Garza Podcast - 66 - ERRA: Alabama Metalcore, Nickelback Love/Hate & Line 6 Goated

Episode Date: February 20, 2023

ERRA is an American progressive metalcore band from Birmingham, Alabama. https://erraband.com SPONSORS: distrokid.com/vip/garza 30% OFF! emgpickups.com Promo Code: Heavy 15% OFF! ERRA is: J.T. Cavey, Jesse Cash, Alex Ballew, Conor Hesse & Clint Tustin TIME CODES: 00:00 - Clint is a Valuable Member of the Band. 04:24 - Quad Cortex vs Peavey 5150 06:53 - Jamming on a Line 6 Spider 11:32 - ERRA Origins (How Alex & Jesse Met) 14:35 - JT Was a Frat Guy 18:52 - JT Made Over 200 Youtube Vocal Covers 20:09 - Coming from Alabama & Carving Their Own Path 31:32 - Connecting with Music After a While of Listening 35:48 - Clint Joining the Band 37:26 - Connor’s Role in the Band/Doing the Tedious Tasks 39:41 - Productivity vs. Relaxation 48:06 - Satisfaction vs. Disappointment 50:48 - Competing With vs Supporting Peers 53:43 - Moving to LA & Making Sacrifices to Keep the Fire Alive 56:28 -  Avoiding Self-Titled Release During Pandemic 1:02:23 - ERRA’s Backwards “R” is not a Korn Homage 1:05:20 - Dockers, Dickies & JNCO Pants 1:07:55 - JT Joins ERRA after Texas In July Breakup 1:10:00 - Drift, Self-Titled & Internet Haters 1:19:37 - Nickelback & Nic Cage Hate

write leads on top of my voice memos. That's how freaking dated I am. You know what's funny? I still do that. Yeah? I have a line 6 spider in my room that I still play on. We were meant to meet on this day. Yep, you want to use, we have all these tools. You have like the old school way, the new school way you want to, you can take from like both sides, you know.

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Good to hear that you guys aren't morning drinkers. That's sick. That's a big accomplishment in life. You know, even in my worst day, I wasn't exactly a morning drinker. on a few times more like a nighttime drinker it is our proudest achievement

oh my goodness well it is 10 a.m. California time we have all of era here stoked to have you guys yeah stoked to be here thanks for having us got JT Jesse Connor Alex and Clint

yes sir well Clint have you ever been to California before yeah a few times I love it few times nice but is it the first time with the era second or third I think really third probably yeah yeah Clint started touring with us

May 2020 last year did that bear tooth run and then we did the headliner over the summer so this is tour number three great just you gotta test the waters you know yeah I mean he's been fine dude he is

I mean yeah honestly like such a valuable part of the puzzle like he like he's like making all of our, like, tracks for, for this tour and just kind of setting up our, our entire rig, like, just kind of a dude that knows how to do a lot of different things. And, I mean, like, I don't know, I'm sorry about making you uncomfortable, but also just, like, gas you up real quick. I'm just good at Google searching stuff.

Yeah. 3D design stuff, too, like, he's, like, made, like, not only for our band, but, I mean, lots of other bands, too, like, I don't know. Yeah, do some live visuals. Did some first star set. Okay. Yeah. Recently.

Yeah, it's sick. Clint is sick. Well, basically the moral is Clint, you're sick. It's great. Yes. Podcast on. Yeah, okay. Everyone is great to have you guys.

We recruited the guitar player and got a lot more. So that was nice. Yeah, I mean, you want someone a good personality, but also it's like, what are you giving? You know, but you have, bring someone in as it adds like something. It's always, it's always, oh, shit, I didn't know. even like needed this. Well, we're definitely compromising on his personality, but the other stuff. Oh my goodness.

Bambi, if we're ready, not in five minutes in? Yeah, just someone that does like some reach. I mean, Clint, you made a joke about like, oh, you know, I just Google, but you'd be surprised me people don't do that. A lot of the things I do is just Googling for hours and they're trying to figure some things out. So the fact that you just naturally do that and bring something new to the table, I'm sure that guys appreciate it.

It's awesome, you know? Yeah, everybody definitely has. their individual role that like at this point is extremely necessary yeah um yeah everyone kind of picks up the slack where uh others lack you know of course you guys sound like a real band right i hope so yeah we're all we're all just trying it's the illusion the illusion's held up so strong though it is dude right we're right there with you it's like you know i don't know I'm doing. But I look good doing it.

I don't know. It's kind of like, like, correct me if I'm wrong, the older you get, like, I'm like, man, I don't even know what I'm doing. I never really knew what I was doing. And we're still just doing. Yeah, kind of. If I couldn't write songs, I would have been kicked out of the band a long time ago because I can't do anything else.

I look at our rig and like, even like making tones, like Clint makes our guitar tones. Like I, I don't do any of that. I like look at my stuff and I don't know how to like, now. navigate my quad cortex or my Kemper when I had it so that's just complicated man I I don't get it intimidating yeah so Clint you know you know all that shit yeah the quad is like pretty pretty intuitive at least is that just a pedal yeah it's like a pedal board but it's like a computer pretty much just can like Kemper profile stuff and it's got a lot of effects in it yeah it's cool it's cool you should try one out I mean hearing about

the quad cortex the past a few months keep hearing about it I've been seeing them and like people's like pedal boards I'm like what the fuck is that and then they use the amp as like a slave right like like a slave like power amp sometimes it's so common that you fucking fly in and it's just

your amp's broken or it's just it just doesn't sound right and people are plugging in what I've been hearing about these cortexes what's nice too is you can run bass and guitar off one one with patch changes Yeah. Yeah. We run two quads for all three of us, and we have patch changes for all three instruments.

How reliable is that? Just out of curiosity. I try not to think about it. Yeah, it doesn't think about it. And it never, yeah, it has not. Okay. So far so good. Yeah, we are pretty relying upon things that could absolutely sabotage us. In case quad. Who makes quad cortex? Normal? Yeah. In case they're listening, it works perfect.

We love them. Chris, are you more of like a plug-in and play kind of guy? Yeah. I am too. That's why all this stuff, like, is so wild to me and why I'm just like hands off on it. Because I, like, I see the necessity in it, and I'm, like, fine with profiling and stuff like that.

Like, I don't have, like, any, like, convictions about what gear to use, but it's just, like, yeah, the way I learned. And the way we toured for the first several years was just, like, a 50-150. a pedal board and I'm still kind of locked into that, I think, in my brain. Of course. So when did you stop using the PV? Oof, it's been years.

It's probably since like 2015, we used AxeFX. And even then, our singer at the time was like a guitar player and like he, uh... Oh my goodness. Okay, this is your new rig. Dude, I have one of this. Oh, my God. I love that amp, honestly. You can't poke the line six, dude.

Can I tell you something? Yes. I think some people know this, but every era song, every song I've written up until like the deluxe stuff we did, like even like the era self-tiler record that came out two years ago, I wrote everything on a lot, I wrote everything on a line 6th. That's like 100% true.

Yeah, because I just figured out how to work a DAW and like record in logic over the last two years. so yeah I would just put on insane mode and just record voice memos to a click and then write leads on top of my voice memos that's how freaking dated I am You know what's funny? I still do that

I have a line 6 spider in my room I still play on We were meant to meet on this day It is, dude We were meant to want to If you make it sound good there When you do the transfer over It's going to like

It's just nothing If like you can't hide a Like a good rip If it's a good rip, it will really come out of like a, you know, a 9-6 spider. Did you ever, which I still do? Do you ever, like, can you know how you could, like, record it? Are we making copy over there? Oh, yeah.

I was like, what's it tapping? Sorry. I guess coffee pots just do blast beats. I hear someone blasting back there. Holy shit. Yeah, that sound is such a comfort, though. It is all. We hear that fucking copy pot sound, you're like, oh, yeah.

It's like, it's about to be a good day. Rise and shy of bitches. Got a fucking cure this hangover. Oh yeah, do you over real quick, you press like the record tab button and then you record like your idea, kind of like shitty timing, and then you'll, then you get like overdub it. Yeah. Yeah. Still do that.

Yeah, I would just like get the delay like close enough to tempo in the line six. I'd be like, sure. And then I might record the delay to a click on voice memo and then like, like, record. or the rhythm to that or vice versa or whatever. Nice. Yeah, I feel like it, like, it's more challenging right that way, but, like, then, you know, maybe you're able to be more creative when you have to rely on just, like, a straight-up guitar and amp

versus, like, all the numerous plugins that you can have access to now, which I've utilized now. Of course. But, yeah, sometimes I still, like, if I feel like I'm relying too much on cool sounds and not on the actual technicality of the riff, I'll be like, okay, line six time. Time just riffed the line six for a bit.

You gotta bring it back. Yeah, I still... I still do it. There's still songs where I'm just like, yeah, this is just, I just got to like riff in my room and figure it out. I heard that, which you're actually like the perfect band to bring us up to is that

do you find that when you take away things and you just have like the bare bones, like you're more creative, that kind of forces you to be creative. Like keep it primitive. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's my case for the line six.

