Chad Sugg of Backseat Goodbye

Posted Mar 31, 2007, by Josh Snider.

www.myspace.com/backseatgoodbye
www.backseatgoodbye.com

Chad Sugg
(vocals/guitar/bass/piano/tambourine/drums & everything else)

Who got you interested in playing Accoustic/Rock music?
A little band out of Omaha that a few people might know of... Bright Eyes.

How did you come up with your band name?
It was actually just a couple of words I threw together and ended up liking how it sounded. I literally had a list of others and liked Backseat Goodbye the most.

What other bands have you been in, why did they end or how are they going?
Let's see, I've been in three other bands: the first was a pop-punk band in high school... we played one show (which was our high school's talent show) and we cover NOFX's "Linoleum", the second was an acoustic band that would eventually end up becoming another pop punk band over time, then the last other one was a "darker" pop punk band that played stuff with kind of an Alkaline Trio feel.
All in all though, those bands ended eventually due to either people having to move or lack of interest pretty much.

What venue has been the best to play at?
Well, I really love the Exit/In in Nashville, and also another two places that I love are Wired Coffeehouse in Indiana and Main Street Cafe in Missouri.

Was that your best show of all times?
That's tough to say, but the most memorable is definitely when I was lucky enough to open for my favorite band, The Format, at The End in Nashville, TN. It ended up being a sold out show and a night I'll never forget.

When, Where and How was your first show?
Oh wow, it was in 2004 I believe, in my hometown of Clarksville, TN at a Borders Bookstore.
And well, I don't remember much from it other than the fact that I played a bunch of covers to about 20 people.

How have you seen yourself get better since then?
Well, I can honestly say I've done a complete 360 since then in everything from singing, writing, and just every little thing... because I'm sure I probably was pretty bad back then.

What makes a show the best?
The crowd, to put it simply. I've played shows to hundreds of people that couldn't even compare to how great a show was with just like say 40 kids on a Sunday night in Nebraska.
I mean really, it's the people there that make the show, it's always one of the best parts.

Who do you one day want to play a show with or open for?
Bright Eyes, I would totally cry like a little girl if I had that opportunity.

What makes you strive to be heard?
The fact that I really want to give people what my favorite bands have given me... a breath of fresh air when everything else has gone to hell.

What inspires most of your lyrics?
Every little thing that happens to me and the people around me.

When did you start playing with the thought of publishing your music?
Probably about a year after I started BG.

Where do you wish to be in 5 years?
All over the world still doing what I love.

What do you think its going to take to get there?
I'm a pretty ambitious kid, I mean, I've gotten this far on my own, so hopefully I can keep a good head on my shoulders and keep growing.

Where have you been playing lately and how has your response been?
Wow, it's weird to get to say this, because I never thought it would come true (this wide of a tour that is), but literally just this morning I got back from a few weekend shows in Michigan and Wisconsin, last weekend I was in Missouri, and just a couple of weeks ago I had a week long tour through California.... and the response has been leaving me in awe... I actually sold out a show in Michigan and I had never played there before so other than me having to pinch myself to believe it I'm quite excited about my growing fanbase.

Do you have any upcoming shows?
Yeah, a big benefit show in the town I live in now, Murfreesboro, TN, then in April I've got some scattered dates in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee as of now, and from May through August I will be on the road nonstop hitting pretty much every last state in the US.

Do you have any advice to starting bands?
If you believe in your music, I mean really believe that you have something, and you're willing to pretty much give up parts of your life in some ways to do something you love, then go for it and don't look back.

What is the best thing about music?
It saves lives and brings out the sun when there are nothing but clouds in the sky if you ask me.

What do you want to see happen thru music in the future?
I'm not sure, I think it's still all percieved and still appreciated the right way today.

What are you doing to progress those ideas?
Well, to keep that idea going, I hope to do my own part in making listenable and relatable music.

What other instruments can you play?
I'm decent at gutiar, and I suppose you can say I "dabble" with piano, percussion, and mandolin.

