My American Heart
Interview with bassist Dustin Hook and guitarist/vocalist Matthew VanGasbeck
L to R: Dustin, Elyse, and Alex
S&S: Would you rather...
Record in the studio or play live?
Dustin: Without a doubt, play live.
Matt: Play live. I like recording, but that's more work. Playing
live is more of the fun part.
S&S: Wear girl jeans or guy jeans?
Matt: For sure, guys jeans.
Dustin: I've been tight on the girl's jeans for about three years
now. It's hard to get out of once you get into it. I actually bought a
pair of guy's jeans about a month ago, and I've been wearing them every
once in a while. I think I could see myself in the next six months maybe
getting back into my manhood. I'm getting into shorts now, too. If I wasn't
in a band anymore, my style would probably be a little more normal. Out
on the road, you just get used to it, and it's not weird.
S&S: That actually makes me think of a question I had for another
band. I's not a "Would you rather," but it's relevant to what you
just said. In today's music scene, many male band members project a feminine
image, with tight clothing and long hair. We have seen this happen in several
decades, from cock rock in the 70s to hair metal in the 80s. Why do you
think this style returns to prominence?
Matt: Overall, it's just what's hip.
Dustin: Think of anything, like entertainment. I don't want to
say bands are acting, but it is all entertainment and a show. That's our
job, to put on the best show as possible. Sadly, for some bands, image is
more than their actual performance. I think it feels good to be set apart.
Kids don't want to see themselves on the stage; they want to see a show.
I think that's why bands do the things they do. Ninety percent of guys
in bands, if they're at home with their family, they're like everybody
else.
S&S: Ok, back to "Would you rather." Play acoustic or electric?
Matt: Electric.
Dustin: Yeah, electric. It depends on the situation.
S&S: Interact with fans on Myspace or at shows?
Matt: This is a real tough one.
S&S: There are some people who don't get to go to shows,
though.
Dustin: Of course, everyone would prefer in person. I would definitely
say shows.
Matt: I'm really bad with getting back on Myspace. I never really
camp out on it. I go on, accept everything, and go away. We do signings
after every set, and that's when we get to talk to fans. They get to say
what they have to tell us, and it's fun.
Dustin: Fans appreciate it more than anything in the world. It makes
their day when you actually take two minutes to say hello. We would always
prefer to do that.
S&S: Receive a hug or a kiss on the cheek?
Dustin: Kiss on the cheek. That's cute.
Matt: I don't know. I'm pretty American, so probably a hug.
Dustin: I'm pretty non-American. I think it would be awesome if
Americans started greeting each other with kissing on the cheek. I think
that's cute.
Matt: I went to a workshop when I was in school about people's
tolerance. It was for a leadership workshop. There were some European guys
who went to school, too. When the question came up about kiss on the cheek
or handshake, they just got up and started ranting about how Americans are
so not touchy-feely. If there are two guys, it's so taboo. It kind of
put it into perspective for me that it shouldn't be like that.
S&S: Spend the rest of your life poor and playing music or
rich and doing something else?
Matt: I don't think I want to be poor. I can be rich and play music,
too. You can always find time for music.
Dustin: That was a good way around the question. I'll be rich and
do something else, but that something else will be golfing when I'm not
chilling with my band.
S&S: Experience life like a video game or like a movie?
Matt: I see everything cinematically. So many things I see day to
day, I'm like, "You can't make this shit up." I write it down, and
I try to remember it, because some day, I am going to make a movie.
Dustin: As long as it doesn't end bad, like "My Girl," getting
stung by a bunch of bees. I don't want my movie to end like that. I think
a video game ending would be cool. You beat the game of life. I'd love
to have a movie life and a soundtrack to it that I can pick while everything
is going on. Everyone talks about that though. You can always picture certain
songs playing while you're doing something.
S&S: Pee your pants on stage or fart during an interview?
Matt: You could probably get away with farting during an interview,
but peeing my pants on stage wouldn't be good. I just farted right now.
Dustin: Going back to the live performance thing and band image,
I like our image to be the band that pees their pants on stage every day.
Matt: He Is Legend did that. They all walked on stage in little girl
shorts, held their arms out and all pissed their pants. Then, they played
a set after they peed their pants.
S&S: See the future or change the past?
Matt: Change the past. I don't know what's going to happen in
the future. If I did know what would happen in the future, it would make
me want to live in a bomb shelter or something.
Dustin: I don't know, because then you get all deep about it. You
figure if you change the past, that means you're actually going to change
the future. I don't take enough drugs to answer that question.
S&S: Have another band member's looks or their personality?
Dustin: I'm pretty happy with who I am as a person.
S&S: This is an "If you had to" question.
Dustin: I'd have our singer, Larry's looks. He's a great looking
guy. He's like half French-Canadian, half Filipino. It's a sexy look.
Matt: I'll take Dustin for a day.
Dustin: Actually, I'll take Matt.
S&S: Become a household name or stay at the success level you
are now?
Dustin: We love being personal with our fans, but of course, we all
want to go as far as possible with it. We're not rebellious or against
[fame]. Selling out is one thing. We write our own songs. We do our own
thing. If it took us somewhere ridiculous, we'd be happy.