It was 7:30 in the morning. Myself, along with a few friends were awaiting the arrival of a coach to drive us 9 hours away to a small village in Belgium for a weekend of fantastic punk rock music (Dan, The Punk Archive's editor, was smart enough to get a flight out there). If you've read the review of the festival by Mr. Stoten, or were lucky enough to attend yourself, then you probably know how incredible The Wonder Years were this year. To sum it up for you though, they were outstanding. A band I listened to non-stop up to the festival, and a band that I consider to be one of the greatest pop-punk bands of my generation. So, when I was asked to go and see them play at the Scala, and ask the awesome Casey Cavaliere, guitarist for the band, a few questions, I can't stress how excited I was...
The Punk Archive: You've recently returned from Groezrock, and I can't stress enough how insane your show was.
Casey Cacaliere: Yeah, Groezrock is always incredible!
The Punk Archive: Agreed! How did you all find it?
Casey: Well, this was our second time doing it, so as opposed to our first time when we didn't know what to expect. We had a few friends and others tell us about their experiences with it and it had always been really positive, and it being one of the European festivals that had always been really talked up. It lived up to it and then some. The stage we played this year was the first one we were on and we'd requested if we could play it again. We always talk about how that stage set-up just wouldn't work in the States and go off without a hitch with the set up and everything, so we really haven't been able to have that experience since, especially with a security and crew that is ready to handle the madness of a true punk show. In the States we've seen
a club show, of just 200 people where it gets out of control and things get broken, and yet they do it on a festival level with three to four thousand, yet everyone has a good time and is respectful and it works!
The Punk Archive: You always get the crowd involved in the show. How do you find the constant crowd-surfing and stage presence throughout? Does it get difficult at times?
Casey: It all depends on the circumstances really. Most of the time we love it, we feed off the energy and we want people to have as good a time as they possibly can and go off as hard as they can. It can get a bit troublesome as things can break, and everywhere where you have that thing where the front of the crowd is going mad and stage-diving compared to the back of the crowd where they just want to hang out, have a drink and watch the show and actually listen to the show more so than people at the front who are participating, and so it's hard. We want to balance it, play as good a sounding show as well as an energetic show as much as possible, so it can be hard at times. Genuinely speaking, though, if it all goes well and everyone is mindful of where they are and doesn't try and ruin it, well then it's totally fine and we welcome it.
The Punk Archive: How would you compare performing at festivals to doing your own headline shows?
Casey: Well I guess it's a little bit of a different idea. I mean if you've done your job right then hopefully people are coming to see you (laughs) but I mean, there's always going to be that core crowd who know the words and are there to hopefully see you, but you also get that back crowd who we're happy to see as well. You know, they may not know of us and may just be checking us out, but we always appreciate it and always try our hardest no matter what.
The Punk Archive: You guys have been heralded as the bes pop-punk band around. What do you guys make of this?
Casey: Well it's always tough really (laughs). Like, we're not complaining, but it's more of a test of time I think. It's the bands who people will remember in twenty years time that really can be considered this. At the moment, we're happy to be doing what we're doing and we're happy to have such great fans but really it's a test of time, and if people will remember us then, then wonderful.
The Punk Archive: You all give it 110% when performing and that's absolutely obvious. How do you all feel after your shows?
Casey: Generally speaking a little sweaty. It's interesting, our drummer Kennedy will talk about this a lot and Soupy as well where its loud, crowds there, you know, whole set, trying to push, jump around, have fun and put on a great show, so from the start of it you're in this adrenaline mind-set, which is great. You'll play an awesome show and only when you come off the stage and after a while will it really hit you, where like you realise just how tiring it can be, you know? A little hungry and tired, but it's always good really.The Punk Archive: Finally, do you guys have any pre-show rituals at all?
Casey: (laughs) We're not really one for that sort of thing. You know, you hear about all these other bands that have these crazy things they do before a show, but really we're not like that. We just relax, hang out and prepare mentally and physically. It's always good to be in the right mind frame.
Once the interview was over, it was time to make my way to the bar, catch up with some friends, and prepare myself for the show.
Firstly, I'm trying to work out who the show was better for: State Champs or the audience. Stressing that it was their third international show EVER, they gave what felt like the performance of a lifetime. I'll be honest, I wasn't much of a fan prior to that evening (a small listen here and there) but some bands need to be seen to be believed, and that's exactly how I felt watching these guys. An utterly superb stage presence, catchy choruses, and wonderful melodies, I'm finding it hard to understand why I wasn't a huge fan before. Opening up with the fast paced Nothing's Wrong, before the short set is closed with Elevated, a song that had a large audience jumping in time to, I can only expect better things from these New Yorkers.
Following on from this were the magnificent A Loss For Words. I think what will forever stand out as a staple track of theirs is the Jackson 5 cover, I Want You Back. I'm not a fan of the Punk goes something-something records, but A Loss For Words pull this off splendidly. A crowd that seemed to lack interest prior to this suddenly opens up, with people at the back raising their hands and shouting out those famous lyrics. Covers aside, it's a remarkable set, with the added bonus of Soupy coming out and performing Conquest Of Mistakes alongside, before Matty Arsenault takes off his top and the band finish with the exceptional Wrightsville Beach. If anyone is planning on attending Slam Dunk this weekend, make sure you check out both of these bands, as I guarantee that you'll be blown away.
But at the end of the day, it's The Wonder Years who everyone is here to see. After a short interview, a few drinks with friends, and some utterly superb pop-punk support acts, I was ready. And just like the week before, a few hundred miles away, they were beyond my expectations. "You're just trying to read, but I'm always standing in your light" is shouted throughout the small venue as the band begins, and the songs just get better from there. The Pennsylvanians play a wonderful mix of old and new songs that have the crowd constantly moving on their feet. The venue has gone from slightly interested to full blown crazy, and it's understandable as to why. With Dan 'Soupy' Campbell's emotionally written lyrics alongside terrific guitar work and the tremendous drumming abilities of Mike Kennedy, it's a show I expect to remember for a long time.
What really made the show though? The encore. Ending with the 7 and a half minute minute epic song I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral, it's minutes of pure joy to my ears, and a song I've wanted to see live since my first listen. It's the passion behind it that really grasps you, collecting small snippets of lyrics throughout their latest record for that real closing feeling. "I just want to know that I did all I could with what I was given," the last line from an album many consider to be a staple of the genre, are belted from everyone's throats before finally making their way home, knowing that tonight has been a show to remember for some time to come.
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