West By Swan, uncut

Note: Each band member was asked the same questions separately.

Dan Greenfield, Guitar/Vocals

Where did the name West By Swan come from?

There is a river in Australia called the Swan, near Perth… I wish I could tell a great story about being in Perth on the banks of the Swan and my experience there was so profound it inspired the name. It might be more like, we started throwing words around and plucked a couple out of the air that we liked. Maybe later a friend said, “Oh yeah, that’s a place near Perth, Australia.” I can’t figure out which story I like.

How and when did music become important to you?

For as long as I can remember. My mom plays the piano, and there has always been one around. I think that must have had an effect on my appreciation of music, especially creating my own sounds.

When did you first start learning to play music? What was the first instrument?

It seems like I’ve always had some kind of stringed instrument around to pluck, even a little plastic guitar. I remember being serious about the harmonica for a short time when I was really little, like 5 or something. I kept playing what I thought was “Turkey in the Straw,” which was a song that my Great Grandpa played on the fiddle. I’m sure it came out as nonsense to everyone else, but I swore it was “Turkey in the Straw.”

Go through your history of playing music, from that first instrument to now, and briefly name all the music you’ve done (instruments played, bands played in, etc.).

My uncle taught me my first guitar chord (D), and I played that one chord for years on a guitar I bought for $1.

I got serious about playing music and learning in grade school and high school, playing the tenor sax in high school jazz band, and also started learning guitar more seriously in high school as well. I just practiced scales more than chords and was more interested in making my own blues-type melodies than anything, aside from a radio song here and there.

As far as playing in more of a rock band setting, my brother and I, along with the bass player (Scott January) that ended up in our first band, all learned how to play together, more or less. We improvised a lot, and didn’t learn much in the way of anyone else’s songs. It seems like we did this for years, the whole time I was going to college, just learning how to play together, mostly without a drummer.

We went through a few drummers, my brother got married, his wife joined, we found a drummer, called the band Uncle Rosco, and that was our first legitimate band as far as playing real shows out. Then was Treebeard, a three-piece with my brother and Joey Ficken, where my brother and I switched between guitar and bass. Then some experimental stuff with Tyler Nolan. Then Arnica Sync where I played keyboard and some guitar. Then the North Magnetic, [and] now West by Swan.

What’s the first band or musician that really knocked you out? What was it about them that spoke to you?

When I was in sixth grade, my friend got a dubbed copy of AC/DC’s Back in Black. We listened to that all of the time, trying to make sure our parents didn’t catch us because we thought we would get in trouble (We went to a Christian grade school at the time. I don’t think my parents would have been too concerned.).

I also bought Journey’s Escape around that time as well and loved that record. I even learned “Stone in Love” when I started playing guitar.

Going to art school flung me more into the “punk” or “indie” aesthetic, and I would say that Fugazi consistently had an effect on me throughout. I had been introduced to their music a few years earlier by a friend who got to know them when they were first starting, but it [took] until art school to really catch on.

At first I think I identified with what I thought was a kind of moral outrage that often built up in Fugazi’s songs, but soon came to love the more complex aspects, especially the rhythm section.

Lately I’ve gone back to listening to the old AC/DC records again.

Go from player to player (except for yourself) in West By Swan and talk about their place in the group: What do you they bring to the band a person and as a musician?

Daniel is one of the easiest going people to work with, and he has a better ear than mine. I will be playing a weird chord, [and] someone will ask what it is, and Daniel, from behind the kit, will say something like, “Sounds like an A minor 13th"—something like that.

He doesn’t let the drums get in the way of anything, but also knows when to hit hard and loud. I think it helps that he is an all around good musician. He also has a lot of input as far as songwriting, which is highly appreciated.

Conrad and I have been playing together for quite awhile now. He’s really good at keeping things held down and steady while my brother and I try our best to mess it up and confuse things sonically, I think I take his roll for granted sometimes because we have been playing together for quite a few years now and it just kind of fits.

He also brings in a different angle to songwriting that my brother and I don’t cover as much, and is pretty graceful about letting us twist his songs up a bit, which adds to the variety within our set list. I really like his lyric writing.

