A Dirty Dozen with TATE BROOKS from THE PROBLEM WITH KIDS TODAY – August 2025

According to a recent press release: “The Problem With Kids Today, the Connecticut-based trio of Tate Brooks, Silas Lourenco-Lang, and Reena Yu, released their third and latest album Take It! which was recorded in a shed in Tate’s backyard in Branford, CT with Joe LeMieux producing. They released Take It! via their In The Shed Records imprint on CD, digital download and streaming services on August 22. Following an eye-opening experience in a large studio as well as their first ever tour, The Kids were ready for a change. They were tired of being corralled by pencil-pushers, desk jockeys, and Suits. They were ready to take back control. So they did. Why pay to go to a fancy studio and be told what they can and can’t do? There was a perfectly good shed in Tate’s yard. Why hire a producer who may or may not understand the sound? They had long-time friend and Connecticut DIY staple Joe LeMieux who was passionate about the project. Why wait for some label to deem it worthy to release? They’ll just put it out themselves. So, the band and Joe cleaned out the shed and turned it into a home studio even Guided By Voices would be jealous of. Finally, it was time. For 8 days in the middle of October, Silas, Reena and Joe moved into Tate’s house. Wake up early. Record all day. Drink and smoke into the wee hours before catching a few precious hours of sleep on Tate’s floor. Do it all again the next day. That was the routine. There were only two rules. Keep it simple. Keep it fun.” We get Tate to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release Take It! Is a 37 minute rock odyssey filled with killer riffs, fun subject matter, and overall rocking good vibes! A little hidden nugget on the record is the 5 song medley with seamless transitions that closes out the album Abbey Road style!

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My dad is a musician and played in bands back in the day so playing music was always something I saw and was interested in, but once I started to play in a band with Silas and our music resonated with people I realized how much fun being a musician could be and that I wanted to do it the rest of my life!

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I was raised on The Beatles so those lads are definitely in my blood, but indie rock groups like Ty Segall, Twin Peaks, and The Lemon Twigs really guided my music taste. After that I got really into punk rock bands like The Stooges, New York Dolls, Ramones and power pop bands like Big Star, Alex Chilton, and The Replacements. My musical tastes definitely bounce around a lot but are all equally important to our sound!

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Paul Weller because he is the Modfather and is awesome!

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

We like to hang out with friends, watch TV or play video games. We like going out to eat at restaurants, spending time with my dog Lola, or going for a dip in my pool! All normal off duty rocker things…

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’d say our music is punk rock with a lot of poppier elements to it as well. One time a reviewer said I look like Weird Al Yankovic which I don’t really see, not to say we don’t love a little Weird Al.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We do a lot of take out and eating out so I’m not sure who’d be the one cooking haha, but we all like getting the drinks in and having a grand ol’ time! Silas and Reena can definitely drink more than me but I try to keep up. I like to bust out the acoustic and do silly renditions of Beatles songs and funny stuff like that. We’re all goofballs at our core.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

We very recently did an interview with Mike Watt from The Minutemen and were all a bit starstruck talking to the legend that he is. We’ve actually become pretty good friends with Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of The Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club and always feel starstruck knowing how massive stars they are! Love ya Chris and Tina!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

It’s awesome to get to do what we love every night rocking out on stage and meet new awesome people while doing it! It’s really great hearing that people like what we’re doing and it inspires us to keep going! If I wasn’t a musician I’d probably go back to working at a liquor store or something like that, which is also an awesome and important job as well.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Recently I had an interviewer ask what my favorite food was which I think is a funny and cool question. I like the non traditional questions. We’re tired of answering the question “Where did you come up with the band name?” Because the honest answer is, we don’t even really know! Haha.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Once and a while back in the day I’d act like a jerk on stage just trying to be funny or cool or just having stage fright and I wish I could have a do over for some of those moments and just be my fun loving self instead. If anyone that I acted like a jerk to is reading this I’m really sorry!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I’d go back and watch Spinal Tap record Smell The Glove. What can be said that hasn’t already about Spinal Tap? They’re the greatest rock band ever and I think it be epic to see how the masters crafted those songs in the studio! Haha. But really I’d actually like to see The Beatles record A Hard Days Night. It’s my favorite Beatles album!

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Category: Interviews