I knew that the interview with Caleb Turman and Marc Stewart of Forever The Sickest Kids would be unique as soon as Caleb said "I love your hair…it's beautiful", and proceeded to hug me. Its not often an interview starts out with such enthusiasm and excitement.
On a rainy afternoon on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, CT, we took a moment to rapid fire questions with the two guitarists for FTSK. The band having been around for a few years now are gaining popularity having spent more time on MTV and even appearing on the hilarious series "Silent Library". The Kids prove themselves to be sincere, fun loving, humble and geniuninely happy.
Mary Magpie: How'd you get your band name?
Caleb: Um… let's be honest here. It was a street art crew in Dallas and it was kind of a fluke… (points to Marc)- you explain.
Marc: We actually used to put up our old band demos on that name and like he said it was a street art crew and we were just like stick with it.
The band had made a vow to produce three EP's the Weekend series but it never came to fruition, I had to ask what happened.
MM: Why haven't the rest of The Weekend EPs been released?
Marc: We're actually in the studio working on Saturday with David Bindon and we were so passionate about the songs that we didn't want to put them out on an EP, we wanted to give it a full-length feel so we went out and finished the rest of the songs and put out a full length album but I don't think Saturday or Sunday are completely cancelled or anything. We talked about maybe doing an acoustic one or a b-side one or something like that, I think that would be a lot of fun.
Forever the Sickest Kids are the soundtrack to a Nerf Toy commercial currently running on all networks.
MM: Did you guys get any negative feedback from having your songs in the NERF commercials?
Caleb: Maybe a little bit, but NERF is the coolest company ever. Like when we got that offer, we were like that's the coolest company to be endorsed by or to endorse. I won't lie to you when I say we got some guns.
Marc: We got guns, we got axes, we got swords.
Caleb: We were in the video shoot, and they were like the whole idea of the video shoot was 'here's guns, fully loaded, now just play with eachother'. We were running around and it was awesome.
MM: Are the songs 'Coffee Break' and 'Forever Girl' based off of eachother?
Caleb: No, but that's like the third time we've heard that question.
Marc: I think it's because we don't do much acoustic songs so…
Caleb: And the picking is kind of similar. It was a fluke, that song I didn't expect it to go on the record.
MM: What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you on tour?
Marc: When people fall on stage, that's great for me.
Caleb: I saw Austin, literally fall backwards, roll of stage, with the bass on, holding onto it. It was hilarious. Jonathan falls too. One time we were on a six foot stage and saw Jonathan, turn around, looked back, and he was gone.
MM: The song 'Hey Brittany' was recorded fast, to be used on your Pure Volume page- was it a filler? It seems to have come out of nowhere.
Caleb: I don't think it's a filler at all.
Marc: That's one of our fan favourites, definitely. The kids just love it.
MM: Do you hold on tightly to your childhood as much as possible?
Caleb: Some of the band members do but I don't think we're afraid of growing up at all. We're men. I'm 23 years old and I enjoy being 23 but with that being said, I think you should always have a childlike (demeanor). If you could be on our bus for one day, you could see that.
Caleb: We're out for nine or ten months a year. (touring). We're always right there (points to bus).
Marc: Unless we take breaks from a tour, like if it's snowing.
Caleb: It is (a good thing). I enjoy it.
Marc: You kind of have to have that mindset of being young or it'll just kill you.
Caleb: I think we've just stepped into the point where we're not just a buzz band. We're touring lots.
Marc: To go into a store and see something that you made (is totally surreal).
Caleb: I don't think there's any part about this job that's not surreal.
MM: What's the best part of being in FTSK?
Caleb: Hangin' out with my best friends all the time. And hangin' out with cool cats like you (points at me).
MM: Describe yourself in three words.
Caleb: Can I describe Marc? Powerful, triumphant, successful.
Marc: Caleb? Zombie-killer, protection, quantitative.
MM: What is one thing on your iPod that's a little embarrassing?
Caleb: I have "Keep Bleedin' Love" (he sings it intensely). I have both versions- the slow version and the techno version.
Marc: I've got some Katy Perry on my iPod.
A great representation of a band that climbs their light boxes, plays with Nerf swords, hugs random people who wander buy and all with a smile on their face. Caleb and Marc made this pop punk show memorable and fun.
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