INTERVIEW WITH…

AUTOVAUGHN

1. First off, what the hell does Autovaughn mean?

AUTOVAUGHN DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING. WHEN WE FORMED THE BAND WE WERE JUST THROWING NAMES OUT. WE DECIDED WE ALL LIKED "VAUGHN" MOSTLY BECAUSE OF VINCE VAUGHN. THEN WHEN WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS ALREADY A BAND NAMED VAUGHN SOMEWHERE WE ADDED "AUTO". WE LIKED THE WAY IT LOOKED ON PAPER AND SOUNDED.

2. How did the band come together and what other local acts were the members a part of previously?

WE'RE ALL ORIGINALLY FROM INDIANA. OUR DRUMMER ANDY AND I (DARREN) WERE IN VARIOUS BANDS TOGETHER UP THERE. ANDY AND OUR BASS PLAYER DREW HAD PLAYED IN DIFFERENT FUNK/PARTY BANDS PREVIOUSLY. STEPHEN OUR LEAD GUITAR PLAYER JOINED THE BAND AFTER HIS RETURN FROM STUDYING MICROBIOLOGY IN AUSTRALIA.

PERFORMING AT 'FASHION ROCKS LIVE'

3. I kept reading about this whole Movement Nashville thing for months and would repeatedly dismiss it as just another attempt by a handful of people to lift up the rock and roll scene here and would die off after a short time. But, the proof is in the pudding as I quickly learned how organized and successful the Movement Nashville group is. What do you attribute to the success and how does Autovaughn figure into its future plans?

MOVEMENT WAS REALLY JUST A NAME GIVEN TO A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT WANTED TO HELP PROMOTE EACHOTHER'S SHOWS, BUILD A FAN BASE THAT WE COULD EASILY CONNECT WITH (VIA MYSPACE) AND JUST HAVE FUN WRITING, PLAYING ETC. THERE'S SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC COMING OUT OF NASHVILLE AND WE JUST WANT TO DO OUR PART TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THAT. THAT'S NOT SAYING THAT MOVEMENT CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING GREAT THAT'S FROM NASHVILLE, JUST THAT WE'RE DOING OUR PART TO GET DIFFERENT MUSIC HEARD OUTSIDE THE CITY. WE STARTED MOVEMENT A YEAR AGO WITH THE GUYS IN BANG BANG BANG, JEREMY LISTER, ETHAN OPELT AND KYLE ANDREWS.

MOVEMENT NASHVILLE LOGO

www.myspace.com/movementnashville

4. I’ve read numerous reviews describing your sound as basically everything; brit-pop, American rock, Midwestern Grunge, similar to The Killers, David Bowie, Tears for Fears, Weird Al Yankovic (okay, I made that one up), The Pet Shop Boys, etc. Just what the hell is your sound?

YEAH IT'S DEFINITELY A BRITISH INFUSED ROCK OF SORTS. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE'RE ALL FROM INDIANA SO THERE'S SOME MIDWESTERN ROCK IN THERE AS WELL.

5. I’ve heard lots of good things about the ‘Space’ album. For the uninitiated, share a bit about what’s in store for those who listen to it and what has the response been like?

THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN A BIT OVERWHELMING TO BE HONEST. WE INITIALLY RECORDED "SPACE" AS DEMOS. THEN WHEN THEY TURNED OUT BETTER THEN WE FIRST THOUGHT WE OPTED TO GO BACK IN AND RECORD AGAIN. IT'S TOUGH TO TRY TO DESCRIBE YOUR OWN ALBUM TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HEARD IT. I'D SAY THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO LISTEN ON MYSPACE (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/AUTOVAUGHN) OR MAYBE READ 4 OR 5 REVIEWS AND THEN FIND THE MIDDLEGROUND :)

DRESSED UP FOR 'SPACE' CD RELEASE SHOW 2006

6. You recently signed on with Philadelphonic Management, who manages G. Love & Special Sauce. How did this merger come into place and what will they be doing to further spread the word of Autovaughn?

 WELL, PHILADELPHONIC CAME OUT TO A SHOW ONCE WE BROKE TIES WITH OUR OLD MANAGEMENT. THEY SEEMED REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE LIVE SHOW AND WANTED TO LIVE WITH THE ALBUM FOR A BIT. AFTER A WEEK OR SO WE GOT A CALL SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO COME OUT TO A SHOW WE WERE PLAYING IN NEW JERSEY. THEY CAME OUT, SAID THEY LOVED WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WOULD LOVE TO MANAGE US. WE REALLY LIKED HOW AGRESSIVE THEY WERE, AND GET ALONG GREAT WITH EVERYONE INVOLVED. AS FAR AS EXPECTATIONS...WHO KNOWS? THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS REGARDING NATIONAL TOURING/MARKETING ETC... IT'S A FICKLE INDUSTRY, WE'RE JUST GLAD TO BE OUT ON THE ROAD PLAYING MUSIC RIGHT NOW. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

7. Nashville seems to really be taking off with numerous bands getting signed to record deals. What do you think about the scene here and what do you attribute to its success?

