04.01.07
Interview with: CINDER ROAD
By Stacy Sardelli
Editor in Chief

Rock

Cinder Road are: Mike Ruocco (vocals/guitar), Chris Shucosky (guitar/vocals), Pat Patrick (guitar/vocals), Nat Doegen (bass/vocals), and Mac Calvaresi (drums/vocals).

Official description: "CINDER ROAD knows how to push the right buttons and tug on the heartstrings to win over the masses. Playing their radio friendly collection of songs equally matched by their charismatic chemistry, this band merges old school rock sensibility with a modern, pop metal approach — underscored by a unique flavor of attitude and presence reminiscent of the 80s arena rock era."

Interview

Babble & Beat - The band Plunge became Cinder Road... and things appear to be going exceptionally well for CR! You're currently on tour with Daughtry and have been getting very positive press regarding your live performances. Congrats!

Your debut album, 'Superhuman' will be hitting stores in June - you got to work with Marti Frederiksen on it!

How have events like these and others affected CR or/and each of you individually?

Mike - We have been really lucky to land the Daughtry tour and it has been a great experience for the band. We have been able to make a ton of new fans and tour on a great bill. The daughtry fans have been really responsive to our music, which has been great.

Chris - The fans have been so amazing, they affect me every night on stage. If I see people really into the show that makes me want to go over the top! We our probably the luckiest band to land such a great gig like being on tour with Daughtry!

Pat - With every opportunity we are fully prepared to be the best at what we do, making the record, touring with Daughtry, this band is all about giving 100% all the time. We never want to let ourselves down, much less the fans.

Nat - Being the newest member of the band, it has been an overnight transformation in my life - I literally went from the lowest, darkest place I had ever been, to being in one where I wake up every day nothing but thankful.

Babble & Beat - That's so cool!

Mac - We have been lucky enough to get some amazing opportunities and work with some incredible musicians! Marti, and the entire Daughtry tour are no exception to that statement!! We're all very excited for the road ahead.

Babble & Beat - How exactly did big-time producer, Marti Frederiksen pull the best out of each of you while working on your upcoming album 'Superhuman'?

Mike - Marti is such a talented musician himself that it pushed all of us to perform to the best of our ability.

Pat - He's the kind of guy that you'll have an idea, but he'll take it that extra step further. So, it was awesome bouncing those back and forth making sure the songs were always complete.

Nat - Marti is a guy that the first time you meet him, you just kind of sense an aura about him that everywhere he goes; he's going to make something amazing happen.

Mac - Working with Marti in the studio was very enlightening. Anytime you have the opportunity to hear someone else's musical ideas, you're essentially broadening your own arsenal. Marti hears things musically that seem to make songs come to life, and being able to watch that firsthand was priceless.

Babble & Beat - What kind of industry challenges have you gone through as the band Cinder Road?

Mike - Initially it was very difficult for us to land a record deal (as it is for any band) but since then things have been pretty smooth. You run into a few challenges here and again but all is good.

Chris - Finding the right home for the band. The name change was also a huge challenge; I think we came up with thousands of names! And just being a baby band and doing everything ourselves, which is not a bad thing because all of us love every aspect of this band.

Pat - Everyday on the road we are finding ourselves and what type of band we will become. Trouble definitely follows this band, but it's fun seeing what the day brings!

Nat - I think a huge challenge, albeit a good one to accomplish, was changing the name of a band that had been established for over ten years.

Mac - Every day is a challenge, really. We try to go through each day doing everything possible to better ourselves and the band as a whole, on all levels. That being said, it's a ton of fun as well!

Babble & Beat - No matter how great the music is (and it is), I'm sure you eventually get tired of singing the same songs night after night. How do you keep your performances fresh and non-routine for yourselves?

Mike - Well, I have not gotten tired of playing the tunes as of yet but I each night we play for a different crowd of people so that variable is always different. Some crowds are bigger than others, some are louder. Each night is definitely different. I feel so strongly about the material that I don't think it will get old, at least I hope it won't!

Chris - Well, actually, I personally don't feel that way, each night is different. And the songs are so well written it is fun to rock them all night! Every stage and crowd are crazy!

Nat - I think every night you sort of go up not knowing what to expect from the crowd, which keeps you on your toes. I also think that recently we've been trying to rid ourselves of the idea of a "routine" and just go up there and have a good time.

Mac - I can honestly say I haven't gotten tired of the songs at all. The different stages, venues, and faces in the crowd are what make every single night different and interesting. No two nights are ever exactly the same!

Pat - It never becomes routine for me, this is my life and I live for this. When we step out there it's all about the fans and how we feed off each other. We settle for nothing less; Rock-n-Roll was meant to be fun and that's what we strive for at every show.

Babble & Beat - The passion you guys have for your music is awesome. I certainly look forward to seeing you guys live sometime soon!

What's the chemistry like with your band mates?

Mike - We have all been friends for a really long time so we have formed this big rock and roll family.

Chris - CRAZY and more crazy - we are like a big family. Imagine 5 brothers with the same insatiable urge to ROCK!

Pat - ALL for ONE - FAMILY, that's how we live. The Mob Rules.

Nat - I've sort of felt from day one that it was a huge job of mine coming into this band to make it as seamless as possible, and make these guys forget how long I have actually been on stage with them. I think that as individuals, we each have corresponding relationships to one another; Mac and I have the exact same sense of humor, while at the same time, I've never met anyone that I've shared a musical mind frame with as much as Mike.

Mac - God, I hate those guys! Just kidding. Honestly, I've said this before a hundred times, but it's a good analogy. Being in a band is like being in four simultaneous relationships. If you don't have an open mind and the ability to compromise, then you're as good as dead. I think we're all EXTREMELY lucky to have found each other, to all be in the same mindset and working towards the same goals. All relationships come with hard work, but at the end of the day we're 5 brothers who share everything, and it's great!

