EMURG: After a few years on hiatus, Oleander decided to make a comeback. Why now? What drove the band to dust off their guitars and drum set and return with such a diverse album?

Flowers: We had taken time to get away from the music industry to get back to what really mattered such as our lives, our families, and having a sense of normality. Over time, we felt a desire to get back in a room, strap the instruments on and create something beautiful once more. It’s funny because within fifteen minutes of that first band practice we knew we had something special and I believe that time off really did us well. There is something really special with what we got going on with the band right now and the gloves are off. We are ready to get back out there and start punching people in the mouth with our music!

EMURG: The last time we spoke back in 2012, we briefly touched on the subject of your new album, “Something Beautiful”. Do you mind elaborating a little more detail concerning the main concept of the album, what went into making the album, and what you hope fans will take away from this new record?

Flowers: We had taken a step back a few years to catch our breath. In that time, we were able to discard some of the clutter and baggage we accumulated over the years with constantly recording and touring. I think coming back at this point in time with writing and being able to get into a room, write great music, and have fun in the process of doing so. If there is a theme to this album, it was the fact that we had the opportunity for us to narrate and give an honest reflection of what our live’s have been like and what it’s like today.

EMURG: What made you decide to name your new album, “Something Beautiful”?

Flowers: It was the standout track first and foremost and it was an easy decisions from the get go. In essence, we’re all trying to catch those moments among the chaos to call our own and to give our life meaning. This meaning especially rings true for me and in my life, but most importantly the body of work in our new album basically sums up the idea of finding those little moments that are beautiful while experiencing the chaotic nature of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAk609php3g

EMURG: Your current single, “Something Beautiful”, is receiving a lot of attention since reemerging in the music scene, but are there plans for a second single? If so, what will the new single be?

Thomas: We haven’t really started talking about second single as of yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it is the song, “Never Too Late” or “Bulletproof”.

EMURG: We’ve heard the track “Never Too Late” and it is by far one the strongest tracks on the album.

Flowers: Indeed it is! It’s definitely a rocker for sure! It’s funny because we are in a good situation because we have a solid album which allows us to have a number options to choose from concerning as to what the next single might be.

EMURG: What is your favorite track from the new album?

Flowers: That’s a tough one because it tends to change from week to week for me! I’d have to say my favorite track is, “Something Beautiful”, because it really speaks to me on a personal level. I’m also particularly fond of the song, “Daylight”, because it’s a song that was written about a very good friend of mine.

EMURG: Daylight is a spectacular song and probably one of our favorites here among the EMURG staff!

Flowers: Thank you! It was written from real and serious perspective that is very applicable to any listener.

EMURG: Will Oleander fans ever hear a live, unplugged album from the band?

Flowers: Absolutely! We are going to be recording live acoustic sessions of the songs in which we’ll be providing that to fans within the year.

EMURG: It seems that the music landscape has changed and grown since the last time Oleander dropped a new album. What are your present views on the music industry and how does a band like Oleander make a comeback and take the rock industry by storm?

Flowers: The musical landscape may have changed but our approach to it hasn’t really changed at all. As far as for writing, we basically lock into our strengths and weaknesses and try to create the best body of work possible for the fans and ourselves. As for the business side of it, it has changed quite a bit but we feel very optimistic about some of the advances in how it conducted such as social media networking which helps us connect with a much broader audience. Back in the day, social media basically encompassed touring and meeting with as many connections as possible. Today, we feel like that the social media aspect of it all work to our advantage for us now. Even though we are living in a digital/singles age, we are very optimistic about the year ahead and the future for this band.

EMURG: Oleander is scheduled to play Rock on the Range this year with bands like Sevendust, Big Wreck, and Alice In Chains. How does the band feel about being apart of such a monumental event?

Flowers: We thrive on the big stage and those are the venues you want to play. For example, when we hit the stage at Woodstock in 1999 I learned a lot about this band. I realized  with the first song we played that we are capable of rising to the occasion at any show or stage. We’re excited to be playing Rock on the Range and we feel that we deserve a spot on that bill.

EMURG: What bands are you most excited to see this year at Rock on the Range?

Flowers: We’re looking forward to seeing all the bands play this year, but it’s really an opportunity for all of us to run into our friends that we have toured with throughout the years.

