Circus! Circus! Interview

Don’t Judge a Band By its Name
Pennsylvania Native’s Cicus!Circus! Are No Laughing Matter

By Matthew Calamia

What’s in a name? Some of the biggest bands in music history have had the strangest names, and have succeeded. Some bands put so much thought into what name sounds cool or tough. Others just look children’s books for inspiration.
That’s what Lancaster, PA band Circus! Circus! Did, and they’ve been happy ever since. I recently had the opportunity to chat with guitarist Justin Smith about their name, the Penn. music scene, their new record and much more.

Compass: First off I just want to say thanks for taking the time to do this for us.
Justin: Thanks to you for getting a hold of us to do this.
C: State the names, ages and what they do in the band.
J: Mike Williams (vocals) and Matt Glassmyer (bass) and myself are all 20, Jason Terry (guitar) is 22 and Evan Dyer (drums) is 23.
C: I have to ask, where did you guys get the name Circus! Circus!?
J: We actually got the idea out of a Dr. Suess book and we just went with that. It was just there and everyone loved it and it stuck.
C: We’ve been a band since March of 2006 and we’re all original members. I left the band after our first tour to pursue school, and Jason joined and took my spot. I rejoined in April of 2007.
C: Does everyone else go to school, or is everyone finished with their education?
J: Evan is photography major at Drexel University and the rest of us just work and focus on the band and its progression right now.
C: You guys are from Lancaster, Penn. How is the music scene there?
J: The music scene here is really different from what it used to be. We had big bands come in and out to small tight venues a long time ago, and then it died down. It’s just us and our friend 1994 and This or the Apocalypse carrying the weight here at home.
C: Sounds a lot like Long Island. Our scene is on a respirator right now.
J: Yeah exactly. I guess that’s just what happens…you get a big scene boost then it just disappears for a while then it comes right back. But Lancaster definitely has great music and has produced some awesome bands.
C: I know August Burns Red is from there…care to name more?
J: Yeah August Burns Red is great. We also have Sadaharu, again 1994 and This or the Apocalypse, Century and a lot more.
C: Your E.P. is called Hut Hut Hike…any story there?
J: It was kind of an inside joke from Evan’s old band Bedford Exit. It’s just something we thought was cool and funny and just had fun with it.
C: Any tours coming up?
J: Yes actually. Right now we’re putting the finishing touches on our debut full length and then once that is released we’re shooting for a full U.S. tour this summer, but until then just weekend tours and in February we’re heading out on a week mini tour to Indiana and back.

C: You guys recently signed to C.I. Records. How have they been to you guys?
J: C.I. has been great. Jeremy (owner) and Jeff (our A&R) are both awesome dudes and they totally take care of us.
C: You guys played with Chiodos recently, who have gotten huge as of late. How was that? Biggest show to date?
J: It was awesome. Huge show [laughs]. Sold out crowd and everyone was intense during our set. We were the only local band on that entire tour.

Check out www.myspace.com/circuiscircusohyeah for music, shows, merch and a whole lot more.