September 4th, 2013 
Brian Leak 
“Life is short, get up and shake your ass!”
EdTang & The Chops are on a mission to entertain and enlighten fans the world over with both a carpe diem and carpe noctem mentality. You have to enjoy life quickly as it throws itself at you in many forms, and that’s exactly what the band intends to do between spending time with family and friends and spreading their statement on the road through their live shows both entertaining and filled with fellowship.
We recently had the chance to speak with the frontman himself as we discussed everything from the band’s inception to their most recent album and plans beyond, so read through the break to open your mind and really look at life with EdTang & The Chops.
First off, can you tell me how EdTang and the Chops all came together? Were you doing any solo work before bringing on the band as well?
The whole thing actually came about quite backwards. Normally a band exists, they write and record a bunch of music, develop a fan base, then break up only for the singer to go off and start his/her solo project. It’s a band template that’s been replicated countless times and in the case of The Chops, everything happened in reverse.
I wrote and recorded Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner originally as a solo release. I worked with my good friend and producer Rob Blake at Insidious Sound Studios along with a slew of other talented musician friends to bring the songs to life. I was confident in what we were creating, but I never anticipated how well it would be received. Once the album was released and people started getting excited about the music, I knew that my live solo performances would no longer do these songs justice. Enter The Chops.
Fresh off a break up of one of Asbury Park’s finest indie rock bands, Gimme Static, drummer Brad (Harrison) and bassist Nick (Bock) were looking for a project. It was a perfect fit. Having already been playing together for years, there was zero learning curve. They bring an indie-punk rock sensibility that gives the band the aggressive edge we’ve become known for. The balance to that edge is the soulful jam band lead guitar of Geoffrey Myers. A long time friend and accomplished musician and solo performer, Geo’s intuitive guitar work was a natural addition to The Chops’ sound. The last and final piece to the puzzle was the addition of Mr. Vic Fraternale on the keys. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter of the highest caliber, Vic had worked with both Nick and Brad a few years back on a side project from the Gimme Static material. He is a one of a kind artist and truly the missing link to The Chops’ sound.
Where would you say you draw inspiration from that has helped shape your sound and style?
Inspiration comes in many forms. Musically I am inspired by those artists who can capture some universal truth in their songs and lyrics. For me, it’s those little truths that give a song substance and make it worth playing again and again. Music is just another form of communication, so if it doesn’t speak to you then why listen? Personally I’ve found that folk, for whatever reason, does this especially well, and that’s something I’ve tried to emulate in my writing. I love the sound of an acoustic guitar and a singer who bares their heart on their sleeve. I’m inspired by everyday things, relationships both good and bad, the lives we are given, and by how we choose to lead them under the shadow of their certain and definite conclusion.
What originally got you influenced to become involved with music?
Music for me has always been my passion. As a kid my uncle would give my brother and I records to listen to…cool stuff, stuff none of the other grammar school kids were listening too at the time; The Pogues, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, etc. It was an amazing introduction to what music could be. However, it wasn’t until my friends and I collectively discovered punk that we attempted to start making music ourselves. Punk rock was accessible, it was 3 chords and feeling, and to a few awkward kids, it was something we could be a part of. We got some drums, a couple crappy guitars, and a few amps and just went at it. We never looked back.
We’ll touch base on your newest album now, but to begin, can you explain the meaning or story behind the album title? It’s pretty unique and seems to possibly refer to dinner and or a restaurant?
[Laughs] yeah, I get this a lot. After school I moved to San Diego and lived with a big group of friends. That place is like Never-Never Land, so many young people from all over the country just there for an adventure. Many move out with the hopes and dreams of escaping their old hometowns and making a new life for themselves out west. There is an energy in the air and a tangible excitement of new beginnings. But what they don’t tell you when you show up is that for every young kid looking out on their first pacific sunset, there is another one that’s packing their bags to return home to ‘the real world’. It was that surrender that inspired a lot of the feelings I was trying to grapple with and convey on Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner. In my immediate group of friends, every time one of us would reach this point, the end of the road, we would take them out to one last final dinner, at Zen5 to say goodbye.
