I'm in TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht with Paul from Mutemath
Tonight they will perform here. Paul, how are you?
-I'm great! How are you today?
I'm very good, I'm very hot. It's august 29 today and it's extremely hot. So I'm sweating my ass off.
I'm kind of chilly actually
This is a nice spring day in New Orleans. Is it a coincidence?
Isn't like this is a historic day is the hottest day ever recorded? -No, I don't think so...
It's not? that's just the rumor?
That's just what they're telling us
So that we can feel special if we brought that from New Orleans? Oke, I like the legend better.
So it's good having you! you're performing tonight in Utrecht last year you played Melkweg in Amsterdam
But I want to talk about the time before that, because it took like nine years for you guys to come to Europe!
Why?
What's wrong with Europe?
I don't remember
Quite honestly it was so long ago. Yeah. We came to Europe. It was in 2007. quite a few times
Yeah, it just felt like it didn't happen
So I
I can tell you this: our last gig that we played in Europe. In '07 was a nightmare gig that our label put together and
We were opening for a band called The Used. Which is probably a ticket
We should not have been on. The Used is a very heavy band
for those who don't know and and at the time they were doing a private party for
Their fans
in London
There shouldn't have been an opening bandon that particular night
But they just thought it'd be a good idea to put us there so this was The Used most fanatical fans in for a private
party wanting to see their band and then here comes little ole Mutemath and
Didn't go well man
Didn't go well at all.... we pretty much
Got heckled the whole time and they were very excited when we left the stage
They were applauding at the end that we were finally done
But yeah, so that was the last gig that we played in Europe
So I kind of left a bad taste in our mouth, and so I guess we just weren't excited to come back
For at least a while, but now it's been really fun
And now you're here like for the second time in like one and a half year. - That's right. Yes
We just know: don't open for The Used! Lesson learned! -Lesson learned!
How does it work as a singer or as a band when a crowd is off?
Do you have like a couple of tricks? Like if they're not responding very well, or they're not you know going crazy
I'll do this song or I'll do this move... -I have one trick
And I used it that night with The Used. I just do this little handstand on my keyboard
It's like usually get a nice rise out of the crowd. So I was like alright
We'll get to that part of the show I went ahead and did it I plant it and I swear I heard someone heckled me
Right from the balcony right on the side of the stage and goes "why don't you go back to gymnastics class"?
I heart it very clearly... - wow
Just totally heckled my best move!! - yeah, so when you're doing that tonight. We know...
...the crowd is not doing very well in your opinion
Is there a big difference between playing in the states and in Europe?
Absolutely, I think I think whatever country you go to is usually a different different feeling
sometimes it's just the songs it's amazing how regionally different parts of
the Catalogue if you will
Connect or
What regions I remember we went to India
We have this ballad
Called You Are Mine
and which we usually throw in the middle of the set just to bring it down and
that wound up being like the biggest song we probably should have closed the show with that song and
Yeah, the crowd took that when it was like
Oh wow, I guess we learned that people really liked that song in India. What is the song in Europe well in Europe?
In Europe it's probably more
Spotlight actually there was um I guess there was a few people who found out about it through the movie Twilight
we were on that soundtrack back in o 9 and so
Spotlight. It was a little more spotlight
Wasn't a big thing in the states, okay?
So you're now a touring europe and you're headlining and doing a headline tour in the states as well. That's right
I want to talk about I think a month ago
the statement on your Facebook page
Yeah, that's the toughest statement. I had to make that was that was I was little I was a little challenging
Yeah, it was tough for all the fans as well
Yeah, and that's what made it tough cuz I knew how difficult it was gonna be for a lot of fans to hear that
Right and we were putting out a new album and getting ready to hit the road
So yeah, it was it was a challenging summer what we're pushing him
Well, I can't I can't divulge the details. I mean
With respect to Darren I mean he just he wanted to be out, and I respect that and and that's it and we're moving forward
so
you'll have that staring if you really want to know so
But ya know I was uh I was I was in shock, and I was panicked for a while
obviously, we weren't sure if we were gonna just have to cancel everything this album was not gonna see the light of day or
that was it and
called a few drummers trying to figure out if it was even possible to I mean that's a
That's what big shoes to fill the brandi drum for it before you you feel of the shoes I mean
What did your call what were you sitting in your kitchen back home and thinking okay? Are we done are we?
