Warped Tour coverage- Interview with Single File

Single File, Warped Tour There are a plethora of reasons why musicians love being on Warped Tour. The highlight for most bands is when they get to play in their hometowns, where they typically encounter their most enthusiastic fans. So when Denver favorites Single File stop by to talk to me in their own stomping ground, they are effusive, energetic, and amped to be back home. I am pleased to find our local heroes are funny, humble, and overly nice. The friendly three-piece and I talk music, celebrating record releases, and why Denver is the best.

Sloan Anderson (vocals/guitar/bass), Joe Ginsberg (bass/guitar/backing vocals/piano), and Chris Depew (drums/backing vocals/percussion) are all smiles as I drag them behind a trailer for our interview. It's obvious they are stoked to be back in Denver. "We never really want to leave," the shirtless Depew proclaims. "I mean, we like going other places but if we had a choice we'd play Denver every day." "If we had a transporter, and could just transport to shows, we could do a tour and we'd still be here every day," Ginsberg chimes in. "Just play the show and come back to Denver."

It's clear that Single File loves their native city. So what do they miss most about Denver when they're on the road? "Denver," Anderson, proudly donning a Denver Broncos shirt, states. "The people, the mountains, the food, the awesomeness, the radical-bility," Ginsberg lists enthusiastically as he makes up words to describe his love of this city. "The beer," Depew adds. "I love microbrews." "People are really awesome out here," Anderson claims. "They're not mean or stupid." "People are just friendlier here," Ginsberg says and his bandmates agree. "Even security's friendly here. When security's friendly, you know you are in a good place." Surly is the word they use to describe the security folks elsewhere, then Anderson goes on to share stories about how different it is here in Denver.

Single File, Warped Tour Single File made their major label debut on Reprise Records (owned by Warner Bros. Records) in April of this year. So how did they celebrate the release of Common Struggles? After a lot of serious thought and a proclamation from Anderson that "We don't remember," they recall that they played a show and had a private dining party. "A friend of ours is a chef at a restaurant here and so he opened it up and we got to hang out and have some food," Ginsberg relays. They also went bowling to commemorate the occasion. As it turns out, Depew is a phenomenal bowler- he almost went pro. "Before I joined the band I almost got my PBA card," he reveals.

The three young men seem to get along incredibly well. But they have to get into scuffles sometimes, right? Again, the musicians think hard about their answer. "You bicker every day," Anderson contributes. "Every once in a while it'll build up, but we get along. We work well together, we grew up together. It's like we're siblings- we have it out, then we hug it out." "It's not even getting mad at each other. We're so close and we understand each other so well, that you can just say 'look dude, this is pissing me off'," Depew explains. "I think we're quite a bit beyond the old school 'grab the collar' kind of thing, which is good."

Single File, Warped Tour Being from Denver, Single File knows how amazing our local music scene is. I want to know which Colorado bands they are currently listening to. "The Northern Way, they're blowing up. Those guys are awesome," Ginsberg says. Depew shares, "We love Meese, we're very good friends with those guys. The Fray, obviously, everyone knows about them but we love those guys." Anderson adds "Saving Verona," and Depew gives a special shoutout to the young band. "The Epilogues," Ginsberg remembers to mention. "They're working hard, that's awesome."

Like most bands, as I'm finding out, Single File doesn't drink alcohol while they're performing. Nor do they indulge in libations before they take the stage. "No drinking until we're done with our set, it doesn't matter when it is," Anderson chuckles. "We learned that lesson," Depew claims. "We thought we sounded good, turns out that's not the case."

Single File tells me that getting almost no sleep is the worst thing about being on Warped Tour. "Lack of sleep has got to be the worst," Anderson admits. The long hours it takes to get from city to city on a daily basis wears the artists out. "I also don't like free hugs," Ginsberg unveils. "I don't like germs." "Yeah, what is the deal with that?" Anderson asks. Depew agrees and they all laugh.

I thank the sweet boys for their time and send them on their way. Their gratitude abounds as they thank me multiple times for the interview. It is my pleasure though, as I truly admire this talented Denver band and I envision them taking their career to incredible heights. I'm a fan of the music they write, the passion they exhibit, and now, the amicable artists that make it all happen.