Day
Traders: A Consummate Pop Experience
The Day Traders are the consummate pop experience.
Combining an unabashed capacity for the tuneful with rock star bravado
and a dash of the dissonant, this fledgling power trio is poised to
take the Oberlin music scene by storm. Old hands at the business of
rock and roll, junior Jason Klauber (guitar, vocals), Joe Bernache
(bass) and senior Matthew Asti (drums) have honed their skills as
key members of numerous semi-popular local bands, including The Holy
Cross Liquors, The Lymph Nodes and Spy vs. Spy. Judging by their consistently
stellar efforts, the next step is world domination. Last week, Andrew
Simmons caught up with The Day Traders at Klaubers southside
pad. Over a few bottles of Strohs, the band discussed their
history and musical vision.
Andrew
Simmons: Lets get started. What brought about the formation
of The Day Traders?
Jason
Klauber: This summer I wrote some songs. I had some odd experiences
and some odd relationships. They became songs. They became rock
and roll. It was just so great being in New York, writing rock songs.
Matt was in Brooklyn, living in Williamsburg. We had some ideas,
and we decided we might want to start a band. Then, at the freshman
barbeque, I saw Joe, and he was just sorta sitting there. We went
back to my place. He played bass, I played guitar, and Matt played
drums, and
AS:
Awesome.
JK:
We were thinking about having you as the lead singer again but I
ended up wanting to be the rock star. And its something I
feel bad about. But its okay, I hope
AS:
Naturally.
JK:
I felt really comfortable working with The Holy Cross Liquors with
you as the frontman, but this is just the way The Day Traders are
going to be. And I
Matt
Asti: Page two.
(Joe
laughs and lights a butt)
AS:
Sounds good. So, I want to hear Matt and Joes perspective
on being the rhythm section of this new outfit.
Joe
Beranche: Im excited to work with Matt. Its pretty cool.
MA:
Definitely.
JB:
Its kind of an interesting perspective because Im playing
bass, and Matt is obviously a much better bass player than me.
JK:
Also, Matt and Joe lived together for three years, so they have
that bedroom unit going on.
JB:
Ill say.
AS:
Ill say.
JK:
They could do it in their sleep.
MA:
Thats not true.
AS:
So tell me about the songs, man. Whats your tune Electro-shock
Microphone about?
JK:
Well, theres actually a story for that one. I was at my house
in New York, singing into a microphone, and it wasnt grounded
properly, and I kept shocking my lips.
AS:
That happened to me once at a Holy Cross Liquors show at Ministry.
JB:
Oh yes, I remember that gig.
AS:
I had a big cut on my lip.
JK:
I kept shocking myself really bad. So, I just said electro-shock
microphone in my mouth, and that sorta had some obvious sexual
implications. I mean, the song isnt trying to have any gross
sexual imagery or
MA:
Were not trying to gross anyone out.
JB:
Yeah.
MA:
Its love.
JK:
Its a song about seeing your own masculinity as something
to fear, and as something someone else should fear. Its about
feeling out of control. We all act pious but sometimes your animalistic
side just takes over. Im on the prowl.
AS:
Thats great.
MA:
Love.
JK:
Basically, Im telling a girl to walk away from me.
AS:
Swell. Lets get into some new stuff. What are some of your
musical influences?
JK:
The Stooges have always been one of my favorites. I think that comes
through when Im singing because Iggy Pop is just an amazing
singer. That whole Detroit sound is being re-popularized by bands
like The White Stripes. The rock and roll is very pure, and old
school. The Stooges didnt want to sing about flowers or shit
like that in the late sixties. They were inspired by machines. They
were born working-class in Middle America, and
.
MA:
Like Jason.
(Laughs
abound)
JK: I come from New York City, but I was still influenced by them
the whole time.
JB:
I like Chopin. The Mazurkas are great. I know nothing about pop-rock.
AS:
Matt, how about you? Do you know the bands that Jason is talking
about?
MA:
Um
no, not really. I guess Ive heard The Spooges before
The
Stolling Rones
and The Strite Wipes. They were good. They are
all excellent interpreters of Chopin. I mean, when Piggy Op hits
those nocturnes, its very emotional. And, like Jason said,
if youre playing the piano, thats more than just an
emotional thing
its a very sexual thing, and a very non-sexual
thing at the same time. Thats the dialectic Im going
for in my drumming.
JK:
Its about the sacred and the profane.
AS:
Cool. Any closing remarks?
JK:
Its an honor to be working with a couple of visionaries. I
think when three minds like this come together to create one thing,
and that one thing is rock and roll, theres a lot of power.
AS:
No shit.
MA:
Right.
JB:
Thats true.
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