Converse invited us to check out their Rubber Tracks pop-up studio at SXSW 2015. While at the studio, we spoke with members of the Rubber Tracks team, and interviewed some of our favorite bands who have been involved with Rubber Tracks. The following article is one of a series of interviews we conducted. The rest of the articles and our SXSW 2015 coverage can be found here.

We hung out with Providence, RI’s, Gymshorts, in front of a sweet backdrop on the streets of Austin during SXSW 2015. The fuzzy garage rockers told us about their SX experiences and what’s next for the band. Check ’em out below (and stream their tunes as ya read, they shred).

AP: Is this your first time at SX as a band?
Devin: Collectively, with this lineup, it is. We had come here last year with a different drummer and bass player, that was our first time here. Played a few shows, it was a good time. But this time is adding up to be one of the best SX experiences we’ve ever had. You guys agree?
Michael: Um, I’m having the time of my life.
Kevin: What would you say?
Sarah: Yes, I agree (laughs).
Chris: Agreed, I concur.
Devin: Alright, so it’s unanimous, it’s great.

AP: Have you guys played any shows so far?
Devin: We’ve played four shows.
Sarah: We’ve got six more.
Devin: And six to go.
Michael : Six to go, six to go.
Devin: I only broke my strings three times. It hasn’t been that bad.

AP: How does it compare to your expectations?
Devin: I thought it was going to be a lot more hectic than it’s been. It’s actually been pretty nice.
Michael: 6th street was pretty wild, but we were kind of on the outskirts for the beginning of it, but yeah, it’s been a blast.
Chris: The shows have mostly exceeded my expectations. You can’t complain about opening up for Cheetah Chrome.
Devin: Yeah man, my influence, Rocket From The Tombs.

AP: Nice, and who are some artists that you’ve seen that you’ve been psyched about?
Chris: Cheetah Chrome.
Devin: Yeah Cheetah Chrome, I’m trying to piece together the last week.
Sarah: You stumped me right there.
Chris: Oblio’s.
Devin: Oblios, Snow Wite out of LA, homies from Worcester. “I love you like limeade honey”. Shoutout Andy.

AP: Awesome, I didn’t think to see if he was down here. Is Dom down here?
Devin: Dom is dead I think (laughs).

AP: Have you guys had any great food down here?
Michael: Uh, this breakfast.
Devin: Dude, this breakfast brought to you by Converse has been so absolutely amazing. I’ve never been so full in my life.
Sarah: Yeah, thank you, seriously tight.
Devin: I’m on my way to playing the best show of my life because of that food… and the beer. We are all over 21 by the way.

AP: Can you tell us about your experience with Rubber Tracks, and what you’ve done with Rubber Tracks?
Sarah: We recorded with Converse Rubber Tracks in November I think it was.
Devin: At Q Division.
Sarah: In Boston, and that was a really cool experience.
Devin: Dude, the producer that was in there, he had like worked with Ozzy and stuff, and was like, “do you guys remember when Ozzy was sitting in here doing vocals?” [to Sara] Remember when you were doing those weird harmonies at that song? We recorded like this super stoner metal song, he was like, “dude this is like when Ozzy was sitting in here,” the vocal tracks were great. Sara’s a great vocalist.
Sarah: Thanks Devin.
Devin: I love you. But yeah it was a great experience, very warm and welcoming people. Hell yeah. I’m wearing my shoes now because of good ol’ Converse. Look at these things.

AP: High tops or low tops?
Michael: High tops.
Devin: I’m a high topper.
Sarah: I like to get high, not low.
Chris: I play both sides, high and low.

AP: And what’s your favorite color of Converse?
Sarah: I like the black ones.
Michael: Black, baby.
Devin: The all black on black or the black and whites. High tops are great, my original shoes were low tops that I stole from my sister’s friend, and once I wore them, he didn’t want them back. I owe him a pair of Converse (laughs). I was like, “Yo man, I got a free pair of Converse from your messed up Converses that I stole one day.” He was like “you owe me a freakin pair of shoes.
Sarah: I like these white ones, and the all black high tops, those are tight.
Chris: I always wore black low tops or high tops, but I got a pair of the off-white ones a few years ago because I saw a picture of Mitch Mitchell in the Jimi Hendrix Experience wearing them, so those might be my favorite. I also got them signed by Jerry Only and Dez Cadena when I was in high school, so those are very special to my heart.

AP: OK, here’s a loaded question: what’s your favorite kind of pudding?
Sarah: Allston!
Devin: Allston Pudding baby!
Michael: I don’t even know what that is… I don’t have a clue, what is that?
Sarah: What’s pudding?
Michael: Yeah what’s pudding? (laughs) No, what is Austin Pudding?
Chris: No, Allston.
Michael: Allston, oh Mass?
Sarah: [Points to mic flag]
Michael: Oh, I’m an idiot.
All: (Laughs)
Sarah: Michael just moved.
Michael: Yeah, I’m new to everything
Devin: He’s new.
Chris: New.
Michael: Straight out of the womb.
Devin: From D-town, to S-town, now down to P-town.
Michael: P-town!
Sarah: [To Michael] What’s your favorite type of pudding?
Michael: Oh, so scratch that from the record, I would like the record to show, Allston Pudding.

AP: What are you guys up to after SX? What are your plans?
Devin: After SX, we’re heading down to San Antonio to play a Burger Hangover show with a lot of cool bands. Thee Oh Sees, Coathangers, JEFF the Brotherhood, a lot of cool people, I really can’t wait.
Sarah: And then we’re going out west to California, LA, then back up through Colorado. We get back to the east coast on 4/20.
Devin: 4/20, you know what’s up.
Sarah: And then we’re going to chill out, maybe record some new stuff over the summer, play a bunch locally and then probably hit the road again.
Devin: We’re playing a bunch of Allston Pudding showcases this summer.
Sarah: Right?
Devin: It’s gonna be dope.
Michael: Wait, what’s Allston Pudding?
All: (Laughs)
Sarah: Stop.
Devin: You’re fired.

AP: I think that’s all I got, unless you’ve got something to say to the viewers.
Devin: Uh, we’re Gymshorts from Mukilteo, Washington, I mean Providence, Rhode Island. Sorry that was The Fall of Troy.

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Just before SXSW, Converse launched a new campaign called “Made by you”. This interview was made possible by the fine folks at Converse.

“Made by you” is a global celebration highlighting Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, the only sneaker defined by those who wear them. Converse has curated a collection of Chuck Taylor All Star portraits, showcasing endless diversity and self-expression of individuals past and present who choose to wear Chuck Taylor All Star – from musicians to artists, skaters to fashionistas, the known to the unknown. Their portraits offer a contemporary lens into the distinctly unique worlds they inhabit.