EMURG: What can fans expect to see from Oleander’s live performance at this years Rock on the Range?

Flowers: Well I can tell you that the gloves are off and we are going to be punching people in the mouth at this performance. Fans can expect to see a very energetic, high level performance that is filled with familiar songs and a couple of new songs that they are going to remember. We definitely want to bring back sweaty-nakedness to the concert stage so you just might see that too! Sweaty-nakedness, that’s our motto!

EMURG: Rock on the Range is just the tip of the iceberg for Oleander’s tour schedule. What does your tour schedule look like? What bands will be touring with you and which ones will you be headlining?

Flowers: We’re going to be very busy this year in relation to touring. We have a few tours lined up and that are currently being pulled together by our management that will surprise our fans. As of right now, you can check out all of our tour dates at www.oleander.net and we’ll be adding more high profile shows as they are confirmed.

EMURG: Oleander is a very generous band who is dedicated to its fan base. How has the fans contributed to Oleander’s existence as a band and what is the most thought provoking statement a fan has ever said to you?

Flowers: Our fans mean the world to us and for us coming back from being absent for so long has been fantastic because we’ve been able to reach back out to old and new fans through social media networking. We’ve always prided ourselves with be accessible to our fans and that is still the same for today.

As to the most thought provoking statement made to me by a fan that has stuck with me over the years was when we played a show and a very young lady approached me with bandages on her wrists. She conveyed to me that she tried to attempt suicide but out of that darkness our song, “I Walk Alone”, helped her recover. It’s moments like that make you realize that there is something far greater than just being in a band and writing songs. We have a responsibility and an impact on our listeners and we take that very seriously.

EMURG: At the end of the day, how do you reflect on your experiences and efforts that you have contributed to the music industry as a musician?

Flowers: I look back at it fondly and feel very grateful and honored to have done this over the course of my life as a living and a career. I believe we’ve played a small part in people’s lives and I think we’ve contributed to the musical landscape with every album we have released.

EMURG: ”Something Beautiful”, is just the beginning for the newly revamped version of Oleander. Is this album a premonition of things to come?

Flowers: Most certainly! This is not the last album we will record and release. We have rolled up our sleeves and we are just about to get busy again!

Once again, it was a great pleasure to speak with Thomas Flowers concerning his recent efforts with his band, Oleander. To find out more about the band and what they are up to, you can visit their social media networks at the following links.

http://www.oleander.net/

https://www.facebook.com/oleanderband

https://twitter.com/oleanderband

Please be sure to check out EMURG for all of our coverage for this year’s Rock on the Range! Until next time, keep you ears and eyes plugged to EMURG for new and great music!

Part I

EMURG: What artist(s)/bands/songs/albums influenced you as a band?

Gus: As a bunch of guys, we listen to a whole range of different bands in different genres, right across the board. From Meshuggah to Michael Jackson. It’s always been this way really. If I had to pick a single band that was perhaps a touchstone of sorts for us all when we started in the band, it would probably be Thrice. We all love them and admire how they’ve evolved and progressed over the years. I wouldn’t say we strive to sound like them, but they definitely had an effect on us all.

EMURG: What are the members of Young Guns currently listening to right now?

Gus: Currently we’re all enjoying the new Fall Out Boy and Paramore records. The new Kvelertak record is great, and we really like the new Daft Punk single. We’re also listening to a lot of new Young Guns demos and song ideas as we’re in the process of writing our third album.

EMURG: What has been your favorite show/performance so far in your career as musicians?

Gus: Probably our last headline show at Shepherds Bush Empire in London. We’ve definitely played larger shows than that but it was a milestone for us as a band, being our biggest and most accomplished headline show to date. It was sold out and a few thousand people singing along to every word of every song was an electric feeling. It was a really important show for us and it went off without a hitch, which is rare for us. usually something goes wrong!

EMURG: Where did you come up with the name for your band? What’s the story behind Young Guns?

Gus: A few of us were living together when we decided to start writing songs together initially. We felt like a bit of a gang I suppose, young guys all living together in London and going out and getting into trouble and stuff. We wanted a name that was a tip of the hat to the bands we liked as kids, like G’n'R etc. We also wanted to use an 80s film as a name for a band and somehow on a drunken night out we decided upon Young Guns as the one to go with.

