Interview with Emery drummer Dave Powell
Emery's breakthrough album The Question was a critic and fan favorite when it was released last year. They were truly a breath of fresh air in the often stagnant world of post hardcore/screamo and their awe-inspiring concerts helped make them one of the top bands in the genre. Now, Tooth And Nail Records is re-releasing The Question in a deluxe edition package on November 21st, and the band has joined this year Nintendo Fusion tour as one final ride around the country before getting to work on their much anticipated follow-up. I sat down with drummer Dave Powell to talk about the bands past, their future and Emery's relationship with their fans.
Anarchy Music: You just started the Nintendo Fusion tour, how's it going so far?
Dave Powell: Good, good. Turnouts been really good and we're getting along with all the bands really well
You've toured with Hawthorne Heights before but is this your first time meeting the others?
Yes, Plain White T's were on the Warped Tour so we saw them. Same with Reliant K, they were on Warped Tour two years ago. The Sleeping, this is our first encounter with them. So, we knew the other guys a little bit, but for the most part they were strangers.
Correct me if I'm wrong...the picture in my mind is that every night there’s huge Nintendo tournaments going on. Do you guys get hooked up with all these cool games?
Oh yeah, we got the Nintendo DS, I don't know if you've seen those. They're pretty cool, they're like modern day Gameboys, but you can link up wirelessly. So we all play Mario Kart and up to 8 people can link up. We all play football wirelessly. And then the new Nintendo system, the Wii, that's really fun, we play that every night before the show. We get some stuff, its pretty cool.
You had a line-up change recently (bassist Chopper has left the band), how has that changed the band. For instance on stage is it a different feeling having one less guy on stage?
The other guys will tell you it changes a lot. I play drums so I stay looking down. It's one less guy one stage so it allows more space. What happened is we don't have a replacement. We had two guitars originally and now one guitar and one bass, so it allows more room and everyone’s real happy with that, being a 5-piece.. There's just more room and they can do much more of whatever they do onstage
Are you not looking for a replacement?
Not for now at least. This is our last big tour before we record again in February so we might get a bass player for the record. Right now everyone’s doing a good job, Toby and Devin switch off on bass and it works out pretty good. So far, so good.
Chopper was really into a lot of 80's stuff like Guns n Roses and Skid Row and stuff like that. How do you think his absence will change the sound of the band when you go into the studio?
Chopper and I didn't really do much as far as for The Question. It's really Matt and Toby and Devin come up with most of the songwriting material. So, I'm sure for this next record it'll be the same, it'll be them, so it'll probably sound exactly sound exactly the same as if he were still in it. Just like if we hgot a new drummer it'd probably sound close to the same.
Just not as good without you! That would be impossible! I heard that Neil Peart was begging to join the band, but they said "No". That's the rumor going around.
Yeah, they’re loyal to me.
Who are your influences as far as drumming goes?
Drumming? I love the typical drummers like John Bonham, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins. i love Tommy Lee.
So basically a lot of the classic rock guys is where you get your influence from?
Yeah, like Chopper was, I love a lot of the 80's. Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi...
Thank god somebody does, because I'll tell people that I love Guns N Roses and motley Crue and stuff and they look at me like "what are you, stupid?"
There's just so much music out now that people think they know everything, but you cant beat the classics.
What do you like that’s out now?
As far as new music, I like Ryan Adams a whole lot. I like more of the folky stuff. I don't like any of the new stuff that’s heavy.
I like a lot of what you'd call rock music, but with pop hooks. I think for the most part heavy music just isn't being done as well as it used to.
Has the style of your music changed much since the last record?
No, we're just doing whatever comes. the songs that are coming together are really cool. A lot more rock based. When I say rock, not that it sounds like this, but more influenced by things like AC/DC or Tom Petty mixed with a lot of other stuff that we like now, so there’s a lot more rock n roll fundamentals behind it.
But first they're re-releasing The Question in November, what’s been added to it?
We've got an hour and a half DVD, just of the story of Emery, which is pretty cool. There's a whole live show from Nashville. Then there's a bunch of songs off The Weaks End and The Question, just acoustic versions. We really put a lot of time into them. we put a lot of piano, even mandolin, just really weird instruments. we made some songs like folk music, others just different but really cool. And some new demos. there's a lot of stuff on there.
So basically what would be the price of a DVD there's, they're getting two DVDs, a bunch of demos, acoustic stuff...that’s awesome.
Yeah, its gonna be cool.
The Question itself..."where were you when i was..", it sounds like its directed to a certain person. What’s the story behind the concept?
Toby wrote it that way. He likes the idea of every song title being a question, then you have 'where were you when I was..." and each song title fits into that category and can almost relate to the song. But its not in reference to a person or anything, its just a question.
A question that everyone can identify with..
Yeah, as opposed to normal song titles. It's more than titles, its questions.
