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| Anew Revolution guitarist Jay Frederick photo credit Angela Villand |
We finally found out what it means! The band's bassist, Frankie Salvaggio says, "ANEW comes from starting anew from our previous bands." Makes perfect sense, with Frankie & drummer Rob Urbani having played with Slaves on Dope and ANR vocalist Joey Duenas coming from the band Unloco.
Why did they title their latest CD IMERICA?
I like the name of their sophomore release and so does everyone else that has discussed this album with me! It has a nice "ring" to the title, I can't explain it any other way...and it just seems perfect. "Imerica is a reflection of what we've seen, heard and experienced along the way over the last few years," Frankie explains. "This country has seemingly turned into an " I " society instead of a 'We, The People.' Ipod, Ipad, Iphone; we are a narcissistic nation." Now it makes even MORE sense!
Make a CD, spend years Touring, Touring. Make another CD, more touring...
After an impressive and fair success with the release of RISE in 2008 and an unbelievable, almost relentless tour-after-tour era, they recorded IMERICA shortly before guitar player Shaun Stockton's departure.Through a friend (Wake the Light's Steve Augustyn) they found Jay Frederick, and they've been hitting clubs all over the nation in 2011, currently on tour with Saliva, Filter and Kyng. They are heading your way so check out the tour dates HERE. Madison's gonna get a face-full of Imerica when Anew Revolution hits the stage, for the 2nd consecutive year, at the annual JJO BandCamp on July 30, 2011. This year, however, ANR is playing the MAIN STAGE!
Lineup Changes...
If, like me, you saw ANR before Jay joined the band (and Shaun was still aboard), you might also have been apprehensive about the "new lineup.". No one ever really can say what's going to happen when a new member climbs aboard a band you already liked. For some bands, they are very fortunate and it clicks, leaving a good-sized consensus of approval and for others, it burns before it even crashes, failing miserably or dividing the fan-base in half. But I can tell you this; all it took for me, (and everyone that I know here in WI that has seen ANR since Jay joined) was one LIVE show. We were SOLD. We knew instantly...Jay Frederick is a seamless fit to the foundation and atmosphere of this band and he eased into the music with that "familiarity" that my friends and I were astonished at, quite honestly. It was as if Jay has always been there and now that he is, it feels and looks like (when they're performing live) he belongs there for good!
Guitarist Jay Frederick...
We were very fortunate to spend some time going over some very interesting things with Anew Revolution's latest addition to their family, Guitarist Jay Frederick. From his humble beginnings with playing air guitar in his skivvies to touring the nation with a signed band in venues small and large, Jay shares stories about how he learned to play on his dad's classic guitar, balanced being a nerd in school with winning Wrestling matches, & even tells us a few humorous, intimate details little about his band mates.
Angela Villand: What can you tell us about your beginnings with the guitar and with your love for music?
Jay Frederick: Ok, hmmm Beginnings of guitar… It started when I was 5 and this is the whole reason I wanted to learn how to play. I would wake up early in the morning and turn on the TV. I would sneak around turning the television to MTV (back when they actually played Music Videos) and would see the music video “Hot for Teacher” on. I would get all excited when Eddie Van Halen would get up and walk all over the desks in the classroom while he did his solo and I would air guitar to it in my He-Man Masters of the Universe tighty whiteys.
Angela: What were the circumstances that brought you to play a guitar the first time?
Jay: My dad had an old classical guitar and I loved make sounds on that when I was nine years old. I remember being really frustrated with the instrument because it was wayyyyy too big for my hands to reach any chords.
Angela: Did you take lessons or did you play by “ear?” Did you learn take lessons or learn tablature?
Jay: I first started on piano and taught myself how to read music and I would figure songs out by ear. Then I switched to guitar but when I made the switch my dear old man taught me everything he could first, and then I proceeded to take lessons learning tablature and musical notation.
Angela: How old were you when you began taking it more seriously?
Jay: I started to REALLY play when I was 13 yrs old.
Angela: What were some of your favorite bands to emulate when you began playing as a young man?
Jay: Anything and EVERYTHING! My friends would come over and we would play “Name That Tune,” and chances are I knew at least part of a song or they would be amazed that we could put in a tape or CD (yes kids, we had cassette tapes back in those days) and I could figure it out. My most favorite though were always AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Megadeth, Metallica and Guns N Roses. My poor step-mom still has nightmares about Stairway to Heaven! (Laughing)
Angela: What were you like when you were growing up as a teen: Were you a bookworm and a diligent student? Did you skip classes?
Angela: What were you like when you were growing up as a teen: Were you a bookworm and a diligent student? Did you skip classes?
