Interview: Nic Newsham!

Gatsbys American Dream are a band that a lot of people have been waiting to hear something from for a long, long time. The Seattle pop-post-prog-punk-jazz-metal-indie-rock band dropped off the radar a few years back, and fans like me have been sating ourselves with their many side projects (Seriously, just check the Wikipedia page…) ever since. I recently got a chance to ask lead singer Nic Newsham some questions, and he was kind enough to provide some seriously awesome answers.

Evan Culbertson for My Car and My Guitar: It’s been a while since Gatsbys has been off the road! Aside from the random music projects (RedRedBlue, Keith Ledger, Princess Dinosaur, Razia’s Shadow)… what have you been doing with your days?

Nic: My days have been full of working as an electrician, playing with all my friends on the weekends and trying to squeeze in as many games of basketball as I can in the meantime.

MCMG: I know you play a lot of Words With Friends – you invited your Twitter followers to play with you months ago, and that’s how you and I started interacting. What’s the best play you’ve ever made in Words With Friends?

NN: Oh man! Best play ever? I’m not sure. I was playing a random person and my first two words were “fag” and “fart”, then the person cancelled. I laffed.

MCMG: This Gatsbys reunion really seemed to come together pretty quickly, but what made you guys sit down and decide “Hey, maybe we should play music together again!”?

NN: I think we’ve wanted to for a while – it just became a matter of finding the time to do it. Our lives are all pretty different. Some have families, Bob moved to NYC, and I have a shitload of Words With Friends games to catch up on. But when we played “Theatre” live together the other night, I think that got us excited and was the push we needed.

MCMG: What was it like first singing with those guys again at the Return To Wonderland show?

NN: It was surreal. It happened so fast and the fact that we hadn’t practiced at all was a little nerve-wracking. I have to say though- once we actually got up there, it all came rushing back. It was actually pretty emotional for me. It felt incredible to interact with an audience like that again, even if it was just for a song.

MCMG: What’s your goal with Gatsbys now that you guys are making music again?

NN: Well for now, it’s just baby steps. Release a few new songs, play some awesome shows, and sorta just take it from there. The more love we get the more we will give. If there is a demand for more shows and more songs we will try our best to meet those needs! Oh yeah, and to have fun. This is super fucking fun by the way.

MCMG: Who runs your Gatsbys twitter? You seem to spend a lot of time on your own twitter (@nicnewsham) yourself! But you guys have been making some bold statements on twitter about the state of the scene!

NN: Bob has become a twitter machine! I haven’t personally tweeted from the Gatsby twitter but I do from mine all the time. As far as the bold statements being made… I think it’s safe to say we’re really excited about coming back together musically and where we’re at in that regard.

MCMG: Speaking of which, someone from Team Gatsbys keeps talking about an Acceptance reunion.. do you know something we don’t?

NN: Basically I know that that would be cool. Sometimes if you bug someone enough they’ll cave. I hope they cave!

MCMG: You guys, as you’ve so blunty put it in the past, “toured your dicks off,” and that was part of the reason you decided to take a break – any idea about a return to touring anytime soon?

NN: I’d like this to happen. Saves The Day recently tweeted about us touring with them. That would be a dream come true. I love that band. I’ve loved every release and will continue to see them every chance I get.

MCMG: Will we ever see a Princess Dinosaur tour?

NN: I have no idea. I’m pretty focused on this Gatsby shit at the moment. I’d love to though. Anyone wanna take Princess Dinosaur out? Awesome! (…crickets)

MCMG: Do you have favorite bands/people to tour with?

NN: Lord, it’s been awhile. I always enjoyed touring with Fear Before The March of Flames. Touring with The Starting Line was a blast, too.

MCMG: Have you heard Bobby’s Places and Numbers record? What do you think of it? Did you ever listen to the Wild Orchid Children or Kay Kay stuff?

NN: I’ve heard it all. I dig it all. These dudes are so talented it’s hard not to be jealous.

MCMG: What have YOU been listening to lately?

NN: Lately it’s been Dr. Dog, The-Dream, Big Sean, Kanye West, Dave Bazan.

MCMG: Do you have a personal favorite song you’ve sang on? Or a favorite song to play live?

NN: My personal favorite songs I’ve sang on are the two new songs. No bullshit. And live? I always love playing Kirk’s songs live. Fun to shake some ass to.

MCMG: What do the new songs sound like?

NN: The new songs definitely sound like us but there has clearly been a progression. Expect production to sound cleaner than self-titled. More like Volcano.

MCMG: Any idea when it will materialize in a form that we’ll get to see, whether it be an album, digital single, or some other release method?

NN: 2 songs will be released shortly. When you hear them I hope you smile.

MCMG: You guys have always been very anti-corporate – are you attached to any record label at this point, or are you going fully DIY?

NN: Not attached to any label. Maybe that will happen at some point and maybe not.

MCMG: Anything else you’d like to say to my readers?

NN: Tell someone how much they mean to you today. Get sentimental on they ass.

MCMG: Thank you SO much for taking the time to doing this interview, and I look forward to losing to you at Words With Friends and hearing more from Gatsbys!

Gatsbys on Myspace
Gatsbys on Facebook
Gatsbys on Twitter
Wild Orchid Children
Places and Numbers
Princess Dinosaur
Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

…and there’s a million other associated projects. Do yourself a favor and seek them out.

Tags: Bobby Darling, Gatsbys American Dream, Interview, Kirk Huffman, Kyle O'Quin, Nic Newsham, Places And Numbers, Princess Dinosaur, Rudy Gajadhar, Ryan Van Wieringen, Studio, Volcano, Words With Friends