I think that works in your favor as opposed to telling a straight ahead story that no one can identify with...
You're all Christians, but to me you're not a Christian band. It sounds weird to say that, but listening to the cd, you're not bashing people over the head with it. Was that a conscious decision or is it just writing about life and you happen to be Christians?
Well, none of us like the idea of a Christian band at all. Its like if you work construction you're not a Christian construction worker. We really don’t want people to view us like that, but at the same time maybe we have to be viewed like that because it is what we believe. But we don't like talking about it, we'd much rather live our lives. It's really easier to say "do this" than to live. We want people to know how we are by how we live, not by what we say.
Do you still talk about it onstage at all or has that been completely removed from the set?
No, they used to years ago, and even when i first joined the band which was a couple of years ago. They will at weird moments they'll say something but most of the time they won't.
I'm not a Christian. i have my moral code and you don't break that, but I'm not a church-going Christian. Having said that, I have NO problem with the band I'm seeing expressing themselves in whatever way the music drives them to. I think that self expression is what a live concert is all about. So, i can't imagine people being upset about it. Did you ever get any negative feedback about it?
The most people that get mad at us actually are the Christians. those are the people who judge us the most. as far as people who are nonbelievers, they treat us the best. People that treat us the worst are the Christians. When we don't say stuff then the Christian kids cry about it or something. Its seems like if you’re in the entertainment business what you do is viewed totally different. Like I said, like a Christian construction worker. You both work construction with your friend and one of you is Christian and one you is not, you can talk about it...
You know who else was a carpenter??
(we laugh, because its impossible for me to get through an interview without cracking a lame joke)
One thing you guys have fostered over the years with all of your fans is a close relationship where they really feel like they can come to you and share. Has there been occasions where fans have shared something thats really taken you aback or made you feel like you're really accomplishing something special?
Its happened to the band before. For instance Toby and Devon, since they write the lyrics. They’ve had people tell them how their lyrics helped them through their girlfriends death or the parents death or their sons death or this or that. That’s the most striking, when you’re a art of someone who likes your music, and you’re a part of their death as well. Its a very powerful thing.
You guys definitely go out of your way to be a part of your fans lives as much as possible right?
Absolutely, we love going out there. Our fans pay our bills, and for me to not go out there and do everything I canto please them is very selfish of me. So, I will always do whatever I can to help any fan, talk to them, sign anything, I would do in a heartbeat.
You had a contest where you had fans film videos for you...
Yeah, on Youtube!
Who came up that amazingly brilliant idea and have you seen any really cool ones?
I've seen some funny ones. i haven’t looked in awhile.
What’s a good one...not necessarily the winner..but what are some good ones?
There's a lot of them on there if you look that don’t make any sense. The last time I looked at it, was only about 2 weeks after we started the contest and all of them were pretty crazy. It was our idea because we originally wanted to do a regular video where fans sent stuff, whatever it was, and have whoever edit it and make into a real music video that could be played on the air. we couldn't do that so we figured, just for a little something fun to do, get people more involved. The two winners get a 42" Plasma TV from X2Gen. they were generous enough to give us two to give away.
That’s great because I don't have one...and you've got two and you're giving them away!
Yeah, I'm thinking about making a video myself.
The timeframe between the first and second record was really quick. I know there's already been some pre-writing for this record, when can we expect something new from you guys?
We started about two months ago. It normally start as soon as you finish a record. I guess you do a few tours, but I'd say about six months after The Question was out we wanted to get back together and see if we could come up with new ideas. Just try to improve, do different things. That’s my favorite part about being in a band is putting out records, recording stuff. i think about drumbeats constantly.
Do you wake up in the middle of the night and go "wait a minute! I've got a really cool one!"
I actually do, i grind my teeth to drumbeats when I lay in bed. We all kind of do that. Toby lives in Charleston, Devon lives in Illinois, I live in Indianapolis, Matt and Josh live in Seattle. So, were all writing our own things and then when we get together we play different parts of it. Everyone’s writing on their own time as well.
Is that tough being spread out all over?
Its not as tough as you’d think. It does have some problems. For instance, we're going to rent a beach house around here somewhere and write there for two weeks.
Do you know when we can expect a new record?
Were going to start recording it in January in February, so hopefully in the spring time
It's still on Tooth And Nail?
Yes, this will be the last cd of our current contract, so this is the last record for them unless we re-sign, but they've been really cool.
When you're on this site you are talking directly to your fans... any last thing you want to say to them? maybe a goodbye from this record and hell to the next?
I appreciate everyone who bought the last record, and hope you'll like the next one. And even if you don't like it and don't buy it then I still appreciate your support.
But buy the record!
Yeah, definitely buy the record!
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I'd sincerely like to thank Dave Powell for his time, and for the fact that he went running around the building and outside rounding up the remaining autographs so we could have a fully signed cd for this contest! You rule Dave and we'll see you soon!