EMURG: If you want fans to remember one song from you it would be?

Gus: At this point I’d imagine it would be Bones. I definitely feel like we have yet to write our ‘big’ song, but we do already owe that one a lot.  We are definitely better song writers now though so who knows what’s next.

Part II

EMURG: Can you give our fellow EMURG’ers a detailed history about how you formed as a band and what you actually encompass as a rock band?

Gus: We’re really just five friends that grew up going to punk rock and metal shows that have somehow ended up on the other side of the world playing shows each night. We’re not really even sure how it happened! I guess the short history is that apart from myself, everybody grew up in the same area outside of the city and met through the local music scene where they would play shows together week in week out, with their line ups evolving from month to month. I guess they kinda learned their craft in that way. I grew up in the centre of London and when I went to the university I ended up becoming friends with somebody that had been in a band with John (guitar). On a summer break he invited me up to where he lived to watch his band play, and when I went to hang out I met John and ended up becoming friends. We both flunked our university courses and ended up moving in together in London. I joined the band he was in, playing bass and as the years went by and the line up changed and changed again, we ended up as the Young Guns of today sometime in 2008. We’re just a band trying to write good loud anthemic songs that make people want to sing along and have a good time at a live show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk3vjIDuy9w

EMURG: Your latest release, “Bones”, is an album jam packed with an electrifying sound that delivers a blast of fresh, in-your-face music to listeners. Can you give our listeners/viewers more of an idea of the story behind this album and what the main concepts of the album are trying to convey to the listener?

Gus: I suppose the overarching themes are those of inner strength and the importance of seizing the moment. This band has really helped me to figure out who I am and what I want out of life and I suppose in many ways this record is all about that process and that realization.

EMURG: How does Young Guns differ from others bands that are scheduled for this year’s Rock On The Range? Where do you stand in an ever growing pool of rock bands and artists?

Gus: Well, for starters we aren’t from The United States. I think that fact has allowed us to approach a pretty well worn genre of music (rock) in a way that is hopefully a bit fresh and different to a lot of the bands that are on rock radio at the moment. I don’t know why that is, or why what we’re doing has connected to a degree over here, but basically we’re just an honest and genuine band trying to write songs that feel sincere and heartfelt. It’s no more complex than that.

EMURG: Young Guns have gained a lot of attention from fans in and out of the music business. How does it feel to be playing and exposing your material to large crowds such as the one for this year’s Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio? What do you want audience to take away from your music and your live performances?

Gus: It feels great! North America is a huge place and we’ve not even scratched the surface but we’ve definitely had some lucky breaks so far. We just want to get out on the road and meet as many people as we can. We’ve always built our fan base person by person and we want it to be no different over here. When it comes to playing live we just always give 100% and leave the stage, and hopefully the audience, spent. We work hard to try and get audiences involved and we want our shows to be like the shows we grew up going to. Crowd surfing, moshing, jumping, singing, whatever. We just like to make sure we make an impact in some way.

EMURG: What do you have to say to fans who have yet to discover your music? Is there anything you would like to convey to music fans worldwide?

Gus: I’d just say that whether you’re a big fan of rock music or not I think there’s something for you on our last record. If you really want to get what we’re about then come to a live show and say hi!

PART I

EMURG: What artist(s)/band(s)/songs/album(s) influenced your band?

McCalister: To name just a few: Cartel, Yellowcard, We Are The In Crowd, Taking Back Sunday, The Starting Line, They Story So Far, and Switchfoot.

EMURG: What are the members of McCalister currently listening to right now?

McCalister: Sarah: Paramore, Tegan and Sara, Tonight Alive, Twenty One Pilots, and The Story So Far

Dan: Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Slipknot, The Bouncing Souls, and Rancid

Andrew: Cartel, The Story So Far, Neck Deep, Their/They’re/There, Turnover, and Streetlight Manifesto

Bobby: Brand New, Say Anything, The Front Bottoms, The Swellers, and Led Zeppelin

EMUG: What has been your favorite show/performance so far in your career as musicians?

McCalister: Our favorite show to play as a group was at The Studio at Webster Hall. It had a great crowd, sound, and atmosphere!

