Bassist Drew Parsons of the pop-punk band American Hi-Fi dropped by Kidzworld Chat to answer your questions! Find out what he had to say, right here.
Mercedez: Who are your favorite bands or singers?
Drew: We listen to quite a variety of music, but I would have to go with one of my all-time favorites who is Elvis Costello, who I grew up listening to. But we also listen to The Clash, The Pixies, we love their stuff, this band called Ash. Just lots of stuff.
jacob: What kinds of bands have you had the opportunity to tour with?
Drew: Well, Elvis Costello we got to do two weeks with which was probably the highlight of my touring career. But, we're on the road right now with Bowling for Soup. And we've toured with Eve 6 and Matchbox 20 and Sugar Ray, Our Lady Peace and Everclear. A lot of different bands.
andrea: What is your favorite song to play?
Drew: My favorite song to play... that's tough. I love playing them all, but I think probably Wall of Sound, which is from our first album. It's just kind of a fun, spacey kind of song to play.
Liz: Why and how did you start the band?
Drew: Why? Cuz it's the only thing we know how to do and we started it when we were all friends in Boston and we all played in other bands that toured a lot and put out records. And at one point we were just sitting in Boston and our bands weren't really doing anything so we decided to get together and just play music just for fun - just four friends hanging out and making music and luckily we were able to turn it into a career.
EmoKIdsAreEhhh: Do you consider yourself emo? Why or why not?
Drew: No. I do not consider myself emo cuz I'm not a depressed young person. We're just a pop-rock band. I mean we grew up listening to Cheap Trick and Squeeze and The Clash and things like that. And we just like rock songs with good melodies and I wouldn't consider that emo.
amanda: How did you come up with the name American Hi-Fi?
Drew: Ohhhh... we just kind of just made it up. Band names are really hard to get everybody to decide on and that was one that we all kind of agreed on, so we just stuck with it. Unfortunately there's not a very exciting story about it.
maya: What is your favorite song off the new CD?
Drew: Off the new CD, I love the title track, Hearts on Parade. I think that's a sentimental favorite.
Rose: What bands do you listen to that are popular today?
Drew: I don't listen to a lot of popular music. We were all just saying though that we had a little guilty pleasure with the new Kelly Clarkson single.
jamie: Do you know Hilary Duff?
Drew: I don't! But a friend of mine does. So, I guess I'm just one friend away. Cuz he directed some of her videos.
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