Babble & Beat - What's the plan for Cinder Road after your tour with Daughtry tour has ended?

Mike - There is talk about us going right back out on the road to do an acoustic radio promo tour.

Chris - To be on tour for the rest of our lives!

Pat - The record comes out in June. So, I'm sure we'll be hitting the road in support of this whether it as a opening act or on our own. You'll be seeing a lot of Cinder Road in the future!

Nat - So long as we're doing anything we can to make this record huge, I think we'll all be content.

Mac - The plan is to keep on working until this thing is huge... and then work some more!

Babble & Beat - Any recent interest in doing a cover song or collaboration? If so, what song would you like to cover? Who would you like to record with?

Mike - We spent many years in the early days of the band as a cover band, so would totally be down with covering a cool song. I would love to work with Aerosmith on just about anything.

Chris - Like Mike said, we were a cover band for so long that I think all of us would love to rock one. I would love to work with KISS, Eric Clapton, or The Stones on pretty much anything.

Pat - Doing the cover thing definitely works for a band to help break them to the masses. So, down the road I'm not against it but right now I wanna break this band with our own songs.

Nat - I have erratic taste in music, but there are many songs that I have always had visions for as covers - especially 80s tunes... I would love to hear this band play "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life, as off-kilter as that sounds.

Babble & Beat - Great choice! I love that song!

Mac - We came from a cover band background like most bands out there, so I don't think anyone would turn their nose up at the idea. I definitely agree with Mike on the Aerosmith thing... Let's do it!!

Babble & Beat - You guys are fans of bands like Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, and many others. Have you met any of them yet? Did they meet your expectations? Did they give you any words of wisdom?

Mike - I met Steven Tyler when we were in the studio recording our album. He stopped in to do a vocal track on a new demo. I was able to watch him track the vocals and it was incredible. He is one of the greatest rock singers of all time and he met all of my expectations. He sat on the couch with me between takes and talked about my band and he told a few old Aerosmith stories. It was pretty amazing, I will never forget it.

Chris - I just saw Def Leppard a few months ago and they were amazing, they were everything I had hoped they would be! Loud guitars, huge vocals and a monstrous rhythm section. I saw Aerosmith a few years ago and Steven Tyler is one of the greatest frontmen of all time! And Joe Perry is definitely a Guitar God!

Pat - Haven't met the likes of them yet but welcome the day when I do finally get to met Joe Perry. I owe a lot to this man, his guitar playing is out of this world. So, if it ever comes to be I'm sure I'll be star-struck.

Nat - I had the chance to see Motley a few summers ago when they first got back together - occasionally, you'll be lucky enough to see a concert that reminds you why you started doing something like this in the first place.

Mac - I got to meet Matt Sorum in LA a couple of years ago. It was pretty surreal. He was actually really cool to talk to, especially at a time when things were looking maybe a little bleak for our band.

Babble & Beat - What was it like doing the armed forces tours and what did you get out of it personally?

Mike - It was really awesome to hang with the troops and see how they live. Many of the men and women are younger than we are and they are fighting a war. It's an honor to be able give them a little relief from their day to day duties, if only for a night.

Chris - It was an honor to play for our Military. They do so much for us, to have the opportunity to share our music with them is amazing! Almost everybody tells us that we bring a little piece of home to them and that is a great honor.

Pat -It was awesome to be able to bring a little bit of home to those guys who do so much for our country. I was the one who was honored to be there.

Nat - I haven't yet had the chance to go, but I would love to.

Mac - Being part of the Armed Forces Entertainment Network, has probably been the most rewarding musical experience for me. Getting thanked nightly for playing rock and roll, by men and women who are risking their lives just for my right to do it, is a very moving experience.

Juicy Tidbits Section

This is where we ask personal questions for the fans. Yeah, they're often stupid questions. We like reading the answers though!

Babble & Beat - Please describe your perfect woman.

Mike - Angelina Jolie and the girls from the Victoria's Secret ads.

Chris - Marisa Miller.

Pat - Well, let's just say I meet her, fell in love and married her. She is as perfect as they get.

Babble & Beat - I hope she reads that! How sweet!

Nat - I have to say that ever since she went rock and roll, my perfect woman has been Kelly Clarkson. She's smoking hot, and somehow she's graceful enough to keep her ass out of tabloids. And girl can saaannggggg.

Mac - Jessica Simpson, my number is 410-...

Babble & Beat - Do you collect anything?

Mike - Elvis stuff, I am a huge fan.

Babble & Beat - I recently saw these old Elvis drink stirrers at an antique shop. They were sooo cool but too expensive!

Chris - Guitars and pedals and other gear.

Pat - Vintage guitars, they are definitely my weakness.

Nat - I don't look like it, but I am a huuugee Star Wars fan and collector. No shame. I'm an avid reader, too, to I also have an extensive library.

Mac - I recently started a collection of exotic world instruments. Luckily we get to travel a lot, so it's growing rapidly.

Babble & Beat - Burger King or Wolfgang Puck's?

Mike - BK all day long!

Chris - BURGER KING dude!

Pat - Neither, not a big fast food guy and definitely not a high end Wolfgang kind of guy. I'll take Sushi any day of the week over those.

Nat - I have to admit, I'm a sucker for the Chicken Fries. But I'll opt for choice C: Outback Steakhouse.

Mac - Burger King has better fries... sorry Wolfgang.

In Closing

Thank you so much, guys! You all seem so down to earth and kind. We really appreciate this opportunity and wish you an amazing year. Keep making great music!

Links:
Official site
MySpace - music clips!