Olivia The Band
“We’re bummed,” confess the otherwise joyful and grateful members of Olivia, “we’re over here and we’re missing this big wave contest that only happens when the surf is big enough.” The contest they are speaking of is the “In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational,” which is staged only if swells measure at least 20 feet at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, which it did on December 15th. Massive crowds formed along this beach once word went out that 24 of the world’s best big wave riders would be attempting to ride waves that sometimes reach 40 feet tall. The transplanted Hawaiians that make up this 4-piece pop punk band must’ve turned green with envy when their friends on the other end of the phone reported the rare occurrences. But it doesn’t hurt when you’re in a band that is doing interviews and prepping for west coast dates to promote a debut album.
“We moved out here (San Diego, California),” explains vocalist and bassist Reed Cromwell, “just cuz it’s so expensive to fly back and forth, you know?” From Hawaii to here to do tours and stuff. It just makes sense. At home it’s like our comfort zone. We don’t really care to surf out here. We would if it wasn’t…if we didn’t turn into an icicle and get ear infections every time we go.”
The members of Olivia (rounded out by lead guitarist Justin Abilla, guitarist Gabe Watts, and drummer Christian Perreira) all share the same home, along with their families. “We have been friends for so long, and grew up around each other, so we already know how to get along in tight spaces,
“We didn’t take lessons and form a band like a bunch of guys,” explains Cromwell, “like, ‘Oh, you play good guitar, Gabe. Let’s make a band.’ We’re all friends and family that started off and then were like, ‘Oh, let’s make a band!’ We did it the backwards way.”
[So, when they get up on stage, they don’t change into something they’re not, which translates into the same band shining through – whether it’s in a bar or a church.]
“I figure the songs that we’re gonna sing, we’re gonna have to sing for years and years and years, and (so) I want to be singing about something I care about – that means something to me – rather than a ham sandwich or something like that.” [Cromwell]
“We’re always together,” says Abilla. “We’re never apart. And God has just totally hooked us up and blessed us with so many rad friends. Everywhere we go, all the shows we play, we usually leave with at least a couple of good friends that keep in touch, so when we go back it’s like we’re not just going back to play a show, we’re going back and getting to see your friends that you haven’t seen in a long time. That makes me happy. God hooked it up. It’s a joy. If you’re not doing it for an earthly reason – a reason that’ll pass away – this is something that’s gonna last. It means a lot more. [Abilla]
“The thought of going to school bums me out… Hearing about good waves at home bums me out. That kinda sucks. All the other contests? I don’t know. My mom tries to rub it in. I’m not there to see it, but I think if I wasn’t playing music in this band and not here, I’d be working anyways, so I wouldn’t get to watch it even if I was there, but I always make a way to get to the Eddie Alcao – the big wave contest, because that one is right in our old backyard, right at the point of Waimaia. That’s a lot heavier than any of the other contests, for sure. It’s pretty crazy. I’d call in sick for that one, if it happens. [Cromwell]
We all live in the same house. Our work is going to shows, meeting new friends, playing shows, playing music, and just having fun, you know what I mean? What we have to do to do that is long drives in a van for days and days and maybe not having any money, eating the 99-cent menu every single day for months, but when you think about what else I could be doing right now and where I’m at now, I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve these rad, good times. I think about all the friends I have made because of this band… You have to stop… There’s way less fortunate people out there. Remembering that… [Abilla]
“Our goals are to have fun and take it one day at a time and not take anything for granted. (Reed) If we’re albe to do this for the rest of our life, that’d be awesome, but I don’t know – for me, if it was going to end tomorrow – that’s like, three/four/five years of rad memories that most people never have or ever get the chance to experience, so for me I take it one day at a time and as big as God wants to take it is how big I wanna go, you know? No matter what, it’s all good. Every day that we get to do it is just one more day that we didn’t have to do some lame job that we might be stuck in if God didn’t give us this opportunity. [Cromwell]
“We try not to get caught up in the daily grind, up in the mix, stressing out on where money is going to come from and all that. We’re not irresponsible, either. We work and stuff. We try. We’re not working three jobs to drive super nice cars and live in super nice houses. We live where we can afford. We live within our means, you know? We realize we have no money right now, so that’s why there’s six adults in one three-bedroom house. It’s cool. We all grew up together and we’ve always lived together since we moved out of our parent’s house. That’s been eight years of living together before we ever came out here and did this. So, it’s not a new thing to live together and deal with each other’s differences and stuff. I think God was just preparing us for this from day one. We always slept at each other’s house even when we were kids and stuff, too. A lot of people can’t believe how we can get along and do this, but we’ve done it our whole life, so it’s not really anything new to us. We’re not just some strangers that hooked up. Like Reed said earlier, we did family before we were a band, so I think that’s one of our big strengths that keeps us together. We’ve never thrown blows at each other or anything, and I don’t think we ever will, cuz that is not who we are. [Abilla]
“I’d have to hurt everybody if we did! [Cromwell]
“Yeah, Reed would have to do the worm – the wiggle worm.” [Abilla]
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