In true rock and roll journalistic style, Publicity Whore met up with "Switched" kicking it on their tour bus after a jamming set at the Warped Tour. On this afternoon Publicity Whore spoke with Ben - the lead vocalist - and Chad the drummer on listening to demos, weather patterns and Pirate shows.

P.W: Where have you guys been so far on this tour, is this your first big tour?

Chad: We did Warped tour last year.

Ben: We've been to Boise, Salt Lake City, Colorado, Omaha, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, and Lake Tahoe…

P.W.: What's one place people just have to visit before they die?

Ben: As far as scenery?

P.W: Overall vibe.

Ben: South Florida is very tight, Miami. I like L.A & San Diego too.

Chad: Yah, San Diego is nice

P.W: So what's Switched representin'?

Ben: It's up in the East Side!!! No, really we like to play heavy melodic music & we're just into writing good music, good tunes, and jamming out.

P.W.: Anything happen on this tour yet that'll make great stories for the grandchildren?

Ben: Every day we play it rains or it gets gloomy out, which is cool.

Chad: Yah, it is cool how we can change the weather.

Ben: It's crazy - it will be sunny and we will go out and it will just start pouring. It is like 'how did that just happen?'

P.W: Your grandchildren are gonna be bored with that story. What are you doin' after the Warped Tour?

Ben: We've done 12 or 13 shows so far, and when we finish this tour up we may go on tour with Tommy Lee, and then Ozzfest.

Chad: We just got done touring with Sevendust and that was a blast.

P.W: I was just talking to One Side Zero about playing with Sevendust in front of 20,000 people in Arizona, then playing a smaller venue like the Key Club. You guys have a preference?

Ben: Warped tour is like that. Some days we may play in front of 2200 people and then other days there may only be 100. It can really fuck with your mind. The Ozzfest we'll play in front of 5,000.

P.W: Ozzfest is a lot bigger than the Warped tour?

Chad: Well, it's just a different vibe too. You have a punk show with the Warped Tour, and Ozzfest is definitely metal. We are one of the heaviest bands on this tour. Last year there was 311 & Alien Ant Farm, so we fit more into the groove of the festival. This year you have MXPX, Lag wagon, NOFX - it is definitely more of a punk rock show which is cool. But we all get along, hang out and drink beer. The goal is to have a punk rock tour, but to throw on some other types of bands. It is great because you can pick and choose whether you want to see a metal, punk or rap show all on the same tour.

P.W: So I heard there was a pirate theme this year for the Warped Tour, but I'm a bit dissappointed I haven't met any pirates yet. Have they evendone anything pirate related during the tour?

Chad: No, it's not really prevalent- it is not like there are pirates walking around. They should though, it would be pretty cool, you know maybe even include a pirate ship… etc.

Ben: Yeah they could have pirates running around barking, "Aye matey tonight's the cannon show!"

Chad: We're definitely looking forward to Ozzfest. This is actually our first time on the tour.

P.W: So when does Ozzfest start?

Chad: August 10.

P.W: So what bands or albums are you guys currently listening to?

Chad: Definitely The Used. Deftones, Trust Co.

Ben: You know when you are on tour you really don't get a chance to listen to many albums because you're outside listening to the other bands.

Chad: Mainly we just listen to a lot of demos.

Ben: "Sand" is one underground band. We get a lot of them and I usually only check them once a month. I will just sit down and listen to a shit load of the demos I have received.

Chad: It is really hard. It is like when you were a kid and were giving bands samplers and you're thinking; 'are they going to listen to it?!' You really try to listen to it and get back to them but we really are just so busy…really we would need four months off just to listen to them all.

Ben: I can usually tell within the first couple of minutes if I am going to like it.

P.W: We here at Publicity Whore are huge Eminem fans. What do you guys think of him?

Ben: I used to hate Eminem but the more I heard him, I could tell the dude definitely can flow; he's got good lyrics. It is like a white dude taking over the rap game. It is kind of ironic.

Chad: I like him because he is different; he throws jokes into his rap, which is definitely unique.

P.W: Who do you think is your primary audience?

Ben: Our audiences range from young kids to thirty year olds. We pick up fans when they get a chance to hear us.

Chad: It is really weird because you will play and it will not look like they are into you. I will walk off stage and people will come up to tell me that we are one of the best bands they have ever seen. But sometimes it seems that our audience just stands there and does not really jump up and down, 'is it like we are overwhelming or is it like this band is tight?. Sometimes it seems the crowd is just too cool.

P.W: So do you think you guys are too hardcore for the MTV audience?

Ben: It really matters what they are into. If they just want to kick back and sip a beer then they maybe should get into a different type of band, like for example Creed. But if they want to party and rock out, then definitely they would be into us.

Chad: When someone asks what type of music we play, I say we have the intensity of Korn meets an Alice in Chains vocal melody. Nowadays it seems there is this new type of melodic metal, and Emo rock is also in.

P.W: Yeah like Hot Water Music I just saw the band All…

Chad: Yeah, like Dashboard Confessional, all the other Emo bands. But really music is a cycle it goes back and forth and around…

Ben: But no matter what they all wear Iron Maiden shirts.

P.W: So how were the L.A shows?

Chad: Well I can say we definitely enjoy playing everywhere, but our big following is in the Midwest.

Ben: Yeah we enjoy L.A but it can be quite a scene. But we are ready to move on and go to the Midwest and go on with the Warped tour and on to Ozzfest.

P.W: Thanks guys for the interview. For all you rocking Publicity Whore girls put on your hot leather mini-skirt and for all the dudes throw on your Iron Maiden shirt and catch Switched on the 2nd leg of the Ozzfest in a town near you (August 31st in LA @ Blockbuster Pavilion). Also be sure to pick up Switched new album "Subject to Change," in stores now on Immortal Records.

For information on when the Ozzfest will be in a town near you go to: www.ozzfest.com

For more information on Switched go to: www.sw1tched.net

Want your band featured on Publicity Whore? josh@publicitywhore.com

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