Jay: Oh man was I a NERD. I would read for fun. Anything that had to do with Astrology, Planets or Egypt - I read it. I was also obsessed with swords when I was 5-6 years old (thanks to “Conan the Destroyer”). I would be in class drawing swords and the teacher would tell me I had to draw something different or I wouldn't get a good grade. She would come back and check on me as she was walking around the class, so I decided to draw the bitch another sword!
Angela: Were you into any sports?
Jay: Yes, I was in little league, soccer, golf, water skiing, snow ski and board, surfing as a youngin' and in high school/college I was on the Wrestling team and was a Freestyle Wrestling State Champion.
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| Anew Revolution Photo by Angela Villand |
Angela: Did you get into trouble much as a kid?
Jay: (Laughing) What kid doesn't! Just some less than others. I was a good kid overall. My parents have a few gray hairs on my behalf, I am sure. However, I was always afraid of my Mom hitting me with this wooden spoon or pulling my pants down and spanking me in public. I can't wait to beat the shit out of my kids if I have any one day! (Laughing)
Angela: What kind of Rock music did you begin with when you first started to really actively get into music and listen?
Jay: Well it was always the classic rock around the house... Kiss, Yes, Beatles, AC/DC, Zep, ZZ Top, Queen, The Doors, Dire Straits, Van Halen, Bob Seger etc...
Angela: Did you start out listening to alternative or classic rock or metal?
Jay: It was everything, although I have always had an ear for Metal and Heavily Detuned guitars.
Angela: Did it evolve into a more somber interest in music?
Jay: It did. The snobby jazz band kids always made fun of my METAL MULLET so I had to get better than they were at music (to make them cry). Thank you Pat Metheny!!!
Angela: Who were your FAVORITES?
Jay: I have a tendency to obsess over 1 band at a time. I get an album and I will listen to it over and over and over for months at a time. I’ve mainly done that with Steve Vai, Blues Saraceno, Yngwie Malmsteem, Steve Morse, Early Metallica, Megadeth, Korn, Pantera, Van Halen 1984 and the list is endless! Oh yeah, hen there was the Rap phase but will won't talk about that. Ahem! N.W.A
Angela: When you were in high school or college were you involved w/any garage bands or did you play live at all?
Jay: I started my first band in high school back in 1992. We lived in a very small town and the Pizza joint was the only place to play and we were fricken METAL! (Laughing) All our friends started moshing and broke a few tables and chairs; we were obviously banned from that place. I quit playing from about age 16 to 20 because I was very dedicated to the sport of wrestling. Then one day I met some guy at the gym where i worked scrubbing toilets and dirty gym floors. He was in a popular local band and asked if i wanted to try out to replace their old guitar player. I thought what the hell, I really miss just playing guitar and it was a good way to get back into something I had a passion for. After that band was done I had the bug again - that driving desire to pursue music. Once it’s in your blood it doesn't leave, like getting bit by a Vampire. So, I formed a Super group of musicians with one goal and that was to make it BIG. The group was called Fermata. I recruited a guy who was the former vocalist of a band called Stepa (Interscope records), my buddy Steve-O (Wake the Light on Universal records), a drummer who was a Berkeley Music School graduate and now drummer for Everclear and a ripping bass player we knew who believe it or not was the child star from the Free Willy movies. Within the first year we had landed a record contract on a decent indie label and a music video service onto MTV2 and toured for 3 years thereafter.
Angela: What were you doing right before you were contacted by ANR?
Jay: After Fermata broke up I was very bitter. Sold all my gear except my guitar. Then I became a suit and tie guy. I worked for this Audio Visual company that contracts out with 5 Diamond hotels like the Ritz Carltons and Four Seasons hotels to do their in house sound and lighting or basically anything audio visual related. It requires you were a suit, dress shoes, and sometimes a tie. It could be bust ass work while sweating your ass off in a suit. Work included anything such as climbing up 20 foot ladders with 40 lb. lights to hang on crossbars, pushing 400 lb cases full of Socoplex cabling around, rigging, programming light boards etc...and standing at attention KISSING a lot of ass to a lot of high end clients. You get the idea..
Angela: Where did you work?
Jay: The company was called HELL i think...
Angela: Please share with us how you were contacted by ANR, how you recorded yourself playing, did they tell you which songs to learn or did you pick them, (what were they) and their reaction to the video…
Jay: Frankie found and contacted me through a mutual friend. We chatted a bunch and felt each other out until he actually sent me the track "Done." I figured out the track and then put it up on youtube. Its under some ridiculous name like XOXO UNICORN DEATH SLAYER and it should still be up there. That was basically my try out video and was hired off of that. Never played or met the guys in my life. Just 2 weeks to learn and master 12 songs and fly out to New York from Cali and change my stars!!!
