Johnny Christianson - Reel Big Fish (13/11/2013)
Returning to Australia this December for the Vans Warped Tour, we chat with Johnny Christianson of the legendary Reel Big Fish about one second cameos in BASEketball, touring with Warped for a seventh time, and being twice as good as The Beatles!
We're speaking to Johnny from Reel Big Fish, how are you my friend?
I'm spectacular.
Where do we find you on this American Autumn day?
We are in Florida. It's sunny and warm, and we're playing tonight with The Dirty Heads
You guys have been around the track for a few years now, 22 to be precise.
We've been together twice as long as The Beatles
Which makes you twice as good, obviously.
[Laughs] that's what I was thinking
Reel Big Fish have probably had more line-up changes than any other band in history, right?
Yeah. Our band started so early - in high school - eventually you find some of the guys dream isn't to play music. So we've had a lot of guys find that out, or go crazy, out on the road. Not everybody can handle being on the road for eight months out of the year.
So how do you guys remain as a band with so many changes then?
Well we just lost Dan, our 20 year trombone player last Sunday, He's got two kids and was keen to stay home with them. But we all love the music we play. Everybody that's in the band now - including Dan - it was all of our dreams to be professional musicians, and play music that people love. The rush you get from playing in Reel Big Fish is like no other. We're so lucky to have people that love and identify with our music. We love this, and want to keep it going.
You aren't your standard onstage band. It's always a party.
Some of the best times are when we play College gigs, and we'll get lumped in with a Hip Hop act. We played with 50 Cent, and you get people that are just there to see that. You'll see them with their arms crossed at the beginning of your set, not wanting to have a good time. The great thing is converting those people; one arm comes uncrossed, and then the other and they start to have a good time.
One of my favourite things that you've done is bring out a 'Best Of' that was entitled "A Best of us for the rest of us". A lot of people wont get that, and wont get the Seinfeld reference. But I loved it.
[Laughs] Yeah man, we're huge Larry David fans. And huge fans of watching comedies together.
I refuse to be friends with anyone that doesn't like Larry David.
[Laughs] Yeah, it's frustrating but it's hilarious.
Now Johnny, you were in Galaxy Quest, yeah?
Yeah this is true. I'm actually in four movies. I'm in The Cable Guy..
Really? Where are you in that?
When they did the Medieval Time scene, I'm one of the trumpet players.
Brilliant.
That was one of my first professional jobs while I was at College, playing at Medieval Times.
The whole band isn't scared to be in a movie; the first time I heard of RBF was in a small movie called 'Baseketball'.
Yeah, that movie has done so much for our career. It's a cult classic that's always on tv, so there's so much exposure for us.
Even though you're only in it for about 1 second
[Laugh] look how lucky we were!
So this is your 7th Warped Tour coming up?
Yep, number 7! The first time Warped came to Australia we were handed tents and slept out with the snakes, so hopefully it'll be a little different this time.
Nope, we've still got tents and snakes.
[Laughs] It'll be an adventure.
Despite the snakes, what is it about Warped that keeps you guys coming back?
I think for us playing Warped is a chance to exposure ourselves to people that have never seen our band. You get a lot of people there who are just keen on seeing their favourite band. The kids come early and see new music. It's really fun to convert people to Reel Big Fish fans. We get to do autograph signings too, which is just another chance to connect with our fans. And we don't want to just take a picture with you, we want to say hi!
And that's such a special thing, because a lot of bands don't do that. You guys really do give back.
You don't last for 22 years in the music industry without being grateful to the fans and to everybody for giving us that opportunity to entertain.
We'll we look forward to seeing you guys in a few weeks for the Australian Warped Tour.
Thanks Neal, we'll catch you then!
Neal Walters
We're speaking to Johnny from Reel Big Fish, how are you my friend?
I'm spectacular.
Where do we find you on this American Autumn day?
We are in Florida. It's sunny and warm, and we're playing tonight with The Dirty Heads
You guys have been around the track for a few years now, 22 to be precise.
We've been together twice as long as The Beatles
Which makes you twice as good, obviously.
[Laughs] that's what I was thinking
Reel Big Fish have probably had more line-up changes than any other band in history, right?
Yeah. Our band started so early - in high school - eventually you find some of the guys dream isn't to play music. So we've had a lot of guys find that out, or go crazy, out on the road. Not everybody can handle being on the road for eight months out of the year.
So how do you guys remain as a band with so many changes then?
Well we just lost Dan, our 20 year trombone player last Sunday, He's got two kids and was keen to stay home with them. But we all love the music we play. Everybody that's in the band now - including Dan - it was all of our dreams to be professional musicians, and play music that people love. The rush you get from playing in Reel Big Fish is like no other. We're so lucky to have people that love and identify with our music. We love this, and want to keep it going.
You aren't your standard onstage band. It's always a party.
Some of the best times are when we play College gigs, and we'll get lumped in with a Hip Hop act. We played with 50 Cent, and you get people that are just there to see that. You'll see them with their arms crossed at the beginning of your set, not wanting to have a good time. The great thing is converting those people; one arm comes uncrossed, and then the other and they start to have a good time.
One of my favourite things that you've done is bring out a 'Best Of' that was entitled "A Best of us for the rest of us". A lot of people wont get that, and wont get the Seinfeld reference. But I loved it.
[Laughs] Yeah man, we're huge Larry David fans. And huge fans of watching comedies together.
I refuse to be friends with anyone that doesn't like Larry David.
[Laughs] Yeah, it's frustrating but it's hilarious.
Now Johnny, you were in Galaxy Quest, yeah?
Yeah this is true. I'm actually in four movies. I'm in The Cable Guy..
Really? Where are you in that?
When they did the Medieval Time scene, I'm one of the trumpet players.
Brilliant.
That was one of my first professional jobs while I was at College, playing at Medieval Times.
The whole band isn't scared to be in a movie; the first time I heard of RBF was in a small movie called 'Baseketball'.
Yeah, that movie has done so much for our career. It's a cult classic that's always on tv, so there's so much exposure for us.
Even though you're only in it for about 1 second
[Laugh] look how lucky we were!
So this is your 7th Warped Tour coming up?
Yep, number 7! The first time Warped came to Australia we were handed tents and slept out with the snakes, so hopefully it'll be a little different this time.
Nope, we've still got tents and snakes.
[Laughs] It'll be an adventure.
Despite the snakes, what is it about Warped that keeps you guys coming back?
I think for us playing Warped is a chance to exposure ourselves to people that have never seen our band. You get a lot of people there who are just keen on seeing their favourite band. The kids come early and see new music. It's really fun to convert people to Reel Big Fish fans. We get to do autograph signings too, which is just another chance to connect with our fans. And we don't want to just take a picture with you, we want to say hi!
And that's such a special thing, because a lot of bands don't do that. You guys really do give back.
You don't last for 22 years in the music industry without being grateful to the fans and to everybody for giving us that opportunity to entertain.
We'll we look forward to seeing you guys in a few weeks for the Australian Warped Tour.
Thanks Neal, we'll catch you then!
Neal Walters