Dennis: A lot of people are gonna see this and say who in the world is Number One Gun. So, in brief, tell us who, what, where and why.
NOG: Number One Gun is a Rock band from Chico, CA which is near Sacramento in Northern California. The band is made up of Jeff Schneeweis (lead vocals/guitar), Trevor Sellers (bass), Jordan Mallory (drums), and Chris Keene (new on guitar/BGV's). We are just four guys who love playing music and enjoy touring the US.
Nearly four years ago, Jordan and I had began to put together the band. We had gone to High School together and started playing under the name "Paper Trees," and had started to achieve some success locally which was influenced by Pearl Jam & Guns and Roses. Meanwhile, Trevor played in several local rock bands with former guitar player Ben Tietz who recently departed from the band who had also attended our high school. Then, nearly two years ago, a place for a bass player and guitarist opened up and the lineup and the name were complete. With the demise of Paper Trees came the structuring of our new band with new influences which we called Number One Gun. Early lineups predicated the eventual blueprint that would define the band with new guitar player Chris Keene who just joined the band. And that is how the band started.

Dennis: You guys are back home taking a break right now from a leg with the O.C. Supertones and then next week will be out with John Rueben and Bleach then a couple weeks with Side Walk Slam and then back with Bleach. You guys are staying very busy right now with the release of your debut album. What are you guys most looking forward to on the road and what will you miss the most while you are out on the road?
NOG: Yes, we are very busy. I think we are most looking forward to hanging out with our friends and fans on the road. All of these bands have now become our good friends and we love the day to day talks with them or playing Frisbee, or whatever. And every night we play shows together and I don't think that anything can beat that.

Dennis: Your label sent me your debut album, Celebrate Mistakes, a few weeks before it came out and I was very impressed. Your blend of modern rock with a touch of emo was a refreshing style. I am usually the hard core fan and this album doesn't fit that genre but I was even catching myself listening so much I am singing along with many of the songs now. What is your musical influence both lyrically and musically and how has it affected your styles?
NOG: Well, I can honestly say that there was no single band that influenced us to write this album. I mean, we all listen to so many different styles of music, it's hard to tell what is influencing us. I think that we write what we want to hear.

Dennis: You guys seem to have been slotted into the Christian artist category with the bands you are touring with but I have noticed almost a neutral setting in some of the lyrics. How do you balance the ministry aspect with still enough secular popularity to draw in those that need to be ministered too?
NOG: We really try to keep things well balanced by not catering to one market or another. We just do everything fifty/fifty. I think that it is kind of important to blur the lines of the Christian and Mainstream markets.

Dennis: A lot of discussion goes on in our site dealing with the issue of secular music. Our stance towards Christian teens has always been that they must weigh whether the music is a positive or negative influence in their life. What are your thoughts on the influence of secular music on Christian teens?
NOG: I think that is a defiant gray area but an important one. My Opinion is that everyone needs to find what is best for them in their own life and let God speak to them individually on that issue because there is no formula that will work for every one.

Dennis: The album title is Celebrate Mistakes and I found on your site that you guys said "Really it's all about humbling yourself, realizing our humanity," What advice would you guys give to teens reading this interview when they face those crazy mistakes we all make, both Christian and Non-Christian?
NOG: Just that you are not going to be perfect and there is no reason to try or act like you are perfect. I think that we need to learn from our mistakes and move on and try not to make the same dumb choices next time. And I know God has really shown me that in my life.

Dennis: What is been the toughest thing dealing with getting your big break into the industry and if there was one thing you would have changed about past band moves what would it be?
NOG: There haven't been very many tough things to deal with since we've been signed. Everything's been pretty enjoyable, it's all been a lot more fun than anything. As for moves we made as a band, there isn't anything we could have done differently, just a lot of hard work and touring the US hard will help anyone out.

Dennis: Not to overshadow the bands you have toured with or getting ready to tour with....if you could name one band past or present to go on tour who would it be and why?
NOG: That is a tough question, there are so many good bands that we like and are good friends with. Last year we got to tour with PAX217, Cool Hand Luke, Dogwood, Emery, Falling Up & The Benjamin Gate. And touring last fall with Relient K & Anberlin on the West Coast was a blast. I guess a band that we all admire is Hey Mercedes.

Dennis: This is your shot to plug away or let us know how this has been the best interview you have ever done and www.wisemenpromotions.com is the greatest music site ever..it is in your hands.
NOG: Until this interview I had never check out the website before but upon viewing it I was very impressed by the diversity of your reviews and interviews. It is nice to see a good online publication that mixes things up a little. Thanks again for taking the time to do this interview and hope that you have much success with the website for years to come.
Dennis:  Always nice for you guys to suck up to me haha.   Thanks for the interview.

-wisemenpromotions

Number One Gun (homepage)