An interview with The Academy Is…

Avery Durnan / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

Straight out of suburban Chicago, The Academy Is… is anything but boring. Their music is an emo/indie rock blend with heavy punk influences that does not involve screaming. While each of their albums is unique in its own way, TAI bass player Adam Siska informs me that their newest album, “Fast Times At Barrington High,” is the best yet. Siska kindly made time for a quick interview this week, shortly before the band’s San Diego show next week.

The Vista: How did The Academy Is… get together?
Adam Siska: We went to high school together, and I guess we were just a bunch of no-good kids with a mutual love of music. Mike was from one town over and when his old band broke up, we got him to come play with us. It’s hard to come across people who want to work really hard, and we were fortunate enough to find that. Once we had the right group, the message just kind of came together.

V: What happened next?
AS: We worked hard, wrote a handful of songs and found a decent producer who fit our budget and recorded a demo. We burned copies and handed them out everywhere including shows, at the mall, on the street, just trying to spread the word. We were anxious to get heard! This was all happening during a really interesting time in the local Chicago scene, right when a lot of great bands were getting started. We were sharing the stage with bands like Knock Out and Sarah Well Night, and members of those former bands are now playing in bands like Plain White Tees and Panic at the Disco.

V: So I was checking out your site online and I noticed your TAITV podcast. How did that start?
AS: Years ago, when we were on tour and were dying of boredom, we filmed these goofy videos. We posted it on our website and people seemed like it. So, our friend John, who is now the bass player for Panic at The Disco, came with us and filmed them. Then we let it go for a while, like almost two years. Finally we hired my friend Jack from high school who is really talented. TAITV is just something for us to do to remind fans not to take themselves too seriously. Sometimes you just have to act goofy and make jokes!
V: After listening to your stuff and checking out your site, I can see you guys have your own flavor. How would you classify that?
AS: I think you have got to let other people do that for you. I wake up each day feeling different than I did the day before, but I can say that we all have eclectic tastes and never feel bound by any styles.

V: Bill and Travis’ Bogus Journey Tour is a pretty unique name for a tour. Where did that come from?
AS: The tour’s name was inspired by a movie called “Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey,” which was a breakout movie for Keanu Reeves. It’s a stoner comedy about teenage time travel. Our promo poster is really similar to the movie poster. In it I play Death or the Grim Reaper, that skeleton guy, I guess.

V: How do you feel about your song “About A Girl” playing on MTV’s “The Hills”?
AS: I really wouldn’t know. I’ve never even seen the show. I wish MTV still played music videos but I’m more than happy to be included. They lost the whole video thing to shows like “Date My Mom” and “The Hills.” I think the lifestyle projected on those shows is not something the average American should aspire to, but that being said, a guy from “The Hills” hosted a show we did in New York, and he was really nice. So I guess I’d be happy if MTV just did videos and “The Hills” then.

If you think you’re ready to check out these radical rockers, be at their show tomorrow at Soma, the legendary hardcore punk and hardcore concert venue in San Diego. The Academy Is… is playing with We Are The Kings, Carolina Rocker and Hey Monday, which should make for a great night of rocking out, all for a mere $17.