Modern Vinyl recently got the chance to speak with California pop-punk band Smalls a week before pre-orders go live for their second EP, titled “The Same Mistakes,” via Negative Progression Records. The 7″ is set to be pressed in three variants — bubblegum pink, purple/pink haze, and white. Alongside the vinyl edition, a cassette tape and CD version of the release will go up for sale. All three configurations of “The Same Mistakes” have different front artwork, as well.

We also had the pleasure of debuting “Tired” from that EP, as well. The track can also be streamed via SoundCloud below. “The Same Mistakes” is slated to ship on or around July 8th.

Modern Vinyl: So a band with a Biggie Smalls reference for a name gets together to write pop-punk songs. That seems pretty different.

Russ (guitar): You listened to that La Brocha podcast? We were just kidding…

Ashley (vocals): We always joke around and say it’s from Biggie Smalls but it’s actually from the movie The Sandlot. Most of us loved that movie as kids and never really grew out of that “Smalls” mentality. We’re all losers.

Billy (guitar): We should probably start taking interviews seriously. Sorry, not sorry.

MV: What brought you guys together in the first place? You’ve gotten off the ground pretty fast, even for a scene that’s picking up new pop-punk acts on its radar left and right.

Russ: Billy and Ashley showed me some songs they wrote and demoed on Billy’s computer. I immediately saw the potential to make something awesome, so I thought I’d help them out and play bass. Ash found a drummer at the mall or something, and we played a few shows. Eventually, we found Britt (drums) and Guss (bass) to join as permanent members. I’m on guitar now, which I’m a lot more comfortable with.

Billy: We met Guss through mutual friends and Britt played guitar in a band with Russ. When she heard he was playing with us, she decided to join as well.

MV: “Expecting the Worst” (Smalls’ first EP) was a perfect example of back-and-forth dual vocals and unfiltered, confessional lyrics. Judging by that description, does “The Same Mistakes” deliver more of the same — or are there more surprises in store?

Russ: Yeah, The Same Mistakes definitely has its fair share of dual vocals. We worked on a lot more harmonies on this one, but I was given my own little parts here and there. No surprises. Oh, Billy does a pig squeal to one of the blast beat parts in one of the songs, but that should already be expected, right?

MV: Negative Progression Records is a label that sponsored the Radioactive Stage on 2003’s Vans Warped Tour and has backed releases from everyone from New York pop-punk heavyweights The Goodwill to The Progress, the former band of Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.). How does it feel to be a part of a family that has an illustrious history within the scene?

Billy: We chose to do this record with Seth (Negative Progression’s owner) because of his experience as a label. He’s been around for 15 years or so. He knows what he’s doing. We were familiar and fans of his roster, whether it’s The Progress, Counterfeit, Lariats, The Offseason, Over It or The June Spirit.

Ashley: It’s nice. They have a pretty extensive history behind them. A lot of these bands and musicians are people we respect that went on to do really great things. It feels great to follow in their footsteps.

Guss (bass): Plus, it feels great to know we’re in good hands. Seth has treated us well.

MV: “The Same Mistakes” is set to be physically released on vinyl, CD, and cassette — which seems pretty standard until you consider that each format gets its own artwork. What was the inspiration behind that?

Billy: Ashley and i wanted it to have almost like a comic feel to it, like three panels that when put together created some sort of story. That was the original idea, at least. Then we realized that they had to also look like the same cover so that people don’t think it’s three different records so we settled with the “mystery misery man” doing three things in the same room.

Ashley: I love alternate covers. It makes collecting more special and fun. We just wanted to make this experience as unique as possible. When I was a kid, Hawthorne Heights put out If Only You Were Lonely with two different covers that would make a picture when you put them together. That always stuck with me. Like, how cool is that?! From that moment on I had always wanted to do that.

MV: Anything big planned for Smalls this year to accompany this new EP? A touring cycle, perhaps?

Billy: We’re laying low for the next couple months to prepare for the release of this EP. We’ll be releasing teasers and a whole bunch of other things as we build up to the release. Until then, we’re kind of on a break, but not really. We’re busy writing and doing “behind-the-scenes” stuff.

