Full disclosure: I’m not just a fan of Scoopski’s music. I’m also a member of his band. As long-time readers of this blog may recall, I interviewed Scoopski back in February of 2022. At the time, the project was mainly limited to recording—with the occasional solo live show thrown in for good measure. Even so, I mentioned that if he ever wanted to play with a full band, I’d love to play bass. The rest, as they say is history. And if you’re in the Philadelphia area on February 3, you can catch Scoopski along with BEES! and Haha Charade at Silk City: 5th and Spring Garden Streets, 7PM.

What inspired you to put a band together?

Hey thanks for doing this catch up interview, Marc! It was a number of factors that led to wanting to put a band together. 

So, “Scoopski” really started out with no real intention of ever playing a show. We were pretty happy for a couple years with it just existing as a recording project, but deep down I knew there was a part of me that missed live performances. 

In early 2022, I made a tweet saying something to the extent of “Scoopski should play some kind of live show this year!” It was something that crossed my mind but I wasn’t really taking it too seriously, so I just threw it out there, half jokingly. When Phil Yates & The Affiliates were going on tour last year in support of their fantastic 2022 album “A Thin Thread,” Phil Yates saw that tweet and hit me up, asking if Scoopski wanted to open for them when they came through the Philly area. 

I didn’t even hesitate, because Phil’s music is awesome and it was a great opportunity! So I knew *some* sort of live show had to be put together. Being that Mrs. Scoopski and I were first time parents to a newborn at that time when I was asked, I knew a band wasn’t really something that would fit into our lives at that moment, and we didn’t really have the resources or time yet for both of us to prepare a live show. However, I had seen a Twitter friend of mine, Sam Black, whose project Modern Amusement had started playing shows in the MN area with just him singing and playing distorted electric guitar to a backing track, and I thought it sounded great! So, that became the model, and that’s what I did for the first Scoopski gig at The Rusty Nail.

After that show, the “live music bug” bit me again and I was officially pulled back in! I realized I really missed that element of playing music, the “human” element of it, where there’s risks and imperfections involved. We have some really great success stories from the online/social media world, with folks I’d consider fans and friends from all different parts of the globe. We’ve been played on so many radio stations, podcasts, TikTok clips, etc. Many bloggers and influencers have had great things to say about our music. We’ve had some really great luck with some of our songs on the streaming platforms. However, as much as I appreciate and love participating in the online music world (and I *really* do), I still had this weird feeling like I was missing out on participating in the LOCAL music scene!

I remember a quote from someone in the #Tweetcore community, and I can’t remember who to attribute it to.. but it was something to the extent of: “we’re internationally recognized, but locally ignored.” That quote rung so true to me as something I could relate to. So, after that first show, my mentality changed to: let’s see if we can translate some of this niche success we’ve had with some folks online into the live show experience! Can one have success as both a #Tweetcore artist AND a local live act? 

We eventually got to a point where Mrs. Scoopski could join me for live shows, and we played a couple that way, which I much preferred to playing solo. However, local venues were not very interested in a borderline Pop-Punk act that played to a backing track. I was only straight up told that once, but I could tell from all the other non-responses that it was likely the case for the others as well. By December 2022, the thought of a full band was sounding more and more tantalizing. Mrs. Scoopski told me she’d be way more interested in playing more shows with a band than with the tracks, and I was feeling that too… Especially given the fact that two people (I wonder who they could be!) had told me they’d be interested in joining a Scoopski full band iteration.

Well, some life stuff has to be squared away which pushed things back awhile, but we officially were able to begin playing as a full band in June 2023! Finding out that being in a band (in the capacity we’re doing it) *can* actually fit into life right now was definitely a cool thing. Actually, turns out it’s a win/win for everyone, because it gives our son’s grandparents a chance to spend some time with him and they love it. Who woulda thunk? 

Now you’re in this ship with us as we try to navigate the waters of the live music scene! 

And rockin’ waters they are! But I have to ask: You’re Scoopski, and the band is also called Scoopski? Does it ever get confusing?

It sure does! I’ve really thought about just telling people to call me plain old Jim, but Jackson reminded me yesterday during our Naive Nature photoshoot that I’m never going to shake it now! 

To be honest, the thing I initially liked about the name “Scoopski” was that it sounded like both a person’s nickname OR a band, which gave the creative freedom to make it go from a solo project to a duo and now to a band, all within the same name.

I see it in the same way as “Weezer” or “Wheatus,” two bands who I love (Wheatus I actually opened for before in a previous band back in 2010!) With both of those bands, the names are actually derived from nicknames that were given to their front men in their childhood. 

With “Scoopski,” the funny thing is I kind of willed that being my nickname into existence, because many folks who I meet for the first time in person (yourself included!) only knew me as Scoopski before a proper introduction, which I gotta say, is actually a pretty cool thing!

True! What were you looking for when you put the band together—I’m thinking in terms of personality, musicianship, and other factors? 

