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LOBH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BOBBY ANDERSON |
Switchfoot is one of the few bands around where the tour roadies are almost as popular as the members of the band. So, in honor of that, we decided to interview Bobby Anderson, famous amongst Switchfoot fans for his mad merch skills, but well-known in other circles as the bass player for the band "This Holiday Life." We spoke with Bobby about merching for Switchfoot, touring, and his band. Read on!
Land Of Broken Hearts: Bobby, let's start at the beginning. How long have you known the Switchfoot guys? How did you meet?
Bobby Anderson (Bobby): I guess we've crossed paths here and there...This Holiday Life made a record in nashville back in 99, where we pilfered as many sounds as possible. I used a vintage Ampeg SVT Classic head and matching speaker cab, which I think Tim had just used on New Way to Be Human or Learning to Breathe. A few years later, after I moved across the continent, a friend invited me to surf - so we met at the appointed time and place, which happened to be at Jon's house. I didn't know how to surf, so I sat on the beach and read.
LOBH: So how did you get the gig as "merch master"?
Bobby: Tim and I are pals and we try to meet up for sunrise coffee when our schedules allow it. I had been traveling a lot with THL and he, well, is always traveling, somehow the calendar's melded. At that point, I knew THL was slowing down, so I was looking for something to make me crazy. They had a merch opening and I passed the physical exam with flying colors. Throwing torches and tight-rope-walking across sky-scraper kind of stuff.
LOBH: Sounds easy. Can you walk us through "A Day In the Life of Bobby" while on the road touring with Switchfoot?
Bobby: well, here it goes in no particular order. green tea. stare off into space. read something written. talk to God, or at least try to. run, if I've got time. get my spreadsheets in order. un-load the trailer. coffee. food. count. set-up. see the town. more coffee. perfect push-ups. get set-lists. charge the camera. call home. and call again. and again. eat like a horse and pretend that I didn't. tape set-lists. sell some merch. get some shots. stare off into some more space. artist signing. sweet ninja moves. tear down. put on a tank top. play cards on the bus. read myself to sleep. the end.
LOBH: Any crazy/funny/whacky tour stories to share from one of the recent SF tours? What's the camadrie like on the road?
Bobby: The dudes are as rad as can be. It's like one big family. Check out on my post on the daily foot about the flight i slept through ....
LOBH: Can you tell us something about Switchfoot that might surprise people?
Bobby: Drew is a fantastic tennis player.
LOBH: If you could design one merch item, what would it be and how would it look?
Bobby: I would sell white v necks that come with permanent markers and scissors that say "make you're own SF tee."
LOBH: Now, a little about your band, for those who aren't so familiar with you guys... can you tell us a bit about
the history of This Holiday Life?
Bobby: We played hard for 5 or 6 years. Wrote a lot of songs. Toured the country. Opened for bands we respected. Released 1 demo, 1 e.p and 2 full -length records. Signed a deal to 7 Spin Records, which we all whole-heartily regret.
Four friends making music together, traveling around and learning to live with each other. It was a lot of laughs and like all things a lot of the contrary.
LOBH: You play bass in the band correct? How long have you been playing and what got you involved in that?
Bobby: I started playing bass in the 10th grade, cos I knew how power chords were formed, so I thought I could just watch the chords being played and play the subsequent root note on the bass. Funny, I think I'm still doing that.
LOBH: What's your favorite song from your records?
Bobby: Animal or A Yes and Not a No.
LOBH: Tell us a little about the freethisholidaylife era. It was fun for a lot of us. Did you guys enjoy doing that for your fans?
Bobby: Yeah, that was a blast. We'd do it again with our new record if our label was into it. It was great to get the songs out there and let em breathe a little.
LOBH: For some of us THL fans, can we be expecting any further hilarious podcasts? (We miss them!)
Bobby: Good question. probably not. we're all so busy with various things, but if you facebook scott and get him stoked on it, i'm sure he'll make one. he misses them.
LOBH: Okay for this next section, we are going to ask you a series of random questions and we just want you to reply
with the first thing that comes into your head:
1. Favorite soup?
Bobby: Chilly
2. Favorite Switchfoot song?
Bobby: Learning to Breathe or that song about St. Augustine on New Way to Be Human. Or maybe Company Car. Or Something More. Oh Gravity's pretty amazing too.
3. Pomegranate or pineapple?
Bobby: Pitchfork
4. Are vegetarians allowed to eat animal crackers?
Bobby: Yes, and they can only eat other vegetarians. not beef eaters.
5. Would you rather poke your eye with a stick or stick your tongue on a frozen pole?
Bobby: I'll try anything once.
LOBH: Lastly, we have what we oh-so-cornily call the LOBH 3... three questions we ask to everyone we interview.
1. What's the best advice you've ever been given/heard?
Bobby: "If you want to save your life, you must loose it"
2. What's one song you wish you had written and why?
Bobby: Paul Simon's "Father and Daughter" - my daughter and I sing it together. well, I sing and she drools.
3. What's one question you've never been asked and the answer?
Bobby: What is a never nude? it's a dude that can't be naked. ever. Tobias Fuenke for example.
Check out more about Bobby and This Holiday Life by visiting the THL official site HERE.
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