Eric: ok first off, thanks for taking the time, I know usually bands are packed for time all the time
Eric: hehe
Ryan: haha, no problem
Ryan: I’m just hanging
Eric: Acceptance, I love you guys
Eric: I have been to many of your shows and I would have to say your an amazing live band
Ryan: haha, thanks so much
Eric: would you say you like live performances, or recording and album better?
Ryan: I love playing live
Ryan: studio time is stressful
Eric: what are you thinking about while your playing up on stage in front of all your fans?
Ryan: how my hair looks
Eric: haha
Ryan: well
Ryan: not really
Eric: thought so, lol
Ryan: I get really focused on what I am playing
Ryan: because I hate to mess up
Eric: I bet
Ryan: plus kaylan always gets me if I don’t play well
Ryan: and hes a big guy
Eric: do you ever think about what the audience might be thinking about you?
Eric: hehe
Ryan: actually I do
Eric: does that make you nervous at all
Ryan: I’m a really self conscious person, so that’s always pestering me while I am playing
Ryan: it did moreso when I started playing infront of bigger crowds
Eric: what is moreso?
Ryan: I am learning to relax a little more
Eric: oh awesome
Ryan: maybe its two words
Ryan: more so
Ryan: moreso
Eric: hehe
Ryan: looks cooler as one word
Ryan: lets stick with that
Eric: fo sho
Eric: aight
Eric: so, tell me what it was like to tour with amazing bands such as yellowcard, rufio, motion city, and over it?
Ryan: well I think a big point of stress for bands is touring
Ryan: so who you tour with is really important you know… for your well being… hah
Eric: but I’m sure it had to be the greatest time of your life?
Ryan: sucks to be on a tour where everyone is doing their own thing
Eric: was it not?
Ryan: fortunately, we were lucky enough to have toured with amazing bands thus far.. but more importantly they were all great people
Eric: I bet
Ryan: we have so many more friends now
Eric: do you plan on touring more this year?
Ryan: oh definitely
Ryan: as soon as we get done with the new record
Ryan: it’s been weird for me to be home so much
Ryan: haha
Ryan: kinda creeps me out
Eric: hehe
Eric: speaking of the new record, how is that coming along?
Ryan: I am really excited about this record
Ryan: ive never recorded a full length for a big label or anything like that
Ryan: so this whole process is new and a little frustrating
Ryan: but I am in love with all the songs
Eric: how many songs will be on it?
Ryan: around 10
Ryan: 10-13
Eric: and what will it be called?
Ryan: haha not sure yet
Eric: haha
Eric: is there any certain messages that this album will give to your fans?
Ryan: lyrically I don’t think there will be a big difference in what we are going for
Ryan: hopefully people will just be able to relate and understand
Eric: what is it that you do go for?
Ryan: well we write from where we have been and what that has entailed
Eric: I see
Ryan: but from a point where the lower areas can be traveled through
Eric: neat
Ryan: probably doesn’t make sense
Ryan: heh
Ryan: hope, insight, and sincerity
Ryan: kind of our goals
Eric: will the album have all new songs or will it have old ones, such as my personal favorite “permanent”
Ryan: we are still deciding that
Eric: awesome
Eric: can we expect the same Acceptance, or will there be a twist or new style added?
Ryan: haha oh no… this will be an album with a different approach in music
Ryan: we went alot of different directions
Ryan: but don’t expect any screaming
Eric: haha, awesome
Eric: were are you guys recording it at and who is producing it?
Ryan: both of those are still up in the air…
Eric: oh
Eric: do you have anyone in mind?
Ryan: we have done our demos at iron wood studios
Ryan: with lou giordano helping us out
Eric: awesome
Ryan: lou is definitely a big possibility
Eric: back to touring, what bands would you like to hit the road with in the future?
Ryan: hot water music, the alkaline trio, and my biggest hope mxpx
Eric: are those some of your influences?
Ryan: oh definitely
Eric: what about other members of the band, what are some of their influences?
Ryan: I like all those bands alot… actually I think those are the only bands from that genre that I do like
Ryan: ohh we all range from the Beatles to u2 to lagwagon to metallica
Eric: how about militia records, how long have you guys been with them?
Ryan: well black lines is the only record we have released with them, but
we have known Chad and Roy for what seems like forever
Eric: awesome
Ryan: back when they were just starting out as a booking agency
Eric: that’s cool
Eric: would you say they have helped you get out there, and do everything else successful you guys have been doing?
Ryan: they definitely helped us out with releasing our record
Ryan: we are not on that label, so everything they did was out of there
willingness to help
Ryan: we are very grateful
Eric: wow, very nice
Eric: so what label are you guys on now?
