John: Ok, we`ll start with the most obvious question: Nail doesn`t have the more southern rock style of Hell and High Water. Was this a result of becoming a three-piece (following the departure of guitarist Bo Leslie), was it more of a conscious decision (i.e. you felt you had reached the limit of that style), or did it just happen that way?
Matt: Well, there definitely aren`t any strategic planning sessions or anything before we write. We just do what we do. The "new direction" had nothing to do with becoming a three-piece either. We would have written the same songs with or without a second guitar player.
John: How`s the album been received overall?
Matt: So far, great. Typical musician with a new album response: "We`re certainly more proud of this one than the others."
John: Speaking of Bo, why`d he leave the band?
Matt: I didn`t realize he left the band. I just figured he was real late for practice.
John: Andrew Schneider has produced the last three albums? What does he bring to the Throttlerod table?
Matt: He always seems to know exactly what we`re going for and how to bring out the best in us. Bottom line: he`s just an amazing engineer and producer. One thing different that he brought to the table this time was singing on the end of "A Fly on the Fault Line." I`m pretty into his singing in Barbaro and Placer, so it was an honor to have him do his thing on that song.
John: How long did it take to write and record Nail?
Matt: We wrote one song the night Bo left and finished writing last spring. That`s not to say we were writing constantly for a year though - we had a lot of other stuff going on as well.
John: Were there any songs that didn`t make the cut? And if so, why and will they ever see the light of day?
Matt: Yeah, there were two others that we partially recorded. One just sounded too much like Hell and High Water and the other drowned in a horrific liquor accident. That`s ok though... listening back to the basic tracks of the one that drowned, I`m glad we didn`t use it. So, in answer to your question, I seriously doubt they`ll see the light of day.
John: Let`s go back to the Starve the Dead EP. Your bio on the Small Stone site says it was released to "mixed reviews." What do you think was the cause of that (were people just not willing to accept a mellow Throttlerod)?
Matt: I never saw too many mixed reviews, so I`m not really sure what that means. Doesn`t really matter though? It was fun to do. Side note: if anyone wants to buy about 300 EPs, let us know. It`s difficult to move in our practice space with all the boxes of Starve the Dead.
John: While we`re being introspective, ever look back on the Throttlerod catalogue and think, "Man, this song just didn`t work?" If so, name `em.
Matt: I`ll have to plead the Fifth on this one. Sorry.
John: If some goofball never heard of Throttlerod, what five songs do you think accurately sum up what the band is all about?
Matt: I don`t know... how about "Nail," "Prizefighter," "Teething," "Whistlin` Dixie," and "A Fly on the Fault Line."
John: What are the tour plans? How extensively can you go out on the road?
Matt: Tour plans are up in the air at the moment. As far as how extensively we could go out on the road... depends on the tour. It seems that doing shorter tours works better when we`re out by ourselves.
John: When you`re on tour, how varied is the setlist? And what do you do when that one drunk dude keeps yelling out for "Honest Joe?"
Matt: We usually vary it quite a bit at first and then start to see what works best after being out for a few days. Variation depends mostly on how much time we have and what people request. We`ve been known to play songs that we`ve never played before or songs that we haven`t played in years if we`ve been drinking enough. As far as what we do when the one drunk due yells out for "Honest Joe," we play "Bullet the Blue Sky" instead (that was for NY Ron). Can`t please everyone, I guess.
John: What`s the biggest obstacle the band has faced?
Matt: Not fitting in with the other bands.
John: What bands have been knocking your dick in the dirt lately?
Matt: Year Long Disaster, Totimoshi, the new Dozer, Scissorfight, Young Widows, Drunk Horse, The Melvins, The Jesus Lizard, Isabelle`s Gift, Shellac, Milligram, Jawbox, and Fugazi. Except for YLD and Young Widows, not much of that is new, but that`s what I`m digging a lot.
John: Anyone on the internet make fun of your haircuts recently?
Matt: Not since we all got Bo Leslie wigs. |
