Archers of Loaf

by James Bonisteel

We are back stage with Archers of Loaf. About one month earlier we were talking with them--they had a van that they have been using as long as the band has been around--and they did a show in Seattle and when they were leaving their great van decided it liked Seattle and decided it wanted to stay there. So in the process the band went on a venture to find a new one and ended up renting a Ryder van instead and so begins the story of Ryder van company and their evil policies that go along with that....

RAD: Explain to me what happened out there with the van?
Archers: I guess what happened is some of their less scrupulous clients had a habit of messing up the vans before.
RAD: So they towed the van?
Archers: They towed it because some the other Ryder trucks had incurred over $500.00 of outstanding unpaid parking tickets, or whatever, and New York's policy is they tow all those vehicles from that company now that's their technical policy they can do it just by taking the easy pickings from anybody and they're squeal and get it taken care of and we ended up missing a show because of it and further more we are not happy with that company.
RAD: It's just amazing that they would do that.
Archers: Well, they fucked us out of a lot of money, it was close to a thousand dollars just right of the bat not to mention I did not want to stay up all night, stay in New York an extra day it was absolutely crazy. If I see anybody from Ryder I am going to throw something at them. It also was broken into just prior to it being towed they didn't break into the back section they just got into the cab and they got a nice pocket knife that Mark had, which kind of sucks because it was given to him by his uncle, other than that they took a few cassette tapes and some basketball cards.
RAD: Well at least they didn't break into the back.
Archers: We saw the pool of glass and we thought everything had just been absconded I was imagining things like someone hotwiring it and driving away to some remote place and just taking everything. When we found out it was gone we were about ready to report it stolen when I finally found out it was towed. I mean we called all these towing places and they were telling no they had no record of it. I am not a big fan of New York City, anyway I mean having that many people together is just asking for trouble.

Although that night some good things happened we got to meet and hang out with Ric Ocasek and Paulina Porizkova, and they were cool as shit they were really nice human beings, they were like super nice and intelligent and fun, they hung out in our dressing room more than Weezer did, they went because Ric Ocasek produced Weezer's album.
RAD: So did any one of you ever attend the University of North Carolina?
Archers: Yea we did. We all went there. Matt there graduated and I'm two credit hours from graduating.
RAD: What were you taking?
Archers: History--I am going to finish it sometime, whenever I get some time off.
RAD: Now who was in the band Small 23?
Archers: Matt played with them when they were Small before they were Small 23. The 23 part was just because there was another band called Small and the other band kind of threatened them with a lawsuit. Matt Walters, the bass player for Small, said, "We will meet you in the center of the country and we'll thumb wrestle for it." He said that they were not amused at all, so Small ended up changing their name to Small 23 for awhile, then the other Small broke up.
RAD: Before Alias records signed you what other labels wanted you?
Archers: There were two labels that wanted us, like Sonic Bubblegum and Tortis Head. You must have read the bio on us, that thing is so full of bullshit. Some of it we kind of put in there on purpose. The next one we have we decided to put a lot bullshit in it. Have you ever seen Madonna's first bio? It's a riot! They are just talking about world domination like how they are going to be the most popular band. This was back before she even put out a single.
RAD: Did you do something with John Peele?
Archers: We did two sessions with John Peele. We got to meet him at the Redding festival. He's cool as hell--he's a great guy, he's really sharp and just really friendly.
RAD: Have you put out any Peel Session EPs?
Archers: No--we did two sessions with him. We have enough material to put a ten inch EP out. Both sessions have four songs each on them. We were really happy when he asked us to be on his show.
RAD: So do you plan on heading back to England anytime soon?
Archers: It's looks like around the middle of June.
RAD: So how long has "Vee Vee" been out?
Archers: Vee Vee been out since march 7th, and kind of like the Pearl Jam record "Vitalogy," the night it went on sale, out in front of every record store in America there was a line close to two inches long.
RAD: How did "Ichey Mettle" sell?
Archers: Ichey Mettle" sold pretty well, it sold more than we expected.
RAD: How about "Vee Vee?"
Archers: Vee Vee" has actually blown our minds--it's outsold "Ichey Mettle" already.
RAD: Well, you are about ready to go on stage. Have fun out there.
Yes, that was Archers of Loaf. The club they played in that night had a real bad leakage problem. I must have counted at least twenty leaks out on the floor and at least five on the stage leaking on the band. No, they did not get electrocuted, but it was funny to see the bands playing and water dripping on their guitars. Look for more of the Archers of Loaf interview at RAD Interactive.