E: The Panic Division is part of the Militia Group's newest wave of signings, a label with a fairly long history of successful releases. Do you think you and your contemporaries represent a new direction the label is taking, or do you feel you're a good extension of the tradition the artists releasing before you set?
Tavis: I definitely think the label is taking a new direction, but I also feel we fit in with the majority of Militia Group bands. The thing I've found with all the artists on the Militia Group is they all write really great songs and that's all that should really matter.
E: Your new album, Versus, was set for release not too long after the sign was announced and your name became more highly publicized to fans. Do you think the release date of the album was strategically set to take full advantage of when the most buzz was surrounding your name? What do you think are the benefits and drawbacks of releasing an album just after hitting the main public eye?
Tavis: Well, we wanted to release the record this summer sometime, but record deals take time and we ended up pushing the release date back to November 1st. The record was regionally released in April and then shortly after we got the phone call from Rory. It only makes sense to get the record out there as soon as possible.
E: How does a band like yours keep busy prior to the widespread release of their album?
Tavis: Trust me, there is plenty to do before your record gets released. We were supposed to be on tour right now but the agent flaked on us and now we are getting ready to leave October 22nd for a tour with Terminal and Thin Dark Line. After that we go on tour with Race the Sun and The Goodwill until mid-December. So right now we are playing some regional shows, getting our merch together and saving up cash for our tour.
E: Do you think the San Antonio scene is an area that hasn't really broken out yet? Is there some extensive band heritage there that's gone unappreciated?
Tavis: Eh, San Antonio is notorious for having pretty awful bands. And I can't deny that fact. But... there are definitely some bands that could/could've been great if they would've had the opportunity to be exposed. I think we might see a few more bands from San Antonio break. I have one band in particular that I plan on getting out there called Space Man Spiff. They are originally from Boerne, a suburb of San Antonio, but they now all live in Dallas.
E: What elements of your career so far make you feel like you had the experience you needed to have before getting signed and releasing on a label?
Tavis: Well I think we all have felt we were ready to get our music out there for a long time. The reality of the situation is that right now is probably the best time for us to get out there on a national level.
E: Do you think a song should get worked to death and become totally completed before being released to fans? Or do you advocate letting fans watch the evolution of your material?
Tavis: I think I can speak for all of us when I say I think the song should be completely finished before letting anything get out. I mean, it's cool to let fans hear new songs even if they are completely finished live, but definitely not on any sort of CD. That would be like looking at an unfinished painting.
E: Have you seen a notable growth in fans recently?
Tavis: Yes. We have seen a huge increase in all around hits on all of our sites. It's really all about publicity and that's one of the big reasons we were stoked about Militia. They promote the crap out of their bands.
E: Have your goals as a band changed at all as you've become more knowledgeable of the career's workings?
Tavis: Well, I think finally having someone backing us has helped as far as knowing that someone out there believes in our music like we do. But our goals have pretty much stayed the same. One of the big goals was to get signed. Now we are focusing on building a big national fan base by touring.
E: What do you think changes visibly/audibly in a band's material as they grow as songwriters?
Tavis: Well from what I've seen, a lot of bands start out having absolutely no structure to their songs, or they have one structure and all their songs are pretty much the same. Normally I notice better-flowing songs and usually better vocals and vocal melodies when bands grow.
E: Well thanks a lot! Anything else you want to add?
Tavis: Peace in the Middle East. |
