Fun pop-punk band Midtown took the stage at FallFest on Oct. 3 to show off its tunes and grooves to the UCSD crowd. But there were still a few pressing issues. Like, who really sang that “”Real World/Road Rules Challenge”” song? Why are there amputees trying to beat each other up in a gay Spanish bar? The Guardian sat down with three of the four members of Midtown, Gabe Saporta, Rob Hitt and Tyler Rann, and found out what really goes on in new up-and-coming bands.
MTV Tunesmiths: Hot rockers best known for Real World/Road Rules theme.
Guardian: People have compared you to bands like Jimmy Eat World and Blink 182 and that whole genre. How do you guys feel about that?
Gabe: I think just that comparison in itself is a problem, because I don’t think Jimmy Eat World and Blink 182 are in the same genre at all. But, you know, I think it’s cool.
Rob: It’s more like we bridge a gap between a band like Blink and Jimmy Eat World and that’s definitely true of our earlier stuff.
G: What are your biggest influences for your music?
Gabe: Oh, I don’t even know who our influences are at the moment.
Tyler: I think our influences now are drugs. Drugs and hookers. Male hookers. Gigolos! I mean for me, I saw this musical, and it took place in a gay Spanish bar and it was a love story. But the persons in the bar, they were amputated, right above the knee. And they were wheeling around in these carts, and they would try and get in fistfights with each other because they were all in love with the same central character. But the carts were too large and they couldn’t physically reach each other. So they would just kind of bump with their hands and they couldn’t reach to fight. I think that that whole turmoil and inner angst works their way in people’s minds
Rob: I think it serves as a metaphor for the trials and tribulation of lots of groups.
Tyler: Like you’re always kind of butting heads but you’re not Š you can’t reach.
Rob: For other bands in this genre, I think we’ve definitely got more of an East Coast flavor, because we’ve been influenced by bands from there.
Tyler: We have the fever for the flavor. We go into disco freakout on stage. It has to do with my shirt.
G: “”The Next John Travolta?”” [points to the shirt] ‹ as in “”Grease?””
Tyler: You know, it says a lot about a person with a shirt like this, and which movie do they think I’m referring to. Somebody in the other place said, “”Does that mean one day you’re going to get bloated and out of work?”” And I’m like, “”Possibly.””
G: How did your parents feel about you dropping out of Rutgers [University]?
Gabe: They weren’t cool about it at first, especially my parents who were like Š “”We’ve worked real hard for you to get an education, and now you’re throwing it all away.”” But I think once they realized we were serious about this and we weren’t just doing this half-assed Š
Tyler: We used the full ass.
Gabe: They were more supportive, especially after they see what we’ve accomplished.
G: How did you feel about dropping out? Were you thrilled?
Gabe: College wasn’t necessarily Š right for everyone Š I wasn’t particularly thrilled with college; I think we’ve learned so much more through this.
Rob: I mean, we’ve had times, especially when we go home and visit and see our friends go to college parties Š and we’re like “”Fuck! We never really had a chance to do any of this.””
Tyler: And then we realize how much better our life is! Like, wow, it’s really cool hanging out at someone’s house drinking from a keg of beer. No, but it’s weird, because you grow up in a much different way. Even now, our friends and peers have graduated and have jobs, and you know, it’s different.
G: Do you plan on going back at all?
Tyler: I’m going to donate a library at some point, and get an honorary degree.
G: So you did the “”Real World/Road Rules Challenge”” theme song?
All: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Tyler: What happened is, there’s this other band of guys who are really good-looking. I mean, I was surprised at how good-looking they are. They pull it off pretty well.
Gabe: When that was happening, we were all sunbathing on the coast of Ibiza with spider-monkeys, and tripping on acid.
G: So, what sparked your interest in vegetarianism and animal rights?
Tyler: I think I can sum it all up in the words of a really wise prophet Š a man named Elvis Presley. He said “”Don’t be cruel.”” And that’s what we do ‹ we avoid cruelty.
Gabe: That is not true, because I fucking hate people.
Tyler: Well, not the animals! That’s the thing ‹ it’s unnecessary to eat animals for survival.
G: Who is the best band you have played with?
All: Jimmy Eat World.
Rob: They’re so huge, and on top of all of it, they’re really down-to-earth guys. And on top of that, live ‹ they’re flawless. They’re aggressive and chaotic, and at the same time just have great structure.
Tyler: They change. They grow musically and at the same time make their audience grow with them, so they’ll always remain relevant. That’s really important, you know, because you have to change yourself to make music; you have to keep challenging people. Very few bands do that, a lot of bands just go “”Oh, we found these hit songs, and now we’re just going to remake it for the next thirty years or something.”” Like, look at Radiohead. They make an album, and its called the greatest album of the 20th century, and they go and Š well, the hell with it. We’re going to do something completely different. That takes balls. And I appreciate that as a listener because I want to know what they’re up to next; I want them to take me to the next place.
G: Where’d you get your name from?
Tyler: My parents gave me mine.
