- hotvibes.com

Hot Vibes: Please state your name age and instrument.

Relient K: Matthew Thiessen 21 Guitar. Dave Douglas 22 Drums Matt Hoopes 21 Guitar Brian Pittman 21 Guitar

How did you guys meet?

M@: Three of us, Matt Brian and M@ went to church together and we started a band called Relient K and we had a drummer one time and his friend was named Dave Douglass and 4 years after that Dave Douglass came back around and we stole him from somebody elses band. So that’s kinda how we all met each other.

HV: When did you decide to form the pop-punk band Relient K?

M@: ‘97? ..were gunna go with ‘97.

HV: How did you guys hear about Inside Out?

M@: One year out old manager said, ” I got you guys playing this festival up in New Hampshire, it’s called Inside Out” and we were like, “Cool”!

HV: Are there any other festivals , like Inside Out, that you guys have played before?

M@: Any Christian festival you can think of, probably we’ve done. we do about 30 a year.

HV: How do your families feel about your sucess?

M@: I think I can speak for everyone by saying that they’re all really supportive. We all actually come from slightly musical backgrounds some more than others so they’re all really proud of us. Especially since they see that we’re able to do this as a job and make money I think that actually lets them realize that we’re being responsible as well as having some ministry.

HV: If you weren’t in a band what would your day job be?

M@:I’d probably be a fire-fighting astronaut.
Brian: I would drive monster trucks.
M@: Matt?
Matt: Um..I don’t know..
M@: Spagetti warehouse for sure..
Matt: Yeah I would definately work at the Spagetti Warehouse. They have really good spagetti.
Dave: I’d be an airline pilot.
M@: I bet you would. (laughs) Why dont you go to school for that?
Dave: I thought about it.
M@: You just didn’t have the tenasity?
Dave: Yep. I just like music more.
M@: Oh yeah.
Dave: Flying is my second favorite thing.
M@: I’m glad your doing your favorite thing, dude.
Dave: Oh yeah me too.

HV: Is there a story behind your name?

M@: Kinda. Well Matt Hoopes used to drive the car and we used to make fun of him ’cause it was a crappy car. If you have ever seen them you would know. One time he stopped the car on the highway at three in the morning to see how fast it could go from zero to 60 and it was like 16 minutes and 30 seconds. It was a really long time.
Brian: It gets longer evrey time (laughs)
M@: But anyway its like an inside joke.

HV: If you could be any kitchen utensil what would you be and why?

Matt: I would be a fork beccause you get to eat the most food.
M@: Forks dont even eat it, dude.
HV: (laughs)
Matt: They scoop it, though.
M@: They’re tools. I would be a spatula because I would have the word “SPAT” in my name.
Dave: I would be a can opener because you can open cans of… All: (laughs)
Dave:I was trying to think of something else for that…but I would be a can opener.
Brian: Woop butt.
Dave: Woop butt, dude.
M@: (laughing) Woop butt, dude.
Dave: I love those cans of woop butt.
M@: Brian what would you be?
Brian: Um…a…knife because knives are great.

HV: Describe your live show in one word.
Dave: Monkies.
M@: Adequate. Monkies and adequate both are…
Brian: Both work.
M@: Their interchangable really in any way you look at them.
Brian: Booyah.

HV: Do you like performing live or in a studio/recording better?
M@: I like both but I like the studio better probably beccause I have alot of insecurities about live performances on my part because I’m not very flawless in anyway. I think everybody else likes live better.
Brian: Yeah. Live is just more relaxed and you just have fun and you can see the benifits of what you do in the studio.

HV: If you could have any super power what would your super power be?

Dave: To fly.
Matt: To read people’s minds.
M@: The ability to make people melt by whipping them with a wet towel.
Brian: I would like to fly too. I just don’t really like birds that much.
M@: You would like to fly with a pelet gun.
Brian: Yes flying with two pelet guns for hands (laughs) you could rapid fire and you dont have to pump

HV: Whats the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

M@: one time this dude took off his leg and asked us to sign in.

HV: like his cast? or a wooden leg?

M@: No…well yeah. His prosthetic limb.

HV: When can fans expect the release of a new CD?

M@: Probably March.

HV: March?

M@: Yeah. Although, it’s almost done and it’s August. It’s gunna be a long wait.

HV: Do you have a message to your fans?

M@: Every time you throw a pizza party make sure there’s enough soda pop and chips for everybody.
HV: We’ll remember that.
Brian: Remember that.
Matt: Don’t stick your finger in the peanut butter twice.
M@: And the in the electric socket three times.
Brian: And get your hands out of that cookie jar.
M@: Unless your hungry…
Brian: You can have anything you want but you better not take it from me.
All: (laughs)

HV: That’s all the questions we have for you. Thanks for the interview

RK: You’re welcome.

[special thanks to Scott the soundguy for helping setup this interview on such short notice. Also to Jeff at TKO agency. Last a big thanks to the guys of Relient K for taking the time out of their busy schedule to sit down and answer some questions.]