Russ: We’re opening a sandwich shop that specializes in “sidechick-style” sammiches. Kidding!

MV: Let’s talk vinyl for a minute. What exactly does the vinyl version of the EP have to offer for pop-punk conscious record collectors?

Billy: It will be limited to 300 for the first run. It will be on colors we picked and they’re going to look cool. I’m stoked to have songs on wax. I’d never imagined that I’d have a record out, let alone on vinyl.

MV: Why exactly release an EP on cassette tape when you can get the CD version in the same webstore?

Russ: People can start actually using their cassette tape players in their old-ass cars and not use them as phone holders.

Ashley: Tapes are in their own realm. Tapes are awesome, they’re compact, can be easily stored, and don’t skip in my mom’s car.

Billy: I feel like tapes are slowly making a comeback. Plus, like Russ said some people have really old cars (like the one I’m driving now) with a tape player in it. I miss my car.

MV: What are some of your personal record collections like? Favorite records? Cool stories behind some things you’ve picked up?

Russ: Most, if not all of my records are hardcore records. Everything from Uniform Choice, Minor Threat, Floorpunch and Shutdown to Killing the Dream, Verse, and a bunch of other bands that were out at the time I was a straight-edge hardcore kid. I’m not really into collecting vinyl now, so I haven’t picked up anything new.

Billy: I used to have a bunch of records back in the day, too. Around 2007, I had to sell them for financial reasons. I did keep some of them, and I started collecting again around 2010. I’m not really sure about how much I have. I have a Discogs collection that I need to update. My rarest record has to be the tour press of Have Heart’s What Counts, limited to 40 copies. It’s got the “Calvin and Hobbes” cover, was pressed on clear green and was sold on their 2004/2005 tour. I think it’s second press, I don’t remember. The show I picked it up at had Russ’ old band Countdown playing, too. It was a huge show in Burbank, and the first time I saw Set Your Goals. I’m pretty sure it was their first time out here too. Who else was on that show? Dead Hearts, Righteous Jams, our friends More To Pride…

I’ve seen that Have Heart record on eBay a couple times fetching around 100 bucks, but I don’t think I’d sell it. As far as newer bands go, I have a 7″ from The Wonder Years that came with a subscription to Alternative Press, a one-time press of 250 copies.

Ashley: I’m pretty lame with my vinyl. I solely collect records with a nostalgia factor for me — my favorite albums from childhood and albums I love now. I have almost a complete collection of first press Senses Fail albums and I’m almost done completing my Best Coast collection. My first press of When Broken Is Easily Fixed by Silverstein is probably my favorite. I just recently got my hands on a first press of [The Wonder Years’] The Upsides that was limited to 200 copies.

MV: Are there any “white whales” that you’re holding out for? In other words, are there any records you’d love to own on vinyl but haven’t been able to find?

Russ: I haven’t bought any records lately, but I’d like to have the first two Green Day records (1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours and Kerplunk) on vinyl just because those were my favorites growing up and those recordings do kinda have a “listen to this on vinyl” vibe to them. I’m sure I can find them somewhere.

Billy: i missed out on that Rufio pre-order when it came out for the black/red variant of Perhaps, I Suppose. I was so bummed that I was broke at the time. I keep finding “sealed” copies for crazy prices, but I don’t want to spend that much on it. Plus, I have a feeling that if I buy it it’ll end up being the regular press and not the Rufio “hair” press. Bummer.

Ashley: I am desperately looking for a copy of Fall Out Boy’s Take This to Your Grave with the original cover art and trading cards. Also, a first press of 10 Songs by I Hate Myself would be pretty rad. Eventually, I’d love a collection of all my favorite blink-182 albums.

Modern Vinyl thanks Negative Progression Records and Smalls for this interview. “The Same Mistakes” is slated to ship July 8th, with pre-orders going live in one week on May 27th. Until then, be sure to stream the excellent track “Tired” from that EP above. Smalls’ first EP, titled “Expecting the Worst”, can be streamed in full on Bandcamp can be downloaded for pay-what-you-want.

Tags: interview