Interview with Digital Summer at Welcome To Rockville

I had the opportunity to interview Digital Summer. The band is made up of brothers Ian and Kyle Winterstein, Guido, and Austin Rios. This interview is definitely one of the most fun interviews I've ever done and I hope you are as entertained reading it as I was giving it. Enjoy!

Any updates on new music?

Ian - We are smack dab in the middle of our tour with Volbeat and Trivium. When we get back to Phoenix in mid May, we are going to sit down for awhile. We've already started the writing process for the new record. We have a few songs demo-ed out. We are going to finish that up, do some more touring and hopefully hit the studio.

Kyle - We are taking our time on this one. Recently, about six months ago, put out an acoustic album. It was more to appease the fans with something between album cycles because we are still riding off Breaking Point, our last album. The title track from that album is our current single on Octane. We are still pushing that cycle and we don't want to jump the gun. We've kind of decided that our next record is going to be with a named producer. It's going to be like we are swinging for the fences with this one. It's going to be the biggest and best that we've ever put out there. We are not jumping the gun. We would rather take our time and make sure we've got exactly what we want. It's like a new identity for the band. We've gone through a lot over this last year and a half to two years and we are being real picky with what we're putting out there this next time around.

Talk about the acoustic album please because I really liked it.

[The whole band mutters responses, such as That's Great, That's awesome, and Thank You. The look on their faces was very appreciative, too.]

Kyle - We always do acoustic stuff with our fans after the shows. Even on this tour. Right now we are out with Volbeat and Trivium. Almost every night after the show, we do a little VIP acoustic session on the bus with 10 to 12 fans. We do a few songs. It's something we started doing a few years back on tour just as "Hey, we're hanging out" thing. It's an experience they really enjoy. It's a different side of the band. Normally, we throw down pretty heavy on stage. But we like doing the softer side of things. We talked about doing [an acoustic album] and we started working on it and we really liked how it was coming together. It was one of those things to where once it started moving, we were like "Shit, yeah, we gotta do more with this. So we did. On a personal level me and Ian, our mom passed away suddenly last August right when we were finishing up that album. That was always her favorite thing that we did. So it was like we had to get it out there as a tribute to our mom and it was that simple.

Aww. Stop! I'll cry! Ok, now I'm just going to free-ball it here. I only had a few questions so I don't really know what else to ask.

Band - Just like all of us, don't worry. [laughs]

Ian - CAN I INTERVIEW YOU?!

Sure! Go for it!

Ian - What's your favorite superhero?

I don't like superheroes. But...

[The whole band gasps]

If I had to pick it would be Captain America because

Austin - Because he's hot?

Ian - Easy, Bud!

No. Because Pearl Jam, in 2003, Pearl Jam is one of my bands, by the way, I follow them around, they used the Captain America shield on one of their t shirts and that's my favorite Pearl Jam shirt.

Kyle - That's a good reason. I like that.

Ian - If you had to choose between a free pony or a new car, what would you choose?

Well, I hate ponies, but my car is ok.

Kyle - Man, she's got this shit down!

[Someone asks Ian what kind of car]

Ian - A Chevy Aveo

I don't know what that is.

Band - We don't either!

I'd take the car because I hate ponies

Ian - What if the pony was going to be murdered?

I don't care. I hate ponies. Ponies are asses!

Band - OHHHHH!!!

Kyle - PETA is coming after you!

I don't care! Screw PETA! I like steak. [laughs]

Ian - (Digital Summer does not endorse that!) I'm Kidding.

Kyle - HOLD ON A SECOND. We are about to add to this interview. If you could sum up Digital Summer in 10 words or less, what would you say? Rick Dejesus from Adelita's Way!

RD - In 10 words or less? You mother fuckers are intense. That's really it

Kyle - We are camping in tents.

[I high five him. Everyone else laughs]

RD - You've never seen a band earn their fucking shit more than these guys. One day you're going to have a firm and people are going to walk in and be like "So, tell me about the music business" and they are going to be like "OK, here's page one.

Ian - Let me tell you about everything we've gone through! The greatest story in rock and roll!  

Kyle - [cuts in while the other guys are talking] Just so you know Dog On A Leash, Adelita's Way, out now!

RD - Alright I'm not going to fuck you guys's shit up. You guys gonna eat after this? What are you guys doing? [laughs]

Ian - We have our own whiskey brand called Head-banger's. drinkheadbanger.com

RD - [walking away] - That shit fucked me up last night! Hey! let's catch up later ok?

Ian - We played with Adelita's Way and New Medicine last night in Destin, Florida. We let them be the taste testers of the new whiskey and needless to say, they are feeling it today. They enjoyed it

Fun fact of the day, my favorite band, don't judge me, is Hanson. They have their own beer and it's called MMMHops.

Ian - They are old enough to have beer now?

Guido - Hold on a minute... MMMHops?

Kyle - That was a lot to take in at once. What did you just say?

[everyone around us is intrigued and laughing]

Kyle - Ok, your favorite band is Hanson? Let's just process that for a moment.

Yes

Ian - I thought Pearl Jam was your favorite band?

They are. I have 13 favorite bands.

Kyle - They are old enough to have their own beer?

Two of them are in their thirties, one is almost in their thirties and between the three of them they have 11 children.

Band - HOLY SHIT!

Kyle - They're Mormon! 11 children?

