Interview with Jason from Acceptance
Excited about phantoms?
Yea we�re very excited, its our first full length and our first record on Columbia, yea, it�s a lot of excitement.
How does it compare to older EPs
It�s a complete work of art. black lines was recorded at different songs at different times. Phantoms is just a piece of art. We�re just really excited about it.
What was the motivation to put permanent on?
I think that, because, we really like that song, the band likes it, a lot of fans we had at that time said they really liked this song. It has great points and a lot of great things about that song, you know, we feel that its almost not fair to have people who have not heard it not hear it on this record.
That�s not the first single though�
No, the first single is a song called different
You just did a video for that�
It was awesome, the first time ive done anything like that. In the past we�d done stuff that was real cheap and just small scale. This was big production with like crazy cameras flying all over the place, but it was a lot of long hours and stuff.
Are you gonna be on mtv now?
We hope so.
You mentioned Columbia, how was the transition from militia group to Columbia?
Seamless for the most part. We had a relationship with Columbia before the EP, and they had an idea of what direction we wanted to go for a while. They�ve been behind us 100% for the whole time. The people, everyone there are just really great.
How have you matured since earlier EPs?
You can hear lyrics that take on more grown up topics, I have more to talk about. And I mean the band itself has just gotten older and that will always reflect in the music.
Major influences in phantoms?
Everyone likes different things, everyone has different tastes. People who might like u2, or someone who would like jimmy eat world, or someone who would like foo fighters or death cab for cutie, they�ll find something in there. it�s a lot of different sounds.
Whats the songwriting process like?
WE did some writing on the road. You know whether it was just a guitar part or some lyrics. Then we came home and started to put it all together. I put the lyrics and the melodies together prior to going into the studio and everything.
Is the tour life killing you?
Its pretty evenly split down the band. Some guys who really love it, others who have a tough time leaving their families and stuff. But at the end of the day, when you get on stage, youre just thinking �this is why we do this, this is why im here�. The shows, that�s the reason you do this. It balances out.
Excited about this specific tour with Copeland? How would it compare to past tours like that with yellowcard?
The yellowcard tour was great, a ton of kids. We�re actually playing the same club this time around that we did then; the 9:30 club. Weve toured with Copeland before, and lovedrug is on Columbia as well and the excitement is high. These are 3 bands that we really like. This tour is definitely above average, the whole bill top to bottom.
Big plans for the summer?
We�re gonna be on tour. We hope the plans will be big. Maybe we can do some festivals and stuff like that. We just wanna be on tour.
Does the label or the agent or manager pick tours or is it just you?
It all comes down to the band at the end. We�ve had suggestions come from every angle. Tours always happen in strange ways, we've gone through it all
Favorite bands to play with?
Copeland, I love them. Fall out boy and spitalfield, that was a ton of fun. To be honest with you, the touring experience has always been great, lots of great people, lots of great bands.
What genre are you?
I think that we are, well people might hate me for this, but we�re a rock band. A pop rock band. We write songs with melodies, that�s our genre. I think that�s its rock n roll with some pop.
Do you ever think that this is gonna be the hook or a chorus or a big sing along part?
Its never in terms of like, commercial or to bring in money, its not like that. But I like to be able to listen to and play music that I can sing along with. We write hooks or melodies because theyre fun. It�s the type of music that I really like.
Ive heard you guys are a Christian band, is there any truth in this?
We�re five guys in a band who atre all Christian, but that doesn�t mean we�re going to preach that everyone else should be just like us. We�re a rock band first. Every band conveys a message though, from u2 and the beatles to rage against the machine and system of a down. We want to be a band that people who can respect and a band which people can listen to, but we want to have a hopeful message. It wouldn�t be our place to preach to people, were not gonaa tell people to be Christian. But were guys in a band whp aren�t trying to make people believe what they don�t want to. If anyone wants to ask me about what I believe, that�s cool, but its not our place to tell others what to believe.
How do you feel about professional wrestling?
My brother is 10 years older than me and he was a lot older than me and would beat me up and stuff. And I watched saturday morning wrestling, then I watched raw and nitro. But at this point in my life I don�t really care about it, but I will always be a sucker for going to a raw or something.
Do you have anything to add?
Nah not really, that was actually quite good.
Thank you so much, and have a good start of tour.
Thank you.
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