The Briggs vocalist and guitarist Joey LaRocca took some time out from promoting the new album "Come All You Madmen" out now on SideOneDummy Records to answer a few questions thrown at him by us.
ALTSOUNDS - Your label describe your latest album as your "most honest and compelling yet". What experiences have the band had that support that quote?
JOEY - It cuts straight to the point, there's no use in ignoring the fact the music industry is collapsing and we as civilization are in an interesting time of turmoil and chaos but also change. On another side, it's also much more personal. It address our personal issues of touring and what toll it has taken on relationships and our lives. We just drew from whatever felt the most meaning full to us and wrote about it.
ALT - The lyrics to your song, 3rd World War, are very poignant, and suggest that you totally support war and its purpose. Is this the case? Do you have family or friends serving currently?
Well, first of all that is a very old song on our first album written before the war even started so it has nothing to do with it. It was a song meant to express being victorious amongst my battles in life, over coming boundaries and reaching my goals. I do have many friends who are currently overseas and support them as my friends however I, in no way, support the war and listening to the new record I think that is pretty obvious.
ALT - Two of the band members are (obviously) brothers. Do the other band members ever feel left out or are all your relationships as close?
I couldn't say that all our relationships would be all as close as myself and my brother's but we all have our own levels of friendship. They may feel somewhat left out at times but there is a curtain bond you can't break when you've taken baths together and shared a room for 16 years.
ALT - The tour that you have embarked on is huge - what do you do to keep your energy levels up?
I think you just learn to get used to a new level of exhaustion and after a week of it, it feels normal and stops feeling like you want to die. Making sure you sleep a good night is key too.
ALT - Which band member has the most annoying habit, and what is it?
We all have things we do that annoy each to no end. Our drummer Chris has to take a shit every hour on the hour and moans in his sleep, our bass player Ryan talks way too loud even when you are right in front of him, Jason, my brother, calls everyone at all times of the day and night for stupid reasons and I leave dirty socks laying around.
ALT - Wikepedia claims that you have had a "revolving door of bass players" - why is that?
I don't know, it's Spinal Tap Syndrome. Once you lose an original member it's hard to find a replacement that you have the same connection with. On our end and on the new guys side too. We've fired people and had people quit so it's gone both ways.
ALT - What is the band's favourite video to date, and why?
Personally, I just shot a video for one of my songs "37 Cents"and it's by far the best video I've been a part of. I'm so sick of music videos, they are too safe so I wanted to shock the hell out of people so I think I managed to do that here. ALT - As a band, what is your biggest ambition?
I personally want to the band to mean something in a big picture of music. After all is said and done, I think success is measured by "what did you change", "what and who did you inspire?"
ALT - What are the band members' most embarrassing moments?
On the Dropkick Murphys tour last year, the crotch of my pants split all the way to the point you could see a fair share of my junk and of course the stage was nice and tall so the French-Canadians of Montreal got a charming view. Ryan fell backwards off a monitor, giving himself a concussion, where he proceeded to wander around the stage not doing anything but twiddle knobs on his amp for the rest of the set.
ALT - If you could have any musician join the band for one gig, who would it be and why?
The Boss, that would just be rad, enough said. |
The Briggs, Joey LaRocca tells us how it goes! 
