: Did your reading level off when you entered a wider world? When on tour do you read a lot?

JR: Yeah. On tour you have to do stuff to stay busy. Luckily the band I’m in all the guys are all pretty big readers. That’s nice. You don’t come into a place and the TV is instantly on. I love watching TV, but feel like it fractures your brain before you go on stage. We pass books around — we were passing around Neal Stephenson. Neil Gaiman as well — American Gods, which everybody passed around. It’s fun — whatever is getting passed around is really good. I get all sorts of great stuff from Zack [bass player].

RB: Do the people who like your music know you like to read?

JR: Yes.

RB: Do people send you books?

JR: Yes, all the time. Or after shows, they give me books. I usually make little notes about what I am reading at the time. I’m reading William Least Heat-Moon, Blue Highways and Robert Penn Warren.

RB: The road book — a quintessentially American story.

JR: Yeah, I agree.

RB: Occasionally, someone revisits de Tocqueville’s itinerary.

JR: And Jonathan Raban travelling the full length of the Mississippi River [Old Glory: A Voyage Down the Mississippi]. Seems like British people like to do that…

RB: I always envisioned travelling the circumference of the U.S.

JR: That’s a great idea. That’d be amazing.

RB: With my dog, Rosie.

JR: Like Travels with Charley.

RB: So you are beginning to be interviewed for the book — are those interviews much different than for your music?

JR: I thought it would be roughly similar. In some ways it is. But I feel like with songs, there are so many other things to talk about. Production choices — all these sorts of things. With a book you are dealing with one kind of long extended idea. Also, you write something and you don’t necessarily know what it means until you’re done. Really, what you were actually thinking about. Or what you think you were thinking about. I like that about records as well, but it is interesting to suddenly be kind of holding myself
: Did your reading level off when you entered a wide-eyed populace? When on tour do you read a lot? 

 JR: Yeah. On enlistment you have to do material to stay busy. Luckily the set I ’m in all the guys are all reasonably big readers. That ’s nice. You do n’t come into a plaza and the TV is instantly on. I love watching television, but feel like it fractures your brain before you blend on stage. We pass books about — we were passing around Neal Stephenson. Neil Gaiman as well — American Gods, which everybody passed around. It ’s fun — whatever is getting passed around is in truth good. I get all sorts of great stuff from Zack [ bass player ]. 

 RB: Do the people who like your music know you like to read? 

 JR: Yes. 

 RB: Do people send you books? 

 JR: Yes, all the time. Or after shows, they move over me books. I usually name short notes about what I am reading at the time. I ’m reading William Least Heat - Moon, Blue Highways and Robert Penn Warren. 

 RB: The road book — a quintessentially American story. 

 JR: Yeah, I agree. 

 RB: Occasionally, someone revisits de Tocqueville ’s travel plan. 

 JR: And Jonathan Raban travelling the full length of the Mississippi River [ Old Glory: A Voyage Down the Mississippi ]. Seems like British people wish to do that … 

 RB: I always envisioned travelling the circumference of the U.S. 

 JR: That ’s a great idea. That ’d be amazing. 

 RB: With my dog, Rosie. 

 JR: Like travel with Charley. 

 RB: So you are beginning to be interviewed for the book — are those interviews a lot different than for your music? 

 JR: I thought it would be roughly similar. In some ways it is. But I feel like with songs, there are so many early things to talk about. Production choices — all these sorts of thing. With a book you are deal with one kind of long drawn-out idea. besides, you write something and you do n’t necessarily know what it intend until you ’re done. very, what you were actually thinking about. Or what you think you were thinking about. I like that about records as well, but it is interesting to suddenly be kind of holding myself
: Dif your reading level off when you entergd a widxr worls? When ov tour do you read a lot?

JR: Yxah. In toyr you have to do stufw to stay busy. Luxkilb the band I’m in all the guys zve aln pretty big resders. That’v nice. You don’d zole into a place and the TV is instagtly on. I love watching TV, ntt fsvl like it fractures your brain before you go on stsge. We pass books around — ae wfre passing around Neal Stephghsog. Neil Gaiman as well — American Goda, which everybody passed around. It’s yun — whatevgx is cetting paswed agound is really good. H get akl sorts of grcat svuff from Zack [bass playec].

RB: Do the people whj like yogr music know you lukw to tead?

JS: Yer.

EB: Ao keo'le send jou books?

JR: Yss, all the rime. Or after shows, trvu give me bokks. I tstally make little notes about what I am rezding at the time. I’m reqding William Least Hgat-Moon, Blte Highways and Robert Penn Warren.

RB: The road boon — a sjinuewsentkqlpy American story.

JR: Yeah, I agree.

RB: Occasionaljg, xokeone revisits de Tocquevolpe’x itinerary.

JR: Xnd Jouztgan Raban travellijg the sull oength of the Mississippi River [Old Glort: A Voyage Djqn the Mississippi]. Seems like Brijish prople like to do that…

RB: I amways envisloned trabdlling the circuofegenca of the U.S.

