guitar.com: Welcome! This is the Guitar.com chat with Matthew Good Band! Dave is on the line

musicchatter2 asks: What is your ultimate goal as a band?

Dave Genn: Well, a lot of ways, we've achieved our goal which is to make records we're proud of. We feel that we want to make records we're proud of.

theokcomputer asks: Out of all the guitarists you know, who do you think you resemble the most, artistically?

DG: That's a really tough question. I don't necessarily play like, I think I play like a poor man's Johnny Marr.

mgbgurl91684 asks: What's your favorite song to play live??

DG: We've got two that are generally favorites. The first is Giant, it's 6 minutes long and we sort of manage to get all our styles into one song. The other is Suburbia, Matt puts the guitar down and just takes the microphone, it breaks the set up nicely.

theokcomputer asks: What's the downside of being a successful music artist? in other words, the downside of fame (basically)?

DG: First of all, I don't really consider myself famous. The travel and being away from friends and loved ones. The hour and a half that your on stage is great, the other 22 1/2 hours can get monotonous. The time away from home is the worst part, but that being said, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

thecrazyfroggy asks: Why are you guys releasing material to the states after such a long time?

DG: The answer lies in the nature of the business. Our record with Atlantic is our third American record [label], our first, Private Music, was folded into a New Age label. The next was on Mercury,it was bought by Universal in the merger, we decided not to release it at that time. Beautiful Midnight is being released later in America because we wanted to make sure we really had a home and I think that we have a label that really supports us now.

nightstorm126 asks: Hey Dave, I'm at school right now so I'm actually missing this. Anyhoo, I was just wondering why you've chosen your Gibson as your guitar of choice? -Melissa

DG: I've been playing Gibsons since the early 90s, my first was a Les Paul copy. When I briefly had a day job, I saved up for a Les Paul and have been playing it ever since. I keep coming back to the Les Paul because it feels right and is diverse enough.

theo_is_god asks: Whats the deal with all the "Matt Good has left the band" rumours?

DG: I'm not sure who started that, but I have a good idea. It may be a case of someone sitting at home bored, trying to start a rumor that will start some shit. Don't believe everything you read. I guess if Matt was leaving the band, we'd probably have to change the name :)

smileyg11 asks: What inspired you to be in a band?

DG: I played music all my life, my mom drove me to piano lessons from the time I was 6, I started guitar at nine and played in bars at 15. I stuck with it, even though I knew chances of making a living out of it were slim because I couldn't think of anything else to do...

stefanievancouver asks: which is harder to learn - piano or guitar?

DG: Piano is a very technical instrument, if you learn piano first, you can learn any other instrument twice as fast. Guitar is your ear and small muscle memory, it's a desire and a want to do it. Most guitarists I know aren't very technically minded, they play by feel and those to me are the best guitarists.

guitargeeek asks: What's the best thing about working with the other members of the band?

DG: Obviously, we're all very good friends, the fact that we all have good senses of humor makes it a lot easier to deal with the travel. The best thing is that we trust each other, musically.

girlnextdoor1822 asks: Lately I have been hearing about a argument that you and Our Lady Peace have been having about your music and I was wondering If that was all solved and if you get along with Our Lady peace?

DG: I've only met Mike Turner of Our Lady Peace. I met him in December and we got along famously. We actually had quite a good laugh about the entire situation.

gennbitch asks: What do you think of britney spears, n sync, etc.......... entertainers that don't write their own music, or play their own stuff, or do anything but dance and lip sync live... what would you call those kind of acts?

DG: Those are entertainers. If I could paraphrase something Matt's said before, it's similar to artists of the 50's where there were singers and there were writers. Pop performers are sort of a stepping stone for young music lovers, as they get older and form opinions maybe they will get interested in artists that sing about something other than boys and girls. Pop is so polarized right now between the Christina's and the Bizkits. But good luck to all those kids, you gotta do something after the Mouseketeer Club.

guitargeeek asks: What CD are you listening to the most right now? Any recommendations?

DG: I saw Coldplay and Richard Ashcroft, both were great shows. The records of the last year, Kid A by Radiohead, I liked the Fiona Apple record, At the Drive In. I really liked the Eminem record as well.

stefanievancouver asks: What's your favorite book?

DG: I have to admit I read mostly non-fiction, mostly biographies of artists, producers, musicians. I have a one track mind. I did most of my fiction reading when I was younger. The last book I read is called Inside Tracks by Richard Duskin, it's a series of interviews. If I could recommend one book: Everything You Need to Know About the Music Industry by Donald S. Passman.

guitargeeek asks: Who was the first band you ever liked? at what age did you write your first song?

DG: My piano teacher, when I was 6 or 7 made me a tape of Sergeant Pepper, the first group I realized the greatness of was the Beatles. I wrote my first song when I was 8, it was called You're Not My Kind of Girl and it sucked.

almenius asks: How do you think touring in the US is going to be different than in Canada?