Dave complements my playing or I complement his, however you want to put it. He is more skilled at composition than I am. Where I kind of let things float around until something is formed through noise, he more often comes in with more of a complete idea, and it always seems to allow for my “floatiness,” or lack of commitment. We don’t have to say anything to each other. We can plug the guitars in, start making noise and compose a complete song from scratch without saying a word.

Why this kind of music? What the hell are you guys up to?

Just making noise, whether it makes any sense or is complete nonsense.

Is there a West By Swan mission (musically, professionally, or both)?

Answered.

What’s your personal musical mission?

To try and have fun and put everything out there all the time.

How does living lives that are going in so many individual directions affect the band either positively or negatively or both?

I’ll let the other guys deal with this one. My individual direction is about creative intuition and music.

Talk about volume (as in being really loud).

I remember my brother and I playing with a band called the Mercury Birds when we were in Treebeard. I thought we were playing loud then. When it was over, one of the Mercury Birds came up and said something like, “Man, you guys have the equipment to be really loud if you want to.”

Can you give me a skeleton framework for how WBS writes songs?

Answered.

How important are lyrics and/or vocals for WBS?

Lyrics are important to me. However, I also see words as a tool to help form a sound that creates another texture within the whole mix, so when you can’t hear them—which is most of the time in Chico with mostly P.A. systems that aren’t set up for our volume—it’s okay. Hopefully, you can hear some kind of sound.

What are your thoughts on your experience as part of WBS so far?

Really satisfied with what we are able to create and confident we can keep doing it.

What are your thoughts on the band’s time in Chico so far?

I like playing in this town a lot, but also see the need for any band to try and make as many trips out of town as possible. It can get a little too comfortable here. I would like to treat Sacramento and Redding more like local venues and play out of town more often.

What about the future?

What about it?

Dave Greenfield, Guitar/Vocals

Where did the name West By Swan come from?

A combination of rejected names.

How and when did music become important to you?

I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t part of my life. It became important at a very young age.

When did you first start learning to play music? What was the first instrument?

My mom plays piano, and at some point she gave me some piano lessons. I don’t think that lasted very long, though. I took fiddle lessons when I was probably somewhere between 7 and 9. That didn’t last long, either, but I’ve always considered the violin to be my first instrument.

Go through your history of playing music, from that first instrument to now, and briefly name all the music you’ve done (instruments played, bands played in, etc.).

After the fiddle, I played trumpet in school from fifth to 10th grade. Somewhere in that time, I started playing guitar. My uncle played guitar, so that influence was always there. I think that he taught us (Dan and I) our first chords. I’ve always enjoyed picking up different instruments and seeing what kind of sounds I can make. Lately, I’ve been enjoying the cello.

My first performances were in churches as I grew up.

Bands: Uncle Rosco (guitar, bass), Treebeard (guitar, bass), Mimi Crevola (guitar, bass), the New Collegiates (guitar), Cowboy (guitar), The Party (guitar, cello), West By Swan. I think that covers it.

What’s the first band or musician that really knocked you out? What was it about them that spoke to you?

That’s changed too much for me tell all. I will admit, though, that I was really into George Lynch as I was learning guitar (yeah, you know what I’m talking about—hair metal). I would say that a pivotal band was Fugazi (helped me deconstruct my hair metal tendencies).

Go from player to player (except for yourself) in West By Swan and talk about their place in the group: What do you they bring to the band a person and as a musician?

Dan: He has a great work ethic with the band. He’s always eager to play and create. Having the kind of musical rapport that he and I do is irreplaceable.

Conrad: Helped me choose my first Sonic Youth album (way back when) and is still introducing me to cool bands. He has a genuine love for seeking out new (or old) great music and that influences our creative choices.

Daniel: He always seems willing to go in whatever direction we choose for our music—no delusions of grandeur. He adds an easygoing element.

Of course, this doesn’t do these guys justice, but there you have it.

Why this kind of music? What the hell are you guys up to?

We are a creation of our influences.

Is there a West By Swan mission (musically, professionally, or both)?

Play music that we like and enjoy doing it.

What’s your personal musical mission?

Same.

How does living lives that are going in so many individual directions affect the band either positively or negatively or both?

It can make it difficult to dedicate as much energy as we would like. Bringing in our different influences adds to the creative end.

Talk about volume (as in being really loud).

Are we loud? Karp was loud. Unwound was loud.

