So while I was waiting for the RBF show start I got myself an interview with Johnny Christmas the trumpet player and well let’s see what we talked about

EE:So you enjoying the tour so far?

JC: Oh yeah, we have been on the road since June and we started out in Italy, Then to Germany, England and then went to Austria and then back here to Florida. We have been all over the United States, top to bottom and now making our way down the West Coast.

EE: so tell me about you what got you into brass. What were your musical influences?

JC: I had an older brother that was seven years older than me,We had some great records we had Motley Crue Shout at the Devil album we had The Clash, we had Def Leppard Pyromania, and we also had this Herb Albert album Rise and I have an uncle that plays trumpet, and being attracted to that after hearing the song Rise by Herb Albert, and I have been playing for 33 years. 

EE: So you used to be a teacher?

JC: Yes I teach Trumpet and I taught a Jazz band at a middle school before I joined RBF.

It was a lot of fun and great kids.

EE: What made you decide to go from the class room to center stage, how was that experience?

JC: it’s so awesome, I am so great full that I’m here and making music that makes people happy, and when you’re a school teacher your not necessarily making people happy for a living.

EE: So what’s next for your guys?  you seem to be touring all the time.

JC: Well we just released a record called Life Sucks Let’s Dance. So I guess we are touring to promote that wonderful record that we really love to play songs off of. The past two records everybody has caught ahold of them right away as soon as they come out and your seeing the audience singing along, and I thing that’s really a wonderful thing. So we are not that learning curve to where everyone is like “Your playing a new song!” No these are already turned in dude most are favorites for everybody. So we are very lucky in that! 

EE: Is there anyone you want to play with that you haven’t already? 

JC: We would love to play with the Bosstones, we would love a tour with them. The Bosstones, RBF and Less than Jake. You know we could always dream. 

EE: when you hear Punk and Ska is dead what’s your first reaction 

JC: people that say that don’t come to our shows, and don’t know why they are talking about. There is always gonna be genres that people enjoy, not every flavor ice cream is for everybody. Our flavor is tongue and cheek, it makes you laughmakes you not take yourself so seriously.it allows you to stick up your middle finger at everyone else, and just have a great time!

Well there you have it, we had a great chat and well what a show! I am voting for a BOSSTONES AND REEL BIG FISH SHOW!

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Anthony Bernardi

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