You don’t need 90% of what you have. You buy these things to make your life a little bit more enjoyable.  I say, save money for a year and go to India, Thailand, Vietnam, or start with England.
David McWane

We pick up where we left off and continue last week’s interview with David McWane from Big D and the Kids Table.

Vinny: Reading through your websites, I came across some information on the humanitarian effort “A First Step”. What are some of the challenges of setting up an organization such as “A First Step”?

David: Time and capital.  I always liked the lyric, “If you’re bored than your boring”.  People should take advantage of their free time, because as you get older it become less and less.  I’m taking your question down a different road, but I will double back.  To anyone reading this and I know you have heard it before, but turn off the TV, cut down on Facebook and use your productive years to be productive.  Everything from girls and boys, parties and more will come – try and make a difference while you are young and you will be that much more brilliant later.  If you party on Friday, do something that makes a difference on Saturday.  If you work 8 hours a day at your job, work at least half after for your future.  Push yourself.  So back to your question of ‘challenges’ well I would say time and capital.  For us people who are not from fortunate families our climb up is much slower, much steeper.  To be honest the challenges are endless, but aren’t they always.

Vinny: Mark Twain once said that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness”. What are some of the things you have learned through traveling that you would not have of learned anywhere else?

David: How little we all know.  And that if you don’t educate yourself throughout your life and become bigger than your emotions, then you will most definitely become one of the prejudice, narrow-minded bigots of this world.  Don’t just be an American or French, or an Aussie or this or that…see the world and become a part of everyone.

Vinny: The song titled “New England” from “The Gypsy Hill” album clearly shows that you guys have a love for New England (and so do I). What is your number two place in the world?

David: The rest of the world.

Vinny: The song titled “We can live anywhere” (and its video) from the latest album (I feel) resonates amongst independent travelers. What does this song mean to you?

David: People often have jobs they hate, apartments they hate, friends they hate, lovers they hate and still don’t understand that it is themselves that anchor themselves there.  As easy as it is to drive to the mall and buy a new stereo, it is to jump on a plane and see the world.  Give in to frugal spending.  You don’t need DVDs or coffees from Starbucks everyday; you don’t need 90% of what you have. You buy these things to make your life a little bit more enjoyable.  I say, save money for a year and go to India, Thailand, Vietnam, or start with England.

Vinny: Big D and the Kids Table have been around for a long time and you guys have built up a very dedicated fan-base. Big D and the Kids Table have a varied fan-base consisting of people of all ages. What do you hope to inspire in people with your music?

David: Well for me I hope people can go instantly from a bad mood to a good mood, from dread to hope.  That’s what Iron Maiden, Operation Ivy, Melt-Banana and Yelle do and have done for me.  But from me, I hope for them they never stop learning and never stop traveling until they have seen this world.

Vinny: Follow up: How do you feel, as artists, about the amount of influence you have on your fans?

David: Sometimes I feel nervous and confused, because no one feels like they truly have the answers – or one shouldn’t.  I just do my best to field the questions given me.  My angle is this…I am a dyslexic, lower middle class kid, my future should have been school, college, small jobs, a girlfriend, a wife, a slightly better job, kids and never leaving New England unless I go on an expensive two-week tropical vacation.  Through this band and from reading and reading and reading I have fought very hard for something better.  No I don’t not look at every day as my last, I half think that and I half think of my future.  I have been running from Man for 14 years, I know who I was before and I know who I am now and I just want everyone reading this to take it a goal to become the greatest person you can.  Just remember no one will think it’s a good idea until you return.

Vinny: What are some projects we can look forward to in the future?

David: I  have two new books coming out Running Young: Travels with David McWane & Let the Poets Come and Stop Me.

Vinny: What can we expect to see in the “Travel Diaries” section of your website?

David: You can expect a lot of Flip video and travel diaries from my 10 month solo travel around the World in 2011-2012 I am planning this year.  I am going to see the world and become a better man.  See how easy it is.

Thank you David for taking the time to answer some questions!

Don’t just be an American or French, or an Aussie or this or that…see the world and become a part of everyone.
-David McWane

Big D and the Kids Table have been rocking out in Boston since the mid-nineties. A product of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, their sound has grown and evolved. Big D and the Kids table is not easy to describe, borrowing from various influences calling their music ska would be an understatement. Flavors of reggae, punk, and rocksteady can all be tasted in the mix of their albums.

Recently, I’ve had the spectacular opportunity to exchange some words with vocalist David McWane about music, travel and volunteering. Dave is a busy guy with various projects lined up including a humanitarian project, authoring books and even writing his own film. All of this, of course, on top of his band.

Check out the exclusive interview after the jump!

Vinny: I feel that as we go through life, we stumble upon people, or read books, or somehow stumble upon a message that influences us in our daily lives and alters our perspective. What are some of the biggest influences of your life?

David: Some of the bigger influences of my life have been Iron Maiden, Operation Ivy and Melt-Banana and now a band from France called Yelle.  I would then go on to say my father and the three girlfriends I have had.  Oh and I would have to mention traveling, seeing the States, Canada, Mexico, England, Wales, Scotland, and Europe.  All of these have taught me quite a lot and have shaped me, making me a brighter me.

Vinny: Through some of the research I have done, it seems like you guys have been involved in different organizations (Warped Eco, PWSA, A First Step). What are some of your favorite humanitarian organizations that you either have volunteered with in the past or would like to in the future?

David: These days my life is in a transitional place so I am unable to be involved in any organizations.  I do try to get ‘A First Step’ going and I support people who contact me to help their organizations, like ‘Stay Vocal’ and more.  But the two I do support the most these days are – Alexandra Cousteau’s Blue Legacy and her brother Philippe’s Earth Echo.  Water issues, from the oceans to our own water sheds should be on everyone’s front burner of awareness.

Vinny: What makes these organizations resonate within you?

David: Well, most organizations resonate with me, but I mention these because they are more part of my everyday, I know the people involved and live in the community of their actions.  Sadly I, like us all, would be more involved with more great organizations if leaders could take us by the hand and share with us the knowledge of how to replace action over awareness.  There are so many important issues to be involved in that it can be over whelming.  Hopefully I will branch out to more soon.

Check back next week to see part two of our interview with David McWane.

This video was my first introduction to Playing for Change project where vocals and instrument melodies were recorded from musicians from around the world and edited together resulting in one of the most beautiful and touching songs I have heard. There are more videos and songs now that the project has gotten more popular. Check out Playing for Change for more information.

One of my favorite songs off the record Fluent In Stroll by Big D and the Kids Table

Never lose my wallet, it would put me in a spot.
Never lose my sense, at least how much I’ve got.
Never lose my family, never lose my friends.
Never lose my youth, I hope it never ends.
Hope I never lose my wallet.
And hell I hope to hell and only time will tell
I hope I never lose my mind.
Or lose my self somewhere not too far from here that nobody can find.
Never lose my hair, I would hate to go without.
Never lose direction and wander all about.
Never lose my courage, never lose my hope.
Never lose my girl, it would make it hard to cope.
Hope I never lose my wallet.
And last of all, not least of all
I hope I never lose my mind.
Or lose myself somwhere not too far from here that nobody can find.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Hope I Never Lose my Wallet

The title of this song was, for quite a long time, the tag-line of my blog. This song means a lot to me. It is rather simple but carries a lot of meaning behind it and something that I have been able to relate to for a long time.

SAME THING

Same Thing – Flobots

Ocean

Cause even if my legs are chopped off
As long as I have my thumb
I’ll catch a ride.

Ten Foot Pole, “I Don’t Mind”