When J-14 hung out with Every Avenue at during their stop at NYC's Highline Ballroom, we had to ask lead singer Dave Strauchman what's up with the band, especially since their new album, Picture Perfect, drops today, November 3! Check out what Dave had to say about Every Avenue's new music, touring with All Time Low, and the one thing he has to have with him on the road!
J-14: Where did the band name Every Avenue come from?
Dave Strauchman: I used to play guitar in the band, and the original singer and drummer was like 'Yeah, Every Avenue!' And I was like, 'Cool! I'll play guitar!' I was like sixteen.
J-14: What's your favorite song off the new record, Picture Perfect?
Dave: My favorite song is called "Mindset." It's the very last song we recorded and almost didn't make the record. It was a last minute thing. They were like, "We're done doing everything," and I was like, "No, no, no, no! We've got to do this one. We've got to play drums." "Mindset" is pretty much the whole random situation of meeting someone -- it totally caught you off guard and you're like, 'Whoa! Whoa!' and falling head over heels for that person.
J-14: Have you gotten used to mixing your the songs with your old ones on this tour?
Dave: It's ridiculous. The last record we've been playing for awhile, so I kind of got use to it. But we put these new songs up on Myspace and, I barely even know the song! Literally I forget the words and I'm like, "What am I going to say next?"
J-14: Who are some of your biggest influences?
Dave: So many! As a band, Jimmy Eat World is one of our biggest influences. They're amazing. I'm a big fan of Gavin Degraw -- he's so good -- John Mayer, Butch Walker, and Elvis Costello. I like the new Jay-Z album, and there's this band called Phoenix that I really love.
J-14: What was "All Time Low" like to tour with?
Dave: All Time Low is amazing. They're just the most down-to-earth guys ever, really big-hearted people. They're not like a huge band that's jerks to everybody - they try to accommodate everyone on the tour like, "What are you guys eating?"
J-14: Is there one thing that you always need to have on tour?
Dave: Probably my cell phone. I don't really need much! I wear the same stuff everyday, but I have to have socks. If I don't have black socks, I freak out. And a toothbrush - that's pretty needed.
