He sorta just started teaching me and we started playing music together and it just sort of stuck. I kept on doing it in till I really really enjoyed it and I figured that it was something I really wanted to pursue and try to do.

Bobby: Do you have any advice for young musicians?

David: Ya, ya. Its to play with people that, first and foremost, you love to be around and that you respect and that you are proud of. And to go on tour, that’s like the biggest thing. To make people come to you as opposed to sending out demo tapes and sending you know, bios and this and that you know? I mean you got to have that stuff to give in the door and certain clubs and stuff like that. But it seems like a lot of bands are so focused on: “We need a label, we need a label.” and this and that. And its like you don’t always need the big label and stuff.

Bobby: Ya, its for the music.

David: You know to do things, you should really just do something that you really like and to go out and get it on your own. Cause there are so many bands out there that are really good and so many people that, like myself, knew somebody from somebody, you know?

Bobby: Yep.

David: But its because I went out and met people and one of the best ways to do that is to go out and tour and meet somebody and meet people. And through kids you find out other ways, other shows, other labels, other people to talk to. And its just a great way to network rather then just sit and wait. I’ve played in other bands too where they’re like “We just want to record and send out tapes to labels”, and I’m like but there are so many people already doing that, whats gonna make make them pick you? Well if you already have an audience and people that are coming to your shows then people already know that there is a market for you.

Bobby: Ya, makes sense.

David: Amongst that babble I hope you can get something.

Bobby: *laughs* Talking about tours, your about to go on one with The Used and H20, are you excited about that?

David: Ya, I’m very excited about that. I hope you kids come for one, but at the same time it will be fun to watch both those bands every night.

Bobby: Yep, are there any places you really want to play at?

David: Um… I really want to play at home, in San Diego. It’s been a while since we have. And I live here and I like it here. I’m actually excited to come to Canada because I’ve never been. But theres not an individual place that I would say I am excited. Cause I’ve been everywhere already, you know. I’m more excited just about…

Bobby: Touring

David: Ya, just about touring. But I’ve never been to Canada so I’m looking forward to that.

Bobby: Where are you going in Canada again? Toronto and Montreal?

David: Ya, something like that. You might know better then me. I could look for you on my schedule. *laughs* But ya, that sounds about right. I don’t know where either of those places are.

Bobby: *laughs*

David: Ya, Toronto and Montreal, the 6th and 7th on November.

Bobby: Ya, that sounds about right. Does it make you nervous playing in front of thousands of people?

David: I get more anxious then nervous. Like just the waiting. Like when your gonna get up there. I think it always seems, whether its 20 people or a couple of thousand, it seems like, one you finally get started, once you hit that fist note, it kinda disappears you know. And it becomes fun and you get to play the music that you love. Its just cool. But it’s the build up to it that I kinda get wound up to, or nervous or anxious for.

Bobby: Ya, now a days you can find almost any song you want on the internet, Kazaa, Morpheus and stuff like that. How do you feel about that?

David: I don’t know, because I don’t know how to do it myself. I don’t know, some things bother me, its something that you work for and then kids are just downloading. But then, kids just assume, I mean you hear “O, they’re rich, what do they care about you buying their records?” Well, I’ll have you know, I live in an apartment in a not nice area at all in San Diego. And its not always that way. People are trying to make a living, like you by going to work. And that’s what they put, I know that I’ve put my heart into. And then kids are just like, kids are not even looking at the other side of it. They just assume that it’s a certain way, like Metallica that has sold a gazillion records. But its not always that way you know, so I believe in supporting bands and buying records. I love it. I always have. I love having the package, I love reading all the inserts and thank you lists. And being a part of that band and supporting them. Cause it makes me feel good, like I did something… Like I want to support them.

Bobby: Ya, you want the actual album, not just downloaded copies.

David: Exactly. You know, I’ve never burnt a CD. And I know it seems bias, cause I play in a band and its just like “you just do it because you know”. That’s the way I’ve always been. I like supporting people, that’s the way I look at it.

Bobby: That’s good. You always see the term “sell-outs” in chat rooms and stuff, what do you think of that?

David: Sometimes I think its true. But kids are just saying it because a band has become successful. I mean they are part of the reason that they are calling that band a sell-out because…

Bobby: They like them.

David: Ya, they like them. I mean, more people like them. That’s why a band plays music. Cause hopefully you get to touch a lot of people and hopefully they’re gonna enjoy it. And there are people out there who alter their image or do what ever because the label thinks it will sell more records. Its not for me. But… I don’t know. I don’t think its always warranted. Its not fair most of the time probably.

Bobby: A lot of people work to bring the music to them and if they like it they shouldn’t be sell-outs.

David: Ya, they shouldn’t have to be ridiculed for being successful. I mean would you call Jimmy Eat World a sell-out?

Bobby: No.

David: I don’t know how many records they’ve sold but I know now they are extremely successful. But they’ve been busting their ass for ever.

Bobby: Ya, Jimmy Eat World plays really good music. I saw them in concert in a couple months ago and they were excellent.

David: Ya, but kids will be like, o you know, they’re too big, who knows. Think for a second, lets say, you know not to talk about them, but Blink. They are three dudes that have been playing music. I mean what did they do to sell-out you know?

Bobby: Nothing. They just play music.

David: Exactly. Whatever.

Bobby: Going back to the internet now, there are a lot of people that are finding songs by you guys, but once you listen to them, they aren’t. What do you think of that?

David: Well I think it sucks. *laughs* My friend, when we were first doing this record and before it came out he wanted to hear some of the songs. He was looking on the internet and he heard some and they were just horrible. Like even recordings, almost like they were recorded of a jukebox or something. Unfortunately I don’t know how a computer works, when something goes wrong I just pull the plug and turn it back on. I don’t know what else to do. I haven’t heard any of that myself. I don’t know who would benefit from that. And if they do, I guess its pretty lame if kids are. I’m not worried that kids are going to mistake it for us and think we suck. And be like “O this is horrible, this band is horrible”. I’m not worried about that. But if somebody is taken advantage of people by using our names, that seems like it would be super horrible.

Bobby: Like you just talked about the Blink 182 guys.

David: Ya.

Bobby: Someone wanted to know what you think when you read an interview with you or the other Box Car Racer guys and on to it says something like the “Blink Boys” or something like that. How do you feel about getting recognized because of Tom and Travis?

David: Like does it bother me that they’re in Blink and they talk about it when we are doing Box Car stuff?

Bobby: Ya

David: No it doesn’t. That’s just the way it is. We are only getting to do it because of them, I mean automatically at this level. So its not that big a deal. Obviously, its Box Car interview. I mean all 4 of us, even more so Tom and Travis prefer to be revered to as Box Car not Blink. So they might be even a little bit more quick to mention it then myself or Anthony would. It doesn’t really bother me that much as long as it doesn’t get out of , you know, as long as it stays relatively focused. But its inevitable that people talking about Box Car will be curious about blink. Or vice or versa.

Bobby: I guess 2 more questions. First you see Box Car Racer written all over the place. But you always see it written in two ways. 2 words and 3 words. What way is it?

David: It’s supposed to be 3 words.

Bobby: Alright.

David: Ya, Box space Car space Racer. A lot of time its Boxcar Racer, just 2 words. But ya, three words because its not supposed to be “Boxcar Racer”. You know? Its really just a name. With the three words its just a visual so that we could do whatever. Like line them up, stacking them, but them as one word. You know just to make it look like its all messed together. Just to play around with it.

Bobby: Cool. If you could pick anyone, you could to tour with. Dead or alive, who would you pick to tour with?

David: Um… that’s a good question dude. I don’t know. I’ve never thought about that. Dead or alive… With Box Car or just like…

Bobby: Any. Box Car or anybody.

David: I don’t know, I guess.. I’ve had so many. I would say either the Gorillas Biscuits or the Descendants. Descendants just because I had so much fun in high school just listening to them, you know. And now if I could just see them on tour. That might be really cool but I don’t know, that’s kinda hard. Gorillas Biscuits is the first band that ever got me into hardcore, so that might be cool. But I don’t know. That’s a good question, a hard one.

Bobby: You’ve got lots of choices.

David: Ya, there are so many people.

Bobby: Well, I guess that’s it. Before we finish are there any shout outs you wanna say?

David: No, just thank you for doing the interview with me.

Bobby: No, thank you.

David: I don’t really know, just Thanks a lot.

Bobby: Thanks, its been great.