The leap from banging around on the your dad’s spare drum kit in the basement to backing up Bruce Springsteen night after night is almost too surreal for even James Thurber to dream up for Walter Mitty.
But 19-year-old Jay Weinberg – son of legendary E Street drummer and Conan O’Brien band leader Max Weinberg – did just that this past summer, when he was asked to fill in for his dad on Springsteen’s recent European tour. Not bad for a kid who started playing drums less than five years ago.
But Jay’s current summer plans, as drummer for Brooklyn’s The Reveling, is more in line with his first passion, playing punk rock.
The four-piece, which also includes Sean Morris on vocals and guitar, Dennis Murphy on bass and Dave Kramer on guitar, play solid punk rock, drawing on influences as diverse as Social Distortion and Clutch.
Jay Weinberg took time recently to answer a few questions about the band’s self-released EP (3D Radio), the role of record labels and backing up the boss.
Innocent Words: Tell me a little bit about how the band got together.
Jay Weinberg: The Reveling started in 2007, after Dave, Sean, and Dennis had been playing in bands together, and I joined in the summer of 2008 by answering an online advertisement they had for a drummer position.
IW: There are obviously some strong punk and hard rock influences on these songs. Do you guys have any influences that would surprise folks?
Weinberg: Dave and I have a lot of interest in heavier-sounding bands (Slayer, Converge, etc.). Personally, I also like a lot of different kinds of music; favorites of mine that aren't really evident in The Reveling's music include The Parlor Mob, Sia, Lucero, Cat Power, Clutch, and many others.
IW: Why did you decide to release the EP without a label?
Weinberg: We released the EP without a label because we're a relatively new band. We made the album by ourselves, and it made sense to put it out on our own to sell at our shows (as well as online). Now that the EP is released, we're exploring the opportunities that labels can create.
IW: Do you think labels are still relevant?
Weinberg: It depends on the people with whom one works - if an artist is considered by the label to be really marginal, it may be better for the artist to move somewhere where they're appreciated. I think labels are still relevant, but some have tendencies to suffocate great artists.
IW: How long have you been working on the songs on 3D Radio?
Weinberg: We began writing the 3D Radio songs shortly after I joined the band, probably before the end of 2008. We recorded the songs in February 2009, and the album was released online in December 2009. The songs are always evolving; the way we develop musically constantly affects the way we approach performing the songs. One could say that we're still working on the songs that we released on 3D Radio.
IW: Are there plans for a full-length record?
Weinberg: We're currently working on the full-length follow-up to 3D Radio; we're hoping to release it summer 2010.
IW: What were you're first thoughts when you were asked to tour Europe with Bruce and the E Street Band?
Weinberg: It was a really exciting thing; my first thoughts ran the gamut: elated, anxious to start, nervous to not mess up, eager to start on the process that would eventually be a huge stepping stone in my development as a musician.
IW: What can you tell me about the shows with Bruce and the band?
Weinberg: The shows on that tour were amazing. I learned lots of things about playing music that I didn't know before. I met lots of great people, and I was able to see different parts of the world that I might not have been able to see otherwise. I'm very thankful for the experience; I'll never forget it.
IW: As the son of Max Weinberg, did you ever think about playing something other than drums?
Weinberg: I started playing guitar when I was nine years old, and I picked up the bass when I was thirteen. I didn't start playing drums until I was fourteen, when I found one of my Dad's old kits in our basement.
IW: So, what's next for The Reveling?
Weinberg: We'll be playing lots of shows on the East Coast for the majority of winter - spring 2010, and that will probably lead into some sort of summer tour in the U.S.