The new Mad Caddies record “Rock the Plank” is the third full-length album the band released and it is probably their best one. The record has everything: punk, ska, swing, reggae, hardcore, and even polka.If you haven’t done it yet, read the reviews for this record and you’ll have a small idea. In the meantime, I had teh luck to ask some question to one of the caddies, Carter, the guitarist and vocalist of the band. He talked about how the bands developed their sound, about the DIY Blowling Tournament, his favourite records and this interview is the first one in which they say that some of the Caddies ( Derrick, Sascha, Chuck and Carter himself), they have some songs with a side band called “Sweet Action”, so, this deserves a read.
Interview with Carter, guitarist and singer.
1. How many Mad Caddies are there? I mean, are you still in seven like on
the other records or you changed something?
Carter: Yeah, we still have 7.
2. Do you consider yourself “ska” as Less than Jake or Reel Big Fish ?
’cause once I read in a interview you said you played with a punkrock
attitude, while the 2 bands I mentoned were just…ska…
Carter: I don’t know, we’ve all got ska inluences for sure, but we’re a lot
different from each other.
3.How would you define yourself and your music to a person that has
never heard of you ?
Carter: Reggae and Dixieland inluenced California softcore punk.
4. I heard that the you were kicked out of the DIY bowling tournament in
Vegas because you cheated and turned all their scores into
strikes…what happened ? Who won the tournament?
Carter: Yeah, we got drunk and changed the scores for fun. A lot of people
thought we were serious. Punk rock bowling? I guess…
5. You changed your name from “The Ivy League” to “Mad Caddies”…but
how did this name come to your mind ? I think it’s a kind of weird name
…isn’t it?
Carter: Yeah, our name sucks. We changed it really quick and we were all drunk.
6. Can you tell us shortly how you got intouch with Fat Mike, Honest
Dons and Fat Wreck?
Carter:Joey from Lagwagon heard our first CD and gave it to Mike.
7. By the way, you passed from Honest Dons to Fat Wreck . Everyone says
they are the same label , but did you notice some difference ?
Carter:They are different names and have different rosters, but they are
basically the same.
8. I think your “Rock The Plank” is your best record …do you agree?
What makes it better that the previus ones ?
Carter: I like it the best. I think it rocks harder than our others.
9. On the new CD I heard more “punk/hardcore” or heavy stuff than
horns…are you getting angryer or are you tired of ska ?Like the song
“Bridges “, it’s political and heavy in someway…
Carter:Everybody is tired of ska, but I think we’ll do more now that it isn’t
cool anymore.
10.So, what’s the deal with pirate-core ? Did you invent a new genre?
Carter: Not really, but it sounds kinda cool.
11. On your new record ( and on “The Holiday…”) you have been helped
by Derrick Plourde , ex-Lagwgon…how was working with him?
Carter:Good. He’s a good drummer and a good person to hang out with. His
experience helps this band a lot. He is a great musician as well as
drummer and that helps him a lot I think.
12. The last song “All American Badass” reminded me of a NOFX polka song
…did you take inspiration from them or it is just a case ?
Carter: No. We thought of it first. They recorded it first. I don’t think
either one of us knew we were going to do a polka song.
13. Talkin in general, what are the new songs about ? more or less…
Carter:Being away from home (girlfriends), breaking up with girlfriends or
thinking about breaking up as a band OR we are totally making fun of music.
14. What is your relationship with technology ? ( Computers, Internet,
Napster,etc…) Do you use it , hate it …?
Carter:I use technology and I hate technology. I like Napster but I like
getting paid on records too.
15. WHat are you listening to right now ? what is in your stereo ?
Carter: Dillinger 4 – Versus God
Hot Snakes – Automatic Midnight
Tom Petty – Wildflowers
A burned copy of Armchair Martian / Bad Astronaut spilt EP (look for it
on My Records!)
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker
16. Have you got a favourite record, movie, book …
Carter:I love all kinds of movies. The Mad Caddies don’t read many books and
it shows.
17. Are you gonna take part on some compilations , if so, which ones?
Carter:Uhh. A bunch. There will be other bands on the comps I bet.
18. Last but not least : how do you write your songs? Do you write the
lyrics before and then the music? Do you do all together or someone
comes in with the songs and you play it ? By the way,do you write songs when on
tour? If so, have you already written some new songs ?
Carter:Music then lyrics. We have three songwriters (Chuck, Sascha and
myself). I usually get the song done with the drummer first and then show everybody
their parts. Sascha usually writes with the whole band and Chuck does
it somewhere in between. Yes, we write on tour. Yes we have new songs.
We have a bunch of songs with a side band that Derrick, Sascha, Chuck and I
have called Sweet Action. This is the first interview we have told
anybody about this in.
19. Thanks so much guys . hope to see you live again, after The
Deconstruction Tour2000…rock on!!!.
