SGN Page 38

Friday
June 22, 07
V 35 Issue 25

search only SGN online

Saturday, Oct 11, 2008

the Music Lounge by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer

Army of Me's Vince Scheuerman doesn't wear men's pants and can't wait to thrift shop in Seattle
Among the bands to watch for this year is Army of Me, a rock trio from Washington DC that can be described as a crossbreed of Coldplay and Matchbox 20. Two tracks from their debut album Citizen, "Going Through Changes" and "Perfect", validate Army of Me's strong potential to be the next big thing. I caught up with the group on the road to Minneapolis, speaking directly to lead singer Vince Scheuerman while the other band members chatted in the background. Army of Me performs June 25 at Chop Suey ($10 advance) and gives a free in-store performance at Silver Platters (5th and Roy, Queen Anne) at 4:50pm on the day of show. To ear-sample music by this great sounding threesome, visit www.myspace.com/armyofme. From a tour van on an East Coast freeway to my office with a view on Capitol Hill, here's what Vince Scheuerman from Army of Me jabbed about when he stepped into "The Music Lounge". Albert Rodriguez: You're on the road at this very moment, as we speak? Vince Scheuerman: Yeah, we're literally driving. I think we're still in Maryland. We have a long way to go. Rodriguez: Am I correct in saying this will be your first trip to Seattle in 2007? Scheuerman: This will be our very first time there this year. We played at The Crocodile Café last fall with a band called The Damn Wells. Rodriguez: What comes to mind when you hear Seattle? Scheuerman: All the bands I grew up with when that scene was really popular, like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Obviously, it's a legendary music scene. From what I understand, Seattle is a very cool, artsy place with people that are open-minded. It's cool to get to come there and play music; it's an honor. It's a great music town, so I'm hoping for a really good show - playing for people who love music. Rodriguez: You're playing at Chop Suey, which is about four blocks away from our offices on Capitol Hill. Scheuerman: Are there any stores, like clothing stores, around? Rodriguez: About four blocks away, there's a big thrift store chain called Value Village. There's also a store on Capitol Hill that benefits an AIDS project called Lifelong AIDS Alliance Thrift Shop. Because it benefits AIDS and because it's on Capitol Hill, this is where the Gay boys donate their designer clothes that they don't want anymore. Scheuerman: I'll have to check it out (he asks for the address and vows to go). In most men's stores or men's sections, I can't even wear anything. It's either too baggy or too frumpy because I'm a pretty thin guy. I don't think I own one pair of men's pants. Rodriguez: A lot of guys, Gay and straight, wear women's jeans. Scheuerman: Women just have better cut pants. They look better. Rodriguez: Has Army of Me ever participated in a Gay bar crawl in Dupont Circle, there in Washington DC? Scheuerman: I've never participated in one myself. And we've never played at anything like that before. I'm not very familiar with the bar crawl scene. When I'm home from touring I rarely leave my house. I like to catch up on my rest and am happy to be in front of my computer, to be able to sit in one spot and drink my juice and water. I like to cook. I get out eventually, but it takes me awhile to settle in. Rodriguez: You're a homebody? Scheuerman: I'm not really a homebody. I live my life on the road. That's what I like and that's what I do. But it's good to catch my breath, and if I don't rest I'll end up getting sick. Rodriguez: Has the band released an official single from the album (Citizen)? Scheuerman: I would say that the single is "Going Through Changes" right now. It's getting played on several radio stations throughout the country, which I think makes it a single. And we just made a video for it, so it's safe to assume that that's our single. Rodriguez: Is the video scheduled for a premiere on MTV2 anytime soon? Scheuerman: It's in the final stages of being edited. It should be done this week. It's a really cool video. We shot it on a metro bus. Basically, we're riding a bus in midtown Manhattan. We shot it in the middle of the night - there wasn't much traffic. We had a camera crew set up at the front of the bus, and I'm standing in the aisles playing the song and the rest of the band is sitting in different spots on the bus. Some of it is shot in slow motion, so it has a dreamy effect to it. Rodriguez: What happens on the tour van? You guys watch DVDs or play cards? Scheuerman: We all have iPODS and a tape adaptor, so we just bring our iPODS and listen to music usually. Right when you called, we were listening to this comedy thing. Rodriguez: What's the newest entry on your iPOD? Scheuerman: There's this new musical called "Once". There's a group from Scotland called the Frames. The lead singer of the Frames wrote a soundtrack and also was the main character of this movie that's basically a modern day musical where this guy plays the guitar and he's also a street performer. He works at his dad's vacuum shop and makes extra money by being out on the street and playing guitar. One day this girl comes up to him and wants him to play a song and they end up starting this friendship. They almost get together, but I don't want to ruin it for you. It's a really cool soundtrack. So my latest entry is the soundtrack from this musical called "Once". Rodriguez: Well Vince, I'm going to let you get back to your road trip because you guys have a long drive in front of you. Thanks for taking the call and we'll see you in Seattle very soon. Scheuerman: Thanks, and we'll see you at the show! (Vince asks again for the name and address of the Lifelong AIDS Alliance Thrift Shop and says he is definitely shopping there when Army of Me comes to Seattle)

post your own information on
the Seattle Gay Blog