UN: Do you feel that there was a natural progression from Last Night in Town to Hot Damn! I think you guys basically still have the same core sound, but the songwriting is much more concise now and each song has it‘s own identity. Was it a conscious decision to write a catchier record?

Keith: We always tried to write a catchy record, but never were able to do it successfully. Not to say that hot damn is a success, as I think we'll keep progressing, but it is definitely a much more concise, cohesive record than LNIT

UN: I was curious to ask where the new found rock influence came from? I thought Last Night in Town was amazing, but the new rock type riffs on Hot Damn! make ETID a much more original band in my opinion. When most people incorporate rock into their sound, it’s mainly indy style. It’s a nice change to hear some almost Southern or blues influenced rock come into a more chaotic setting.

Keith: We all grew up on classic rock. That's pretty much the common thread that runs through our band. Not until writing Hot Damn! did we come to terms with it, and try to incorporate it into our music. We never thought it had a place in "hardcore", but as we grew and became more comfortable, we felt it was something we could appropriately tie in.

UN: I was really impressed by the amount of effort that went into the cd booklet. Most bands are content slapping a skull on the cover and giving you a two page booklet with lyrics and a thanks list. I was wondering if you guys had specific themes in mind for the photos used within the booklet. From an artistic point of view, it seems like you may have just given the photographer a basic idea and he came back with the photos. I was also curious to ask which you consider to be the actual album cover, the cardboard slip case, or the picture of the two girls?

Keith: Basically, we gave Jake Bannon an idea and he and the photographer, Chris Callohan took it into consideration and tried to acclimate their vision to the song themes and lyrics and moods that the music created. We certainly didn't intend to have the girls on the cover, but Jake thought it was bold enough and visually stunning enough to sort of "represent" the album. To me, that will always be the cover. The cardboard slip is sort of like the front door, but the true substance is what's beneath

UN: Lyrically there always seems to be a certain theme for an entire song, yet at the same time it has a stream of conscious feel to it. It is important to remain somewhat cryptic with the bands lyrics? They aren’t neat and tidy and laid out for easy consumption.

Keith: Yea, cynicism and prose are the two vehicles with which I can work most easily when writing. I don't think it’s a very prevalent combination in the "hardcore" scene, so I'm hoping that what I do will remain original for some time, still. Even if it doesn't, hopefully I can be viewed as one of the first to attempt it.

UN: I find it pretty unique that you guys actually explore more sexual topics in some of the songs. It seems like sex is taboo within hardcore. Not that there’s anything overtly sexual in your lyrics, but it’s something that hardly ever gets talked about, but come on, it’s something everyone thinks about. Any idea why the topic is hardly ever tackled?

Keith: I think the topic of sex is so tabboo because the hardcore scene, in its basest form, is a boys club. It was fight club before there was fight club. And though when most people think of the proud, strong, alpha male they think of some sort of domineering sexual figure, that's not the case within the scene. I think that a lot of people attribute a very effeminate characteristic to the topic of sex. People can HAVE sex, but no one talks about it because it’s not supposed to contain a remainder. No lasting effects. For me, who is NOT macho, who is in no way a Tony Soprano alpha male type person, I think talking about it is not necessary, but at least acceptable. I’m ok with it, MORESO because I KNOW it makes people uncomfortable. I’m good at doing that.

UN: One line really stuck in my head, the greatest lovers were murderers first. I know a lot of people don’t like going into any detail about lyrical meanings, but feel like divulging anything about this tune? I find it one of the most interesting songs lyrically on the album.

Keith: I think that the passion involved in hurting someone is equivalent to that required to love. It’s the same exhilaration, just aimed from a different part of your being. and if you know that you are capable of destroying, you come to terms with all that is necessary to effectively nurture.

UN: When I picked up Hot Damn! I had to special order it because the stores in my city hardly ever carry Ferret releases. But now it seems like they are everywhere and pretty damned cheap too. I’m assuming that Ferret must have a new distributor. Do you find that your records are more accessible to people now? I’m sure with Last Night in Town especially it must have been hard for some people to track down.

Keith: Yea ferret is becoming a very ubiquitous label. Their bands are doing and have done some amazing things, and now that sony red distributes them, as does roadrunner in Europe, they will be more accessible than ever.

