The Script recently stopped by TV Guide for an exclusive interview to give fans the scoop on their debut album, what it’s like opening for U2 and what fans can expect in the near future. Make sure to check out the video above to learn a little bit more about your favorite Irish rockers and head over to The Script’s official site to see a full list of dates for their upcoming tour with David Cook.
I think it’s been a full week of John Mayer here but someone has to love him and if it’s me, so be it. Today is his birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN! He also released the cover of his new album Battle Studies today on Twitter. I am really looking forward to this album.
The Used first formed their band back in 2001 and now in 2009 the members areBert McCracken (lead vocals and keyboard), Quinn Allman (Guitar and back up vocals), Jeph Howard (Bass and back up vocals), and Dan Whitesides (Drums and Percussion). They just released their seventh album called, Artwork, that has made them head in a new direction. In an interview with AP magazine Bert said, “In the past, we’ve always kind of brought pop sensibility into heavy rock, but this is going to be all that much more tantalizing and brutal. Our songs are 10 times messier and noisier than they’ve ever been.” This will also be the first album to feature Dan, on the drums, since he first joined the band in 2006.
I had a chance to interview the band before they left on their tour for the album. The nationwide tour kicked off on September 21st and it reaches Europe for August and September, and then the U.S., with two Canadian dates for October and November.
Taylor Blue: Since you have been on tour a lot what has been your favorite venue to perform at? Dan Whitesides: Well I like to play anywhere at anytime but I guess one of my favorite places is the Starland in New Jersey. The fans are crazy and the security guards are the baddest m—— f—— around.
Taylor: Being a fan of many people I always get a kick out of hearing about other people’s fan stories. What is your favorite fan story of how that fan made you feel extra special? Dan: At almost every show there’s one or two people that can’t get in or they don’t have any money so I’ll get them in. I think just talking with fans and getting to know them a bit before or after a show is really special for me and them.
Taylor: Who are your main musical influences that come out in the music you play? Dan: There are so many but a few are Refused, Nirvana, At The Drive In, Motley Crüe, Led Zeppelin, Kerosene 54, Burning Airlines, Ink and Dagger, Earth Crisis, Tony Williams and so on.
Taylor: Do you have a certain muse, and or inspirational ritual, for lack of a better word that helps the creative juice to flow so you can write your lyrics? Dan: Anything and everything is inspirational the best thing for us is to not force anything.
Taylor: Of all the albums you have released which one is your favorite one? Dan: ARTWORK it’s probably the most honest record since the self titled.
Taylor: Now onto your new album, Artwork. I love how raw the album cover is by the way. I listened to the first track you released from it, Blood On My Hands, and noticed it has a different sound from the other songs on your previously released albums. What brought on this change? Dan: That song just came out of nowhere. Quinn had a loop and we just started jammin and about an hour later the song was finished. That was one of those days that the creative juices were flowing for everyone.
Taylor: In all things there is always the bumps in the road. What was your biggest obstacle in getting your new album released? Dan: Well the label kept pushing the release date back but that was probably for the best. Other then that there were no obstacles, we had all the time in the world.
Taylor: What was the main concept you were going for in the sounds and lyrics in the album? Dan: Dirty, raw, poppy, heavy and to be able to do whatever we wanted when ever we wanted so that’s what we did. This album is exactly what we wanted it to be.
Taylor: You are heading off for a tour soon and there has to be a favorite and least favorite part of the whole experience, people like us can only imagine what it’s like. What is your favorite and least favorite part of being on the road? Dan: I love playing every night, meeting as many people as possible that come to the show and seeing the world doesn’t suck either. I probably drink too much on tour so being hungover everyday kinda sucks. We have the best job in the world and there’s not too much to complain about.
