Peter: When I left Taking Back Sunday Dan was doing a band called Rosewater that really wasn't too serious. Dan asked me to fill in and then we did a show and another show and it got a little more serious so I decided to stick around. And then after kicking people out and weeding out members we got Rob in December and Tom this past May. And we got TJ three months ago. TJ originally played guitar for us and Dan just sang but now he switched over. And now we're here.

Peter: I actually played guitar on and off but I really didn't take it seriously. And then I was asked to play bass for Taking Back Sunday. So I picked up a bass.

Peter: Haha, Yeah sloppy guitar playing.

Peter: It gives me something to do. Instead of going to a bar every week I go to different states. I really appreciate it when people come down and check it out. I went to places I never thought I'd go to before and some places I'd never go again.

Peter: Connecticut. Indianapolis, Indiana was pretty terrible. There were certain states that were just....no good. Not really states, just certain cities. Nashville is the coolest place and Providence Rhode Island is one of the coolest places too. I don't know, I don't want to insult states or cities.

Peter: Yeah I'm the mom.

Tom: Uh-huh.

Peter: We did and I think it was like two or three weeks. That was just the four of us, no TJ. It was fun. It wasn't a very good tour, not really any good shows at all because we did it ourselves but it was fun.

Tom: Just plenty of good times, nothing big. A lot of small shows, you know. It was our first tour but it was fun. It was a lot of fun. It was two weeks...however long it was, three weeks maybe?

Rob: Yeah, motels are pretty cool. Getting away from my parents and stuff like that, no supervision. That was cool for me, tons of fun.

Peter: When Dan first started doing this...no, not at all. I thought we would just be playing to Dan's friends. I didn't think we would be playing to anybody at all but then we started too and we got more shows and more and more people came. We started the same time as Brand New and the Reunion Show. I think our first six months or so were Brand New, Stopwatch, and the Reunion Show. But now we've gotten more serious to the point where we're ready to quit our jobs in June when Rob (a high school senior) graduates and just tour full time.

Peter: I'd say the bass player from U2, I love U2. The Get Up Kids I really like the bass player from The Get Up Kids. Also Phil, from the Movielife and actually the bassist from the Alkaline Trio. Those are my four, and I just recycle their bass lines.

Tom: My inspirations are mostly older bands like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Creme, and stuff like that. I'm influenced by a lot of the newer stuff I listen to a lot of hardcore. Refused is my favorite band right now even though their style isn't really similar to our I'm loving those guys right now.

Rob: Well I get made fun of a lot cause I don't really listen to any old school music at all, like the Beatles or anything. Right now I can get into Saves the Day, Get Up Kids, all those CDs. I grew up with hardcore but times change but you know times change and we evolve into new music and this is what it is.

Peter: I listen to Saves the Day, Hot Rod Circuit, Brand New, The Movielife, you know...Dashboard. And then I listen to the Beatles; I love the Beatles and U2 I love. A lot of bands in and out of this genre. Ben Folds, pick up the Ben Folds CD. Piebald CD, did you get the new Piebald CD?

Peter: Pick up the new Piebald CD, it's ridiculous.

Peter: Five years?

Peter: Yeah I don't even know...the way we all get along, I don't even know if we'll be together in five years. So let's just say three years, haha. In three years I say we'll be in a bigger van, a nicer van with a trailer. We'll give you guys this van since those guys seem to like it. (My two friends Cathleen and Christine were standing outside the door ogling the vans little TV.) I want to be touring full time. Good shows too, I don't want to be playing in front of five kids in like Indianapolis. I want to play in front of like 15 kids, haha. But doing this full time that's where I see us.

Peter: I am a preschool teacher. And Dan is a master of the custodial arts...

Peter: TJ is a master of unemployment. I've known him for six months and he hasn't had a job or attempted to get a job. Tom works at J-crew so that's why he dresses really nice. And Rob works at a deli and a pizzeria.

Peter: Haha...hmmmm. I don't know. I graduated with a bachelor in psychology so I thought I was just going to go get my doctorate. But then this got a little more serious and a lot more fun then going to school so I'm putting that off for a little while.

Peter: Right now we're trying to decide a name for the new project and that is just hell. That really is hell because you have five people and everything comes down to decisions. And you have five totally different people making one decision. It just sucks. That sucks, not very interesting but that's sucky. And when the van breaks down you have to pay for that. There are a lot of bills. There are a lot more things involved in being in a band then just playing music.

