July 31, 2007 - Recently we chatted with Yuri Ruley of MxPx, who presently are doing select dates of this year's Vans Warped Tour. Yuri talked to us about the band's latest album "Secret Weapon" touring and whether he still drives the band's tour bus among other things.

MxPx

FES: Can you tell us how "Secret Weapon" is different from previous MxPx albums?

Yuri: Laughs. Wow that's a long history to think about! [laughs]. Secret Weapon is our eighth (8th) full length album. What’s different about Secret weapon is the amount of outside input was pretty minimal. The songs are very untouched. I have memories of a few of our records when we were on A&M it was just [like] pulling teeth because they were looking for the hit single or something. We would go into the studio multiple times until they felt we recorded that song or they felt like it wasn’t happening so they just said enough is enough let’s make it the record. This time we just went in and demo the songs for a few months then went in and recorded the record with Aaron Sprinkle producing and he was really happy with it and there was minimal changes from the demos to the album. It was the first record we put out in probably 10 years that was so untouched by anyone else. Just the three of us making music together.

FES: Going into the studio how many songs did the band have already written and how did you decide which songs would make it on the album and which ones would not?

Yuri: After the demo process was finished we had 22 songs. Basically everyone wrote down the ones they thought should be on the record. There was maybe four (4) that were kind of toss ups. So we just went around and did total voting. Total democratic style. It didn’t take too long maybe 15 to 20 minutes to do that. It’s the three band members, the label people and the producer. That was the extent of the label’s involvement with the material, picking a few songs. Which is pretty different for us. It’s nice to have other people’s input but sometimes it’s nice to just to hear what you do without other people’s input.

FES: We’ve been told that “Secret Weapon” will be available in three different versions. What can you tell us about this?

Yuri: I know we’ve approved art work for different versions. There’s the regular version [the CD version] we’re putting an LP out and the art work is different for that. The artwork is really cool for the LP. We’re putting out records in other countries as well. Usually we don’t do any thing different but we changed the color schemes for the artwork. It’s the same artwork but the colors schemes are different. It’s kind of cool.

FES: Could you tell us in your own words what the title song "Secret Weapon" is about?

Yuri: Mike [the author of the song] encouraging people not given up on themselves so quickly. When they’re dealing with problems and life’s not easy. The chorus is you’re your own secret weapon. Come out swinging. Get up and fight for yourself. It’s a pick yourself up and let’s go song.

FES: It’s a good song.

Yuri: Yeah, I like it.

FES: How does it feel to be back with Tooth & Nail Records?

Yuri: I’m excited about it. We have a long history with Tooth & Nail. They were the first label we signed to back in 1993 or 1994. We had a fair amount of success on that label. We’re really happy and we like all the people at Tooth & Nail. They’re excited to have us and really excited about the record and that’s important.

FES: What was it like for the band to get the keys to the City of Bremerton?

Yuri: That was kind of fun. We did a benefit concert for the county that runs the event for the county consolidated housing authority. Basically Bremerton is being revitalized because it was kind of a ghost town for many, many years. We were part of the benefit concert that put some money in their pocket and help them out. In return we asked if it was possible to get the key to the city and they said sure. So we met with the mayor in downtown right at some of the new buildings that were being built and basically did the photo session with him giving us the keys. It was fun. It had a lighthearted feel to it. It was cool to meet the mayor. He’s really been for change in our city and it was fun to meet the guy who is making things get better.

FES: Do you have any favorite venues to play in Florida?

Yuri: The first one that comes to mind is the Hard Rock Live in Orlando. I like that venue a lot; it’s fancy, elevators to the dressing rooms and has a really nice stage. Jannus Landing has always been good to us. There’s a lot of great clubs in Florida that we have played many, many times. Some of them have changed names. We played Firestone in Orlando. I would say Hard Rock and Jannus are probably my favorites.

FES: Do you still occasionally drive the band's tour bus?

