Rockezine.com interview with Taking back sunday on Mar 04, 2003

with John Nolan on Mar 04, 2003

Taking Back Sunday is one of the most popular underground bands in the US at this moment. Intense touring, video’s, a successful album, they’ve got it going on. The band is on a short break and found time to answer our questions. Guitar player John Nolan’s on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
		For everyone who is not familiar with Taking Back Sunday. Who are you, where are you from and where would you like to be? Hi, my name is John. I am the guitar player and I do back up vocals. We’re all from Long Island except for Adam who moved here from Carolina to join the band. If I would describe our music, I would probably say we are a melodic hardcore band with punk rock influences.
		Your album ‘Tell All Your Friends’ is out for a while now. Are you happy with the response so far? Yeah, very happy. The response is above and beyond what we ever expected.
		You’ve been touring in the United States a lot. Any plans to visit Europe any time soon or any other continent? We will probably do a two week tour through Europe somewhere in May, that’s it for now anyway. We’re very excited about visiting Europe, I’ve never even been in Europe before so yeah, it’s great.
		Are you headlining the tour or supporting another band? It’s going to be a co-headlining tour with a band called Brand New, also from Long Island.
		With all the positive press from the States, the intense touring, video’s etc. It seems you’re on a breakthrough. Do you feel like that or are you like, yeah right we’re still in this little van driving around from show to show… Every tour we have been on, we have seen the audience grow bigger and bigger. We started with playing for 30 to 40 people who didn’t even know who we were and we return and play for over a hundred people, so its been getting bigger and bigger every time. Pretty unbelievable, amazing actually.
		Looking back to when you started the band, did you ever believe you’d be where you are now? No not at all. I guess none of us ever expected to be making a living off something you really like doing. So its all a lot more than we anticipated.
		As you tour a lot you meet a lot of new bands on the road. Any bands should we check out? Hmm, bands to check out. There’s a band called Recover, there’s Northstar from Alabama, an amazing band, they’ve just got a new album out, there’s From Autumn To Ashes and there’s The Reunion Show from Long Island. There are actually a lot of good bands coming from Long Island right now.
		When can we expect new stuff from Taking Back Sunday? We’ll be touring for a while, so not any time soon. Actually we are on a short break right now. We’re however thinking about new stuff, maybe even incorporate some of it into the set. We’ll see. But for now we’re still touring.
There are actually a lot of good bands coming from Long Island right now.		Does your current success increase the pressure? I don’t mean in sales numbers but in being able to do better creatively. A little bit, not a lot. I mean there are obviously different expectations since this will be the second album. The first album you make for the hell of it, you don’t really think about stuff like that. But it’s not al that bad, just a little bit of pressure.
		How difficult is it to be different or to make sure people notice you with so many bands in the market these days? You can’t try to hard to do anything musically. We write music naturally, its what we feel. If you’re out there trying to do things a certain way its only going to look silly. You know, try not to worry about what people think and do your own thing.
		One thing that never changes is fans critizing bands who finally become a little successful. Any people calling you guys sellouts yet and what’s your response to this? We had a little bit of it, not too bad. Most of our fans support us in any kind of success. If you’re making music you believe in, why would you keep it from getting out to the largest audience possible. You shouldn’t feel like proving anything to anyone else.
		What or who triggers your creativity? Euh, for me personally its the music I listen to, movies and stuff like that. You know things that spark ideas, personal experiences. If you would ask the rest of the band, everyone would probably come up with a different answer. Its not even the music that inspires me that much.
		Being part of an online magazine I must compliment you on your website. Lots of stuff there for the fans. How important is the internet for you? Oh, the Internet is very important to us, especially at this point. We’ve got quite a large fan base and through the internet we can get some interaction going, you know? A more personal interaction with the fans. In the beginning the internet has been important to get the word around. Our management kept us aware of this straight from the start.
		What’s the one question you would ask yourself? (Long silence, just back ground murmur). Euh, what’s the one question I would ask myself? (More silence) Well, how is it possible that one person can be so good lucking and talented and still be so modest. (Laughter)
		That’s your answer, ‘cause I just wrote it down. Yeah, that’s my answer. (laughs)
		Famous last words….. We appreciate all the support of our fans. Without them we never would have gotten were we are right now.
Thanks John. So for all you European fans, check out Taking Back Sunday as they hopefully tour the continent coming May. (Marc Lochs)