Can you give me a skeleton framework for how WBS writes songs?

Anything goes. Someone brings in an idea; we all make it into a song. Someone brings in a song; we all make it into an idea. Or, we improvise and it turns into a song.

How important are lyrics and/or vocals for WBS?

If we feel that they need to be there, then they’re important. Sometimes lyrics are a tool to add the voice as an instrument.

What are your thoughts on your experience as part of WBS so far?

I’ve enjoyed playing music with these guys. I think we’re doing a good job of keeping it at our own pace, not worrying about where it seems like we should be.

What are your thoughts on the band’s time in Chico so far?

We’ve only just begun.

What about the future?

Ask me when it gets here.

Daniel Taylor, drums

Where did the name West By Swan come from?

Ask Dan.

How and when did music become important to you?

I started playing piano when I was 6, which more or less indoctrinated me into the musical cult. As far as listening to music, metal and other heavy shit (Sepultura, Pantera, Helmet, Metallica, etc.) cured me of an adolescent affinity for crummy gangsta rap and turned me into a respectable young man.

When did you first start learning to play music? What was the first instrument?

Like I said above, I started at piano when I was super young. But as soon as I was old enough to try to impress girls, I took up the guitar and started learning every song I could off the radio. Drums are probably my “last” instrument, which makes them kind of fun.

Go through your history of playing music, from that first instrument to now, and briefly name all the music you’ve done (instruments played, bands played in, etc.).

In high school, I played guitar in the best cover band ever. We played at proms and county fairs and all that sort of thing. Playing prom was probably the best gig I’ve ever played. We played a Mazzy Star song with some Greek foreign exchange student on piano and made all the parent chaperones cry.

When I came here, I played lead guitar in a band called Paint (worst band name ever), which was sort of mid-'90s college rock/alt rock, e.g. Afghan Whigs, For Squirrels, whatever. We also played a lot of Cure covers.

I first played drums in a band called the Inverted Nines. I was supposed to play guitar, but we couldn’t find a drummer, and since no one else was coordinated enough, I got stuck on the drums. But it was pretty fun.

Next was a band called Damelo, which was actually pretty fucking amazing.

In addition to the Swan, I also sometimes play around with other folks. I play bass in the Bleedrock Trio with Shelby Cobra and Cayle Hunter. We play weddings and the Stand Up Bar in Willows. I have also had the distinct honor of, from time to time, being Cayle Hunter’s stunt double in The Abominable Iron Sloth, who are probably the illest band to come out of Chico since The North Magnetic. If those guys don’t win the CAMMIES, I’m going to throw up on myself.

What’s the first band or musician that really knocked you out? What was it about them that spoke to you?

Probably Bach. I’ve always been a fan of traditional harmonic structure, which is kind of funny since I play in a band that is sometimes pretty damn dissonant. But it’s good for me. Besides I just have to hit things that make noises so it doesn’t really matter what key things are in.

As far as bands go, I guess the first thing that really got me worked up was Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins.

Go from player to player (except for yourself) in West By Swan and talk about their place in the group: What do you they bring to the band a person and as a musician?

Dan is the person that makes sure things that are supposed to happen actually happen (i.e. getting the gear to and from shows, making flyers, recording, mixing and making the artwork for the CD). Musically, he has an instantly recognizable guitar tone and technique, which makes me happy, because it reminds me of the North Magnetic which was probably the most epic Chico band of my generation.

Dave makes sure we don’t take ourselves too seriously or get wrapped up in things other than just playing music for the sake of itself. He writes most of the weird-sounding shit and wears shorts in the winter.

Conrad writes songs fast enough for me to use my old punk rock beats, which is kind of fun. He also worries the most of anyone in the world, which is kind of fun.

Why this kind of music? What the hell are you guys up to?

I’m not qualified to answer that.

Is there a West By Swan mission (musically, professionally, or both)?

To make loud noises. To rock Saddam Hussein’s ass back to Russia!

What’s your personal musical mission?

I hope to someday learn how to spin my sticks while playing like Tommy Lee. That would be badass.

How does living lives that are going in so many individual directions affect the band either positively or negatively or both?