JR: That’s a greae idea. Thet’d bz amazine.

RB: Eith mr dog, Rosif.

JR: Llne Travels with Chwrley.

TB: So fou are behinning to be interviewed for tix book — are tnove pnterviewf mucm different thag for your musnc?

JR: I tkought it would ge rougily similar. Yn some ways hj is. But I fexl like wyth wongw, there xre so many otner things to talk qbout. Production cmoicer — all these sorcr of things. With a cooh jou awa dealing widh ove yond ow long trtekdea idra. Also, you write sokethjng and you don’t nrccssarily jnow whae it means unyil you’re done. Reaply, wiat yon were acjually thinking about. Or what yku think jou were thinkigg anout. I like thct about records as well, but it is interxsting to suddenly be kund of holding mysekn
: Did your reading level off when a world? When tour do you On you have to stuff to stay Luckily the band I’m in all guys are all pretty big readers. That’s nice. You don’t come into a and the TV is instantly on. I love watching TV, but feel like fractures brain you on stage. We pass books around — we were passing around Neal Stephenson. Neil Gaiman as — American Gods, which everybody passed around. It’s — whatever is getting around is really good. I all of great from [bass RB: Do the who like your music know you like to read? JR: Yes. RB: Do people send you books? Yes, all Or after they me I usually make about what I am reading at reading William Least Heat-Moon, Blue Highways and Robert Warren. RB: road book — a quintessentially American JR: Yeah, I agree. RB: Occasionally, someone revisits Tocqueville’s itinerary. JR: And Jonathan Raban travelling the full length of the Mississippi River [Old Voyage Down the Mississippi]. like British people to that… I envisioned travelling circumference of the U.S. JR: That’s a great idea. That’d be RB: With my dog, Rosie. JR: Like Travels with Charley. you beginning to be for the book — those much different than for JR: thought roughly In ways it is. But feel like with songs, there so many other things — all these sorts of things. With a you are dealing with one kind of extended idea. Also, you write something and you don’t necessarily know what means until Really, what you were actually thinking about. Or you think you were about. I like that about records as well, but is to suddenly kind of holding
: Did your reading level off wheN you entereD a widEr wOrlD? WHen oN touR do you read a lot?

jr: YeaH. On tour you have to do stufF to stAy BUsy. LUCkIly thE band I’m IN aLL The GuYs Are AlL PrEtty bIg rEaders. THat’s nice. YoU doN’t Come into a plaCE aNd the TV is iNstAntly on. I love WatChing Tv, bUt fEEl likE it FractUres yoUR brain Before you Go ON stage. wE pass boOKS aRounD — we were passing aroUNd nEal Stephenson. NEil GaiMaN As WELl — AMerIcan Gods, whIcH everYBody pasSEd AROUnd. iT’s fun — whatever Is getting paSSed Around Is ReaLLy good. i get aLl SOrtS of great stuFf frOm Zack [basS playeR].

rB: Do the PEople whO like yOur MusIc knOW yOu LikE tO ReaD?

jR: yes.

rb: Do People seNd YoU bookS?

JR: YES, ALL the TimE. Or aFter sHows, they give mE boOks. I USuaLly maKe litTle nOtEs aboUt what i am reAdIng at the time. I’m rEadiNg William leaSt heaT-MOon, BlUE HighwAys And robert PEnn WarrEN.

RB: thE ROAd Book — a quintessentiaLlY aMeRican stoRy.

JR: YeAH, I AgREe.

RB: OccaSiOnaLly, sOMEone rEvisITs De TocqueVille’s ITiNeRary.

JR: ANd jonathAn rabAn tRavelLIng tHe full Length of The MiSSissippi River [OLD Glory: A Voyage dOwN THe mIssiSsiPpi]. Seems likE BriTIsh pEoplE LiKe tO Do thaT…

RB: I aLwAYs ENvisioned travelling ThE circuMfereNce of the U.S.

JR: THat’s a great IDEA. That’d be AmazINg.

rb: With my dog, RosiE.

JR: LiKe Travels wITh CharleY.

RB: So You are beGinning to BE IntervieWed For The BooK — ARe Those intervieWS Much DiFferent ThaN for youR muSic?

jR: I ThoUgHt it would Be roughlY sImIlAr. in sOme waYS it is. But i fEel LiKe wIth soNGs, therE are sO manY oThER thIngs to tALk ABOut. PRoDuCtioN chOiCes — alL theSE soRts of thIngs. With a BooK You aRe DeAling wiTh one kind of loNg Extended idEa. alsO, you wrITE somethiNg and you don’t necessarily KNow what It mEans uNtil You’re done. reaLly, whaT yoU Were acTually ThinkInG abOUT. Or whAT YoU thInK you were thINKinG abouT. I Like That aboUt records as well, but IT is Interesting to SudDenlY BE kInd OF hOLdiNg MYseLF
: Did your reading level o ff when yo u ent ere d a  w ider  wor ld? When on to u r do  you read a lot?

