You recently played the acoustic basement for a handful of dates at this years Warped Tour, how was this whole experience for you, and do you have some particular highlights that you could share with us? It was a fantastic run of ten days to say the least on the Acoustic Basement Stage. A new tent started by an independent musician by the name of Brian Marquis (http://brianmarquis.tumblr.com/) The shows were a blast and it was a joy to work with a lot of old friends from years back and meet a ton of new amazing and hardworking people. I haven't ran on a Warped Tour in eleven or so years I believe so to get back out and to see the tour not only larger and more diverse but to be setting an extremely positive example for the younger generation was nothing but an inspiration. The causes supported on this tour are too many to name and it was an honor to be apart of something so massive that does just as much good for the communities it visits. One of the highlights of the run had nothing to do with the music at all. Kevin Lyman has set up and organized what he calls "Service Days" on all of the days off on Warped. All of the bands as well as crew are invited to volunteer for a community service. Along the route, the tour stops somewhere and gives back. On our day off through Baltimore we stopped along the most disgusting and polluted river any of us had ever seen. We teamed up with Blue Water Baltimore for a morning river clean up. We had over 100 volunteers and picked up over 2,000 lbs of trash along the banks of the Gwynn Falls River.http://www.bluewaterbaltimore.org/blog/vans-warpedtour-in-baltimore-it-doesnt-take-a-rock-star/ A day like this can really put things in to perspective and make you realize that if a traveling band of worn out and haggard musicians, roadies, cooks and you name it could make a difference stopping on the side of the road for a few hours, just think what people who actually live in that community could do to help.
Since you started being a solo musician, what has been the most rewarding achievement for you, and why? I'd say the independence. As much as I love the guys in the band and the scenes and communities that have taken us in, when you're part of a group, your schedule is usually dictated by the whole of that group. That can always take a toll on anyone if you enjoy or cherish personal time or agendas. If things come up when things are already set in stone, things come and go.
Are you working on any new solo material just yet, if so how is it coming along and what can we expect in terms of the direction of the music? It seems I'm always writing in one form or the other. I need to write to carry on and stay steady in my own head and heart. It's just part of coping and moving forward to me. Lately, there's little time to compile and it’s hard to keep with all the plates I've started spinning. As for the direction, that's always hard to say since I write mostly from the gut rather than the head. The tunes I generate and the ideas I lay down to follow up later usually come instinctually rather than planned out. If I'm in the middle of something and am suddenly moved by a feeling, phrase, sight or thought in any way, I need to drop everything and lay it down or document it in some way before it's lost. Sometimes it makes it into a number, sometimes it never will. Every now and again I make time to catch up and collect everything that's been going down. Sometimes it's then that a direction or light at the end of the tunnel manifests itself. But sometimes there's no rhyme or reason to it at all. That's what I love the most about it.
How excited are you to be back on the UK Revival Tour this year, and what should attending fans expect? I'm absolutely thrilled to see the tour in it's 5th year and on it's way back overseas. The artists that are involved this year are just as incredible as they are diverse and eclectic. In fact I believe this will truly be the most eclectic Revival Tour events that's been out thus far. Having more players and different instruments will be something to really cherish for all of us playing and working on the tour as well as for all of those attending. Not to mention the fact that there's no telling who may join us along the way. This tour's always been packed with surprises to say the least. At this point, I'm just thrilled to begin to dive into all of the artists songs and start learning some of these beautiful tunes to join them on stage when the time comes. That's one of the most special elements about this tour. The Revival Tour is ever changing with no two shows or sets alike and an ever changing and revolving cast of players and songwriters that offer a completely unique evening and tour each and every time it sets out. I'm simply honored to be apart of it again this year and it’s a piece of the puzzle of what I believe is one of the more unique and special tours running out there today.