The All-American Rejects got busy in New York City this week starting off with a special performance of their hit single “Gives You Hell.” They took the stage with house band Wale at MTV’s VMAs show where front man Tyson Ritter debuted a new glittery look. After rocking the proverbial house, Ritter caught up with MTV news and confirmed the long standing rumor that he will in fact be teaming up with pop powerhouse Rihanna for a yet to be recorded track. With AAR’s stock rising by the day, it only made sense for the quartet to cap their week by ringing the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange.
The All-American Rejects’ album When The World Comes Down featuring “Gives You Hell” and “I Wanna” is in stores now. For more information visit www.allamericanrejects.com.
OneRepublic have unveiled the cover to their highly anticipated sophomore album Waking Up.  The follow-up to their Dreaming Out Loud debut is due out on November 17th, and it features the powerful new single “All The Right Moves.” OneRepublic broke records with their mega-hit “Apologize” which became the most legally downloaded song in US digital history.
In anticipation of the album’s release, the Colorado-based quintet is heading out on tour with Rob Thomas. Visit Myspace.com/OneRepublic to listen to “All The Right Moves” in full and view the upcoming tour schedule.
Honor Society’s first album, Fashionably Late, is being released today. The group comprises of four guys, Michael Bruno, Alexander Noyes, Jason Rosen and Andrew Lee. Their new album is being described as “a funky, cool pop music album with a rock band vibe.” They have been featured in the movie Bandslam and also will in and have a song on the upcoming movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel. They started their tour on September 13 and it continues until December.
I had a chance to interview the band about their favorite ice cream flavor, their album and how much they appreciate their fans. (The interview was done with Michael.)
On their favorite ice cream flavor: All four of us are classic chocolate ice cream lovers!
On coming up with the name Honor Society: The name Honor Society really just fit our vibe and our brotherhood as friends and bandmates. Plus it’s our way of saying to our fans that they are in the ‘honor society’ with us. We’re one big crew!
On how they all got together as a band: Michael, Jason and Alexander all grew up in the same hometown and we met Andrew though a friend. Michael and Jason started the band and it’s been about two years since all four of us have been Honor Society.
On presenting at the Teen Choice Awards: It was an amazing experience. That was a major moment for us, since we all grew up watching the Teen Choice Awards so to present on it was an honor and it was so much fun, awesome awards show!
On finding out their song would be in Bandslam: The whole Bandslam experience was terrific, having the song in the movie and on the soundtrack was awesome. The movie studio was really cool and set up for us acoustic performances in movie theaters across the country this past summer for people who had an advanced screening of the movie!
On if they got a chance to work with the Jonas Brothers one on one: Absolutely, Nick, Kevin and Joe all came by the studio frequently and we did some co-writing for the album as well.
On the experience of working with the Jonas Brothers: It was awesome. We learned so much from having them there. They taught us a lot about making an album and they’re such good friends so we had a blast when they would come by the studio.
On being excited about their album coming out: It’s a dream come true literally. We’ve dreamed of giving our fans the best possible Honor Society record and they are gonna get it on September 15th. We’re so grateful to be able to release an album and we hope the fans love it.
On opening for the Jonas Brothers and touring simultaneously: Being on one tour is a lot of work, being on two at the same time is slightly crazy, but we love what we do so none of it feels like work. We’re so grateful to get to do both!
On the favorite part of touring: It’s seems so simple but our favorite part is playing music. That’s why we tour and it’s the reason touring is so awesome.
On the least favorite part of touring: Doing laundry is so hard to do on tour! It’s always a struggle to figure out.
I also asked a couple of questions that I received from asking on Twitter. Here they are!
On if they get annoyed if people always comment to them on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook: Not at all, we love it, we love how passionate our fans are and we’d never ask them to change.
On the craziest fan encounter they have ever had: We had a fan tattoo our autographs on her foot this summer. That was pretty crazy!
On their first performance at the Staples Center: I’m (Michael) a huge Lakers fan so it was a big moment for me to play Staples. I’ve watched Kobe win 4 Championships on TV there so to play there was incredible, plus our California fans are AWESOME! no duh.
