May 2, 2007
[interview by Natalie]

Estrella: Can you please state your name and what you do in the band?
Michael: My name is Michael and I sing and play guitar and piano.

Estrella: I know this is the last leg with the Plain White Ts tour, how was it overall?
Michael: It was really good, it was a different experience for us just because the Plain White Ts attract a much younger audience then we do and it was nice to be able to make some new fans on this tour.
Estrella: Did you go anywhere different on this tour than you have not been?
Michael: No, we have been to just about every major city already, so it was just like re-visiting some of our favorites.

Estrella: Next you are doing a short headlining tour, who are going to be the opening acts for that?
Michael: We are not exactly sure, we are trying to get a band called The Color Revolt to come with us, and possibly Dear in the Headlights who is opening the show tonight.
Estrella: Is it mainly based on who you all pick?
Michael: Yeah, pretty much it is bands who we would really like to come out with us or bands from a certain area that would help out with drawings, stuff like that.

Estrella: I know you guys are going to be shooting your video for "Pushing the Shine" here on Friday, can you tell me anything about the concept about it or why here in Chicago?
Michael: Well, the director is actually from here and the concept is based on what the song is about, religious hypocrisy. It is going to be shot inside of a church and we are going to be the praise band. It is going to be about a church service that goes array. We think it is going to be fun, well see though.
Estrella: Did you guys pick which church it is going to be?
Michael: No, the director is figuring all of that stuff out as far as location and everything.

Estrella: Were there any major distinctions with the making of your latest album, Everything Starts Where It Ends from your previous one?
Michael: Yeah, there are a lot of differences. I just feel like this record is a lot more poignant than the last record. Especially lyrically, these songs are a lot more direct and I think the message is a lot more straight forward. Songs are more individual where as the first record was more like a single movement piece, it had just one overall attitude to it. This one has a lot more ups and downs.
Estrella: I noticed you all had an EP put out, was that part of this full length one?
Michael: Yeah, it was kind of like a pre-release to this album. We put out 3 songs off the record on the EP and then a couple of extra songs that people wouldnt be able to get anywhere else. They were B-side from the same recording session, and also a cover song that we did.

Estrella: I noticed a line-up change in the band, how did that come about and where did you find the new members?
Michael: Well, the new members Korey and James have been with us about a year and they have been friends with ours for a long time playing with different bands, they have been hanging around our hometown and what not. It was pretty simple thing, it was just a matter of our last drummer and bass player were not willing to tour as much as we were and our touring schedule is pretty insane, and that was the main reason. They moved back home to Arkansas and the new guys came in.

Estrella: Is there any song that you never get sick of hearing?
Michael: I think you eventually get sick of a song hearing it over and over again, especially if you are playing it every night. There is definitely a love for each and every song on the record, it kind of brings me back to loving it for some reason or another.

Estrella: What is something you have always wanted to do but have not done yet?
Michael: There are a lot of things I havent done before, I would like to climb a mountain I have never done that before. If I wasnt afraid of heights I would probably like to go parasailing or something, but I dont think I can handle it.
Estrella: Doesnt that defeat the mountain thing?
Michael: Yeah sort of, but I have never had the opportunity to go mountain climbing so I dont know what it would be like.

Estrella: If you could see any band or artist perform any song live what would it be?
Michael: Probably would be Queen performing "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Estrella: Any particular reason?
Michael: I am just a big fan, and I think that song is just a work of art from start to finish Ive always loved it.

Estrella: Any last comments?
Michael: Yeah, please buy our record.