TheConcertMan: So this has been your first tour in about two years? How's it been going?

Jarrod: Been going really well, first couple shows we had technical difficulties with guitars because we haven't touched our road equipment in so long. But we're starting to figure it all out again. It's cool to be back out with Chevelle because we toured with them on the Music as a Weapon tour so there's some familiarity there. The last four or five shows we have felt that everything it starting to lock in. Everything seems really fresh now that we're able to reconnect with some fans.

TheConcertMan: How's the crowd response been?

Jarrod: It's been really positive; we play about two new songs on the tour and its crazy the two songs have already been leaked on the internet, Calling and Facepeeler. A lot of people already know them and are singing along.

TheConcertMan: After this club tour with Chevelle and 30 Seconds to Mars, what do you guys plan on doing? Are you thinking about a headlining tour or another larger scale tour to join?

Jarrod: There might be some headlining stuff later towards the end of the year but the leg of this tour ends at the end of August then we have a few weeks off before we start the last leg of the tour with Chevelle being booked into mid October. Things are a little up in the air after that right now, we are thinking about traveling to Europe for a couple of weeks.

TheConcertMan: Taproot is known for being road warriors and touring constantly, let's hear a crazy road story.

Stephen: Last night!

Jarrod: Last night was just kind of a fun, drink the rest of the alcohol that's on the bus kind of thing. We were taking JD shots and just sat back and started pointing out each other quirks.

Stephen: Yeah, inaccurately.

Jarrod: Yeah we got some fun stories.

Stephen: It sucks because we always have the same two or three that we go into that everyone knows. And some of the other stories are the most random things that usually have something to do with our drum tech Eric.

TheConcertMan: I've been hearing a lot about Eric just in the past ten minutes, he must be crazy.

Jarrod: He's not that crazy but he's just really funny and hes a good friend of ours. He always feels bad the next morning after he does weird shit or does something for money which is the best part about it because today he's going “I am never dirnking again. If I touch a beer tonight you have every right to punch me in the face.” 

TheConcertMan: Let's talk about the new record right now, I know a lot of people are looking forward to the release on August 16th. I've had a chance to listen to the CD in its entirety and it's a solid album. There's a huge buzz going on already. Can you explain the making of the album as opposed to the other albums?

Jarrod: Yeah we took a long time this time and we would meet with producers and they would ask “What kind of record do you want to make?” The only thing we knew was that we wanted it to be rawer at least in the way that we made it. We wanted to capture some live bass and drums tracks and if the feel was right when Phil and I played together then we would keep the track even if there was something tiny that was a little off.

So we went to LA in November of 2003 and we had about 17 ideas we had for songs that we had written at home and then just kept writing. Every 5 songs we'd hit on something new that was better than anything we had done before. We had hit a plateau and that's when we had the opportunity to work with Billy Corgan in February of 2004 and it was awesome. He really pointed out some of the patterns we had fallen into with our song writing. He really helped us to keep things interesting.

TheConcertMan: Did you hear Billy is going back with the Smashing Pumpkins?

Jarrod: Yeah that's cool man. I got to see a show about two months before they broke up and it was great.

TheConcertMan: Calling has been tearing up the charts. How much control do you have over what singles you pick?

Jarrod: It's a happy medium with the band and our record company. We try to write songs that all potentially be single material. We feel that you could choose just about any song off the new record and hear it on the radio as a single. Everyone throws out there ideas and whatnot but the record company will throw out there suggestion and its hard to pick a first single. We had it narrowed down to “Calling” and “Birthday” and in the end we were happy if either of them had a shot for radio airplay.

TheConcertMan: Favorite band to tour with?

Mike: Deftones!

Jarrod: Deftones.

Stephen: Yeah its pretty unanimous with this band. When we first got signed our management asked us if there was one band you wanted to tour with, who would it be and we told them Deftones. It's one band we can all agree on and we all respect and just love the music. We ended up touring with them 9 months later.

TheConcertMan: Say if you guys were not a signed band and were't in music what do you envision yourself doing now?

Stephen: Stuggleing to be doing what we are doing right now, nothing would change with me.

Jarrod: I'd probably just about be done with medical school. I was getting ready to apply and everything when we got signed and I had to make an executive decision.

Mike: I would be a graphic designer.

Stephen: I wasn't doing this I'd have a way bigger penis and become a porn star.

TheConcertMan: Now you guys recently did a video for “Calling”, is that in rotation yet?

Jarrod: The final cut of it just got approved yesterday and then theres some digital editing to be done. It should be wrapped up in a bout a week and I am sure you will be able to check it out online or on Fuse.

TheConcertMan: Now what final words do you want to throw out there to the fans, to anyone who will be seeing this interview. It can be words of wisdom, anything.

Jarrod: Mike's got this covered.

Mike: Don't do it!

Stephen: The guy on the TV right now, his last name is Heinan. (Editors Note: They were in the middle of watching the bonus features to Team America: World Police on the tour bus.)

Jarrod: A couple days ago we were talking about it and we were saying about people should not give up on music. There is a lot of crap out there but you got to dig for the good music. I love going on pure volume and checking out new music now that I have a computer fast enough.

Mike: Yeah you can scroll through all the genres and find what you're looking for whether it is a signed or unsigned band, you just need to support it.

Stephen: And if you don't like our new record Phil will choke you out. (Editors Note: Phil is the bass player for Taproot and was not there to defend himself.)