San Diego-based post-hardcore band, Pierce The Veil, returned to New York City for a sold out show at Irving Plaza on their Misadventures Tour with special guests I The Mighty and Movements. Side Stage Magazine sat down with bassist Jaime Preciado and drummer Mike Fuentes before their set to talk about their brand new album and headlining tour.
Side Stage Magazine: Alright guys, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us today! Let’s dive right in. It’s been four year since the release of your last album, Collide With The Sky, how does it feel to finally have your new record Misadventures out there?
Jaime Preciado: It’s a dream come true. It’s a goddamn dream come true for us.
Mike Fuentes: It’s a celebration. Every night we celebrate and the fact that we’re playing the new record through every night on this tour and kids are singing along– every word of our old songs and our new songs, it’s just blowing our minds.
JP: Yeah, 100%. It feels like a weight has been lifted from our shoulders and it feels so unbelievable and it’s such a relief.
I can only imagine. I mean, if you don’t mind me asking, what took so long? With music today, four years can almost be like an eternity…
JP: You know, I just think the record wasn’t right; it wasn’t ready. We kept trying to figure out what it needed. We had it and it didn’t feel right– we weren’t content with it, you know? And for us, being in the position that we’re at, we can kind of do things the way we want to do them now and when everyone– labels, management, etc.– was like “yo, we need to get this record done” we just didn’t want to put out a product that didn’t feel right for us, so that’s pretty much what took so long.
We had an idea going into the process– we had a plan, but a couple of detours took us in different ways and so that’s why we called it ‘Misadventures’
MF: Yeah, the name Misadventures comes from all of these things that got in our way. It wasn’t really what we had expected– you know, Vic had to really search within to find those meaningful lyrics, so he took a lot of trips around to get inspired and whatnot and eventually he finished the last song in Seattle and it was done.
JP: Done-done and now a weight has been lifted!
Do you think part of the delay came with any pressure of how well received Collide With The Sky was with fans?
JP: No, not entirely. I think with every record, we do things right and we do things wrong and I think we went into this record kind of knowing what kind of record wanted to make and I think we made the right decision to really take our time and focus on what we really wanted and put out an album that we’re really proud of and that we really like and that we really like to play and that we like to listen to.
MF: Our producer too, Dan Korneff, he did Collide [With The Sky] as well, and we’re so comfortable with him now, that he takes a lot of the pressure of for us because he’s in the same in the same boat as us as far as if it’s not ready, it’s not ready. Together, we all just really wanted to get it right and he was supportive of taking all the time it takes. And the fact that he stayed with us the whole time even though past 18 deadlines was absolutely amazing.
JP: Yeah, [Dan] make a good point, he told us, “Think of your favorite album,” and then asked, “ do you remember when it came out?” and I was like “I have no idea when they came out.” And then we realized it didn’t matter– people won’t remember when the record came out, but if you put out something great, then longevity of it will carry through– 5 years– 10 years down the road, so that’s what we really wanted to do.
Well, I must say, the record was well worth the wait. How do you think you guys have grown since your last album and having gone through such a lengthy process?
JP: I still can’t grow any facial hair, which is unfortunate. No, uh, I think as a band we’ve definitely grown. Every record we do is like a snapshot of where the band is at and I think we’ve matured and like I said earlier, I think we’ve definitely learned the right and wrong ways to do things so I’m sure our next record — oh man, I don’t even want to think about that right now [chuckle]– but, yeah, hopefully the next record we do some other things differently and try new things and keep exploring.
Fair enough, we’ll keep the focus on the here and now and the current record – which you guys officially celebrated with a release show in Mexico City. How did that feel?
JP: That one was a cool– bottomline awesome time. Just because the fact that we were able to do that– because like with everything that we there’s always that back and forth of it’s not going to happen, then it was going to happen, and then it wasn’t and then at the very last second the venue opened up and it worked out and it was a great night. It was a total celebration– it was the night that we were finally like “this is it!” the record is out worldwide and we got to do it in a cool spot in Mexico City.
