Interview: November Trials

Recently I gave a speech in my speech class about cross cultural communication, based largely on the premise that I had been a T.A. to 4th graders who could not speak English very well. I didn't do to well on that speech. On a related note, November Trials, the band that could very well have been called December Smiles, continues to consistently amaze me, something few local acts have done since the late Clinton Administration. I cornered Ian Silber, guitarist extraordinaire in a bar and made him drink with me all night long. Well, in a manner of speaking.

Tommy: First of all, I really like November Trials, my favorite local band in a long time. Nice guys too. Do you consider your band "keeping it real"?

Ian: Hmmm...In the punk sense?

Tommy: Just in a general sense.

Ian: Well, if dreams of signing to a HUGE label and only playing stadium shows is keeping it real, then yeah we're keepin it real! No, but really we don't really care about that stuff. We just make music and hope it pleases people and it if doesn't, oh well.

Tommy: Definitely pleases me. How did you guys get together? What was the impetus? Just for fun? Had something to say? Wanted to get bitches?

Ian: Well we started out as a four-piece so Morgan wasn't singing, he was just on bass.

Tommy: I can't imagine a November Trials without Morgan singing by the way...

Ian: Our lead-singer was a bit flakey and consumed in work and friends, so we kinda just started a new thing we started writing songs under the same name and played a 1 or 2 shows under the same name, being Jerk Dave. Then we decided to change the name.

Tommy: Who came up with the name? It's got a very melancholy ring to it.

Ian: But we were all close friends and went to school with each other, so we just decided to make music, that's how us members got together ah, the name knew that one was coming. I came up with the name and I Didn't realize it had that sort of ring to it when i came up with it. Oh well, it's not meant to be a sad or depressing thing.

Tommy: Nothing wrong with being melancholy unless you over do it.

Ian: I just love the month of November. I think we all do.

Tommy: November, why?

Ian: Thanksgiving... the weather...It's my favorite month and things seem to go well that month.

Tommy: What's your ideal woman like?

Ian: Really stupid and really pretty. (laughter)

Tommy: You too? Can i assume Morgan and Max like the same?

Ian: Morgan and Max don't like girls.

Tommy: What a surprise...Or is it?

Ian: (laughter) They might get mad if you publish that.

Tommy: What's the songwriting process? Who is the muse behind the machine?

Ian: It's all me baby no i wish usually, we just start jamming, if you will, and we'll form an intro or verse, and kinda create off of that and after awhile Morgan will chime in with some vocals but other then the vocals, the songs are written by the entire band, and we all help arrange each instrument like Max will suggest that we play one thing twice or something like that.

Tommy: Ah, even Max does something

Ian: Yeah, even the drummer. he helps a lot actually

Tommy: What do you think about public transportation?

Ian: I'm down with it Max has learned to love it

Tommy: And would you say a guy standing about 5 foot 7 with no license (EDITORS NOTE: I NOW HAVE MY LICENSE) is undeniably sexy to the ladies?

Ian: That couldn't be more true.

Tommy:If you could set up a tour/festival type thing, what 5 bands would you invite to tour with you?

Ian: Nice. Well, I'd have two categories I think.

Tommy: Aight...Two categories

Ian: I take that back, here's the list: Shinobu. I love those guys.

Tommy: Those fags?

Ian: (laughter) They're probably the only local band that's on my list then I'd get THE GHOST!!! AGAINST ME! Strike Anywhere and what would it be without the coolest band ever, The Cure?

Tommy: I'm sure Robert Smith would be honored.

Ian: Robert Smith is the coolest guy in the world

Tommy: Now this question is just for my peace of mind. If you, Max, Morgan, Jake, and Cooper all got into a fight to the death, I wanna know who goes down first and who wins?

Ian: That's a good one! Okay... Morgan wins.

Tommy: Why?

Ian: He's got that football player jock body when he sticks out his chest he looks like a guy on the 49ers. And sometimes he enjoys bullying us around believe it or not!

Tommy: I would have bet on Morgan too, just for posterity's sake

Ian: And Morgan would take us all down at once so we'd all lose.

Tommy: What's your favorite movie? And if you were gonna tell a girl you really loved that was kind of apathetic about your existence, how would you go about that? Consider that a two part question. See if you can tie them to one another.

Ian: Ok...Wait just so I get it...my favorite movie? and...

Tommy: Yeah

Ian: How would I tell a girl that was apathetic about my existence, that I loved, what my favorite movie was?

Tommy: No no, that you loved her. They are separate questions, I just kind of asked them at the same time. I thrive off confusion.

Ian: Okay cool let's see number 1... Recently, I've fallen in love with Office Space. That movie is so funny i can't get enough of it. When I was younger, I wasn't much of a movie kid, so I haven't had a favorite movie like all my life or anything. I just recently started caring about movies. Now I watch em all the time.

Tommy: Office Space is a fantastic film, even if the end is a bit of a cop out.

Ian: Yeah.

Tommy: It would have been better if Peter beat the shit out of his boss or something.

Ian: That would've been cool. Or if they somehow got away with the heist.

Tommy: Indeed.

Ian: So how would I tell a girl that I loved her if she hated me?

Tommy: Well not hated per se, but you know, didn't think much either way.

Ian: Right, apathetic about my existence.

Tommy: Yeah. Win her over Ian! Win her over!

Ian: I'd be like... what up women! You want some of this dillz biotch!! That'd win her over for sure! Try it next time you're stuck in that situation. I guarantee it! But knowing me, I'd probably just try to work up a friendship before I said anything.

Tommy: It'll probably work. I'll try both of those.

Ian: (laughter) I think you're just using that question for personal advice.

Tommy: Personal advice? Me need advice on women? Pah!

Ian: Me give advice on women, Pah!
Tommy: Do November Trials drink Coke or Pepsi?

Ian: COKE. Pepsi sucks.

Tommy: More like Coke sucks.

Ian: Root Beer tops Coke or Pepsi though.

Tommy: I'm down with Cherry Coke.

Ian: That can be good at times. We're actually all driven by Gatorade.

Tommy: Anyway, November Trials. When's the album coming out?

Ian: The album...Hopefully soon!! We're in the middle of writing two songs that will make the album complete. Probably 10-11 songs. Maybe 12. plus, what would the cd be without a secret track. so look for it

Tommy: "Fall Sky" better be on it!

Ian: Just for you and Vanessa, it'll be on.

Tommy: Middle School. Building block to the future or three year waste of fucking time?

Ian: Building block to the future, as long as you feel that way when you going through it, or else, it's a three year waste of fucknig time, which is probably more fucking fun!!

Tommy: Indeed. Great band, we wish you well. Well, most of wish you well. Not that guy over there with the knife. He just wishes you hell.

www.novembertrials.com