TWTO: Has your musical core remained the same from the beginning, or do you feel you have veered away from who you originally were?

CHRIS: as a core, i would say we are exactly the same. that core is just four guys who have a deep passion for making music. as simple as that sounds, its really the hard truth. and even deeper than that is our relationships as friend. thats what we were before we even thought twice about being a band. and that remains exactly the same.


TWTO: How does being on tour with a big name band and the release of your first full-length album compare to the vision you had of this experience when it was just a dream?

CHRIS: well so much is relative i suppose. i think we all had a vague idea of what it would be like once we released our album. i think the one point that eveyone somewhat skipped was how much work is involved. not that we did not think we would have to work hard everyday, but the extent of what goes into making a tour run smoothly and staying sane is so much more than we ever thought.


TWTO: How has being on such a large tour affected your sanity? Your creativity? Your relationships with others?

CHRIS: our sanity is tested just about every day. we don't tour in a bus or have a crew with us to do anything. we travel with our tour manager and thats it. so we all take drive shifts. help in the day to day stuff so its a challenge everyday. but to counteract that, will every new experience and every day that passes we are exposed to new things. so that in turn does effect the creativity and relationships. for instance we have taken big steps in band communication on this tour. everything is so big and there is so much to do, talking sometimes gets pushed aside. we have started to have talks on a weekly, bi-weekly basis just to get stuff out. positive and negative. just to keep the relationships fresh and working.


TWTO: What do you believe will be the most rewarding thing about this journey?

CHRIS: i think the most rewarding thing for me on this journey is just making my family and friends proud. they have all listened to me say i wanted to be in a band and take it as far as possible and be happy with whatever outcome happens. just knowing that i have busted my tail to learn an instrument, travel all the time while family and loved ones are at home, and every piece of work we have done is rewarding. we have all just worked so hard.


TWTO: Alternately, what do you believe may be the most difficult?

CHRIS: i guess that goes along with the above answer. the hardest part for me is being away from my parents, my girlfriend and our cats.


TWTO: Has anything that has occurred been so different from what you expected, that it has shocked you?

CHRIS: the music business runs on a dfferent schedule. and i mean completely different. it is a bizarre business and i would have to say it has shocked me in many ways. i worked at a label for a bit and a record store for a few years. too be on this side of it now, you reallly see how tough of an industy it is. i had to learn to never believe anything until it is in your hands.


TWTO: Do you have an musical heroes who you look up to and draw inspiration from?

CHRIS: morrissey is that person for me. the smiths are a band that changed the way i listen to music. the way i watch moveis. the way i read books. everything. the queen is dead is a record that i still get chills when i listen to it. and thats just about everyday. morrissey's lyrics are so dynamic. so powerful. so human. i just cant get enough of it.


TWTO: Who were your major influences in your life, either professional or personal?

CHRIS: my mother and father are 100 percent responsible for where i am. i am forever in debt to their lessons and values. and i thank them for that everyday.


TWTO: Besides your hometown, where would you say is your absolute favorite place to play?

CHRIS: i would have to say probably columbus, ohio. we are lucky enough to have a radio station there that backs us completely and have been able to make some great friends there. every time we go there its an adventure. so much fun.


TWTO: Have you gotten to the point yet where a fan has done something so crazy just to meet/talk to you?

CHRIS: not really. i mean there are people that are stocked to try to talk to us and we do all we can to converse with everyone.


TWTO: Has there ever been a day where you’ve woken up and wished you’d gone down another path in life?

CHRIS: i attended the college of charleston as a history major with the intent to teach at high school / college level. there have most certainly been days where i wished i had just finished my degree and gone down that path. i still have the passion to teach at some point in my life. and im sure i will. but i had to be ture to my dream of being in a band. and i will put everything i have into this life i have chosen.


TWTO: Are any of you in seriously committed relationships? If so, how does that fit in with the group and the major growth you are now going through?

CHRIS: there majority of us are in commited relationships. i have dated my wonderful girlfriend for almost four years. she has been there with me every step of the way. been my backbone in every way possible. she has experienced the ups and downs with me. there have been tough times that distance will always do. but i love this person very deeply and we are commited to trying our best to make it work.


TWTO: Once this big dream is in full bloom, then what? What is the next dream, the next journey?

CHRIS: i want to travel as much as possible. i want to stand on top of machu piccu. that is my next goal.

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