MF: Mexico City has always been so energetic– like the kids and the crowds there are just so pumped up
JP: Kids are ferocious, if that’s a word you can use to describe fans like that, but in a good way, you know?
MF: Yeah the fans are so pumped up it just worked and we played a lot of new songs off the record and a lot of old songs as well and it was just a party
JP: Total party– it was our first show back in a really long time, so it was definitely a crazy night for everyone
MF: I think there was over 4,000 fans there– it was insane
That’s awesome, so how do you guys feel about your US tour that’s going on now?
JP: It’s great! I’m honestly so shocked that people actually know the record front to back. I was a little hesitant– I think we all were nervous to see how it was going to go because we’ve never done anything like this. We’ve never actually really seen anyone else do this on a release like this– especially in these like smaller, intimate rooms– you know, it’s very in your face. So playing the new songs, actually turned out to be one of my favorite things we’ve done just because you can tell that kids are just feeling it the whole way through and like you can tell which songs certain kids like more than other and they lose their minds [over songs they love]; it’s really cool.
I think Vic even says it on stage, it’s kind of like a once in a lifetime type thing– like we’re not going to do this again and it’s special. You know, if I saw one of my favorite bands do that, I would like go talk about it right now with everyone.
Yeah, I was about to say like, bands don’t usually play the record through– only for like an anniversary thing.
MF: We’re so proud of what we’ve created with this record and you know, we were in the studio finishing it up and I think our producer was like “hey, you guys should just play this whole record live for the first tour; right off the bat” and we’re like “Naaaah, that’s crazy.”
JP: Yeah, our biggest fear was “what if [our fans] hate it?”
MF: Totally, but as we were getting closer to finishing the record, we we’re like “let’s fucking do it!”
JP: This really ended up becoming something special for the kids who have been patiently waiting and that’s why we put it in such small rooms. It’s like let’s not make this a big thing, let’s make it nice and intimate for the fans who were super patient and waited forever for this– like this is not only our celebration, it’s theirs as well.
That’s awesome– it’s always cool to see bands thinking about their fans and wanting to give them something that says “thank you.”
JP/MF: Totally and for us, that’s this.
SSM: So since you are playing the record through this tour, what’s your favorite song to play live?
JP: Oh this is different– we usually get asked what our favorite song off the record is. You know, I really like “Bedless” — it’s soo freaking groovy — I’m so amped up during the stage, so it’s like this left turn and a totally different vibe. You’re just up there noodling and it’s a cool song and kids are singing really loud to that one so that’s one of my favorites.
MF: I’d have to say “Texas Is Forever” — that’s my bread and butter — I love playing fast and that’s got a cool break downy thing in there that kids go off to — so that one and “Floral & Fading” which is like the complete opposite. It’s like the slowest tempo song we have and that one– kids just sing it so loud and it really makes me happy.
Very cool. I think we’re running out of time, so just one final question that I just need to know, especially since you’re on brand new tour– so Pierce The Veil live shows is that you guys always have these large than life elements on stage. They’re incredible, but I need to know… what do you guys do with those crazy props after tour?
MF: Oh man, we actually just had to rent a second storage unit because of this.
JP: Yeah, we really need a PTV yard sale or something. It’s getting out of hand.
MF: One of our storage units, you can’t even get inside it anymore.
JP: If we ever become one of those big bands, we have plenty of stuff to to contribute to an exhibit thing. Tons, actually. Yeah, there’s so much stuff.
MF: Yeah, one of these days we’ll find time to clear it out and do something special, but for now, it’s just chillen in storage.
SSM: Well, I’m sure fans would love to see a charity yard sale one day or an killer exhibit down the road.
JP: Yeah, that would be sweet.
Awesome, well I can’t wait to see what the stage looks like tonight and thank you guys so much for taking the time to chat with us!
JP/MF: Thank you!
As expected, the stage design for this tour is once again larger than life and brings Pierce The Veil’s new album Misadventure to live. You can catch Pierce The Veil on the Misadventures Tour through the rest of June – visit piercetheveil.com for dates & tickets!
Check out photos from the show below!