I think sometimes not practicing for a couple weeks, or going a month without a show helps playing music stay the fun, creative outlet it should be and not some chore or occupation. It can be frustrating to think, “What if we could play for three hours everyday? How much better would be, as a band? How many more songs could we write? What if we could go on tour for weeks at a time?” Etc. But ultimately, you can say that same thing about anything in life.

I definitely think we aren’t as good of a band as we could be if we all had the time and inclination to do it full-time or ever part-time, but reality dictates otherwise, so you just have to deal.

Talk about volume (as in being really loud).

Since I can’t play well, I just try to play loud. The rest of those guys just like being hella fucking loud.

Can you give me a skeleton framework for how WBS writes songs?

Someone comes in with an idea, maybe just a four-bar little doodad, and we more or less jam the hell out of it until it turns into something, or doesn’t. There are ideas that have been kind of bouncing around forever that will probably never be actual songs, and there are songs that we have that took shape the first time we ever really messed around with it. It just depends, I guess.

How important are lyrics and/or vocals for WBS?

The first time I ever actually heard what and how those guys were singing with any actual clarity was when we recorded, which was kind of weird to have played all these songs so many times without really ever knowing what was going on in vocals world. It changed how I related to the songs for sure, in that, now that I know the vocal melodies and the lyrics to the songs, I approach them kind of differently than I did back when they were these inaudible sorts of noises coming out the vocals monitors trying to compete with the 978,098 watts of guitar and bass amplifiers and 110 dbs of cymbals ringing. I definitely feel that a lot of the songs could stand alone without vocals, but that’s probably just because I’m the only who doesn’t sing. Maybe I should start.

What are your thoughts on your experience as part of WBS so far?

It’s increased my Chico Legend status by 65 percent. Out of all the bands I’ve ever been in, this one has been by far the most gratifying both musically and just in terms of having fun and being a totally sweet bro.

It’s also been nice to be in a band that’s more about challenging myself as a musician than trying to adhere to some standard of accessibility and appealing to the common denominator.

What are your thoughts on the band’s time in Chico so far?

Chico has spoiled us pretty rotten. Seeing people who have come to 20 or 30 of our shows continue to still show up and pay the cover and stick around till 1 a.m. to see us play a few songs is always pretty flattering.

It’s somewhat unfortunate that we started just about the time most of the all-ages venues in Chico started to close down, but hopefully we’ll be there to see it come back around.

Conrad Nystrom, bass/vocals

Where did the name West By Swan come from?

The name came from the fact that we found something without any serious connections/connotations, so it was more how it flowed off the tongue—the way it sounded.

How and when did music become important to you?

I think music became important to me around sixth grade. I remember doing air guitar to The Cars’ “Just What I Needed” 45 during breaks of intense Nerf Hoop Games. I felt a pull towards bands like them and The Knack, but it wasn’t until reading Trouser Press and seeing the film Valley Girl that I truly knew the music after my heart—[that] led to The Plimsouls, The Shoes, Pretenders and of course REM.

How it became important? My folks always had friends over for weekend parties listening to The Carpenters, Cat Stevens and Harry Chapin until the wee hours of the morning…

When did you first start learning to play music? What was the first instrument?

I first started learning an instrument around the age of 21, bass guitar. It has always been bass guitar [since] Sean Harrasser’s [Vertels, Harvester] gaudy keyboards fell and decapitated my first (and hollowbody) bass guitar.

Go through your history of playing music, from that first instrument to now, and briefly name all the music you’ve done (instruments played, bands played in, etc.).

Okay. All bands bass guitar. It has only been [with] WBS that I have ventured into “writing” songs (as much as that can be done in our band, since all songs are really a collaboration) and singing sometimes.

Tombstone Janet, Vertels, Disaster Scrapbook, Kick ’em, Mid-Fi, Cowboy, Arnica Sync, North Magnetic, West By Swan.

What’s the first band or musician that really knocked you out? What was it about them that spoke to you?

Jesus, first band that really threw me was perhaps REM. I loved the mystery, the adventure of hearing things that were perhaps not there—meaning the songs could not be taken literally by words or sounds, just beauty. I felt it, rather than intellectualized it. To me, that felt like the greatest gift, to get that from any art form, to be transported like that. Other people did acid; I did sound.

Go from player to player (except for yourself) in West By Swan and talk about their place in the group: What do you they bring to the band a person and as a musician?

