Midtown – Interview – 03/12/05

Nicole sat down with Heath Saraceno of Midtown at Clutch Cargos in Pontiac, MI on March 12, 2005.

Can you tell me a little bit about the band?
Heath: Well, we’ve known each other for a pretty long time now. I think we’ve been together for a little under 6 years or so. We met each other right before we entered college and decided to start this band together because none of us really liked what we were doing in our old bands.

So we started writing songs together and realized that we had a lot of common interests and goals and kind of all dropped out of school together to do this full time.

Do you remember your first show?
Heath: I’m not really sure. I think our first show was at this place in Bound Brook NJ called the Palace with about 9 other local bands, but it could have been in the basement of Thursday’s house in New Brunswick.

What kinds of bands have influenced you?
Heath: I grew up on metal and rock and roll, so originally it was bands like Metallica, Guns And Roses and Nirvana, but as we age, we learn to appreciate different things. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of music that my parents raised me on, like Jim Croce and The Eagles, and newer stuff like The Notwist and The Postal Service that have taught me to realize that not every note you play has to be a power chord played at full volume.

What kind of bands would you like to tour with?
Heath: I’d like to tour with any band that I can appreciate and learn from, and it would also help if they’re not total jerkoffs.

If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing now?
Heath: I don’t really know. I would hopefully be involved in music in some way. I’ve always wanted to have my own studio and record bands that I love, but I’m a really lazy person, so who knows what I’d be doing. Maybe still working in a video store.

What got you guys through hard times?
Heath: I guess we got each other through those. We’ve always pulled in really close when anything has gotten fucked up and taken care of it together.

What’s the best thing about being a band?
Heath: There are so many things that I’ve gotten to do because of this band that I never would have been able to without it. I’ve seen most of the world, I’ve met some amazing people, gained a ton of friends, and I get to make my living playing guitar.

What’s your all time favorite song?
Heath: That is a tough call…right now, I’d have to say it’s a song by Billy Vera called “At This Moment.” It’s possibly the saddest song I’ve ever heard in my life.

What’s your favorite song to play live?
Heath: I love playing “A Faulty Foundation” live because I get to play the solo to “Stairway To Heaven” in it.

What was the very first concert you went to?
Heath: I’m not sure, but I think it was either Bad Religion at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park or Pantera at Continental Airlines Arena.

What’s the last show you’ve been to?
Heath: I went to see Butch Walker a few months ago. That guy is just fucking awesome.

Do you remember your first job?
Heath: I washed dishes at an Elks Lodge for about 9 hours, it was horrendous.

What’s your favorite video game?
Heath: I would have to say Arkanoid. I could play that game for hours. It really lets me release a lot of my OCD. I can’t stop until I break all the blocks, it’s weird.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Heath: I’m really clumsy, so I fall down a lot, sometimes when I’m just standing still. Every day is a new embarrassment.

Boxers or briefs?
Heath: Boxer briefs usually.

Coke or Pepsi?
Heath: Coke is it.

The Simpsons or King of the Hill?
Heath: I’ll have to deny both choices and opt for Family Guy.

Hilary Duff or Lindsay Lohan?
Heath: Neither. I only date women over 60.

How much time do you spend on your phone a day?
Heath: No more than an hour. I hate talking on the phone.

Tell me something no one else knows.
Heath: The assassination of President Lincoln was not supposed to be an isolated event. There had been plans for the murder of other high ranking government officials that day as well, but the other participants got cold feet.

What’s the best advice you can give someone?
Heath: Don’t be a pussy all your life.