Taking Back Sunday released their most recent studio album in 2011. The self-titled release marked a return to the band's original line-up from their 2002 debut Tell All Your Friends. Vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist Eddie Reyes and drummer Mark O'Connell reunited with vocalist/guitarist John Nolan and bass player Shaun Cooper, who departed in 2003. Since then the group have been on a tight and hectic touring schedule playing to audiences around the world. The band has also been subjected to much media attention over the past few years in the wake of the acrimonious departure of several of its members.
During a brief window in their busy schedule, the band’s mainstay guitarist
Eddie Reyes spoke to
Joe Matera about the recent changes in the band’s lineup, how the band have a new found vitality, the ongoing plans for a new record and the possibility of special acoustic shows in the future.
UG: With the original incarnation of the band back together now, how has the touring life compare now with the guys back on board, than the first time around touring with the original lineup?
Eddie Reyes: It has been the same really. We are just five brothers and friends and we actually hang out with each other, unlike with the other band members previously where everyone went off and did their own thing. But now we’re five close friends that don’t go anywhere without each other you know. It feels good to have that again.
There was a lot of tension within the band with the previous lineup…
Yeah we weren’t happy with the last record and we thought that things would turn out great but it just ended up being where I couldn’t be in a band with those guys anymore and to write with them too. And in the studio, everything got screwed up further, but we fixed it. We took care of the problem.
You’ve stated that this reunited lineup has re-energized everyone especially with the songwriting process as is evident on the latest album.
Yeah things came together a lot more organically and it was just like old times. We all got together, drank some whiskey, and we drank and we wrote fuckin’ rock songs. Which is how we used to do it and that is how we do it now. And I am really happy with how the record came out and very proud of it.
Is it true that one of the main reasons for the split with Fred Mascherino was that that you wanted to go in one direction while Fred wanted to go in another?
Yes that is correct. Fred wanted things his way and that is not how it was going to work. And he just decided to move on and that is why he left and he is happy doing his own thing and I am happy for him. We have come together and hung out and talked you know and we are friends again. But he just wants to do things his way but Taking Back Sunday is about team work. It is not about just one person trying to control it and that was the problem we had with the members too, and that is why, thank God that John and Shaun came back and said ‘let’s do this’ because I really don’t think there would have been Taking Back Sunday today.
"The new album is going great with audiences and everyone is singing along and the energy for the new songs has definitely been really great."
Yeah we have a lot of music and as things go, you tend to change things along the way but hopefully there will be stuff that will also appear on the next record.
When do you expect to start tracking the new album?
We’re planning to start tracking the new album in 2013 and we will definitely be busy that year. Just right now we have been coming up with some ideas and then putting them aside and then will work on them when the time comes.
What about direction of the new record, is there any thoughts on what it will take?
Man, we can never predict whatever we’re going to sound like. We are just one of the bands that whatever comes out, comes out
When it comes to songwriting, is it harder to write while on the road?
No it is easier man. I mean we just jam out, if some one comes up with an idea we will just work on it. And that is what I like about these guys. There is no over thinking. I hate all the over thinking shit, and we just try and put together as much as we can and then worry about it when we are in the studio. The songwriting previously, was always annoying because it was always over thought which is why nothing ever got done.
There were songs leftover from the last album’s sessions, so will they eventually see the light of day in the future?
Yeah we got a lot of songs left over. I mean some of those songs may pop up on the next record. There are so many songs that we can still work on and rework. It is really an exciting position to be in.
Have you experienced any problems with fans that may prefer a previous lineup over the latest one?
It hasn’t really been a problem as we play all the songs that people want to hear and that makes them happy and makes us happy.
How have the songs from the latest album been coming across with Taking Back Sunday audiences?
The new album is going great with audiences and everyone is singing along and the energy for the new songs has definitely been really great. With the last record, when we toured that, nobody moved, nobody sang, nobody cared. This record it is like night and day as everyone is going crazy, hence the great reaction.
What has been the most outrageous myth or rumor you have heard or read about the band?
There has been a lot of shit as people like to make up stuff like ‘he is a drug addict’ or ‘this person took this’ and ‘this person took that’ and lot of stuff about comparing us to other bands and that we ripped off other bands. Bands that weren’t even around until four years after we existed! So just stupid shit really. Honestly, we really don’t take notice of that as we’re too old for that shit and not worth wasting our energy on it
"Fred wanted things his way and that is not how it was going to work. And he just decided to move on and that is why he left and he is happy doing his own thing and I am happy for him."
Yes it would be walking out on stage at The Bamboozle with John and Shaun for the first time as for me, it was a rush. There was a ton of people there and it just felt like it was alive, it had that rush again which I had not felt for a long time. It definitely put a new jolt of energy into this band again I will tell you that right now.
When it comes to the current tour, what sort of gear are you using live?
I use a Fender, it is kind of like the shape of an Epiphone Wilshire and that’s fitted with Seymour Duncan pickups. I am playing two of those and I am playing a Les Paul too and playing through some Orange Rocker 30s. Effect wise, I use a modulator, a Boss Chorus and a Big Bite distortion pedal for a little extra punch, and also a delay pedal.
Do you take many guitars on the road with you normally?
I usually take one or two as there is no point in wasting money on taking up too much room. It is better to bunch it up that way than bring out 15 guitars.
You’re a band that are very much so on top of and utilize the whole social media thing.
It is really important you know, as you have to reach out to everybody and you need to set up a really good website and also a good broadcast, and we are very up to date on our website and we do a lot of the Twitter and Facebook stuff. You have to be in touch with everyone and you have to let the world know that you know that they’re there and you have to keep them pumped on it and keep the ball rolling you know.
What about a performing a whole acoustic set?
We have actually talked about that and maybe there is a possibly on the next couple tours that are coming. We may do some side shows like that, acoustically, but then again it is nothing that has been discussed in-depth so I can’t promise anything. But it has just been an idea that we’ve definitely looked at.
Finally are there any plans to record these live shows on this tour?
I don’t know of any plans yet but it could be possible in the future.
Interview by Joe Matera
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