Recently Aftertheshow.info had a chance to sit down with Matt Bivens the multitalented musician of the group Jump Little Children. He is known for his on stage antics, and variety of roles in the band. Below is the interview. Also, you can watch clips of some answers from the interview.

ATS: How did you get started?

MB: We met in the North Carolina school of the arts, a small school.

ATS: Did you have classes together?

MB: Well I knew everyone even before college in regular school. My old room mate was from Ireland, and wanted to play Irish music and Ward and Jay were playing and we just merged in time.

ATS: In the early music it was folk Irish sounding. Its gone away from that. Why have you changed?

ATS: Where do you want jump to go in the next five years?

ATS: Your latest album got the best reviews from the critics. Why do you think this is true?

ATS: What is your favorite album?

MB: This last album is my favorite. That’s a good sign. It was easy to make, fun to make. We liked our producer. It was a great experience all around. The making of Vertigo was not fun. We didn’t like the producer. We did like the album, but we didn’t like the experience. Between the Dim and the Dark just felt good. In fact we are about to finish some EP’s based on the B side of the Dim and the Dark. I’m excited about that.

ATS: Between the Dim and the Dark had more consistency through the album than previous releases. Why is that?

MB: I think it is because we are releasing through our solo works. In magazine we would have a loud song, a soft song, an artsy song. But now that Jay has a certain place for his type of songs, and the others have release for there styles in there own bands: Now we get to know what the Jump Little Children sound is. So we can come together and make a song for this band. It features everything, but is better.

ATS: Do you still consider yourself Jump Little Children, or is that a separate entity, since now you are called Jump?

ATS: Do you care what the critics say? Or are you in it just to do what you want to do?

MB: I would lie if I said I didn’t care completely.

ATS: Does what critics say change your music?

MB: No. People have always wanted us to play our old stuff. When we came out with Vertigo people wanted us to sound like Magazine. Now they want us to sound like Vertigo. If people except something from you get in trouble

ATS: What’s your most requested song?

MB: Cathedrals Certainly. Then Higher energy songs: My Guitar

ATS: Do you hate request?

MB: No. In the end we have to decide what is best for us to play. Within reason we’ll play earlier stuff. But we want to play our new stuff.

ATS: Does touring become tiring?

MB: Yes it does. It would be nice to be at a point so we don’t have to tour as much. That’s where most our income is from. Many bands don’t do tours as much as us anymore. Things have changed. It makes more sense to … It’s just how we have been. I could see changes in the future though.

ATS: Who would you open for if you could open for anyone?

MB: REM, U2

ATS: Who are you listening to lately?

MB: U2, I like what the Postal Service did. Rilo Kily. I’ve been listening to Love and Rockets, INXS, the Cure. I think music is starting to get good again. Music is finally turning around and getting good again.

ATS: So you mentioned you were writing a rock opera. Is there something that inspired that? A certain rock opera?

MB: Yes! Hedwig and the Angry Inch. It’s a great movie you have to see it. John Cameron Mitchell did it. It’s a movie and it was an off Broadway play.

ATS: What part of the country do you enjoy playing in?

MB: New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Athens. Why I like these areas is because people are more open. They will let you play anything. They are willing to hear anything new and different. But we get surprised other places too. I love the west coast. My favorite part of the world: We got to play in Paris. That was just an incredible time.

ATS: You seem to have a lot of energy on stage what creates that in you?

ATS: Well if you decrease in touring wouldn’t that hurt you?

MB: Well yes in music but I could be in more plays, last year I was in a ballet. It was a rendition of Alice in Wonderland. It was really fun.

ATS: Are you jealous of Jonathan’s mustache?

MB: NO! Because it would look so stupid on me.

ATS: So for being from the south you don’t have much a southern accent.

MB: I was raised in North Carolina but my mother was an actress so that influenced it. But when I lived in Boston and New York, people would be like; you have such a southern accent. I love the southern accent. I’ll always live in the south. I’m proud to be a southerner. I feel the south is where it’s at. The most exciting arts, the most passionate people: I’m definitely proud of that.

