While I was driving south to California, the band WHY? was in a van on its way to Brooklyn. During that trip, lead singer and frontman Yoni Wolf, was kind enough to chat with me on a variety of topics that touched on touring, annoying questions, and even a new side project.
melophobe: You guys are wrapping up the tour, how's it been going?
Yoni Wolf: Been going really great, though this isn't really a tour. We've been playing short spurts of shows, just a west coast tour. We've just done pieces of a tour; it isn't what we're used to.
melophobe: You mean a more traditional touring schedule?
YW: Yeah, we're used to touring and playing every day for a few months. This is way better.
melophobe: I believe that. How have the crowds been on the ‘not really a tour’ tour?
YW: The fans have been great, like really great. We’re really enjoying playing for people. Pomona was a great audience. We played a few shows in Calgary and the first show was amazing. Just everybody moshing and dancing and singing. It was nutty.
melophobe: What is next after you wrap up this stint on the road?
YW: We only have a few shows left and then we’re going to Japan in September, which should be cool. After that, we’re up to a few different things.
melophobe: Different things? As in, not another album right away?
YW: Right. Josiah is going back home to work on his house. He wants to build a huge garden and has tons of bricks. He’ll have fun.
melophobe: And what about you? Are you taking a little break from music too?
YW: I’m headed back to Oakland and going to work on some new tracks with my friend, Anna. It’s our little side project, called Divorcee. We’re doing it really low-fi, recording everything on an 8-track. Hopefully it’ll be cool.
melophobe: Awesome! Any idea of when we could hear new stuff from WHY?
YW: Oh man, probably not until sometime late in 2011. 2012 at the latest.
melophobe: Ouch. I hope Alopecia can hold me until then—
YW: Yeah, that’s my favorite too!
melophobe: You’ve got good taste. Divorcee sounds interesting though. And you’ll probably not have to answer the obvious question of how did you decided on the name for the band?
YW: That’s probably the most annoying question we get asked. Especially when it is “why WHY?” Like they think it is hilarious and no one has ever thought to ask it that way before.
melophobe: Good thing we avoided that awkward moment.
YW: Usually it seems like British people ask it most.
melophobe: So….um, how did you decide on the name?
YW: [laughs] It was actually my old graffiti name.
melophobe: Folk rock-rapper-street tagger, eh?
YW: No, it is from way back like in our Ohio days.
melophobe: Way to keep it real.
YW: Totally.