uweekly-trail of dead finds inspiration in chinese philosophy and van halen

'Trail of Dead" finds inspiration in,- \ -

Chinese philosophy and Van HalenBY GEENA MARIE VOLPE

Austin Texas band ..• And You WillKnow Us by the Trail of Dead hasembarked on the start of their

North American tour in support of theirseventh studio album, "Tao Of The Dead."Guitarist and half of the writing duo behindthe band, Jason Reece, spoke with UWeeklyabout the new record, as well as findinginspiration from Chinese philosophy in,"Tao Te Ching," setting new hopes in pastproducers and following a career path thatyou can believe in.

UW: Why did you choose "Tao Of TheDead," as the title of your new album?

-Well, the second half of the record,"Strange News from Another Planet,"most of the lyrics are inspired by the "TaoTe Ching." We had the "Tao Te Ching" inthe studio. It was the only book, bes~desthe Van Halen coffee table book, and forsome reason the Tao, it's pretty inspira-tiona I in a deeper, more substantial andspiritual way. Whereas the Van Halen coffee tablebook is more about sex, drugs and rock n' roll. So, Ithink we were trying to mold the two together - inone way. [Laughs] By naming "Tao OfThe Dead -Way Of The ~ead," y'know? It's kind of silly [and]kind of more of a joke and we're just sort of takingit and making it humorous in one way.

UW: In what way did the "Tao Te Ching"inspire your lyrics?

Well, I think there was a lot of practical phi-losophies that could be applied to your every daylife. Most of the practical things I read in the Taois trying to be honorable and being a good personand showing strength within your character. Andsort of finding a way to exist in this world and riseabove from all the negativity and realize that it'sall really nothing in the end.

UW: How do you consistently come out Yvitha new album everyone to two.years, withoutfeeling rushed or needing a break?

I just feel like, we've always been very goodabout writing and just, y'know, we definitely don'tjust put out records to put out records. We definitelywant to make a point, and -Wedefinitely want -tomake each record stand on its own and be its ownstatement and its own voice. We're our own harsh-est critics and we definitely work hard and we try tokeep busy. I never knew we were going to be in aband for this long. [Laughs] But, I guess, now thatI've chosen tbis way of living and this lifestyle this, Iguess I'm just a cliche in one way, but I'm a musicianand that's what musicians do. Th!s is our calling.

UW: Did you ever feel it was necessary tohave a plan to fall back on?

Earlier on, when Iwas younger, Iwent to collegefor a little while. When Iwas going to college, I real-:•.i2!~d.1was wasting a bunch of fTlon~y on something

I didn't necessarily believe in. I started to feel like Iwasn't really focusing on what I truly wanted to do,which was to make music and make albums and tourand be a gypsy and be in a band that makes a differ-ence. So, I really kind had to come up with a decisionto throw myself into what I believed in. It seems tobe working out. [Laughs] It's a lot of work, but it'ssomething Itruly can be proud of. Where as, if Iwereworking at a desk job somewhere in someplace I'dkind offeellosCI guess, in a way.

UW: Do you and Conrad Keely often switchup instruments?

Well, on the new album I play all guitar. I didn'treally play drums and Conrad didn't play drums. Wejust composed. But, when we do the live thing - Iguess it's kind of like, well, whoever wrote the songusually sings the song and that's usually is whatdetermines who plays what. [Laughs] On this newrecord there's some moments where we're bothsinging on the same song. So, it's interesting becausewe kind have this more of like a back in forth sort of •thing going on, especially with the big track at theend, "Strange News From Another Planet." Thefirst part of the album, definitely, there's some playbetween choruses and verses and what not.

UW: What are you looking forward to mostfrom the U.S. tour?

I would love to just play our hearts out andsee what happens. America is a huge vast placeand there's so many great cities to play and thenthere's the cities that suck. So, you just kind of haveto take it-as it comes. I've been over this country somany times that it's very familiar. So, I'm hopingthere'll be something that will surprise me, in theend. [Laughs]

... And You!Viii Know Usby the Trail of Dead willbe playing at the Basement, on May.s.

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