What year did the band first form?

We formed in early 2004. We’ve been in different bands before, just local bands - they all broke up and we weren’t really doing anything for a few months, and we kind of met each other online. Then from that point on we started writing music and the songs started coming together really fast - about five months later we went in to record an album. The place where we recorded the album ended up signing us to a management deal, which eventually got us a record deal... almost a year later.

Where did the name of the band come from?

It was in the medical dictionary actually. I was buying one for a course I was taking - I just turned to a page and it was right there. We had some shows coming up and we needed a name - and we all liked it.

What does it mean?

It’s a dye injected into the bloodstream so you can x-ray it to see if there are any blockages or anything like that.

And you were studying that in school?

Yeah.

Did you have any other names picked out?

No, not really. We just needed a name to play a show - and I just threw it out there and everyone kind of liked it. We never really thought about a name until we had that show.

What’s one of your favorite lyrics in one of your songs?

I think my favorite lyric is "burn all of your bridges while you still have control of the flame". That’s in the song "Over". I actually have that tattooed on my arm. It’s a picture of a burning bridge.

You guys are on break from touring right now?

Yes, we’re writing our second album right now... just waiting.

What else do you guys do on your down time?

We play a show from time to time, but we have heavy rehearsals right now. We do regular stuff like hang out - we all purchased Xbox 360's just recently - so we’ve been playing those a lot.

Have you played Gears Of War?

No, but I asked for it for Christmas. (Laughs) It looks pretty cool.

So you’re writing new songs for the second album right now?

We’re probably six or seven songs into it right now.

How does it compare to the first one?

The heavier songs are heavier and the lighter songs are a little lighter, there’s going to be some growth. I really wanted it to be a little bit more aggressive in some areas.

What’s been your favorite tour so far?

Breaking Benjamin tour was probably one of the best ones.

Why was that?

Just really good crowds - their fans were really good to us. We’d come sing a song with them - and they’d come and sing a song with us... so it was really cool... like a family vibe.

It’s a really good sound fit too for both of you guys...

Yeah, yeah... and it was one of the bands we always wanted to tour with when we were starting out. The crowd, if they haven’t heard of us... if they were fans of Breaking Benjamin then they usually liked us.

Were you always interested in music growing up?

I got into music when I was thirteen or fourteen. I got my first bass guitar then - so I was kind of just playing around and started a band about two years later. Actually gave up on it for quite a while - and just fell back into it.

Do you have any plans for the holidays?

I know I’m just going to spend some time with family. We actually have a show on New Years in Calgary (Canada). I’ve never been anywhere else in Canada except for where I live - so it will be interesting to see some of the other parts of Canada.

Really? You’ve never been anywhere else even while touring?

No, we’ve never toured Canada. We’ve been everywhere in the United States, but we’ve never toured Canada.

Why is that?

We’re not as well known here. We were going to do a Canadian tour, but we thought it would be better to start writing instead. We have done some Canadian shows, and they’ve been pretty good... it never fell together for us to go on a full tour. But it is something that we’re hoping to do - it’s definitely a different scene here as in the United States. A lot different music - it’s not as hard as it is in the states - I don’t think I’ve ever heard Sevendust on the radio here. Or even Godsmack, it’s just totally different. The two countries are so close, but they’re so different.

A bunch of Celine Dion and Bryan Adams thing going on?

No, we have our own ... it’s really a different kind of... almost an indie kind of White Stripes kind of scene. We’ve done alright here, Canada is a little more artsy... (laughs)