stfucatherine

Catherine Gets Glamourous with All Time Low

It’s 10am and i’m tapping my fingers against a glass table, sitting by the phone, telling myself to be patient as I await a call from Boys Like Girls drummer, John Keefe.

Mentally doing the math, I estimate it’s about 8pm the night before in Boston, Massachusetts and begin thinking up scenarios about what could be holding John up. Maybe he got a flat tire, maybe he’s caught up with flight troubles or having a few drinks with the boys in celebration of finishing their US tour.

Either way, when I finally receive the phone call, turns out that Keefe actually was having cell phone problems which he politely apologises for half an hour later. “I was going to try and push the interview back till tomorrow and go to a coffee shop or something,” he explains with a soft laugh. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

With no hard feelings, we get straight into it. 2007 has been a monster year for the boys and has been even more exciting with their own headlining tour from the States coast to coast, one of which they only just concluded today. “We only just finished a tour, we had our last show a few hours ago. I don’t mind [not touring] totally yet, but I’m sure in day or so I’ll be like, “Where are the rest of the guys?”’

I comment on the Boys Like Girls’ upcoming UK shows, all of which are neatly displayed over at the band’s MySpace, each with a “Sold Out!” beside the venue name.

I ask John if this comes as a surprise for him and the band, having only released their album just over a year ago.

“Honestly? When I found out about the UK tours, I just thought we were going to really enjoy ourselves. I mean a sold out show is a sold out show and we’re just all gonna have a good time.”

On the subject of touring, I get to the money question about coming down under early next year for Soundwave. So, are they excited for the imminent tour?

“Yes! Like you wouldn’t believe!” John replies almost immediately, despite the usual one second delay of long distant phone calls.

“Honestly?”

“Oh my god, we’re so excited to be coming to Australia. Getting to travel to Australia and play music, not many people get that chance to do something as amazing as that. It’s just a great opportunity.”

Sharing a laugh, I explain that the Soundwave tour is similar to the annual music festival, Warped Tour.

“I’ve heard a little bit about Soundwave and a lot of the bands that are going to be on it, and theres plenty of bands we haven’t met either,” he enthuses. “It’ll be exciting to be there with them and hopefully make some new friends, talk about the culture [of Australia] and everything. We’re reaching new heights and reaching up to new places and meeting new people around the world and I’m so pumped about it, I’m almost like, ‘Get me on the plane already!’”

Not to mention the weather. “I love the heat, I’m a summer baby so it will be good to get away from this cold weather. It’s terrible here.”

Speaking of warm weather, if you’ve already stuck your nose into the Boys Like Girls self titled album, you’ll understand the summery vibe of their songs.

“I think we’re going to release the song Thunder towards summer next year, because it is a summer song. We’re also very fortunate for the success for our other two single releases The Great Escape and Hero/Heroine, but we’re just taking baby steps and going gradually.”

“Martin [Johnson, vocals] is one of my closest friends and we talk about the lyrics a lot, and I’m always listening to everything he comes up with on terms for new songs and such.”

John pushes on, explaining the orientation behind the band and it’s members and what kind of cooperation comes from them all.

“The whole record is this story, starting with the whole feeling that comes with getting out of high school and experiencing new things, different types of relationships and different problems and it all eventually comes back around with the last song. Even the the drums come around to the last song which is almost ironic and weird. the vocals that are in the last song are in the first song as well, which wasn’t planned while we were recording this album so it just sort of happened.

“My favorite song on the record has been my favorite song the whole time which is Hero/Heroine; I just love the groove and the feel of the song. It feels as if that song is the song that bought the whole record together. I could listen to it a million times – I have listened to it a million times!”

Wondering about how much recognition the band receives on the street, I ask if he’s ever been approached by some fans – and if there’s been any crazy ‘fan girl’ moments.

“It honestly depends where I am!” Keefe laughs. “But yeah, sometimes it happens. It’s a little strange and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it; more so the effect that people are actually embracing me. With Paul, someone actually went to his house and started taking pictures of his dog, which was a little freaky. They actually dressed up as Paul as well, so there’s just this young girl dressed up as Paul taking pictures of his dog outside his house. But I guess people just do weird things? I think it’s fun, and as long as it’s in within reason, I could see the funny side to it.”

