COMEBACK KID
>> Interview w/ Andrew Neufeld (Vocals) by Ryan Williford
Shared with http://www.audiopinions.net / Taken from our seventh issue (August,September)
You guys are set to release Symptoms + Cures in late August. How are you feeling about this album?
AN: We feel fantastic about it. Getting a lot of good feedback so far. This is our most ripping album to date. It’s the most intense songs we’ve ever written and they all mean quite a lot to us. A lot of people have heard it so far, but we’re really excited to get the album out. I just saw a copy of it for the first time yesterday.
What should listeners be expecting from this release?
AN: Well musically, it’s a bit of a mix of everything we’ve done before. I would say more like Wake The Dead musically than Broadcasting, because there’s not as much technical guitar work as in Broadcasting…Vocally is where listeners will notice the most change. I used to play guitar in the band and then when our singer Scott left, I became the vocalist. I struggled a bit with figuring out how I wanted to sing. I knew some things that my voice was capable of. But I also wanted it to sound like the same band. So I kind of mimicked Scott a bit in my own way on Broadcasting. On Symptoms + Cures, I just went full on, and wrote/sang the songs how I would live. It’s much heavier and more intense than the last one. But we also included a lot more chant/sing-along type parts, and there is more layering in the vocals. One cool feature that the CD has is an enhanced part where each song comes with an extra 6 tracks. Each track is missing an instrument so that listeners can play along with us. For example, one track is missing vocals so you can karaoke the song if you want. One track is missing guitars, so you can learn and play the guitar parts. That kind of thing. Just an extra goody that allows our listeners to get in the mix with us a bit more.
Who did you guys record with and what the most memorable experience from that?
AN: We recorded with Eric Ratz and Kenny Luong. We met them through the Cancer Bats guys. Most memorable experience? Them being tuning Nazis, making fun of Ratz for eating too much of the Rotten Clown, McDonalds, and having the studio surrounded by chop shops and massage parlors. (Haha)
How did the concept for the album cover come about?
AN: Symptoms + Cures is more of a collection of songs. They definitely have a flow and come together, but they don’t all necessarily follow one path. The songs were written on the road. The lyrics talk about traveling mishaps, trying to find balance in our lives, never being able to keep up normal relationships, border crossings, and the world’s need for stimulation as it keeps getting smaller and smaller with its advances. The name Symptoms + Cures came from one of the lyrics. The cover shows a guy jumping headfirst into the unknown. People are sometimes eager to take desperate measures in order to better our lives, and that kind of depicts that.
How do you feel you guys have progressed over the years as individuals and as a band?
AN: Well we’ve been a band for almost ten years now. We’ve gone through a lot of changes mentally and physically. (haha) We’re not as skinny as we used to be. But for real, we are a group of musicians who are trying to do something cool with our lives: write songs that we enjoy playing, and taking our brand of hardcore around the world. That was always the goal and the concept stays in that respect. We’re definitely taking this band into our adult lives, some of us sooner than others as there is a big age gap in the band… like twenty-five to thirty-four or something like that. We’re just trying not to embarrass ourselves as much as we used to
Switching gears, you guys are set for a Canadian and European set of dates. How did these two tours come about?
AN: Actually, we have a world tour we are trying to put together. The breakdown of that are festivals this summer in the UK, Canada, and Germany. I’m in London as we speak. Then with the release of the album, August 31st, we will headline across Canada alongside Madball and A Wilhelm Scream. Then we tour with Four Year Strong in the USA. Then we go to Europe with Parkway Drive, Bleeding Through, etc. Now we are trying to plan out Australia end of the year. Early 2011, we will be in Japan with Ghost Inside I think, and then we head to South America with Sick Of It All! Not too shabby eh?
Which one are you guys most excited about and why?
AN: I’m most excited to tour with Madball across Canada. They haven’t done western Canada in ages and to be able to bring them to our hometown Winnipeg is a huge deal, and stoked for the SOIA S. America dates for obvious reasons!
What are your thoughts on illegal downloading and CD’s getting leaked onto the internet?
AN: I don’t get too fussed about it. It’s something that happens to every album. I admit that I get my music for free, off friends, etc. so I can’t say anything. It allows people access to music, especially in times when money is tight, etc. If people can buy an album, that is so rad. But I don’t judge either way. I just hope people are able to check out music as they please, and somehow I can keep on releasing records and touring.
Thank you for your time! Any final thoughts?
AN: Thanks so much for the interview! http://www.myspace.com/comebackkid you can find dates and other fun shit.
