Continuing with our Hassle Records week we sent a few questions through to Fireworks, and guitarist Chris Mojan was the man that was kind enough to get back to us with his responses.
Massive thanks to Chris Mojan for providing us with this interview, and I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing Fireworks good luck for the show at the Islington Academy with Four Year Strong and The Wonder Years this evening:
Alt-UK: You recently toured the U.S. with New Found Glory, Hellogoodbye, and Saves the Day, over the weekend you played the Relentless Stage at the Slam Dunk Festival, and you’re now about to head off for a few dates in Germany/France with Four Year Strong and The Wonder Years; it’s been a pretty special year for you so far, what’s it been like to have played such high profile shows?
Chris Mojan: I’d definitely say this last year or so has taken a bit of adjusting. It took us awhile to get used to playing shows in these settings as opposed to the smaller diy shows we’d play on our own. With that said though, it’s been incredible. It feels great to be playing to so many more people and sharing the stage with so many great friends, new and old.
Alt-UK: Did you get to see many other bands at Slam Dunk, and if so, which bands particularly stood out for you at the festival?
CM: With all of the running around and general insanity regarding festivals it was really hard to catch a lot of bands. The ones that stood out for me though were Moneen, Alkaline Trio, Crime In Stereo and The Wonder Years. Great bands.
Alt-UK: What would you say has been your favourite show to date since forming, and are there any bands that you particularly enjoy touring with?
CM: Hmm. Picking one show is difficult. I’d say the release show for AIHTOIMOC would be a good bet. It was a home show which meant all of our friends and families could be there, so many people came out and every band that played was incredible. Although playing shows in places like Sydney and Moscow is hard to top.
Alt-UK: If you could tour with any bands in the world, which would you most like to play alongside?
CM: I think I’d like to tour with She And Him so I can become friends with Zooey and her husband. Or perhaps Grinder, Darren McCarty of the Detroit Red Wings band…
Alt-UK: It was only in December that you came to the UK for the first time, how have you found that your music has been received in the UK and how does playing here compare to playing in America?
CM: Everything is so different here. I can honestly say kids seem to be way more into having a good time at shows here. It’s also strange to go to clubs here and hear us and our friends bands being played. Way different culture. I wouldn’t step foot in a club in the states.
Alt-UK: Having toured the UK a few times now as a support band, do you think that in the next year or so we’ll be seeing you come back over here as the headline band?
CM: That’s the plan
Alt-UK: Growing up in Detroit you were obviously fans of pop punk, what other genres would you say appeal to you most though, and which bands would you say have had the greatest influence on you?
CM: Indie rock, hardcore, punk rock whatever really. We tend to listen to it all. When we started we were really influenced by bands from the Toronto area like Boys Night Out and The Fullblast . Then of course obvious ones like Descendents and Jawbreaker. We never really set out to sound like any of them though.
Alt-UK: What albums have you been listening to on the tour bus lately, and are there any in particular that you’d like to recommend to our readers?
CM: Records I’ve been listening to lately.. The National-High Violet, Good Old War, Harms Way-No Gods, No Masters, there’s a lot more, but I can’t remember right now. I’d recommend all of them really.
Alt-UK: Not only have you toured with New Found Glory, but Chad Gilbert actually produced your ‘All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion’ debut; what was it like working with him on the record?
CM: It was great. He is a great friend of ours, and had a lot to offer to the record.
Alt-UK: It must have been pretty cool releasing your debut through Triple Crown Records in the U.S., the label that Brand New released ‘Your Favourite Weapon’ and ‘Deja Entendu’ through, will you be sticking with them for album number two and when can we expect the follow-up to ‘All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion’ to be released?
CM: Yes, they will be releasing the next full length, which will hopefully be out around the same time as AIHTO was released last time. So this March/April?
Alt-UK: You recorded your first promo video last year for ‘Detroit’, how did it feel to get your first video recorded and what did you think of the way that it turned out?
CM: It was probably the most exhausting, yet fun two days of my life. Our good friend Matt did the video as a big favor basically, we’ve grown up with him and he’s went so far doing what he’s doing, so we were most excited to work with him.
Alt-UK: Do you currently have any plans to get another promotional video recorded, and if you could record a video for any track from your album, which do you feel that you’d have the most fun with?
CM: We have no plans, but if we did another video I think we’d do 2923 Monroe St.
Alt-UK: 2010 has obviously been a pretty great year for you so far, what are your plans for the rest of the year though once you’ve finished the show in Stuttgart next week?
CM: We will be home writing for two months, then doing a two month headliner with some great bands in the States.
Alt-UK: Best of luck for the show at the Islington Academy this evening; is there anything else that you’d like to mention to our readers that we haven’t already covered?
CM: Nope. You have covered it all. Thanks friend.
UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.
