Pierce The Veil

25 August 2010 | 2:30 pm | Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

San Diego's Pierce The Veil are set to make their first ever trip to Australia next month, touring with Attack Attack and Melbourne's own Dream On, Dreamer as a part of the Take Action Tour. The band's vocalist Vic answered a few questions for us about the tour, as well as the band's newest album “Selfish Machines”.

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San Diego's Pierce The Veil are set to make their first ever trip to Australia next month, touring with Attack Attack and Melbourne's own Dream On, Dreamer as a part of the Take Action Tour. The band's vocalist Vic answered a few questions for us about the tour, as well as the band's newest album “Selfish Machines”.

Start off by stating your name, what you play in Pierce The Veil and the last meal that you ate?


My name is Vic and I sing for Pierce The Veil. Since I'm back home in San Diego, the last food I ate was a carne asada burrito of course!!!

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Can you tell us a bit about how Pierce The Veil first came to be a band?


The band started out with just me and my little bro Mike. We have been playing in bands together since we were little kids. Mike and I wrote and recorded Pierce The Veil's first album and then found Tony and Jaime in San Diego to complete the band and start touring. They have been with us ever since.


What made you first decide that you wanted to play in a band?


I looked up to my favorite bands growing up. Mike and I loved playing fast, technical punk music more than anything in the world. After we wrote our first song at a party with some friends we were completely hooked. The rest is history homie.


The band’s new record “Selfish Machines” was released in June this year. What were the writing and recording processes like for this record?


The recording process was kind of a mess! We moved to Hollywood, CA and got an apartment for the band to live in. Everything went smooth for the first half but then we ran out of time. The boys all went home and I had to stay up in LA by myself to try and finish the vocals and finishing touches on the album. I spent over a month by myself coming in at night to record after-hours, writing at an alternate studio during the day. It was very consuming and overwhelming for me. At the end of the day, we love how the album came out. All the pain and struggle only made the album that much better in our eyes.


Did you approach anything differently compared to what you did with previous releases?


It was very different because this time around we had a full band to work with, not just Mike and I. It was nice to have the ability to actually jam the songs out before we recorded them. Our overall goal for the album was to write songs that we would enjoy playing live for the next year or two.


What has the response to the new record been like so far?


Well we just finished Warped Tour in the States and it was fucking amazing! The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. I think there was a lot of anticipation built up for the release. Our fans are amazing.


Do you have a favourite song on the record? If so, which song and why?


It changes day to day because the record is so diverse. Sometimes I like the slowest song, sometimes the fastest. Just depends on my mood.


Jeremy McKinnon of A Day to Remember sang on the song "Caraphernelia" from the new record. What was it like working with Jeremy?


It was amazing working with Jeremy. He is a dear friend of ours from all of the touring that our bands have done together. I didn't actually get to work with him face-to-face because we were in different parts of the country at the time so we did everything through email. He recorded his parts at a different studio and we went back and forth until it was perfect. I'm so happy with how that song came out and it would not have been the same without him.


Equal Vision Records once again released the record, what is it that the band likes about working with Equal Vision?


Equal Vision has a strong reputation for being very family-oriented. They are about as far from "corporate" as you can get. They give us full creative freedom with our music and they have supported us for many years now. We love them to death.


Will you be shooting any music videos for any of the songs from the new record?


We just shot a video for "Carapherenelia" with director Robby Starbuck. I actually just watched the final cut today. Came out rad! Jeremy shot all of his parts while he was overseas in Germany.


You will be making your first ever trip to Australia next month as a part of the Take Action tour, what does it mean to you to be a part of that tour?


Well if anybody is unaware, the Take Action Tour is focused on ReachOut.com, an Australian youth service aimed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people. This cause is very important to us because we meet kids all of the time that come to us with problems of depression and suicidal thoughts. I have personally talked to fans, trying to convince them that everything will be OK. Organizations like this are very important and we fully support them.


Are you going to approach playing the Take Action shows any differently than you would with a normal show?


We will do what we always do, try and put on the best show that kids have ever seen in their lives. Our goal is to give them something that they will remember forever and to go far beyond what most bands do on stage. Anyone who has ever seen us knows that we love to put on a real show and we enjoy what we do.


What can we expect to see during the band’s live performances?


I can't give anything away but we can promise that it will stand out amongst the other bands and whether you like our band or not, you will have a good time!


What is the band’s set list like at the moment? Are you plugging a lot of material from the newest record?


Right now we have been doing half old, half new stuff. We definitely want to start playing as much of the new record as possible.


The tour is with Attack Attack, what are you looking forward to the most about touring with those guys?


Well we just did the entire Warped Tour with them on the same stage so we already got a chance to meet and hang with them. They are some of the sweetest dudes we have ever met and we are looking forward to sharing such a great experience with them. None of us have ever been to Australia before so we are all living the dream, so to speak, on this tour haha! Can't wait!!!


Melbourne’s own Dream On, Dreamer are also doing the tour with you, have you heard much of those guys already?


I have never heard them before but I look forward to meeting and hanging with them. Hopefully they can show us all around a bit.


What do you want to have done before you leave our country?


Honestly, I have no idea what to expect in Australia. I'd really just like to meet as many new people as possible and make some Aussie friends so that next time we come back we will know more people.


Who are some bands that you have been enjoying lately that we should be checking out?


I am listening to the new Interpol record as we speak. On Warped I discovered a band called Enter Shikari that I have been obsessed with ever since.


Do you have any goals that you would like to achieve with this band?


Our goal is to always keep progressing. Improving our band and ourselves everyday and realizing that there is always room for improvement. This way, the band will never stay in one place and we will keep evolving.


What are the band’s plans for the rest of 2010 after the Australian tour?


We return to the states with Attack Attack for a full US tour.


Thanks for doing the interview mate, any last words or shout outs?


Go buy the new record "Selfish Machines"! And to our fans in Australia and the rest of the world, we love you and can't wait to see you!