Strung Out is a band of collective experiences

By Mariko Obrero
Daily Bruin Contributor

Strung Out’s luxurious gold tour bus doesn’t signify
that the melodic punk band has abandoned its bohemian roots. Nor
does the fact that the Simi Valley natives sold out two shows
Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7 at The Palace alongside The
Deviates, Death by Stereo and No Motiv.

Success is certainly not an end result for the five-membered
outfit. They have come a long way in the seven years they’ve
been together, but Strung Out also has a limitless future musically
as well as the perspective of a realist.

“We want to keep growing and maintaining originality. We
want to keep reinventing ourselves,” said guitarist Jake, in
a recent interview. The band does not use last names.

“There are no limits,” Jake continued. “We
also want to avoid being pigeonholed. We’ve only just started
reaching our potential.”

One way the band is able to expand themselves musically is by
collectively contributing to writing lyrics and music. Strung Out
is influenced by other artists, like Sweden’s Refused whose
“The Shape of Punk to Come,” is an album the band
listens to alongside bands like Snapcase and the Deftones.

Another way in which the band has picked up other musical
elements is by learning from tour mates. Tours with The Vandals and
NOFX has allowed for observation, which teaches the group stage
techniques allowing them to play with precision while giving them
the freedom to play fast and move about the stage.

Experience has definitely been the best teacher for the Fat
Wreck Chords artists.

“We’ve learned a lot about budgeting and have made
albums both ways: spending a lot and also cutting corners too. More
money doesn’t necessarily mean a better product,” Jake
said. “We’re lucky to have made a lot of the right
decisions regarding who to work with and how to go about making
albums.”

Things haven’t always immediately fallen into place for
Strung Out. “We’ve had our dysfunctional times. A few
years ago there was uncertainty and I didn’t know what was
going to happen. But, we’re healthy again and this is the
best we’ve been. We have good chemistry. We know what each
member does well.”

The band also offered insight into its success, something it has
spent a lot of time reflecting on.

“What people don’t understand when you become
successful is that you give up everything ““ your family and
careers. And, when you first start out, your life is in limbo and
you question why you do it. We started out in a van with no money
and food for months and bad equipment,” Jake explained.

And, although Strung Out has toured throughout Europe, Japan,
Australia, Canada, and the United States multiple times and have
gone on the road with Pennywise and ALL, Jake realizes that it
won’t last forever.

“You have to appreciate the opportunity because it will
pass you by,” he said. “It’s short term and
we’re lucky to have gotten to do what we’ve
done.”

The group also has ideas, branching off from the band, that it
is interested in pursuing. One idea involves starting its own
silk-screening T-shirt company to produce its own merchandise.

“Our singer Jason is an amazing artist. He designs all of
our art work and logos,” Jake said. “Producing and
starting our own record label is something we’ve thought
about too, things that will make us self-sufficient.”

But for now, the band will conclude a two-month long tour. Then
they will return to the studio to complete the next full-length
album, which will be out in the next six to seven months.

Strung Out truly has made it, not merely in superficial terms,
but by gaining insight and practicality. The band continues to
refine and expand itself thanks to a variety of experiences which
the group uses to increase its own talent.