This interview arrived a few days after I found out that Wow, Owls had called it quits. The breakup had me bummed, but I still have a full length and a split 7" of theirs to keep me entertained.

1. State an interesting fact about yourself and each of your bandmates.

I'm Jeff; I sing, and I enjoy hearing people's ghost stories if they've ever seen one. Brandon plays guitar and is a very competent silk screener/artist. He's very good. Tyler plays bass and made up a "cheeseball sandwich." He thinks it's a cheeseball that you use with crackers but I think it would consist of the Cheeto-type poofs. John was in a little known band called Damn, It Feels Good to Be A Gangster which played acoustic music. They had song titles like "Imafov." It features I-Drop of Swordplay, too. Brian plays drums and is most likely to freak out and join the army.

2. Why do you think vinyl still has an appeal in punk rock?

Does it? I don't really buy vinyl anymore unless it's a vinyl only release. I feel like the record is almost a dead medium because it's more expensive to press a record than press a CD. And most people can't download a record but I think that's cool because if people really want to hear a record, it'll make them work a little harder to hear it. On the flip side, there's an aesthetic value to owning a record which is cooler than owning a CD. The artwork is bigger and better looking. It's cool to hold. You can watch it spin. But, and I could be out of the loop and talking out of my ass, it doesn't seem like many people are pressing records as much as they use to. However, that being said, some of my favorite songs are on old 7 inches that I had when I was younger.

3. What lessons did you learn from previous bands that you are using wisely in Wow, Owls?

Be in a band with friends and not people you happen to be in a band with. Write shorter, more concise songs. I feel like we had a good dynamic between us that I only recently realized when learning John's guitar parts for Gainesville Fest. I thought they were going to be different from what they really were yet they added so much to the songs where, if they weren't there, would make the songs sound unfinished and weak. Everyone bought their own style and I feel like it worked for the most part.

4. Would you rather have your band be popular or well respected?

Well respected. No question about it.

5. Whats one album you listen to by yourself because you don't want people to look down on you (if any)?

I don't listen to it by myself but I feel a little weird when I put on the Tegan and Sara record for people. I think I feel weirder when I ask people to turn up certain songs on the radio like "my Humps" or "Dirty Little Secret."

6. Whats one movie that everyone should see?

The Jerk or Kids in the Hall Brain Candy

7. Whats a little known fact about Virginia?

Way back in the day, like 1800's early 1900's style, a governor wouldn't step down from his office after he lost the last election. So the winner fought him and the case went up to the Capitol. He trial was set in the second floor of the Capitol. EVeryone who was anyone at that was there. Due to the massive amount of weight, the second floor came crashing down killing many on the first floor. It was the second worse tragedy in Richmond next to the great Theatre Fire.

8. Name one album, besides your own, that you think all kids should have in their collection.

Jawbreaker "Dear You"

9. Final comments...

Stay in school.

Written by: RF

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