Yuri: I don’t anymore. My wife asked me not to do it anymore [Laughs]. She felt it was unsafe. [Laughs]. So I respect her wishes on it. I did it a few times. I like doing that stuff. It was fun. I would never want to do that for as a living.

FES: How does the band plan out which will be the first and last songs played at your concerts?

Yuri: Having so many songs we kind of know what is good live. What plays well and what the vast majority of the audience knows. We have our quote unquote “hits” that we jokingly call hits because we’ve never had hits. Hits to the fans and songs that have some moderate radio play those are usually in the set. We fill it in with the second run songs. Then we always end with “Punk Rawk Show.” That’s a tradition that was started a long time ago.

FES: On average how many dates a year does MxPx perform?

Yuri: Well, I would say at least six (6) months out of the year. I know many bands tour more than that. We go to Europe, we go to Japan, Australia, South America, New Zealand, United States, Canada and Mexico. We could probably spend the entire year doing that but you got to be home and see the family every now and then. I would say at least 6 months. But there are some years where we don’t tour much at all because we’re in a record cycle.

FES: As a band that has been around for more than 10 years have you found it’s been more difficult to tour outside the United States since 911 happened?

Yuri: I don’t think so. Generally speaking it’s more of a pain at the airports. I remember once flying in New Zealand there was no security you got a ticket you checked your bags and hopped on the plane. The last time in New Zealand, there was two points of security. Obviously the security issue is a little more of a pain, but that’s such a small part of touring.

FES: When you tour outside the United States does MxPx bring their equipment with them?

Yuri: We mainly bring a limited amount of things like guitars and stuff that is really necessary like strings, cables, wireless units and ear monitors. All the stuff that is big and bulky we rent. For the most part that works. On occasion in some countries in South America and Mexico it’s a little shoty, Italy and a few Latin countries who knows, It can function or not. For the most part it works out fine.

FES: Does it bother you that MxPx songs do not get the radio play they should?

Yuri: There’s a certain part of me that doesn’t understand why, I mean I understand why, but at the same time our music is just as good as the stuff that’s on the radio but I understand that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes you know? If your record label doesn’t have a million dollars to market your first single then it’s going to have a shorter life span. We’ve had some moderate success on MTV in the past and it’s been good but I think it’s a quicker high you have a few more people who know who you are but they those people go away. I’d much rather have the sustainability of real fans, but that’s just me.

FES: I have no doubt that MxPx has songs that should be played on the radio.

Yuri: Yeah, absolutely. We’ve always had songs that were totally 100% viable radio material but for one reason or another it doesn’t always happen.

FES: I think this is one reason why people are not listening to terrestrial radio as much as they used to it seems like only songs that have a million dollars of marketing behind it are being played now.

Yuri: Yeah, I’ve come to realize that’s really what it’s about. There’s the element of people calling in and saying I want to hear this song but it’s like a presidential candidate if you don’t have like 75 million dollars you’re not going to make it to the end. If you don’t have a [few] million behind your record push it’s going to fizzle out. I can see why people say what ever is popular is really like pushed on people in a sense.

FES: Do you have anything you would like to say to MxPx fans who read this interview?

Yuri: We‘ve always had a close relationship with our fans. We always thought it was important to let them know what is going on in our world through our fan club website that we visit on a fairly regular basis and well, now its myspace too. It’s crazy; I talk to so many people just messaging me and stuff. We love our fans we couldn’t even be a band if we didn’t have fans.

FES: Yuri, thank you for your time I wish you guys much success.

Yuri: Thank you very much.

MxPx’s latest album “Secret Weapon” is now available at all the usual outlets.

MxPx is from Bremerton, WA and tour on a regular basis.

MxPx Is:
Mike Herrera - Vocals/Bass
Tom Wisniewski - Guitar
Yuri Ruley - Drums

For more artist information log onto the official MxPx website.

To sample music by MxPx visit the MxPx Page at myspace.com.

Musician Interview by Michael Montes – Copyright © 2007 Florida Entertainment Scene – All Rights Reserved.