It's just like getting into a primitive sort of like, it's like, I don't know. Like I'll just play the same riff over again. If I've played it for the last 20 minutes, it's probably cool. I'm probably enjoying the groove and into it. Whereas in a doll, I'll just play that riff once, track it. And then like by the time I finish the song, I've like forgotten how to play that riff. Interesting. Really?

Yeah, because I'm just, I just write it and then I lay it down. But with the line six, like, I'm not immediately laying it down. I'm just like, I'll play the same riff for like an hour just because it feels nice. Totally. But so I agree. I think it's good to strip away those conveniences, perhaps. Yeah. Yeah, Jimmy Hendricks talks about that.

If you play a riff or your band's playing a song or a part over and over again, like when you get to that point where it's like hypnotizing and then like you find like notes in between a notes that you're trying to find or like little like little things. you'll add or take away, you know? You can just play every year for 20 minutes an hour. You know, it's cool. It's cool that you guys just naturally do that. Yeah, yeah, it's like, I'm almost feel like I've got to be careful to not, like, deprogram that.

Because I have gotten really comfortable in logic now to where, like, yeah, I feel you. I want to, I want to kind of like blend both, you know? Yep, you want to use, we have all these tools. You have, like, the old school way to new school way. You want to take from, like, both sides. You know. Yeah.

It's like, find your own way. I think, you guys formed in 2009, correct? Yeah. So was it, how did Alex and Jesse, how did you guys meet? I remember how we met. Do you remember? I also remember how we met. Wait.

What's your perspective? There's two sides to it. Great. I'm going to make you talk on this thing. All right. I deserve this. What do you like? I went to high school with a guy.

He was like, I play drums for this band. He's like, you should come to my practice, and I was like, okay. So I went with them a lot. How old were you? I was 16, 16, I think. Yeah, that sounds right. Yeah.

And I would go there. How much of this story am I telling? All of it. I like this guy. I like this guy that I went to high school with. But once I met Jesse, I was like, man, I've got to be in a band with him. So this guy played drums, too. And I was like, hey, you should kick this guy out of your band.

man, let me join, and it took a year or so. Yeah. That's happened. Yeah, so there was that first year where I was in bed with another. There's a different drummer in my life, and then ever since then, there's been no other drummer. You're the only drummer that I've played with since then. So, yeah, it's been 15 years, dude. Wow.

Wow. It's crazy. Yeah, but, yeah, just like us going to local shows, and there's a place in McCall, Alabama where I grew up called the Fish Music Hall. They only would have Christian bands. Our little local band at the time was not a Christian band, but like close enough. And like we were young and nice. And the owners liked us and we were chill.

So they let us play. But yeah, we saw bands like with blood comes cleansing, if you remember that band. A plea for purging. Oh my goodness. He saw some sick shit. Yeah. Yeah. Just in this little like super rural.

part of Alabama. But yeah, that's all Alex and I met. I just saw him play in, and I was like, hmm, I want to be friends with those guys. Like, he was in the cool local band. And I was like, I'm going to be with those guys. Yeah. Or like, or, you know what, I'm going to poach him.

Just like secretly. We were like that? I'm just going to, he keeps me in my band. Honestly, no. I don't think I thought about it in those terms of the time. I think it just organically. Yeah, you're right. I definitely did.

I could see that. I was like talking to him on aim like, hey, you should let me join me. On aim. Oh, Lord. What are we talking about right now? Holy shit. That makes, yeah, I feel like you're more chaotic. Yeah.

And I was just more like, I can't. He's chaotic. I'm going to weasel my way into this. I was kidding. No, I'm not. What was your aim handle? Do you remember? 315.

315, 412. Yeah. Because of the amity affliction. It's crazy. Oh, wow. He woke up and killed people at 315. Oh, you mean the amityville. horror.

Yeah, not the band. What did you know? We were talking about right now. Yeah. We were so edgy. It's funny how we remember our aim names so clearly.

I remember mine clearly. I remember one of them. And some people I had more more than a one. Yeah, I had like three, I think. Three? I think. The last one, this, mine's not fun.

Mine's just my high school acronym and swimmer, MSJ swimmer, because I was an athlete for like a long, long time. Okay. I was super, I was super late to the music game. Like, I didn't start screaming or doing music shit until my 20s.

Really? Yeah. Like, I assumed like just early 20s. Dude, I was like double-popped collar, madra shorts all throughout high school. Like, the broest of bro. You're a flesh to frat. You were, you were the enemy. Yeah, I was the enemy.

But I was also the kid who wore an Asley dying shirt and American Eagle and Claw. to a local show. Like, I didn't know. I was like, I wanted so, so bad to be a part of the scene, but I had no fucking clue what I was doing it. And I didn't have any friends in it. I just liked the music. Oh.

So you had, like, a group of fans. So I was like the, I was like the prep undercover at the local hardcore show. Whoa. Yeah. It was really weird for me. Can I tell the story of how we met? Yes.

Oh, Christ. All right, sure. Let's go. So I used to play in this band called I, the Breeder. the first tour we ever did was Mayhem in 2012 and my friend Devin came to the DC show and he asked for a plus one

Bristol? Bristol yeah he asked for a plus one and it was this kind of like doofy guy who was just like... Thanks. He felt like a liability like backstage because he was like seeing these like

band guys walk around and was getting so excited and like darting their direction and our friend Devin was just like, I'm so sorry. And it was JT. And then a few months later, I heard Texan July, I needed a singer. And someone told me, I don't know the guy's name that they got, but it's some bald guy. And somehow I just knew that it was him. And now we're best friends.

Holy moly. That's my boy. So it sounds like you. were, I'm not insulting you. It sounds like you're like a fan wall. You're like, but it seemed like you're like a new world for you. But you're like around like a show. Like, oh, there's like that band and that band.

Dude, I had to learn so much stuff to fit in like I was literally thrown into the wolves so fast. Yeah, what was your experience? Like, I mean, were you singing and another band and nothing? You were just vocal covers. I was the YouTube guy. Yeah, because I mean. I did, I did seven shows and then my, or no, like, six. six or seven shows, and then around the seventh or eight show was my first show at War

Tour. What? Yeah. You were thrown into the woods. Yeah. And that's a hard tour to do. It's a kind of grueling. Oh, dude, boot camp.

It was only two and a half weeks, or maybe only two weeks, so. Wow. It was a good, like, icebreaker for me, but I barely made it through those two weeks, man. Eight in a van. Yeah, what, during July or August? Oh, yeah. It was 20-year-offs off. July to August, like, sixth, yeah.

Oh, God, dude. just on one pair of underwear. I don't even know if I had underwear that point. Still don't wear underwear. Yeah. Just kidding. That's pretty crazy how you were to, like, because you're from Baltimore.

Yeah, yeah. It's just kind of crazy that you were just throwing it, throwing into it. I grew up in the burbs. I was student athlete for years. I tried the college thing for a hot second. And I think I was, I think I was just like looking for like more out of my life

post, like, student athlete days. Yeah. And I always liked the idea of being in music, but I didn't really know how to get into it. I did guitar poorly for years. But, yeah, I was always trying to be involved. I did gospel choir in high school. I sang an all-male choir. Oh, okay.

That's... So that was kind of like an entrance into it. But then, I don't know, I was working for Marina and going to community college, and I just started making vocal covers on YouTube. Like I saw the guys doing it, and I was like, I think I can do that. And then one day I just clicked, and I just did a bunch. I did like 200 in two years. 200 vocal covers?

Are you serious? I think 21012, I counted. Whoa. They're not, they don't really exist anymore, but they did exist at some point. So you went back and deleted them? Well, at the time, our manager suggested I take them down. I should have just unlisted them instead of deleted them. but I actually just straight up deleted them.

