VERSUS

With a full-length in the can, Versus played the Duke Coffeehouse with Spatula and Archers of Loaf on February 5th. The show was a celebration of sorts - all three bands have previously unreleased songs coming out on The Now Sound (Jeremy Steckler's new label) compilation, A Day At the Park (which, by the way, is out now). A good time was had by all. Versus out-rocked the Archers (who were pretty much out-of-tune) and, consequently, made enough money to stay at a Motel 6.

The following interview was conducted after the show by Matt Walter and Spott (transcribed by someone else shortly thereafter). Rumor has it Matt talked to Jeff (Versus "tour manager") before the interview for suggestions on what to ask and then largely abandoned his advice. He did, however, uncover that everyone eats meat. . . and that the band was tired...very pleasant, but tired.

SF! = Matt Walter and Spott
EB = Ed Baluyut (drums)
RB = Richard Baluyut (guitarist/vox)
FT = Fountaine Toups (bass/vox)
Jf = Jeff (Remora guy)

Unidentifiable male voices have either been identified with a "?" or attributed to RB

SF! -- So what'd you think of Spatula?

EB -- They ruled.

FT -- I like Spatula a lot.

SF! -- You all have been touring?

RB -- Yeah, for the last couple weeks. . . now we're heading home.

FT -- We started in Buffalo. . .

JB -- Columbus, Cleveland . . .

RB -- But the Bills won that day so everyone was in a good mood.

(someone mentions Unrest, who Versus had been touring with)

FT -- They're nice people. Really easy to get along with. And the shows were really crowded.

SF! -- Did you get to play with anyone else, besides Unrest?

FT -- Slant 6 . . . Cutters, from Louisville.

SF! -- Do you have any new stuff coming out soon?

RB --We're going to have an album coming out in the spring.

SF! -- What label?

RB -- Don't know yet.

SF! -- Are you thinking about doing it yourself?

RB -- No, someone will do it . . . A real label.

FT -- We have a seven-inch coming out on K Records. It should be ready by now.

SF! -- Have you decided where you're going to do the album?

RB -- We're going to record it at Studio Red, the same place we did our EP.

(Remora Jeff enters)

SF! -- So Remora is just you?

RB -- It's me and Jeff.

(babble, bad jokes)

SF! -- So, (to Fountaine) in high school, you were in a marching pipe thing?

FT -- Who said that? (to Jeff) You told him that?! It was a drill team . . . a dance team . .

? -- It's like cheerleaders.

? -- It's like the Texas version of cheerleaders

FT -- No, it's not! Let me get this straight! It's a dance team. We did like high kick routines, jazz dance routines.

SF! -- So have you seen the mother-cheerleader movie?

FT -- No, I haven't, but I want to. What's it called again?

SF! -- (?!?!?!) . . . What's the best experience you've had touring?

All -- Yellowstone.

? -- In the fall, we toured the West Coast and were

attacked by a herd of yellow buffalo.

(buffalo stories)

SF! -- What are some other new and exciting bands you all like?

EB -- Remora has a whole roster of interesting New York bands.

Jf -- Babytooth single is out now. And we have three singles coming out.

SF! -- Are you in any of them?

EB -- Why don't you give us a brief description.

Jf -- No. . . Babytooth, then Alkaline, Pacer, Envelope, Bob Banister, Roger Miller (Mission of Burma) . . .

SF! -- What's your favorite meat?

RB -- Pork.

SF! -- The other white meat . . .

RB -- But I like it when it's dark.

SF! -- . . . as opposed to B-york.

RB -- I like Bjork, too.

SF! -- Where are you going tomorrow?

RB -- Baltimore.

SF! -- To the Rev?

Jf -- Last time we were at the Rev we locked the keys in the car.

SF! -- Do you have AAA?

Jf -- Yeah. We had to call a tow truck.

SF! -- Have many times have you had to call AAA? Did you know if you call up AAA too many times, they'll drop you? That happened to the Archers. . . Their van always broke down, so they'd have AAA take them to their shows . . .

Go to Stay Free! #6 Table of Contents.

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