Interview: Oldboy

messy magazine recently talked with Oldboy before their show at the Grog Shop on June 16th at 8:00pm. Check them out!

mm: of all the names the band could have been named, why "oldboy"? are you guys secretly the inspiration for benjamin button or something?

Actually the Korean movie oldboy is one of my favorites and inspired the name. But it does fit well with the bands mentality, we all try to just have fun but also have the experience in life to keep things in perspective too.

mm: what’s changed about shawn brewster, the musician, since the band formed?

Hands down my abilities. When I was solo I could get away with a lot due to my songwriting, like wit in between songs and connection with the crowd. Now that I have these 3 around me I had to learn to step up to hang with them. I have always had a certain laziness about getting better, but now I’m inspired and feel compelled to improve.

mm: would oldboy rather have to say everything on the collective bands mind while live on stage, or never perform again?

Seems like an easy question, is it a trick? Cause I say a lot on stage. The thought of never performing again almost made me sick to think about.

mm: would oldboy rather end hunger or hatred?

Hatred, by far. Its hatred that causes problems in this world, why would pirates hijack ships with food sent as aid? Why would food sit on docks? Why are stores in America stocked to the roof with food? Who knows, but I think removing hatred would remove more than filling peoples stomachs. And after reading Ishmael, curing hunger with just food can make more problems.

mm: would oldboy rather be a dog named killer or a cat named fluffy?

A dog named killer, I think we’re all dog people in the band. But I think it depends on what dog it is. If it’s a yippy Pomeranian, no deal, a mutt shepherd mix, its on.

mm: would oldboy sleep with kim jong il in exchange for ultimate fame, success, and celebrity?

I told you! I love Korea. In reality, he seems like a crazy dude, who knows if its just media bias or reality but I may need to rethink my loves. Now do you mean snuggle for a midday nap? Or full on cowboy rodeo?

mm: a lot of musicians go from bands to solo acts, not the other way around. what was the inspiration or prompt to put a band together?

I’ve played solo for a few years now, some times more seriously than others, but it became very apparent that I needed a band. To be a guy and a guitar you have to be flat out amazing and totally captivating. In a band you can split up those things into pieces that each person can either bring or compile. And with mike ac and tom, I found everything I am not and there are times that I just close my eyes and take in what is happening, not just creating. And it seems to show in the absolutely overwhelming support in such a short time since we’ve become oldboy


mm: who would win in a fight, hello kitty or oldboy? you can dictate the terms.

I guess it all depends if its on American soil, Japanese soil, or international waters. I don’t underestimate women , especially with ac kicking ass on drums the way she does. Also and mike and I grew up with journey, the video game, so I think we have the upper hand. Tom would rock on guitar like ted nugent in the damn Yankees video and take her out for the final slow motion death scene. Sorry girls, now you’ll have to get into something else, like my love of gunslinger girl.

mm: if you had to choose between saving a polar bear or evan burr from a burning building, which would you choose?

Can the polar bear eat mr. burr if he jumps and survives? Cause that’s what I like to call a win win.

mm: is oldboy nature or nurture?

Nurture, but with a sprinkle of nature. Thanks mom.

mm: if oldboy were to fight posh army, who would win?

Man….i’d have to think about that for a…we would. But we’d all have a pint afterwards in a pub of their choice. But truth be told my fake English accent is waaaaaaaay better, sorry max.

mm: what's oldboy’s plan to fight government bailouts and save cleveland’s economy?

Get someone in this town that gives a damn about the town itself and not about making money for the old guard. It seems like they say things that seems like they are working on the town, but nothing changes. And if they do something it doesn’t help us much, just looks cool.
There are so many things to do in this town, but the layout of the city and the social and economical separations make things so hard to get things accomplished, and it seems like partisanship and lack of new fresh ideas has turned this place into a stagnant pool of apathy. I recommend a short film by Benjamin Liar called Cleveland. It really shows the mindset of a lot of people about Cleveland, but also that there are a lot of things right under our noses to enjoy.

I will say outside of that, there are pockets in this town that are fighting back, waterloo art district, Lakewood, some areas in east cleveland, Coventry. These give us something to do. Now getting something in this town to build on would be best, like the hospitals are doing.

mm: where can we see you next?

gigs always change, so you’d have to check out our myspace:
myspace.com/oldboycleveland
June 16th Grog Shop 8 pm
June 27th Barking Spider 3 pm
July 17th Painesville Party in the Park 2 pm