By Kim Johnson

Kyle Dee, the voice of Chicago bred pop punk band The Frantic, so graciously allowed a few moments of his time for a phone interview in which discussions of robot hierarchy, dreams of sharing the stage with the now defunct Blink-182, and underwear preference, took place.


Kim: Well I’ll get the easy ones out of the way. So, “The Frantic,” the name sounds simple enough for most people to build their own perception of it, but what does it mean to you?
KD: Umm, it’s a Metallica song, that’s where we got it from... (Laughs) No, I’m totally kidding, but that’s what I like to tell people. *Kyle side note- You can totally publish that!*  We actually got it from, umm, it’s really cheesy but we wrote out like a huge list of names of words we saw in the dictionary and we just picked one and we got stuck with “The Frantic” I guess. Yeah, it describes us you know. We’re just young energetic kids, so we felt like that kind of fit the best.
Kim: Definitely! So tell me why you decided to be involved in music instead of, I don’t know, construction in Wisconsin with some guys named Joe and Earl or something like that?
KD: (Kim wins another laugh from Kyle!) Well, we grew up around it. Ever since I can remember I was pretending that broomsticks were guitars you know, and I took piano lessons when I was really young. I remember my dad always used to take me up to the record store and buy tapes for me and kind of show me what to listen to.  So I guess it was something I was just born interested in. I was always trying to form a band and just perform in front of anyone I could. I just love the attention I guess.
(Writers side note - It’s unfortunately true that Wisconsin construction workers don’t get much attention.)
Kim: Well you guys released your debut album Audio and Murder last November, tell me a little bit about the writing and recording process.
KD: A lot of the songs were written over the years. We didn’t write them as we went in the studio, they were the songs we were playing throughout high school and that’s what they’re basically about. Just cliché stuff we stuff we went through like; heartbreak, girlfriends and good times, just simple stuff that you can relate to. We were just writing what was comfortable. We weren’t sitting down trying to write really deep lyrics or anything.
Kim: So would you say there’s a theme to the record at all?
KD: Definitely, just go out and have a good time. Party, I guess!
Kim: Sweet! So how do you guys think you’ve progressed musically and personally since the earlier days?
KD: We’ve definitely progressed. We’ve been doing this for so long now that it’s becoming normal to us. We’ve worked with a whole lot of different people that have helped open our eyes and helped (us with) coming out of our shells. Like, we’ve already started writing for our next record and it’s not different. It’s still The Frantic, but it’s definitely more mature. Everything is structured better and we’ve dug deeper into our personal lives
Kim: Well I’ve heard your live shows are quite the experience, for someone who hasn’t seen you live, how would you describe it musically and visually?
KD: It’s not like theatrical but we definitely try to play it out so you can understand what we’re singing about. I do a lot of hand gestures and jumps, lots of energetic stuff. I’m also very visual with the crowd. I wanna make sure that they’re paying attention to what we’re singing about and that it has a meaning to them. It’s also a lot of fun. Lots of energy and us jumping off stuff, breaking stuff!
Kim: Oh nice! So you guys have picked up a lot of fans recently. Is it weird to see kids singing back in the crowd?
KD: Uh, yeah I love that, it’s very cool. We cover “Build Me Up Butter Cup”, it’s an older song, but it’s cool when you see adults or parents who bring their kids that hang out in the back of the show singing. Everyone can relate to that song so it’s very cool.
Kim: Would you say that’s one of your favorite songs to play live?
KD: Yeah I like that one. It’s one of those love songs that can attract the girl and reel ‘em in. If someone had never heard us before, and just happened to walk in when we were playing that song, they could relate to it and then they might stick around and check out what else we play.
Kim: So there’s some shows you guys have coming up with some really awesome bands, are there any you’re really looking forward to?
KD: Yes, we actually just got added to a few days on Warped Tour. I’m not sure if I was supposed to say that. Warped is gonna be good, we’re doing Summerfest in Milwaukee with The Plain White Tees and I’m really excited about that because I’ve never actually met the guys but I always followed their music when they were on Q101. Oh, well The Plain White Tees are from the same area that we’re from and they used to do what we’re doing right now. I always followed them when they were like on our level so yeah, we’re playing with them and I’m really excited about that.
Kim: So are there any bands you’d like to share the stage with in the future?
KD: Uh, I don’t know. I’d really like to chill with like…I don’t know, I really wish Blink-182 would come back. I think it’d be really cool, unrealistically of course, to play with someone like Green Day or something. Someone that I listened to my whole life that totally inspired me you know.
Kim: So are there any bands or artist people would be surprised you listen to?
KD: Yes, I honestly don’t listen to stuff we play really. I listen to a lot of pop music, I also listen to a lot of really heavy music. I’m a big Justin Timberlake fan, but then I’ll also listen to Metallica or Pantera!
Kim: Definitely some variety nice! So do you have any pre-show rituals?
KD: (Laughs) Well if you want to make something up to make fun of us or to make us look sweet, yeah use something like that. Go for it!
Kim: Which one’s are cooler, Robots or Pirates?
KD: Robots or Pirates? Umm, I don’t know. That’s kind of weird because pirates are kind of old school and robots are like all the new technology and that’s taking over so I think a robot would win.
Kim: Fair enough! So in the past few months you guys have been doing things most people won’t do in a lifetime let alone before they’re legally old enough to drink. What other amazing things have you guys been up to?
KD: Well honestly, a lot of the places we’ve been recently are places that some of our friends are reading about in Social Studies books.  With our off days, we try and make stops at historical landmarks and tourist attractions. Like, we’ve been to Niagara Falls and battlefields like Pittsburgh and Jamestown. So it’s pretty cool.
Kim: Boxers or briefs?
KD: Hmm, boxers or briefs?…I am a boxer guy, Brett doesn’t wear underwear. *Turns to Brett, “Can I tell her that?”* Yeah Brett doesn’t wear underwear, but I wear boxers…
Kim: Oh Nice! Well you know underwear can become a burden so it’s all good.
KD: (Laughs) Or boxer briefs, that’s cool too.
Kim: Well here’s another one for the record, got a little story for you. Somehow, you find yourself stranded on a deserted island. You have nothing except a radio, an outlet, and 5 CDs: Which CD’s?
KD: Turns to Brett, “Brett, stranded on an island, all I have is a radio and 5 CDs, what would they be? Skid Row…all 5 Slayer CDs…
Kim: Wow…ok (Laughs)
KD: No just kidding! Umm, I don’t know. Are you basically asking what I’m listening to right now?
Kim: (Laughs) Yeah. We can make it simple.
KD: Ok well…Cartel- Chroma -I think they have the best record in the world. Lies for the Liars- The Used. Dookie- Green Day. Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge- My Chemical Romance. Enema of the State- Blink-182.
Kim: Oooh nice line-up there. Well I think that totally wraps it up for us then. Thanks so much for your time and answering all my questions about your undies and what not!

The interview ended there but the conversation lead on with me basically making fun of Brett for not wearing any underwear.
The Frantic is well worth taking a listen to so be sure to check them out A.S.A.P!

www.http://myspace.com/thefrantic
www.http://thefrantic.com