Peter: Yes, right now we're definitely paying to be a band. Me and Dan are the only two original members and we bought this by ourselves (the van) we paid for the whole CD by ourselves and we are in so much debt. But right now we're actually coming out of debt. But we're going to go back into it once we do the new project and we get a couple of thousand of dollars of merchandise and we spring for a trailer. Yeah we're playing to be a band so when people are like...give me this T-shirt for free it's like; you're paying my bills right now.

Peter: for the van and the CD I borrowed money off of my family and Dan actually took out loans and borrowed part of it from his family and we paid it back. But right now we're pretty much paying for it ourselves. Everybody has a job, except for TJ, so when we need something we all give each other a little while in advance for money.

Peter: Haha, well the band that started I think it was two years ago to the band we have now...the stuff we have now is 100% different. Totally different. We went into the studio in January and came out a different band and just that alone... If you listen to the black CD - Hero's Are Overrated and you listen to our new demo you won't even be able to tell it's us. It's 100% different and I think 100% better. We actually learned how to play our instruments and we did it well. Stopwatch was great and it was a great simple pop punk band, straight up pop punk. And this is more like rock, pop rock. It's good. We're getting harder, we're getting softer, we're exploring and just writing music that we like instead being like "well that's not very pop punk of us." You know? So that's why Stopwatch had to stop and most people first impressions of a band is the impression that sticks. So no matter how much better we get we'll still be...you know. Some people will listen to the black CD and hate it and they wouldn't listen to our new stuff. If they listen to our new stuff now they wouldn't know it's us and they'd probably like it.

Tom: I think it's mostly because of the change in lineup. Now TJ is our singer our new music doesn't reflect our old style. We feel people get the wrong idea when they hear the name Stopwatch. We have a pretty different style from what we used to have so we feel starting over would be a good idea.

Rob: We have more energy and new standards. We're a new band now. We have higher expectations and we're looking for new things.

Peter: That's why we decided to stop Stopwatch. But we're not stopping. We're 100% not stopping. We will never play another song off of Hero's Are Overrated ever again.

Peter: That's why tonight we're doing a lot of songs. You'll see tonight that we're doing different things. We're doing the first half of our set, we're doing about 12 songs, and the first half we're doing Stopwatch songs. And then the second half we're going to show you, we're going to introduce you to our new stuff and TJ is going to come up and be like..."This was us, and now this is us."

Cathleen: (one of my friends who could no longer contain herself.) Are you guys going to play "Maybe the Best"?

Peter: We will play "Maybe the Best" definitely will. What else are we playing? "Out with the Old," "Last Minute," "Good Night I'm Gone," and "Keep You're Fingers Crossed."

Peter: You going to be here tonight?

Peter: Alright, then just stay. And on the recorder you can just talk to yourself afterwards.

Peter: Haha, yeah. But we have a little surprise.

Cathleen: WHAT'S THE SURPRISE?!

Peter: I can't. I already gave you the whole surprise for tonight, which is playing with just Dan and doing Stopwatch stuff and then our new stuff. We weren't supposed to do our new stuff. We weren't even going to tell anyone the name of our new band. And we were going to be a ghost band and you guys wouldn't have any idea who we actually are.

Peter: No. We're deciding on it now, as we speak.

Cathleen: Any favorites?

Peter: I have plenty of favorites and my favorites aren't even considered by anybody else. And TJ's favorites are different and everybody has different favorites and we haven't actually come to a middleman and it sucks.

Peter: Oh yeah.

Peter: We're just very different people. I'm 23 so I have different friends. And Danny...I knew Danny because of Phil (The Movielife) who was my friend since I was 7 years old. And Danny was Phil's little brother obviously. I've known Danny since he was about 4 and I'm still getting over the "Phil's little brother thing."

Peter: Yeah Rob is only 17. So it's me being 23 going to Rob who is 17. He's in high school and I graduated college. You really wouldn't see me and Rob hanging out in the park drinking 40's. You might see Rob there but I'll be in the bar next door. Tom and TJ were best friends...(Dan hops in calling for Peter.) Hold on one sec.

Rob: It's actually pretty cool cause I feel sort of special. I feel different then them and I feel that I can get away with a lot more since I'm younger and then sometimes it sucks and I don't get respected as much as I should be.

