INTERVIEW WITH BIG 10-4... THE WHOLE BAND!

Orlando-based BIG 10-4 writes some very accessible music, and 2006 marks their major label debut on Universal Records with Testing the Atmosphere... so that was reason for us to fire off a whole pile of questions to the WHOLE band... nifty, eh?

FoundryMusicRob: “Irony is Thick” is about being a Rock Star by night, and working a regular job by day. What are your day jobs, and at what point do you think you’d be willing to give them up and follow music 100%?

Dan Verduin: I worked server/bartender by day while playing and partying like a rock star at night. I would wake up extremely hung over, throw on the same uniform, grab a coffee, and make the money. Right before going to the studio in LA, I just let my phone ring, I scratched my head and said, “Nah, not today.”

Matt Verduin: I’ve had many of day jobs. But as soon as I heard the song my brother was writing, I packed my bags…moved to Orlando… and gave it my all.

Jimmy Russo: My day job like most was serving tables at a Mexican restaurant and it did not take much to get me to quit that job.

Matthew Reed: I never want to give up my day job, I have the best job in the world: I am a musician/rock star!!! I get to create and play music for a living. How many people get to say that? I’ve worked plenty of crappy jobs in my past, and if I had to go back to working them I would probably have to kill myself!!!

FoundryMusicRob: “Walking Disaster” focuses on the self-doubt about making it big in music. So far, have you guys seen the kind of struggle you anticipated? Has it been harder or easier than you expected?

Dan Verduin: It’s pretty much where we have expected it. It’s not really a struggle, it’s a challenge to get that next ear to listen to the music. We know it’s not going to happen over night, best thing we can do is pack the van and bring the show to their city and let this CD spread word of mouth, that’s all we could hope for.

FoundryMusicRob: What was it like working with famous producer Matt Wallace? Were there any misunderstandings or flat out arguments in the studio about how things should go?

Dan Verduin: We didn’t have arguments, we had creative clashes. There were some lessons learned, but nothing we didn’t talk through to get to the compromise. I had an amazing time working with him, he taught me a lot. This was our first major record, I went in realizing, that no matter what I thought I knew, the guy across from me (Matt Wallace) was only going to make me better if I let him. I stood my ground on some things and saw the light on others; I think that kind of chemistry is a must in the studio when being creative.

FoundryMusicRob: Big 10-4 is a HAM Radio sign off. Do you guys actually use HAMs? What are your call signs? Maybe some fans in your area can find you on the airwaves and say hi.

Dan Verduin: We don’t, we carry cell phones now, some even with email. If I did, I would have a name like “The Walking Disaster”.

Matt Verduin: I wish I knew the call sign for crazy women, according to the other band members I could load the airwaves with that one.

Matthew Reed: HAM radios? I don’t think I ever really used one. I keep up with today’s modern technologies such as: the Internet, AIM, telephone, email etc. Most of the fans find me there and keep in touch with me through those avenues.

Jimmy Russo: I like to call people Good buddies and wave at all the truckers we pass on the road to get them to honk the horn at us!

FoundryMusicRob: You guys play sold-out shows in your home area all the time, as well as being regular openers at the local House of Blues. Of all the artists you’ve opened for, which ones were your favorites?

Dan Verduin: We got to open for Something Corporate a couple years back. It was memorable for me because we opened up for one of my favorite bands in front of a sold out UCF Arena, where I went to school. It made me realize we where on our way to doing something cool.

Matt Verduin: Better Than Ezra, the energy and acceptance of the crowd floored me.

Jimmy Russo: my all time favorite is 7M3, they are really cool guys and they write great music.

Matthew Reed: Gin Blossoms, I really enjoyed their music as I was growing up and learning how to play my instrument they were a big inspiration for me. So to play with them on the same stage was awesome! Plus they were all great guys, which is not always the case with rock bands.

FoundryMusicRob: If I may say this without it being taken the wrong way: The bands music is very good, the musicianship and everything is great, you guys are tight, it’s really good music. At the same time though, it sounds very safe, it’s very modern and seems to sound a lot like the rest of the Modern Rock scene. I’m not trying to be a critic, because I think your music really is good, but what separates you guys from the rest of the typical Rock radio acts out there right now?

Dan Verduin: Seems like there is an easy answer but there isn’t. It’s really up to the listener to decide why they think we are different. That’s why they call them genres, either way we are going to fall into one of them. What you consider safe, I consider letting someone into my life through my lyrics.

FoundryMusicRob: All of the bands music seems to come from a very emotional place and every time I notice this in a band, I can’t help but ask this question: When you have to get up there, night after night, and perform the same emotional songs over and over again, doesn’t it ever start to drain you, dwelling on those old feelings?

Dan Verduin: Well each song usually puts a certain movie in your head every night and the topics do hit close to home. But different shows bring different crowd reactions and vibes. Each show presents you a different challenge; it’s not really draining because it boils down to having fun playing rock n’ roll. And over time you find that the songs start taking on different meanings with what’s directly going on in your life at that time.

FoundryMusicRob: You guys are based in Orlando, Florida. With hurricane season getting worse every year, are you at all afraid of your fans (or you guys, for that matter) being literally blown away?

Dan Verduin: I hope not. We went through a couple bad seasons of that mess. I hope this year is easier on everyone. It sucks sitting in your house with no power or water. At least we can see these things coming, I fear earthquakes and twisters. But I hope they do get blown away by the CD.

FoundryMusicRob: The band has 2 brothers, Dan and Matt, and brothers fight, sometimes a lot. Has sibling rivalry ever been a problem in the studio or right before a gig? What’s the worst thing you guys have fought about, band-wise?

Matt Verduin: If a rivalry comes to a head, it is usually addressed immediately, and put behind us. Exactly where they should stay!!!

Dan Verduin: We get along pretty well, growing up together you also figure out what pisses each other off. Now we just try to avoid those things, we also see eye to eye on so much more because of the way that we were raised and it’s always someone to talk to.

FoundryMusicRob: Let’s talk accidents, what’s the worst accident any of you have ever witnessed/been a part of. Disease can also count, but only if it required a trip to the E.R.

BIG 10-4: (no answer, eh? must be an unusually healthy, accident-free bunch of guys... either that or they thought they were above the question. We really hope it wasn't the second one. - SC)

FoundryMusicRob: What are the typical Big 10-4 fans like. If we showed up at one of your gigs, what kind of people should we expect to see?

Dan Verduin: If we did our job on stage you’ll see a bunch of Walking Disasters.

Check out the official BIG 10-4 website at Big10-4.com

...or you can add their MySpace page to yours... you know, as a friend... Check out the myspace page here

Don't forget to check out the band's debut disc, Testing the Atmosphere... in stores now!