LiquidGeneration Interview: Taking Back Sunday

Check it out.  Taking Back Sunday are a huge band.  We never thought that they would want to talk   to poor little us, but it turns out that they were kind enough (or they just didn't know any better!) to take on the world renowned LiquidGeneration E-Mail Interview!  So not only are they, like, one of the biggest bands in all of the world, but they are also kind-hearted, funny and pretty quick.  I am gushing.  No more.  It just goes to show you that not all successful and popular people in the "music industry" are total a-holes...only 99% of them.  Anyway, the band needs no introduction, but you should know that their new record, Louder Now, is out April 25 on Warner Bros.  You can check out the video for the first single here:

Taking Back Sunday - MakeDamnSure     Quicktime     Windows

And now for the good stuff...enjoy!

LIQUIDGENERATION: Have you ever met a celebrity type (be it another musician, actor, producer or whatever) that was just a complete ass for no apparent reason?  If so, we would like to give you the opportunity to tell that person what you think of him/her.

TAKING BACK SUNDAY: There you go trying to start trouble right off the bat.  Most of the people we've encountered along those lines have been pretty cool. Besides, if they weren't, we wouldn't blast them on a website, we'd make voodoo dolls and cast nasty spells on them.

LG: You have a new record, Louder Now, coming out on April 25^th.  Could you please tell us why your fans will think this is your best record yet, and how the process of making this record was different from your first two?  And, “Because it rocks,” does not count as an answer!

TBS: We are very excited for this record to come out.  We feel like we made the Rock record we were meant to make and it also captured the energy of our live show better than our previous records did.  We worked very hard on making sure the sounds were right and that every aspect of our band was amplified to the highest level.

LG: What’s the last record you bought, borrowed or stole?

TBS: The last records I bought were Queens of the Stone Age “Over the Hills and Through the Woods” and Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins.

LG: You have played some pretty incredible shows over the course of your careers, from British Festivals to American Arenas.  If you could only play one more show and then you could never perform live again, where would it be and why?

TBS: Well, if I could only play one more show I would be very sad.  That's a very hard question to answer, but one of the things I like about touring is when you get to go somewhere you've never been and play for a new audience.  So I would probably like to play somewhere I've never been.

LG: What’s the craziest thing any of your “friends” from MySpace have e-mailed you? I am sure you probably get some very, err, interesting pictures, no?

TBS: I'm not on myspace personally but I do keep a close eye on what people post on our band-page and people are usually pretty cool but there is the occasional 'odd' posting.  Recently there was an offer to have an orgy (with a dude, we passed graciously), invites to play shows at peoples houses (be careful what you wish for- we might never leave if your house is nice and comfy), and the ever so often offer to bare children for us.

LG: Now that Taking Back Sunday has sold over 1 million records (that freak you out a little bit?), you have reached legitimate “Rockstar” status.  With this title comes the obligatory purchase of something that is just silly retarded.  You know like a solid gold and diamond encrusted foot bath.  So what is the craziest thing any of you have ever bought?  Oh, and regardless we are jealous.

TBS: We don't really believe in the idea of being 'Rockstars'.  We're suprisingly normal/boring in that area.  No fancy cars or ridiculous things.  I dont even have my own place right now because we tour so much.  We're more interested in music.  We try not to focus on things other than that and it helps keep us focused and humble.

LG: We went to Pandora (a website where you enter an artists and it gives you suggestions of similar acts) and plugged in Taking Back Sunday, and the first three “similar artists” we got were:

Hazen Street, Jimmy Eat World and Breaking Benjamin.  What do you think of these artists?  Do you see any similarities between your band and theirs? Do you agree with the computers suggestions, or should it be fired?

TBS: Wow.  That machine is unbelievably innacurate.  Jimmy Eat World I can understand (and we're flattered, they're one of out favorite bands and we toured with them last year).  And I mean, we're friends with Hazen Street , but I don't think our music is similar.  And as for Breaking Benjamin, I'm notthat familiar with their music but um, yeah that machine is fired.

LG: It seems like every day we here about a new “rock band” hooking up with producers in the hip-hop community to either do a collaboration or remix.  We here at LiquidGeneration think that this is just silly and would rather see bands work with a hardcore polka band.  Are you into this idea and what do you think the finished product would be called?  Or if you’re not into the whole Polka scene (which you totally should be, btw) is there anyone else out there in the world of music that you’d like to work with?

TBS: Well I may not have my ear to the same tracks you do on that one but I'm down for whatever collaborations make good music.  Rap-Rock has had its day and thankfully its over(-ish).  Id be down to do a little track with Kanye or Timbaland or Jon Brion or Eric Valentine or whoever, its all about music, not what genre you come from.  And you may have to spearhead the whole Polka thing, not really feeling it.

LG: Finally. who exactly stole Sunday and how to you plan on taking it back?

TBS: ...

Comments

[Matt 3:16]

Are these guys an "emo" band?

[nixon]

Funny you ask. This was one of the questions they didn't answer:
7. What do you think of the term “emo” and emo culture in general? And do you consider Taking Back Sunday a part of that scene?

[Matt 3:16]

Their answer speaks volumes.