Peter: (After Dan who was more than a little hyper leaves.) So Tom and TJ were best friends growing up. So right now Dan, Tom, and TJ hang out because they're all 20-21. We like different things. Tom is very laid back and I'm very crazy. You know? Just very...Rawr!!! We're different personalities and it's a job and you have to get along with the people you work with. That's what we just keep on say to each other. You don't gotta be friends, you just gotta work with each other.

Peter: You just got drunk and you sort of just...hey you're stuck in here. This is what you're stuck in (the van) and sometimes you can't get a hotel because the show you just played was canceled or there were five people there and you got no gas money. And we only did it for three weeks and we struggled for three weeks. There are bands that tour for years with no label backing them and no merch and no money and shit shows and they struggle. So for us to say oh we struggled, we went through so much, is just bullshit cause we really didn't.

Peter: Yeah. There are a lot of times. It's so much easier to quit anything then to see it through. The easy way out is to quit but then I'm like, I'm going to quit something I'm absolutely loving and I'm dropping everything for because you really are dropping everything because it's 100% commitment. You're going to leave your friends, your family, and your job, everything that you love to do; behind to live in a van with five people and just play music for years to come...hopefully. It's a lot easier just to quit.

Peter: Just how much fun it is. Cause its soooo much fun. And people are just....for you to actually interview me. Cause who am I to be interviewed? To sign autographs? We sign people's sneakers and shirts and stuff. And I'm like...you just ruined your shirt. And they tell me no it's awesome. And I'm like; you don't even know who I am. I don't have a good rock star name or anything and my autograph sucks. I gotta work on that.

Cathleen: What's the strangest place you ever had to sign anyone?

Peter: Oh boy. I've never really had to sign body parts. I'd say sneaker, really stupid things. And sweatshirts. Why buy a sweatshirt for $25 and have some member of Stopwatch sign it a ruin it? Haha.

Cathleen: Will you sign my arm? It could be your first body part.

Peter: You get better things when people try to bargain with you for merchandise. It's pretty funny. Like this one girl at a show is like...can I show you my boobs for a shirt? And I told her no so she said, how about a CD. So I said all right. We have tons of CDs so why not? And she did it and I called everybody else over and...ugh. It was disgusting. They were the most disgusting boobs I've ever seen in my life.

Peter: Haha, I know. But it was...she was...yeah. But she showed us her boobs and we gave her the CD.

Peter: Well you know...it was a deal. A deal is a deal. She said I'll show you them for a CD and she did and I said please take it and go...far far away.

Peter: I'll pay for the CD for you.

Cathleen: Just take your ladies and go.

Peter: That's the grossest thing. I don't ever want to see that ever again.

Cathleen: I'd run around naked for a shirt.

Peter: No, nice try though. Strange...it's actually really strange to see people at shows wearing our shirts. But even when we go out. When you go out and somebody is wearing your shirt and they're like "Pete" what? And they're like look...Stopwatch. And I've never seen this person before. Or if I have seen the person before and they're just excited to see me, that's really cool.

Cathleen: I was at best buy and I was wearing your shirt and this lady came up to me and was like..."STOPWATCH!!! I LOVE THEM!!!"

Peter: See that's amazing to me. That's ridiculous. It's like The Movielife. I saw Phil's first show and it was me and the sound guy and to see them in magazines and everybody knows them it's ridiculous, it's amazing and it's really cool.

Peter: We had this question once before and I gave a realistic answer and Dan was like... "James Taylor and the Beatles!!!" Haha.

Peter: Exactly. Real realistic. What's my favorite band? I would say I love playing with Brand New, absolutely love playing with Brand New, the Movielife. Brand New, The Movielife, Save the Day, Alkaline Trio, and Hot Rod Circuit. That's a big venue and you know it would never happen. We'd never be able to play with those guys but they're just so amazing. Realistic venue would be just playing with the Movielife and Brand New all the time that would be cool

Peter: No, not really. Just check out...obviously Brand New, The Reunion Show, and Taking Back Sunday. Yeah, don't forget about Taking Back Sunday, they're our boys too and they're doing well. Just look out for our new stuff. When we get a name we'll definitely let you know, and we are playing Surf and Skate Fest in April on Saturday, the same slot we were supposed to play. Same street team members, you'll know about it. Same mailing list, you'll know about it.

Cathleen: Same songs?

Peter: Since the song we sent you out. "Moving Target," everybody get that one?

That's the new stuff that's the new one.

