Good Old War play a brand of folk-pop that is almost impossible to ignore. Between sticky-sweet harmonies and infectious melodies, the Philadelphia-based trio have gained the ears of both young music fans and those who long for the days of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

On the day of the Philadelphia Flyers’ loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, we caught up with Dan Schwartz as the band made its way to West Hollywood’s famed Troubador, where the likes of Bob Dylan, The Byrds, and Joni Mitchell played career changing sets.

We discussed the band’s new album, camping, and what it was like in Philadelphia.

REAX: Why did you go the self-titled route on your second LP?
Dan Schwartz: We went with the self-titled for a couple of reasons. The main one was that we really felt like we really solidified our sound on this one, and felt like we knew what we were trying to do from the very beginning. As opposed to the first one we went weren’t sure what it was gonna sound like in the first place.

The other reason was that we actually put tracks on there called “Good”, “Old”, and “War”. So altogether we felt like this was us – what we were doing right now.

REAX: What was the reason for sticking those instrumental tracks in there?
DS: We wanted to try and make some music that we didn’t have to worry about doing live. We wanted to do some production pieces, and let everyone try and do everything they wanted. We kept everything that sounded good.

We also wanted to represent each one of us. “Good” is a lot like Keith, “Old” is a lot like Tim, and “War” is a lot like me. Each one is like a musical allusion to ourselves.

REAX: How are the voice lessons with Tim’s sister working out, are the harmonies getting better?
DS: She doesn’t work on harmonies, as much as she tries to help us sing better. She just tries to keep our voices in shape because we’re always singing. When you go from singing just a couple times a week, to singing every single day, all day, you have to learn how to do it – keep our voices in shape and what not. It’s working very, very well. We’re getting better everyday.

REAX: This is your first real headlining tour and you obviously bring Days Away fans with you, but when did you realize that you had enough of a fan base to go out and do it on your own?
DS: I don’t think we ever did. I think we just decided that it was time, and we said, “Let’s just give it a shot and see how it goes.” Lucky for us, it’s gone incredibly well. I think we really didn’t know how it was gonna go, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate.

REAX: You guys are doing an in-store at a Best Buy. How are those for you?
DS: In-stores are a really cool thing that we get to do where actually get to interact with people, and we’ll sign stuff and take pictures, and play a few songs acoustic. It’s really intimate, and it’s a really cool thing – a cool way to get to know the people who are coming to the shows.

REAX: It beats selling your album on Amazon for three bucks doesn’t it?
DS: That’s actually a great thing for us, too. We were number 1 on Amazon when we did that, in fact all of our albums were on the Amazon charts for the week we ran that promotion. We had a five-dollar deal for The Only Way to Be Alone, and the rest of them were normal price, but they were EPs, so people just checked everything out.

REAX: Is it an example of giving some away to get some back?
DS: We’re not really giving anything away. Amazon has a really cool hook up for bands, and in no way is that hurting us. They make it so it’s a good deal for us in every way. It’s really cool, and it’s such an amazing thing that that has happened for a band of our size. All the opportunities that are coming to us are so awesome because we’re so new.



REAX: Yeah, everyone is sort of picking up on you guys. Rolling Stone and Spin had you on their list of must-see bands at Bamboozle.
DS: That was really cool, too. We were really surprised and just happy with it. We’re trying not to intellectualize it, and just keep playing because that stuff doesn’t really matter as much as getting people to come to your shows.

REAX: Why do you think people are connecting with you when they go out to see you?
DS: I think it’s because we make it fun. We want people to sing along and have a good time, and forget themselves for the hour that we’re there. It’s not serious. It’s not so much about us putting on a show as much as everybody enjoying something together, having a bit of a night together.

REAX: Everyone talks about the CSNY/Simon & Garfunkel influence, but is there anything that you were listening to while making this new one that someone would be surprised to hear?
DS: I think people would be surprised to hear that we listen to everything. We don’t just listen to old music. Between us we have everything from dubstep to classical music. We really listen to everything on any given day. I think there’s a lot of hip-hop influence on there – surprisingly – and I think there’s a lot of reggae influence in there.

REAX: Reggae?
DS: Yeah, definitely. I mean Keith’s vocal lines are always inspired by reggae. It’s all very strange. We all get inspired to write songs that sound like us from very strange places.

REAX: With it all getting synthesized into your sound?
DS: Yeah, and that’s just a very natural thing because we just do what we do.

REAX: Is it a big deal for you guys to try and sound unique? You obviously get lumped in with Fleet Foxes sometimes because of the harmonies.
DS: I think that’s a compliment. I don’t think that we don’t really try to sound unique, we just try to sound like us, and it’s not really a challenge for us. It’s kind of weird. It’s really just us doing what each one of us does best and somehow it turns into this specific sound. It’s just another one of those cases where we’re just really lucky in that way. We don’t think we sound anything like Fleet Foxes, but we understand why people would associate us with them because of the harmonies, and I’ll take (the comparison) because I love that band.

REAX: Are you guys nervous about the Flyers game tonight?
DS: Yeah, we’re really hoping they can win this one. I think they can. What do you think?

REAX: I personally have a disdain for Philadelphia sports in general, but that has nothing to do with you guys. (Note: This writer’s disenchantment with the Philly sports scene does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at reaxmusic.com but, it does for a large portion)
DS: Yea, it’s nasty. It’s a dirty place…little kids drinking beer. It’s just a tough place, but it’s also really beautiful, we’ve got a very specific culture.

REAX: So you saw the video of the kid drinking beer at the Phillies game? Do you think it’s real?
DS: It probably is. I wouldn’t put it past a Phillies fan.

REAX: So you’re sports fans, any predictions for the World Cup?
DS: Hold on let me ask Keith. Keith, any predictions for the World Cup?...“Spain, baby!” he says. He’s a Barcelona fan.

REAX: How was the camping trip with your openers, Yukon Blonde and Audra Mae?
DS: You heard about that. This tour has been really amazing. I think people are going to be blown away by the show. All three acts get along and jam together during the show. We’re all genuinely into each other’s music, and we genuinely enjoy each other’s company. We’re all very close friends now – it’s been one of those “once in a lifetime” kind of tours.

We were in Wyoming, somewhere in the Grand Tetons, and we sang so much. We all sang songs from the moment we got there until we went to bed.

You can catch/take part in the dream life that is Good Old War when they take the stage at The Orpheum on Friday, June 18, with Yukon Blonde, Audra Mae, Old North East and Ettison. Doors open at 7p.m. and tickets are only $7 in advance and $9 at the door.

Check out more info here