Fresno Famous

No, we haven't given up and neither have these guys. White Flag Waving is one of Fresno's finest emo/punk bands to hit the scene. They haven't been around long, but they have already played with big names, such as Finch. So if you haven't heard of them, where have you been? Check them out NOW!

- What does it mean to be punk/emo?

Adam: To me, punk and emo are two very different things, but to keep a long answer short, I think at the core both share an need for passion in music.
Derek: Uhhhhh....you gotta wear black, grow out your hair and wear tight pants. Just kidding.

- From the ashes of what bands did White Flag Waving emerge?

Adam: Mando and I (Adam) are from A Hero's Farewell and Ben, Alex and Derek are from the Idles. Mando played drums in our last band, but he's our lead singer in WFW.

- Have you given up? Why are you called White Flag Waving?

Adam: Fuck..cause it sounds cool. No, I think Mando came up with the idea in regards to our constant feelings of being stuck in fucked up terrible situations and having nothing to do but move on with our music. I think the name represents how we were all feeling after leaving our last bands and jumping into something like WFW.

- Why is it that only Mando, Ben, and Alex scream? Have Adam and Derek lost their voices?

Adam: No, its just that Adam is tone death and Derek looks funny when he sings. At shows though, you can't stop any of us from screaming.

- Are Adam and Ben the angry ones in the band? We hear Adam breaks guitar strings and Ben beats his guitar.

Adam: Actually, I think Ben and I are the most laid back, I think the comment is in regards to our lack of discipline, technique and musicianship.
Derek: Adam even breaks guitars at least at bachelor parties(ha ha) but he's not very angry and neither is Ben.

- What sets you apart from all the other bands out there?

Adam: We don't wear make-up, have comb-overs, matching Hurley shirts or myspace events. Ok, that last part may be a lie, but we think we bring more energy and passion to the stage than a lot of local Fresno bands.
Derek: I'd like to say our sound and songwriting.

- How do you guys write songs? Is there a lot of clashing? Who does most of the writing?

Adam: I think most of it just comes together. What was frustrating about our other bands was the structure of how songs were written. Since we've been a band, we have never consciously told anyone else how to play their instruments. I think in practice someone comes with a riff or an idea and everyone gets to contribute from there. The only clashing then, comes when we want Alex to come to practice or when Derek hits his drums before anyone else is ready. That fucking pisses us all off.

So we've heard you've done some recording and have a demo/CD floating around.
- How was it to record?
- Who did you work with?
- What kind of sound were you going for?
- Did you accomplish this sound?
- How did you feel about the finished product?

Adam: Recording was great and really quick. We recorded with our friend Justin Richardson at his studio Flaming Monkey Stick (don't ask me) and I'm not sure what sound we were really going for, other than the hope that we could capture the energy we have had in practice. In all honesty, we've only been a band for a year and we have never had set practice times. We all work and go to school and to be completely honest, I was half expecting to go into the studio and be told most of what we have didn't work. I think Justin did a great job and was very patient with us for the weekend and more as he worked on the mastering. But overall I'm very happy for what it is.

These last couple of months you've had some big shows. Which show was your favorite and why?

Adam: I think this question may be the most diverse in our band, but for me it was definitely the Valley Arena show at Club Fred's. It was the first time we felt like a real band and the guys in Valley Arena were awesome. The first house show we did with our pals Middle Class Mile was also very special to me because I let a bunch of strangers into my house. There are also some promoters around town who make bank off of local bands and claim to support the scene when it is just a joke. I believe a lot of the shows we play make us extremely accessible to kids in the area.
Derek: Finch-it was the most amazing crowd we've ever had. They were clapping along and going nuts in the mosh pit.

- Favorite place to play and why?

Derek: The Belmont, it feels like home.

- Favorite band(s) to play with?

Adam: Scabies, Middle Class Mile
Derek: The Valley Arena, October Sky,and Nearmiss and oh yeah Finch.

- How does the band "express" itself during a performance?

Adam: Someone once told me it was "controlled chaos" on stage. Others have described drunken debacles. I think everyone should come check us out to figure it out for themselves.
Derek: Go nuts, play as if your last show, give it everything you've got.

- Craziest thing that has every happened at a show?

Adam: I didn't break a string last show, after that I plead the fizzie.
Derek: Adam's amp blowing up in his face and almost scolding Mando. Adam's amp literally blew up in his face.

- What's in the future for this band?

Adam: For me, everything. I'm putting a free ride to school on the side for this and pretty much everything else. I hope to keep playing locally and hopefully begin branching out. We have a show in Hanford on January 28th.
Derek: Hopefully something bigger than Fresno.

- One thing you must accomplish?
Adam: Summer Tour 2006.
Derek: A drum sponsorship.

Thanks to White Flag Waving for the interview.
Check them out at www.myspace.com/whiteflagwaving