I had hard copies saved. I don't even know if I had the hard copies anymore. I think deleted those too. But his idea was like, we want you to be seen as the new vocalist for Texas in July and not the YouTube cover guy, which didn't matter anyways because everybody, even to this day,

still like, I saw your YouTube covers back of the day. And now doing covers is like, cool. I don't know. That's pretty strange. The past two years, it like blew up. Yeah, like everybody's covering their peers, music I was like I did that I did that fucking 10 years ago you fucks

I deleted all of them yeah fucking manager told me no I'm just probably for the best now but he kind of carve your own path you know sure you know and uh I mean air is definitely a band that like kind of carved your own path and paid your own way because I mean

sure I can't imagine like being from Alabama and coming up in that scene where you don't really don't really have like a peer like the set a like example right like you kind of have to we had one

um Gideon Gideon really yeah Gideon is from from Birmingham um and they were when we started in 2009 like like we like we proceed them to be moving at a pace that we wanted to move at

just because at the time Dan McCartney was in the band Dan is like a booking agent out in L.A and he's doing doing great. But he was playing guitar and Gideon and he was booking all of their tours. So they were just very self-contained and like self-sufficient and that was a big motivator for us. It's like, oh, well, it was kind of the only evidence that we had that like that sort of thing was possible to just kind of go and do it rather than waiting for something to happen. And even then, I think

we were kind of slow to get to get the gears turn in. But yeah, I mean, I don't have one other example. It was us and Gideon were kind of the only heavy bands to come out of there. My children, my bride, like 10 years prior to that, but that's it. And then since then, I don't know of any metal bands that have come out of Birmingham and have toured extensively. I apologize if there are, and I'm ignorant. Yeah, I mean, what, I don't even know the venues you play out there. What, like, he just have, like, the Zydico. I mean, what? Even Zytoco, like, to us at that, time was like like that was like a huge goal you know I mean like that was like a high ceiling like

that that that was where we saw I know literally it's a low ceiling literally literally literally yeah like yeah literally for sure and then you know uh symbolically it's also kind of a low ceiling but um but at the time like that it like bands that we liked that is where they went um Actually, one of the first era shows that we, the first era show we played at Zydeco, we were like the opening local for Suicide Silence and Darkest Hour. This was like 2011. You serious? Yeah.

At Zydica. But, but, like, us playing that show, we're like, holy fuck. Like, not only were we playing with these bands, but like, we're playing Zidico. Because before that, you know, it'd be like a freaking, like, gutted, you know, some, like, gutted studio space in the middle of the worst part of town. Like, those were the venues we were playing with, like, you know, A broken PA and... I feel like it was like a warehouse or a church.

Yeah, probably a lot of churches, right? Inside a go, we made it. If it was a church, we were like in business. It's like, oh, this is going to be like, it's going to be clean. Yeah. They're going to have like clean carpet and like the people, you know, like, we weren't like Christians, but it's like the people work in the show are going to be nice. Like, whereas when you play like the hole in the walls like in the city, it's like,

people are like, what are these damn kids doing here? Like, they don't care if you sound good. want you to play the show and leave or whatever. But, um, so yeah, so like Zadico is like a real venue with us. And then we started touring. We're like, oh. We live in a place that doesn't nurture, uh, this kind of music or a creative spirit whatsoever. Yeah.

We should like leave more often. Well, in a weird way that probably like inspired you guys and pushed you guys on we need to get the fuck out of our state. I mean, even to this day, it helps keep in perspective just like how far things have come. and how cool it is to still be seeing places, you know, because we came from somewhere. So small. You guys have come a long way.

The thing about being a band from Alabama, and now it was just, you know, five records in, you know, and like not only five records, but records with the different styles and be a band long enough to have other chapters in your career. It's very rare. And to add on top of that is like, from Alabama.

It's crazy. Yeah. At this point, it's like, I mean, Alex and I are the only Alabama guys still around. All these guys are from Pennsylvania. Yeah. Yeah, it's wild. It's funny as I listened to your episode you did with Alpha Wolf.

Like, I think about those guys, like, coming from Tasmania. Yeah, it's not. Like, yeah, they're doing, like, so well. And they're so, like, well-spoken and intelligent. And like I don't know. It's cool. I like I feel like I connect with like bands like that that just yeah started in a really weird place You know like a weird yeah weird geographical place yeah I guess another question I have is like what is it When you're a ban from that kind of area like a Tasmania a we just had with with an instruction they're from Slovenia and you guys You guys are from Alabama's like I

I'm lucky. I'm from California. So I got some special treatment, I guess you could say. But for people that, people I want to start bands or even play music that are from these type of countries and states, like, what do you guys do to break out? I mean, it's a pretty rare thing, you know?

It's probably the tools you're disposable, I guess. Myspace, right? MySpace, really? You guys have Myspace? That was, yeah, I guess Myspace was the outlet in which you realized, like, oh, like, People might actually care about what we're doing in other places. And then recording with Joseph McQueen.

I don't know if you know Joseph. He also works with Josh Gilbert. He plays in Spirit Box. He used to play in Asley Dying. Yeah. But they're from Alabama. And we would record with them. Like we have an EP called Andromeda from 2010.

It was literally the summer that I graduated high school. We recorded that with those guys. And Joseph was like the first person to really like motivate me to. do, I don't know, just like pursue like a freelance sort of career path and not necessarily rely on college because, you know, we lived in a place that only nurtures like that kind of trajectory of going to college and having family and doing normal stuff. Like there's no nurturing of like the creative pursuit because like no one has any evidence that it really exists because they don't know anyone in Alabama who is doing it as a career

because they all left or whatever. So like literally just that one conversation with Joseph of him being like, you guys are a good band and you should actually go for it. Like that one conversation was all that I had. That was huge. And then yeah, my space and seeing like, oh, like a guy from Germany listened to our song today. Like maybe there's something there. And then yeah, just booking South East shows. And like I said, the Gideon guys and Dan McCartney getting involved and booking us very early on.

and then us going to Eric Powell shortly after that, who we're still with today. Yeah, we just finally got to see other places. And we were just like, holy shit. Like, the world is different than we thought it was. And it was like, that's still exciting to me. Yes, I mean, how exciting to get out of like that kind of state and see, like, you know, where you could take music, you know?

Yeah. It's always a trip getting out of your state. you know and I guess yeah I mean you uh you did touch on it and say it like use the tools of the internet to you to your disposal yeah like you know whatever's available like whatever whatever the easiest I mean that's everybody that's why I tell everybody that asks like what can I do to help my band like thrive like what free tools do you have at your disposal use them internet network with people play a lot of shows write songs you just got to keep at it just keep out it there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's There's a magic. I'm a fucking broken record, but just keep doing it. Just fucking write tunes, man. Just be kind of, be sick. Yeah.

Just be sick. I can only imagine the 10-year mark of anything is like a sweet spot. Like, because like hitting the 10-year mark of this when you look around and you see the people who are still around that you knew from the beginning and you're still working together or you're at least in the same like circles and bumping into each other in shows and cities. like that like to live to experience that is like it boggles the brain it's like how are we still here like this is so cool and then you get closer to people that you maybe never were able to like cross past with like I mean us right now like talking like we've been doing this for 10 years but we've never met you and like that's so sick it's just like if you just like stick it out those people who you've you haven't crossed past with what you've been aware of like

you're just going to cross because there's just not many people left over who are still doing it after all that time. So, like, you finally intersect, and it's, it's so cool and weird. It's cool and with the same time, you're right. And no matter how long you've been, like, years, you know, years that you just cross past with these people, you know, still. And there's so many, you know, bands that have careers, you know, we're obviously lucky to be there and he's crossed past with these people still, like, you know,

10 years later, like, 15 years later, and then 20 years later, and it was like, damn, I'm like, I just met you. Yeah. There's just so many people to hang out with and talk to about music. Yeah. Like, and you talk to people who like don't do this or don't have something like this. And it's like you realize the rarity of this sort of ingrained kinship of just we're all mutually following this thing that is strange. You know, and like that is binding in a way.

Like when you start a tour, you know, with very rare exceptions, like some some guys. guys in bands suck. But like most of the time, 95% of the time, it's like you start a band, you started a tour with a band you don't know and you feel pretty assured. Like by the end of this, like, I'm going to fill a kinship to this person that would, in ordinary life, it would probably take me like years to fill with someone. And I'm going to fill it for this person after probably like two weeks. Yeah. I'm going to be able to have like a real heart to heart with this guy that I met two weeks ago. And like, I'll see him and it'll be warm and we'll hug each other and it'll be genuine.

Oh, it's speed dating for friendship. Yeah, I've always loved it. Did you come up with that? I did. That's really good. Thank you. I've always loves that. Speed dating for friendship.

That is true. Like I had a friend that, real quick, that, you know, he was from my area and it's never really toured, but it was kind of one of those, like, kind of hating on some bands that he just didn't like. And you got the opportunity to tour one time and toured a bunch of bands he didn't like, but then it came back and like, I love all those guys. They're band sick. I'm like, see what happened?

meet these people these are these are real people man are just following their their their dream and made made the sacrifices to do it you know you're like oh shit then you find things in common yeah you find a and uh i found this out two months ago and i encourage uh anyone to try this is because i mean doing this i mean i'm i just listen to a lot a lot of music now there's records and songs even bands i don't really that's to listen to and there's something happens to your brain and your mind when you listen to a record and you keep doing it, uh, listen to a band's whole career, you don't really like it, but something happens to your mind that I, blew me away that you, you, you find a connection somewhere. You listen to, listening to the records I don't like,

but actually sit down and just still listen. And something happens, like you'll, you'll connect after three hours of listening music or more, you'll connect to a lyric or you'll connect to a riff. Usually for me it's like a riff. I'll hear like five records and always have that riff. But that's my connection to that fucking band. And that's why I want to talk to them. You find these things that you could like connect with, you know. And also it helps you not be jaded too.