YEAH, IT'S EXCITING. SOME WOULD DEFINITLEY DISAGREE WITH ME. PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THAT IF AN ARTIST IS TRYING TO MAKE MUSIC THEIR FULL TIME JOB AND SIGNING A DEAL CAN MAKE THAT A REALITY THEN GO FOR IT. OF COURSE IT'S A SHADY INDUSTRY, OF COURSE NOT EVERY SIGNED BAND WILL REALLY "MAKE IT". BUT, HELL...WE ONLY LIVE ONCE (AS FAR AS I KNOW). THE MORE NATIONAL EXPOSURE SIGNED ACTS BRING TO THIS TOWN THE MORE EXPOSURE EVERYONE ARTIST WILL GET. IT'S ALSO JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW HARD A LOT OF THESE BANDS ARE WORKING. THE PINK SPIDERS GUYS BUSTED THEIR BUTTS TO GET WHERE THEY ARE, AS DID JEREMY LISTER, BANG BANG BANG ETC.

8. Who are some of your favorite Nashville bands?

WELL, I LIKE ALL OF THE MOVEMENT BANDS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS; IT'S A COOL THING TO HAVE YOUR GOOD FRIENDS IN BANDS THAT ARE REALLY GREAT. I ALSO REALLY LIKE DE NOVO DAHL, THE FEATURES, KINGS OF LEON. THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.

9. Please tell us your best “crazy gig story”.

 HMMM? LET'S JUST SAY IT INVOLVED "ALMOST" BEING BUSTED FOR A "SLIGHTLY" ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE ON AN AIRFORCE BASE IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. WE'RE TALKING M-16'S, K-9 UNITS, MP'S ETC.. WISH WE HAD IT ON TAPE...IT'D BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR MYSPACE PAGE.

www.myspace.com/autovaughn

10. If you could change one thing about the Nashville rock scene, what would it be and why?

I'M NOT SURE? I THINK THE ROCK SCENE IS THRIVING. AGAIN, I THINK I'D RATHER CHANGE HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE SCENE HERE.

11. You performed on Halloween 2005 as Larusso and the Cobra Kai’s. What thought went into this costume idea and have you been practicing your Crane Technique?

THAT SHOW WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR FIRST BIG SHOWS. WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING MEMORABLE. SO WE SIFTED THROUGH IDEAS AND EVENTUALLY DECIDED THAT EVERYONE COULD AT LEASE APPRECIATE A LITTLE KARATE KID. REGARDING THE CRANE KICK... IT'S ALWAYS IN MY ARSENAL. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN JOHNNY IS GOING TO POP UP.

LARUSSO & THE COBRA KAIS

12. The Golden Android on your Myspace page continues to freak me out. Where did this thing come from and what’s the best defense?

HA! WHO KNOWS MAN? MOST OF THE TIME WE JUST SIT AROUND AND TRY TO COME UP WITH WEIRD THINGS THAT WILL GRAB PEOPLE'S ATTENTION. INITIALLY IT WAS JUST A WAY TO HELP PUSH OUR FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE SONG "HELL OF A PLACE". MAYBE IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON? :)

13. I know this is a lame question but, if you could open for any band who would it be?

MAYBE BLOC PARTY IN LONDON?

14. What do you guys think of the Myspace revolution and what has it done for you in the professional sense?

MYSPACE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE FOR US. WE'LL PLAY A SHOW IN L.A. AND HAVE 15 PEOPLE COME UP AFTERWARDS SAYING THEY'RE OUR FRIENDS ON MYSPACE. THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT BUT WHEN YOU'RE A NOBODY BAND PLAYING FAR AWAY AND HAVE 15 PEOPLE SINGING EVERY WORD...THAT'S A GOOD FEELING.

15. What can people expect in the future from Autovaughn?

WHO KNOWS? WE'VE GOT SOME COOL THINGS HAPPENING HERE IN '07. I TRY NOT TO TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THINGS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IN THIS INDUSTRY THAT'S ALL IT ENDS UP BEING...TALK. SO, FOR NOW WE'LL JUST MAKE THIS TRANSISTION WITH OUR NEW MANAGEMENT, KEEP ON PLAYING AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND KEEP WRITING.

I appreciate the guys from Autovaughn taking the time to step into the Smoke Shack for this interview. You can catch them live at Wallstreet in Murfreesboro on January 11th w/Jeremy Lister & The Secret. You can also see them on January 13th back in Nashville at The Cannery w/The Features & Bang Bang Bang.

The Movement Nashville machine continues to open doors for the local rock scene and NashvilleRock.net will be there to cover the proceedings.

That'll do it for this time

Until Next Time, I'm out like the Denver Broncos playoff chances.

Chris "Uncle Daddy Longlegs" Czynszak

To reach Chris Czynszak, e-mail at cczynszak@nashvillerock.net