FIFTEEN MINUTES FAST - Brianne Grimmer
Interviewed by Nicole Rork

What are your names/ages and what do you play in the band?

brianne grimmer--vocals, guitars

jason sukut--vocals, keyboards

mark anderson--vocals, guitars

rob o'toole--vocals, bass

How did you guys meet?

rob and mark were friends long before i met them. we became close through a mutual friend 7 years ago. i also met jason through a mutual friend and talked him into playing an acoustic show with me in kansas city, then later talked him into moving to arizona to play in fmf.

What influenced you to start a band?

i grew up with 3 older sisters who exposed me to the joys of local music. when i was 16, i decided that one day i'd be standing on the stage rather than in front of it.

Do your parents support it? 200%

How often do you practice as a band, and where at? when we can meet a few of the following factors a) 24 hour access b) no noise restrictions c) not 40 minutes away by highway d) not having to share with more than one other band e) cost not exceeding the amount of money we make monthly playing shows and f) not playing in an area that you have to worry about your car becoming involved in a hit-and-run while you're inside practicing (that really happened)....we like to practice at least 3 times a week.

What was your first show like? we played with a band called sugarcult and they have a good sized fan base, so it was a pretty large first show. we were well prepared, so it went very well.

How about your first recorded song? the first real recordings we've done have just been released on search and rescue records.....that's the album 'remedial mathrock'. we recorded a song as a favor to a student as his final project at the conservatory, but i don't even know if that recording still exists.

First tour? absolutely incredible. you always wonder how people will get along when forced to share cramped quarters 24 hours a day for weeks at a time. we lucked out--we happen to mesh very well. every tour you learn a little more...note to self: strategically place bounce dryer sheets throughout the van.

What do you do to pass the time on tour? we listen to a lot of cool keith. mark drives the majority of the time, jason eats dramamine and sleeps, rob listens to books on tape (narrated by matt damon), i like to count how many giant slim jims rob can eat at a time.

Worst venue to play at? if they're putting on shows, they can't be that bad. however, the kind that refuse to pay local bands even if they sell out....that's just wrong.

Favorite venue? the original nita's hideaway in tempe. we would go almost every night and there would at least one rad band. great staff, great atmosphere....sadly it moved due to schedule of demolition. though the new nita's is larger and cleaner etc., it's not the same.

What's your fan base like? very loyal and very supportive. we have some fans that will go to every show, no joke. we are definitely lucky.

Favorite thing about being in a band? touring: traveling to a different city every night to play a rock show with my best friends.....oh, and free drinks.

Worst thing? absolutely nothing

Top 5 favorite bands?
#1 flaming lips
#2 ween
#3 jimmy eat world
#4 afghan whigs
#5 portishead

Top 5 favorite cds this year? i don't actually buy cds very often....

flaming lips--fight test ep
electric 6--fire
tickertape parade--you're causing a scene
alkaline trio--good mourning
the rapture--echoes

Whats the goal of the band? main goal--to make a living playing music together