More Than Just a Feeling: An interview with Days Away
Days Away realized their after school music projects was something they wanted to do for the rest of their lives
High school can be a stressful time when you’re deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life. Many of us have wide-eyed dreams and ambitions we want to accomplish; some are dreams we’ve had since we were young innocent children. Back in seventh grade, Days Away realized their after school music projects was something they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. There is a fine line nevertheless between simply just dreaming and actually making your dreams come true. For Days Away, they are making their dreams come true every day they live.
In 2001, after graduating from Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, PA, the boys of Days Away started making their childhood dreams become reality. The band saddled up and moved to California to introduce their music to the West Coast and recorded their debut EP, ‘The Feel of It’. “We moved out there right after high school, lived there and played shows, and we were able to get a nice fan base in Southern California” explains vocalist and guitarist Keith Goodwin. After purchasing a van to tour with, the band is back where it all started; in Langhorne, PA, a homely suburb just outside the city of brotherly love. After making a tough decision a short time ago, the band is ready to make things happen.
Long time friend and drummer Matt Haines was replaced with Tim Arnold, who previously helmed the keyboards, and the decision was the hardest the band has had to make according to guitarist Matt Austin. Bassist Chris Frangicetto made it clear the decision wasn’t personal and the main reason to make the change was to help allow the forward movement of the band. Goodwin explained how it all panned out, “We all started jamming around at my house and when Tim would get behind the drums it felt magical.” They feel that with Arnold behind the drums, the band can get to where they want to be as musicians. “I wanted to push myself further and I think everyone else in the band wanted to push the music further”, said Goodwin. “We kind of felt the music was staying at the same point and not progressing with Haines, the songs were just all sounding the same, and we all decided the best thing for us to grow as a band was having Tim drum and make better music and not just do it to do it, we want to make something great.” And making something great is what Days Away are doing.
From the sound of their live show, Arnold has fit in amazingly well with the band. His intense drumming skills and flair are added dimensions and character to the already solid potent music of Days Away. “There’s a better feeling about the music now, its great” said Austin. Arnold has been friends with the band for several years so when asked about if that has made fitting in as the new drummer much easier Tim responded, “Yeah, and just from playing also. I would get on the drums and practice with these guys and jam and we had that chemistry down.” Goodwin talked about how Tim just fits into place with the band. “Tim had a good understanding of what we’re trying to do because he understands the music and that fits perfectly.”
The band recently recorded six new songs that will be released on the L.S.D.E.P. which is a limited edition EP that will be available exclusively on the Something Corporate tour. The band also has some big tours coming up and they have new music to showcase. For the future the band ideally would love to have a record label that allows them to be as creative as they want, but for now, its all hard work and doing things themselves. “The more we can do on our own, the better” states Goodwin. “Sometimes, it’s easier (doing everything ourselves), some other times its like, I wish we didn’t have to do all this, but we’re growing musically and we’re growing in our relationship as a band.” Austin says the band isn’t in any hurry to rush and sign with a record label and its better for the band in the long run to do things themselves. Several labels do contact the band, but Frangicetto reinforces the decision not to rush. “That happens a lot (record labels contacting the band), but a lot of bands get caught when they feel like they are forced into signing.” Arnold concurs. “I don’t think it’s something you just jump into.” So the band plans on recording a full-length album in December and January and is shooting to have a label at that point help fund the process of recording and making an album. The band also wants to add a keyboard player back into the mix because that adds another dynamic. But they also have some other big plans coming up.
Keith explains how a side project with Finch is brewing. “It’s not a rumor, that’s going to happen. We jammed with Randy in his living room and its going to be fun and different, more experimental music.” The band also plans to re-record some older songs from when the band first started. Also, the tours ahead of the band have them really excited. The band’s most recent tour sees them with Something Corporate, Mae, and the Rx Bandits and will roll from mid October to the end of November. “This (the Something Corporate tour) is probably going to be the most fun” says a lively Goodwin. The road life is one Days Away enjoys except as the band points out, the lack of sleep and showers. They enjoy the experience because it’s four friends traveling around the country in a van together playing music, something they all love to do.
Getting to play live shows at home in the Philadelphia area is something that Days Away truly enjoy. “It’s awesome playing at home, I love it. I can’t wait to play the Electric Factory, its going to be insanity,” says Arnold with a smile. “It’s a special feeling when you play at home,” reiterates Austin.
Days Away is set to deliver their music to the world, and when it comes down to it, they are four first-rate good guys with an intense passion for playing music and have a special aura that surrounds them. “We’re all on the same page of where we want to go with the music and we all know we can do it,” says Goodwin. Arnold wraps things up by putting it very frank, “We’re ready, its time to get crazy.” When you talk to these four guys, or get the chance to see them create such honest, sincere music, you just get the feel of it:
They are going places.