| Print interview with Daniel Brummel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication | The Daily News-Journal |
| Published | February 21, 2002 |
| Interviewer | Cindy Watts |
| Interviewee | Daniel Brummel |
| Title | Ozma adapts to open for Weezer |
| Format | |
| Associated concert | Weezer concert: 07/29/2000 Ozma concert: 07/29/2000 Weezer concert: 02/21/2002 Ozma concert: 02/21/2002 |
| External link | Archive via Newspapers.com |
| References | See where this article is referenced on Weezerpedia |
|
Ozma adapts to open for Weezer
"If it weren't for Weezer we wouldn't be anywhere," says bassist Daniel Brummel from the band's tour bus in Louisville, Ky. The group has the day off and after the phone interview, members plan to go play paintball with the guys from Saves the Day. "They've really been great to us and gave us our start," Brummel continues, offering credit to Weezer. Last year Ozma opened the Yahoo tour for Weezer, but Brummel says things have changed on this tour. "This is a different kind of performing than we did last time," he says. "Now we're playing in hockey arenas, and we have to be large and animated. Whereas in the clubs and smaller places that we played in the last time, our concern was on the music. It's tough because you really have to move around a lot" Adapting its stage show wasn't the only adjustment Ozma had to make. With the release of Weezer's more poppish "Green Album", Ozma had to adapt to playing for a different audience, as well. "On the Yahoo tour the audience was older, and I think they understand your music more," says the bass player, "Now I'm afraid a lot of the kids who come are too young to understand our music. We sing about lost love and the inability to change the past and nostalgia, and I'm just afraid they don't get it. I guess the upside is there's a lot more of them to play for. Every night we play for 12,000-15,000 people." Brummel says the band is also adapting its music to the new surroundings. "We're trying to be more what they want without selling ourselves out," he says. "I think that will really help us the next time we go into the studio to record." Ozma has always been a band that put the integrity of its music first, and Brummel says he doesn't believe all bands are able to do that. "It's always been a goal of ours to play music that is high quality," he notes. "I think a lot of bands who are on mainstream radio aren't in control of their music. They let it be decided by industry climate, but I'm kind of jaded with the industry. I think there's a lot of payola that still goes on and that DJs aren't always allowed to play what they want to play." That knowledge doesn't stop members of Ozma from recording the music they want to make. "Having musical ideas and seeing them realize is what being in a band is about," the bassist explains. "If you want to be a musician, don't put some thing out until you're proud of it and until you want people to hear it. You have to believe in the music you're making, or people will know that your music isn't coming from the place within your person that it should. I'm not sure we've always been able to do those things, but I know we've tried." Ozma and Saves the Day will kick off the show for Weezer tonight at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. Show time is 7:30. Tickets are $27.50 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the auditorium's box office or by calling Ticketmaster at 255-9600. |