Yeah. Like when someone sends you a song, like when someone's like, oh, you got to check out this band. Like you need to hear that probably 10 times before you actually. You can check it out the first time someone tells you. But you might need to go back to it like 10 times. times before it really connects, like, you know, like, what kind of mood are you in? Are you in the moment to hear a sound like that? Is that sound, is that band coloring your mood in that moment?

Like, are you in that place? Like, you know, because if you're, someone's like, check out this sick, heavy band, but you're like kind of melancholy and you've had a weird day that you're probably not going to feel much from like getting blasted or whatever, put up. True. But like, that's true. But yeah, but then when it connects, when it's like the right moment, it's huge. I mean, the Nationals, one of my favorite bands. and I tried to get on that band for years and I was like, I don't get it. It's just drab and boring and monotone.

And then, like, I was cleaning my apartment one day and I put on trouble, find me start to finish, and I finished cleaning, and I was like, was that profound? And then I just kept listening to that band, and that year I was like 0.01% of their total listeners. And it was a band that it just never clicked.

I would, I really had, like, one or two songs I liked, but I was just like, I don't have the patience to sit with this band, And then when it finally clicked, it was like, I was deeply indulged. And that's my favorite kind of discovery. And it happens a lot now that I've gotten older. Yeah. Those kind of bands where I'm just like, I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it.

And I'm like, oh, this is like the greatest, this is like a part of me now. It's weird. Do you do that only comes with age, though? I don't know. Or can you somehow accomplish that when you're younger? Because it happens to me, I'll admit, I wish I had this. like when I was younger, like, you know, even like mid-20s

or like in my teens, I mean, yeah, I didn't get it until like recently. Do you feel like you're a deeper music lover in your older age than when you're young? Me too. Yeah. The stuff that I thought I was going to outgrow, I just, I felt more into love with corn

and like, uh, disgorge, like death metal. I felt more, because then you kind of like, you could kind of pinpoint when you get older, you kind of, you might do like some introspection, like you kind of connect some dots. Oh, that's why I let that band. That's why I like that song or something. I'm like, you just fall more into love with it.

And that was pretty shocking to me. I like these bands more than I did when I was, you know, 14. It's crazy. Yeah, you almost expect to be jaded at this point. And then when you... That too. That's great. That is kind of sad. But it's true.

Yeah, well, I think it's like a process you have to go through to get to the other side. But like, but then when you realize, like, not only am I not jaded, but I love this more than I did when I was a child. Like, full of, like, wonder and, like, the world on the horizon. And anything's possible. it's like the fact that I can like connect more with this now feels significant. It just like affirms like this is exactly what we should be doing. Yeah, it's great. And I want to talk about your third record,

which I think kind of explains also my hope your connection as a ban and your mindset is that... I'm so sorry. Do it. Can I please pee? Do it. It like hurts and I... No, I'm going to do it.

My brains are thinking about pee. No, I said, do it, man. It's all good. Okay. So I guess we'll go straight to, so Clint, how was your experience joint, just being a part of the band now? I love these guys. Yeah, I don't know. I've been in a few different bands with like varying dynamics where it's like more of like I'm a higher gun or whatever and it's very like rigid.

Whereas these guys are, you know, my age and stuff and I'm just like hanging out like they're my friends. So it's chill. Yeah. Yeah. And like Jesse said at the beginning, everyone's kind of got their lane that they're, like, good at, you know? So that's kind of nice, too. That's always, like, makes things easier.

It's not like, you know, one person's doing everything or something. So everyone's got their lane, so it's pretty sweet. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like you presented this opportunity to, like, show us to your shops. And we were like, fuck, yeah, spread your wings, fly baby. and you just did it and here you are, killing it. Clint's flying.

You're fucking. Yeah. I'm like, we recruited him for like a certain role but he, you know, like we said,

you can fill all these gaps. I'm like, hey man, more power to you. Like, hit, do it. That's sick. Hopefully we cultivate an environment

where you can feel like you're being fulfilled and like you're allowing to like show off your talents and skills. For sure. It sounds like it.

Yeah. You know, and you guys, obviously, and I heard through you guys that Connor you're a very hard worker which is very rare in a bass player. Wow. Someone's like that.

Yeah. So you finally said it, you fucks. I can't believe it. That's the backbone, dude. That's pretty cool, man. Yeah, I mean, I heard an interview like probably 10 plus years ago of a band talking about how in order to like make this work, everyone needs to kind of be willing to fill whatever gaps they can. and so that kind of became my role in any like what can I do where can I provide value that other guys either A aren't good at or B don't want to do and which often results in like you know

the monotonous annoying like yes logistics booking flights yes having difficult conversations like moral GPS oh wow that's sick moral GPS Yes, that's a fucking one to write down right there. Yeah, yeah, I got to throw that in my bio. Woo! But yeah, that's just kind of, I guess, how I provide value beyond just being a bass player. It's great. You touch on something really important.

Like, you do, like, people forget you got to do, like, the tedious, boring shit to do, to get the, to be able to do what you love. Yeah. Well, I mean, it is a passion project for everyone. and always will be, but it is also a business. Yes, it is. So how do you, what's the dance between the two and how do you make it, I don't know, enjoyable for everyone? It's tough, dude. It's a never-ending balance.

Yeah. So it's cool that, you know, you're already doing it ahead of the game. You don't need to be mean like B-37. Oh, wait, treat it like a business. Oh, wow. Where do our money go? Yeah. Well, yeah, it's funny because now that we, you know, now that we've grown a lot, especially in the last two years, now we're kind of deciding like, okay, wait, what do we, what should we not be doing?

Yeah, you know? Because our mantra has always been like, we should be able to do pretty much everything ourselves. And we're kind of, it's been beautiful to be able to, you know, divert some of that to other people that are better than us, you know? Yeah. I actually have a question for you. on that note. Let's go. With your years of experience and time in here, where do you find your balance with self-reward

and always on the grind? Ooh, that's a good one. Because that's like my internal struggle. That's a good one. Recently. Like, we took three months off and I did fucking nothing. And it was awesome. But at the end of three months, I was like, I did nothing.

I feel like scum. So it's like this balance of trying to give myself that decompression time. But also in the back of my heart. head like somebody out there is working harder than I am and getting what I want and how do I find time to reward myself and feel good about it and not beat myself up about it? Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. Don't get too deep? No, no, that's a that's a it's hard. Never any balance, man, knowing when to, uh, that takes some for me personally, I'll try not to get too deep and to things like this I'll make it short but I think that takes introspection for you personally like like

like I noticed that some band members kind of more drawn to everything has has to feel right but I kind of found that like never everything in my life personally I'm just being these experience hopefully I might I might help you and or people people listening is like and this takes from being alone getting high um thinking about self-doubt and stuff like And I've realized, oh, you know, nothing for you, Chris, nothing is going to feel right ever. And that's what helps me. It might not, that that might not resonate for somebody else.

But for me, that's what works for my personality and for the band. Nothing I do feels right. It's like thriving off the awareness. So it's kind of leaning into uncertainty. Yes, essentially. Yeah. Anything it has to do with self-ed out or doesn't feel right. It's, it's, and it goes to small shit to you like, you know, like this morning,

I woke up at 4.45. I don't want to go to a gym. It doesn't feel right, but you just go. I don't want to eat this fucking soured. I don't want to eat that piece of lettuce, but you do it. And then you have this little burst of great moments, like, let's say, playing a show. That's a very literal, okay, this is working. This is great.

And having those, like, you know, for example, this week was like, I didn't go out. It was kind of like, oh, it's just so, I can't put into words, do you. Like, okay, you kind of feel. no okay I kind of sense like I should stay home all week and work as opposed to go out on Wednesday it was almost like a quick it's a really it's a feeling I don't know like you kind of know okay and then last night I went to a comedy show had had some beers because that okay you worked towards the okay I could just be an idiot for for a night in a it's knowing when to take a break knowing when knowing when you're going to be burnt out it's a dude it's a tough yeah

but thing to figure out I think it varies from uh from a person to person, but I think something that is universal is you got to put in work. There is, like, legit work involved, and it's been shocking for me to, unfortunately for us in our career,

learn later in our career. What the limit is, yeah. Yeah, like, shit, there's all these things that we should have been doing if you weren't, because, you know, we're our older band,

like, things have to feel right, the vibe, but sometimes it's not about the vibe, but you just got to fucking work. Yeah. It's got to put in time and knowing when to work and when not to work

and one to have fun and wanting to stay home. It's just, it's literally an everyday thought process for me. Cool. It's tough. Do you feel like this is something that has gotten easier though?

