photo owned and borrowed from: www.davidbergman.net
Do you know how to say, FAREWELL?
Hey, what’s up Buzzers, NatashatheGreat here with an exclusive in depth look at the creative minds and genius behind Farewell the power-punk/pop-punk band from Greensboro, North Carolina. Don’t let their small town charm fool you just because they have only 260,000 residents doesn’t stop Farewell from getting nearly 1,400,000 views on their myspace page. Look for them on their upcoming tour, which you can find all of their tour dates and stops on their myspace page at www.myspace.com/farewell, and if you live in Japan Farewell will be coming your way so check ‘em out. I had the pleasure of interviewing the band through an e-mail correspondence and they answered greatly. I appreciate Farewell for being the first band I have ever had that pleasure to interview and apologize to the Farewell fans for being unable to get this out to you sooner.
Natasha: So Marshall, what are you looking forward to most in the year 2008?
Marshall Davis (lead singer), “I think this is going to be the year that takes us to the next level as a band. 2007 was a big year for us. We were signed, put out our first record, and did our first national touring. Now that we have all our stuff in order, we can really hit the road and spread the word about our band. I have also heard that we'll be doing some international touring as well, so that will be another first for us. I am optimistic for this year. We are definitely going to make every day count.”
Natasha: Who would you tour with (if you had your pick) and why?
Kevin Carter (Guitar), “We are wide open as far as touring goes. We did some great tours recently with Forever The Sickest Kids and Powerspace, so we hope to do more with those guys in the New Year. We'd also love to go out with bands like Paramore, Hellogoodbye, and others that have been doing it a little longer than us.”
Natasha: What do you want your fans to notice about your band that makes them want to spread your name around?
Marshall Davis says that, “As a band, we really want people to notice the things that set us apart from all the other pop-punk bands out there. The scene is over-saturated as is,” however Marshall wants people to know that Farewell as a band, “Do things a little bit differently, we play what we love, and we love what we do. We also strive to be the guys that really break down the wall between fan and band. We LOVE talking to people when we're out on tour, so please come out and have fun with us. I guarantee that you'll make a new friend in us.”
Natasha: How would you like to "break out on the scene"? Mtv? Vh1? Random find?
Buddy Bell (Bass) says, “I think the best way to "break out of the scene" is by word of mouth. That is how you generate a real, living fan-base instead of just skimming the surface for flavor of the month fans. We'd love to have the exposure that Mtv has to offer, but I don't want to rely on that to have success in this band.” Did anyone else notice the B. B. B. of Buddy Bell playing the Bass?
Natasha: What's your favorite song to play on stage for your fans, that still gives you as a band shivers to play?
Wil Andrews who plays Guitar for the punk band says, “My favorite song to play is still track 2 on our album, "Anchors Away". This is especially true in our hometown. I love hearing the crowd singing the opening lines of the song- and when all the music kicks in- it gives me so much energy.”
Natasha asks, what is the hardest part about being in a band.
Jeff Ellis drummer of Farewell says that, “the hardest part about being in a touring band is the risk of losing touch with loved ones. We are all very close with our families and friends, but touring definitely puts a strain on things when you are gone for months on end. Thank goodness for myspace and iChat,” he says with a laugh.
Now is the part for the fans, where we get a little silly with the boys of your favorite band and they took turns answering this sort of myspace survey of their fellow members.
1) Who is the stinkiest in the band?
“I am the stinkiest...let's get that out of the way....” says, Buddy Bell.
2) Who is NOT allowed to drive the Van at any given time no matter what?
“Wil is not allowed to drive, cause he's like 12” says, Chris Lee who sings backup vocals and plays the mean keys for Farewell.
3) What is your "must have no matter" what item while on the road?
”We keep an industrial size bottle of febreeze for buddy....” says Jeff Ellis.
4) What’s your craziest fan story?
“We had a fan drive off the road and hit a telephone pole. While she was trying to flash us, and this was ONLY funny because she didn’t get hurt and didn’t hit the pole hard at all,” says Kevin Carter
5) If you could have 20 minutes on TV to show people what your band was all about what would your 20 minutes be filled with?
“Pizza, Bigfoot’s, Boone's Farm, strippers, apes, pugs, and finger paints...” says Marshall
6) will you ever "sell out"? Alternatively, become a "sell out"? (aka becoming best friends with MTV to a point where they have so overplayed your hit single that not even your mom or dad care to hear it on the radio anymore, when your real fans start leaving you because they feel betrayed by you for turning to the MTV(WE-KILL-MUSIC-BOX))
“hahahaha. No, I don't think we'll ever get to THAT point, but I think it's important for fans to realize that most of the time you "love" a band, they are making no money...eating canned soup...and getting their power cut off at home. THEN when they actually have SOME success (and start making about as much as a public school teacher), you might be tempted to call them sell-outs. I want to be clear on this point. We WANT to make a living dong what we love, BUT we'll never turn our backs on our fans just to do a Nike commercial. Money is essential, but not MORE essential than our connection to the fans,” says Marshall Davis lead singer of Farewell.
7) What’s one song you have to / love to cover?
”We are looking into covering "The Power Of Love" by Huey Lewis. Now THATS a great song,” says Kevin Carter
8) When girl fans say "omg i love you, you're so cute" how do you really feel?
“Haha- I think its funny. The whole being in a band that people actually listen to thing is still weird to me at times. Sometimes girls (or guys) act as if we are some celebrity or something that they have to be shy around, or something, but really, we are just a bunch of nerds and dorks who love transformers and video games. “ says Wil Andrews.
9) Can you tell the difference between the music fans, (people who like your band for the music), and the beauty fans, (people who like your band because you are good looking)? Does the difference matter to you?
Buddy answers, “Totally!, I mean, screw all this "music" stuff. We know it’s all about the flatiron!” in complete sarcasm Buddy adds, “No, we want people to love our band cause we kick-ass, not because we have a nice ass. I mean, we do.....and we do....so we're all covered. Haha”
10) what are you favorite kinds of cookies?
“FREE COOKIES” says Chris Lee.
11) If you, were an Ice Cream flavor, what flavor would you be?
Wil says he would be, “Vanilla. I like to keep it short, sweet and to the point. I don’t like being bogged down with a bunch of unneeded extras- I like to keep it simple.”
12) What do you miss most about home when you’re not at home?
Jeff says that “We miss our moms, and our dogs, and our girlfriends, and our beds...”
13) what is your favorite movie? And what is your favorite movie candy?
“My favorite movie of all time is "The Shawshank Redemption". Morgan Freeman is a B.A. My favorite movie candy is Morgan Freeman gummy-snacks,” says Marshall.
14) Tell me a secret
“Wil is a virgin” according to Jeff.
All right, well that just about wraps up the very first edition of NatashatheGreat Interviews. I’d like to thank again the guys of Farewell for letting me interview them and, if you know of any bands you’d like me to attempt to get in touch with or if you have any comments or questions or opinions on this article let me know below. Thanks for Reading :D.