Any funny or interesting stories?
I'll keep this short, but on one of my first ever tours I ended up having my car break down in Philadelphia, then I was left alone in the city by the band that was touring with me, and I ended up sleeping in a firestation. Ha. Good times.... NOT.

What do you think about UFOs?
They are real I'd say, and yeah, I mean that... I was too much of a Tom Delonge dork when I was younger to not believe in aliens.

Do you and work, other than playing music?
I can proudly say that playing music is officially my full on job.

Do your parents like you playing music today?
Yes and no. They don't mind it, but they'd much rather see me focusing more on college, because well, I really don't think they understand that people actually listen to my music. ha.

What were some of your favorite bands growing up?
Well, growing up it was all pop punk (when high school began anyways)... some of my favorites were Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World, New Found Glory, NOFX, Good Charlotte, Sugarcult, Green Day, Sum 41, Box Car Racer, MxPx... then when college rolled around I finally let my musical horizons expand I suppose you can say and I started getting into all kinds of genres.

What would you say to a kid who has no faith in himself?
Hope, if you've got it then hold on to it, and if you don't then just keep looking, you'll find it. Trust me, it's kept me going for years now.

How old were you when starting to play instruments?
I think I was 15 when I started playing guitar.

Have you lost any fans for doing something drastic?
Not that I know of, but I'm not one to make drastic changes or to do anything that might cause that, because really I'm closer to my fans than some may believe.

Everyones music changes over the years, but do you like playing the old stuff?
My style has changed a lot in some ways, but yeah I do still like playing the old stuff.

Anything you would like to say to your fans reading this interview?
Though you all already know it if you read my blogs, I love you all and thank you, and I mean that.

How many tours have you been on and how did they go?
I've been on probably about 7 full tours, and early last year they weren't good at all hardly, but the last 5 have been nothing short of amazing

How does it feel to tour, does anyone come with you?
It's great (and also bad sometimes)... and usually one of my friends will come with me and help with my merch, but I still go out alone sometimes too.

What do you do on the road to keep busy?
Listen to music in the car and sing really loud.

Do you have any advice to bands about to go on their first tour?
Good luck and get ready to have a reality check if you don't already have a fanbase. I don't mean that in a negative way either at all, it's just honestly the complete truth. So many bands think that if you tour you'll have fans... that's not true at all in most cases. It takes hard work to produce a fanbase for yourself... but don't let obstacles get in the way if you believe in your music. Perserverance is definitely key in touring, when you first start at least.

Do you ever find groupies?
Ha, that's a first. I'll just answer that with, yes... I do like girls.

How did you come up with the title of your new album "Good Morning, Sunshine"?
I actually got that title from a song I wrote a while back, and it just seemed to fit with exactly what I was going for on this entire album.

Other songs have gotten some radio play, what happened when you first heard them?
To tell the truth, I still have yet to hear one on the radio.... I always end up just hearing about when it was played, which is still quite amazing to hear.

Do you think this album will get any radio play?
Yes, I'm in the works of getting a bunch of college play and hopefully some satellite radio airplay.

How long did you wait from start to finish making the CD and how did it feel? Well, I have been writing the songs for it for about 3 to four months now, and it took about a week to record.

What do you think about it?
I love it, I have never been more proud of a cd. And I'm not even saying that to hype it up, I just really am proud of it in every way and can't wait to share it all.

Where can we get it?
At my online store (http://store.backseatgoodbye.com) and on iTunes beginning April 17th, also it's going to be available in some Borders Bookstores beginning in April also, along with some indie record stores across the US as well.

What do you want people to get out of listening to "Good Morning, Sunshine"?
A smile and hopefully some sunlight for their rainy days.

Any advice for anyone thinking about making a CD?
Have fun and make sure you make it into something you really like and want others to hear.

Any last words?
Thank you all at BigSmile for doing this, and thank you to any of you reading this, and to all of you who listen to my music. I really can't wait to let you all hear this new cd, and also can't wait to get out on the road for my summer tour so I can see you all!