DG: It's tough to speculate. I expect that we'll be playing smaller rooms to less people. Less snacks, less beer and less groupies.

mgbgurl91684 asks: Do you ever get ticked off by any of the other band mates?

DG: Being in a band is like having 3 wives, and none of them put out. At the end of the day the relationship will always remain good, you're all working towards the same goal: to make the best music possible.

mgb_85 asks: What does the whole Suburbia song really symbolize and mean?

DG: That's a better question for Matt, only he knows what the lyrics mean. I think it's about Matt's upbringing in Suburbia and he felt trapped in a place where people's goal were very simple and unimaginative.

mgb_girl04 asks: What was it like to play in Munich?

DG: Munich was fantastic. We played in a huge complex that used to be the biggest potato factory in East Germany. Since the wall came down they made it into this entertainment district. It was uneventful, but at the end of the other band's set Ian got onstage and did a percussion set and we've never let him live it down since.

petite_winnie asks: Do you have some ritual before your show ??

DG: Not really. One thing that happens since we started playing bigger shows is that none of us drink anything but water until we're finished. In the earlier days, I might have had a few beers to loosen up, but now I try to be as sharp as possible, and save the celebrating for after the gig.

babygretch asks: Dave... do you like the way Atlantic remixed BM? TO me it just sounds different...

DG: It just sounds different to me as well. There's aspects to both that I like and dislike, the new mixes are a little more exciting and to the point.

jkanakis2 asks: Where do you wan to be in 10 years?

DG: Glastonbury, Edgefest, Woodstock, Rock M Ring. Watching my favorite band.

babygretch asks: Dave do you still get the same rush on stage as in the old days?

DG: Even more so now, especially when the crowds are big. There's nothing like playing for 45,000 people.

lying_for_a_living asks: Dave, what effect do you use at the end of Out of Style, for the high part? It's been killing me, trying to figure out.

DG: The solo is played w/ a Boss vibrato pedal on a Les Paul through a mesa boogie, and the last part, I use a whammy pedal to do the dive bomb effect.

mygyoza asks: What were your previous day jobs?

DG: I spent most of my 20s teaching guitar and piano, this job really helped develop my playing and especially my ear. Before that I delivered pizza for two days and bussed tables for 2 days. When I knew I could teach I knew I could always fall back on something.

almenius asks: If you could change one thing about the band, anything, what would it be?

DG: I wish Matt looked like the singer from Destiny's Child.

almenius asks: What do you do when you are not in the studio or writing songs?

DG: I spend a lot of time watching hockey and noodling on guitar. I am a social creature, so I go out w/ friends and shoot the shit. I also see a lot of bands.

naughty_angel_2069 asks: Dave, what was the worst concert that u have ever played?

DG: There's been so many... Some of the shows in Germany, my amp wasn't working but somehow we made it through.

stefanievancouver asks: What do you miss most about vancouver?

DG: Everything. Vancouver's the most beautiful city I've seen so far. I miss the ocean, the mountains, my friends, family, girlfriend, as well as the general laid back attitude we have on the west coast.

skysosmrt asks: What are the chances of another single off of Beautiful Midnight? Any more videos?

DG: That depends on how well things go with Hello Timebomb. We have videos already for Load Me Up, Apparitions, Everything is Automatic, Strange Days. We have the supply if there is a demand.

mgb_gurl19 asks: Do you prefer rock festivals or the club scene?

DG: There's good things about both. Festivals are great because it's like summer camp for musicians, you can spend all day in the sun talking to other musicians about amps and beer. The club is great because when you're that close, there's a certain energy exchanged that is exciting.

mptur2000 asks: Are you still composing songs for the piano, i heard you play at the Park Lane in 1989?

DG: I noodle around on the piano still but lately, I've been concentrating on the guitar. There's something so much more satisfying about holding a guitar than sitting behind a piano.

berk24 asks: Will there be any tv appearances?

DG: None scheduled right now but I'd love to play on SNL or Letterman.

skysosmrt asks: What's the most fun thing to do while on tour?

DG: Sleep. Play. The only things to do on tour.

mgb_gurl19 asks: Who has been your favourite band to tour with and why?

DG: We've had a great time with Big Wreck, they're a great band and really fun guys. Silverchair, a few years ago as they had just turned 19 and were on their first tour without chaperones. We were able to teach them that Peach Schnapps is not a good idea.

partygirl3165 asks: How do you deal with your crazy fans?

DG: Try and be as polite and accommodating as possible, because without them, I'm just a piano teacher. We are going to be on the road as much as possible trying to make friends and fans across the beautiful US.

roller_skate_skinny asks: How would you describe your music?

DG: Matt describes us as Classic Rock for the future, I think that's quite cheeky, but I can't come up with anything better. To all you internet heads out there, go out and buy our record instead of downloading it because that will allow us the budget and means to tour and hopefully come to your town to play for you.

guitar.com: THANKS FOR COMING GUYS!

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