ONLINE INTERVIEW WITH THE HIGH SCORE - 2/10/2003

Music fans will be familiar with the members of The High Score through their former rock ventures. Robbie Trosper (guitar/vocals) and Jason Peters(drums/percussion/backing vocals) both previously played in The Faults, which also included former members of The V-Roys. Chris Cook (guitar/vocals) was the front man for Mustard. Both bands toured throughout the Southeast, building a loyal fan base through their live shows and album sales. When these groups disbanded in late 2001, the longtime friends and occasional musical partners, including bassist Dave Walker, began playing together full-time. The High Score was complete - you can check out more here with The High Score on Band Manager

Keyz - Let's get it started. Start off by introducing who's online there.

Thehighscore - We're Chris, Robbie, Jason and Dave.

Keyz - What does each of you do in the band?

Chris - Guitar and vocals

Robbie - Guitar and vocals

Jason - Drums and vocals

Dave - Bass

Keyz - Describe your sound for the readers.

Thehighscore - Flat out guitar-driven American rock-n-roll…a cross between the Replacements and the Pixies, with a touch of Thin Lizzy.

Keyz - What towns does everybody hail from? How and when did the band originally form?

Robbie - We are all from Knoxville. The band formed after the break up of the Faults and Mustard. We formed in 2001.

Keyz - What is the current Knoxville music scene for original bands?

Chris - It is actually going through a slow period right now. There are several bands around town, but they all seem to follow the Nu Metal modern rock trend.

Robbie - I think there are some good bands in town like The Westside Daredevils, Apelife and the Rude Street Peters.

Keyz - Yeah, I have The Westside Daredevils CD. I like it. Onto yours…what is the title of the new CD and where was it recorded? (Give a shameless plug for the studio.)

Jason - The title is "Sexy Losers", and we recorded it at home on our 8-track.

Keyz - How do you approach the actual recording? In what order do you usually lay down the tracks? What was done at Nightsong Studios?

Robbie - Usually, we record the drums first with a scratch guitar, and then we start building from that. We took time with each instrument to get unique tones.

Jason - We mixed the album there and did a few overdubs.

Robbie - They also mastered it.

Keyz - Give a shout out for Lynn Point Records for distribution. (www.lynnpoint.com)

Jason - Who is Lynn Point? Just kidding.

Keyz - I notice that you used 2 additional musicians on the recording - keyboards and pedal steel. Do you use them on live gigs now?

Chris - No, not at our gigs. Butch Peters, who played pedal steel, is Jason's dad. Jesse Jones, who runs Nightsong Studios, played keyboards on a couple of songs.

Keyz - Does Nightsong Studios have a web site?

Thehighscore - Yes, search on Google.

Keyz - How is the songwriting handled?

Robbie - Poorly

Keyz - LOL

Robbie - Just Chris' songs

Keyz - Chris handles all the writing?

Dave - Chris and Robbie come in with the ideas, and the band works out the arrangement.

Keyz - Ok, got it. Chris, how old were you when you first got serious about music? Did you study anywhere? Who were your early influences? Also, what kind of gear do you use (guitar, amps, effects)?

Chris - Here we go. I got serious about music around age 18 and never really studied, but I was enlightened by KISS very early on…all cheesy eighties metal.

Keyz - (Motley Who?)

Robbie - Motley Crue is one of my influences.

Keyz - Jason, how old were you when you first got serious about the drums and the accordion? What kind of gear do you use? Influences?

Jason - I was around 10 when I got serious about music. I don't even know how to play the accordion. I just happen to have one, and I faked my way through. I use a 1974 Ludwig drum set and Sabian cymbals.
Favorite drummers: Pete Thomas, John Bonham and Tommy Lee.

Keyz - Robbie, when did you first start singing with bands and getting serious? Who are your early influences and what type of gear do you use?

Robbie - I started singing in bands when I was 16. I've been in bands with Jason since I was 12. Early influences: Motley Crue, Led Zepplin, the Beatles, Sex Pistols and all the cheesy 80's metal bands.

Dave - I got serious about music around 1973 when I first started playing my butt trumpet. It hasn't been until the past couple of years that I started getting serious about bass.