Like with age to where you're, just to, just to prioritize the work over maybe like your feelings of like, oh, I don't feel like doing this thing. Like, do you feel like it gets easier with age to just lock in because there's more at stake

as you're getting older because you're, ultimately approaching death because that's how I feel. We're all dying. Like turning 30, I feel like, I remember having conversations with you, JT, and you saying, like, we were talking about, like, working out, taking care of ourselves, like, you know,

like, and people say this, like, it gets harder with age. You get locked in your ways, and it's going to get harder to commit to those things with age, but I've noticed the opposite. I've noticed it's becoming easier for me to find, discipline because and I think part of it is just like the realization that like I am approaching I'm getting closer to old age so it's like that's kind of the motivator of knowing like I want I want like my late life to be as quality as my 20s and stuff so like I just have to do this stuff and my my feelings need to be sort of secondary yeah I relate to that yeah I think one thing I have noticed as I've gotten older is my I don't even know when this happened. It feels like it happened overnight. Like, when the hell did I grow up? But

that part of your brain saying, hey, you could be doing all this stuff. This will be beneficial for you later or like trying to get ahead of things. Like being more productive. Like getting excited about not procrastinating, like getting ahead of stuff. Like imagine if I did this now. Like in the past as a teenager, it's like, I can't wait to procrastinate. But now it's just like, I want to get ahead of this. Like I got. Here's a to-do list. I want to bang some stuff out. Yes.

So I don't know when that happened, but I'm kind of grateful that I actually feel bad when I spend more than four hours playing a video game. When in the past, I could just play a whole week of video games and feel nothing. But now it's like, man, I can't enjoy as much because I want to do all this other stuff. And I know I have some new priorities in my life as I've grown older. Yeah. So. Yeah. I think anxiety can be a tool.

I think sometimes it's your brain trying to communicate that you want more. and that it's accessible. With that said, you know, you could be hard on yourself. Yeah. I can be extremely hard on myself. I think we all can.

And like that's bad too. But like being a little harder on yourself is beneficial. I mean, there's no fucking way we would be here at this point if we weren't. Yeah. There's no way.

It's kind of part of that balance. Yeah. Yeah, totally. You guys, you know, obviously there's, it's funny how you look back and my, damn, we did a lot. Like all those, tours, all those

shitty bathrooms, all that, those breakups. You kind of realize, oh, wait, oh, oh, yeah, that's what we're here. We did all that. Yeah, but that's good content, good music. Oh, sad but true, man. It's funny to reflect on, like, the bands,

and not only bands, really, anyone who achieves anything, like, their threshold for, like, how much am I, like, what is too much, or, like, how much should we be doing? So, like, when you look at, like, the, you know, everyone who's kind of paving new ground and doing the best, you often realize that their standard is just so much higher. So when they feel like they've done nothing, they've done

three times as much as all their peers, you know, in that, whatever window of time that is. And so when I look at like us, we can be pretty hard on ourselves, but it is nice to sometimes step back and go, maybe our standard is just high enough that like, we think we didn't do anything, you know? Yeah, it's that cliche. you know, blessing is a curse at that thing that makes you feel like, oh, I want to do enough. Oh, this record isn't what it was supposed to be.

It's like, it's that never-satisfied thing. Yeah. And in my experience, you know, when you lose that, because you think like, oh, you know what, I should be happy what I'm doing and I should, you know, I should be satisfied. But then, well, I learned personally, like, when we got satisfied, we lost a lot. It's that, it's that weird, like, thing.

It's a, it's a curse but a blessing. Like, it's that thing that keeps you. hungry. That never satisfied thing. Like, oh, I'm not doing enough.

I'm not doing this. But, like, that kind of keeps you going. Like, like, quenchable thirst. Yeah.

You know, that's this, I don't think there's a, another way to go about it, to be honest. Yeah. I think it's, I mean,

obviously it can be, it can be a bad thing, but I think it's just something you have to sort of form our relationship with and acknowledge and accept. Yeah. Yeah.

And it's just, our fear of like going down, you know what I mean, when you feel like you've, like, hit a high point and then like any sense that you're, that you're going down is just like heartbreaking, even if it's like a little bit. And then it's, it could still be way farther ahead than you were. What's the fear? I guess what I'm, yeah, I guess I'm being kind of weirdly vague about that. Like, you know, you have a good night merch. Let's go. This just happened in the night and like I'm not going to don't worry, I'm not gonna fucking, we're not talking numbers here.

We're not, those guys, fuck that. But just like, you know, you have a good night. You're like, oh my God, this is the best night I've ever had. And then you have another good night, but it's lower than the best night you've ever had. And you're like, oh, like that moment of disappointment, I'm just like, that sucks. It's weird.

It doesn't go away either. It doesn't go away. It's like, it's like three times what it was two years ago, but you're like disappointed because you've set this new baseline. What did you call it? it is. Like, how did you refer to it? I don't know. I don't remember. I don't know. But it's like, yeah, dude, that, that thing, it's just, it is what it is,

but like, got to keep an eye on that. Got to keep an eye on that, because that can be destructive. It's just like, yeah, comparison is so fucking, it's such a hard thing to shake, but it's so rewarding to shake it and just be happy with where things are. Yeah, and it's, it's productive, but it's unproductive too because in anything that we do there's so many factors like maybe you had a bad year because of 15 things out of your control

or a bad night because of 10 things out of your control worldwide pandemic and it's easy to like look at your your entire trajectory and go oh we're fucked when really like there were a bunch of other reasons

that may have resulted in that sure that are not related to your own efforts I think that's normal at this I think as human beings that's just how we're fucking Wired. We're always, you're going to compare to someone else. You're going to compare to what you're even going to compare yourself to yourself.

You know, it's just, this, this is how we're wired, you know? But I think it's, yeah, it's, I think if you're, have a healthy attachment to it, you know, because there's a different between a health, a healthy attachment to it and an unhealthy one, I think. But it's how we're wired is, I just, I just want to compare. Oh, we know why, why is this band bigger than us? Why, why is, why not me? Why aren't we at that tour? Why don't we get the offer?

Yeah. Or it's just numbers and then it's fucking, yeah. Social media numbers. It's never ending, you know? I think that's gotten a little bit healthier. Like now, like, whenever I have that thought of like, how did this band do that? I think about it for a moment.

I'm like, oh, that's how. Like I find the answer. I'm like, oh, yeah, because they're doing this. Good on them. Yeah. Good for them. Like, just like turning it into like genuinely being happy for someone that's doing better than you.

Yeah. Which like can be tough because like there's definitely a competitive nature. to this business but like you know I think I think we have a pretty healthy sense of competition like we really do want to see our friends do better and if I feel at any point that I'm not wanting that I

have to like check myself because that's just not the way up I'm totally yeah I was like that too and I was I was a teenager like we have like an unhealthy competition you're like so when you what you were the same but but that's your actual mindset you you get that you're like oh wait this is how I actually feel

you know fuck you know fuck that band fuck this band but then when you get older it's like uh you look back it's just it stems from insecurity yeah you know said then we when you assess that and your own your own demons and shit like you actually become you know stoked when someone else does something either what you're doing or the right under you or your competitive bands are doing more in you that you get actually genuinely happy for them well and i'm sure you've seen haven't done this for a while like celebrating other people's success often does yield a positive result for you. It does.

Like you take a band out and you take good care of them and you're nice to them. And then eight years later when they're huge, they take you out and they want to take care of you. I think there's a lot of power in just like celebrating everyone's success and trying to, you know, I don't know, wish them the best, if you will. Yeah. I used the comparison mindset to, because I'm very inspired by like comedians. And I love, all of us love stand up. Yeah, like, like Tom Seguro, obviously like the Erogans, the Bill Burr's.

I'm a big fan of, he's a lot of hate, but I love him. Brennan Scha, that's my favorite podcast, Fighter and a kid. And I had an opportunity to meet him. So I was like, okay, I have probably have like 10 seconds with him. So I had like questions like ready. It's boom, I just fired away. And he said something that I'm like, oh shit. That's a good way to like view it.

Because I said, yeah, you know, I'm very, my band, I'm in a band, you know, and we're very inspired by, by comedians and you guys. And he's like, oh, wow, you know, this is what we do. Like, he was like, we're all, we're all creatively competitive with each other. We're all trying to outdo each other, but it's all in a very healthy way. We're not trying to like push them down. It's like we're all competitive with each other. We're all trying to like crush each other.

But it's all like we're all friends. And we know what is, we're just being creatively. Like competitive, finding, creative ways to make, to either promote yourself or push, I guess for us. It would be like a record or a song. But it's not like, it's just all out of friendship. Yeah, sure. I mean, the biggest reason why I moved to L.A., I've been there for like, going on three years now. Are you still here?

Yeah. Oh, shit. Yeah, I live in the valley. Sick. But I came out here, like, because I was, I felt like I was getting too comfortable. Like, I lived in Nashville, and I was just like, I was just like, I. I wanted to be around people that were doing better than me. Like, I didn't want to be a big fish in a small pond situation.

Like in Birmingham, like, I see a lot of people in bands who stay where they grew up and they're comfortable and they can afford a house, like in their small town and stuff. And I often genuinely wish that I had that to where I was just, like, content to stay in Birmingham and just, like, be near my family. and you know, I could buy a house there for like the amount I pay rent in LA, but like I just, I can't. I just like, I need to be around that energy and just know that there are people next door who are crushing it in a way that I'm not because otherwise I'll fall into complacency.

