Gameface huh, what can I say? These guys are from Orange County, California and play a type of Pop-Punk that together with their friends, No Doubt, they have really pioneered, but where No Doubt go for Ska, Gameface go for Emo…and that maybe what holds them back. You CAN’T dance to Emo. But what is Emo?

By definition an Emo band employs soft, swirling leads over tight, formless rhythms that dress the diary honest lyrics and strengthen the often fragile vocals, yet still manage to cast aside the Indie slants and, well… just plain Rock. Still don’t have a clue? Think Dawson’s Creek soundtrack with a little more Rock and a lot less ‘heard it all before’ and you’re half-way to understanding what is currently re-shaping large parts of the music world.

Why mention a form of music that virtually unknown in the British music scene? Well if it can influence a multi-million record selling Pop band to change direction, then why not! Guess what is responsible for the new Blur sound… oh yes, Emo! (Sunny Day Real Estate, anyway). Emo bands are getting signed like you wouldn’t believe in the states what with, the awesome, Mineral signing to a major label shortly before splitting, Jimmy Eat World getting a track on the ‘Never Been Kissed’ soundtrack and the Promise Ring with their large MTV coverage - there has never been a better time to play Emo than right now, so check out the websites, buy the records, start the bands and I’ll see you at the gigs.

Learn more here:

www.crankthis.com
www.deepelm.com
www.jadetree.com

And now on with the interview…

What do you think of England?

We’ve had a great time. We’re definitely gonna come back. Last time were here was in 1996 and that was right at the end of a European tour that had been too long and we just wanted to go home then. The UK is better than the rest of Europe because here we’ll play a small place like this and it’ll be packed and everyone’s really into it and in Europe we might play bigger places but a lot of people there don’t always seem to care that much.

We know this is a question that no one likes but can you describe Emo?

I think it’s just a stupid, made-up word. When it started, Emo described a band or a particular song as being emotional. It was an adjective not a noun. Nowadays it’s more manufactured, any Pop-Punk band is getting signed as an Emo band

What do you think about bands like Blink 182 and No Doubt becoming more popular?

No Doubt are great, they’re good friends of ours. I think they should have been famous from day one, they’ve always been good enough.

As for Blink 182, I think there are so many more deserving bands but they’re funny and they get naked and people just want something where they can go “la, la, la” and sing along. I think they’re just sickening because there are a lot of bands who get famous like that who aren’t always so deserving. Green Day are more of a band than Blink 182, they’re great and definitely deserve the success they’ve had.

Do you think that Gameface will rise in popularity?

It’s not important anymore. When I was younger I wanted to do the whole Rock star thing but now I just want to play well and be happy with what we’ve done.

So, do you think that these changes in ideas had made your songs more real?

Yeah, I hope that comes across. If it does then it makes it worth it for the people that get it.

Who is the person that does get it?

They’re the ones who actually listen. They’re not into it because it’s cool to be.

Who are your influences?

Well, my favourite band of all time is REM. Other than that there are things like Elvis Costello, Attractions, The Descendants, Swervedriver and Son Volt. I saw Ben Folds Five live recently, I really like them too.

While I’ve been in the UK I’ve heard things on the radio, like Travis and Idlewild, that I really liked.

How are the UK and the USA different?

In America Emo is kinda long, droning, slower, there’s more screaming and it’s huge. Gameface kinda fall in between. If you’re a new band in America playing Emo then you’ll be huge but we have been doing this for a while now and we just want to play well.

Where do you sleep while you’re on tour?

In America we stay in cheap hotels and just put the whole band in one room. In England, because we don’t know it so well, we stay with friends and people the other bands know.

Having time to yourself is always good when you’re on tour, you can’t party all the time, but that’s a lot harder over here, you really have to fight for sleep.

Do you think that the success of this tour will bring more bands on the Revelation label over to the UK?

Yeah, it will hopefully.

Is it difficult having a full-time job and being in a band?

I’d love to do the band full-time if it was possible and if I was 20 years old and starting out now I definitely would. I’ve got a wife though and our drummer has a kid so we all need to make enough money to support our families so we have to have jobs as well as playing in the band.

(written with Simon Thompson)