THE AFTERS, Interviewed

www.theafters.com

by Ryan Richardson

Our purpose is not to be rock stars. Our purpose is not to be famous. All that stuff is meaningless. Who are we kidding? We are here to know God and to make Him known and that's what we should live our lives for.

God works in mysterious ways. He even uses java if need be.

Having seen this "new band" called The Afters at two shows as part of the Jeremy Camp/MercyMe tour, I had the pleasure of sitting down with a band that reflects much of what we like to support here at MDM4M. Ordinary guys with extraordinary vision. Get to know lead singer Josh Havens and his band, The Afters - what Starbucks has brought together...

Ryan Richardson: For the people that haven't yet been to the site or read the bio, how and where did the four of you meet?

Josh Havens: : Well, we met at Starbucks in Texas. I was working there, and I knew Matt our guitar player from high school. He came in one day looking for a job, and I put in a good word for him. So we started working together and he'd bring his guitar - we'd make lattes and play songs in between. The manager would get on our case a bit, but the customers loved it. They started asking when we were going to have a concert.

Out of that, we were asked to do a show for a missions conference at Dallas Theological Seminary. We did an acoustic show, and it was overwhelming - people were asking were they could see a show. We stared wondering if this was what God had for us to do - there was a definite chemistry there. We worked out some more songs and then booked a club called The Door. Our first concert, somehow, there were 300 people there. Word of mouth and people kept inviting people.

It was The 77's that brought us our bass player. I was working at Starbucks and we had gotten a show opening for The 77's. The 77's are like The Beatles to me, and we didn't want to play an acoustic set at such an important gig. We needed a bass player, and I mentioned that to Brad, another guy I worked with, because I knew he was a guitar player for an amazing blues band. I told him we were opening for The 77's, and found out he was a huge fan. So I asked him if he could learn the bass in a week? He learned the songs for the show, which unfortunately was cancelled for transportation problems, but... we had a bass player. And again, we went back to Starbucks and found our drummer as well.

RR: Who are your influences?

JH: I grew up on Christian and classical music. My dad was a phenomenal classical organist and jazz pianist. I was really into Michael W. Smith in the early days - The Big Picture was a great album. When I started branching out, I was listening to Steve Taylor, The Choir, Chagall Guevara, Adam Again - that was a really great time in music that influences us in what we're doing now. We're also liking the classic and current British bands - The Beatles, Coldplay, and I can't get enough of the new Keane record.

I have a hard time comparing your sound when people ask. I hear subtle nods to Train, Coldplay, King's X, The Choir and even Extreme, but you seem to have developed a sound that is uniquely yours. How did you find that sound when you were recording I Wish We All Could Win?

Every band hopes to write something that is unique to them. For us, it's just an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as those bands. We have so much respect for those musicians and their influences. It's hard when describing a new band, because people want references to what they already know. A lot of people have said we're like Smashing Pumpkins meets Coldplay.

RR: How is the Undone Tour going (with MercyMe and Jeremy Camp)?

JH: The MercyMe guys are such pros at what they do - you won't find better people on this planet. They are so good at what they do - they are phenomenal musicians with hearts for Christ. They really are authentic and genuine and a lot of fun. We've learned so much from them being on the road.

RR: What has been happening with the record since it released? ---> PAGE 2