And that could be fine if I was fine with it, but I'm not. I'll be so hard on myself if I do that. So like, so yeah, I try to surround myself with friends who are crushing it, you know. You know yourself. competitive yeah you know you know you know it you know I've been tempted to do fucking move out of here you know bands that are smarting us they you know they're outside of California they're all they have houses you know I'm gonna talk from in a home so it's you always compare to that but like there's just they

getting that hunger and it's like man they're it's like what do you really want you know so you know what I don't want to fucking move out there I want to fucking grind as long as long as I can and I will get that while living in here. Yeah. And I will, that's where, like,

the competitive mindset comes in. You know, I will sacrifice more than you. Is it? Yeah, yeah. Like, people, I mean, people, a lot of people,

like, when, like, when I moved to L.A., could not wrap their head around it. And I moved during the pandemic. It was, like, the worst time to move. You couldn't go to any restaurants

or businesses. Like, you could only stay in your house or do, like, nature-related things. What a move, dude. Yeah. What a move.

I know. And part of the reason why I did it was because it was reckless and I knew that would be, like a good experience to just like kind of do something stupid. You guys are sick. You pulled your car out across the country. Yeah. It was the best thing I did in 2020.

It was just like driving across the country in a Penske truck and my car on the back. Like it was fun. Because we weren't touring. So I was like, cool. This is my this is my touring in a van. I'm trying to drive across country. But like, but um, uh, I also was strange to thought. I was, so you're, so panties going on, you're driving cross country to L.A.

Was the subtitled already written or were you working on it or were you about to work on it? What's like, yeah, we finished it. It was done. We just were waiting to release it because pandemic, you know, we didn't want to put it out like right at the start of uncertainty, you know. Oh, you guys had it done. It's ready to put it out there. It sucks. Well, so we finished tracking that record.

The day that we finished tracking was the day the state of emergency was declared. It was literally like March 15th. No. Yep. So we finished tracking the record and then like the studio that we worked out with Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, like that studio was forced to close like the next day. So we finished right on time. Kind of wild. Dude, that is wild.

Holy moly. It's a weird time. And was that a discussion amongst all you guys, hey, you know, well, this is not rushed this, we're just going to shove it and it's way. I don't think anybody had any idea what was to come. No. We, but that was kind of like our work, like spending, we had all this time to like plan and, you know, ideate and like figure out how we wanted to roll it out and what we wanted

it to feel like and look like. And so that was kind of like, at least for me personally, I didn't work throughout the pandemic. So that was my, like, that was what I was thinking about and focusing on. And it kind of was enjoyable in a way. It kind of makes sense because that record sounds very, like, locked in. And it's kind of crazy how you're, like, you finish your record day of and the country, well, world shuts down.

And, like, you're just about to embark on this new chapter. It's like, it feels like the self-titles like your new chapter. Okay, let's just, a new chapter of the band. let's go and then oh shit just gonna be a little bit this I started the chat to me kind of slow it's fine you know what I mean there must have been a little bit of that

but mostly I felt like we got lucky when I looked around at a lot of our peers like dude guys we knew who who put out a record on like March 7th oh yeah and they were on tour for a week and then had to go home and not tour on their record

yeah like Like looking at those Like I think that happened to Polaris It happened to August Prince Red And then I was like see this It's good that we're not in this position Like this would hurt worse Yeah a lot of those records that came out like early

You know earlier 2020 Like maybe February through June-ish Like kind of just like Disappeared in the public perception It feels like and that that sucks One of my favorite records came out in like May And I didn't really hear a lot of buzz about it

Which one was that? Boston Manor and I think they were supposed to tour as well holy yeah we dropped the record on Valentine's Day made it way up so sick ready

our sole title was not exactly a new chapter in a good way or like we're fine up with the new record when you know bring some because we brought that record we got our money disappeared

so we're like we're tried about to get back to where get back on the climb and then you know it happens you know yeah That sucks.

Like, so, so for us, like, I felt like we got lucky. It's like, okay, cool. We can just hold on to this and just be patient and just chill and put it out when it feels right. And we still put it out during the pandemic, but it was early 2021, touring came back late 2021, so there wasn't as big of a gap. Yeah. Whereas, like, ABR, I think just like put out another, did they put out something else? Oh, yeah.

They were just like, we're just, maybe I'm mixed up back. No, I think that they, they, they, They might have put a record out in March or something, and then I think they kind of just went on to the next one, because it was like, there's not much we can do on this. Those guys were psychopaths. I was like a leveler, re-recorded or something. Yeah, they are like true workhorse dudes.

It's pretty crazy. Talk about like comparison. Yeah. I look at them and I'm just like, dude, they're just so pragmatic and look at their band. It's admirable. Yeah, we would talk about it. And even like back in a day when they were just up-and-com.

Because we're like kind of bubbling around the same time. We're looking at them and like, damn, they're putting a record every year. year the fuck what what do they sleep it's like holy shit but yeah it's it's it's really cool and they fucking it is they found their uh they found their own groove did uh did suicide and a b r do a tour i want to say i went to a tour maybe it was like on earth yep that was our suicide silence was that first big tour yeah i went to that in uh towson maryland at the record yeah if it's if i'm thinking of the right thing wow my record probably sonar something 06 oh 7 sonar right

Oh yeah, I remember sonar. Holy moly. That place kind of sucked. Do you remember Infest in New Jersey? You guys headlined. Oh, I remember Infest. What was that venue?

It was a stone pony. They had like multiple rooms around the stone pony. They had an outside stage, the inside. Yeah. Across the street. They had like three stages going on. Yeah. Remember Inifest.

I don't remember what stage we fucking played. You were indoors. You were like the headline on Broken Wings played, Black My Heart. Oh, that was a while ago. Yeah. Yeah. Holy moly. Why would you name your festival in a fest?

I mean, that fucking rules. It was like the, I love. The jersey equivalent of, like, the metal and hardcore fest. That's so silly. Oh, my goodness. You immediately know, like, every band on it was, like, fucking evil. People just, like, bleeding from the face, leaving the venue. Holy moly, dude.

I want to address me real quick. So your first two records. The logo. Uh-huh. So what is the meaning between the backwards are? Because I knew. I fucking knew we were going to come to us because we got this corn backwards R. We got Garza with the backwards R.

So you're surrounded. I counted today we have 14 backwards ours in this room. Oh, my God. Did you count for us or did you already know? I count it because I It's like how many are in here? Because I always forget Is there 15 or sir?

But we have I counted again today For like the 100 time There's 14 backwards dars in here Shot glasses Coffee mugs, posters Corn Corn posters around Well now there are 15, 16, 17

Backwards R's in this room Because the albums are up on the screen So obviously you knew I was gonna bring it up So what's up with the logo? So that our original vocalist Who is on those on those first two releases did graphic design.

He actually designed that logo. I don't know. You know, it was just like a pot of potential choices, and we just chose that one. There's no real big story. It wasn't like any kind of homage or anything like that.

I'm sorry to say. I'm triggered. It was more so like a... Because you probably had like options. Hey, I'm sorry, this one, this one, but that part I look... I mean, it looks like aesthetically pleasing. you know that that fucking backwards are i i mean i hate it but thank you it's probably you hate it

i mean obviously it's kind of cool obviously at a time we liked it but uh that time has passed could have been bleeding cowboy font but uh yeah look chris i don't want to hurt you but it's not an homage to corn i'm already hurt it's fine i think designers like are attracted to just trying to create the symmetry with the two hours yeah symmetry is huge I do like the shield that came out of that logo on some of the prints we've done over the years. Oh, when it's like, oh yeah, when you just mirror the image and it's like, yeah.

That shit's sick. I mean, you know what? I'm just going to say it. Controversial. Yes. I was never. Oh, no, don't fucking say it. No, not in my dojo.

Okay, never mind. I'm saying it. No, that's what I'm kidding. Alex, you listen to corn. You're a corn guy. You're a new metal kid. They were my favorite band. I was a freaking metalcore kid.

I liked Azale dying and like Kill Switch and Gage and all their remains and stuff like that. Like, you know, that was my thing. A biscuit right here. Yeah, dude. Three-hour bill, y'all. Woo! Yeah, see, I totally skipped the new thing. The NU thing.

Dude, I was hooked. You bought a love-hate tragedy, a significant other, and probably a nickel-back LP, like all the same time. Damn. Yeah. That's a fucking tri-effective heaviness, dude. Yeah, probably a nautica polo. Talked into dockers or some shit.

Dude, dockers. I forgot docker. You know, Jay, pull up docker's pants. Oh, God. No, no, Dickies, too. Dickies, like to stop. I didn't buy my first pair of Dickies until Connor got me better. Like last month or something.

