The Maine

Like them or not, The Maine have been getting huge these past few years. Coming off the heels of the highly successful debut album Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, The Maine have been playing to sold out crowds all over the country, which in turn landed them a deal on the major label Warner Brothers Records. This July, the band released their follow-up Black & White which demonstrated maturation in the band’s songwriting and sound. We at Review Rinse Repeat spoke to guitarist Jared Monaco about Black & White, their tour with This Century as well as a few other goodies. Without further ado, the interview:

Jerry@RRR: So, you are about to wrap up a tour with This Century. Overall, how would you describe your experience? 

Jared Monaco: This has been my favorite tour we've ever been a part of. Everyone on the tour is from Arizona, so there is definitely a family vibe.

Jerry@RRR: When the lineup for the tour was first released, many were perplexed with the limited amount of bands on the bill. How did you come to decide on this setup? Why not take more bands on tour?

Jared Monaco: We've been touring for around 3 years straight, and we ended up touring with the same bands over and over. We wanted our first headliner to take us away from that. Plus, we're playing a 90 minute set, so we can really dig deep into our older material.

Jerry@RRR: Alright, let’s dive into the good stuff. Black And White was released on July 13th. Compared to your previous work, the songs on the album feature a change in sound. What caused you to undergo this evolution?

Jared Monaco: We really didn't go into this album consciously thinking about changing our sound. We just had more time to write before we got into the studio this time. Our first album, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop was really a learning experience. We were trying to find our sound. I think for Black & White we found what we were looking for, and it has a more unified sound.

Jerry@RRR: Overall, the sound of the tracks on Black And White can be described as straightforward rock with a bit of country twang to it. How did you settle on this sound? Are there particular artists you drew influence from for the tones featured on the record?

Jared Monaco: I think we've always seen ourselves developing more towards a rock band. We spent a lot of time listening to artists like Tom Petty and Ryan Adams. American Rock & Roll is the driving influence behind Black & White.

Jerry@RRR: When a band changes their sound, there is always a risk of alienating fans. Was this ever a concern for you?

Jared Monaco: This was never a concern for us, because we didn't set out to change our sound. It happened very naturally, and that's important, because people can tell when you're trying to be something you're not. 

Jerry@RRR: Black & White also marked the band’s major label debut on Warner Brothers/Sire. Obviously, when they signed you, your latest release was Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, and it wouldn’t be unreasonable for them to expect more material stylistically in that vein. When writing the new songs, were you worried that the new label would be against your new direction?

Jared Monaco: Our record label has actually been very supportive of our vision. We knew that we had to stay true to the sound that landed us a deal while expanding the dynamics of our band musically.

Jerry@RRR: Speaking of Warner Brothers, how did the signing come about? Was it difficult to leave Fearless, considering they were the label that gave you your first start and helped build you up to where you are right now?

Jared Monaco: It was quite a long process, and Warner Brothers actually started to integrate with our band before we had fully completed the deal. We have been quite lucky with our decision making when it comes to our labels. Fearless Records gave us that jump out of the gate that we needed. We're forever grateful for the opportunities we have now because of their team.

Jerry@RRR: In a recent interview, John mentioned that band would be releasing b-sides. What is the purpose of them? Will they be featured in compilations or future releases from the band?

Jared Monaco: There are plenty of songs that did not make the cut for Black & White. After we finish our Evening With The Maine tour, we're going to spend some time at home polishing up some B-sides for future releases.

Jerry@RRR: How would you compare the b-sides to the other songs on Black & White? Why didn’t they make the record?

Jared Monaco: To be honest, the only reason these songs didn't make the album is because we didn't want to have too many slow songs, or too many fast songs either. An album needs a good balance of the two, and these songs added an imbalance. They will make much more sense being released as B-sides.

Jerry@RRR: In 2008, the band released the EP …And A Happy New Year, which featured holiday tracks. Can we expect another holiday release from the band anytime soon?

Jared Monaco: We're looking into the idea of recording at least one holiday song this year, but whether it's going to be an original or a cover is unknown as of right now.

Jerry@RRR: In December 2009, you released This Is Real Life, your first published book. It consists of written memoirs from the band as well as exclusive photography by Dirk Mai. What inspired you to publish these memoirs?

Jared Monaco: Our fans have always had our back, and it was time to put something together to show our appreciation. We really took a lot of time to put that thing together, and it shows a side of our personalities that people are unfamiliar with.

Jerry@RRR: Would another book be something that you would consider doing again in the future?

Jared Monaco: Of course! We actually released a keepsake book with Black & White. It features journal entries from our experience in the studio, a DVD, and tons of pictures.

Jerry@RRR: Considering your jump from an independent label to a major one, do you think Warner Brothers would be open to releasing material such as another holiday EP or another book?

Jared Monaco: Absolutely. We saw success with our first book, so I think Warner Brothers will give us the green light for similar ideas in the future.

Jerry@RRR: This fall, your friends and previous labelmates Mayday Parade will be going on tour with fellow Fearless Records bands on the Fearless Friends Tour. In concept, it is a really cool idea. Would a tour along these lines be something you would consider doing in the future?

Jared Monaco: We're all about having a family vibe on tour, and Mayday Parade are good friends of ours. We're always going to look for the best option for our band at a given time. If that ends up being a label tour, then so be it.

Jerry@RRR: Well, that concludes our interview. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Would you like add anything else?

Jared Monaco: Anytime! Come see us on tour in the fall with Never Shout Never!

Be sure to catch The Maine live this fall on their tour with Never Shout Never. Also, Black & White is in stores now, courtesy of Warner Brothers Records. For more insight on the album, read our review for it here.