THE hectic lifestyle a rockstar must keep up with while on tour wasn’t enough to keep Taking Back Sunday bassist Matt Rubano from keeping his fans up to date with the band’s movements. On The Barrier caught up with Rubano right in the middle of his tour, in between the catering room and his dressing room to be exact, to chat about the trip the melodic band will soon be taking down under for the 2010 Soundwave Festival.

Taking Back Sunday might still be finding its feet with a new guitarist in their midst, but it’s nothing they’re not used to already having changed their lineup five times since the band’s conception in 1999. The latest line-up, complete with new guitarist Matthew Fazzi, was the one to create Taking Back Sunday’s latest effort New Again. Rubano was more than happy to give a little insight into the band’s journey to putting together a new album with some new blood in the works.

So where do we find Matt Rubano at the moment?
At this very moment, right now, I’m carrying my dinner from the catering room to my dressing room. We are in the Boston area tonight on tour with the All American Rejects and Anberlin.

So you’re on your way to Soundwave soon, that’s a pretty big lineup you’ve got to compete with.
Soundwave will mark the achievement level of a teenage dream, playing alongside Jane’s Addiction – it’s one of the most influential bands in my life. The first time I played bass guitar, I learnt the song Mountain Spawn from the Shocking record. I’ve seen them half a dozen times when I was a much younger person. Between that and Faith No More… it’s really exciting to share the stage with such influential bands.

Yeah a lot of people are excited about Faith No More…
Faith no more will always attract the label of being one of the most ripped off bands of all time, they essentially were the first alternative rock bands. They certainly broke a lot of barriers and gave a lot of bands their sound. It’s going to be really amazing to see them every day. Festivals like this are just as exciting to play as they are to watch.

So you’re not going to be hiding backstage all day?
No way, I really want to get the real Soundwave experience.

What have you got planned for Australian crowds?
Well we haven’t been down (to Australia) in quite a while and since our last trip we’ve recorded and released a new album New Again. We really want to make a set-list comprising all four records of material. We’re pretty excited to be coming back down to Australia, it’s certainly one of my favourite places, we’ve had a lot of great shows there.

So tell me about New Again…
(New Again) is just as much musically symbolic as it is personally symbolic. It’s all about open-mindedness, and the freedom we had to write a record with. I guess that had a lot to do with things in our personal life.

How has it been working with (new guitarist) Matthew Fazzi?
After we got a new member, it was very freeing and exciting to work on the new album. There are a lot of new things we’ve done to it - musical twists and tricks, very symbolic tricks, we’ve certainly tried to produce something different.

What were you trying to achieve with this album?
I guess we just try to continually redefine what it means to be Taking Back Sunday. We don’t ever want to turn out the same record twice or do the same songs over an over. 

What do you mean by “symbolic ticks”
There are kind of some like music nerd things in there - odd time signatures and really apparent things like putting emphasis on vocal harmonies and paying really close attention to all the details. Nothing is not treated as if it was a special part of the song.
Is there anything you would change on there if given the chance?
I always feel that way. I believe a lot in divine dissatisfaction, meaning the second you’re done with something you already know how you could have done it better and different. It’s not a bad thing. So the second I create it I have to say ‘I’m done and it was perfect’. You learn those lessons on a record.

What happens after this?
We’ll be, after the tour (with All American Rejects) wraps up, working on a project at the end of December (09). I can’t say what it is but it’s something Taking Back Sunday fans will certainly love. In the New Year we’ll begin writing and start working on a new album.

That’s a big cliff hanger you’ve left us with, you can’t even reveal a little bit about what you’re up to?
No no but trust me it’s something fans are going to be very excited about.

Are you excited to get over to Australia and more specifically to be playing at Soundwave?
In all honesty, Australia is one of the best countries in the world for touring and especially as it’s such a big event. To make the trip down and be able to finally play for people who want to see the band… we view it as the world’s best kept secret. I’m surprised Australia’s not overrun with tourists all time. We’ve had such great times there. We’re really looking forward to it.

Anything else to throw out to fans?
Can’t wait to see you all when we get there.

Taking Back Sunday will perform at the following venues:

February 20 - Soundwave Festival, Brisbane

February 21 - Soundwave Festival, Sydney

February 26 - Soundwave Festival, Melboune (sold out)

February 27 - Soundwave Festival, Adelaide

March 1 - Soundwave Festival, Perth

By Nikkita Dixon