Beyond being fans of summer and creepy fan girls, I finally ask him what’s at least one thing we can expect from Boys Like Girls when they play for us at Soundwave next year.

“I think you can expect a really fun and lively show, and I’ll be smiling the entire time I’ll be in Australia, just appreciating and enjoying what we have going on here. It might be a little crazy, but I’m up for anything.

We’re going to get up on stage and – this is going to sound so cliched – and play our little hearts out. Expect us to come back!”

Boys Like Girls are touring Australia with the Soundwave Festival. Catch them at the following dates:

Saturday 23 Feb – Brisbane, Riverstage & Parklands
Sunday 24 Feb – Sydney Park
Friday 29 Feb – Melbourne Showgrounds
Saturday 1 March – Adelaide, Bonython Park
Monday 3 March – Steel Blue Oval, Perth

Read full interview here:
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/11767/Boys-Like-Girls.htm

Interview Conducted by:  STFUcatherine

Life’s fairly intense for 17-year-old Hunter Durham of South Carolina, official BuzzMaker and hot fashion socialite for the local and national scene. If the baby-faced trendster seems familiar, you’re likely to have him added onto your friends list, or you’ve seen him feature in Amelia Magazine alongside Ms. Robinson for last months photo op. Originating from New York, Hunter’s usually on the road, getting minimal hours of sleep and making quick dashes to the store at 2 o’clock in the morning. He never steers too far from this being unusual. Quite frankly, it’s almost a routine.

 

“My favorite part of fashion and modeling is my lifestyle, I’m always on the go, I never sleep, I’m surrounded by warm friends its great! My life is nightlife; I get into a lot of clubs for openings and parties for companies. I meet a lot of great people that way.” Never short of contacts, Hunter has a number of unofficial ongoing projects which appeal both to the marketing agencies and labels he models for, and also for his fan base, even if it is offline and face-to-face. Whether he’s receiving fan art or simply receiving 300+ messages a day, the power of the Internet proves itself astounding in Hunter’s case. “When I’m offline I do get noticed. I’ve put up some fan sittings, it happens a lot… I’m not bragging because eventually you get paranoid.”

 

Hunter’s real inspiration comes from Buzznet.com, a website designed and created to express oneself through the form of photography, and artists to be recognized for their achievements. The popular site, in correspondence with Myspace, has taken off in the last three years and receives millions of this per day; the more the better in Hunter’s opinion. “I’m trying to get more involved in group projects [for modeling]. My Buzznet group is for keeping track of my fan base.  It was never a real active group but it’s convenient. I was a Buzzmaker, when Buzzmakers was not really the new e-scene, I'm currently working with Buzznet to get permanently featured. I love comments, well supportive ones. I really hate when people who have potential but have never signed or even studied give me “advice” on photos, but I let them say their piece.”

 

Undoubtedly the idealistic scenester life-style would appeal to some, but as a sophisticated adolescence, Hunter also enjoys his own pastimes, hobbies and general interests with the public as well. “My main art is modeling but I do some photography, I like traveling, and sleeping when I can. Shopping’s fun, thriving and making your own stuff is always good. My music taste is a wide range; I like everything as long as it has a point. It’s an art and I respect the people who have carried out their passions. I’m attending an Eisley concert and reporting on a few concerts soon, (Updates are expected to be prompted soon). I try to go to as many concerts as my schedule allows.”

 

The obvious Question I asked Hunter was what his favorite part of his lifestyle was. “I love my lifestyle, it's fast paced…sometimes frustrating but always entertaining. Whether its a 2 am run to the store, hotel rooms, tour busses and premier parties its always fun.” And what about with the ladies, Hunter? “...Some people ask me if I would date them, that’s just awkward!” I'm sure a majority of male readers beg to differ.

 

To conclude our lovely talk, I asked for a piece of advice for future scenesters to come to Buzznet. “My advice? Do what you want and be what you want to be…I know that sounds generic but it works.”

I would expect to see Hunter at your local gigs, hotels and shopping center in the very near future, my friends.

 

Don’t forget to check out Hunter’s Buzznet!

http://hunterfatale.buzznet.com