Keyz - Dave, how old were you when you first picked up the bass? Influences…and type of gear...and that should wrap up this segment. LOL

Dave - Bass influences: Kim Deal, Kim Gordan, Mike Watt, Gene Simmons, Cammo Gonzales and the bass player for Flipper. Gear: '65 Gibson EB-0 bass and a '55 sitar given to me by Ravi Shankar and an Ampeg bass rig."

Keyz - "Blown Out Radio"...how did that song come about?

Robbie - I don't know. I just wrote it one night. The general theme is wanting to not worry all the time.

Keyz - "She Don't Love Me"

Robbie - Classic love song…with truth and beer.

Keyz - "Laid Up"

Chris - It came about while trying to be quiet to keep from waking up my wife in the next room while playing guitar on the couch.

Keyz - What is each member of the band's favorite cut on the CD and why?

Chris - "I Feel Bad For You" because Jason's dad played some awesome pedal steel.

Dave - The hidden track after "Drunk Punk".

Keyz - LOL

Jason - I can't choose…maybe "Blown Out Radio" because it's destined to be a classic.

Keyz - Is The High Score getting any radio airplay on the college circuit?

Robbie - We're in the top twenty in South Carolina and getting played in Belgium…no joke.

Keyz - Have you sent anything to Plasma Boy here at Chattanooga State WAWL?

Dave - We sent one there. If it isn't getting played, we'll send another.

Keyz - Here's an off-the-wall question.

Dave - We love off-the-wall.

Keyz - How does each band member feel about the possibility of going to war with Iraq?

Robbie - We're going to war???

Chris - When do we leave?

Lavender - Chris, are you ready to go?

Chris - Oh no, oh no!

Keyz - One more on the political front...should marijuana be legalized?

Dave - Why not?

Chris - Go ahead…do it!

Keyz - What's the best head shop in Knoxville? Here, it's The Bag (another shameless plug for Spike and The Bag).

Lavender - tsk...tsk LOL

Dave - Kroger…we love iceberg and romaine.

Chris - We really don't know.

Dave - We grow our own.

Keyz - Okay, back to the CD. "Call It Vicious"…I like the ending.

Robbie - I wrote that song about going and seeing Yo La Tengo and people talking through their set. Did you hear the backwards drum?

Keyz - That's what makes it hip.

Thehighscore - Cool

Keyz - Do you sample it and play it back live?

Robbie - Jason plays it backwards.

Keyz - "Baby Take A Look At Yourself"

Robbie - To be honest, I can't remember what it's about. It's an experiment gone right.

Keyz - "Let The Stupidness Begin"

Robbie - It is the age-old question...is rock-n-roll stupid? And the answer is YES! And I like it!!!

Keyz - "Let It Go"

Chris - It's about realizing that it's time to break out of whatever rut you're in or...leaving your band. By the way guys, I quit.

Keyz - (Wow…an exclusive!) "Mohawks and Birkenstocks"

Robbie - It's about bad fashion trends…being a punk or a hippie has become more about fashion.

Keyz - "I Feel Bad For You"

Robbie - Kind of a play on words…it's just about pathetic people…mostly the rest of the guys in the band.

Keyz - "Songs To Break Up To In 95"

Robbie - I found a mix tape of songs that said songs to break up to '95, and I thought what a great title.

Keyz - What was the best gig the band has played to date and why did it stand out?

Dave - Our CD release show

Robbie - It was good to see that all our hard work had paid off.

Dave - Everybody was into it, dancing and having a good time.

Chris - I was great!

Dave - I was better!!

Keyz - Upcoming gigs? Future plans?

Robbie - Right now, we're booking a northeast tour.

Jason - Next year, we take Daytona.

Chris - We're also demo-ing to record the next album.

Keyz - How can people get in touch with the band for bookings?

Thehighscore - www.thehighscore.net or www.lynnpoint.com

Keyz - And finally…what would you like to say to our readers in parting?

Thehighscore - Keep one foot in the gutter and one fist in the gold.

Keyz - The interview will be online in a couple of days. Thanks for coming by. We'll do another one up the road. Peace - out

Dave - Burps! Tastes like chicken.

Thehighscore - Thanks!

Lavender - LOL…thanks for stopping by.

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