Like, that's the time to buy Dickers. Well, I always thought Dickies were, like, cardboard, and then I realized you had to break them in. They were kind of cardboard-y. Yeah. Dude, like Dickies' pants, dude, like, you know, in high school, people were wear, like, fucking red, red dickies. I went to an all-boys Catholic high school, though. Like, I didn't have a choice. Oh, yeah, you had to have to wear darkos, huh?

Yeah, I was in a dress coat. I have a brother 20 years older than me, so, like... And one of them are ginkos. Jinkos are... Oh, yeah. Oh, wait, I'm stupid. He's 10 years older than me. But I had a brother who graduated in 2000, so he was of the Blink 10-182.

and stuff, like a pop punk kid. Like, he had those. He had, like, the Ginko pants. Oh, dude. Are we gonna bring back these pants right here? They came back for a second. They did. Oh, my goodness.

You know what? Dickies were affluent. Oliver trees wearing them, yeah. That's not a trend I, like, I pumped on personally, but all good. Dickies was kind of like a universal pant, though. It doesn't matter if you're like a punker, like a hardcore kid or, uh, or on a swim team. You know, everyone kind of wore Dickies. Yeah, yeah.

Dickies are fine. I don't, I don't, I think they're, I think they're good now. I think that's Carhart and like hardcore and like construction workers. Yeah. You know? They're like, they're pretty timeless. Yeah. They are pretty time.

Meanwhile, I need a pair of dickies. I mean, look, that guy looks great. See, yeah, okay, so now they probably have an in style. They're probably like slim fit, skinny options. There's a lot options now. Oh, yeah. There's tons. They got them all.

I'm straight up going to buy dickies. They're very, yeah. They're actually very good pants. Connor can help you find a pair. That's like his $25 bucks. Yeah, 25? Okay, it's not bad as a wrap. Connor helps keep us relevant.

You know, he's helped to wean us off of tight pants kicking and screaming nonetheless. Dude, it's so good. But I guess, I mean, the question is now, what color are we going to get? Black, duh. Yeah, yeah, it goes with it. Yeah, that goes with pretty much every band shirt, you know. Skinny and fit, that'll be hot. Dude, that'll get the ladies, dude.

For sure. Well, speaking of the first two records, I guess, are not. metal influenced. Sorry. Was that, so, J.T., you joined the band. Drift, onward. Okay, so it was like, was, so it was right before drift, correct? Well, 2015.

Yeah, you called me in like August of 2015, and Texas in July was like about to start their farewell tour. And he was like, what are you doing after that? And I was like, not a damn thing. Yeah. And what did we track drift in October? Yeah, yeah, yeah. We, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Call on August, tracked in October. And, uh... I feel like such scum because that band broke up, and then two months later, I was back on tour with a different band. Wow. Yeah. Well, they were already breaking up.

Yeah, it worked out. We got so lucky with the timeline, you know. Because you guys met on tour. Yeah. So did you guys know then? Hey, you guys want you on the band? Oh, hey, my band, my band's breaking up. No, no, no.

So we weren't looking at that point. Somebody. Crazy timing. There was a conversation like, oh. We were outside. You know what I'm talking about? The Texas and July tour? Somebody was like, you should join era or this was like, I don't know, like a year later.

Do you know what I'm talking about? I remember being on tour with Texas in July. And this joke came up. I don't know. Side note. Anyways. Yeah, but, but, whoa. No, it was, yeah, I guess it was only a year and a half after that, but so actually on that tour that we did with JT, it was only a week.

And that was our singer at the time's last run. So he was leaving, but we got a different guy. We got him, me, and E. Banks, he was in the band for a year and a half. We did one EP with him, and then after that year and a half, then we got JT. And it was just right when Texas in July happened to be breaking up. So we didn't have to actually poach anyone. You know, like he was just available. Yeah.

So it worked out pretty good, you know. It did. And it was kind of like a, like, it was kind of crazy timing if you think about it because Drip is like, obviously, like, it was, I could sense like, okay, we're going to take some risks. And we're going to not exactly change our sound, but we're going to take a, let's just see what, let's see what we can do. It was definitely a matter of like, like, from what I recall, it was just like, what a, what a, What do I feel like doing? Not like what is expected based off of the other records,

but like what feels right. And I think ultimately what feels right is a nice companion to the first two records. I know like it's completely subjective, but I don't know. I think all of our releases sound very much like our band. But yeah, it's more melodic. I feel like it's a little bit softer than the first two records. It is a ballsy move because then you bring in JT.

So you kind of did that that was kind of, a big move, you know. Hey, not only did, you know, switch up to sound a little bit, we're going to bring a new singer. You're going to fuck everybody. It was probably less of that, more of like, oh, God, like, I hope people, like, think that we're keeping it together. You know, like, member changes are always scary

because, like, people are really slow to adjust to change in that way, as you know, I'm sure. But, um, it takes them a while. You know, you look at a band, like North Lane, like, Marcus, their singer, is so fucking good. He definitely rustles some feathers when he was bought in now.

Yeah, and I, and like, I don't have that lens or that, I don't have that, that lens or that attachment to the band where I was like, this is different, it sucks. I was just like,

oh, I like this band now. Now that this guy's in it, my whole perception has changed and like, this is what I like, but it took, it took, like, their fans a couple of records to realize, like, you know,

this is like a level up. This guy, fucking rules. And now I think everyone's on board like oh yeah, that guy's amazing. He sings, he screams, crushes it live, like. How many? But it takes people a while to like acclimate. I think they

took on you pretty quick because people like Texas in July, you're of the middle core world and you're just, in my opinion, just like way better than, no offense to the past guys but you're without question the best vocalist era's ever had. The biggest flack I got was like

I'm more sit in mid-range. That's kind of my bread and butter. And the other guys kind of sit at a lower register. So like maybe a sonic dynamic was like, oh, it's different. Sure. But then we found the sweet spot as the records went on. Just as like, like, you know, back to North Flame. The music changed the long side of it, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you kind of, you get used to one another and you like find each other's strengths of weaknesses. And like by the self-titled, it's like, oh, yeah, we're definitely bringing out the best in each other across the board. Like everyone's like, everyone's shining on this record finally. Locked in.

Yeah. Yeah, it's tough how long it takes for everyone just to lock in, you know. It took six years. Yeah, it takes years essentially sometimes, you know, even though it was received very well, you know, maybe what aside from some flag here and there, but which, I mean, that's as expected no matter, no matter who it is. But yeah, I mean, it's pretty well what we see, but you're still trying to find your, your way in the, in the band dynamic and sound and it takes a bit.

but yeah with the cell title it sounds like you guys yeah as long as we like it perhaps I'm speaking for myself but I would say as long as we like it we can kind of handle criticism but when people are criticizing something that you agree with

when you're like actually siding with their criticism like if something kind of slipped through the cracks that hurts a lot as you may have experienced but if you're really confident in the record I remember being very confident in the quality of the writing on Drift

so when people weren't into it I was like eh maybe you'll figure it out maybe you won't I don't care I like it and that's like a really liberating feeling I felt that for the self-titled as well it's kind of like you said like when you find a band and a song actually clicks and you're like

oh now because I like this riff I can actually understand the rest of what the band's trying to do when you're at a record that you're confident in you kind of just rely on that to where you're like you may not get this now, but maybe someday you will, but like, yeah, hopefully there's some integrity in you knowing that, like, I knew what

I was trying to do at the time, and I stand behind it. Like, that goes a long way, and I think eventually it will connect, you know. You're right. You know, it's funny when the, yeah, you're talking longevity. Your thing's going a long way for long, I mean, longevity, you know, it's funny, like,

sometimes it takes people a while to come around. Sometimes I'll notice, like, you know, a hater would can become a lover like your biggest fan at some point you know it just takes you know years sometimes but they can not like a record then you put out two more and then all of a sudden they'll go back to that record and all of a sudden like they they love you and you know sometimes i recognize usernames and i'll see like i was like you know i'll see a couple of years ago like i remember you yes band sucks it's bad he's garbage and then they'll fucking say uh you know i'll see the same one and

Oh, this record's awesome, and they'll be louder than ever. Dude, and then sometimes you'll see that guy on tour, and he's fucking shredding in, like, the two of four band on a package you're on. You're like, oh, it's you. You're a rat. I heard what you said. Yeah. And then you're like, oh, man, you grew up and we're friends now.

I think I have exactly. Well, don't. We want any names. I won't. I don't. I don't. I know. I think I'm the best guy.

He is the best guy. Yeah, yeah. You just like. yeah people you know people come around evolve and then like yeah that's like the the best like when like those people who are maybe outspoken because they were passionate they just like really gave a shit

and then they actually turned it into something productive and creative they didn't just sit back and talk shit and not try to do their own thing it's like oh this guy that was criticizing what we were doing is actually like as good or better than us and now he's putting it to use and now he doesn't doesn't feel the need to criticize because he's just like he's in the creative the creative zone now and I feel like when you really lean into that zone like you don't really at least for me like I feel like it helps people like not feel like they have to put everything down it's like okay sure maybe you just don't get it or like

maybe it's not for you it doesn't mean like it's bad or you should trash it or whatever yeah I don't know I met I met a hater once this was like 2009 or something it was a long time ago but I I did meet one in person. It was at a warp tour. And I just, I knew who he was. I was like, interesting. But he was a fucking sweetheart.