Ryan: Columbia records
Eric: oh, very nice
Eric: how has that been going for you guys
Ryan: oh it’s been great
Ryan: they have super supportive of our indie following
Eric: how does it feel to be on such an amazing record company
Ryan: which for a major label, is a very comforting though
Ryan: I am just so thankful we are on Columbia right now considering how the record industry is
Ryan: amazing people who are completely concerned with our careers as much as they are with theirs
Eric: have you guys had your doubts about signing, or doing any other big moves as a band?
Ryan: no.. I mean, we all understand some kids will start shouting “sell out” and charge us with this and that, but we are more concerned with getting our music to as many people as possible
Eric: that’s great man
Ryan: we are not changing who we are to make a few extra bucks
Eric: well a while back I recall seeing you guys on MTV, what was that all about, and how did it come about?
Ryan: well the guy who did our video for permanent works at MTV and he really wanted to do a you hear it first for us
Ryan: and I guess all the MTV execs were into the idea
Eric: awesome
Ryan: so it got aired
Ryan: really exciting
Ryan: also really weird
Eric: did you guys get interviewed by MTV also?
Ryan: well the guy who did our video interviewed us as well
Eric: oh I see
Eric: why was it weird?
Ryan: seeing myself on MTV
Ryan: very weird
Ryan: uncomfortable as well
Eric: do you guys have any big plans for the future?
Ryan: haha, not really… just to do what we have been doing so far
Eric: are you looking into shooting any new video’s or anything like that?
Ryan: I’m sure as we figure out the singles for the record that stuff will fall into place
Eric: cool
Eric: so, do you have any of those “best show ever” moments
Eric: or worst show ever?
Ryan: yeah totally… our video shoot for permanent
Ryan: that was amazing
Ryan: and yeah I have some worst shows too
Ryan: oddly enough, they have all been in Portland
Eric: tell me a little bit about some moments you have?
Ryan: wait, I remember my worst moment ever
Ryan: it was in a local show
Ryan: and I did this thing where I ended up knocking my feet out from under me and fell right on my face
Ryan: awhile back
Eric: haha
Eric: how did it feel? lol
Ryan: my hand and face really hurt
Ryan: plus my guitar was broken
Eric: what was the crowds reaction?
Ryan: ohhh yeah… and I was humiliated
Eric: was it during a song?
Ryan: haha, I saw some people laughing and going “oooooh”
Eric: lol
Ryan: yeah, during rerun
Eric: so, did you end up playing the rest of the song?
Ryan: haha no, my bass wouldn’t work
Eric: oh
Eric: haha, just add to everything
Ryan: yeah, no kidding
Ryan: insult to injury for sure
Eric: haha
Eric: definitely
Eric: what about your best show?
Ryan:the video shoot… it was just amazing to see so many
people singing and going crazy
Ryan: it was a live show
Ryan: but, it was just crazy
Eric: oh, way cool
Eric: well I’m sure you get this all the time, and I know bands hate it, but what kind of genre would you put yourselves under?
Ryan: oh I would say rock/pop
Eric: wow, thanks for not biting my head off
Eric: haha most bands hate that question
Ryan: haha… well I try to be polite
Eric: thanks
Ryan: I am a horrible typer
Eric: what is your favorite song to play?
Ryan: rerun
Ryan: right now that is
Ryan: there is a few of the new ones that I think will beat it out
Eric: haha
Eric: I bet
Eric: I can’t wait for the new album
Ryan: man, me neither
Eric: when do you guys plan on releasing it?
Ryan: hopefully by the summer
Ryan: august
Eric: awesome
Eric: Do you plan on having a CD release show or anything special come from it?
Ryan: oh are people actually into those?
Eric: who knows, my band is having our CD release this Friday
Eric: haha
Ryan: well then maybe we should jump on the wagon and have one too
Eric: hahaha
Eric: alright
Ryan: can’t be letting you guys outcool us
Ryan: not without a fight
Eric: hahaha
Eric: I guess not
Eric: one last thing before I go
Ryan: okay, shoot
Eric: what do bands, or you guys, do for fun when your not recording, or touring?
Ryan: play video games
Ryan: watch movies
Eric: whats your favorite movie?
Ryan: hang out with our girlfriends
Ryan: mine? personally it is braveheart
Eric: awesome
Eric: and oldie but goodie
Eric: (I guess not really that old)
Eric: hahaha
Ryan: but that passion of christ movie is shaping up to take over that spot
Eric: oh really!
Eric: hehe
Ryan: comes out tomorrow
Ryan: I am excited
Eric: I’ll have to go check it out for myself
Eric: alright man, well before I go is there anything else you would like to add
Ryan: well thank you so much for the interview! it was good man.. sometimes we do really bad interviews
Eric: hehe
Ryan: its cool that you knew what you were doing
Eric: no problem man, thanks for your time
Eric: alright man
Eric: thanks again
Ryan: no, thank you…
Ryan: goodnight