Yeah, good stuff.

Cathleen: No!!!

Christine: I didn't get that and I'm totally on the mailing list!!! That's not cool.

Peter: You'll get it. Once we have a name we'll send you out the song and the website and everything. We'll have a new website up.

Cathleen: You took down the website!!!

Yeah you took down all the pictures.

Peter: We erased everything.

Peter: Wally!!! We love Wally. We miss Wally a lot but now our website is down. We'll have a new MP3 site and everything so keep watching.

Peter: That song is older then Tom. It's before when Tom and TJ were in the band. That's supposed to be on a compilation. We're supposed to be on a couple of compilations coming out soon. Stopwatch is on a compilation From Brooklyn with Love.

Peter: Dying Wish, so check that out because it's for a really good cause. And Close to Nothing Records, when the comp comes out, if it ever does, it's us, Brand New, Ozma, The Impossibles, Anniversary, great bands, so check that one out. Something like Vegetable Records, I don't know. We'll still be selling the Stopwatch CD at shows and our compilations but you'll never see another Stopwatch shirt again or pins, or hear another Stopwatch song again.

Cathleen: So we have to stock up today.

Peter: Yeah stock up today cause we don't have anything left. It's going to be gone. We have 6 shirts and 4 sweatshirts and some pins. (They did in fact sell out.) So go and get merch while you can. See us tomorrow too. We'll be playing less Stopwatch songs tomorrow. But tonight is a lot of Stopwatch songs and you guys are going to have fun and we'll do something really cool.

Peter: Exactly, just don't hit me in the face. (Strikes a pose.)

Cathleen: Have you ever had anything thrown at you during a concert?

Christine: Towards you, at you, or you know, hitting you?

Peter: No. I've never actually gotten that.

Cathleen: Oh then tonight will be your first.

Peter: Haha. We've never gotten booed off the stage where people hated us so much they threw stuff at us.

Peter: I've never gotten things thrown at me when we played. But a couple of times when we threw our picks out there were people diving to get them and jumping to get Rob's sticks. Which is weird. So I'll throw a bunch of picks out today and they'll all throw it back at me. There were a couple of shows were we did that and people actually liked it.

Cathleen: Throw it towards me!!!

Peter: I'll throw it your way.

Peter: Let me see. Do I have a pick in my pocket? (Produces a pick.) There you go.

Cathleen: Who drives the van?

Peter: Dan and I normally drive because TJ hates to drive at night and he'll always avoid driving. And Tom also avoids driving but when it comes down to it Tom does pitch in. Rob still has to get his license so basically it's me and Dan driving.

Cathleen: Oh that's right. So do you guys take him out driving?

Peter: No but on tour we're going to teach him a lot. And that was it for Stopwatch. Good bye Stopwatch. (Or not.) Playing Long Island was a big issue with Stopwatch. We don't want to play Backstreet Blues (Rockville Center) every two weeks because we find that when we play Long Island in spurts of a month or two apart everybody shows up cause everybody hasn't seen us for a long time. If we play today and tomorrow we'll have 100 kids here and about 15 tomorrow. It's the same thing with playing long sets. I don't like playing long sets and I don't think bands should unless they're headlining because it's a marketing thing. If you play 6 songs and people are saying, "More more more," they'll go buy a CD or go home and listen to you on MP3.com or they'll go to your next show. They'll want more. I hate when bands play more then 7 or more songs because it bores the shit out of them. I get bored watching them. Unless you're headlining don't do it. Play 7 songs and go. Short and sweet makes everybody come back, that's what I say.

Peter: It is, it's a business.

Peter: Haha, yeah. But then you'll say, "Fuck I wanna hear more." And then when we send you a mass email or you look at the website and you see we're in the area you'll go.

Peter: Haha, thanks. But there are more great shows, like tonight Glassjaw is in the city so we're competing with them tonight and that sucks. Tomorrow we're competing against Hot Rod Circuit one of my favorite bands.

Peter: Nah, I want to be watching Hot Rod Circuit. You know its tough. There are a lot of shows, good shows. And hopefully we're one of them.

Tom: We're going to be coming out with some new stuff pretty soon so keep an eye out. We're just trying to let everyone know.

Rob: Yeah we'll try to get it out as quick as possible so you people can start getting to know us as quick as possible and learning the new stuff as quick as possible.

Tom: So look out for it.

Peter: But that's it....so good bye from Stopwatch.