Features

Elway recently released a new album on Red Scare called “Better Whenever”. I think it should have just been called “Better”. Because it is. Here’s an email interview we did with Tim. Enjoy!

PRT: First of all, congrats on the new album! I read that you didn't want any hoopla or bullshit when the album came out. Why's that? I think this album needs all the hoopla can throw at it.

Tim: I think our expectations as a band have changed significantly over the past couple of years.  With this record, we wanted the songs to speak for themselves rather than putting a lot of effort into promotion and PR.  I obviously want people to hear and enjoy the record, but on their own terms.  We don't need to insist on ourselves anymore, and I'm personally a bit remiss that we ever did.

PRT: This one sounds different from your other albums. Was it a conscious decision to change things up a little or did the songs just come out that way?

Tim: Playing the same two and a half minute long pop punk songs gets exhausting when you're playing hundreds of shows, and it's hard for us to get as excited about the tiny subgenre that we belong to these days.  We obviously can't fully change the band that we are, but I think this record is a combination of wanting to try a few new things and being bound by our mutual limitations.

PRT: Besides the songs being really good, the thing I like most about the album is how it gives off the feeling of a band doing what they want to be doing. Would it be fair to say that at this point you don't care anymore about other people's expectations and that you are doing this just for yourself?

Tim: That is 100% correct.  I write these songs because I feel I have to.  We play together because it's fun and we aren't sure how to not be in the band together.  Nothing else has any bearing on our music.

PRT: I am intrigued by the album cover. Can you tell me a little bit more about it? What's with the white circles? I thought it meant women think with their heads, but that would mean men think with their hearts… which is different from what I've always been told we think with.

Tim: The art was done by our good friend Lindee Zimmer.  It isn't meant to be some kind of axiomatic statement about sexes or genders, nor is it meant to be a metaphor for affectation or relationships.  It means something very personal to me, and I leave the interpretation to you.

PRT: The new album is out on Red Scare again. Now, I read somewhere that you ended up with them after meeting Brendan from the Lawrence Arms in a bar. Who else would you like to run into in a bar and what would you like to come out of that meeting?

Tim: The story with Brendan is true, with a lot of uninteresting pieces of logistic nonsense that followed.  I would love to meet Elon Musk in a bar, and I'd love for him to hire me to work at SpaceEx.

PRT: Bands always – logically – always say that their latest album is their best work so far. Looking back, which release are you least proud of and why? Or are there no regrets?

Tim: There are a lot of things that I would change about our back catalogue if I had the chance, but why should I even bother with such pointless self-indulgence?  I am proud of what we've accomplished as a band.

PRT: On another note, what does it feel like to be the first person to ever accurately describe Chuck Ragan's voice?

Tim: I just calls em like I sees em.

PRT: Seeing as you'll be playing the Fest again this year, I was wondering if you could also accurately describe what a Fest band is exactly?

Tim: A Fest band is a band that conscientiously makes themselves available months in advance to spend the last weekend of October in Florida.  This will be our 6th year.  We are excited.

PRT: You have your album release show coming up next month. Which show are you most looking forward to… the Fest or the release show in your hometown?

Tim: It's hard to say which show we're more excited for.  Fest is always a good time, and the show is always a weird brand of awesome.  Playing in Fort Collins for our closest friends is a very special feeling though, and it's never a bad time.  Don't make me choose.