Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with Joshua Moore, guitarist from the band We Came As Romans, at their Milwaukee Vans Warped Tour stop. We Came As Romans is becoming one of the most popular bands in their genre of hard rock and are performing on the Advent stage all summer long on the bands first Warped Tour stint. The Troy, Michigan band will be releasing a new record titled, "Understanding What We've Grown To Be", on September 13th with Equal Vision Records. After two back to back autograph signings we had the chance to catch up, talk about plans post-Warped tour, and the new record.
Is this We Came As Roman’s first time on Warped Tour?
JM: Yes!
I know WCAR is one of the main draws for the tour.
JM: We’re on the Advent stage which has a lot of the great up and coming bands like Of Mice and Men, Miss May I, The Word Alive, Enter Shikari, The Acacia Strain. Those are all bands that could be headliners here next year.
I saw the band is doing a tour post-Warped with small market venues.
JM: It’s in different markets because on Warped Tour you hit just about every major city so afterwards you have to take a break from the larger cities. Our tour is in all secondary markets that we typically don’t go and most bands don’t hit.
I think it’s great you’re going to these smaller venues because people show up just because they appreciate a great band playing a mid-size venue.
JM: That’s the plan!
WCAR is taking your fellow Advent stage bands Of Mice and Men and Miss May I on this upcoming tour.
JM: Yep, and we’ll also be taking Texas In July and Close to Home as well.
The new album, “Understanding What We’ve Grown To Be”, is coming out in September correct?
JM: Yes and actually the first date on our tour after Warped is the release date.
Is the band playing the show back in Michigan then?
JM: The first date is in Michigan and it’s our hometown album release show.
When you play the Midwest is it almost like playing to cities that are like second homes?
JM: Even before we were signed, had management, or had a booking agent, we could only go so far. We would play a lot of Midwest shows before going on full US tours. So, we have people coming to our shows that tell us they saw us play four years ago. So, it’s nice.
Back to the new album, did the band work with Joey Sturgis as the producer again?
JM: Yeah, we went back to Joey again and it was just awesome. We had more time this time and it was really good.
He’s really in demand these days as a producer so it’s good you were able to work with him again. What makes this upcoming album different than the last? Does it have a darker edge?
JM: Yeah, I definitely think it does! We released the artwork for the album and even in the artwork that there is a certain darkness to it. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lighter aspect to it as well. As far as musically, we try to do a lot of different things. This album is in three different tunings and I think there is nine different keys the songs are in. We really just wanted to go all out with it! The lyrics I’m really excited for because they are really personal to me. I think people will have an easier time relating to them. I think people will feel like they are relating to another person rather than a band that plays a lot of shows and does a lot of things. It gets hard for some kids because sometimes they maybe get nervous or view musicians on a whole different level. So, it’s hard for kids to think that I go through the same things they do in life. I’m hoping that they understand that isn’t the case.
In our culture we raise musicians to something similar to a ‘god’ status and really you have to start somewhere. Musicians are normal people!
JM: Exactly!
I know yesterday was a day off of Warped Tour for all bands on the tour. What do you like to do on your days off?
JM: Yesterday we all went to Cedar Point actually in Ohio and it was awesome. We rode rides and hung out. We were probably at Cedar Point for probably nine hours. Then we got tired, went back to the bus, watched a movie, and that was it.
I’m guessing the band was so stoked to get on this tour not only because it is Warped Tour but because you know so many people on this tour.
JM: We already have a lot of friends on this tour. It’s funny because we had to offer to do Warped Tour last August or the beginning of September. So, there was a lot of anticipation and hype and it’s been really cool.
We Came As Romans will be in Green Bay on September 14that the Riverside Ballroom and in Madison at The Loft on September 16th.
-AK
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