Bayside came about in the year of our lord 2000. The band is made up of Anthony Ranieri [vocals & guitar], Jack O'Shea [guitar & vocals], Andrew Elderbaum [bass] and Jim Mitchell [drums].
Their latest album Sirens & Condolences came out early this year through Victory Records.
Check out the official website for Bayside
Daniel Robert Epstein: Are you guys really from Bayside?
Andrew Elderbaum: Our singer is. Im from Suffolk County on Long Island and then the rest of the band is from Massachusetts.
DRE: How did you all hook up?
AE: We were a three piece for a while. We toured with Junction 18 and Jim was filling in for them. We met him and we needed a drummer so we asked him to come down and he brought Jack with him.
DRE: How did Long Island influence your music?
AE: Some of the bands influenced Anthony. We were never a big part of the Long Island scene because we were always out touring.
Anthonys main influences were Morrissey and The Smiths. Our guitarist Jack is very into prog rock and metal. He tries to put that into the song. Im into Smoking Popes then also the band Jawbreaker. I love the way he narrates and tells a story.
DRE: It must have been pretty cool to be on that Jawbreaker tribute album.
AE: Yeah that was on our old label Dying Wish. I was really stoked to do that.
DRE: Whats your guys writing process?
AE: I write the lyrics. We have an odd way of doing things. Our singer Anthony writes the chord progressions and the melodies. I write the lyrics by myself. He will call me and say that he has a song done and wants some lyrics. I send them to him, he puts my words to his melodies and then our guitarist put his work over it.
DRE: Do you guys ever get together and write?
AE: Its always separate. Then when we get together we work it all in a practice. Well mix and match all the parts together.
DRE: A lot of people call lyrics like yours almost masturbatory. How would you respond to that?
AE: I dont see it like that. Its not really self indulgent and I get a lot of emails from kids who say they relate to it. I dont think its so much about myself but about other people.
DRE: Whats it like not getting to sing the lyrics you wrote?
AE: Its not that bad at all. I know Anthony really well and I know he understands where its coming from and he feels a lot of it too. I think it would bother me more if he didnt have any idea what they were about.
DRE: How is going with Victory Records?
AE: Its been great.
DRE: Howd you hook up with them?
AE: Our manager sent them a demo and we ended up talking with someone over there. Then they came to see us and it went from there. It was a step up from Dying Wish but its not too big a step. Everyone there seems really stoked about our work.
DRE: Were you guys all in lots of bands before Bayside?
AE: Not really. I played like two or three local bands. Anthony was in a few and Jack has been in a ton of bands.
DRE: How have things changed since you signed to Victory?
AE: The kids at the shows have changed a lot. Your life also changes once you are touring full time. I dont have the same friends at home anymore because I hardly see them. Some tough changes have been since I dont have a real job anymore money is a bit of an issue. I dont have a car anymore or a home. But also you meet all sorts of new people. Its hard to explain. Growing up I never thought I would be playing shows in Wyoming and Montana. I get to travel a lot.
DRE: Whats been your favorite place to play?
AE: I love playing the places where people are the most receptive to us like Columbus Ohio and also West Palm Beach Florida because were really good friends with the promoter. We spent thanksgiving with him and his family. Also now that were with Victory we love going to Chicago.
DRE: You didnt mention Long Island.
AE: We dont really play Long Island. Its a great scene but its really hard to break into. We just figured that we would be better off making a name for ourselves in other places then coming to LI.
DRE: Are you guys all getting along?
AE: Yeah were getting along fine. Weve had lineup changes but now I think weve found a mix where everyone gets along well. Of course we also spend a lot of time in the van so everyone gets on other peoples nerves for different things.
DRE: Who has the worst gas on the van?
AE: Probably me. I get yelled at a lot for it.
DRE: Do you guys get a lot of hot girls at the shows?
AE: Its different in different places. Its more based on the scene were playing to than how our music sounds. When were in LA or in Florida its always younger surfer kids then through the Midwest the metal girls in the Slipknot shirts will show up. There isnt a set type of person who comes to the show.
DRE: Whats pissing you off right now?
AE: Im actually pretty content right now. Im really happy to be home because the last tour was so long. It was eight weeks which was the longest weve ever been out. We were just so tired of being together and being in the van. We were almost ready to kill one another.
DRE: Whats your favorite candy?
AE: I think the only thing I eat is Payday. Im not that into chocolate.
DRE: I love Payday.
What were you like as a young kid? Were you really into music?
AE: Actually no. I had to get serious about music when I joined Bayside. I was a sports kid, an obnoxious little jock kid.
DRE: Are you Jewish?
AE: No.
DRE: With a name like Elderbaum?
AE: Well Im not sure. I think I am on my fathers side but they dont really acknowledge it. I was raised in an Irish/Scottish catholic household. I get that a lot about my last name.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Their latest album Sirens & Condolences came out early this year through Victory Records.
