At Four Year Strong's 2010 Holiday Show (which due to a weather related rescheduling was actually in 2011!) I had the pleasure to interview No Trigger guitarist Jon Strader after their set. This was No Trigger's first live show since the end of their almost 3 year hiatus and possibly their first Massachusetts show since they hit the stage with Propagandhi and Paint It Black back in early 2008. To add to the excitement, the holiday show was being held in their hometown of Worcester, MA...an area who's hardcore scene often goes unmatched. Fresh off the release of their new seven inch record "Be Honest" from Mightier Than Sword records, the band played an unforgettable energy filled set proving that they were in fact back in full force. Read on to find out what the future holds for No Trigger, Jon's top favorite new releases of 2010 and why we had to wait so damn long for new songs.Tom: Why don’t we start by having you introduce yourself, telling us what you play in the band and then if you could have one superpower what would it be and why?
Jon: I’m John and I’m the guitarist of No Trigger. If I was to have a superpower I would probably be able to fly because then I could get from point A to point B in a matter of seconds.
Tom: Good answer, good answer. Ok, so now for the question that is on everybody’s mind right now…why did we have to wait like four years for you guys to release new music?
Jon: I know, it’s been a long time. Our last big tour that we did was a 52 date through Europe with Set Your Goals and after that we were like, you know, we just did the whole world on an entire record and you know, we’re going to have to sit down and write another one. Everybody was getting to that point in their life where they were trying to figure out what was next for all of us. I mean, some of us got into real estate, some of us kept playing in other bands, two of our guys who were touring with us are still playing in Outbreak right now, the drummer Erik Perkins and guitarist Billy Bean. So I mean, I moved to California…it was just one of those life things. We got to see the world, we did a lot off of one record and we’re very thankful for that, you know, we have fans from all over the world. It’s funny how fast time goes by! We had a couple of shows here and there like we played the No Idea Fest, we had a show in Boston with Propagandhi and we were still trying to write over the years but we’re kind of slow moving. Now we’re kind of stepping it up into gear and everyone is comfortable with our job situations and stuff so we want to just put out new music now.
Tom: Awesome, well we’re glad you’re doing it.
John: Awesome!
Tom: So what led you guys to sign with No Sleep Records instead of keeping with Nitro or Mightier Than Sword for the full length?
Jon: A lot of bands were leaving Nitro, like Crime In Stereo, and we just weren’t seeing the attention that we were before. We kind of were like looking elsewhere and it was cool with that label too, like we’re still cool with those guys, like they said if we wanted to put out a record elsewhere than go for it. And these up and coming guys are killing it, they’re picking up really good bands and they have an amazing following and we’re very honored to be a part of that. Like you know, we know a couple of people and we were talking to some people and it just worked. We’ve known about these people for a while so it was actually cool that we wanted to put out new stuff and we had it. So big ups to Mightier Than Sword and No Sleep Records for sure.
Tom: What can people expect from the full length and when are we looking at a release date?
Jon: Well, I’m really excited to get this material out. We’ve been working on this material for like 3 years now. There’s been a lot of stuff that we’ve just brought back out and that we’ve been re-amping. We’re trying to make a Canyoneer step 2. We put a lot of work into that first record and we put a lot of work into this one too. And I can’t wait for people to hear it and see how they take it. We’ve been working really hard on it. For a release date, I think we’re looking at the summer right now. We’re going to be recording with Jay Maas at Getaway Studios in Wakefield, he just did our two song seven inch and we were stoked and he was stoked. We just really connect working with each other and yeah we’re probably looking at a summer release.
Tom: Who did the artwork on the seven inch?
Jon: The seven inch artwork was done by Laurie Shipley (www.laurieshipley.com). She’s an amazing artist and she did all that by hand too. She was really stoked to work with us and it came out awesome.
Tom: Yeah it’s really cool, I was looking at it earlier and thought it was awesome.
Jon: Yeah!
Tom: So you guys are headed to Australia in January, right?
