Interview: Christopher Crisci of The Appleseed Cast

Conducted by Capt. Obvious


Obvious: The members of the Appleseed Cast aren't all originally from Lawrence, in fact the band started in Los Angeles, how did you end up in Kansas?

Crisci: Aaron and I met in Los Angeles. I had been living there for about 3 years at the time, and I hated it. I grew up in San Diego and I'm not really sure how the hell I ended up in L.A. but I did. Our first bass player, Jason, was living in L.A. too, and he was from Lawrence. So, about 6 months after we formed as a band, we got rid of our apartments, cars, etc... bought a van and hit the road for 9 months. When we had down time we would usually head for Lawrence, and so we spent a lot of time there, and made a lot of friends. After 9 months on the road we all split up, I went to Chicago, the rest of the guys went to L.A. and we didn't do a whole lot of corresponding for a few months... when it was time to get back to playing music we decided we should just move to Lawrence because we all loved it.

Obvious: Your side project Old Canes has a very interesting sound, it's like folk/bluegrass with a punk-rock aesthetic. How did the project come about and are there any plans for a new album?

Crisci: I'm actually in the midst of recording the next album right now. It came about as a serious project through friends' encouragement. I've always played folk songs, and even a lot of my parts in Appleseed have a folk riff, or progression to them. I played some songs, that would become Old Canes, for friends, and they would say that I should record it. Finally, Appleseed was in Europe and the promoter in Germany had booked an in-store accoustic set... which Appleseed doesn't / can't do. We rely on effects for a lot of our sounds... but I said I'd play some folk songs. The promoter was very adamant that I should pursue the folk thing as a side project... and it was then that it kind of clicked in me, that it was something I could really put some effort into.

Obvious: When I spoke to you after your show at the Masquerade in Atlanta shortly after the band released Peregrine, you mentioned an instrumental Appleseed Cast EP, is this still in the plans?

Crisci: Well, the idea is still there, although it has morphed into a mostly instrumental full length. There's songs that have 45 seconds of vocals and 6 minutes of instrumental. There's songs that are entirely instrumental, and there's one song with complete vocals that clocks in at about 2:30.

Obvious: What is No Law Recording?

Crisci: That's a recording endeavor that my friend Jordan and I have been talking about doing for a while. We already have a few things lined up. Jordan and I both come from the school of home recording, and we both have also done a number of albums in the studio. When we record Appleseed Cast, normally we'll track some in the studio, come home, do some recording at home, and then go back into the studio to wrap it up. I like the idea of doing as much out of the studio as possible. And that's what No Law is about. Record production with the idea that we're going to make the energy and spirit of the song the first priority... even over fidelity if need be. Whatever has to be done to make it right. If going into the studio is the answer, and there's enough money... but most musicians don't have enough. We're trying to make it go further, and more importantly to do the songs justice. Don't call us if all you want is a pristine sterile recording.

Obvious: I love your lyrics, are there any particular authors or songwriters that have influenced you?

Crisci: It's gone through phases. It started out with U2 and the Cure, and all those bands in the 80's, then I got into Dylan, and all the 60's bands. I admit that I have read most of Bukowski, and Marquez. I like Cormac. I'm not claiming to be original. I also don't know how much influence I can claim to have taken from most of the people I admire. I wish I could claim more.

Obvious: What are the benefits to having a lustrous beard?

Crisci: Well first off you don't have to shave. I hated shaving. I don't know why I did it for so long. Secondly, I've noticed that if I ask someone to do something, they don't think twice about it. I think it's the beard.


Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theappleseedcast

Listen:
MP3: The Appleseed Cast - Sunlit & Ascending
MP3: Old Canes - Life Is Grand

Tags: Chris Crisci, Appleseed Cast, Old Canes