not loaning the tour
Absolutely, who do you call how does a big thing like that work?
it was a lot of tough conversations with our manager and some of the
agents and promoters and trying to figure out if is there a solution to be had can we and
Is there a drummer is there a drummer that can pull this off in the short amount of time to learn a lot of music?
most drummers who have the ability to
Even come close to covering for Darren are usually booked years out. You know. They're not just sitting around waiting for a gig and
So it was challenging. Yeah
But the stars had aligned for a particular friend of mine
who I'd played with
years ago
Just on a whim, we called him see if he might be interested might be available
And he was just fashioning his life to get back into music
It's what he wanted to do he had taken a break from it for a while
Coincidentally this is the drummer that when Darren originally moved to New Orleans
Darren came in to fill in for because this guy was he needed a break
But just what happens hutch who was the guy? Who's here we playing drums for the rest of the year with us?
fantastic drummer from New Orleans and
He was hungry for it. He wanted to do it. It was like an opportunity it was sort of a redemptive thing
We're brought as like this an opportunity. Do you want this as big shoes? It was like absolutely
I remember you saying in the statement that this he's the only guy you want to do this with I knew he had the ability
I just didn't know if he'd be
Available or wanted to do it and so what is scrutiny and the criticism that was gonna come with you know?
Whoever's Gonna fill in for Darren so what what if if he said? No, I?
Don't know. I don't know. I really don't know man. I
Wasn't sure
Would probably had to cancel quite honestly yeah, cuz I wasn't finding anyone else
What is it likely because there were a lot of changes in the band the last couple of years?
What what keeps you going? I can't imagine. You just saying alright. I'm done if this all these shit
Is that's what we say in the netherlands. He's going on. I'm done right and
Honestly that thought had crossed my mind
but
at the end of the Day I
Mean I love what I do. I love getting to play in this band
I love the music that we've created over you know 15 years. I'm really proud of it and especially this new album
That's what really kept me going at the end of the day is is the work that we did that we
poured our lives into for the past year
But really it's been five years in the making but especially the past year this play Dead album
It's a collection of songs I really believe in and I
Was pretty hell-bent to just wanting to take this out on the road and so
I didn't want to call it. I just really did at the end of the day
That's what I that's what I celled with myself that no, I'll do whatever it takes to try to keep this thing going
And give this album a chance, so that's why we're here and and thankfully to the guys in the band who've been
Working their asses off to fit mean Darren. Just not a drummer just to contribute to the band creatively. I mean left quite a void
But I've I've been really taken back watching all the guys on our team and in the band just
Work even harder to fill in that void to make sure we can keep going
me personally
And I mean all the fans are so happy that you're that you're doing this you think this'll work
yeah, the response a lot of the positive responses which I was quite surprised that have just
Been awesome, so thank you guys when I get like a negative
Comment or something on my you know instagram or something I feel like mmm. Oh I want to reply
Is it something you have as well? No not not for this I?
because I understand it all because I felt the same way when when I was processing the news and
And quite as I'm writing the statement having lived
In this new age of YouTube comments and online you know just scrutiny
I was I was imagining all the negative comments that were gonna come and I was already starting to process it and try to cope
With it's like I just know what people are gonna say this is
and quite honestly some of the worst things I had thought of
No one has said yeah, or at least in my face
They might be thinking it, but at least people were showing some restraint and feelings
They don't have to tell me that and just be mean
Which I'm thankful for and I'm not scouring comments, either. I'm not like
I've seen a few of the things I think
But for the most part what I've seen which I'm thankful for is it's been positive
Yeah, now you're on stage, and I know people tonight as well are coming to the show, and they're like okay
Let's see what what what the vibe will be it does kind of feel like we're auditioning for our fans again
Or you know try z right?
