Strung Out and Pour Habit

It was like a blast from the 90’s as punk rock’s staple record label Fat Wreck Chords showcased some new and old bands for this years Fat Tour, at the Sound Academy in Toronto. We decided to try something a little different and include two Fat bands in one interview as legendary Strung Out drummer Jordan Burns and Pour Habit vocalist Chuck squared off to interview each other. This is how it went down.

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Lanny: So we are going to make my job easy here guys, and you too are going to interview each other so why don’t you start out by introducing yourselves?

Chuck: I’m Chuck and I sing in Pour Habit.

Lanny: I thought it was Calvin, now I’m confused.

Chuck: I am going to kick Jordan’s ass man. That’s a long running joke and it’s not even directed at me. It’s directed at Steve ( Bass player).

Lanny: What’s this Calvin crap all about?

Jordan: You know what we are not even sure where it developed but it has taken on a life of it’s own. Oh and I’m Jordan and I play drums in Strung Out.

Lanny: Well let’s get this going here. Chuck, Jordan, here is your chance to get anything off your mind or ask any pressing questions you have been keeping locked up for whatever reason.

Jordan: I am sure there are a lot of important issues we need to discuss right now.

Chuck: You go first.

Jordan: All right. So ugghh what’s it like being a punk band from Compton with three white guys?

Chuck: Well to be honest growing up in that environment and everything it was really rough and all, but I don’t know it was just easy and simple. I don’t look at color and shit. I just want to have fun on stage and that’s what we do. It’s simple to answer your question.

Jordan: I am very proud of you.

Chuck: So my question is when the hell are you going to pay me that eighty dollars you owe me for taking out my dread locks? When is that going to happen? Where is that eighty dollars?

Jordan: Well I figure I’m going to take that out of my management fees, that I haven’t collected so far. I made him take out his dreads and told him it was a no. Hair is very important to any band I manage.

Chuck: Well this hair is about to get locked up again if you don’t pay me those eighty dollars.

Jordan: You are going to jail?

Chuck: Ha-ha you see what kind of hate I have to put up with on a constant basis.

Jordan: Ha-ha so you see how this works. I basically burned him and there is nothing he can do about it.

Chuck: This isn’t the first time I have burned him.

Jordan: How did you end up meeting such a special brothers like Colin and Eric?

Chuck: Well Steve and I knew each other from junior high and then Steve went to college with Colin, and that’s how they met. Then that’s how I met Colin because I would go party with them at San Diego State. Next thing we knew we needed a drummer and boom that’s how that happened. And Eric was his brother so we just started playing.

Lanny: Wow it’s all about the brothers for Pour Habit.

Chuck: They are a special group of guys who really need to screw their heads on straight. But I love them because they do great work.

Lanny: Alright Chuck it’s your turn.

Chuck: All right. What are your up coming plans for touring?

Jordan: Well we are planning a world wide tour with Pour Habit, you know everywhere we can possibly take Pour Habit and you know why wouldn’t we? It’s in our best interest to do so. It could be scary because they can out perform us. Chuck is a maniac and he sucks but that’s the beautiful part about it. But seriously tour plans. Well we will have a new record out in September, and I am sure we will be staying busy.

Chuck: Is it back to me?

Lanny: Yep I think so.

Chuck: Really. He didn’t ask a question here.

Lanny: You are right, it’s like I passed the joint in the wrong direction. I’m sorry guys.

Jordan: What’s it like being in a band with three personal trainers?

Chuck: Honestly ummm.

Lanny: Is that true?

Chuck. They are all freaking gym rats and all they do is freaking lift weights and bench press Volkswagens and it’s seriously tough on the road because they get all pissed when they can’t find a gym, and they get upset because they’re muscles are getting soft, so they sit in the bathroom doing push ups and then they go behind the club and start fucking lifting the trailer up and shit, it’s embarrassing man. And it sucks because they are all ripped and on the juice and they are just a bunch of goddamn guerillas.

Jordan: All right back to you Chuck.

Chuck: Cool. So Jordan what inspired you to play the drums?

Jordan: I guess Neil Peart. From Rush.

Lanny: All right, Toronto Represent!

Jordan: Yes he is a Torontoitte, or whatever you would call someone from Toronto. I was just always into the drums and started playing at a young age. Then I just watched a bunch of drummers like Neil Peart, Tommy Lee and a lot of old punk drummers. I have now played music for half my life and I’m still doing it, which feels really great.

Chuck: That’s good shit. Pretty good!

Jordan: How big of a role does your dad play in influencing your band?

Chuck: He is pretty much the founder; he is pretty much the supplier of anything, and just gave us a place to practice in the early stages of Pour Habit.

Jordan: But more importantly it’s personality similarities that we are looking for?

Chuck: Well as far as that goes my dad is a real funny friendly guy so I just try to exceed those qualities because that’s what he would expect me to do. He’s the man! What was it like growing up with our drummer Colin?

Jordan: Colin and Eric lived two doors next to me growing up, so I knew them when they were little kids. I knew their father because he played drums too, so their dad would come by and give me lessons. I didn’t see Colin for a long time, and then he popped up at one of our shows in San Diego, and then I heard some random dude yelling out my parents address. I was like what the fuck, who the hell is this? I didn’t recognize him because it had been so long since I last saw him but it was Colin. So we rekindled our friendship and kept in touch. They were always two boneheads and things haven’t changed. They are still two boneheads.

Lanny: So that’s how far this all goes back?

Jordan: Yes I’ve known Colin and Eric for a long long time. That’s why I have been helping out their band so much. Plus this guy right here Chuck is another reason why I have been helping out. They kind of made me the manager, but I am not sure.

Lanny: Is he Chuck?

Chuck: He is but he’s not getting paid. We isn’t got no money. No secret there.

Jordan: It hasn’t been about anything financial its been about belief because these guys are one of the best live bands around. Seriously.

Chuck: He is lying.

Jordan: No I am not, they are one of the best around, and everybody knows it, and everybody that sees them loves them, and this guy Chuck is out of his mind on stage.

Melanie (Public Relations) I also know that everybody thinks that Chuck is the greatest front person around.

Jordan: He is the best front person, I mean.

Chuck: Sure we are funny and make people laugh but our musicianship SUCKS.

Lanny: Well that’s not what I’m hearing and maybe if you guys wouldn’t have went on at 6pm, I would know for myself.

Chuck: Yes well there ain’t much we can do about that. I need another beer dude.

Jordan: And that’s the story of them and their damn impressive band. And if I had my way we would let them do one of their songs during our set.

Chuck: Well we got muscles. We could just barge on to your stage and take over.

Jordan: I don’t think any of you guys could take down Jake.

Chuck: I think Steve can!

Melanie: He is wiry!

Chuck: No I don’t think so. Come on Steve.

Jordan: Have you ever seen Jake when he is angry?

Chuck: Steve is a guerilla.

Jordan: Have you ever seen how many bongs Jake can smoke?

Chuck: No way Steve is like a big black guerilla on the loose man.

Jordan: Should we set this up?

Chuck: I think we should.

Jordan: I am sure our guitar player Jake will be really happy about that.

Lanny: Well let’s go one more each and we will let you guys get back to whatever it was you were up to before I came along and started bugging you.

Chuck. Doh! I don’t have anything left.

Jordan: So what was it like going on your first big tour ever with NOFX in Europe?

Chuck: That was an experience and a half. It was amazing. I grew up listening to NOFX and to be in Europe with them and playing in front of 2000 people all the time. Well it was just sad when it was over, but I frigg’n loved Europe except they don’t really have much late night food to eat, but it was freaking awesome.

Melanie: Did you do coke with Mike?

Chuck: Did I? I did not! I drank like a fish and all that but no coke.

Jordan: What was your question? Did you do coke with Mike? That was a great chime in by Melanie our publicist. Very good question Melanie.

Melanie: I never did either!

Lanny: Yes Melanie you just take them out for Italian food right.

Melanie: Yes, and then flip over the plate.

*Much laughter fills the air.*

Jordan: Do you feel spoiled for getting such an awesome first tour ever? Do you think other bands could be jealous?

Chuck: Well, I would hope no one would be jealous. We are just doing what we are doing. I wouldn’t say spoiled at all either. We learned from NOFX.

Jordan: How did you come across all this good fortune?

Chuck: Well that’s easy. This guy named Jordan from Strung Out helped us out by getting us a couple shows with NOFX in our hood in San Diego. Then as the story goes I whooped Mike’s ass in thumb wrestling and he just had to bow down. Print that!

Lanny: Alright Chuck one more question.

Chuck: Well let’s see. Have you ever danced with the devil in the pail moonlight?

Jordan: Yes that was directly from the hood because I have no idea what that meant.

Chuck: Do you like being on the road all the time?

Jordan: I like longer tours. It can get stressful at times and you have to get along with everyone, which can be tough, but we have managed for sixteen plus years and we have pretty much all the same members. We have had one member change for the late Jim Cherry but we like to travel and to get as many places as we can. Especially if we go to Europe, I mean I just like to go and go. Yes I like being on the road.

Lanny: Well that’s it guys, thanks a lot for taking this time out and I hope to see you again!