ATS: What else have you done besides the ballet and rock opera you are working on?

MB: Also, my friend made a folk play. It was part of a thesis. But it turned out really cool I just want to do a whole bunch of different things.

ATS: Have you always wanted to be a performer?

MB: Yes since 5, my mom put us on stage. And its always been in me since then.

ATS: Have you ever thought there was a time when Jump would be no more?

MB: Yes. A couple of years ago we were dropped from our label. Well not just dropped. Lots of people are dropped, but the label was destroyed. Yet we were still stuck, because we still owed them lots of money and they owned Vertigo. Everything was depressing and dealing with money. It was not good. We wondered if that would be a good time to stop. There were a lot of bands that stopped that year, and they had every right, Antheaeum, and some crazy band, 2 Skinny J’s. They all had the same story. It was sad. We had all worked hard… and. Even now it’s not a great time to be a band.

ATS: Has the internet helped or hurt you?

MB: Oh its helped enormously! It has helped so many to hear about us. We’ve always had websites. I have a moblog I try to keep up. It has all been enormous.

Before the show in Nashville, I was able to speaking with the Band and Tom. Here is the conversation that ensued.

ATSI: You all have been on tour for quiet a while. Are you tired of it?

Chris: No, we are still enjoying it. But we are ready for a break. We are going to take a couple of months for Holiday, to rest up. Then we are off to the studios to record a new album.

ATSI: So how do you like the south?

Chris: Its really nice.

ATSI: The accents are hard to understand though eh?

Chris: What?

ATSI: Exactly

ATSI: So Did you See the Atlanta Incident Video?

Chris: Oh yes, that video was hilarious. Well it wasn’t hilarious at the time. But after we knew Matt was ok and everything. That really made me laugh.

ATSI: Yeah we taped that and put it up.

Chris: Good work, you really caught the moment.

ATSI: So does it seem strange coming to America where you aren’t popular?

Chris: We are enjoying the feeling of making it big again. We enjoy the challenge

ATSI: So have you seen an increase in your following in the states since the beginning of this tour?

Chris: Yes, we scheduled a lot of venues, and then had to find larger ones because there is such a response.

ATSI: So what do you think of playing a small place like this?

Dom: Know I like playing a place like this. We don’t get the opportunity much. We were supposed to play a larger venue, but we couldn’t find one

ATSI: Well I have to say I’m glad.

Dom: We are to. These guys are really good. (Talking about the opening Band THE EXIT)

ATSI: Yes I like the drummer. Why did you choose to tour with them?

Dom: We had played with them on the last tour, remember in Atlanta.

ATSI: Oh Yes.

We then begin to talk about NASA, Presently Tom is putting together some video which will be used for arena shows as a backdrop. These videos include NASA stock footage.

The boys of Muse, are real personable guys: down to earth, and genuinely friendly.

A Clip Before the show

(All Videos are Windows Media...)

Well as you know this past spring, when I went to see Muse, I caught on video the incident where Matt (the lead singer) hit his face on his guitar. Everyone wanting to know what happened, led to over 30,000 people downloading the video I put up on the site. Next thing I know, friends, and relatives of the band are emailing. One of these emails was from Tom Kirk, a mate of the band, who has known them since his youth... and now he tours with them taking care of things such as album art, videos, photography etc.... Really the lead person for Various Needed Support items. You will not find the Band without Tom right there.

Well Tom wanted the video, and I got it to him. And in fact he says it will be used in a DVD in the near future. (He also wanted to know how I taped over part of the video...oops). Seems he said the band blames me for what happened, and my curse... oh and they said I'm not really steady at Videotaping... (doh... hey i was trying to enjoy the show to eh/) But with Toms help I was able to see Muse 2x this past week, yes he is trying to help break my curse!