EMURG: It seems that bands today are always trying to find new ways to branch out to fans. How does McCalister connect with their fans?

McCalister: We use many different aspects of social media. We connect to our fans through our Facebook page, our individual Twitter accounts, Instagram, Band Camp, Tumblr, and we always stick around after our shows to talk to our fans. We truly appreciate our fans and love talking to them!

EMURG: If you want fans to remember one song from you it would be?

McCalister: It would have to be the song, “Streetlights”. It’s the final original track on our album, and we each had a large part in forming the song. Andrew wrote the lyrics, Sarah and Andrew divided up the vocals lines, and all of us came together to form the instrumentals. It was an entirely different way of writing than we have done in the past, but it became our favorite song. It also ended up being a cathartic experience in that it allowed each of us to get our frustrations out through music.

PART II

EMURG: You are a relatively new band to the scene, but who is McCalister? Can you give our EMURG audience a detailed background about your band and the events that led you to form the band?

McCalister: McCalister is a four piece pop-punk/alternative band that hails from Bergen County, New Jersey. Our members include Sarah Kapilow (Vocals/guitar), Andrew Van Buskirk (Vocals/bass), Bobby Grimaldi (Guitar), and Dan Martino (Drums). Prior to McCalister, Sarah, Dan, and Bobby were in another band back in 2010, called Leighton. During one of Leighton’s shows, the bassist at the time got a severe shoulder injury and needed to be temporarily replaced, which is how we found Andrew (who was in a band called The Buzz Lightyears). About a year after Leighton broke up, Sarah, Dan, and Bobby, realized how much they missed playing together and decided to try and start fresh with a new band. They asked Andrew to join not only as a bassist, but as a second singer as well. And with that, McCalister got its start in October of 2012. After our first show in December 2012, McCalister got kicked into gear and immediately started writing/recording our debut EP, “Something To Believe In”. This EP is a clear collaboration, in which every member had a key component in shaping the album (with the help of our Sound Engineer, Steve Kellner). The album was released on May 1st and is now available on iTunes, Band Camp, Spotify, Amazon Music, Rhapsody, Rdio, Shazam, and CD Baby.

EMURG: Your newest EP, “Something To Believe In”, is an invigorating blast of pop-punk at its finest. What was it like writing and recording the EP?

McCalister: The process was incredibly fast, but one of the most rewarding experiences of our musical careers. We worked with a phenomenal engineer and good friend of ours, Steve Kellner, who helped mold our five originals songs into an EP we are incredibly proud of! We wrote the EP over the course of two months, and recorded it in seven straight days. Those seven days were grueling, but also incredibly fun.

EMURG: Your cover Taylor Swift’s song, “We’re never Ever Getting Back Together”, on your new EP, but what made you decide to include this cover on the EP? Why a Taylor Swift song?

McCalister: We wanted an accessible cover that anyone could listen to and enjoy. It was a perfect way to spread the word about our band and create a clear path for people to find our original music. We heard the song and felt we could give it a whole new vibe, and we wanted people to see how create we could be!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvIhiXqmnow

EMURG: Something To Believe In”, is just the beginning for your band. What is on the horizon for McCalister? Can fans expect a full album any time down the road?

McCalister: We would love to record a full album some day. We have a few new songs in the works, but right now our main focus is to perfect, perform, and promote our EP.

EMURG: If you can give one piece of advice to emerging bands, what would you tell them is the most important thing about being in a band and writing music?

McCalister: Though we do not fell as though we are at all experts yet, we think the main idea is to make sure you have fun and appreciate the experience. The key is that it shouldn’t feel like a job. If it becomes your actual job, make sure you are still in it with people you enjoy and that you’re in it for the music.

PART I

EMURG: What artist(s)/band(s)/songs/album(s) have influenced you as a band?

The Sammus Theory: As a whole, the band has a pretty broad spectrum of influences such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Kiss, Nine Inch Nails, and John 5. It goes on and on because our lives have been engulfed in music, so the list is pretty extensive.

EMURG: What are the members of The Sammus Theory currently listening to right now?

The Sammus Theory: We rock Avenged Sevenfold, Sevendust, Seether, Lamb of God, and many more in the van while we go from show to show. There are way too many to name but the ones we listed are in very good company with us!

