The Shiny Toy Guns was founded in 2002 by bassist and keyboardist Jeremy Dawson and vocalist and guitarist Chad Petree. Growing up together in Shawnee, Oklahoma the duo worked together on previous music projects, Cloud2Ground and Slyder. In 2004 both vocalist Carah Faye Charnow and drummer Mikey Martin joined the band. During this time the Shiny Toy Guns gained a huge following on Myspace and with the local crowd in California.
Within months Shiny Toy Guns self released there first album We Are Pilots. In June 2006, the band signed with Universal Records and released a new version of We Are Pilots in October 2006. The Shiny Toy Guns have been playing to sold out crowds ever since.
BPW:
We Are Pilots is an amazing album! Where did your inspiration come from on this album?
STG:
Chad and I had been working on this record for a long time. Inspiration is just simply the pieces of the people and places that we have allowed into our lives, around our lives and such. A lot of lyrics and concepts were
based on situations in life around us; we've written songs about people we come in contact with all the time and they have no idea that a particular piece of a song was written directly about them.
BPW:
Do you have a favorite song off of We Are Pilots?
STG:
That's a bit like choosing a favorite child. I would say "waiting" or "when they came for us".
BPW:
What are some of the current bands/artists are you listening to?
STG:
The new Hadouken! You must get this album. Also a band called Mumm-Ra, Kate Nash, The new Silverchair single, The Editors, Whitey.
BPW:
Besides from creating music What are some of the other hobbies you have?
STG:
I'm obsessed with meteorology... Actually I chase and track and report severe weather every spring (tour permitting). In other words, a few of us literally chase and film Tornadoes and severe meso-ridden supercells from Illinois down to Texas.
BPW:
How is your US tour going?
STG:
Its pretty good... Really looking forward to next week; we are playing Portland, Maine for the first time and it will be the last state, number 50 for us.
BPW:
While touring world wide what city (or cities) has given you the best experiences?
STG:
All of Alaska ...Sweden, Gainesville Florida, Rapid City South Dakota, NorthHampton, Exeter, Manchester and Hull in UK.
BPW:
How different are the fans in the United States compared to Europe?
STG:
They are no more different than the literal difference between Americans and people from other places. They love music and they love to listen to live music. Culturally Europe and the UK are quite advanced and a lot more open minded as far as the general individual and what they listen too; but that is not to say that a person from each country that listens to our music is any less or more than the other.
BPW:
What is your favorite song to play live?
STG:
I'm not allowed to say the title, we have a vow of silence for the new album. :)
BPW:
What are some of the more memorable moments you have had while on tour?
STG:
There are just far too many... remember we have been on the road for 3 years straight. The most amazing things are always the stories we hear from people that we meet. Just life stuff.
BPW:
What are the bands favorite things to do while on tour when not playing?
STG:
I work all day on 3000 things. But the absolute #1 thing Chad and I do when there is time, is FISH. We have an entire system with us. Trolling motor boats. Full rigs. Waders. Everything. We find campgrounds and set up camp and float down quiet rivers with sunglasses on... its perfectly relaxing.
BPW:
What are some of the best things and worst things about touring?
STG:
Our schedule... which is unmatched by anyone out there. Except for like The Sounds and Flyleaf, they work as hard as we do. Its really tough. Missing loved ones... that is really tough. The good things are the live shows, the people who are at them, and the constant visual and culture of different cities and states and countries every single day.
BPW:
What is the craziest thing that has happened to the band on tour?
STG:
Hmm. A long time ago in 2004 we were booked for our first show in the city of Portland, OR. We played a small 21+ club called "Porkys". We found out quickly that it was a very unique gay bar, unique in the fact of the other artists playing with us. I can't quite remember the name of the group but a trans-sexual performance act performed right before us, and to the backing music of Madonna one drag queen got down on her knees while another took a stuffed toy sheep and squeezed it over her face... the sheep then shit all over the face of the queen on her knees... to a cheering and clapping audience, including us. It was amazing!
BPW:
Have you noticed a significant increased fan base since Motorola’s RAZR2 commercial campaign launched?
STG:
In a way, yes. People that are difficult to reach, people who either don't have time or don't have the means to become familiar with newer bands or rock shows in general were introduced to the band for the first time and then reached out to us virally, thousands actually. It was a massive blessing for us to be a part of that campaign.
BPW:
What did you think of the commercial the first time you saw it?
STG:
I think its great. I love it when corporations think future-forward instead of reaching-backward.
BPW:
Is there anything you would like to say to your fans or the readers of Gloom?
STG:
Yes... try to do something today that has nothing to do with you but directly makes someone else's life a little easier to deal with. This might sound lame to some, but believe me if I did this every day then I would be a lot happier person.
