Silverstein
It's clear from sitting with Silverstein in their dressing room a few hours before they play at Download Festival that this isn't the best of days.
It has since emerged that their set may well have been their final show in England. It's worth noting that vocalist Shane Told was in better spirits that this may suggest, and some of the comments were met with laughter from the rest of the band.
However, Shane Told has hinted on Twitter that they won't be coming back to England because of a lack of support over here.
-How was the reaction been to Rescue?
It's been great, it's been overwhelmingly positive. It's nice to be able to honestly feel like every record you make, you're topping yourself.
That's what we set out to do. It took us a long time with this record spending over a year writing and recording it. That's the time it took to get the album where we wanted it to be, to be able to beat A Shipwreck in the Sand, which I think was our best album before Rescue.
It's just good to have that one-up every time, and our fans and media people seem to be agreeing. It's been a great reaction.
-How do you think it compares stylistically to your older material?
It's hard to say that. I'd say that record is more song-based, rather than an album.
Like, A Shipwreck in the Sand was one big long piece, whereas this is sorta like individual spurts, which makes the record more dynamic. I think each song tells its own story a bit more, rather than just a whole album telling a story.
-Rescue leaked early, was that a disappointment?
It is, and it isn't. To us, we've been sitting on some of these songs for a long time, so we were stoked for it to be out there. You asked the first question about how the reaction's been.
It was really positive with the album leak. Everyone was like "Holy shit! You guys put this record out." That was great, but with the business side our record label wasn't exactly stoked.
They're the ones that take the hit financially with record sales, which I'm sure always effects it. It was both good and bad.
-Is music piracy a problem for this band?
That's a good question, man. I don't know. I guess back when we started illegal downloading did help us, because it did help spread the word.
There's a lot of people that maybe wouldn't have known about us if it wasn't for that. In some ways that's always been happening. I remember before computers, before the internet, I would share CDs and mixtapes with my friends.
That's sorta the same thing, it's just a DIY file-sharing, where you're taping something off your friend.In a way that's always been there, that's what word of mouth is. I don't know if we would be huge multi-plantinum artists if it wasn't for this, or if we'd be nowhere.
It's really hard to say, but I do think it's a problem and there's a lot of bands on a lot of labels that are going to be breaking up and shutting down because of it. That's the harsh reality.
-Do you think it's put a greatest emphasis on live touring, in that a band has to tour to support itself?
No, because the thing is that it directly affects touring and live music. When a record company isn't selling albums, they can't give any money for tour support for their bands.
They can't even promote the albums. It's just a vicious cycle. The other side of it is that gas prices are through the roof and expenses are higher than ever.
With the economy, it's making it harder and harder for bands to tour. It's not making it easier at all.
-What's the best way for fans to support their favourite bands then?
I think the way you've always supported a band. If you like them, go buy their album. Spend the ten pounds or whatever it costs to buy a record.
If they come to your town, go to the show. If you like their merch, buy a t-shirt. Just being there helps them out, and I think that really is the best way to support a band.
I don't wanna sound like a d***, but when you're favourite band breaks up and you didn't buy the last album, you downloaded it...you're the f****** reason that they broke up.
People need to understand and take some accountability for that, because it's a serious problem.
-Moving towards Download Festival itself, have you played here before?
We were here before. It was a lot better four years ago. I don't know what it is, whether it's the weather, but it seems like today has been a bit disorganised, especially for the third day.
-Are you still looking forward to being back and getting on stage?
Oh yeah, we're here to play. We're hiding out in here in this little room.
We were interrupted to be told by guitarist Josh Bradford that hardcore vocalist Seth Putnam had died.
Really? I gave him a shout-out on stage the other night...anyway. We're here to play and we have to bare through the weather, lack of food, lack of shelther and lack of everything today. We're here to play for our English fans, and we're stoked.
-What have you got planned once this weekend is over?
This will be our last ever show on your soil. That's what we're looking forward to most.
When Morrissey comes to Canada, we'll come back to England. So, the seal hunt has to end. This is our last show, probably ever, here.
-What are your general plans from the rest of the year?
We're doing five shows in Canada, just for fun. They're not in protest to the seal hunt.
Then we're doing to South East Asia, which will be cool. We've never been there before. We're doing that, then we have a new video out for 'Burning Hearts'. We're just going to be keeping busy.
-What final message would you give to anyone reading this online?
You should've come to see us when we headlined because we're never coming back to England.
Keep checking our Download Festival coverage as more interviews and reviews from the weekend get added.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
It's clear from sitting with Silverstein in their dressing room a few hours before they play at Download Festival that this isn't the best of days.
It has since emerged that their set may well have been their final show in England. It's worth noting that vocalist Shane Told was in better spirits that this may suggest, and some of the comments were met with laughter from the rest of the band.
However, Shane Told has hinted on Twitter that they won't be coming back to England because of a lack of support over here.
-How was the reaction been to Rescue?
It's been great, it's been overwhelmingly positive. It's nice to be able to honestly feel like every record you make, you're topping yourself.
That's what we set out to do. It took us a long time with this record spending over a year writing and recording it. That's the time it took to get the album where we wanted it to be, to be able to beat A Shipwreck in the Sand, which I think was our best album before Rescue.
It's just good to have that one-up every time, and our fans and media people seem to be agreeing. It's been a great reaction.
-How do you think it compares stylistically to your older material?
It's hard to say that. I'd say that record is more song-based, rather than an album.
Like, A Shipwreck in the Sand was one big long piece, whereas this is sorta like individual spurts, which makes the record more dynamic. I think each song tells its own story a bit more, rather than just a whole album telling a story.
-Rescue leaked early, was that a disappointment?
It is, and it isn't. To us, we've been sitting on some of these songs for a long time, so we were stoked for it to be out there. You asked the first question about how the reaction's been.
It was really positive with the album leak. Everyone was like "Holy shit! You guys put this record out." That was great, but with the business side our record label wasn't exactly stoked.
They're the ones that take the hit financially with record sales, which I'm sure always effects it. It was both good and bad.
-Is music piracy a problem for this band?
That's a good question, man. I don't know. I guess back when we started illegal downloading did help us, because it did help spread the word.
There's a lot of people that maybe wouldn't have known about us if it wasn't for that. In some ways that's always been happening. I remember before computers, before the internet, I would share CDs and mixtapes with my friends.
That's sorta the same thing, it's just a DIY file-sharing, where you're taping something off your friend.In a way that's always been there, that's what word of mouth is. I don't know if we would be huge multi-plantinum artists if it wasn't for this, or if we'd be nowhere.
It's really hard to say, but I do think it's a problem and there's a lot of bands on a lot of labels that are going to be breaking up and shutting down because of it. That's the harsh reality.
-Do you think it's put a greatest emphasis on live touring, in that a band has to tour to support itself?
No, because the thing is that it directly affects touring and live music. When a record company isn't selling albums, they can't give any money for tour support for their bands.
They can't even promote the albums. It's just a vicious cycle. The other side of it is that gas prices are through the roof and expenses are higher than ever.
With the economy, it's making it harder and harder for bands to tour. It's not making it easier at all.
-What's the best way for fans to support their favourite bands then?
I think the way you've always supported a band. If you like them, go buy their album. Spend the ten pounds or whatever it costs to buy a record.
If they come to your town, go to the show. If you like their merch, buy a t-shirt. Just being there helps them out, and I think that really is the best way to support a band.
I don't wanna sound like a d***, but when you're favourite band breaks up and you didn't buy the last album, you downloaded it...you're the f****** reason that they broke up.
People need to understand and take some accountability for that, because it's a serious problem.