By Anthony Chilson and Naila Rahman

There is a big difference between interviewing someone famous, and holding a conversation with someone famous. Although journalists are known for conducting “interviews,” we will be the first to tell you that conversations are much more fun.

Recently, we headed to Cleveland to see The Red Chord, The Agony Scene, Throwdown, and the Black Dahlia Murder in concert. We made it to The Odeon Concert Club a few hours before the show in order to get some background information on The Red Chord from Guy Kozowyk, lead singer for the band.

The Red Chord, composed of Kozowyk on vocals, Mike McKenzie (Gunface) on guitar and vocals, Greg Weeks on bass, and Johnny Fay on guitar, (the band at this point has a fill-in drummer), started up as merely a hobby and later turned into what would become a long-term career for its members.

Before inviting us to dinner to meet the rest of the band, Kozowyk took us through winding halls at the back of the club into this tiny room that the bands use as their “hang out room” before and during the show. We sat ourselves down and started drilling him with questions, but after the first question the interview quickly diluted into a conversation. We felt like we were talking to a friend from school.

Kozowyk didn’t make us feel like he held himself above us – but rather made us feel like we were important too.

He said, “It sucks to get to tour with a band that you’ve always looked up to, and find out that the members are complete jerks.” We couldn’t agree with this statement more and after meeting the rest of the band, we can truthfully say that The Red Chord does not have to worry about being seen as jerks. The band is a stark contrast to the speed metal they play so fast and furious that it intimidates the Abercrombie and Fitch crowd.

We proceeded to inquire what advice Kozowyk would give to teenagers wishing to pursue a career in music. He merely snickered and jokingly said “Give up.” He went on to explain that The Red Chord has seen amazing bands go nowhere, because a job in the music industry is too demanding for some. He mentioned that if band members aren’t willing to give up everything for their music, they should continue playing as a hobby, but never pursue their music further.

Glad that the members of The Red Chord decided they had what it takes to make it in the music industry, we took our places at the stage and enjoyed the show. All the bands that night were absolutely incredible, but we do have to admit that The Red Chord not only plays good music, but also has an amazing stage presence. Weeks had promised us earlier that he would do some extra head banging that night for us, and he held true to that promise. By far, this concert was the best we have ever attended, and we wholeheartedly suggest everyone sees The Red Chord at least once their lives.

- More information about The Red Chord: Visit theredchord.com

Rahman is a senior at MASH and Chilson is a graduate from Maplewood High School.