Lagwagon's Box Set, "Putting Music in Its Place."
Jesse Buglione left the band last year after being a member since 1990 and you recruited Joe Raposo to fill his spot on bass. What’s it like to all of a sudden play with a new musician after having built a strong camaraderie with the same person over 20 years?
Well, it’s strange. Obviously it’s better if the musician is a great musician. Joe is an awesome bass player. He’s really good. That helps. But other things matter. There’s chemistry. Some of the greatest bands don’t really have great musicians in the band, they just have great chemistry and great songs. Joe’s great. But there will always be something that’s missing every time you lose someone. Every time you lose a band member, it’s like a small mountain that you have to climb. You’ve got figure out what the band is. You just have to get out there and tour. Tour a lot. It’s hard when people leave.
What’s it like working with Fat Mike? It’s hard for me to imagine that someone who has been as successful as him (as both a musician and founder of a prominent independent record label) isn’t genuinely a hard worker with a serious side. Then again, that’s not the side that fans normally get to see.
I mean, he’s a very smart person. He’s really funny. And when you work with Mike you pretty much do everything very quick. He’s aloof. He’s not really interested in spending too much time on anything. Ultimately, I think when you work with Mike you kind of just have to do what Mike wants to do. There is a little compromise for sure, but when he comes in you’re not going to have very long so you might as well just do whatever he wants to do (laughs). He’s really smart and I trust him.
What advice would you give to a young band trying to build an audience right now?
Play music because you like music and try not to worry about any politics. Just enjoy the music. That’s why you’re doing it – because it’s a passion for you. And when something’s a passion for you, nothing else really matters. Do what you want to do. Period. Don’t listen to anyone else. And remember that it’s a democracy. You’ve got different people in the band so you’ve got to listen to everybody. Yeah, that’s the bottom line. You should be doing what you collectively want to do and you should only do it because you enjoy it. It’s not a great success rate for anyone being in a band, so you might as well have success in what you’re supposed to be trying to succeed in, which is the pleasure of it.
What’s an artist on your listening rotation right now that you think Lagwagon fans would be surprised to know about?
I listen to a band called Arcade Fire a lot. I love them. I listen to a lot of punk rock too. I really like a lot of newer bands, like Dead to Me. I just like songs. I listen to bands that have good songs. Good songs and good lyrics. I can’t get passed lyrics. If a band has trite, cliché lyrics – things that I’ve heard a million times that aren’t thought provoking – I just can’t do it.
What’s the most meaningful gesture you’ve received from a fan?
For some reason, I’m thinking specifically of this kid in Slovenia. This kid comes with his dad to all of our shows there and they live in a village where they’re woodworkers. I think the kid is autistic or something. Every time we go there and play, he’s always carved something in wood for me. They obviously have this shop with some amazing machines. I have a collection of things from this kid and every time he gives me something it’s like I want to cry, you know? They’re always amazing gifts. One time he took like an 8” x 10” board and carved the face of my acoustic record, Bridge, on it. It was so well done and it was so cool. I don’t know how he does it, but it was really neat.
I’ll tell you what’s pretty incredible to me, though: when people show up and they show you the tattoos they got of your band. That’s a bittersweet feeling (laughs). Part of me is like “Oh my god. Wow. You did that? But, you know, you have to be flattered by that. That’s an incredible gesture.
Check out Fat Wreck Chords’ website to see Lagwagon’s tour dates and purchase a copy of the box set.
