Interview w/ Abandon The Shore
Don’t call it a comeback…Abandon The Shore went cold but has returned stronger than ever with a renewed commitment to each other as friends and a drive to progress as a band. This relaunch of Abandon The Shore draws its members from Springfield to Coos Bay, combining creative powers to craft a unique brand of Oregon screamo. Whether you caught the first wave or are hearing of ATS for the first time, now is you chance to track them down live and local.
HC Is there any significance or story behind your name?
ATS There is! It’s symbolic of an individual standing on the shore looking out to the sea and wondering what else is out there. However this individual will never find out what else is out there until they “Abandon the Shore.” This can be directly related to our music; we want to see what were capable of but we’re never going to see what we can accomplish until we take that step into the water and explore. And we really needed to get away from Florence haha
HC So, the last I heard from ATS was that the band was breaking up and what was left was moving to LA? Was this the “irreconcilable differences” or can you fill in some of the blanks for us?
ATS Well, long story short, things were moving along pretty quick and I think that we weren’t ready for a lot of what hit us. Things just kind of blew up on itself and we just kinda became enemies. It turns out there was far more boiling under the surface than I think any of us believed there was.
HC What even started the conversation to bring you all back together? Did everyone from the original lineup return?
ATS To be honest, we just missed the hell out of it, and I think that time a part was really what we all needed. We were pushing ourselves pretty hard and forgot that we should be friends before being bandmates. So we all talked and decided that we want to give it another go and to just have fun with it. It’s really refreshing to have all of us back together.
HC You are back together, hitting the road (locally), what is different about this ATS? Will our hearts be broken again?
ATS Musically, we’ve written songs that I believe are a natural progression for us. It’s more mature than our previous release. Socially, we’re just here to have fun and make the most out of what we got. That’s all you can really do in the end. If you’re not enjoying it, then you’re better off not being involved you know?
HC For those who are unfamiliar with your set, how would you describe yourself? What can we expect from a ATS show?
ATS Shoot I’m not sure if anyone could really describe us haha. We do whatever it takes to keep the party goin’! It’s a constant frenzy of flailing limbs, seizure inducing lights, and straight forward intensity. We set the bar pretty high for our live performance.
HC ATS is currently based on the Oregon Coast, correct? Are you all Oregon Coast natives?
ATS Well actually, Colt is from Springfield. So we’re based out of three different locations now. Brandon and Tyler and from Florence, I, (Craig,) reside in Coos Bay, and Colt lives, like I said, in Springfield.
HC What are some of your early influences that got you into screamo/hardcore?
ATS Underoath and Every Time I Die were huge influences for us. They’re Only Chasing Safety is what got me into screamo/hardcore/whatever you want to call it, without that record I wouldn’t be doing what I love doing. And Gutter Phenomenon was just a great record through and through. It was just so fluent and clever, it was always on repeat!
HC Where are you currently grabbing inspiration and/or frustration from and how has this been affecting your music?
ATS This has possibly been the worst year of my life. So a lot of those experiences are going to end up coming through in the lyrics for the new music. The theme behind it is basically moving on from your past. Let the chips fall where they may, and if you don’t like where they land, well hey it’s time to move on and give it another go. Dwelling on the past doesn’t do us any good. If you spend all your time worrying about the past you’re going to forget about the present and the future will just pass you by. Learn from it, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
HC Where can those interested best connect with you to find out about news, releases and tours?
ATS Our myspace page is your best bet. We’ve got a new layout and promo’s on their way.
HC ATS just signed with 1987 Records and you are working on an EP? How did you get signed to 1887 and how has that relationship improved ATS?
ATS I met the owner through a band we played with a year and a half ago called My Life in Red. He’s seen us grow from pretty much the beginning. He seemed pretty adamant about us signing with them and he’s been working pretty hard at promoting our re-release of Always Alive, Always Breathing.
HC What are the weapons (insturments) of choice ATS?
ATS Well as far as weapons go, I keep it simple: Shotgun, a shovel, and Lime haha. No but seriously, Brandon plays guitar, Colt rolls the bass, Tyler pounds the drums, and I handle vocals.
HC (Current Event) Team Kate? – or – Team Jon? Or way over it?
ATS Really didn’t care to begin with. They should just have their kids become the next Slipknot. I mean, they’re one child shy of it.
HC Big Mac or Whopper? Favorite place to eat on the Oregon Coast?
ATS I worked at McDonalds for two years. So sick of Big Mac’s haha. I’m real big on mexican food. I’d recommend La Herrudura in Coos Bay or Los Compadre’s in Florence. So good! I’d also recommend Jung’s Mongolian Grill in Eugene and the Pita Pit in downtown Eugene. Amazing.
HC What have been some of the most important lessons for you as an aspiring artist? Any words of wisdom for those wanting to pursue their dreams of glamor?
ATS The most important thing is this: Be friends before you’re bandmates. If you can’t function as friends you’ll never work as a band. And in the Words of the late great Charles Bukowski [German-American author/poet, 1920-1994],
“If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs, and maybe your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery, isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance. Of how much you really want to do it. And you’ll do it, despite rejection in the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods. And the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is .”