Daniel: Our youth, our social lifeblood to the streets. Every cell, every hair follicle is emo to the core. But the best thing is that he has an innate feeling for the songs—heart first.

Dan: The brains, and because of this one might mistake him not being the heart—so not true. I would argue Dan as the brains and heart behind the band. Definitely devil’s advocate, loves to problem solve, and think his way around every angle, turn and possibility, but also plays from the gut, all flesh, bone and blood. And this makes him a wonder to me.

Dave: The wise sage, Zenmaster. I love getting his take on things because he is calm and quick with a smile.

Such pretty guitar playing too, lilting and gentle where Dan is jagged and aggressive.

Why this kind of music? What the hell are you guys up to?

I think you know why this is the music.

I think that I love the idea of interpreting feeling through sound, showing rather than telling, and yet I love songs. Polvo is/was my favorite band because they succeeded so beautifully as impressionists of sound. All the pieces were there, but some might hear it and call it music, while some might hear it and call it a disaster. I love that juxtaposition, the violence and emotion loaded in volume and melody. And I also think the music comes from us rather naturally with all of our influences, from Daniel’s emo, the Greenfields’ Fugazi/Metallica, [and] my Sonic Youth and Polvo.

Is there a West By Swan mission (musically, professionally, or both)?

Perhaps one might argue this as our Achilles’ Heel. We are not very good self promoters, so professionally our mission is hard to decipher. Personally, I think it is being realized: to love what we do and take pride in its result. Is it true to who we are as individuals and a band? Usually, yes. I think we really love what we do as individuals and a band.

What’s your personal musical mission?

Personal musical mission? Perhaps the whole sounds as impressionism combined with the pop song format (see SY and Polvo). I love it! But that really sounds pretentious. Ugh, I guess all of my answers could. My God, grant me grace and forgiveness for any dumb answers.

How does living lives that are going in so many individual directions affect the band either positively or negatively or both?

I love the fact we all have lives. I love the fact we let that exist as something that is important to us as people, and in turn I think that is important to this band’s longevity and creativity.

My bandmates understand my teaching job is demanding, and I have a bad back. They are so incredibly genuinely good people; they move my equipment when the old man’s back precludes it.

Of course, our different lives and busy schedules make touring something that needs to be well planned and can’t happen at the drop of a hat, but I know that is something we all want to do also. I really value the fact we respect each other’s lives. It makes for a great relationship!

Talk about volume (as in being really loud).

I for one believe certain things with sound can only be communicated by overbearing volume, or a lack thereof. Like how people use their voices for dramatic effect—whisper to a scream (Icicle Works!). Plus, I really respond to sound that can be felt in the heart and gut.

Can you give me a skeleton framework for how WBS writes songs?

Usually, one brings an idea, progressions, and we take it and shape it into the band’s song. Rarely does the band learn a “complete” song brought by any one member. Also, all practices usually start with just playing, improvising before we work on songs.

How important are lyrics and/or vocals for WBS?

Only recently have I started to write lyrics, and from a writer’s standpoint, I enjoy that, just communicating a feeling through the arrangement or sound of words. I think that people think of us primarily as an instrumental band though since the songs probably would stand alone without any vocal communication.

Definitely I would put the music ahead of the words, but sometimes the words work with the sound in an equal fashion, e.g. “Swarm.”

What are your thoughts on your experience as part of WBS so far?

I love playing in this band. [It’s a] true democracy with everyone contributing, and with each band I have played in, I feel I have gotten closer and closer to the music that truly satisfies me—the music I love to listen to and create. I could not imagine being in a better situation.

What are your thoughts on the band’s time in Chico so far?

The band’s time in Chico, I have really enjoyed. I really enjoyed playing on bills with Kinski and The Ponys and The Double. I love playing with Birds of Fire. I love ’em, love ’em, love ’em, love ’em, love ’em, love ’em.

I don’t know how else to answer this question. Sometimes, I think locals think we are just too loud for no apparent reason.

What about the future?

The Future: Our CD coming out; hopefully recording all these new songs soon, which I think are even better; a West Coast tour; Daniel’s cell phone ringing during practice; me breaking the news that my back is hurting, big time; but best of all, Dan sharing with us how he had a Guinness and big burrito for lunch.