In the dressing room for Every Avenue, I got the opportunity to speak with David Ryan Strauchman , a kind and humble guy who seemed perfectly at ease.
So as the chaos of a first night of the tour unpacking goes on around us, I ask what he’s looking forward to most on this tour,
“Just pretty much hanging out with all the bands that are on it. They’re all friends of ours, we’re all on Fearless so it’s going to be a fun tour. Just hanging out. Mostly the crowd’s going to be really good too I think. These bands draw really a lively bunch(laugh)”
We asked if Every Avenue had ever been on such a diverse bill as Fearless Friends.
“No, we’ve done a tour like this. We’ve toured with Mayday, we toured with Breathe, we’ve played with Artist Vs Poet and Go Radio.” Just never all at the same time.
So considering all that touring, is there a most stand out memory?
“Probably the first time we went to Japan. That was pretty amazing just to be in a different country and hear people you can’t even talk to sing the words to your songs back is pretty cool.”
So the Japanese crowd, how do they match up to the US fan?
“It’s good, it’s good. It’s completely different but it’s awesome. They’re really, they’re funny. Japanese crowd.”
International touring seems to the most enticing element for bands. To go across the world singing your music and being welcomed on each level makes the discomfort of life on the road worth it.
Do you have a favorite song to do live regardless of where you are?
“My favourite one to play live on this tour is gonna be “Forgive You”. We’ve never played it live before so I’m pretty excited to play that one.”
Since your life on the road is lengthy- are there certain things you wont leave home without?
“Everything I leave the house with is in a suitcase and that’s pretty much all I have so I leave the house with everything I own. I have a place in Pontiac, Michigan. Just Detroit, so. And…it sucks. The place is awesome, Pontiac’s cool, but the area is just a ghost town and it’s right next to a venue so that’s really cool. I live there enough where that’s where I go home to, but it’s just I don’t want to live in Detroit forever. I could end up wherever I want.”
Aside from music, got talents or hobbies?
Dave “I’m not really…
Person in the dressing room- “Good at fixing cars” Dave(laughs) “I’m good at fixing cars”
(they both laugh)
Person “When something breaks down, usually Dave fixes it”
Where do you find your inspiration? What set up your love of music?
“When I was young, the bands I listened to, The Lion King (laugh) all the Disney movies soundtracks for the most part got me into music, Fantasia.”
Youre not kidding?
“No, no I’m joking. Jimmy Eat World, New Found Glory a lot of bands like that. We played with New Found Glory in the UK. Two shows and they’re really cool guys, we hung out with them a lot. They’re amazing people, they’re cool.”
Based on the video for “Tell Me I’m A Wreck” I asked if he’s had any experiences with love that were kind of confusing.
“How different people work in different relationships, I guess. I’ve been in relationships where people have been not so (struggling with the word) faithful. I’m not gonna sit here and say I’ve been perfect in every relationship either, I don’t think anyone can do that. Anyone who’s been in a real relationship knows there’s fighting, there’s arguments. Everyone expects everything to be perfect and you’re never gonna argue but that’s definitely not the case.”
Next I asked what his plans are for after the tour.
“After the tour, we are gonna be doing some more writing. I just wanna write a bunch. And sit in Michigan and not go anywhere. And gonna start getting everything together for the new record.”
In the middle of asking him if he had any advice for musicians, a guy walked by the dressing room door, and I’m pretty sure he screamed “JAYWALKER” though I’m not quite sure. Regardless, it was distracting and hilarious. The Green Room is a series of small doored rooms for someone to pop in and shout a random word just added to the fun atmosphere of the participants.
With that it was time to wrap it up- any tips for your musician fans?
“If you really want it, don’t give up and sometimes it’s gonna suck and you’ll think ‘should I be doing this? should I persue this?’ just stick at it and don’t believe everything you here. Go get it. If you want it, go get it and if you don’t you didn’t want it, so. I can say that I’ve had enough people tell me I can’t do it my whole life so screw ’em.”
Great words from a guy who walks the walk. Its not easy to make it in this business and it seems the bands perseverence is finally paying off. Having been around for 7 years, it shows theyre in it for the long haul.
As with all interviews we ask the guilty iPod pleasure.
By far the toughest question for him as he scrolled for a couple of minutes only to annouce;
“Sam Cook(sings part of song), Boyz II Men. I
got the Greatest Hits. (sings again)”
got the Greatest Hits. (sings again)”
The guy rocks