Q - Starting off... Can you each please state your name, age, what you do in the band and nicknames if you have any?
A - Jared, 25 years old, i play the drums and i'm most commonly referred to as "Fritz."

Q - As a band, are all of the members more like a close-knit family or just business associates with a similar goal?
A - definitely a close-knit family. the kind you see on jerry springer, but a family nonetheless.

Q - How did you decide on the name "Bitter Tongues"? Does it have a special meaning?
A - we're all huge shakespeare fans so we pulled it from a line in "Titus Andronicus".

Q - What music or artists have inspired you the most or influenced you to do what you do today?
A - we all have pretty varied influences as individuals, ranging from pinheadgunpowder to godflesh; but overall i'd say the band's sound is most influenced by bands like fugazi, quicksand, failure and the guy who wrote "greatest american hero"

Q - How would you describe the relationship between the band and your fans?
A - I don't think anyone likes us other than our girlfriend's so i'd say the relationship is generally pretty sexual.

Q - What music or artists are currently in your CD player?
A - we're on tour right now so i'll list off some of the most recent plays in the van.
-The Dwarves
-Leatherface
-Pelican
-Jesu
-Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
-In Flames
-Velorum
-Kool Keith
-Keelhaul
-In Praise of Folly

Q - What bands would you recommend that everyone should hear but has not gained the exposure that they deserve?
A - Tough question..... there's bands from our hometown of Austin that are pretty amazing like Velorum, These Men Are Liars, In Praise of Folly, Hobbits of the Shire, Pudding, The Poor Posture... our friends from boston Junius are amazing... I could literally go on for pages.

Q - How would you describe your live shows?
A - there's generally a complete disregard for physical safety, an excessive amount of feedback and lots of yelling.

Q - What bands would you one day love to tour with?
A - Fugazi, Leatherface, Converge, Mr. Bungle, Pat Boone, Judas Priest and/or KISS

Q - How would you say that your music and the band itself have evolved fromwhen the band first started?
A - The bands first material was sort of a hodgepodge of random influences that didn't really have a focus. We sort of fell into our own sound after a while - I suppose just like every other band out there - through trial and error and all that.

Q - Pick the band favourite from the upcoming album. Is there any history or specific reason behind the particular song you choose ?
A - I'd say it's a tie between "Everybody Back in the Water" which is a song about being attacked by a shark and "I Don't Miss You, I Miss My Erection" - a song about a pirate who can't keep a boner. We've got songs about dogs trying to hump each other, haunted houses, a sasquatch ... we tend not to approach subject matter with a great deal of seriousness.

Q - Is the band trying to portray any kind of message with the music and lyrics?
A - i think the most important overall message is that hardcore and punk can be fun. a lot of people playing music these days tend to take themselves way too seriously, and that's not what we're going for. if there's any message, it's probably: get loose, shake a leg, cut your hair however you want and dance around like an idiot.

Q - Do you have any thoughts or advice for people trying to start up a band or already have a young band?
A - stick to your guns, write what you like to hear - not what other people want to hear. make sure you're having fun, play whenever/wherever you can, in front of however many people you can as often as you can. if people don't like you - play louder.

Q - Any last comments or shout-outs?
A - we just finished a tour with in praise of folly... those guys are fantastic. check them out if you haven't heard of them.

Thanks for your time Jared, we look forward to reviewing your new disc 'Clovis' which is set for an October 11th release on United Edge Records.

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