I think the biggest factor was looking for folks who had a grasp on what Scoopski is all about. Also, people wanting to be a part of it was a big factor, too! In your case, you had mentioned in our first Abominations piece in early 2022 that if we ever needed a bass player you’d be interested, which was the first time anyone had ever mentioned joining the project to me. At the time, I was only just beginning to even consider solo live performances, and in my head a “band” was still too much of a commitment to jump back into, with being a brand new father and all. 

I wasn’t necessarily looking for people who can totally shred (not to say you guys can’t!), because our music is definitely songwriting focused moreso than crazy, show-y musicianship focused. (Although, our songs are definitely an exercise in memorization with some tricky changes)

As I previously mentioned, both you and Jackson had made separate comments to me last year that if we ever decided to go full band you’d be interested in playing with us… And I took that to heart, obviously!

The funny thing is, it can all be traced back to that first Scoopski solo show at The Nail in summer 2022, which is cool because there were only like 20-25 people there tops. I didn’t know it at the time, but Nick Cervini who is now playing drums with us was actually at that first show too. When I formally met him at The Nail earlier this year, after seeing his band Sacred Monsters perform, he already knew who I was when I approached him and expressed a liking of our music, so he was a no brainer to ask when we needed a new drummer! 

Have there been any challenges?

I’m usually not too great at leadership roles, and I’m never sure if I’m doing things right, but I’m trying my best! It can be tough to get five working adults to be on the same schedule for practices, but luckily with us only meeting up a couple times a month it hasn’t been too big of a challenge thus far. 

Also, dealing with booking shows is something I had very minimal exposure to prior to playing Scoopski live shows, because in old previous bands I was in, the majority of that stuff was handled by other bandmates… That’s a world I’m currently learning to navigate, but I think I learning pretty quickly!

For you, how is playing with a band different from playing to a track?

I definitely have to be on my toes more because at the full band shows I’m playing the guitar solos instead of just leaving them on the backing tracks. While our guitar parts aren’t very hard whatsoever, I’ve found that playing lead parts and strumming chords are very different muscles. I’m also trying to get used to using pedals, which is something I didn’t use when we played to tracks.

How is everyone getting along? 

I really like the vibe we have going on.

On paper, it sounds like a recipe for disaster… Not only is there a married couple in the band, but we also have three different generations (Z, Y, X) represented. But despite the vast age spectrum, it feels right! As corny as it sounds, I think music has that ability to break down barriers of all sorts.

The other thing I like is that we all have our own simultaneous projects we can use as references within Scoopski. Like, if we’re dealing with a certain issue, one of us could say “well, this is how we handle that in The Star Crumbles, Naive Nature, Sacred Monsters, etc.” 

Also, one of the things that always happens within bands is inside jokes are plentiful.. and luckily with our band there’s been no shortage of those! 

Meow! By the way, who is DJ Juan Headley, and how does he fit into the lineup?

DJ Juan is our ethereal cosmic source of inspiration, and official mascot. He also had important job of being the “DJ” who manned the laptop when we were playing to backing tracks.

Is it true that you discovered him in a meteorite that crashed into your neighborhood?

I would love to answer that question, however, Juan told me I’m not really allowed to go into that in a public setting. If I did, there’d definitely be some knocks on our door at 4 AM like the last time.

You recently had your first full-band show at Curran’s Irish Inn in Northeast Philadelphia. How did that go? 

I thought we played great! I definitely felt the energy came through in our performance. 

Do you think the band will do any recording together, or is it strictly for live shows?

Obviously we talked about this already but this is a good opportunity to put it out there for friends and fans to hear: 

So at the moment, the plan is that the 4th Scoopski album will be released sometime in spring 2024. Yes, I’m announcing it here on Abominations! But it’s planned to be the final traditional/duo Scoopski album. 

It will be comprised of all the singles we’ve been releasing since “Dad Bod” plus 4-5 other tracks that haven’t been heard yet, and it’s planned to be the final “traditional” Scoopski album. Reason being, we basically recorded the skeletons of all these tracks from 2022-2023, so they are all “in progress” already, but the finalizing aspect has been much slower than in previous years, for a couple reasons.

For one, having a toddler definitely does eat into recording/writing time, but also we’re purposely taking it a little slower on this one. I want this next album to be one where we’re not only proud of the songs on it, but also are proud of how it *sounds* overall. This may be a lofty goal, but I want to try to get on some 2024 year end lists with this next one! 

But aside from album four, YES, I am absolutely looking forward to having Scoopski : the band in on writing songs and on the recordings! I believe there will be a chance to hear us all on a recording of some sort even before album 4 is out, maybe a slick cover song! 

I think it will sound sonically very different with more humans involved in the process and… It’ll be a party, I’ll just leave it at that! 

Who’s the best bass player in your band? 

I mean, it’s gotta be DJ Juan, right? 

Oh, uh… Right! Yeah… DJ Juan. Definitely. I mean, anyway, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions!

Of course, Marc!