The Jet City Fix

I first heard of The Jet City Fix earlier this year when they sent me their debut album, 'Play To Kill'. This band really stood out from the other bands who's CDs I'd been sent, and I'm still listening to 'PTK' at the moment. I recently got the chance to ask drummer Dana Sims some questions, so read on to find out what he thinks about The Wildhearts, Aerosmith and Spinal Tap! 

What has the band been up to recently? 

WE SPENT FEBRUARY/MARCH DOING TWO THINGS - WE RECORDED 20 NEW SONGS WITH PRODUCER JACK ENDINO (NIRVANA, SOUNDGARDEN, HOT HOT HEAT, ETC) AND WE TOURED THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH ZEKE. WE HAVE BEEN HITTING THE NORTHWEST CONCERT SCENE THIS MONTH WHICH CULMINATES WITH AN APPEARANCE AT THE ROLLING ROCK TOWN FAIR WHERE WE WILL PLAY IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND SHARE THE STAGE WITH SEVENDUST, FINCH, FINGER ELEVEN AND THORNLEY. 

Your album 'Play to Kill' received great reviews, how long did it take you write and record? 

OUR BAND CAME TOGETHER IN AUGUST OF 2002. WE PLAYED TWO SHOWS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002 AND RECORDED PLAY TO KILL IN OCTOBER OF 2002. IT CAME TOGETHER FAST. THE ALBUM IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE MAGIC OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BAND - WE WANTED TO GET ON THE ROAD AND YOU NEED SOMETHING TO SELL AND PROMOTE TO LEAVE TOWN SO WE REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THE FIRST ALBUM DONE EARLY. THERE ARE THINGS WE WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THOSE SONGS NOW BUT WE WOULDN'T TRADE THE DOORS IT OPENED FOR US FOR ANYTHING - WE'VE HAD A FUN RIDE AROUND THE WORLD SINCE. 

On PTK you covered The Wildhearts' 'Sick of Drugs'. Is everyone in the band big Wildhearts fans? Would you say they are one of your influences? 

EVERYONE IN THE BAND ARE BIG WILDHEARTS FANS NOW. JUSTIN, TY AND I LOVED THE BAND FOREVER AND WE INTRODUCED THEM TO SHANE AND JOHN. WE PICKED SICK OF DRUGS AS A SUBTLE STAB AT PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT OUR BAND NAME WAS A REFERENCE TO SCORING HEROIN - WHICH COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. SARCASM RUNS DEEP IN THIS BUNCH. MAIN INFLUENCES FOR THE BAND ARE BACKYARD BABIES, GUNS N' ROSES, BUCKCHERRY, AC/DC, ETC. 

Do you have a favourite track off the album? What's your favourite track to play live? 

MY FAVORITE TRACKS ARE "BULLET" AND "THE LIFE", I LOVE TO PLAY "BULLET" AND "JET CITY'S ROCKIN" THE MOST LIVE 

Have you got a new CD out or coming out? If so, what stage are you at with writing/recording it? 

WE HAVE 20 SONGS DONE AND MIXED. THEY WERE RECORDED WITH JACK ENDINO IN FEB/MAR AND THEY TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD - I THINK THEY REFLECT A BAND WHO DID OVER 200 SHOWS TOGETHER AND TOURED THE WORLD AFTER MAKING THE LAST RECORD - IT SOUNDS BIG, TIGHTER AND MORE COHESIVE - AND THE PERFORMANCES ARE KILLER! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING OUT AN EP THIS SUMMER (TENTATIVE TITLE IS "MEMOIRS OF MISADVENTURE") AND SHOPPING THE REST AS AN ALBUM TO BE PICKED UP BY A RECORD LABEL THAT CAN HELP US GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL. 

What kind of music are you into? Who are some of your current favourite bands? 

I'M IN TO PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING EXCEPT NEW COUNTRY AND HARD CORE RAP. CURRENT FAVORITE BANDS ARE VAUX, YEAR OF THE RABBIT, THE START, MY VITRIOL, BACKYARD BABIES, THE WILDHEARTS, INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONSPIRACY AND NEBULA. 

What was the first gig you went to? 

FIRST CONCERT WAS PAT BENATAR WITH DAVID JOHANSEN (NY DOLLS) OPENING. 2ND GIG WAS OZZY OSBOURNE WITH RANDY RHOADS THREE WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEATH. 3RD GIG WAS BLACK SABBATH ON THE MOB RULES TOUR...AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY I LIKE TO ROCK???? 

If you could tour with any band, past or present, who would it be and why? 

AEROSMITH! - BECAUSE THEY ARE THE QUINTESENTIAL US ROCK BAND - THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOREVER, THEY STILL DO IT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE AND I WOULD NEVER GET SICK OF WATCHING THEM NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. 

On your website and in your press release there are a lot of Spinal Tap references. Would you ever want to star in a Spinal Tap style documentary? 

IF IT WAS REALITY BASED- NO WAY! - IF IT WAS "ACTING" SURE - WHY NOT? 

Who out of Spinal Tap do you think you are most like? 

I'M MOST LIKE IAN - I CARRY A BIG STICK - FUCK SHIT UP AND WATCH THE REST OF MY BAND PARTAKE IN THE SEX AND DRUGS! 

What have you got planned for the rest of 2004? 

WE WILL TOUR THE WEST COAST THIS SUMMER, PLAY THE BIG BUMBERSHOOT FESTIVAL I SEATTLE IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS PUTTING OUT THE NEXT RECORD AND FINDING THE BEST TOURING SITUATIONS WE CAN. WE HOPE TO RETURN OVERSEAS THIS YEAR AS WELL - AND STAY LONGER. 

Finally, is there anything else you'd like to add or promote? 

OUR WEBSITE IS www.thejetcityfix.com - YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT WE ARE UP TO, BUY MERCH, WATCH VIDEOS AND LISTEN TO TUNES THERE. 

THANKS A LOT!! 

Thanks a lot to Dana for answering my questions, and make sure you check out their site (address above) to find out more about The Jet City Fix. You can also check out my review of their album 'Play to Kill' here.