EMURG: What has been your favorite show thus far in the band’s career?

The Sammus Theory: The Uproar 2010 in Denver, Colorado at the Comfort Dental Amphitheater (Fiddler’s Green). The crowd was insane and the energy was nuts! If we could pick a second, it would have to be any Rock Richland we’ve done in Sidney, MT or any show in Idaho Falls. It’s absolutely crazy every time we hit those two places!

EMURG: What equipment are the members of the band currently using while on tour?

The Sammus Theory: We use Line6 amplification, Krank amplification, Schecter Guitars, Ddrum Saluda cymbals, Pro Mark Stick, Evans Drum Heads, D’Addario strings, and Nady.

EMURG: If you want people to remember you for one song it would be?

The Sammus Theory: That’s a tough one but we say any song off our new album or The Weak since that one has a lot of personal meaning to us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIxM0qCkVRA

PART II

EMURG: The last time The Sammus Theory graced the EMURG website was in 2010 when we did a review for your album, “See (It) Through”. How much has changed since that time and what has the band experienced so far?

The Sammus Theory: A lot has changed since 2010. We’ve toured for three more years since then which is a lot of experiences packed into a short time. We released an album in 2011 called, “Trusting The Liar”, and toured on it until November of 2012. In February 2013, we hit the studio to put together our newest album, “Entitled Anonymous”.

EMURG: As mentioned earlier, your newest album, “Entitled Anonymous”, is loaded with twelve tracks that are armed to the teeth with hooks, power, and drive. Can you explain what went into writing it and the experiences along the way with recording it?

The Sammus Theory: We wanted to try something different for this album. We’ve always been 100% self produced, so we wanted to try finding someone who would fit as one of us to take the driver’s seat with the production side. We were on tour with Cage9 in the Fall of 2012 when we decided to have their singer Evan Rodaniche to do it. He knows our sound and knows our live energy and we feel like he captured it. When it came time to write the album over the holidays, we did it how we usually do. I holed myself up and wrote a big handful of songs. Jeremy came over to my house and we knocked out a couple more together and all of those songs were essentially the backbone of the record. From there, we had Evan bring his ideas into the picture as well. He had a lot of great vocal ideas that he sent my way to work with as well as my own. It was definitely a different experience when you have a co-writer involved. When the pre-production was all finished, we tracked everything at Porcupine Studios in Phoenix, Arizona. I sent all of the tracks to Evan after and he mixed them and added all the “ear-candy” to each song. His mixes and ear really brought these songs to life. All in all, it was a really great experience for us and probably the best as far as making an album goes!

EMURG: The track, “Numb”, finds the band once again taking the listener on a chaotic ride of insanity with driving guitar riffs and interesting lyrics. what is the story behind this song? What is this song really about?

The Sammus Theory: Numb is a song about something everyone experiences at one point in their life but from a different perspective. Everyone has been in a situation where they numb themselves to their own feeling and emotion to cater to a person who needs more than anyone can give. It’s borderline emotional abuse and when you’re caught up in it, you don’t realize what’s going on until one day you “come online” and see how bad you’ve been dragging yourself through the dirt. It’s from the point of view of someone watching a person going through this situation- seeing the transition of being a person who’s completely numb and mechanical to a person who’s awake and alive.

EMURG: Is there a main concept behind this new album? What do you want listeners to take away from this new album?

The Sammus Theory: The concept of the album is focused on how a person acts when given the opportunity of complete anonymity. The internet is a massive example of this concept. “Trolling” and other forms of harassment happen all the time from people you’ve never met to people who wouldn’t treat others that way in person. There’s a certain sense of self-entitlement. These people feel that their opinion matters so much that they need to express it whether it’s destructive or not. Hence the album title, “Entitled Anonymous”. We always want our fans to get their own message from our music though. We know what the songs are about, but it’s always much more personal when a person can form their own meaning and have it be parallel to something going on in their life. That’s the power of music…it can mean something completely different from person to person.

EMURG: What is on the horizon for the band in 2013? Is there anything you’d like to convey to listeners to help them get a better idea what The Sammus Theory is all about?

