A band who have been very popular both in Australia as well as the US, where the band are based. Getting ready for their forthcoming spot on the Warped tour & doing some promotional interviews prior to getting out on the road, I recently caught up with band member Travis on the phone & who was pretty much itching to get started on the tour.

With some serious mail trouble involved, I only got to hear the band's new single What's My Age Again on the radio, so was somewhat in the dark about what else the band have been up to music wise.

We spoke about quite a few subjects & first up I enquired about what the band's single was about.

"That track's good for us, it's getting released pretty much simultaneously I think. As to what it's about, it's really pretty simple, it's about how we all get caught up in the dating scene & the stuff that goes along with that, you know, going out with someone & getting bored with them & you move on or they get bored with you."

It struck me when listening to some of the band's older stuff as well as this track, that they're more into writing about real life.

"Yeah, it's something that we're more involved in. I've never gotten into bands who only seem to have a political agenda. I don't think I'd feel right getting up there & you know, singing about politics & stuff like that. We're a lot more down to earth, so we write about things that happen to us or about our lives & that. I can appreciate that a band like Public Enemy have a real interested in what they do, but it's not something we'd feel comfortable doing."

So what can listeners expect from the band's new album, which sports the rather humorous title of Enema Of The State.

"Well, I guess the sound hasn't changed much at all. I think the fans would go berserk if we came out as something totally different. What I think is the best thing about this album is that the songs are getting much better themselves. It's a lot easier to write when we've got a few behind us you know, so I guess that's we're it's at."

I got onto the subject of the band's performances, which Travis enjoyed discussing.

"Yeah, that's probably the other aspect of the album that's different. Our actual execution of the songs has to be improved after playing for a while now. Gig-wise though, I've always enjoyed playing a lot, so I think the band's get better value than they used to you know."

While not particularly a technology oriented band, I wondered about how the Internet had helped or hindered the band.

"It's pretty cool I guess. I haven't had a lot to do with it, but it's certainly made it a lot easier for the fans to interact with us for sure, even if it's only for mail from the fans. I think it's probably a lot easier for band's to communicate with the outside world than it used to be because of that."

Back on the subject of the band's gigs, Travis opened up on the subject of working in the studio.

"Personally I think I like doing the live shows better, but I also love working in the studio. I guess now we've been doing it for a while, the studio work is a little easier, but I think this album shows that we can get our best sounds out in the studio as well as out on the road."

With the Warped tour about to star, I asked about both the influences of the band & what they were expecting from the tour.

"I guess the biggest influence on us as a band would have to be The Descendants. It goes back to what we were talking about earlier you know, writing about things you know. They were great at that. As for the Warped tour, we'll be playing alongside The Living End & Pennywise, plus Grinspoon from Australia, who you just told me are cool, so I guess we're just expecting to enjoy ourselves like we always do. I suppose that's what it's really all about isn't it."

Check out the band on the Warped tour when it hit's your neck of the woods or the very soon to be released new Blink 182 album Enema Of The State through Universal.