AM: The band went off the road last September, how did the band spend their vacation?

JG: We did nothing, and it was nice doing it. We had been on the road for 18 months, it was good to just stop. But in December, we got back into the studio and started work on the new record. We’re about 6 ½ songs in on the new record, and it is starting to sound great.

AM: After the 18 months on the road, did the band feel burnt out from the touring?

JG: I will say it was a definite relief to get off the road. The process gets so cyclical; you’re touring for so long. Then when that’s over, you’re back recording the next record. We could tell that the last couple of months on the road, we really just wanted to get through it and make the new record. But now that we’re back in the studio, we’re having a real good time with the process.

AM: With the new live album out, do you feel that a live album captures the band’s more accurately than on a record?

JG: I think the two experiences are completely different. In the studio; we don’t try and execute what we would do in a live setting. In the studio, we try and make things as perfect as possible for the record. But when you get into a live setting, there’s more energy and you feed off the crowd. It’s become our bread and butter over the years.

AM: What was the top show of the last tour in your opinion?

JG: Probably the Rock am Ring festival (Nuremberg, Germany), where part of the live album was shot. We also headlined a festival in Quebec, where 100,000 people came to the show. This tour cycle was unbelievable because we got to see so much of the world this time around.

AM: The band won several awards at last year’s Much Music Awards in Canada. How satisfying was that experience?

JG: It was very cool and it gave us some validation. It was as if to proves to our folks that we weren’t wasting our time with this thing. But it was completely satisfying, but we like to do something special with our videos. And its great they someone feels that they are deserving of these awards.

AM: We talked about the new album earlier; how is the process going?

JG: Well, normally the lyrical part is the last part of be completed. Ian (D’Sa- guitarist) and Ben (Kowalewicz- singer) work on those and they are just starting to work on those now. The musical content for many of the songs is done. On the new record, we are really trying to expand our abilities as musicians and I think we are still developing and learning what we are capable of.

Billy Talent’s live album “666” is out now, and their next record will be out early in 2009. Billy Talent is playing tonight at the Fillmore Detroit with My Chemical Romance and will play the Agora Theater in Cleveland on Tuesday. For additional dates, visit www.billytalent.com.

My Donut with Andre – Auditions

With the new tax incentive for Michigan filmmaking having gone into effect last Monday, April 7, Michigan is a great spot to be for film. Steve Barman will be one of the many filmmakers taking advantage of this new opportunity. He will be directing the film, My Donut with Andre.

The film, written by Barman, plays cleverly on the film title, My Dinner with Andre. But the similarities end there. While Dinner is a rather boring, overly cerebral attempt at filmmaking, Donut promises to be much more light-hearted and entertaining. Dinner has one location and far too much dialogue. Donut will contain slackers, psychos, losers, romance, comedy and rival donut shops.

Anti-Flag @ Majestic Theatre - The Pittsburgh punk band that rallies against the injustices of this country and the way the government is running things is now out on tour behind their new album, The Bright Lights of America. A few weeks back, Art had a chance to interview Anti-Flag lead singer Justin Sane. Check out the interview here. Tickets are $17 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com

Bob Saget @ Michigan Theatre - The once family friendly “Full House” star Saget has dirtied up his routine with plenty of jokes about people he used to work with. But yet, he avoids the Olsen Twins like the plague. Saget is out on the road after his HBO special, “That’s Just Wrong,” premiered a few months back. Tickets range from $29.50 to $39.50 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Iron & Wine @ Royal Oak Theatre - Folk-rocker Sam Bean makes up the band Iron and Wine. Bean is out in support of his 2007 album, The Shepherd’s Dog and is embarked a long tour of the States. Tickets are $20.50 and are available at www.tickets.com

Santana @ The Palace of Auburn Hills - No, Chad Kroeger won't be signing “Into The Night,” and Rob Thomas wont get up on stage to sing “Smooth.” But long time guitar hero Carlos Santana will playing his classic tracks that people loved, well before he ever had people duet on his songs and lead a charge on the charts. Tickets range from $49.50 to $79.50 and are available at www.palacenet.com.

