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As Jack Antonoff began writing the material for his band Steel Train's last album (2007's Trampoline) he was falling apart. His sister had died, his cousin was killed in Iraq and he lost his girl. The cards were stacked and Antonoff was drifting further and further into the abyss. Then, like all the great artists do, Antonoff decided to make something. What he created was the band's best batch of songs which turned into their sophomore album, Trampoline. A pop-rock effort that's not afraid to echo the Beatles, the sound is uplifting, yet buried underneath the bouncy rhythms are lyrics like: "When I was 18 everything was alive/ Then the planes hit the towers, then she died, then he died." As good as the recorded work has been, what sets Steel Train apart from many of their contemporaries is the live show. Sure Antonoff let Scarlett Johansson slip through his fingers, but don't hold that against him, go see this band, you won't be sorry. Their on tour now, dates available here.
 

Name: Jack Antonoff
Band(s): Steel Train
Instrument(s): Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Nicknames: Ducky, Joanna
Place You Call Home: New York and New Jersey... equal parts
Last album to flip your lid: Spring Awakening and Spoon
Album you always take on tour: Tom Waits - Bone Machine and The Wicked score

What would someone always find in your van or tour bus? What supplies don't you leave home without?

I always have running shoes under the passenger seat. I never use them, I never work out. But I always feel like a piece of s**t, so I bring them. Each tour is like a new beginning... maybe I'll run every morning... I never do. But I have the shoes. It's the first step, and it feels good. I never leave home without my mouth guard. My orthodontist did something very wrong when I was a kid, and if I sleep without wearing it for more than a few days, my two front teeth part. Letterman style. It's very strange; if I went on a whole tour without my mouth guard it would probably cause irreversible damage. I'd have to have braces again.

What personal rituals do you have to help keep your sanity while on tour?

I stay very clean. Try not to touch anything I don't have to. That works off tour as well!

Speaking of rituals, does the band have a pre-show ritual to help prepare for the stage?

There was a huddle once years ago, very uncomfortable for everyone involved. Now we just get onstage. Sometimes at big shows, like Bonnaroo or something, we will be walking to the stage and someone will say something like, "This is cool. We are gonna play for a lot of people. Let's not f**k this up," that's the extent of it. We try not to pressure ourselves before shows. We'll buckle.

Audiences come in all shapes and sizes. What's the screwiest fan encounter you've had?

One time we were playing in Connecticut and Evan [Winiker – bass] was flipping out onstage. He was making these crazy intense faces at the crowd. We all thought he was just really into the set but it turned out he thought this kid in the crowd was talking s**t at him. After the show he runs into the crowd to pick a fight. Not sure what happened then, not even sure if the kid was being mean, he may have loved the show. It was weird.

What's a great, positive fan encounter you've had?

One thing that's been really cool is all these kids that have been coming to the shows with Steel Train tattoos. It's amazing that people will do that, it means so much to us. Someone came to the show yesterday with a tattoo of the lyrics to "Kill Monsters In The Rain."

What's the strangest thing you've seen from the stage while performing?

 An older man dressed like a clown in Lawrence, KS.

What's the first thing you like to do after a show?

Test my hearing.

Tell us about a great road food stop you've discovered in your travels.

Club Congress restaurant in Tucson!!!!!! Any biscuit place.

If I weren't a musician I'd probably be a (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank).

If I weren't a musician I'd probably be an orthodontist--full circle--because I just want to talk, and fix peoples teeth.

(Fill In the Blank) are the baddest mothas on the planet.

Dr. Dog, my father, and the Nazis are the baddest mothas on the planet.

Your band mates will often reveal strange things about themselves during a tour. What stuff have your fellow musicians shown you that took you aback or delighted you?

I don't even know where to start. Hmmm... I guess the things that we are afraid of on the road are all interesting. Everything like animals, Texas, fast food, no water, no gas, night driving, day driving, the trailer, is anyone coming to the show?, will everything break before the show?, reviews, lunch, dinner, bad hotels, getting removed from nice hotels, extreme heat, festivals, food at festivals, using a bathroom at festivals, using a bathroom anywhere, etc. Where a Waffle House is.

Name a few things we'd find on your rider.

Socks, Starbuck double shots, gold etc.

What was the musical highlight of your last or current tour and why?

Anaheim show. Best set ever. Don't know why. Best crowd, best set, best everything. Had dinner at a cereal bar next door.

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