THURSDAY Interview

Thursday have made quite a name for themselves since releasing their Victory Records debut, Full Collapse. Garnering comparisons to Far, At the Drive-in and Glassjaw, these young men have seemingly done everything right musically to win over fans and critics alike. The Gauntlet's very own J Ferret had the chance to speak with Thursday guitarist Tom Keeley recently. In the interview below Keeley discusses Thursday's moderate success and how life has been for the guys since Full Collapse made it's impact.




The Gauntlet: Though many don't realize this, Full Collapse is not your first release. Is Waiting still available to buy, and if not, do you have any thoughts on re-releasing it in the future?



Tom Keeley: It is still available and is still under Eyeball Records. We have thought about trying to get better distribution for it, because it is really hard to find. We just haven?t figured out how to do that yet. For now if people are interested, the easiest way to get the album is at our shows. We almost always have it with us.



The Gauntlet: How did Thursday wind up on Victory Records? How have they treated you, and do you think Full Collapse has gotten it's fair share of publicity?



Keeley: Basically we were introduced to some people from Victory through Eyeball. Eyeball was always really supportive of us and thought that Victory made sense as a "next step" for us. They came to a show and were interested so we decided that it was a good idea. They have helped us a ton. If they weren?t there when they were our situation would be totally different right now. I think Full Collapse has gotten a ton of publicity, thanks to some very hard working people. And I think partly because of the fact that we have been touring non-stop since last April. I believe last year the math added up to 9 straight months on the road.



The Gauntlet: How well is the album selling? I know Mtv2 are playing your video daily, which means more people are hearing Thursday than ever before.



Keeley: I guess the record is doing pretty well. For us to think that people know us outside of the tri-state area is amazing. I don?t know specifics, but I know that our expectations of what we could do as a band have been exceeded. So we just try to go with it and try to grow. The point of the whole MTV2 thing for us is about being non-elitist. Music isn?t for a select few people it is universal. If a kid sees our video on MTV2 and somehow ends up getting into hardcore music as a result then that is great. It is isn't about being popular or being a huge rock outfit.



The Gauntlet: How has the tour gone in Europe? Is there any noticeable difference between European fans and American fans?



Keeley: The tour with the Movielife was amazing. The kids over in the UK are so supportive and passionate. It is definitely one of my favorite places that we have been so far as a band. There are a couple of differences between American and European fans. One being that over there if they like you they throw full beer cans at you?over here that means they hate you.



The Gauntlet: Many fans were heavily anticipating the rumored Glassjaw/Thursday tour that was set for this winter, yet evidently things didn't work out. Why didn't this take place, and is it still a tour you'd love to do further on down the road?



Keeley: Of course we were excited about the prospect of touring with Glassjaw, they are a great band who is doing something different musically. We decided though, that we needed to try to do a headlining tour, since we haven?t done one yet. I think we will end up doing shows in the future together. For now though we are going to try to do our own thing.



The Gauntlet: Prior to Thursday, were any of you in previous bands?



Keeley: Kind of not really?? I guess? Geoff played sax in Green Apple Quick Step?Tucker and I had been trying to start a youth crew hardcore band called Turnbuckle for about 6 months, but unfortunately we didn?t know how to play any instruments. Eventually we taught ourselves and met the other guys in our band.



The Gauntlet: What compels you to create the music you create?



Keeley: We all have our own reasons. I know at first it was growing up in Hardcore as a kid, I saw these bands like Vision, Ignite, Refused, Endeavor?.so many bands that were just normal people who were able to make this thing (music) that brought people together in this weird collision of ideas, and intense energy that was unlike anything else in life. As a spectator I was blown away. As I grew up a bit, I became more interested in the creating aspect of the whole thing. For me it is a very visceral experience, making music. There are chord progressions and beats and vocal melodies that can make a person react in a very cathartic and intense manner. The only music I ever want to make is music that attempts to evoke that type of reaction. It has NOTHING to do with being a "rock and roll" band. We aren't there to put our egos all over everyone. We are there to share this strange experience with a group of people in these strange venues. Seriously if you think about it, it is very ! weird. Go and watch a video of a hardcore show with the sound turned all the way down. Look at everyone and what they are doing. Then try to explain it all without putting it in the context of a show.



The Gauntlet: What does the dove in your logo symbolize? Is there more meaning behind the band's name than just a day of the week?



Keeley: When we came up with the name, there were so many punk bands with these long winded names that were so flashy and directed. We wanted the name to be anonymous but also to evoke a sense of familiarity, and commonality. We didn?t want people to be able to figure out anything about what we sounded like by reading our name.



The Gauntlet: Who would you credit in inspiring you to create music? Do you consider your music to be art, or more like a release of emotions?



Keeley: Well, we all have different inspirations for being a band. Like is said before, for me it was growing up in hardcore, and wanting so badly to contribute to the whole thing. I think music and art are just variations of the same need to create. Playing music is definitely a release of emotions and energy, its also a receiving of the same , from the kids at the shows?I guess it is more of a sharing experience.



The Gauntlet: You seem to play non-stop. Is there one show above all others that you would say has been your favorite show to play? If so, what made it your favorite?



Keeley: Wow, that is difficult. There are so many shows that were amazing in their own right. Mostly shows we play in the North East are our favorite in that they are the most intense. But, we also love playing shows in places where nobody knows us, or where people hate us because it brings it all back to the beginning.



The Gauntlet: What's life like on the road? Where do you eat, sleep, hang out before the show at, etc.?



Keeley: It is horrible and amazing all at once. Often we will stay with friends we have made, or if we are making enough, we will get a cheap motel to sleep in. Sometimes we have to sleep in the van if a drive is too long. Basically, because of time limitations we have to hang out at the venue before the show?unless of course we are in a place like Philadelphia or another major city where you can walk around and do things.



The Gauntlet: Aside from your own disc, what bands and/or albums have you been listening to as of late? Any particular favorite band?



Keeley: Wow, there are so many??the Assistant, Coheed and Cambria, Jeff Buckley, the Hope Conspiracy, Converge?s Jane Doe?This day forward?Ink and Dagger?..it changes every day.



The Gauntlet: What was your most memorable moment of 2001 as a band?



Keeley: The fact that we toured for 9 months.



The Gauntlet: What does 2002 have in store for Thursday? Any plans to hit the studio later this year, or are you going to keep touring in support of Full Collapse? Have you written any new songs?



Keeley: We still haven't done a headlining tour yet, so there is a lot more touring in support of Full Collapse planned. We eventually are going to take some time off to start writing again. Right now we have 3 songs almost finished?so we need to start working on that again. We basically are just going to keep going?


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Tags:  Thursday  , Tom Keeley, interviews

JFerret    November 30, -0001