Scene Point Blank: Being in multiple bands, do you have much free time? Or is music pretty much your life?
Brad: I try to spend as much time doing music-related stuff as possible, but all the bands I play in are really sporadic with touring and everything so I often have a decent amount of time to paint houses and "experiment" with medicinal marijuana.
Scene Point Blank: Shifting gears a little, how old were you when you started in Rivethead? How has your songwriting progressed?
Brad: I started playing music with Zack when I was 18 and Rivethead came about a few years later. I would like to think the stuff I write now is slightly less derivative of the bands that were major influences back then, both musically and lyrically. I usually spend more time on songs now than I did then—which can be a good or a bad thing. I'm a lot older too so, for better or worse, I have more to write about and my opinions on certain things have changed somewhat or become more solid. At the same time I still hate the fucking cops and love the Grimple LP so...
Scene Point Blank: Did you ever think you'd still be playing in the same circles a decade later?
Brad: Not really. I actually thought I might be dead so, all things considered, I can't complain.
Scene Point Blank: This is the first Fest for Gateway District, right? Are you touring with Toys That Kill and Arrivals, or are you just on the Minneapolis show?
Brad: Yeah, it's the first for Gateway District. The Arrivals and Toys that Kill were cool enough to let us jump on most of their shows on the way down. We have a few other shows without them. Those will be the floppity-flops.
Scene Point Blank: When you get to Fest, do you have a preference if you play early or late in the weekend? I've heard a lot of bands talk of how hard Sunday evening can be, once everybody is worn out.
Brad: Yes, early. For sure. With the pre-Fest in Tampa that's already 3 solid days of angel dust and wine coolers.
Scene Point Blank: Is there a favorite Fest venue? Have you played many of the venues for non-Fest shows? How are they different?
Brad: I like the Atlantic, it's smaller and it sounds good. We have played there on tours and it's cool for regular shows but, yeah, "non-Fest" shows in Gainesville are way less insane.
Scene Point Blank: What's your favorite thing about the annual trip to Gainesville?
Brad: Three words: Five Star Pizza. Just kidding. That shit is terrible but I'm still going to eat it again this year anyway.
Scene Point Blank: Thanks for your time. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
Brad: Yes. Much clown luv.
