Interview — Margate

Skratch Magazine

Margate is no stranger to Skratch Magazine, or rock and roll for that matter. Alex Helbig (lead vocals, drums) Steve Weil (bass, backing vocals) and Doug Mitchell (guitar, backing vocals) have been making music out of Hollywood for more than 5 years. They’ve been featured in Skratch compilations in the past and the video for the new single, “In My Life” is a Skratch featured video. Skratch recently spoke with Margate about their upcoming self-titled album to release on the boy's own label, Room 57 Records. Not only does Margate know how to rock and roll, but they know how a tazer gun works too.

Skratch: Give me an idea of what one would expect from your live show.
S: A fun, kick-ass time...we all love what we do and that shines through in our performance

Skratch: What do you guys do off the stage?
D: We're currently spending all our spare time in the studio finishing up our next album. You can check out our first single and video online now!
A: Continue to rock in the studio but eagerly anticipating the day we get back on stage.
S: As far as I'm concerned we are always on stage...

Skratch: Where do you enjoy touring? Any good stories?
D: We've played all around L.A. but we're always down for a road trip.
A: San Diego was awesome! The crowd got so rowdy that a fan grabbed the rubber bar mat from behind the bar and threw it at Doug's face. He was our biggest fan that night and really wanted to let us know it.
S: We love to play all over the place but California is our favorite. The funniest thing we have seen was when that drunk dude in Santa Barbara got tazered by the cops. So awesome!!! Check out the blog "Ohh, that's how a tazer gun works...." on our MySpace page for the full story.

Skratch: What are you favorite two lyric lines from your recent songs? Tell me a little about them.
D: I'll let Alex field this one.
A - Our songs have to do with the ups and downs of everyday life. In my humble opinion the following quote is from one of my favorite songs on the new album called "On The Other Side" -
"Then your whisper said... It will be ok, my final resting piece and when it comes time; my arms are opened wide on the other side". The song revisits the passing of a friend which I think most of the world can relate to and "piece" is a play on words.

Skratch: What other special talents do you guys have aside from music? Any hobbies?
D: I’m an excellent bowler.
A: I get fancy with a paint brush on skateboard decks.
S: I think that I must have been a psychologist in a former life. My life revolves around music so the only other hobbies I have are playing in other bands, trying to figure out how MIDI software works...but it all revolves around music.

Skratch: Any secret crushes you care to divulge?
D: I want to have Dave Grohl's baby
A: I have a crush on Dominick the Christmas Donkey...EEEEEEAAAAHHHH!
S: I love Mexican food...is that a crush?

Skratch: Politically, where does the band stand?
D: We try to keep politics away from our rock 'n roll.
A: Actually one of our songs called "Unchecked Aggression" deals with street politics and the crime in Los Angeles. As far as government politics go, we try to keep our songs on other subjects. Although we are all voters and are extremely happy that "W" is finally out of office.
S: You won't find too many political references in our music, but personally I find that anyone who gets into power had to make too many promises to other people to really look out for the good of this country as a whole.

Skratch: Aside from being a "rockstar", what are your day jobs?
D: We all work together at a 9-5 pushing paper right now, but we'd rather spend all day rocking. Got to pay the bills, right?

Skratch: What are your goals?
D: I think we'd like everyone on the planet to enjoy our music as much as we do. Is that too much to ask?
A: To rock all day everyday!!!! \m/
S: Our goal is to give our music a chance to be heard. If you like it, great. If not, great (well not really, we'd really prefer for you to like it). Being able to support ourselves as musicians would be a dream come true for all of us.

Skratch: When all is said and done, how do you want to be remembered as a band and as people?
D: I hope people remember us as fun loving dudes who like to rock faces off.
A: I hope people remember Margate as that "go to" band that just put you in a better place. Three guys who love nothing more than to rock!!!
S: I hope people are able to recognize that Margate is an extension of us as a whole. We love music, we love to have fun and we are appreciative of all of the good luck that we all have had in our lives.

Skratch: Who in the band is more likely to be a pyromaniac, a teacher, and/or an Olympic swimmer?
D: Alex would definitely be the pyromaniac, but I don't think there's a swimmer or teacher among us.
A: I would for sure be the pyro, who can deny watching things blow up? It's the best!!!! I believe that our bass player Steve would be the teacher… for more on Steve check out the lyrics to one of our crowd favorite songs "I Believe In Steve". And I will agree with Doug none of us are Olympic swimmers. The only swimming I did was across the border! hahaha
S: Al is definitely the pyro. I could see Doug as a teacher; he is very patient and good at explaining things. There is no swimmer out of us.

Skratch: Your next live shows are?
D - Our next show will be our CD release party, probably sometime in March or April. In the meantime, keep checking our MySpace page www.margatemusic.com for new singles and updates.

Skratch: Last words/final thoughts/anything you would like readers to know about you?
A: You will thoroughly enjoy our new album
S: Check out our new single "In My Life" and let us know what you think (YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT)
D: Margate world domination begins now.

Check out the bands official MySpace page for updates, new singles and the full tazer story at www.myspace.com/margate. You can also check out the band website for news on the CD release party scheduled for March or April for at www.margatemusic.com

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