Yeah it
But I get it
and
And we're up for the challenge quite honestly and so is hutch. I mean he's invigorate but he's he was like he wants to be
Yeah, come check it out. Do you know if he's gonna? Yell out that I suck go ahead we want different back
Go ahead. Yell. It's okay. We're gonna try to make this thing alright for you guys and and his attitude has been incredible
I mean what he was doing for the past 15 years before he steps back into playing drums
He's been a paramedic in new Orleans, so a first responder. I mean an everyday hero. I mean this guy is
in the thick of life-And-death situations, and so when I was trying to explain to him some of the
The Criticism he might be up against with with you know Darren is a beloved
figure in our band and him not being there and someone else stepping in is could piss some people off and
He's like man
It's alright man. We're ready all we're just gonna. Go hug some people just let them know it's gonna be all right well, we'll apply
We'll bring out the pads will will shock those who uh their heart stops yeah
And you have extra security we have extra security anyone goes down. Yeah
He's taking care of us on a lot of levels right now. Yeah
So you you said earlier that the new album? It's coming out in Like 2
1 like 10 days right yes, september 8th. We 10 days away. Yeah what so what's the main message?
What's the story that you want to tell well the main message is the idea of life after death?
that's what this whole album is about in the face of
Decomposition and facing an end of some chapter or even you know whether from literal life death
Or to just the death of certain errors of our lives
you know what we do how to face that and this whole album is trying to celebrate those moments and
Believing even if it's against belief sometimes that there is life to be had there is
there is a sliver of light even in the the darkest of situations, so
It's ten songs that I think I'm looking at this from all different angles
From song one that starts with kind of celebrating the life of my grandfather was a huge
Inspiration to me and kind of set the Mantra for my life
to
How I look at the life of my daughter and and myself and I'm coping with this. This is the first record I've made
now that I'm 40 years old and so I'm at this certain turning point in life and
And so as I'm saying we're singing about all this stuff and now it's like
Alright now we're facing it on a new level. Just just within our band. It's kind of ironic. Yeah, so it's like
What are you gonna?
Do alright were you gonna put your money where your mouth is or what yeah, and it's like, ya know
We're gonna sing these songs and that means even more
So which song fits the best with this situation?
Well, I mean, I mean stroll on the idea of just pushing for evolution. I mean there's lines throughout the whole album
The feeling of this moment could be all we have there may not be anything
later on
and
Certainly when we started this new year. I mean, I would have never thought all of a sudden
Reality would have changed within our band is as abruptly as it did
But it made me so much more appreciative for what we do have and and for the guys
Who are willing to play these shows? I don't know if this is our last meeting
I don't know if this will be our last tour that we do this year
But if and and the good of that is it forces me to just enjoy the present
And I think that's what this every song that we wrote on play dead was about is trying to find your way to
be more present
So here we are
And we're Gonna have a good time tonight
That's for sure, so
Davis is joining you this tour and then the end of the year Christmas time?
What's next for you well for the band?
Quite honestly, I don't know
And I'm trying not to think too much about it. I mean I'll always be creating music and making me you know
that's obviously uh
My passion what I love to do as far as within the confines of mute, math
Actually, I don't think that's up to me. I think it's mainly up to the fans and
I know that as long as people are interested in it
I'll go I'll go to my last breath act because I love
What we do in this band, and I?
Think it's I think it's up to everyone else
And as long as everyone's interested or they're enjoying this new iteration of new math, we'll keep it going
So we should all command under the the the videos on your YouTube channel or Facebook? Oh?
Yeah, we should yeah, we should the end of the year. We're gonna just pull all the comments see what columns they follow
we're Gonna be a
Diagnostic no, but I think mainly it'll be a feeling I think it'll be within the band too however
you know is everyone feel invigorated to keep pushing and
But no matter what happens then?
We are determined to have a great time with what we have for this next eight weeks that we're on tour and while we get
to play music together and
That's the main focus right yeah
enjoy
Thank you. Thanks. Thanks for being here, and I have a great time in in in the netherlands
And I hope nobody will you know start about your gymnastics tonight?
I've worked on my form though. Oh really yeah, so hopefully it'll be a little bit. It scarred me. It did cool. Thank you
Hi, man
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét