As I Lay Dying

As I Lay Dying has broken through the San Diego music community to rise to the top of the metal world. We recently got a chance to catch up with the band at their latest Soma show.
(Make sure to check out the photo album from the show as well)


As I Lay Dying at Soma (photos by Danny Lott)

 SDP: I'm aware you guys are playing some Ozzfest dates right now. How is Ozzfest going for you?
Jordan Mancino: It's going pretty sweet, it's definitely different than anything we've ever done before. It's weird going on at like 2:00 everyday, because we play at 2:15 every single day, but we're used to playing at night so our schedule's just a little different. But I mean it's
amazing, it's definitely one of my favorite tours, a lot of cool people, lot of awesome bands, get to hang out with everybody. The crowd is so much different than what we're used to playing too, you know what I mean? Ozzfest crowd is Ozzfest crowd, it's just a whole different experience. It's cool.

SDP: What's it like playing or even being around Ozzy and Priest, these legends, basically?
JM: For me, the biggest thing for me is Rob Zombie, I love Rob Zombie, I grew up with him. Like to play on the same stage with him, one band before, you know, it's awesome. That and being able to meet his band and all that, it's just been really, really cool, it's unreal.

SDP: So your guys' new CD came out recently, Shadows Are Security. How has your fan base changed so far, personally, than when Frail Words Collapse was out?
JM: That's actually a good question. You know, I think now, it's not necessarily the record coming out that's changed it, I think now, it's not us that's changed, it's the size of our band... Like before we used to tour, everybody at our shows, like our friends, we got to interact with them, you know just make new friends you know like every time I come through a town. But now, it's definitely a lot harder to do so, it's also the way people look at us you know, I think they... they look at us at a different level I think, which we don't want, we want people to look at us like eye to eye, we're exactly the same as everyone else. It has definitely changed though, it's made it harder for us to make new friends, not as far as fans are concerned, because they're you know, intimidated or whatever... We just want to let people know, like, if you see us, come talk to us. If you like our band, cool, but we're just a bunch of dudes, we just wanna chill and make friends like everyone else.

SDP: In your own words, how would you say you have grown between all the way back to Beneath the Encasing of Ashes and Shadows Are Security?
JM: Um, you know, understanding, being in a band, just learning how it is, like 10 months out of the year tours, and not being home that much, getting along with each other, just learning different things like that. I never thought that being in

As I Lay Dying at Soma (photos by Danny Lott)
a band was like this, you know, I thought being in a band was, playing a couple of rock shows once in a while, and that's it, but it's a lot of hard work, and a lot of people don't realize that.

SDP: Like a job, basically.
JM: It really is a job, you know what I mean? Not being home all the time, you get homesick. But you know, all in all, it's awesome, I love it. I think we're just still learning how to work harder and over time... Just musically, naturally progressing as musicians and song writers.

SDP: The song "Confined" off Shadows has a video. How does it feel to have three videos under your belts when only a couple of years ago videos for metal bands were extremely rare?
JM: It's cool, it's really awesome, it's something that I thought I'd never be able to do, they play it on MTV, and people see us on video, it's really cool you know, especially something like that. Like usually though, shooting them sucks, especially the last one, playing in the rain, not fun, haha, but they're always good to look back on.

SDP: What is the concept behind the video and did you personally suggest it or was help brought in?
JM: Well, Chris Sims, the guy who directed it, he came to us with an idea, like playing in the rain, and having a kid doing certain things or whatever, and we just kinda like incorporated his suggestions and we kinda combined ours, like wed be like "oh hey, how about this and this and this" and he'd just kinds form the idea together. I think the whole concept though was his idea. For most people I guess the idea is kinda hard to grasp, like what we're trying to say in the video, but, I think, what it's supposed to mean really, is this kid is just like... consumed, and drawing these little awesome things on the ground and obviously this is something he likes to do, and at the end of the video, the rain just washes it away, like in the song it says "everything is meaningless". And it's so true you know, like it says in Ecclesiastes, "everything is meaningless", which is true, when you really think about it and it all comes down to it, and that's why we need God so much, he's essentially like the only important thing, you know?


As I Lay Dying at Soma (photos by Danny Lott)
SDP: How do you feel about the art that Jacob Bannon has been doing for you guys? Do you prefer his work on Frail Words or Shadows Are Security... And if I may ask, why?
JM: I like the new one better, I just think it looks cooler, you know? It's a little more creative I think. Frail Words Collapse, you know, was just very very detailed and... I don't know, I just think the new one looks better, just cooler, it all flows together, and I think the booklet work has a little more variety. I like what he does, a lot.

SDP: You guys are known in a lot of places, and have toured extensively these past years, like Japan and you're playing Europe soon. What's the feeling like after going all over, then playing a home show in San
Diego?
JM: Oh, its great, I love it, I love it man. I love just... touring the U.S. The U.S. just feels home to me, you know what I mean? Like I've just toured it so much, I just love being in my country, I love... One of my favorite tours was Japan, and Hawaii. Europe.. I like going to Europe, it's just every time we go we end up having problems during the tour, so usually Europe Hasn't been the most enjoyable for us, but I mean, it's still fun to go over there and places overseas. The shows over there always amaze me, it's just the stuff that happens sometimes sucks.

SDP: Do you have a favorite city or venue to play?
JM: Uhm, I love San Diego, I like playing Soma. I'd say second to that would be Anaheim HOB, or Orlando HOB.

SDP: Do you have any funny or interesting stories from this tour so far?
JM: We got stuck in the middle of the desert 2 days ago, our bus driver took a route, a road that was supposedly paved, but it turned out to be a dirt road, and we got stuck twice in the mud, It was not fun.

SDP: In California?
JM: No, it was out in Arizona.

SDP: Besides the band and/or bands you're involved in, what are some of your favorite up-and-coming hardcore/metal groups?
JM: Oh man... Big list, uhm, on Ozzfest, I think one of the biggest up-and-comers is Trivuim. Amazing band, very, very talented, they definitely have a great work ethic you know, they want to really work hard, that's cool, I think they're definitely going to be on the top very,

As I Lay Dying at Soma (photos by Danny Lott)
very soon. Other bands... Life Once Lost, their new record is amazing, I love that record. What else? New Showbread record, I like that record a lot. Those guys are awesome.

SDP: If you could only get the releases of one band for the rest of your lives, which band would it be?
JM: Wow, that's a tough choice.. Gosh. I'd have to say Goo-Goo dolls.

SDP: All of your fans are in one room, a huge figurative room, haha, all at one time. What do you say to them?
JM: (long pause) Thanks for the support.

SDP: Any shot outs or last words?
JM: Nah, that should do it.

SDP: Thanks again for taking the time out.
JM: No problem.

As I Lay Dying interview conducted August, 2005 by Danny Lott.
Photos by Danny Lott. (check out more of Danny's photos here).
http://www.asilaydying.com
http://www.metalblade.com

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