SATURDAY

My Chemical Romance w/ Billy Talent @ The Fillmore (Also Sunday) - Before MCR heads back into the studio to record their next record, the band is doing one final tour around the states of smaller venues they have missed because the band got so huge. The Canadian crowd will be out in full force as one of that country’s most popular bands, Billy Talent, opens the show. The band is out in support of their “666 Live” album. Check back tomorrow to read Art’s interview with Jonathan Gallant from Billy Talent. Saturday’s show is SOLD OUT. Tickets still reamin for Sunday, $35 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Veil of Maya @ The Ritz - The Chicago band mixes death metal with hardcore and dashed with a bit of eastern philosophy to create their sound. The band is out behind the release of their debut record for Sumerian Records, The Common’s Man Collapse, which came out on April 1^st. The band’s new record is an upgrade in the sound and production quality that the band has said that hurt the effectiveness of previous records. Battling lead singer issues, the band is finally settled in with singer Brandon Butler in place, the band is out opening for hardcore band As Blood Runs Black on this spring tour. Defintely one to get into the pit for, and not take any prisoners. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door.

Lynyrd Skynryd/ Hank Williams Jr.@ The Palace of Auburn Hills - Man, if you don’t wake up with a hangover and/or a black eye after this concert, you will be in the minority as all the trailers will dump out and go see the old time southern rockers Skynyrd and country outlaw icon Hank Williams Jr.. Expect tons of Rebel fans and cheap beer in the parking lot. Tickets range on $25 to $69.50 and are available at www.palacenet.com.

Def Leppard / REO Speedwagon @ Joe Louis Arena - CANCELED - No reason has been given, but one would assume that Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott is still suffering from an upper respiratory infection. Too bad for Def Lep fans, but the show has been rescheduled for Aug. 23rd, when you'll be able to break out the jorts and beaters. Until then, Def Leppard are gearing up to release their new album, Songs From The Sparkle Lounge, on April 29^th. The band has continued to mine their 80s sound with much better results than most of the bands from that era.

1. Reusable bags
   

You can buy them from most stores for a mere 99 cents and most stores give you 5 to 10 cents for each bag you use. Here are 10 reasons for committing to reusable bags: http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Reasons-Why-You-Should-Use-a-Reusable-Grocery-Bag&id=700504

2. Stainless Steel Water Bottles
   

Better for the earth…better for you. Plastic water bottles are a large portion of the waste in land fills. They also leak toxins. So if you’re reusing plastic bottles, you are creating less waste than if you dispose of them immediately. But it isn’t safe to reuse them too many times. The average cost of stainless steel water bottle is about $10. You would likely spend this amount on plastic water bottles over 2 months time if you use one bottle for about a week before disposing of it. You could keep a stainless steel water bottle for years. Would you rather spend $10 every 2 months or every 5 years? Here are some more reasons to make the switch: http://earth911.org/recycling/plastic-bottle-recycling/plastic-bottle-recycling-facts/

3. Change your light bulbs
   

Changing from using standard light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs saves energy and money. Read more on how here: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

4. Plant a tree
   

The date that Arbor Day is celebrated varies between countries. Even each U.S. state celebrates it on a different day. Michigan celebrates Arbor Day on the last Friday of April, which is April 25 this year -- only three days after Earth Day and in the same week. Planting a tree has numerous benefits from providing more oxygen to providing homes for wildlife to just making things look nicer. See more statistics and get 10 trees free here: http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm

5. RECYCLE
   

It saves resources, energy and money and creates jobs. It’s simple. It’s awesome. Do it!

http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-benefits.html

So this earth day, buy your reusable bags, stainless steel water bottles and energy-saving light bulbs. You can probably do all that in one stop! Then go home, plant a tree and sort your paper, plastic and glass into your recycling bin. Then sit back and breathe the fresh air you’ve helped create.

Or feel free to do this sooner and get an early start on this year’s Earth Day. You can jump start your commitment to the Earth with two great Earth Day events on Saturday, April 19.

1. Whole Foods-Troy is holding a Toxic Trade In. From 2-430pm, you can trade in your toxic cleaners for a free sample of non-toxic cleaners. Also, The Sierra Club will be present beginning at noon with a variety of activities. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/calendars/SST.html

2. Oakland University is the place to be for The Earth Day Expo. This event takes place from 11am to 6pm on campus. It features a mixture of exhibits and demonstrations, including a kid’s crafting area. There will be organic food, free massages and yoga classes. An Earth Day film festival will be featured along with other entertainment and music. You can also expect door prizes! http://www.earthdayexpo.org/

For more great ways to make Earth Day Every Day: www.makeearthdayeveryday.com

Happy Earth Day, everyone! And Happy Earth Day Every Day!