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The New Archaic - Age doesn’t mean a thing

Not old enough to visit a happy hour. Not old enough to sell merchandise at majority of their shows. Does any of this really matter? Obviously it doesn’t as The New Archaic (Ar-ka-ic) just picked up the ‘Best New Artist’ award at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards. These young Encinitas rockers are quickly making a name for themselves in a city filled with promising indie rock bands.

 “We are allowed to play at all the 21 and up venues, but often times we have to hang out outside afterwards, and someone over 21 has to sell the merch inside for us. Kind of a bummer, but soon enough we'll be able to, or at least I will. Joe and Sean are 19 (soon to be 20 I think) and Tim is 16,” says the band’s lead singer, Tolan Shaw.

The band formed two years ago and their first show was only a little over a year ago, yet The New Archaic has already opened for Switchfoot at Switchfoot’s charity surf contest this past summer. I am confident that you’ll thank us later for turning you onto this young up-and-coming band! 

We talked with Joe Harrison who also plays guitar for the legendary punk band, The Adolescents.  
What is something about San Diego that only a local would know?
Juanitas!!! (A gem of a taco shop in Encinitas.)

What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
I guess it’s mostly pop and indie rock with a blue note. We try not to limit ourselves; there are definitely elements of many other genres.

Who are your major influences?
We all have different musical tastes but I think our common ground is with bands like The Beatles, Bowie, The Pixies, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, etc. Also writers like Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, George Orwell, Chuck Palahniuk and Aldous Huxley. I’d like to think we’re all very open-minded.

Then of course, how did you guys come up with The New Archaic as the name for your group?
We were stumped for a while on a band name but eventually Tolan spit it out. I really liked it because it sounded like something new mixed with something old, which I guess would describe us.

What is The New Archaic bringing to the music scene?
I’d like to think that we bring an interesting take on a genre that has been taken the piss out of. We put a lot into our live show and really try to make it an interesting experience.

What separates you guys apart from every other band out there?
Great attention to detail. Also, we try to use interesting song structures and meter changes. We’re all multi-instrumentalists.

Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Usually one person will have an outline and we’ll develop it together, so it’s kind of a collective effort.

What is your most recognizable song?
Not quite sure. We’ve heard different things from different people. I think the contenders are “Silent Skies,” “What Happens Next” and “Never Look Back.”

Who writes your songs?
So far I think we have all contributed an equal amount. Tolan writes most of the lyrics and I do most of the ‘bells and whistles’ so to speak. We all get our two cents in.

What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
Elephants, long walks on the beach, candles with fragrance; they’re all a bunch of gibberish. I guess they can mean whatever you want them to.

Do you think these topics will change over time?
Maybe. If you want them to.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
We are still working on it, but our songwriting has definitely matured overall. I think our sound is definitely more focused now, but not too focused to the point where everything sounds the same.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
Two of them. First, coordinating schedules since we are all busy college and high school students. Second, trying to stay on the same page musically. We all have different visions and it’s hard to make them work together but I think in the end that’s what makes our sound unique.

Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
So far so good. Compromising and staying organized. Well, kind of...

How is San Diego’s music scene?
Definitely fruitful. Lots of great bands and artists new and old. Favorites include the Zeros, Barney Kessel, Transfer, Pocket, Grand Ole Party, and Delta Spirit.

Where is your favorite venue to play at?
Anywhere that’s all ages. We can’t legally be inside 21 and up venues in San Diego because of liquor laws which is a real drag. We pretty much have to load in, play, load out and that’s it. I think it’s a big load of bullshit, but I guess that’s how it goes.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
We usually have a band séance with candles and a Ouija board.

Any crazy groupie or fan stories?
One time Tim hooked up with a tranny; actually that didn’t really happen. We’re pretty boring.

To date, what has been some of your career highlights?
We opened for Switchfoot this summer at their annual Bro-Am event at Moonlight Beach. We all grew up in Encinitas so it’s kind of our stomping grounds. That was a lot of fun; definitely a winner for me.

All-time low as a group?
When Dillon forgot his bass...

What do you all enjoy doing for fun?
Sean’s a really great skater, and Tolan shreds basketball. I think me and Tim pretty much stick to music. I’m kind of a film buff.

What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
It’s kind of a weird thing, because playing and creating music together is definitely the most rewarding thing. If we weren’t having fun and enjoying ourselves it would be senseless. But at the same time we also need some kind of exterior motive to keep putting our efforts into it. So I guess it would be nice for a little bit of the fortune part, but we’re not too worried about it. As long as we can make people happy through music I think we’re stoked; and world domination.

What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Be persistent, play as much as you can, and don’t compromise your sound for anyone; unless it’s Slash!

What else should we know about you guys?
We don’t bite…hard.

Upcoming ventures/shows/what’s next?
We are planning to go back into the studio to record throughout January. Tolan will be leaving to travel for a few months, so we’ll be on hiatus until early May when we plan to release our new material and a summer tour to support it. We’ll be doing a few local shows to send him off, so check our MySpace for all the details. MySpace.com/TheNewArchaicMusic