Check out the official website for Bayside
Daniel Robert Epstein: Are you guys really from Bayside?
Andrew Elderbaum: Our singer is. Im from Suffolk County on Long Island and then the rest of the band is from Massachusetts.
DRE: How did you all hook up?
AE: We were a three piece for a while. We toured with Junction 18 and Jim was filling in for them. We met him and we needed a drummer so we asked him to come down and he brought Jack with him.
DRE: How did Long Island influence your music?
AE: Some of the bands influenced Anthony. We were never a big part of the Long Island scene because we were always out touring.
Anthonys main influences were Morrissey and The Smiths. Our guitarist Jack is very into prog rock and metal. He tries to put that into the song. Im into Smoking Popes then also the band Jawbreaker. I love the way he narrates and tells a story.
DRE: It must have been pretty cool to be on that Jawbreaker tribute album.
AE: Yeah that was on our old label Dying Wish. I was really stoked to do that.
DRE: Whats your guys writing process?
AE: I write the lyrics. We have an odd way of doing things. Our singer Anthony writes the chord progressions and the melodies. I write the lyrics by myself. He will call me and say that he has a song done and wants some lyrics. I send them to him, he puts my words to his melodies and then our guitarist put his work over it.
DRE: Do you guys ever get together and write?
AE: Its always separate. Then when we get together we work it all in a practice. Well mix and match all the parts together.
DRE: A lot of people call lyrics like yours almost masturbatory. How would you respond to that?
AE: I dont see it like that. Its not really self indulgent and I get a lot of emails from kids who say they relate to it. I dont think its so much about myself but about other people.
DRE: Whats it like not getting to sing the lyrics you wrote?
AE: Its not that bad at all. I know Anthony really well and I know he understands where its coming from and he feels a lot of it too. I think it would bother me more if he didnt have any idea what they were about.
DRE: How is going with Victory Records?
AE: Its been great.
DRE: Howd you hook up with them?
AE: Our manager sent them a demo and we ended up talking with someone over there. Then they came to see us and it went from there. It was a step up from Dying Wish but its not too big a step. Everyone there seems really stoked about our work.
DRE: Were you guys all in lots of bands before Bayside?
AE: Not really. I played like two or three local bands. Anthony was in a few and Jack has been in a ton of bands.
DRE: How have things changed since you signed to Victory?
AE: The kids at the shows have changed a lot. Your life also changes once you are touring full time. I dont have the same friends at home anymore because I hardly see them. Some tough changes have been since I dont have a real job anymore money is a bit of an issue. I dont have a car anymore or a home. But also you meet all sorts of new people. Its hard to explain. Growing up I never thought I would be playing shows in Wyoming and Montana. I get to travel a lot.
DRE: Whats been your favorite place to play?
AE: I love playing the places where people are the most receptive to us like Columbus Ohio and also West Palm Beach Florida because were really good friends with the promoter. We spent thanksgiving with him and his family. Also now that were with Victory we love going to Chicago.
DRE: You didnt mention Long Island.
AE: We dont really play Long Island. Its a great scene but its really hard to break into. We just figured that we would be better off making a name for ourselves in other places then coming to LI.
DRE: Are you guys all getting along?
AE: Yeah were getting along fine. Weve had lineup changes but now I think weve found a mix where everyone gets along well. Of course we also spend a lot of time in the van so everyone gets on other peoples nerves for different things.
DRE: Who has the worst gas on the van?
AE: Probably me. I get yelled at a lot for it.
DRE: Do you guys get a lot of hot girls at the shows?
AE: Its different in different places. Its more based on the scene were playing to than how our music sounds. When were in LA or in Florida its always younger surfer kids then through the Midwest the metal girls in the Slipknot shirts will show up. There isnt a set type of person who comes to the show.
DRE: Whats pissing you off right now?
AE: Im actually pretty content right now. Im really happy to be home because the last tour was so long. It was eight weeks which was the longest weve ever been out. We were just so tired of being together and being in the van. We were almost ready to kill one another.
DRE: Whats your favorite candy?
AE: I think the only thing I eat is Payday. Im not that into chocolate.
DRE: I love Payday.
What were you like as a young kid? Were you really into music?
AE: Actually no. I had to get serious about music when I joined Bayside. I was a sports kid, an obnoxious little jock kid.
DRE: Are you Jewish?
AE: No.
DRE: With a name like Elderbaum?
AE: Well Im not sure. I think I am on my fathers side but they dont really acknowledge it. I was raised in an Irish/Scottish catholic household. I get that a lot about my last name.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
jake_lex:
I have to admit I didn't get the first question at all the first time I read it. I thought "Did he think someone was pranking him?"
xsetmeafirex:
Good oh bayside ♥