They are not Mormon.

Ian - They're rabbits!

They are still together, just saying.

Guido - I'm going to check them out and go to a show.

Please do.

Ian - She really just said, "My favorite band is Hanson and they have eleven kids and their own beer."

I don't drink, but their beer is disgusting. But I thought the name was clever.

Ian - MMMHops? Yeah, that is pretty clever.

Kyle - How old are you?

18

Ian - Look at you out here interviewing bands. I want to shake your hand!

Kyle - How did you get here?

Guido - What's your story?

I don't have a freaking idea.

Ian - Well, way to be lost!

Lost in the world!

Ian - Lost in the right place

Austin - Lost In The Echo!

AH! Linkin Park!

Kyle - Are you doing this for school?

Nope. Myself. My blog.

This interview just took a turn for the weird. [Laughs] This is actually one of the most fun interview I think I've done. For the newspaper, we have a certain style we have to follow and it drives me bananas.

Ian - That shit IS bananas.

Kyle - B-A-N-A-N-A-S

OK, Gwen Stefani

Band - That shit is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Ian - Well, thank you very much, Kinsey. This was fun.

Of course!

We Came As Romans Tracing Back Roots Tour The 7 Venue Douglasville, GA 10/26/13

So one of my favorite bands is coming close on a weekend? I am so there. We Came As Romans is one of those bands that, if given the opportunity, I would follow around the world on every tour they go on. I had last seen them at Warped two days after their newest album, Tracing Back Roots, came out. This was a headlining show. The first time I had ever seen them headline too. I was so excited, I bought VIP. The show started really early because it was a festival. There were literally, over 20 bands there. At that point, I was more concerned with the current score of the Alabama vs. Tennessee football game that was going on. (Roll Tide)

The meet and greet was awesome. Even though I have met WCAR numerous times, this time was a lot better. There were only six of us, so we got more personal time with the members. I asked Josh if he would write out several of my favorite song lyrics for me. From Stay Inspired I got him to write "There are greater rewards in stepping outside of your own comfort than there are in never breaking down the walls that you've built," which was my senior quote and I got him to write out "Tonight, when I look into the sky, I know this is why I am alive" from Understanding What We've Grown To Be, which is my favorite song by them. I gave Josh a huge hug and thanked him profusely for taking the time to do that for me. One day, I will have those lyrics tattooed on me somewhere. While Josh was writing out the lyrics, Eric and I talked about football. (Roll Tide.) All of six of us thanked the guys and then we were escorted out.

I went outside and the band that was playing was called Erra. They were really good and the guy next to me was fan-boying the whole time. Following them was a band from Ohio called Danger Kids. Oh my gosh, they had a girl drummer!!! HELL YEAH! I really liked them too. They played

Countdown

We're All In Danger

Paper Thin

Hostage

Light Escapes

Waking Up

Following them was The Color Morale. I swear they had such a huge fan-base at this show. I had heard of them, but never thought to listen to them. Their singer has been through some shit in his life. He is homeless when he is not on tour and he has been through more stuff that I do not really want to go in to here. They played

Smoke and Mirrors

Demon Teeth

Burn Victims (The crowd freaked out)

Steadfast

Strange Comfort

Learned Behavior

Up next was Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! This was the third time I've seen them and they never disappoint. They are the cutest French band ever. Their accents are just.... AH! They played

Restart

Captain Blood

Taking Chances

I Am Nothing Like You

We R Who We R (Ke$ha cover) (Love this cover)

Haters Gonna Hate

In Friends We Trust

The last band before WCAR was Silverstein. Again, I had just seen them at Warped, but by the time they came on, I was ready for WCAR because the temperature had dropped almost 20 degrees since Erra started and I was in Capri's and a short sleeved shirt. But I am totally not complaining. :) They played

Teach (The Chariot cover) (Shane went into a speech about The Chariot and how they were breaking up. Douglasville is their hometown)

Your Sword Versus My Dagger

Massachusetts

Sacrifice

Vices

Stand Amid the Roar

I Will Illuminate

Smashed into Pieces

My Heroine

Smile in Your Sleep (My favorite)

Finally, it was time for We Came As Romans. I was front and center, and I was more than ready. They walked on stage and I melted from sheer happiness. They played

Tracing Back Roots (AH!)

Ghosts

Fade Away

Mis//Understanding

I Survive (Dave and Kyle stood side by side and sang this)

Never Let Me Go (My favorite song from TBR)

Glad You Came (The Wanted Cover) (Crowd dance party)

Roads That Don't End And Views That Never Cease (Crowd freakout)

Present, Future, and Past (My other favorite from TBR)

A Moment

I Will Not Reap Destruction/Beliefs/Intentions/Broken Statues/Stay Inspired/Just Keep Breathing/Understanding What We've Grown To Be (Medley) (This was the first time I had ever heard Stay Inspired, Just Keep Breathing, and UWWGTB live. Those three are my favorites and all could do was stand there, sing, and cry.)

Hope

To Plant A Seed (Featuring Hance Alligood from Woe, Is Me) (The jumps that they do at the beginning are freaking awesome, by the way)

This was by far the best We Came As Romans show I have been to and I have seen them five times. Like I said earlier, if I could follow them around the world on tour, I would because I love them that much. On another note, Alabama won that game. ROLL TIDE! :)