Dustin Hook (Bass) of My American Heart

Introduction Video:

Due to the commotions going on at the time, we decided to type out the interview. We apologize for the inconvenience.

How is the tour going so far?

The tour has been fantastic!

You’ve toured with the Graduate before, are you guys good friends?

Yeah…yeah… It makes this tour a lot easier to start because you know, when you start a tour with five bands and if you don’t know any of them it’s kinda like the first day of school when you’re in preschool or…but, for us it’s like a firsthand school- fifth grade ‘we know them’ kids. We knew the Graduate, and we were familiar with Rookie and Play Radio Play. It’s all good.

So you’ve mentioned in My American Heart’s blog about all of your shows have selling out…

Yeah, it’s amazing. Every show!

How does that make you feel? Is the atmosphere any different?

It’s very flattering. The only tough thing about the shows all selling out is that, a lot of them have sold out a long time in advance. And, a lot of kids just heard the single from Secondhand Serenade. While we’re doing this interview, there is a backing up competition going on so it’s going to be loud- it’s going to be loud. No biggie.

So this time last year you were on the VANS Warped Tour. And now you’re not on it this year.

I much rather be at Warped Tour. I don’t know if you have a question about it.

So what are some things you learned from Warped Tour? Like do’s and don’ts?

Learned from Warped Tour… If I had any work ethic in my body, it’s from Warped Tour. 2005, 2006, and 2007. And I wish I could put it to you in a way. But I’m bummed that I can’t. I loved the Warped Tour, I loved everything about it. Even if like…I’m forty years old, and no matter what I’m doing, I wish I would be on Warped Tour. It was great to work, and a great creation.

And in 2006, there was a friendly rivalry between Paramore and My American Heart. Who do you think won? Because I saw the Youtube video of the water balloon fight.

I think uh, Paramore won. I’m gonna have to admit- there’s no defeating to Paramore. Sorry! Sorry My American Heart, sorry us.

In a recent Paramore Livejournal entry, a fan left Hayley a comment suggesting that Paramore should tour with you guys again. Would you ever consider doing it?

I wish they would take us out. It’s up to them, you know, because of obvious reasons.

Do you still keep in contact with them?

Vaguely. But every time we see them- at certain festivals and shows. Of course, we talk about the old times and it’s great. But we haven’t toured with them since early 2006 and I would love it if they took us out again. It’s just beyond us.

And you’ve recently released a UK headlining tour. Is there a USA headlining tour anytime soon?

Probably.

That’s good.

Probably right afterwards. It’ll most likely be just west coast. But, we’ll see. We might make it full blown- but we’ll see.

That’d be awesome!

I hope so.

And you guys have had a few lineup changes. And how is your newest member, Nick, doing?

Nicholas? Unfortunately, Nicholas…you caught him on a rough night. Nicholas is actually… Well last night- and not from drinking, or anything. Just, got extremely sick. And I feel really bad for him because I’ve never seen Nick sick before. And Nick threw up today at a Wa Wa Gas Station. And again at a Subway, and again outside of our van. And uh, at our hotel last night at the Sherrington. So… Nick is the thrower upper today and like… so to see him play a full show, and just being the man, I’m like beyond impressed. Because, I’ve played sick before a few times, but like, it’s a bitch. So… I’m giving mad cred tonight. I don’t know where he’s at. He’s probably lying down, which is what he should be doing…Yeah, he’s pretty sick right now. I don’t know why but…he has a little bug.

Aw! Well, hopefully he feels better.

He will. *Laughs*

So how did you guys know that he would be perfect for the part? How did you guys meet?

We didn’t. Jake, who is our most recent member, before Nicholas- has been best friends since Nick since he was like, five years old, actually. They went to elementary school, middle school, and high school together. And then honestly, Jake was like “You know what guys…” and we were playing a four piece with Jake. And Jake was like “You know, let’s try and look out. He’s my guy and I know you guys are looking for another guitar player”. And we tried him out on the Mayday Parade tour and we just fell in love with him!

Aw.

He’s our boy! And like, My American Heart is a five piece right now, and My American Heart is what it will be. In history, hopefully. And we’re going to roll this way for awhile, promise.

And in any recent tours, you haven’t played any older songs from “The Meaning in Makeup”. Is there a reason?

Uhm…manly because we are trying to move on. We’re trying to move on, and also, we have not been headlining. Which means we don’t get a longer set… if we had a longer set, and we could play whatever we wanted to play, we would play old stuff, new stuff, newer stuff that no one has ever heard. And since this is a direct support tour for us, we have to play songs that only people…

Jesse (guitar player of My American Heart): FOREAL

Dustin: FOREAL. So uh, yeah. *Laughs*

And for the last question, I read your blog and you said something about collecting restaurant menus. And I just wanted to know how that was going?

I have a bunch!

Really? That’s awesome.

Yeah, I have a bunch. And after this tour, I get a little break and uhm…we all get a little break, and I hate being on break, to be honest. I hate it, it’s my biggest pet peeve of life. And I’m actually going to be starting a clothing line.

Really? What’s it called?

It’s going to called ‘Acute’. So, keep an eye out for Acute. It’s going to take me some time but I’m going to pursue hard and keep an eye out! You guys are the first people I’ve ever told. So, it feels weird saying that! But, it’s going to take a lot of time. And the next few tours I’ll be promoting it as well. So something to get myself something to do, besides in the band, and we’re off. We’ll be writing this record right after this tour. My American Heart is writing a new record! So good stuff.

Awesome! So tell the viewers where they can find your music!

Myspace.com/MyAmericanHeart, MAHRock.com, Purevolume.com/MyAmericanHeart. Just type in My American Heart, it’s a good thing- I promise!

-Melissa Chu

We would like to thank My American Heart, and of course- Dustin. Please check out their music!