1. If I knew absolutely nothing about Nerf Herder,
how would you describe the group’s music to me?
Steve: People have described us as "a self-proclaimed 'nerd-core'
band." I describe NH as a band who no longer claims to be self-proclaimed
by critics who claim to proclaim bands to be "self-proclaiming themselves
as a "nerd-core" or "nerd-rock" band. As far as the
music goes...I proclaim that we're pretty good.
Charlie: Extremely entertaining and good to the last drop.
2. If I were to buy your new album IV,
what songs should I pay particular attention to and why?
Steve - "Golfshirt (Part 2)" is my favorite song on the album.
I think it might be the most quintessential NH song on IV...the most
memorable in a twisted sort of way. But no...we are not the apple-tree-climbing-perverts
you may think we are. "(Stand By Your) Manatee" would be
another choice because Parry's lyrics are just too damn funny. That's
got a Devo-type new-wave thing going on.
Charlie: Golfshirt 2, because it's just so much fun play at 11 when
you're
driving down the highway (sober).
3. When and where did the band form, and where didthe
name come from? Steve: We began
the NH legacy in 1994. We got the name from the film "Empire Strikes Back." I'm not going
to say any more because I've had this interview question 1,631 times and
I no longer remember Princess Leia's line any more...wait...it's coming back
to me...almost there...almost there...Oh yeah...it's "Why you stuck
up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf herder!"
Charlie: '94 in Parry's garage. Steve came across the name in an Empire
Strikes Back book that was laying around the garage, much like
ourselves.
4.
What was your worst on stage experience? What was your
best?
Steve: Worst on stage experience...hmmmm. Probably in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jimmy Pop from Bloodhound Gang shoved his tongue down my throat in front
of 10,000 fans. Best on stage experience: any show I finished without
soiling my trousers.
Charlie: The worst was probably when we played at the San Bernardino
Arena at
some type of Ska-fest-fiasco or the entire tour with Reel Big Fish. One
of my favorites was when we played in Las Vegas at some football field,
I think UNLV, for a radio festival. That was the largest crowd I ever
played to and they loved us!
5. Do you think that the Internet (whether it be Internet
radio, legal downloading, MySpace, streaming audio, etc.) is a good tool
for musicians or is it a bad thing because it hinders profits?
-- Steve: The internet is an essential tool for all
bands, large and small (duh!). But it's also annoying when bands get carried
away
with those automated, friend-accumulating widgets...you know...when you get
that random friend request from some Christian-Death-Metal-Zydeco-Rap band...just
so they can get above the 5,000 friend mark? I will still give them a listen,
so they must be doing something right, eh?
Charlie:Money wise it sucks! But it's a great avenue for bands that are
willing to make the effort to exploit it.
