Ben recently did a couple of interviews on different websites and about wildly varying topics, but they’re both worth posting about, so here it goes:  a Ben Bridwell interview double-dose!

First, from the Village Voice’s article on Archers of Loaf, in which Ben pays homage to the rockers from North Carolina:

Even if I had two other hands, I couldn’t count my favorite Archers songs on them. Getting prepared for this [interview] I just listened to “All Hail the Black Market” from the Greatest of All Time EP and that’s always been one of my favorite songs. I actually got to hear them play that the other night, I was surprised they pulled it out.

He continues:

When writing for our first album i was messing around with any instrument i could find and a delay pedal to make up for my lack of ability. I picked up the bass guitar and with the delay, basically ripped off the sound of “White Trash Heroes.” That song was completed and called “Our Swords” on our first album. Probably need to get some royalty checks out to those dudes!

The whole interview (which also includes quotes from Tim Harrington from Les Savy Fav and Craig Finn from The Hold Steady) can be read here, so check it out!

Part two of the interview double dose comes from the Aquarian:

Do you think that because you learned how to play guitar when you started the band that it enhanced your writing, as there were no preconceived playing styles or notions?

Yeah, that was kind of true. It didn’t seem to be my best asset, that I can tell ya (laughs). But now it’s funny.  Since I learned how to play a C chord I’m trying to forget it so I can get back to whatever the magic was that I had on the first record… No, not really (laughs). But seriously, I’ve been an idiot savant sometimes in the writing process. I mean I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing.  So I just kind of looked for a melody anywhere I could find it. Now it’s structured like, “Oh a fucking C chord, or a G chord,” you know? And I’m constantly playing other instruments that I don’t know how to really play well just to see if I can get some of those vibes back into what I’m doing now.

What is the favorite road restaurant on tour, Waffle House or Cracker Barrel?

Waffle House all the way, man. That’s where I learned to read by looking at the menu! (Laughs) I swear to God, at least one meal a week was coming from there when we were kids! I actually live right down the street from one now and I’m so excited because I can sneak off real quick and grab a bite before the kids wake up.

There’s way more to that interview, so you should go read the whole thing by clicking here!

I really hope you’re all having a great day out there!