Crash Kings

An Interview with Tony Beliveau

by Rebecca Clark
Static Noise
http://www.staticnoise.net
 

Usually when I think of bands/artists that are piano based musically, I tend to assume that most of their songs are going to have a slow and dark mood. So when I heard Crash Kings' grooving upbeat music, I was pleasantly surprised. I just love how their energy flows through my speakers and gets my blood pumping. Crash Kings' music literally makes you want to get up off your bum and shake your booty! I even caught myself tapping my feet to one of their slower songs “My Love.”

Crash Kings are definitely a band worth giving a listen to. Their song “Mountain Man” made it to #1 on the Alternative Radio Billboard charts, an amazing accomplishment for the band. Static Noise had the opportunity to do an interview with singer/pianist Tony Beliveau.

Thanks for your time Tony! :)

Static Noise: How did you get into playing music? Was there a defining moment?
Tony: Our dad (Tony and Mike) played piano growing up, and that really inspired us to start playing the piano at around 5 years of age.  I was determined to learn more and practice and start writing at a young age.  I think the fact that the weather kept us inside as kids, has a lot to do with the time we spent working and practicing on our instruments.  Mike and I grew up in the Boston area.

SN: What was your first instrument? What is the story behind it? Do you still have it?
Tony: My first instrument was my dad's piano, which was a studio Baldwin Hamilton 243 upright piano, which I still have currently in Los Angeles.  My grandfather, who also played, used to hold me in his lap and play this piano when I was an infant, before he passed away. 

SN: I read that you finally have a real piano that you have out with you on tour. H ow has this changed your performance and crash kings experience for the fans?
Tony: It's been really fun, and challenging at the same time.  It's obviously more cumbersome, and more difficult to move around than a 40 pound keyboard.  But it certainly looks amazing, and feels amazing to play.  Sometimes we can't use it when the venues have are upstairs with no elevators, then we have to use our older setup, which isn't as visually stunning.  But we're able to get our point across just the same, no matter when piano or keyboard I'm using.  I would like to think that when fans see the piano, they see us as more of a serious, professional band.  It definitely makes us feel more pro.

SN: I heard that the band formed in LA, where did all of you grow up? And what made you decide to move to LA?  Was LA everything you hoped it would be, or did you have arough time at first?
Tony: My brother, Mike, and I are from  the suburbs of Boston and Jason is from the Houston area.  Jason moved to LA to begin playing drums with Juliet and the Licks.  I moved out there from New York in 2005, for a change of pace from the east coast.  It was a very easy and positive transition for me, and I always love going back there.  It feels like home for me.  We are definitely comfortable saying we're an LA band.

SN: I read that Mike and Tony are brothers; does any "sibling rivalry" ever carry over into the band? Does Jason ever have to be a referee?(Haha)
Tony: Of course.  But when you live with anyone for months at a time, they begin to feel like a brother.  Jason is our brother in so many ways.  So, we all become the referee at some point. 

SN: Who is your hero?
Tony: Herbie Hancock

SN: What has been your biggest achievement so far (it can be career or personal)?
Tony: That would have to be watching our single, Mountain Man, go to #1 on the alternative radio charts for 3 weeks in a row.

SN: What is your favorite color? Tell me about it.
Tony: Green.  It just seems the most natural color.  It makes me feel the best I think. 

SN: What is the most challenging part of creating/writing a song?
Tony: The most challenging thing about writing a song is getting myself into a mental space where I can truly free my mind of everything and just let the music flow through me.  This isn't something I've figured out how to control, but I have noticed that under pressure, I'm able to write some of my best work.  I feel like some of the best songs have come from artists in their time of struggle.  Once everything in life is easier, I feel like it becomes more difficult for a lot of artists to produce and create music to the best of their ability.  I feel like I'm still writing some of my best work, since we're all still just scraping by.  That being said, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that we have one of the best jobs in the world.  Being able to bring our music to the world is a dream come true,


SN: What other passions do you have besides music?
Tony: My other passions would include skiing, surfing, mountain biking, camping, hiking, and collecting pianos and rare keyboards/organs.

SN: What other band (besides yourselves) deserves more recognition?
Tony: Nico Vega.  These guys put on such a killer show, and they're just great people. 

SN: Does the band get a lot of skeptics from people when they find out there isn't a guitar player?
Tony: Not at all.  Most people are into that aspect of our band.  If there are skeptics, we don't know of them.  But they might change their mind if they come see us perform live.  We can sound more full than some bands with 3 guitars.

SN: Who is the jokester in the band? What is the best prank thathas been pulled off?
Tony: I'd say Jason is the closest to the jokester in this band.  We don't really prank each other too much.  Can't think of anything that stands out in my mind as a good enough prank to mention here.

SN: When you are on tour, what is the hardest adjustment you have to make?
Tony: The hardest adjustment to make on tour would have to be playing to 50,000 people one day at a festival, and then playing to 300 people in a small club the next.  There's sort of a disconnect when people are so far away, and we're learning to get more comfortable with it.  When we're in the small clubs, we can really feel the crowd cause they're right at your feet.  You can hear them, touch them, and make eye contact much easier. 

SN: What is the worst thing about a venue that drives you insane? (ie scary dressing rooms)
Tony: STAIRS.

SN: What has been the craziest thing a fan has done for the band?
Tony: One time a fan offered us their RV if we played on their property.  We still might do this.  She's a true Crash Queen and we love her!

SN: Has "Mountain Man" breaking into the top 20 on Billboard changed the current goals or direction of the band? Has it opened any newdoors?
Tony: It hasn't changed our goals or the direction of the band.  We still strive to get other songs into the top 20, and we feel like this is just the beginning for us.  Getting our single to #1 has possibly opened the doors to getting us onto talk shows, which is amazing!  A few weeks back, we got to play on Jimmy Kimmel and it was a great moment for us.

SN: What is in store for the Crash Kings this summer? Are you guys going to tour the whole time?
Tony: We will be touring, yes.  We also plan to shoot a music video for our new single, "You Got Me".  All this as well as getting back into the studio to begin preproduction for our new record.

SN: Do you have any causes that you are fighting for?
Tony: Not officially, but we're always fighting for truth, love, and freedom.

SN: What album is the "soundtrack" of your life right now?
Tony: "Road to Rouen" by Supergrass

SN: Any last words?
Tony: Yes.  Eat your vegetables.  And visit us at www.crashkingsmusic.com

For more info on the band check out their official websites:
http://crashkingsmusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/crashkings
http://www.myspace.com/crashkings

Follow Crash Kings on twitter:
http://twitter.com/crashkings