Conversations with fish

The Tufts Daily was able to talk to Reel big Fish's newest member Tyler Jones (trumpet) and after several occurrences including a game of "Lemon" the group's bassist Matt Wong. We were fortunate to talk to the group as they recently escaped a bus fire which caused 15,000 dollars in damages.



TD: Would you to talk about harrowing near death experience a few weeks ago?



TJ: You mean Saturday? [Laughs.] We all, the Reel Big Fish were asleep on our comfy lovely tour bus and our drive was coming back from breakfast and noticed that his bus was on fire and he said "Hey the bus is on fire. You guys should all get out" so we all got out and watched it burn and burn and burn _ and it burned a lot of our [expletive].



>TD: Anything you missed? Anything of sentimental value?



TJ: Well, I had to go and buy a new CD player. I lot a whole [expletive] of clothes but oh well, I stink anyway.



TD: What is your favorite song and cover to play?



TJ: Umm, it usually changes nigh by night.

During the interview and for the past half hour the fire alarm has been going off in Avalon. As it sounds again Jones exclaims "I'm going to kill someone. Probably my tour manager" the lasts is said intentionally within earshot of said tour manager Tom Amos. "It depends on how good the set's going," he concludes.



TD: What is in your CD player right now?



TJ: The new Thurston Howe III CD will be my CD player real soon, followed by the new Jurassic 5 album, but I've already heard that. I'm just happy I got it for cheap, yeah. Let's see what did I fall asleep to last night? I think I fell asleep to the new Slum Village record.



TD: Can you describe what a typical touring day is like for you guys?



TJ: A typical day: wake up, figure where the bathroom is, and figure out what city we're in. Find out if there's anything to drink or eat around. Find out when soundcheck is. Do soundcheck. Sit around and wait and wait and wait. Wait some more, wait little bit longer than play a show. The mass partying, sex with anonymous women, drinking to all hours and the passing out again. [pause] A lot of waiting.



TD: Gathered. What is your favorite city or venue to play in?

TJ: I don't know, I like a lot of places. For the shear reliability I like the Houses of Blues. There's also this great place in Knoxville, TN called the Knoxville Theater.

He begins growling into the tape recorder.



>TD: Are there any current ska bands that you guys like now?



TJ: I don't maybe you've heard of them, nah probably not they're kind of underground, the Skatalites?



TD: Of Course.



TJ: Oh ok .Are they dead yet?



TD: [Laughs] not to our knowledge.



TJ: Well, I hope not, they're good. I like more traditional style ska but I do have friends that are in third wave ska bands.



TD: You've guys have stuck with ska longer than other bands that came out at the same time in the mid nineties. Any thoughts on where the genre is going?



TJ: Straight to hell in a hand basket, oh no that's now. I don't know, apparently it so underground that it can only get more mainstream. Again. Come on fourth wave, come-on fourth wave.



TD: Now I'm going to rip off Inside the Actor's studio, what is your favorite sound?



TJ: James Lipton, jackass. A woman moaning in pleasure.



TD: Your favorite proper noun?



TJ: Tyler



TD: Any road stories you just want to share?



TJ: Yeah on Saturday our [expletive] bus burned down and we almost died! How's that for a road story?



>TD: Pleasant.



TJ: shouting we almost died! You're lucky to be talking to me! God has big plans for me! And I don't even believe in him.



TD: Any final thoughts?



TJ: Help! Get me off the road! I need sanity again. He sniffs, mommy? Mommy?