The Sammus Theory: We’re currently on our “Powered by the People” tour and will be out touring on our current album until the end of the year, with hitting the whole country. I’d like to say that if you’ve never seen us live you’re missing out! Not because of just us but because of the fans and the energy of the room. It’s something I can’t explain to its full extent. We have a way of connecting with our crowds that is unique and I think everyone feels it as much as we do.

PART I

EMURG: What artist(s)/band(s)/songs/album(s) have influenced you as a band?

Nick: Well, we all listen to different genres that range from classic rock to electronic music. We all have different tastes as well, but if I had to say specific bands it would be early 90′s stuff like STP, Alice In Chains, Nirvana, and especially bands like Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. We’re fans of all kinds of music and everything is an influence so that’s a tough question!

EMURG: What is each member of the band currently listening to right now?

Nick: I’ve been on a Beatles kick lately, Rubber Soul, and Revolver. I have also been digging a Swedish band called Graveyard. They have a throwback vibe but it’s just some cool rock songs. One of my guilty pleasures is the new Bruno Mars cd because it’s a pretty awesome cd!

EMURG: The members of Stardog Champion have played many shows in various bands throughout the years. What show/performance has been the favorite for each band member? Can you elaborate as to why these shows were considered special to you?

Nick: I would have to say The Whisky in LA with my last band. It’s not the biggest or nicest place I’ve played. Hell, we didn’t even have the best show there, but that place is legendary! It was just cool to be on the same stage that so many other great artists have played on in the past. I could think of more but that’s one that jumps out in my mind.

EMURG: What are your current views of the music industry? How does Stardog Champion fit into the ever growing landscape of the music industry?

Nick: It’s a scary place out there for rock bands right now with all of this manufactured, auto tuned, American Idol, pop material floating around. It just seems so polished and shiny to me. I think that rock music needs to make a comeback. I mean we’re not inventing the wheel, but we’re a good rock band. Rock n roll isn’t about sounding “perfect” but it’s about attitude and we’re going to do our part to bring some of that back!

EMURG: If you want people to remember you for one song it would be?

Nick: Probably the song, “Aphrodite”, because it’s one of, if not the first song we wrote together as a band. It’s pretty tough to just pick one song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmaMcvQ_JlM

PART II

EMURG: Stardog Champion’s members have been apart of some great musical groups such as Breaking Benjamin, The Drama Club, and Lifer. What made the former members of these bands decide to combine forces to make Stardog Champion? Can you give us the history of how the band came to be?

Aaron: The catalyst for this band was actually an acting gig believe it or not. Mark, Nick, and I played members of an acoustic death metal band, “Gentle Rape”, in my buddy’s web series, “The Coxton Campaign”. Being involved in that project paved the way for us with jamming and writing songs together.

EMURG: The album “Exhale” is a refreshing blast of hard rock that is greatly needed in the world of music. What is the overall concept of this album? Can you describe the events and experiences that went into making “Exhale”?

Aaron: Mark, Nick, and I wrote a whole slew of songs in the last two years together while trying to craft the “sound” of the band. We definitely made it a point to lean to the looser, more sloppier side of rock rather than the pro-tooled, metallic stuff Mark and I had been doing for the past ten years. It’s not that that stuff wasn’t great, but we are just in the mood and have the freedom now to explore some different sounds.

EMURG: Stardog Champion’s debut single, “When We Fall”, is a blistering track in which the listener is introduced to the band’s high energy and presence. What is this song about?

Nick: It’s about the distractions that we have in our lives that we thrive on (TV, Facebook, media, etc.) and how we forget how to communicate as a society. We’re supposed to be so socially connected, but I think we’re more separated than ever before.

EMURG: What doe you want fans to take away from “Exhale”?

Aaron: That it’s simply a cool rock band with some decent songs!

EMURG: When can listeners expect a full album from the band? Is there an album in the works?

Aaron: This EP was self-funded DIY kind thing, but if we get picked up by a label, then a full-length album will soon follow. 2014 maybe?

EMURG: Aaron Fink’s guitar playing is better than ever and it’s evident on “Exhale”. What was Aaron’s mindset with co-writing this EP? What type of gear is Aaron using in his arsenal?

Aaron: Danka! All I used on there was my 50 watt Randall, a Krank head, and a P-90 style PRS along with an Eastwood Airline guitar. Nice and simple. All you need is three chords and the truth. Now that I actually think about it, I might have overdid it!

