> 1. So you guys just recently got off tour supporting Castle Talk. What were some of the highlights of the tour? What were some of your favorite places to play?
Jarrett: Here are some stats I compiled that do a better job of explaining how extensive, exhausting, and amazing the tour was. Going to Europe for the first time was definitely a highlight. We have so many places we love to play I can't name them all! Trying to think back on it now it is really a total blur and I don't really know what to make of it!
Castle Talk Tour 2010
Dates: Aug 13, 2010 - Nov 28. 2010
Total Number of Days: 108
Total Number of Shows: 88
Shows in New Brunswick, NJ: 0
Number of States Played: 31 (+DC)
Number of Countries Played: 16
Number of Fests/Festivals: 6
Fests with the Word 'Fuck' in the Name: 2
Fests with the Word 'Awesome' in the Name: 2
Number of Vans Driven: 4
Number Van Break Downs: 2
Number of Shows Missed: 0
Number of Shows Opening for New Jersey Artists: 8 (Ted Leo and Rx, Titus Andronicus, Yo La Tengo)
Number of Bactrian Camels sighted on the side of the Road in UK: 1
Number of Times I actually Thought I Was going to Die in the Van: 2 (both in Norway)
City Played Most Times: NYC (5)
Most Days Off In A Row: 9 (Oct 1 - Oct 9)
> 2. Now that you are done with the tour, what's next?
Jarrett: To be honest we don't really know. It is a seriously confusing time for us. We are writing new songs which is really great and something we barely had the time to do in 2010. Since the time we recorded Power Move in late 2008 we have had a pretty clear idea of what we were doing in terms or touring and releases. Now we kind of just have to wait and see what happens. We worked our asses off in 2010 and sold a bunch of records but we lost a bunch of money because of a van breakdown. And then we had to pool most of the band money together to buy a new van. So that basically bankrupted us and we have been digging ourselves out of debt since.
> 3. How long have you guys been together?
Jarrett: 5 and a half years.
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> 4. Who are some of your favorite local bands? (Local to New Jersey)
Jarrett: Classic locals that don't play anymore include The Ergs!, Hunchback, Plastic East, and The Atomic Missiles. Long time locals include The Measure SA and Full of Fancy. Some newer Jersey bands would include Big Eyes, Mattress, Sparkle Shit, Black Wine.
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> 5. (Some bands don't like to answer this one so this one is optional) You guys have a great and unique sound how do you get those tones? What are your rigs like?
Jarrett: I use a 4 piece TAMA Starclassic maple drum set that I have had for over 10 years. I use Zildjian cymbals including the Sweet Ride which is the best cymbal ever made. Marissa uses a G&L Strat, a small Hughes and Kettner combo amp. She uses a few standard Boss pedals but her really amazing pedals are from Earthbound Audio. Mike plays a Rickenbacker through an Acoustic Amp.
> 6. How long have you all been playing your instruments?
Jarrett: I've been playing drums for 18 years. Marissa and Mike have been playing for around 10 years.
> 7. Who are some of your influences?
Jarrett: Our biggest influences are the bands around us. Bands that we meet on tour and know from our community. We love bands that work hard and don't rely on hype because that is the kind of band we are.
> 8. What was recording Castle Talk like?
Jarrett: Recording Castle Talk was very draining. Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong did do wrong. Every single piece of equipment broke and we had to remix the entire album multiple times. It had to be mastered twice and the release had to be delayed. It was a testament to our will power that the thing even got finished. I think the real positive thing that came out of that was that the record had a definite since of urgency in our playing. We had to focus and make shit sound right the first or second try. It made sure the album had a feel and a story behind it.
> 9. What are your inspirations for your songs?
Jarrett: Our song writing process mainly consists of the three of us getting together in a room and playing stuff until something good happens and then working at refining that. I draw the inspiration that I bring to practice from everywhere. Lately I have been thinking a lot about the way the instrument that you use can define your writing process. So if you are to write a song on a piano and then play it with guitar, bass, and drums it will definitely sound different than a song you wrote on guitar. So I kind of try to envision a different instrument for myself to recreate the way I've been playing lately. Like in this song I am actually a programed drum machine. In this song I'm not allowed to play a snare on the normal beats.
> 10. Anything you want to add?
Jarrett: Thanks for taking the time to ask me these questions.
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