Jon: Yeah we have a headlining tour in Australia with Such Gold coming up in a few weeks. We’ll be there for three weeks. We’re basically doing the whole eastern coast. That’s the one place that we haven’t gotten to tour yet and we are so excited to get there and we’re finally going and we just can’t wait to see those kids because they’ve been waiting. Every time our friend’s bands go over there they’re always telling us like the kids were asking about you and when’s No Trigger coming over here and its like very flattering. We’re really pumped to get over there.
Tom: Yeah, how does that make you feel to have people in Australia talking about your band?
Jon: It’s crazy! It really is, it’s crazy and we are still going over there with this one record that we had. Now we have a seven inch to take with us so we are really looking forward to it.
Tom: Do you guys have any plans to tour the states after that?
Jon: We don’t have any plans for the states yet. Right when we get back we’ll be in the studio for a month and a half and after that we’re doing a week long tour in Europe because we got confirmed for Groezrock in Belgium and The Descendents are on it, Millencolin’s on it, you know NOFX, like we aren’t going to know what to do with ourselves! It’ll be cool to see Bill Stevenson from The Descendents because he recorded our record so it’ll be really nice to catch up with him. But as far as the states, we’ll be looking to hit the states towards the fall of 2011 when the record comes out.
Tom: When information of you guys resurfacing first came about were there any bands that were hitting you up to go on tour with you or any bands that you wanted to go on tour with?
Jon: Band’s have been hitting us up looking to do some international stuff, which is really cool. A lot of our friends that we toured with like The Swellers, Set Your Goals, Polar Bear Club, like those are our boys, like growing up in the scene with those guys and then watching them take off is like wow and they’re still doing it and looking to take us out! We’re going to be doing some stuff with those guys in the future. That’s going to be fun, those bands are killing it right now. I just can’t wait to get back on the road and just bring us back to where we were starting with those guys. It’s going to be fun!
Tom: On the new EP, you guys spout some Massachusetts pride on "Commonwealth Song". How do you guys feel about how the scene has evolved in Massachusetts since you guys first started?
Jon: I mean, it’s crazy! Look at this show. You know, Four Year Strong, 2,600 kids sold out! I used to play with those guys back when I was 13 years old. We’ve known those guys forever and just watching all our friends just grow up and still tour and now they’re packing the Worcester Palladium with 2,600 people. We all used to come to shows here when we were younger and now we’re playing them. The Worcester scene is evergrowing and we’re extremely proud to be a part of that. Like you have bands like Four Years Strong, you’ve got Mountain Man, our good friends in Last Lights, rest in peace Dom. Bands have a passion here and their passion for music shows when you listen to their bands so we’re definitely honored to be from this part.
Tom: Yeah, it seems like everyone is really kind of friendly within the scene here.
Jon: Yes, everyone is really respectful and everyone gets a long and all of these bands just kill it dude. I‘m very proud to be from here.
Tom: So since its 2011 now, a lot of people are coming out with their top ten lists of 2010, so what were some of your favorite new releases of the past year?
Jon: Let’s see, 2010...some big releases that I was listening too… I don’t know if the Wonder Years came out in 2010 or 2009?
Tom: Yeah, that was 2010. "The Upsides".
Jon: "The Upsides", I can’t stop listening to that record! That record is awesome.
Tom: So good.
Jon: And again, for this scene, that type of music is just awesome, it’s ever growing. What else…I mean I listen to a lot of different stuff. I started listening to the new Gorillaz a lot, the new Vampire Weekend. Transit’s new record that came out is sick. All these bands man, it’s so cool. I’m pumped!
Tom: Alright, so this is my last question. I ask all the bands this one. Who do you think would win in a fight…all of the people in the world or all of the ants in the world?
Jon: In a fight? The people or the ants? Well, let’s see…there’s probably a lot more ants than people…I’d say ants. What do you think?
Tom: I’ve always thought the ants.
Jon: You’ve always thought the ants?
Tom: Yeah.
Jon: Well there you go, then we agree on something!
Tom: It’s very 50/50 between bands.
Jon: Yeah? There’s a lot of ants in the world, dude. (laughs)
Tom: Cool, that was a great interview thank you very much!
Jon: No problem, dude!
Make sure to check out No Trigger's music, tour dates and pick up a copy of their new seven inch "Be Honest" from Mightier Than Sword records at www.myspace.com/notrigger.
