1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Well, waiting mostly... we’ve been working on polishing some songs for our next EP, which are ready to record after a small tour to promote the split. Rinse and repeat... Our next year and a half is roughly planned out.
2.How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material?
WeedleeWeedlee juntjunt weedlee (spits beer in face, jump kick). I guess kinda like that.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
I think it’s mostly “we didn’t start the fire,” but played in reverse.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Smooth Sailing'?
Oh, you mean “Smooth Sailing Presents Rainbow Party Party Boy, and the Fabulous Prizes.” It means “Fuck you and your pretentious ‘my band is harder than yours’ bullshit!” We dig music, and write it for us, not you. This is fun for us, so if you like it, that’s an awesome byproduct. Like life, don’t take it too seriously, because if you can’t enjoy yourself along the journey, you die a bitter old soul who missed the point.
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Some might expect me to say playing Plan B in Portland with Red Fang, or closing the night at Reverbfest in Ballard our freshman year, but for me, it’s not what you would think.
Prunedale... this place sucked. Like really. At the gas station, the girl at the counter asked what we were doing in town, then grabbed Jake’s arm and pulled him close...
“Get out as fast as you can,” she whispered.
It was a house show, in a barn/garage/kegger. What looked like 250 kids soon evaporated to 30 of the most fucked up wasted kids you’ve ever ran into in a dark barn in the middle of nowhere. I mean beer boxes as masks, “your faces look like skulls!!!” kind of wasted. Bands wanted to change the order around for normal band reasons, some of us were pissed, some of us scared, and we huddled up before we played. “Fuck-it! Let’s try to literally level this place. Play like it’s your last show you’ll ever play!” And we did. Into The Storm got it on film, and it’s the best, most pure rock and roll you could ever hope for. No one fucked up, everyone was on point. Sweat, anger, fear, passion all very well documented. Looked like a god damned music video. Later that night, well maybe 4am, I was awoken on the freeway by a car doing a barrel roll past us in the air because some drunk asshole hit the wheel of our trailer. I assume if we didn’t pull his blood gargling body out of the lane, he would have died.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
No dates set, but we’re expecting something in Spring as well as possibly the fall.
7.In 2018 you have a split coming out with 'Into The Storm'. what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?
We’ve known these guys for about 15 years now. We’ve toured and played together. Maybe done mushrooms in the redwoods together. Normal stuff. Watching them grow as musicians, honing their skills all along the way has been fun. I like the direction they’ve taken. I’d say, most accurately, they are like brothers. Love to see them, and play together, but don’t feel the need to be the same as them, and don’t want to play together all of the time, or follow each other around. It’s more special and meaningful when it’s something like this split. Different sounds, but still buds doing what we love to do.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of metal and punk?
People are too friendly, and only comment when they are into it. And it seems like they are into it! But I wouldn’t mind some haters. We could use more fuel for new material, so feedback from close minded assholes who our only common language is music would be cool.
9.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
The next 18 months will be smaller releases, just because that’s how it worked out. When we recorded the split, we were already close to having the second EP ready to roll. So we’ll play them on the road and roll straight to the studio after, that way they are as tight as they can be. Musical direction... Meh, I could lie and say we have it all planned out, but we like to take a more organic approach. We will keep painting pretty pictures with our wall of sound.
10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I can’t speak for the whole band, but as the drummer, my band influences my playing. Otherwise I listen to things like First Aid Kit, random classic country, anything played on listener powered radio like KEXP.
Well, waiting mostly... we’ve been working on polishing some songs for our next EP, which are ready to record after a small tour to promote the split. Rinse and repeat... Our next year and a half is roughly planned out.
2.How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material?
WeedleeWeedlee juntjunt weedlee (spits beer in face, jump kick). I guess kinda like that.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
I think it’s mostly “we didn’t start the fire,” but played in reverse.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Smooth Sailing'?
Oh, you mean “Smooth Sailing Presents Rainbow Party Party Boy, and the Fabulous Prizes.” It means “Fuck you and your pretentious ‘my band is harder than yours’ bullshit!” We dig music, and write it for us, not you. This is fun for us, so if you like it, that’s an awesome byproduct. Like life, don’t take it too seriously, because if you can’t enjoy yourself along the journey, you die a bitter old soul who missed the point.
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Some might expect me to say playing Plan B in Portland with Red Fang, or closing the night at Reverbfest in Ballard our freshman year, but for me, it’s not what you would think.
Prunedale... this place sucked. Like really. At the gas station, the girl at the counter asked what we were doing in town, then grabbed Jake’s arm and pulled him close...
“Get out as fast as you can,” she whispered.
It was a house show, in a barn/garage/kegger. What looked like 250 kids soon evaporated to 30 of the most fucked up wasted kids you’ve ever ran into in a dark barn in the middle of nowhere. I mean beer boxes as masks, “your faces look like skulls!!!” kind of wasted. Bands wanted to change the order around for normal band reasons, some of us were pissed, some of us scared, and we huddled up before we played. “Fuck-it! Let’s try to literally level this place. Play like it’s your last show you’ll ever play!” And we did. Into The Storm got it on film, and it’s the best, most pure rock and roll you could ever hope for. No one fucked up, everyone was on point. Sweat, anger, fear, passion all very well documented. Looked like a god damned music video. Later that night, well maybe 4am, I was awoken on the freeway by a car doing a barrel roll past us in the air because some drunk asshole hit the wheel of our trailer. I assume if we didn’t pull his blood gargling body out of the lane, he would have died.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
No dates set, but we’re expecting something in Spring as well as possibly the fall.
7.In 2018 you have a split coming out with 'Into The Storm'. what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?
We’ve known these guys for about 15 years now. We’ve toured and played together. Maybe done mushrooms in the redwoods together. Normal stuff. Watching them grow as musicians, honing their skills all along the way has been fun. I like the direction they’ve taken. I’d say, most accurately, they are like brothers. Love to see them, and play together, but don’t feel the need to be the same as them, and don’t want to play together all of the time, or follow each other around. It’s more special and meaningful when it’s something like this split. Different sounds, but still buds doing what we love to do.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of metal and punk?
People are too friendly, and only comment when they are into it. And it seems like they are into it! But I wouldn’t mind some haters. We could use more fuel for new material, so feedback from close minded assholes who our only common language is music would be cool.
9.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
The next 18 months will be smaller releases, just because that’s how it worked out. When we recorded the split, we were already close to having the second EP ready to roll. So we’ll play them on the road and roll straight to the studio after, that way they are as tight as they can be. Musical direction... Meh, I could lie and say we have it all planned out, but we like to take a more organic approach. We will keep painting pretty pictures with our wall of sound.
10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I can’t speak for the whole band, but as the drummer, my band influences my playing. Otherwise I listen to things like First Aid Kit, random classic country, anything played on listener powered radio like KEXP.
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