Interview by Ed Stuart
Who’s answering the questions?
Billy Jeans
Jeans Wilder
Jr. Jeans
Who is in the band and what instrument do they play
BJ: Billy Jeans, guitar and vocals
JW: Jeans Wilder, drums and
vocals
JJ: Jr. Jeans, bass
Where is the band from?
BJ: We started as a 2-piece in
the Washington, DC area, played 1 show in Baltimore with Nobunny, and then
moved to Portland, OR.
How did the band start?
BJ: Late nights in Jeans Wilder's
parents' basement, drinking his dad's beer, listening to Ramones and
Riverdales, writing really stupid songs. We made some demos without any
intention of "being a band", but the songs were good so we gave it a
shot.
In your bio, which by the way was listed on CMT, it reads
“Three punk rock goofballs who deliver fast, loud, and hooky tunes and revel in
the pleasures of pizza, sex, and getting wasted.” Would you say this describes
both the lyrics and band philosophy?
BJ: I can't say we write any songs
about sex or pizza, but if that's what people get out of it, that's cool by
me. The lyrics and "philosophy" of the band center around
partying as means of survival in a disappointing world and maximizing fun with
a few teardrops in the mix. Twisted Living, Bonehead Romance, Maturity
Refusal, Retard Struggle.
JW: Yeah I can't see how any of our
songs are about sex at all, but it is very cool that our band bio is on
CMT.com. I'm cruising the site as we speak. Get country.
What is your favorite Ramones LP?
BJ: Currently, Pleasant Dreams.
JW: Yeah when it comes to which ones I
actually listen to the most it is Subterranean
Jungle and Pleasant Dreams. I'm
probably one of the few that actually likes Adios
Amigos too. It was my first Ramones album.
JJ. The three of us spent two
years living in the shittiest house on the planet, where every night was a
party till the sun came up whether we wanted that or not. Pleasant Dreams was the one Ramones
record that got played every single night. We went through some dark
times with it as a soundtrack but its probably the one for me too.
How was the tour the band just finished up with Big Eyes?
BJ: It was fun! We played Tijuana
and Reno for the first times, got to see a lot of buddies, and got to see Big
Eyes every night, who I love.
JW: We went to Sunken City somewhere
out near San Pedro. I think SOMEBODY in our crew took a shit in the bushes
there.
JJ: Thats a no brainer, it
fucking ripped! We all had a blast.
In a previous interview, it was stated that recorded their
latest LP, On Mars “at a super shitty house in Portland,” it feels there is a
deliberate attempt to capture a more melodic sound this time around. How
deliberate was this choice in the songwriting and the recording process for On
Mars?
BJ: Deliberate. It wouldn't have
been very interesting for us as a band to make another 'pop punk' album of
2-minute songs about how partying rules. The songwriting for On Mars was
an attempt to try new ideas; ideas that are consciously stupid as shit like
shaking macaroni boxes, hitting hubcaps with Jager bottles, unnecessary key
changes, slow jams, etc., but new things nonetheless. The influences are
all from outside the realm of 'modern punk' music. The recording process
is just whatever we are capable of doing before getting bored or passing
out.
JW: In response to questions like this
before I've always said that its actually kinda hard to sit down and write a
1.5 minute fast stupid "punk" song when you are deliberately trying
to do so. Most of the songs on our first album just sort of ended up being that
way, I don't think it was on purpose. 3 years later when we were doing album
number two, lots of things had changed and we just sort of went with what we
felt like doing.
Was Dirtnap interested in working with Mean Jeans before the
songs for On Mars were written or did they hear the songs and then decide to
put out the LP?
BJ: We've done a bunch of records
on Dirtnap, and they were on board before hearing On Mars. I wonder how
bummed Ken was when he heard it!
JW: I think there was a sort of non-spoken
agreement that Ken would put out the next album on Dirtnap no matter what. In
terms of "signing" us to Dirtnap in the first place, I always like to
think that his wife was the one who convinced him to put out our record after
seeing us play live a couple times.
Mean Jeans just finished playing Music Fest NW festival and
are slated to play both FEST 2012 and the Fall Down Get Down. How exciting is
it to mix in these bigger festival shows in with smaller bar/club/all-ages
shows? Which type of shows does the band prefer more?
BJ: I am down to play any kind of show,
any time, but a variety is important to us. We've had offers to play on
"real" tours with "real" bands from booking agencies and
stuff, but aren't interested in playing only big clubs. Gotta mix it
up. I also think Mean Jeans have fans in a few different 'scenes' so it's
important for me to mix those crowds up as well. Play pop punk fests, and
play rock n roll fests. I like playing shows where everyone is wasted or just
generally in it to win it.
JW: I think we have been pretty lucky
with some of the "bigger" festival type shows that we have done in
the past. We have always gone over well at Awesomefest, which is pretty much a
pop-punk thing, but we also had a really good response when we played at
Gonerfest last year, which is more of a rock and roll/garage-rock type thing.
We somehow are able to fit in with all sorts of different "rock"
bands. Which is nice. I must say though that the idea of playing on a huge
stage in front of shitloads of people isn't very appealing to me personally.
Soundchecks also suck. So, I probably prefer bar shows.
JJ: In general, the appeal of
where we play or what type of venue we play rests solely on the people coming
out to watch us. It could be a huge stage with tons of people or a
basement with 15 people crammed in it. If everyone else is having fun,
then we're going to be having fun. Mean Jeans is lucky enough to play for
people that love to get drunk, get wild, crowd surf, throw beers and act
stupid. That's what we do. I'm glad that we have had the
opportunity to play in such a variety of situations though. It keeps
things from getting stale to play a big club one night and a shitty dive the
next.
50 years ago people used to buy music and get their water
for free, now people pay for water and get their music for free. How do you
think this affects music in any way?
BJ: Music is for fun. I can't say we
are really a part of 'the music industry' or that I really care about it.
JW: I'm hopelessly out of the loop when
it comes to the current state of affairs in the music industry. I just found
out who Nicki Minaj is. I'm basically still reeling from the shock of Michael
Jackson's death.
JJ: That’s pretty deep. Too
deep for the Jeans.
Where can people hear the band?
BJ: Touring around. On the Internet.
We have a bunch of music videos!
Start there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7J2J_pRoiA
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaVXvtb6ddo
We have lots of records. On
Dirtnap, Trouble In Mind, Burger, Gnar Tapes, Big Neck, Portland Mutant Party,
Goner, P. Trash and more.
JW: You can get our latest MiniDisc at
Sam Goody. At the mall.
What’s next?
BJ: Shooting a new music video
now. Then flying to South America and Florida for the first time.
We have a new split 7 inch with Big Eyes that is recorded and about to be
pressed. I want to tour Europe again and I want to lose my mind.
JW: Look for a job.
JJ: Take it to the limit.
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