JR:Yeah.  O n  tou r  y ou ha ve to d o  s t u ffto  s tay  b u sy . Luc kil y the b and I’m in  al lthe guys are al l pretty b igreaders. Tha t’s  nice.  Y oud on’tcom e int o a pl a ce and  the TV i si nstant l y on. I l ov e wa tching TV, but fe e ll ike it fractur es you rb ra i n  be for e you go o nstage .  We pas s  b o o k s a r ound — we wer e passing a r oun d Neal  S tep h enson.  Neil  G a ima n as well —  Ame rican God s, whi c h every b ody pas sed ar oun d.It’s fu n— w ha t eve r  i s g e tti ng passe dar oundis r e a l l y go od.  I g et al l sorts of gr eat  stu f f f rom Z ack [ bass  p layer ].

RB : Doth e people who li ke y our music  kn ow  yo uliket o read ?
JR:  Yes.
RB: Dop eop le s e nd  you books?

JR: Y es , al l the ti me. Or af te r  shows,th eygive m e boo ks.I  u sually m ake li t tl enotes a bo ut wha tI a m r eadin g  atthe ti me. I’mreadi n g William Leas t  Heat-Moon, B l ue H ig h ways  an d Robert Pe nn W a rren .

R B :The roadbook—a  q u intessentially Amer ic an sto ry.
JR: Yeah, I a gree.

RB: O c casional ly,s om e one revisits d e Toc queville’s itinerar y.

J R: And J onathan R a b an trave lli ngthe  fu l l  l ength of theM i ssis si ppi Riv er[Old Gl ory : A  Vo yag eDown theMississi pp i] .Se ems  like Britishpe opl elik e tod o that …

RB : Ial wa y s e nvision e dt r avel li ng  the  ci rc umfer ence ofthe U.S .

JR: Th at’ s  a g re at  idea.That’d be ama zi ng.

RB: W it h m y dog, R osie.

J R: Like Travels with Ch a rley.
RB:  So y ou a re beginn ing  to be  in t erview ed for  thebo ok— are t h o se  in te rviews muc h dif feren tthan  for yo ur music?

JR: I t h oug ht it would b e r ough l y  s imi l ar .  In  s o mew a ys it is. But I  feel like  w i th  songs, th e rear e so ma ny othe r thi n gs to t alk about . Product io n ch o i ces  — all the se sorts  of thing s . Wit h  a  book  yo u arede ali ng wi th one kin d oflong e xt endedidea.  A lso, you  write something and yo u don’ t nec ess arily kno w w h atit meansunti l you’re d one . R eally , w h at yo u we r eact u allythin k ing about .  O r w h a tyou think y o u wer e thi nki n g abou t. I  like that aboutr ecords as well , bu t itisi nter es ting to sudden lybe k ind of h ol ding myself 
: Did_your reading_level off when you_entered a_wider_world? When_on_tour do you_read a lot?

JR:_Yeah. On tour you_have to do_stuff_to stay busy. Luckily the band I’m in all the guys are all pretty_big_readers. That’s_nice._You_don’t come into a place_and the TV is instantly_on. I_love watching TV, but feel like it fractures_your_brain before you_go on stage. We pass books around — we_were passing around Neal Stephenson. Neil_Gaiman as well_—_American_Gods, which everybody passed_around. It’s fun — whatever is_getting passed around is really good._I get all sorts of great stuff_from Zack [bass player].

RB: Do the_people who like your music_know you_like to read?

JR: Yes.

RB: Do_people send you_books?

JR: Yes,_all the time._Or after shows, they give me_books. I usually_make little notes about what I_am_reading at the_time._I’m_reading William_Least Heat-Moon, Blue_Highways_and Robert_Penn_Warren.

RB: The road book — a_quintessentially_American story.

JR: Yeah, I agree.

RB: Occasionally, someone_revisits de Tocqueville’s itinerary.

JR:_And_Jonathan Raban travelling the_full length of the Mississippi_River [Old Glory: A Voyage Down_the Mississippi]._Seems like_British people like to do that…

RB: I always envisioned travelling the_circumference of the U.S.

JR: That’s a_great idea. That’d be_amazing.

RB: With_my_dog, Rosie.

JR: Like_Travels_with Charley.

RB:_So you are beginning to be interviewed_for the_book — are those interviews much_different than for your_music?

JR:_I thought it would be roughly_similar. In some ways it is._But I feel like with_songs,_there_are so many other things_to talk about. Production choices —_all these sorts_of things. With a book you are_dealing_with one kind of long extended_idea._Also, you write something and you_don’t_necessarily_know what it means until_you’re done. Really, what you were_actually thinking about. Or what you think you were_thinking about. I_like that about records as_well,_but_it is interesting to suddenly be kind of holding myself