The Johns Wanna Dance With You

John, The Dreamboat Drummer:
Andrew Belonsky: You are from Milwaukee?

John: I’m originally from Milwaukee, but most recently from Ohio.

AB: Why did you come here – to New York?

John: I actually came to New York to do a program called Teach for America. I taught science in the Bronx for two years. It was crazy. That’s where I get my matching outfit. All those kids, they learn how to match an outfit before they go to kindergarten.

AB: And you are also in law school?

John: I am in law school right now, yes. It’s a good way to live off of loans while you’re a rock star. It’s keep you busy, but you don’t need a job. All I have to do is go to class on Fridays. Living the life!

AB: What was your first album?

John: My first album?

AB: Yeah, do you remember?

John: That I ever bought? It was Kris Kross “I Missed The Bus” single tape. It was pretty amazing. I remember bringing my boombox on the school bus and getting yelled at for playing “I Missed The Bus” in the backseat.

AB: Don’t you miss those days – when people carried around boom boxes?

John: Yes! I actually saw someone in the east village the other day with the big, double-d batteries! It was great!

AB: How did you get involved with these boys?

John: Actually Johnny, Javier and Derek were playing and they had another bass player and I was at a party with Javier. Actually, one of my teacher friends when I was a teacher was his girlfriend. I picked up a guitar at the party and for some reason he asked me if I played drums and I said, “Yeah, I’m the best fucking drummer you’ll ever meet in your life.” They had auditioned a bunch of drummers and they all sucked, but I was the least bad out of all of them.