SiLVERSTEIN interview
    No secret that those guys from Canada are one of the biggest emocore acts in these days! 
    Matter of fact` when kids got your band name tattoed on their skin you probably made it 
    somehow... hopefully that`s not all! We caught the man behind the drums (Paul Koehler) 
    to have a short conversation about his band... 

fRk: So your new album "18 candles - the early years" is coming out soon. What can we expect it to sound like? Paul: Well, it's really a collection of old material. It's from our first two EPs before we signed to Victory Records two years ago. And then it's got two live tracks, one acoustic track, so it's just a little bit of mix of a bunch of actual things people wanted. We thought to put together as one make a cd and release it intirely for the fans. Yeah that's basically what we're doing with it.

    fRk: So I noticed a difference between the old album and the new stuff you did. 
    I just checked your myspace and thought your new stuff is a little bit more melodic...

    Paul: Yeah, I mean, we really matured in the new album and kind of explored a kind of softer,
    poppie elemnt on a big time.

    fRk: So you're constantly touring all over the world. Have you ever experienced something
    like a "culture shock"?

    Paul: I mean everyday can be really weird sometimes. We've going to Japan for the first time. 
    That's going to be the most shocking of them all. It's going to be really different. I mean we're 
    still really excited to go. Should be fun though. I like culture shock, I think it can be really 
    exciting. It diversifies you as a person. 

    fRk: So when you're on tour, do you miss anything from Canada?

    Paul: I miss my friends and family. Pretty much those people that you can't be around with 
    all the time. 

    fRk: So do you remember the last time you slept at home?

    Paul: Yeah, I've been home for three days short time ago... 

    fRk: What does you're usual day on tour look like?

    Paul: I mean you wake up, you usually explore the city a bit, explore the club, load in, sound 
    check, then you get ready and hang out with the band, do vocals and stuff, then the show 
    starts, then you kind of do the show stuff, then late at night, you really go and hang out, 
    you kind of occupy yourself by going downtown. 

    fRk: Don't you ever get tired of it? 

    Paul: I mean you're in a different city, see different people each day.

    fRk: If you weren't as successful as you are right now with your band, what would have 
    possibly become of you? 

    Paul: I mean we'd all probably gone to school, we'd gotten jobs, it would be pretty boring. 
    We're pretty much happier with what we're having.

    fRk: So how old are you now?

    Paul: Well, we're each from 22 to 25. 

    fRk: So yesterday I went to your website and saw that you have a section about tattoos. 
    So what do you think of them? These guys are getting your material and stuff on your skin?

    Paul: Well, it's pretty crazy. It's always shocking when you meet somebody new that has 
    a tattoo, but I mean it's an ultimate fan dedication that we can be expected of a fan. 

    fRk: One other thing, I just read that your singer won't play if someone smoked tonight. 

    Paul: Usually, it's because our singer has asthma - Shane. And it really hurts his throat when 
    someone smokes. (Last time when you played at the Underground here in Cologne, it was the 
    same way. They even had a huge sign on the door saying "no smoking") Yeah,we had a sign 
    out. Well, people over here smoke a lot. But anywhere in North America they're smoke-free 
    now. So it's not even an issue. I mean in Europe you guys smoke all the time. 

    fRk: Where does your name come from, what does it mean - besides,... 
    how do you pronounce it? 

    Paul: It's Silverstein [Silversteen]. I know some Germans call us Silverstein [Silverstein] 
    but everyone else knows us as [Silversteen]. And it's from the author of Shel Silverstein. 
    He's kind of our favourite writer.

    fRk: I also read that Shane has his own record label called Verona Records. 
    Do you know anything about it?

    Paul: A little bit. Yeah, I mean he started it up. Just to bring out some local bands and stuff. 
    And just start to get them started.

    fRk: What kind of bands are on that label?

    Paul: I mean usually emocore.

    fRk: Where do you see yourself in a year? Where do you want to be, what do you want to do?

    Paul: In a year? Probably not much different from right now. Probably still touring all over.

    fRk: Are you straight edge? Or vegetarian?

    Paul: Yeah, our whole band is vegetarian. Shane and me and Bill we're straight edge.

    fRk: So why do you that?

    Paul: Because we want to.

    fRk: Aha... well, thanks for the interview.

    Paul: So are you going to stay for the show tonight? ( - of course!!)  Cool, it will be fun.

    text: diana, frankie