The album seems to be sort of toned down in comparison to your 2009 effort, Songs From Under Weigh. Goodbye feels a little more folky and almost melancholic whereas Under Weigh had some more upbeat, kind of angsty, punk-ness to it. Am I way off here or do you feel like this is kind of the direction your took the music in? Can you explain the change in sound? Anything in particular from the last few years that led to this maturation and transition?
Absolutely. Songs From Under Weigh was my first studio effort and when you listen to it this is clearly evident. I had no direction, no clear vision for what I wanted to accomplish. The songs I chose for that album were eclectic. Some were serious, some comical, none of them were totally polished. That said, it’s an album I’m glad to have made. There are a few gems on Songs From Under Weigh that have become cult classics amongst the earliest fans. They are fun to play and always elicit a positive reaction at our live shows. The melancholic nature of Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner can probably be directly related to when I was writing those songs. I was in my late 20s on the verge of turning 30. I finally had some perspective into how fast life was going by and it scared me. There are so many pressures and obligations in life that force the surrender and ultimate denial of our true selves and most people don’t realize it until it is too late. I think Goodbye, Zen5, Sushi Dinner is a reflection of that realization.
You’ve stated that the album’s themes touch on “hope, longing, and the waning twilight of youth.” Can you elaborate on this a bit? Is this album directed at any specific listener or demographic?
The album isn’t directed at any specific demographic, but I do think that it resonates with a few different ones. It’s a theme that everyone can relate to. It’s life, it goes by fast and there is a limited amount of time to do what you were put here to do. There are countless obstacles along the way and a million excuses you can give to make yourself feel better about not achieving everything you’d like.
Any specific tracks from this album that hold more personal weight for you than others?
Tough question. They are all so close to me. I guess for the purpose of the question I’d have to say the opening track, “Vaya.” It tells the tale of a trip some friends and I took to South America. We started our journey in Costa Rica, flew to Brazil and then worked our way around the west coast where we ended in Peru. My friend met a girl there and roughly 8 years later they would be married. It was an amazing trip and it most certainly changed each of our lives. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything in the world and every time I play that song I get to relive it.
Now that the album’s been out for 8 months or so, what have you been working on? Any big plans in the works?
The Chops! Since starting up, we’ve already written a bunch of songs that we have been slowly incorporating into our live shows and we plan on releasing an EP this winter. Playing and writing as a band has been an incredibly rewarding experience and we’re all really excited to get the new tunes out there for people to hear.
Are you currently involved with any other projects outside of the band? Do you have any hobbies outside of music?
Musically, since we began playing together, The Chops have had my sole and absolute attention. That said, I do have a handful of songs that I’d like to release that don’t really fit with the band’s sound, so at some point I’d like to get them out there…maybe just as an album of rough demos and b-sides, but that project is certainly not the priority. Outside of music I enjoy spending time with my wife, Mollie, and hanging out with friends. If I can combine those two things with travel, surfing, the outdoors, and a few good laughs, then all the better.
I’ve heard good things about an EdTang and the Chops live show. Can you explain one such event/setting for those that have never had an opportunity to attend one?
We got our start playing bars, so that is the atmosphere we try to replicate at each show…loud, rowdy and drunken sing-a-longs, dancing without a care in the world. It can get pretty wild. We try and inject every show with the same carpe diem feeling we express in our music. Life is short, get up and shake your ass! You won’t hear any slow sad songs at a Chop’s show. We’re here for a good time, not a long time, so lets party.
What do you feel sets your band and music apart from others that may sound similar in the genre?
We encourage twerking at our shows…don’t think anyone else is doing that yet, it’s pretty cutting edge for our style of music.
What is your ultimate goal for this project? Anything in particular that you hope listeners will gain from experiencing your work?
All joking aside, we hope listeners will take away a sense of urgency for their true passion and dreams. Don’t put it on the back burner, do it today. At least start progressing towards it. I’m a big fan of author Paulo Coelho, and I think he said it best in his book, The Alchemist:
“Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny…”
We want people to at least be aware of this.
If you were to quit music tomorrow altogether for some reason, what would you regret that you never accomplished?
I can’t speak for the rest of the band, but personally I would regret never taking a chance…never having enough faith in myself to attempt success in my true passion. For me, that is, and of itself, an accomplishment.
Photo credit: Matt Catalano
Written and conducted by: Brian Lion – Follow him on Twitter
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