EMQ’s With HARDBALL
EMQ’s With HARDBALL
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Punk/Grunge band, Hardball. Huge thanks to their drummer, Jeremy, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name’s Jeremy, I play drums for Hardball if we’re performing live, drums and some guitar and some keys, and some other things if we’re in the studio. We are a grunge trio that formed by accident basically as a consequence of us being friends from Kindergarten and that we were all always really into music. It took us forever to get our current release done since the songs date back to a time when none of us had the means to actually make the record, despite several attempts at doing so. Eventually, we found the means, however, so here we are, with a “new” record finally.
How did you come up with your band name?
I think it may have been a joke that got kind of old, which we found ourselves stuck to, unfortunately. We came up with other names but none of them stuck, so we just decided to own the ridiculous Hardball moniker. We’re somewhat ridiculous as a band anyhow, so maybe it’s for the best.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Originally we’re from the interior of BC, and there are plenty of metal/rock bands around. We’re now kind of situated half and half in Vancouver, and the Okanagan now, though. Two totally different scenes, of course, so we find ourselves footed in two separate worlds.
What is your latest release?
The latest release is our debut, due out July 21st. It’s a full-length LP.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Oh, probably the standards if I’m speaking for myself – a lot of Beatles, a lot of Pixies, a lot of Modest Mouse, a lot of the 90s rock bands you would think to associate us with, and a lot of stuff that doesn’t reflect in Hardball’s sound whatsoever, like Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, etc.
What first got you into music?
My dad. He was a big music freak and he played music for me when I was in my mom’s womb and stuff like that, so I came out jamming on day one I guess you could say.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I would hit up Sufjan Stevens, the polar opposite of what you would likely expect from listening to Hardball.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Any that throws down to a bunch of bonehead grunge rockers like us, something European perhaps, or borderline European – I think Glastonbury will do.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Fans don’t gift me – that’s the weird part.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Don’t do drugs that came from seedy street dealers that could be tainted with deadly poison, for the love of…
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
I hate to exclude all the rock stars I can’t bring back from the dead by narrowing it down to just one, but I’ll definitely have to go with my late great-friend, Max Zaitlin.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy the emotional/creative outlet, I enjoy hearing what started as a thought in my head become something in reality. I hate contending with work and schedules and whatnot while trying to find the time/space to put on my artist hat and that whole thing. The artistic mindset is at odds with the one we normally need to function in the world, in my opinion.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Well, it’s a notoriously difficult business to succeed in, and I don’t think it’s meritocratic either, and yeah, probably every musician in my place thinks that, and maybe it’s all our own fault at the end of the day, but if it were up to me, those are some things I’d look into changing 🙂
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Carrie and Lowell”, Sufjan Stevens. Elliott Smith’s style of songwriting and production, with 2010s technology, is the ultimate blend of stuff I like.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Probably vinyl at this point, as they’re collector items that have withstood the test of time that people still enjoy. Cassettes I like for the cool lo-fi sound, but cassette players are so uncommon now that the format has become impractical IMO. CDs are like downloads basically, with the added baggage of it being in a physical format that hardly anyone uses anymore – if I’m going to listen to a near lossless render I’d rather just cut the hassle and go all digital with it.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I don’t know if I’d call it ‘the best’, but a more recent highlight that stands out is Hardball’s set in Oliver, at Firehall Brewery. The crowd was completely unhinged, I had a lot of fun.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Probably debating in court as a lawyer or something.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Jesus Christ and 4 others at random who claim to have been his resurrection. I think John Lennon claimed to be his second coming at one point, so I’ll single him out for one of those 4 seats.
What’s next for the band?
To crush some more ball on tour in support of the upcoming release, before we settle into producing another album in the winter.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Linktree – https://linktr.ee/hardballbc
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hardballmusic
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/hardballbc/
Bandcamp – https://hardball.bandcamp.com/
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Without googling I’m definitely going with Bap. Actually Barm Cake. Yeah, Barm Cake.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for giving the time of day to us!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