Angela: Did they call you after they watched the vid?
Jay: 30 minutes later and then I got jumped in...
Angela: What was YOUR reaction to their invitation to join?
Jay: I think i was like... Oh shit! Is this really happening? Putting all my stuff in storage, selling my car and hitting the road again? Hmmm do I really want to do this!?!?!?!
Angela: Have you and the boys written some new music yet? If so, how many songs have you guys put together? Can you tell us a bit about it?
Jay: Yes, we have written some songs both as a group and individually so we have stuff in the pot, and I believe our best works are still to come.
Angela: What’s your favorite thing about playing live?
Jay: I just love playing period. Whether its in front of 2 people or 10,000 I give it my all because I never know when it will be the last time I have the opportunity to play music.
Angela: What’s the thing you like the least about it?
Jay: People don't realize how much work goes into a 45 minute show. Will someone please get me a damn roadie already!!!
Gear:
Gear:
Angela: How many guitars do you own?
Jay: Three
Angela: Are you endorsed, and by whom?
Jay: Dean Guitars and EMG pickups.
Angela: Do they give you awesome stuff?
Jay: We want to have their babies.
Angela: What kind of strings do you use and WHY those? Why would you recommend them?
Jay: SIT strings because they rock and stay in tune better than the rest, and I've played them all!
Angela: Tell me about the Pedals and amps you use and why you like them?
Jay: Right now I'm using Rivera amps and straight cabs because they sound awesome and are built to military spec. For my pedals, I use a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah, a Keeley Modded Delay pedal, Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor, Ernie Ball Jr Volume Pedal, Sennheiser G3 Wirless, Xotic B.B Preamp (my secret weapon!) Rivera RM-1 Foot Controller, Trailer Trash pedal boards.
Angela: Do you play wireless or do you prefer to have the line in/line out dependability?
Jay: Give me my wireless PLEASE!!!
On the road again, and again….and again
Angela: When you hit the road w/ANR, were there any aspects of touring that you were unexpected?
Angela: When you hit the road w/ANR, were there any aspects of touring that you were unexpected?
Jay: I've toured for years before so I was already “seasoned,” but I didn't really expect the guys in the band to be such assholes!!!!! (Laughing) Nah, just kidding.
Angela: What do you do when you’re on tour to keep you humble, honest, sane….do you read, write, pray, meditate, have some time alone to work out or run or get away?
Jay: I like to read books. Told you I was a nerd! I do pray because there are some scary moments and it helps me keep my faith. I like to workout when I can and I always do pushups before I get on stage to make my 4 inch guns look bigger!
Angela: What’s it like touring with the guys in ANR? Does Frankie snore? Is Robb a walking fart machine? Does Joey have severe gastric reflux?
Jay: Joey snores loud enough to make the dead want to cover their ears. Frankie is a walking Napalm bomb of death-ass and he likes to let them go silently to sneak up on you for the OH MY GOD reaction, and Rob...Oh man how much time do you have???? (Laughing)
Angela: What are some of the aspects of a “day in the life” of touring when you roll into a new town day after day? Give us a typical “schedule” run-down.
Jay: Everyday is a new day, ever day is different so it boils down to schedules and itineraries. Let’s just say it’s GO GO GO GO GO, BUSY BUSY BUSY, WAIT TO GO.... NOW GO, GET OFF STAGE, HURRY! NOW DRIVE 500 to 1000 MILES OVERNIGHT TO THE NEXT SHOW AND GO!!!
Angela: What’s a day OFF like for YOU on tour? What type of things do you enjoy doing when you are not playing and going going going busy busy?
Jay: SLEEP, TOSH.O., TEXT, DONT TEXT ME IM SLEEPING, EAT CHINESE BUFFET, WALMART, WORKOUT, READ, TEXT, TOSH.O IS ON AGAIN. SLEEP! (Laughing)
Angela: Have you encountered any obsessed, crazy fans yet?
Jay: I plead the 5th...
Angela: Uh oh!
Angela: Let’s end this on an interesting note…What are some of the more bizarre things that have happened to you while you’re on the road?
Jay: Ummm I had a gun pulled on me, I've been farted on, I've gone onstage in girls panties (not used of course!), what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! Lots of dudes grabbing each others crotches, strippers and Rock Stars together at the same place leaves for a night of debauchery and…I'll leave it at that!
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