All Time High

You know what I've come to realize trying to find good bands to interview? Finding one with good vocals, unsuperficial  [is that even a word?] lyrics and soulful [yes. soulful.] instrumentals is hard. It's like trying to make your way, through the thick crowd, to the barricades of a 3 oh! 3 concert. For those of you who've gone to a 3 oh! 3 concert you know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't, you really should.

Well anyway, like I was saying it's hard to find a good band overall. And just when I was about to give up I found these guys. This band is called Hopes High and just listening to a few songs on their myspace, I realized it's because of bands like this one that the hopes for the pop/ punk music industry can stay high. So I got an interview with the drummer, Steve Tippeconnic and here's what he had to say:

What genre of music do you consider your work to be and who are your major influences?

We consider our music to be “pop punk”. We believe it is pop punk because we try to keep a very pop sound while many of the beats could be of a punk origin. Oh man, we have so many influences. I think some of our bigger ones include Boys like Girls, The Maine, Jimmy Eat World, and Blink 182.

How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

We have all known each other well since junior year of high school. The band was started that year when Keenan and I started jamming after school in my basement. After awhile of just us two, we decided we needed some other members so we asked Matt and Jesse to join us for a practice. The first practice with them we knew they were exactly what the band needed. TJ was in a previous high school band with Keenan and we decided he needed to be a part of Hopes High.

When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

We formed our band in my basement junior year of High School. I think music is everything to all of us, its what we want to spend the rest of our lives doing. We all have diverse influences also so it makes writing really easy. It just kind of just flows when we all get together.

Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?

We have mainly preformed around Pennsylvania. Some of the frequent places we play are in State College, Altoona, and Philadelphia. I think I would say our favorite venue that we’ve ever played has to be a place called Jaggard in Altoona. I don’t think we have a least favorite venue. We just love playing wherever we can.

What are your all time favorite songs? Who are your favorite artists?

I think our influences cover our favorite artists. They range from Jimmy Eat World, All Time Low, The Maine, Relient K, Motion City Soundtrack, Sum 41, Fall Out Boy, All American Rejects, The Starting Line, Blink 182, U2, Lil Wayne of course.

What is your favorite of all your songs?

Me personally, It’s a tie between A Penny For Your Thoughts and Answer. I love the drumming of both of those songs.

What inspires your lyrics?

Everyday life. Jesse usually writes most of the lyrics and you can really tell that they come from his heart. Anything he is going through usually ends up in a song.

Could you briefly describe the process of making and promoting an album?

Oh man, that’s a big one. Well we usually start by brainstorming ideas for songs. That’s the point were at for our next EP right now. But we try to write as many songs as we possibly can so we can have a good selection to pick from on the final CD. Then we go into the studio and crank them out. To me that’s the most fun. I love being in the studio. Its like home to me. After we have the final product mixed and mastered, its time for shows and promotion. We just try to get as many shows as we can and get people to hear our music. And hopefully if they like it they will get a CD.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge?

I think our biggest challenge is to try to get signed and go on a big tour. Were trying to overcome that right now. Hopefully it will happen soon.

What’s the ultimate goal/ direction for your band?

I think the ultimate goal of our band is for all of us to make this our living. We all love playing music and if we could play every night for the rest of our lives, we’d be some pretty happy people.

What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

Don’t hesitate! Just get together and play some music. You will know when you have the right chemistry and things will just pick up. And just make sure you’re having fun doing it. That’s the most important part.

What's the most bizarre thing to happen while you were onstage?

Haha, well for me, one show I broke through two drum heads. I don’t usually break through any but two is just unreal in a show. I didn’t really know what to do.

What’s your favorite and least favorite part about touring?

I think my least favorite part about touring is the amount of sleep you get. You don’t get too much of it. The best part is definitely hanging out with the fans and playing the shows. We wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for those two.

Does touring and the other aspects of your professional life affect your private life? Are you able to keep up with school work?

It definitely affects our personal lives a lot. We practice and write everyday and try to play as many shows as we can so it does take up a lot of time. But three of us are also going to college and it hasn’t really been a problem. It’s easy to manage school work with being in a band.

Any parting words for the readers?

Just thanks so much for reading this and thanks to Harrini for asking us to be apart of this. It’s amazing. Also we love all of you and wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for you guys.

Be sure to check out Hopes High on

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/hopeshighrock

Itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=208124999&s=143441

Buzz/ comment please?? =]