Avail (from 2001)
Avail is a punk band from Richmond, Virginia. Originally from Northern Virginia, the band formed in 1987, it’s members including Joe Banks, Doug Crosby, Brian Stewart and Mikey Warstler. The only original remaining member, guitar player Joe Banks, teamed up with rival band LDK’s (Learning Disabled Kids) Tim Barry. They moved to Richmond in 1990, and soon, after numerous line up changes, put together a solid lineup to release their first album in 1992. They play punk music, with heartfelt lyrics and melodic breakdowns. Many of their lyrics are about Richmond. Avail is on ‘permanent standby’ as per Tim Barry’s interview on Dope Sick Radio #40. Tim mentions in the interview “let’s just say it’s a thing of the past”
Back in 2001, I managed to catch up with Beau Beau – official cheerleader/roadie.
So what’s up with Avail right now?
A whole bunch of sleeping…getting off your about 3 days ago and we are tired, tired, tired!
We’ve just seen you in the UK as part of the Deconstruction tour with the likes of Pennywise and Lagwagon. How did you find the tour and the size of the arenas you played too?
Well some places it was bigger than I expected and then I also thought that maybe the shows would be like a huge festival or something so I didn’t really know what to expect so I was fine with the sizes of the venues. As far as those bands, the only band we had never played with before was Sick Of It All, so none of the reactions to the bands surprised me.
Personally I thought that the show at the London Arena was really badly organised, although the bands were great, but the venue itself was awful. What were your feelings on the show?
Hell I had fun so I thought it worked out just fine, I mean all I had to do was wake up, eat and play so I don’t really know what happened outside of that. Not a great answer huh?
Are there any plans for more UK dates this year?
We don’t really have any plans right now besides resting so who knows?
How do you feel the UK crowd reacts to your live show?
I think they are about 4 or 5 years behind the US in the fact that we’ve played the US so much they know what to expect and they have heard of us ha ha ha, so who knows maybe a few more years and we won’t be able to tell the difference between the 2. But then again I could be wrong, people in the UK might just hate us!
How does it differ between the UK and the USA?
In the US people talk about football, the kind with pads and in the UK they talk about football, the best sport in the world (soccer).
What’s the recording process like in Avail?
Here it is in a nutshell………..take one band, add a studio and a friend who records bands and stay there for a month, then you get a record.
What would you say is your favourite album you’ve recorded?
I can’t answer that, it’s like asking a woman which kid is her favourite. I like them all.
What is currently being played on the Avail tour bus?
Bus? Ha ha ha, that’s only in Europe, but we played a lot of hip hop on the Deconstruction tour.
Is there a new album in the Pipeline at all?
Yeah one day down the road but who knows when?
What would be the best bands you have played shows with?
Well for the most part we only tour with friends so they all rule in my book.
How do you see the band in say…five years?
Uhm… with all of us working at McDonalds or pumping gas or on tour.
Thanks to Beau Beau from Avail for answering our questions.
http://www.myspace.com/availrva
The interview originally appeared in FPM Zine back in 2001 – Avail to this day remain one of my favourite bands! You should totally check out their stuff, Over The James for instance – a truly awesome album!!! Mr. T
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