By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
April 14, 2009
Based out of Canton, Ohio, the rock band Relient K first made a name for itself on the contemporary Christian music scene. The Grammy-nominated band has since crossed over into the secular market, performing at the hard-rocking Vans Warped Tour. They play hard, praise God and love to tour. Lead singer Matt Thiessen has seen most of the world, thanks to his years with Relient K. His favorite place to vacation, though, is Belfast … the one in Maine, not Ireland.
“I will always have fond memories of my trips there,” says Thiessen, 28. “I guess in some ways, Belfast was a life-changing experience for me.”
Relient K is currently on tour. The group’s latest studio release is their EP, “The Bird and the Bee Sides.”
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. I love Seattle and always have a really good time there. But my favorite is a little more obscure: Belfast, Maine. I’ve been going there since I was a kid. One summer, my mom was like, “You have to go stay with your dad for the whole summer,” and I didn’t want to. But my aunt and uncle lived in the same town, so I would get to hang out with them and it just became something that I have done every year since I was 11 years old. I remember going whale watching, sailing, eating lobster. … My uncle is a great painter and I’d go to his studio and see what he was doing. One of their neighbors was a game warden and his area was off limits to everyone, but he let us go to camp there. The lake was crystal clear and it was so much fun.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Anywhere I can be outdoors. I grew up with lots of woods and got used to walking around and exploring.
Q. What are your favorite hotels and restaurants?
A. To be honest, I really like staying with friends and relatives. We’re on the road so much for touring that it’s a real treat when I’m invited to stay with a friend. It’s really fun seeing the sights that way, too.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. I usually like to have a good pair of running shoes so I can get a good run in. I also love playing Frisbee. I know it’s dorky, but it’s so fun, so I’ll bring one with me. Also, an iPod and an iPod dock, so no matter where I am I always have tunes with me.
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
A. My aunt and uncle were the first people I knew who had a guitar. It was a 12-string. They showed me the movie “Harold and Maude” and I was mesmerized by the Cat Stevens soundtrack. That’s actually how I got interested in playing the guitar. I took one guitar lesson. The instructor asked me to use a pick, and I don’t use one. So I just taught myself. I’m not the most skilled, but I do get by.
Q. Who do you travel with?
A. Traveling is fun, but usually I find that the pleasure comes from whoever I’m traveling with, whether it’s my girl or my family.
Q. Have you ever been guilty of being an “ugly American”?
A. I really hope not!
© 2009 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