UN: Would you say that Glassjaw was a big influence on ETID? I don’t hear it much musically anymore, but the way you guys don’t use conventional song structures, and the lyrical approach reminds me of Glassjaw.

Keith: I think Darryl is a great writer and I think Justin Beck is an amazing musician. They used to influence me personally a lot, only because I admired Darryl's voice. Once I read his lyrics I knew that his talents were much more extensive than I had originally thought. I admittedly wished I had that skill. but as etid progressed and we came into out own, I also came into my own and found my own voice, both lyrically and vocally. But the same can be said about people like Mike Patton or Thom York. their lyrics and vocals exceed what is expected of just a "musician". Those people are genius.

UN: ETID seem to spend almost an endless amount of time on the road. I was curious to ask about set lists. Do you guys change it up every night or do you guys keep the set lists fairly similar? I’m assuming you guys must hit the same cities more then once, so I’m sure you must switch things up at least occasionally.

Keith: We used to change it up almost every night, but now that we're headlining we need to get into a groove, and the best way to do that is through repetition. We NEVER play the same set in the same city twice. the same songs might be there, but there's always a different order or samples or segues.

UN: This one goes along with the last question, were you guys playing any of the Hot Damn! songs live before the album had come out? Some bands like to test the waters a bit I guess. Would you say it’s still too early to hear any brand new songs while you guys are on the road?

Keith: We played Romeo a go- go for months before the record came out. We have a brand new song for the next album that we're playing already, but the record isn't going to come out for another year

UN: You guys seem to have been on tour constantly since Hot Damn! was released. Do you think the touring is paying off in terms of getting your name out there and possibly selling more copies of the new album? After all, bigger things seem to be coming your way. Ozzfest in particular, comes to mind.

Keith: Every day that we get to play music that kids can relate to and find the time to support is another mission accomplished.

UN: How did the opportunity to play Ozzfest come about? I couldn’t even believe the line-up of the second stage when it was released. It’s almost like a mini-hardcore fest within the actual fest. Do you think this is a sign that the popularity of this music is on the rise? It seems like a lot of metal fans would be into say what you guys are doing, or bands like Unearth, or God Forbid, but I guess maybe they just haven’t been introduced to those bands yet. I sure this Ozzfest will help introduce more people to the hardcore scene. Look what it did for Hatebreed after all.

Keith: I think this brand of music is definitely becoming more popular. It’s getting to the point where people are getting laid BECAUSE they're in the scene. I remember when you used to go to shows because you were the outsider. That's not the case anymore. but, it’s amazing that bands like us and unearth and LOG and BT get to play Ozzfest and get the exposure without altering their sound or attitudes toward the music they've been playing for years

UN: Does it seem weird to you at all that so many hardcore bands are making videos these days? I guess it’s a necessary evil within the music scene of today. But you could also look at it from the point of view of say maybe a fan who has never had the chance to check out a band live. It gives them some sort of visual reference to go on.

Keith: I think its a great opportunity for the band to feel some sort of validation for the hard work they put in to their music. The constant touring, the shows night after night, loading gear, dealing with shitty promoters who are trying to make a buck by ripping you off. EVERYONE that is in a band, no matter what kind, started off with the dream of being a "rockstar" when they were little. Doing a video revitalizes that awe, that excitement of attaining a childhood dream. No one is too jaded to forget what that feels like.

UN: Is anything in the works for the next album yet? I was curious to ask if you guys had the chance to write on the road at all. Lyrically I could see having time to write, but when most of the time is probably spent driving, I’m not sure how much time the band would have to pick up a guitar and work on what could eventually turn into an ETID song.

Keith: We never write on the road. touring and writing are two different animals for us. We're not going to let one spoil the other.

UN: Now that hardcore music seems to be all the rage these days, have any offers from bigger labels came in? I’d say you guys are still way too extreme to be embraced by the typical pop/punk loving crowd, but is getting on a bigger label something you guys would be into? I’m sure ultimately you’d want to get your music to as many people as possible.

Keith: We think we've found the perfect way to have "mainstream" opportunities without giving in to the major label demands. We are incredibly lucky to be on ferret, and to have the understandings that we do.