Puddle of Mudd at The Venue

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 10:51

Paul Phillips likes finding equilibrium between a polished and scuffed sound. As guitarist of rock band Puddle of Mudd, he knows the core of all music comes from its passionate play.

By Nicole La Hoz

After a few lineup changes, Paul reconnected with singer/guitarist Wes Scantlin. With a couple of drinks and the late night surrounding them, the two began writing for the band’s latest December 2009 release, Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love and Hate.

This Friday, be sure to catch Puddle of Mudd at The Venue. Paul tells INsite it will be an energetic show, and aside from listening to its hits, you might catch some of Wes’s dance moves.

Puddle of Mudd will play at The Venue Friday, April 23. Doors are at 8pm, and tickets are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. INsite has seven pairs of tickets to give away. Stay tuned to win.

Puddle of Mudd has sold over 7 million albums and given us many hits along the way. What would you say is the biggest difference sonically from your first album Come Clean to the recently released Vol. 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate?
I was personally never completely happy with the overall sound quality of our first record. I love the songs of course, but sonically I think it doesn't hold up to our other three. So, I guess I would say that I think all the tones and sounds are much better on this one. I think that some of that is due to technology and some to do with us. We also have more gear to choose from nowadays. The budget wasn't that big for that first one.

The band has seen a couple of lineup changes over the years. How did the current incarnation (which is awesome) come together?
Well me, Doug, and Wes have been together since '99, although I did leave for about two and half years. So the first two records were us with our original drummer Greg Upchurch. After the tour for Life On Display, things were pretty bad. None of us were getting along and we weren't getting any work done. Greg left at that point to join Three Doors Down, and I left soon after and started a band called Operator. During this time, the band had auditions and hired our current drummer, Ryan Yerdon. As for me, I came back a little over a year ago after slowly rekindling a friendship with Wes. So, that is where we are now.

Who are your personal musical influences? What was it that made you want to begin playing music?
Well, my favorite bands growing up are still my favorite bands now: Pantera, Metallica, Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Alice In Chains. My favorite guitar players were and are Dimebag Darrell and Slash. These bands all influenced me hugely, but the thing that made me want to do this, was a Motley Crue home video. I think it was called “Motley Crue Uncensored.” They were living large and having a blast. It looked fun to me, and I got my first guitar soon after that.

Which do you prefer: The polished CD sound or gritty, grunge performance?
I think there can be beauty in both. It's really more about the performance. It has to be passionate. I have super polished records that I love as well as some super sloppy records. I mean, I love all the Nirvana records, but there is a huge sonic difference between all of them. However, the angst and passion are the same.

What is Puddle of Mudd's particular process for writing music and recording?
Usually a bunch of late nights. This time around, I stayed up at Wes's house for several months, and we would just stay up super late drinking and writing. We'd record what we came up with and hash it out in rehearsal the next day. Doug also wrote some stuff on his own that he brought in. We're not one of those bands that write together in a rehearsal room. It's always outside on our own.

“Spaceship" is such a great video. Do you have any stories from the making of it to share?
It was really fun to make actually. The Nitro Guys were classic. The whole scene where we are trashing the spaceship was hysterical. It was basically a huge mosh pit/wrestling match. I forgot how crazy they are and how they have no fear. There were elbows, knees, body slams, flying couches. It was insane. Definitely, the most fun we've had on a shoot.

Were there any Winter Olympic sports the band was glued to the tour bus TV watching earlier this year?
Definitely snowboarding. Shaun White is the man.

What can Gainesville fans expect at your upcoming show here?
You'll hear all the hits, a couple of covers, and a few songs off the new record as well. I like to think that we have a pretty energetic and fun show. Wes may even perform some of his dance moves he has been perfecting.

Do you have any favorite spots to visit when in Gainesville?
Well, I live just up the road in Jacksonville, so I've been down a few times. I used to come see punk bands that would come there and not Jax. Is Skeeter's Biscuits still there?

What does the rest of the year hold for Puddle of Mudd?
Touring, touring, touring and that's about it.

Check out Puddle of Mudd's Web site.