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Joel -My name is Joel Cooper and I live in Minnesota during the winter!
Paige-How did you all meet?
Joel-Haha well. Blake (singer) and I have known each other since sixth grade, he lived down the street from my best friend at the time and slowly he turned into my best friend. He actually played bass originally in our first attempt (and failure) at a band "Re-Occuring Explanations" which included our current drummer Lauren. After that horrendous part of our lives phased off and a couple more failed attempts at bands Blake and Anton (who I didnt know at the time) actually came up with the idea to put together a ska band. Anton played sax in a ska band back at his hometown in wisconsin so he knew the inner workings and conned me into it (haha.) So we had most the band but we needed a bass player since Blake had recently sold his rig. After a while we hooked up with Aaron Winston who was a perfect fit since his passion was fast paced punk. So everything fell into place, then theres Victor of course. Victor is an interesting one, I actually met him through his brother who played in the middle school orchestra with me. Him and his brother used to curl with me. (Yes Curling, the ice sport... but thats a whole seperate interview.) Anyway he bought a bunch of guitar equipment and was proving to be a decent guitarist, we figured we could use more sound so we picked him up.
Paige-So, why Ska ?
Joel-Well we all grew up in the 3rd wave ska movement, jellyfish if you will.
Paige-If your band was a bevarage what would it be and why?
Joel-Jim Beam (no comment)
Paige-Who are your biggest musical influences?
Joel-I can't speak for the band but I'm influenced by everything I hear. I try to have a mellow respect for every style of music and it through that it has really opened my mind to what you can do stylistically.
Paige-What was the craziest show that you've ever played?
Joel-Well I could tell you the craziest show we didnt play (I think you were there haha.) But we won't call out name of the band that completely screwed up that night.
Anyway, I would have to say our last show of the summer of 2006 just because their were alot of good friends at a small place releasing all of their energy. Either that or the time we played at the Big Red Barn and accidentally unplugged the bass players amp of one of the supporting bands by lifting Victor up on the stage while he was in a powerwheels truck. haha. He was so pissed.
Paige-How did you come up with the band name?
Joel-I credit Blake for randomly coming up for it. But we all have our own little stories. The best thing is when people assume Laurens name is Betty since she is the girl in the band.
Paige-Whats your favorite song to play live?
Joel-I would have to say Under The Black Flag just because its the song that gets the most reaction out of the crowd.
Paige-Who writes most of the lyrics?
Joel-Blake writes all the good ones I write all the really bad ones haha.
Paige-Where is your favorite place to play?
Joel-Well... it was the CCA just because we got a hometown crowd. But since that place is gone I would probably have to say the Flint Local just because we assured good sound.
Paige-Where was your first show?
Joel-It was either this basement show/birthday party/battle of the bands or this like charity event where we were under the name Johnny Socko... an already existing ska band who was signed. Check em out http://www.johnnysocko.com/
Paige-So..Do you like Interviews?
Joel-I love them like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold fall eve
Paige-How about this one?
Joel-This one easily tops my top ten favorite interviews... you are like the marshmallow in my cocoa. ( A must have if you ask me) Make sure you check us out at www.myspace.com/bettygotpopular
Thanks again Joel for the Interview!