I cant complain about the setlist. I was just happy to see Muse live again! And a great show it was (see yesterdays entry). As we spoke with him, he told us the tour was going good for the band! And he even showed off the fancy camera he uses for the production of his DVDs and videos! In fact you can check out one of Muses US released videos created by Tom (Check out time is running out (US version)!)

We brought along a copy of the Misconstrued album for Tom. He said he would try to put the independent groups up on the Muse Site! Good news for those who sent in music! Also he was really excited to get some NASA stickers! He also let us know that everyone that was at the Atlanta show during the "incident" will get to see them on their late fall tour of the states, when they return to Atlanta...

But I must say Tom, is a way cool guy. Personable, and a generally nice fellow. He even likes southerners... (our accents make him think of fried chicken)... So when you go check out muse, don't forge to give Tom a howdy/cheerio...

A good Thursday Show Almost always leads to some fear for your life. The crazy aggression that some get from emo... while others reach a calm euphoria, is quiet interesting. This summer we caught Thursday at the Curiosa Festival. Actually it was almost traumatic in Nashville, kinda aggressive, but nothing like the New York show I went to last year. Atlanta was actually rather calm, which made the band more hyped actually pretty cool I must say.

We had the opportunity to speak with Geoff Rickly a moment. Geoff is a very personable person, and will take the time to talk with you. Here are a few of his thoughts recorded on video.

Here was his thought on Nashville vs. Atlanta, How to Scream and their Keybaordist.

Here was his thoughts on "leaking" their album online before the release.

Here was his thoughts on Field Day/ Failed Day.

A nice guy he is indeed. And the amount of energy created at one of their shows is just amazing!

He also spoke about the love of his life. His new wife. It has been hard for him to be away from her for the last while, but both being in music careers they understand this. All in all, they are off to a happy marriage.

Well we had the opportunity to take in a Mason Jennings show. And a nice relaxing show it was. Mason Jennings is a modern Bob Dylan of sort, focusing on his song writing in a lyrical fashion... then creating music with a folk sound - tempo. However its not folk in the standard fashion as much of the music even goes to the point of having a punk sound sometimes.

The show was a solid performance with clear strait forward presentation. Mason covered songs from his 3 last albums, with focus on his latest. He is truly a hard working artist, having been in the business since 14, his love for music more than performance is seen at the show. Not flamboyant or explosive, the concert is about the music first foremost and really... only.

We also sat down for an interview with Mason after the show. Since we have it recorded, simply enjoy his answers to the following questions, instead of me misconstruing what he said...

How do you think you have been effected by touring as an artist since the age of 14?

Some say you are a protest singer. Do you consider yourself a Protest Singer?

You have been called the modern day Bob Dylan, would you agree with this statement?

As your fan base grows, do you feel this limits i how creative you can be with your music?

What Genre would you consider your music?

Where does your accent originate? Is it supposed to be Southern?

What does the words Misconstrued Thoughts make you think of?

Mason Jennings a real nice down to earth guy, go see him in concert next time he's in your area. And check out his albums!

We recently sat down a bit with Pedro the Lion to learn more about the band, after a show in Birmingham, AL.

The concert was supurb. If you aren't familiar with Pedro the Lion they are a mellow indie rock band. Termed emo sometimes, it would be on the calm non tempermental scale of folk emo music.

David Bazan the mastermind of Pedro the Lion, is just a down to earth nice guy, with a thinking head on his shoulders. His concern and sencerity is seen in his music and shows.
Bazan is the only central part to a group that has been made up of over 30 people over the last 4 albums of release. However, based on this it is obvious who is the cohesive force of the group.

We were able to get some time with David Bazan (Lead Singer/Band Leader), as well as Tim Walsh (Drums).
Listen to his responses on:

Some have Called Pedro a Christian Band, what Is Bazan's Response to this?

What is the song Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives About?

The Latest Band Members Explain How they were added to Pedro

Does the Band Hope to make it Big?

What does the Word Misconstrued make Walsh think of?

Continue reading the extended entry to Read the entire interview with him, and watch some video clips of his response to various questions.