EMURG: Nick Coyle has a history of fronting bands like Life and The Drama Club to his own solo career. How does Stardog Champion differ from the other bands that Nick has been involved in?

Nick: I think the songwriting process is the most different because everyone is involved in the writing process. We’re all writing music and lyrical arrangements to the best of our abilities. We do whatever is best for the song without having any rules to follow.

EMURG: What can fans expect from the band’s live performance?

Aaron: We will try to make every show different so that we can keep the fans coming back for more. We’re not going to use the same set list every time! Plus, we want to incorporate a few surprises along the way!

EMURG: What is the band’s schedule like for 2013? Are you going to be touring or headlining any shows?

Nick: We have a few things in the works right now. We’ll be in a town near you soon!

EMURG: At the end of the day, what do you hope that Stardog Champion will contribute to the world of music?

Aaron: Good songs, good songs, good songs, and you guessed it…GOOD SONGS! That’s always been a guiding force and always will be for all of us in Stardog Champion.

Part I

EMURG: What artist(s)/band(s)/song(s)/album(s) influenced you as a band?

Stockham: Growing up it was all the good 90′s rock music that was on the radio like Nirvana, Tool, Rage, AIC, Pearl Jam, etc. Some of the lesser known bands like Quicksand, Failure, and Far and Carrion. These days I think we’re less inspired by other music and more by just personal experiences and feelings, and by the desire to hear an idea come to life in the form of a song.

EMURG: What are the members of Middle Class Rut listening to right now?

Stockham: About the only “new” thing I’ve heard that made me feel something is the new NK record, “Nothing to Be Gained Here”. Other than that, I listen to a lot of talk radio, NPR, classical, that sorta thing.

EMURG; What has been your favorite show/performance so far in your career as musicians?

Stockham: Oh man, I don’t think a single show jumps out at me. We’ve had a lot of great shows in strange places like Poughkeepsie, NY. Every time we’re in Tuscon, AZ, we have a great time! We won a battle of the bands in Chico once, that was pretty defining.

EMURG: What made you both decide to form Middle Class Rut?

Stockham; I don’t think it was even a conscious decision, more like a really quick evolution. We started jamming and after a while we started compiling a bunch of songs. We needed to call ourselves something….Jesus Christ was already taken, so we stole a lyric from a song, M-C RUT.

PART II

EMURG: After listening to your music, Middle Class Rut’s sound is nothing short of a colossal giant that is hell bent on delivering amazing music to the masses. Tell us, what makes Middle Class Rut an upcoming juggernaut in the music industry of today?

Stockham: I think the only thing we’re hell bent on is reserving our spot at the campground of life and just continuing to exist – keeping the flame alive. Things that explode, tend to hurt people and disappear pretty quickly, so in that sense I’m thankful that we never really “blew up”. We just want to keep doing our thing for as long as we can, and as long as it feels worthwhile.

EMURG: On your album, “Pick Up Your Head”, you claim that the entire album was recorded in one room. Can you describe what the experience was like recording this album and what your mindset was with recording this album?

Stockham: Maybe “one room” was some kind of metaphor. The writing/recording was sort of split into two phases. The first being a very prolific period, creatively, a purging of ideas. The second phase was a more systematic approach, just finishing things up and organizing, and getting ready to hand it all over to someone else to put the finishing touches on it.

EMURG: Middle Class Rut is set to take the stage at Rock on the Range in Columbus, OH. What can the audience expect to see from your live performance?

Stockham: Five dudes playing music. Hopefully, the same songs at the same time. A good amount of energy…almost like a live workout video! Possibly a technical difficulty or two. A little banter and a lot of volume!

EMURG: What bands are you most excited to see at this year’s Rock on the Range?

Stockham: I’m pretty excited to see Soundgarden for the first time since Lollapalooza in 1996. We also toured with Alice In Chains a couple of years ago. They are an awesome band and we are pretty excited to see their new stuff live. Beware of Darkness are badass, and are also our label mates. There should be plenty of great loud music to check out this year!

EMURG: What do you want fans to take away from your live performance at Rock on the Range? Is there anything else you’d like to add to finish out this interview?

Stockham: Nah, we just want to have fun and give everyone, including ourselves, a chance to let go for a few minutes.