PlayBack Press: Alrighty. To start with, tell me about the Warped Tour experience this year. I know that you guys have gone from playing little side stages next to merch tents to playing on the main stages everyday. What was that transition like?
Matt Shelton: Well for us it wasn’t much of a change because when we played last year that was kind of our learning process. We spent all summer long just trying to get used to the schedule and playing at different times of the day on different stages. We were very fortunate our first year, 2003, to be able to play a lot of different stages and different days, and we were very fortunate to play even the whole thing. So coming back this past year, for us it was just more comfortable ‘cuz a lot of our friends that we’ve gotten from bands we’ve played with the past 2 years were on this year’s Warped Tour, and so it was a lot more comfortable and a lot more at home. With the album coming out in the middle of Warped Tour, that defiantly made it, you know, that much better than the last one. We had different fans come out and support us, and different people would jump in and join along with what we were doing.

PBP: Speaking of the Warped Tour, I’ve talked to some guys who said there were some crazy parties going on. Do you guys have any crazy party stories?
MS: Not really. *laughs* I’m not much of a partier, so I just kinda hang out and do whatever. Hang out with people and talk, nothing crazy.

PBP: Now you have such a loyal underground fan base. Do you have any experiences that just stick out in your mind that a fan has said or done?
MS: There’s a lot of weird stuff that happens as far as that goes. Most of it’s really cool, just the fact that people care enough about our band and care enough about our music to go to extremes. The other night was the first time I’ve ever seen a Letter Kills tattoo, and that to me was a huge honor. To know that that person really cares about what you do and feels that they’re enough a part of it to get a tattoo, something permanent like that, to me that speaks millions. A lot of things, like people find out that I like chocolate and they’ll bring me chocolate to shows and things like that, or they’ll celebrate our birthdays and give us birthday cards. Things like that, the little stuff. At first it’s kind of weird that you think people really sit at home and find out all this stuff about you like when your birthday is or where you live and your background, but at the same time it’s only because they actually enjoy what you do and they care enough about what you do and they just want to be a part of it. To me that’s really cool.

PBP: Now what is your favorite song off The Bridge?
MS: My favorite song would have to be in two parts, of course, it’s “Hold my Heart (Part One” and “Hold my Heart (Part Two),” they go together, and those are my favorite songs on the album.

PBP: I’ve heard some crazy stories about what you do in your live shows. I’ve heard about you swinging from the rafters and everything… So what’s the worst injury you’ve had?
MS: I busted my head open one time and that’s the worst thing that’s ever happened.

PBP: Ouch!
MS: Yeah, it’s pretty bad. That was the most painful thing that’s ever happened.

PBP: Alright, time for the fun questions. Thanksgiving’s coming up, so what’s your favorite side dish?
MS: Stuffing is by far my favorite side.

PBP: If you guys were to be on the show Survivor, who would get kicked off the island first?
MS: I’m gonna say me. I don’t have a reason, but I’ll just say me so I don’t have to say anyone else. *laughs*

PBP: Do you have a celebrity crush?
MS: Meg Ryan.

PBP: If you could go back in time, what period would you travel to?
MS: Easy. It would be anywhere from the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s.

PBP: If you had an unlimited budget and you could put together your dream rock festival, who would play?
MS: The Dixie Chicks, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Cash.

PBP: Ok, last question. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
MS: I think he would chuck probably enough wood as necessary to build whatever he needed to build. *laughs* I think that’s right.