We sent out our uber-emo correspondant Tripp Bannister on his first interview ever. He got to pick the subject and everything. And he picked “You, Me and Everyone we know” who are playing with the Pink Spiders and Action Action at RNR tonight (we didn’t even know the show was taking place, but then, we’re old). Are you ready to find out how the youth REALLY feels these days?

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So I was hanging out in front of U.A. in Bethesda with my friend Lisa and she told me she met this dude Ben who was the lead singer in this band You Me and Everyone We Know. And I was like NFW? For real? I love YM&EWK. So she was all, “Well I have his cell phone number. He gave it to me outside of the Recher this summer.” And I was like, no way? Give it to me. But she wouldn’t. So either way, Lisa was at my friend Brad’s house last Saturday, all rocked on Mike’s Hard Lemonade. So I went into her purse and stole his number out of her phone.

So then today I cut 3rd period trig, called him up, and caught him completely off guard. I told him I wrote for a mildly relevant DC blog and that my questions were mandatory. I think he was hung over, ’cause he agreed.

So, like, you guys are a DC band, but remain pretty unknown locally. WTF?
BEN: Yeah I actually live with my girlfriend in Baltimore. Noel and Mike live in Northern Virginia, and Ryan and Paul live in Rockville. DC is a medium location for us. I do a lot of commuting.

Commuting? That shit sounds like something my dad does. I have to get a ride to school from this senior, Chet – a huge D-bag who loves to pump OAR and DMB out of his Explorer.
BEN: Uh, yeah. Anyway, we are here. A lot of people don’t even know we are a DC band. Actually a lot of places we got to play, people think we are from there. I don’t know how that happened. We play in Indiana and people think we are locals.

Yeah, maybe that’s because you got a message that relates to a lot of kids. Like banging chicks, getting fucked up, and partying.
BEN: Yeah, that’s more of an admission as much as it is a declaration of the bad side of living the lives we’ve lived up until now.

Yeah, tell me about it. Last week my dad got on my case about stealing my sister’s adderol so I could stay up all night playing XBox live. I was like “Fuck you dad, you can never understand me, I’m outta hheeeerrre.”
BEN: I pride myself in being a good person, but I drink, I compromise my character. I think our music is more of a cautionary tale to younger people who haven’t been through it. I think the older crowd gets it on a more experience level.

You just spoke to my emo heart. Your words are deeper than the slits in my wrists.
BEN: We don’t sweat genre. As long as you’re listening is all we care about.

Yeah, so I played your EP “Party for the Grown and Sexy” for my brother Preston and he didn’t get it.
BEN: It wouldn’t necessarily surprise me. What we are saying might be old news to him. If you can’t identify with it, if its not your favorite brew, that’s cool.

Yeah, well let me tell you about Preston. He’s 32, marginally employed in IT, and my parents pay for his apartment in Columbia Heights. And his musical taste is sooo lame. He’s always like, “I don’t listen to Pavement, I only listen to the bands that influenced Pavement.”
BEN: Well, bankrolling parents are pretty tight.

Speaking of parents, I saw your guys’ totally fetch show at Rock and Roll Hotel a few months ago with Olympia and The Ataris. What’s the deal with the lead singer of Ataris? He’s like my dad’s age and he still complains about his parents?
BEN: Yeah, he’s too old to be complaining about his parents, he has a child himself. But if he still has issues to work out, more power to him. Dude, address those issues.

Yeah, but parents can be so wack sometimes. Like if I don’t want to get a haircut, so fucking what? It’s like, fuck you dad, you don’t even have hair. Don’t take your fucking mid-level management feelings of self-regret and inadequacy out on me.
BEN: I actually got kicked out of my parents house when I was 18 cause my mom thought I threw a giant party because my neighbor told her so. Really it was just this guy who through a beer bottle at my neighbors house. He made this lie about me throwing some huge party and the cops raiding the house. So my mom kicked me out.

Fucking adults, for real. Speaking of beer bottles and partying, what’s you’re favorite beer?
BEN: Natty Bo is my favorite beer to drink not slowly – my favorite beer to bring to a party. Cheap. Delicious.

Yeah, I’m not old enough to drink, so I just steal Michelob out of my friend Nick’s dad’s garage. I’m always trying to party but my brother Preston wont give me his ID. It’s such bullshit.
BEN: Theoretically you shouldn’t drink underage. But “Hey Mister” always tends to work. Other than that you could always find some sketchy friends.

Now down to what really matters. What’s the best city for groupies?
BEN: Well I live with my girlfriend so I behave. But for everybody else it depends.

Yeah, well if like touring was baseball, would you say like are you guys getting to first base a lot, or is it more like extra-base hits? Third base? Or are you swinging for the fences?
BEN: You know, I’m just a fan of the game.

Yeah, fuck baseball anyway. I got cut from JV cause I wouldn’t take out my eyebrow ring. So I’ve been reading Alternative Press and Myspace stalking your profile and, like, my friend Christine and I are convinced you are going to put a record out on Drive Thru.
BEN: We are no way in cahoots with the label itself. We are actually just managed by them, they support and help where they can. It’s gonna be a big surprise when everybody finds out who we sign with. Late winter will be a good time for an announcement.

But dude, I thought you were putting out a new EP this fall?
BEN: We just recorded 2 new songs that are coming out with our old EP for free download in late November. We are gonna have some art work available too. Something to hold people over till next summer when we put out something else.

No full length?
BEN: After this tour, we will be at home writing the full length.

If I weren’t so indifferent in general, I’d probably be excited. But I can’t wait to steal it off of Kazaa. Any final thoughts on the current DC Scene?
BEN: I think there is a general lack of bands that want to work. You are responsible to the area you are from to try and make it a good place for people to see shows. When it comes down to bringing kids out, you got to do that. Increase your general draw. DC doesn’t have the word of mouth that other places have. It would be nice to see the scene act like a family again.

Not like my family. My fucking mom is always yelling at me for stealing her jeans. I’m like “fuck that, I bought these”. She just doesn’t understand girl pants I guess. I’m like, get over it mom, Pete Wentz wears them and he is in fucking People Magazine. But by family, I guess you mean like the whole DC Punk community vibe from back in the day?
BEN: What happened to the 5 dollar show? A lot of bands are bitching about money and draw and things of that nature. It’s a local show. Local bands bitching about $100. Consider it an investment in your fans and the scene.

Fuck yeah.
BEN: Dude Silver Surfer is on.

Jessica Alba?
BEN: Yeah, Jessica Alba is hot.

Currently on tour with The Color Fred (ex Taking Back Sunday), Action Action, The Pink Spiders, and Paper Revival.
Check out their show Tuesday November 6th at The Rock and Roll Hotel with Action Action, The Pink Spiders, and Paper Revival.

http://www.myspace.com/youmeandeveryoneweknow

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