It's like this little kid, like this super chill. And we're like, oh, what's up? Dude, cool, man. I think I might choke his hand and that was it. But it was so, right, I just remember the same person saying, like, the nastiest thing on the internet. I was like, it was strange. You know, you're just, this is an unhealthy way to communicate with people. think like when you have like such like a disconnect people would just say whatever they want you know

and then when you're in person it's just different I bet after meeting you though he probably changed his perspective a little bit hopefully yeah or maybe he's like guard is a dick who knows man fuck but yeah I mean hopefully did change his up perspective yeah I mean when you're young like I like I when I never you know I was like 14 on my space and stuff like I was talking shit I think we're While talking shit, I would never go on a band's page and be like, your song sucks. Like, thank God I never did that. Not because it isn't forgivable because it is. It's just gringy.

Like, I'm just glad I don't have that on my conscience. But like, I would, you know, like on my own personal posts, so I would be opinionated about like, you know, I don't know. Defending like a BT Bam record or something going back and forth. It's like, man, I can't imagine feeling any kind of joy. out of that now, but I think that's obvious for all this. Well, hopefully we all experienced that same growth. You know, I did that, you know, 20 years ago. And now I'm just, you know, we're in our 30s growing up, we're 40s or 50s, so on, you know.

Hopefully it comes with age. Yeah. I feel like at some point all music should kind of just be fine to you. Like, I think Pat and Oswald has a bit about that where he's like, I don't hate any music anymore. And it's so good. And he talks about he has this whole rant about Nickelback. defending nickel back and if you haven't heard it you have to hear it because it's extremely validating yes he's just like he's like why is there and you know I don't know I'm not gonna

spoil it but like but um yeah just like I'm at an age now or I don't hate any music and I'm like oh my god I fucking I get that it's nice I used to be such a little elitist you know and now I'm just like whatever yeah it's nice it's nice people to say this just isn't for me yeah I have a friend who like has to say everything sucks if he doesn't like it it sucks and it makes so mad. Yeah. Because I'm like, dude,

so many people love this. Like, who are you to say? Being nice is good. Being negative like that in my old age, just like fucking, it just like corrods your soul.

Yeah. It's like, how long can you sustain in your life by just like shitting on everything? Totally. I don't know. Not for me.

No. What's the beef with nickel back? I don't know, man. People, people don't. What is up with that, dude?

I don't get it. What? I mean, what did they do? I mean, like. Shout out to Chad, man. yeah we love

nickelbeck I'm sure I'm sure he's a great guy I mean I'm not so sure we on a apology I don't know

anything but like I don't know anything but like I mean they do have some songs that are like fucking fucking hilariously

misogynistic but you know like it was they're like 20 year old songs like I don't know

what their new stuff sounds like but it's like eh you know just like fucking it's fun come on

with it's just just hey hey Jay look up Nickelback Wiki. I'm curious where they're based out of or from. Somewhere in Canada.

Canada, right? Okay. Yeah. Well, if you're from Canada, you have to be nice. That's true. Like, it's true. It's true. They do have some songs where you listen to lyrics and you're just like, oh, my. Alberta, Canada.

Wow. That's pretty out there. Home of Brett the Hitman Heart, too. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Alberta. Alberta is a legendary area.

So yeah, if you're a nickel back, you kind of have to be nice. Canada. Wow. It looks like a small town. Wow. There was some like, you could probably Google this now. I blew up so hard, but there was like some tweet they posted probably close to 10 years ago where they were like, they were like, yeah, we know we suck, but we're millionaires,

fuck you. It was like something like, it was something so like direct and like you're just like, man, like it's like a little, you kind of have to like appreciate that they just are like not caring, it seems. Sometimes, yeah. Yeah. Sometimes that is what's called. Sometimes you need to like listen and like, you know, maybe like check yourself. But that seemed like appropriate to me. Because like, yeah, they were one of those like bandwagon hate on bands. Like, like, Nicholas Cate. There's a tower Nicholas Cage was one of those people where it was like cool to hate Nick Cage and pretend that he wasn't one of the best actors ever. On the planet. Dude, leaving Las Vegas is one of the best movies I've ever seen. He was like nominated for like an Academy Award and shit like just because he was, I don't know, man. Jay, type in a what movies has Nicholas Cage done. Oh, I'm curious.

Raising Arizona. We got to see that list, dude. Conair. Movies. He's so good. National treasure. National treasure. National treasure, dude.

I mean, look, we're going to see some stinkers in here. There's no doubt about it. There are some fucking stinkers in his history. Gone to 60 seconds? Dude, so many good ones. Mandy. I never seen Next. You guys have got to see Leaving.

Las Vegas. That's the greatest movie ever made about alcoholism. The city of angels is really good. It will fuck you up. Okay. The newest movie he did where he like, who is like the, yeah, I haven't seen that, but actually he heard really good things about it. It's fucking great.

That's what's so great about it. It's like, it's like, you got to be pretty self-aware to make a movie like that. It's a cool move. Oh yeah, kickass. He was in kick ass too. You know what? I haven't seen most of these movies. I need to do a Nicholas Cage just dive in, dude. Dude, I've been seen the rock? That's probably, like, traumatic.

The rock is fantastic. The rock is sick, all right. Yeah. Sean Connery. Dang, dude. Shout out, dude. Conair. Dude, Conair.

You got Dave Chappelle. You got... John Malcovic. John Malcovish. This is like the cast in that movie is insane. If you really pay attention. You got a... Who's the cop?

John... Oh, my God. What was his name? He's kind of funny in that movie, huh? Yeah, look at the cats. Hi, baby. Look at a star cat's right there. Whoa.

Man. That's sick. Cyrus, the virus. And he's ripped, dude. Oh, yeah, you got Steve Schemmy. He is ripped there. He's like dad ripped. Oh, my goodness.

He looks like, he's so, I don't know. Oh, my goodness. Anyhow. All right, so we have homework. We got to watch the rock and watch Conair. You got to watch Leaving Los. Vegas, period. Leaving Las Vegas.

I've said it three times now. I'll say it again. That movie is so good. And we all got to listen to Nicolbach and give him an actual chance. Yeah, you know. I like to think of it as being a bit tongue and cheek, you know? Sure. Well, Nickelback, Chad, shout out.

I don't think era fans expected to come down this this land of the podcast for sure. All right, let's bring it home. It's, uh, dude, I really appreciate you guys. waking up early and and being a part of us making a drive down thank you guys for for your time it's our pleasure um you guys run tour now with uh we came as Romans correct brand of sacrifice brand of sacrifice they're fucking sick dude tonight is the house of blues anaheim sick venue oh look at that flyer dude damn that's a nice

flyer oh you guys are past the halfway point yep yeah so by the time this comes out, you'll be in Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Loras, Kansas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Columbus, Columbus ends on February 18th in Detroit. What venue?

St. Andrews. St. Andrews, nice. Yeah. Yeah, there's something you say it's shelter. Good vibe there. Yeah. I trip off that balcony. I think all those are sold out, except for Lawrence. Yeah, everything except Lawrence,

and I think Salt Lake City got upgraded, so I don't know if that's sold out, but... Sick. It's a great lineup. That's what I love. I love a three-band package. We've been talking about that all tour. So nice.

Yeah. Three, four, sick bands on a fucking tour. It's gonna be sick. It makes the whole tour feel shorter. Like, seriously, the days just go by and they're fucking easy. Yeah. Everyone gets a sound check.

There's more room. It's nice. First band starts. I'm getting changed to play. Play. Headliner starts, and I'm, like, eating dinner and settling down, and then we're done for the day.

There's so little. of that weird in between of like, you know, the hurry up and wait, like the waiting part, like there's so much less of that. Like, you're just like, yeah, you're just getting through the day. I don't know, it just feels really concise. It's fucking awesome, dude. Three bands is the way.

Yeah, and then we go headline in Europe, our first Europe headliner immediately after this. All the rats. What's that? Two days after. The 20, well, the first show is the 24th in, I think, Cologne. And then we wrap, I think, March 19th. Yeah.

Great. Well, go see these guys out in Europe. There's a sick band. Some of them like corn, so that's cool. I like corn. Where can people find you guys? All over. All over.

Instagram. Anywhere you normally find people on Instagram is the best. And then there's an Arabband.com. Araband.com. You one of the never died was the dot com. It never died. You got to have a website. Timeless.

We don't have a website. are fucking idiots. But www. RIP. No one W www. is no more. They only dot com. All right.

Well, again, thank you guys. I'm looking forward to to the show you tonight. And all right, everyone, that's it. Later. Thanks, man.

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