You are reading an interview with Mad Caddies
conducted by Dan Claydon on 15 April 2003
This interview was conducted by email on the 15th of April 2003.
1. Hi, please introduce yourself and say what instruments you play.
This is Mark and I play bass in the Caddies.
2. How would you describe you sound and live performance?
The best description of our music we have come up with is dixieland and reggae inflenced punk rock. It's still a bit limiting, but it's the best way to explain our sound to new ears. As far as our live show, a slightly tipsy (or completely blotto) hour of spontaniety and as much energy as we can muster.
3. Your headlining the Fat Wreck Tour this year which should bring your fame to new heights. What's it like being big and famous?
Now that's some funny shit...I didn't know we were big and famous - you certainly couldn't tell that by our bank balances. However, every tour we do (headlining especially) helps build the fanbase and hopefully sets of a domino effect as far as word of mouth exposure goes.
4. Which bands would you credit as your influences?
Oingo Boingo, Operation Ivy, Louis Armstrong, NOFX, Duke Ellington, Tom Waits, and about 1000000 more, in one capacity or another.
5. What do you miss most when you're touring?
Mexican food, showers, girlfriends, clarity of liver and mind, showers, sobriety, and probably showers.
6. On your new album, Just One More, theres a song that seems to havea verse in Spanish, explain?
That song (Just One More) seemed to have a Spanish feel to it, so Chuck started to sing part of it in Spanish. We actually decided to nix recording it that way, but in the end it sounded much better in Spanish than in English.
7. Do you have any weird collections or experiences from touring or growing up?
There are way too many weird experiences from touring to list here, let alone in a book. We could probably fill an encyclopedia set with all the weird and memorable things that happen on tour. As far as collections go, I personally keep matchbooks, hotel pens and bar coasters from as many places as I can around the world. It's a cheap and easy way to get a little memento from every place you go, and as we have been in many bars and hotels over the years, I have amassed quite the collection.
8. Your name was Ivy league before it was Mad Caddies, where did you get the name 'Mad Caddies' from?
The "Caddies" part of the name came out of us always taking shit from headlining bands and promoters when the band was starting out (years later we would find out this is referred to as "paying dues")...we always felt that we were caddying for other bands because we would always bring in a fair share of our own fans to every show and not get anything for it. We ran this by Fat Mike, who liked it but said it needed something else - he suggested "Mad Caddies", we said "OK"....and it stuck from there.
9. Best gig you've ever played?
We played a show in Amsterdam a couple years ago that was as close to a perfect gig as we've ever played. The crowds in Holland are almost always too stoned (literally) and the shows are totally lacking in energy. For some reason this one was the exception to the rule and everything was perfect; the sound was great, everyone played tight, the crowd was great...everything fell into place for that one.
10 Where do you find inspiration for your songs?
At the bottom of a bottle.
11. Best joke?
The best joke I have ever heard can't be repeated in this interview, but I would be more than happy to tell you in person sometime.
12. Whats the funniest, most corny pick up line youve ever used?
I have yet to use a standard pickup line and I've worked out just fine...you'll have to ask our trombone player Ed that question, he could certainly give you some winners.
13. Scariest experience as a band?
Running out of beer after all the liquor stores close - the horror...the horror.
14. What are your views on the generation of pop punk bands getting lots of exposure and money right now? (eg New Found Glory, Simple Plan)
They are nothing more than the Backstreet Boys with guitars and I'm astounded as to how many people on this planet enjoy being force fed apalling music.
15. Do you have any superstitions or things you do before every show?
I haven't played a show in over five years with out chewing at least 4-5 pieces of gum. I think I would lose it if I didn't have any gum before we went on. It's actually approached the point of being an obsessive/compulsive disorder now.
16 What made you start a band?
We all were friends since before the band started to take shape and we realized that we all shared a common interest in certain musical styles and ideas for getting a band going...everything just fell into place from there.
17. Erm well thats it, thanks for the interiew and use the space below to write thank yous, or anything you like.
You're very welcome Dan and thanks for your questions - take care, Mark
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