Broadway Calls Interview: SXSW 2010

The high-energy pop punk trio Broadway Calls may be from tiny Rainier, Oregon, but they're making a big sound as they tour with their latest album, 'Good Views, Bad News.' Spinner recently spoke with frontman Ty Vaughn about the band, where they've been and where they're heading.

How did your band form?

In 2005, Josh [Baird] and I were playing with the hardcore band 'Countdown to Life' and we bought a van to play out-of-state shows. After only two tours the other band members quit. One was getting married, and they all wanted the financial stability of real jobs. Josh and I wanted to keep touring and needed a way to make the van payments, so we started Broadway Calls. Matt [Koenig] was our roadie at the time. We knew he could play bass, and he could tour, so we asked him to join the band. We actually still have the van and should have it paid off soon.

How did you come up with your band name?

Josh came up with the name. It's from a song by the Decemberists titled 'I Was Meant for the Stage.' The words were so powerful,they spoke to us on a deep emotional level, that this is what we're meant to be doing.

Describe your sound.

We're a modern traditional pop-punk band. Traditional in the sense of the Ramones, Gen X and the Buzzcocks, but very much a modern sound, a big in-your-face production with a booming rock sound.

What are your musical influences?

There are many. Definitely Green Day and the Ramones, but Jawbreaker is huge too -- I wish I could write lyrics half as good as [singer] Blake Swarzenbach. That man is a poet. As for inspiration on the road, I really admire Bouncing Souls. Here's a band that's been at it for decades and they're having more fun than bands half their age -- super-energetic, not jaded at all. I'm also a fan of the Menzingers and Polar Bear Club.

Beatles or Stones?

Definitely more Beatles. The Stones were one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time but they were showmen, rock stars on stage. We don't have that vibe. We're more humble. We let the songs speak for themselves.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I've been listening to Paul Simon daily, mostly his greatest hits, Simon and Garfunkel when it's time to be mellow, and I'm just starting to get into his Broadway musical 'The Capeman' and that beautiful song 'Bernadette.'

What's in your festival survival kit?

Our festival survival kit always includes water, shade, a good pair of shoes and a positive attitude. Some days things don't go my way and it helps when I remind myself that II have nothing to complain about. My job is playing music. It really doesn't get better than that.

Any vices?

We like to party, but Matt is straightedge when it comes to smoking and getting wasted. We don't have a band manager babysitting us on the road, so we need to be responsible for ourselves, make sure we get to our shows on time and have the energy to set up. You just can't do that if you're out getting trashed every night.

Who was your first celeb crush?

My first celebrity crush was Zooey Deschanel, and I was so crazy about her that in 2008 I passed on the chance to see one of my favorite bands, Hot Water Music, just to check out her duo, She & Him. It was an impossible decision to make. Hot Water Music literally changed the way I listen to punk rock music. They had broken up for awhile and were reuniting at SXSW. For weeks I was looking forward to their concert, but when I found out they were booked at the same exact time she was, I quickly bought one of their tee shirts and ran over to see her. Lucky that I did, I got to meet her afterwards, and the picture that was taken of us is still part of my Facebook profile. My other celebrity crushes include Marion Cotillard and Alessandra Torresani.

Dreams and aspirations?

Of course we'd love a SPIN cover and a 'Saturday Night Live' spot, but I don't want to label what success will look like for us or put a ceiling on where we're heading. It's good to stay hungry. I know it's a bad sign when I start to feel satisfied, because I may not try as hard. As long as every record is better than the last and every time we come to a new city a few more people sing along, we're happy.