Coheed and Cambria are building themselves a strong reputation in the progressive rock world with a string of very in depth and dynamic albums that tell a story born in the mind of singer/guitarist Claudio Sanchez.  The latest effort from the band, No World For Tomorrow however contains a lot more of the band's experiences over the past little while.  I had the chance to talk with Travis Stever of C&C to talk about the new album and the band's up coming tour to Australia.

"He [Claudio] writes the lyrics, so therefore the lyrics tell the story.  I mean we're all aware of what's going on, especially with No World for Tomorrow where a lot of the lyrics and the concepts were influenced by the things we went through in the last couple of years.  At the same time though, the story is Claudio's brainchild and lyrically he tells that story."

What C&C have done so well however is being able to write music that people can enjoy without having to be completely entrenched in the story or knowing the whole background of all of the characters  This is something that they are very much aware of.  "We are a rock band and you can connect with our music without even having to know the concept, and that's what we want.  What we want is for people to know that they don't have to be involved in the concept.  What we find is that once people become fans of the band they get interested and want to know what's going on with it anyway.  So it's like an addition."

Australian fans of C&C were recently disappointed in the band's sudden withdrawal from the Soundwave Festival in order to go on their current tour with Linkin Park.  Travis however made it very clear that while they did this, their intention to make a dedicated C&C tour happen was very important to them.  "We figured it'd be better to come back there and do all our own shows anyway.  We haven't been there for 2 years so for us to just come through with the festival thing doesn't seem like it would be appropriate."  It is clear that by the speed the new shows were booked that the band wanted to appease their Australian fans.  "We wanted to get there as soon as possible to make up for the fact that we had to cancel certain dates."

Fans heading along to C&C on the up coming tour will be treated to quite a new experience from the band with recent growth in the live show production including obviously new music, but also new players.  "This time around we'll have new tunes and we'll have Chris (Pennie) with us now who has added a lot to the band and I think has made everything really great...We're bringing the whole show out.  We had keyboards [last time] but it was more just triggers and samples, this time we're coming around and actually have somebody playing keyboards and background singers...it makes it sound very full.

"We're not a band who want to sound exactly like the album but we make it sound pretty close to what it is.  I enjoy when listening to a live band having it be a little bit different which is one of the reasons you go and see them live. Last time we were there the shows were amazing, and I think this time they will be even better."  Despite being under the weather on the last tour, Travis enjoyed both the country and the crowds.  "...I think they were really into it and we had a great time playing for them...I even got sick and still had a great time!"

While Pennie's involvement with the band had started before No World For Tomorrow was recorded, due to contractual issues he was unable to play on the album.  Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins was called upon for that duty.  "We had chosen a producer called Nick Raskulinecz who had produced a couple of Foo Fighters albums prior to producing ours and he was really good friends with those guys.  So when he found out that Chris might not be able to play on the tunes...he had mentioned it to Taylor Hawkins and proposed to him that he would do some pre-production and then we would go in and record the tracks and he accepted and was excited to do it.  It worked out really well.  We had all the tunes demoed out with Chris Playing on them, so the ideas were already there."

With all of their success and growing as a band, it's interesting to note that the name of the band comes directly from characters in the story being played out across their releases.  However unfortunately all stories have to come to an end.  Will the end of the tale being played out see the end of Coheed and Cambria as a vehicle for Sanchez's story?  "It's kind of up in the air.  There's numerous different ways and routes the band could take, so who knows, we'll see.  I'm more concerned with getting that prequel out there."  With the way the story has been told out of order, the band's next album will actually be part one of the tale.  "It's just the way that Claudio wants to tell the story."

Travis has recently seen the release of an album by his main side project, English Panther on iTunes which will have future CD release including some new versions of tracks.  "I've really been setting my sites on if I do anything myself it's with English Panther.  That's really just my ideas that I'll lay down at home that most likely are a little bit different than you'd usually hear in Coheed or anything else...I'm sure I'll keep doing stuff after that because no matter what, be it Coheed or anything else I always love doing music, so I always need to have that outlet.  Whether it's likable or not.  I'm pretty proud of some of the tunes I've come up with to put on CD when I release that."

The mention of iTunes almost always brings up the concept of digital music downloading both legal and illegal and the revolution of digital delivery.  "It sucks for the music industry to be honest, because being on a major label like we are, we can see that it's kind of tough for everybody.  I mean they definitely make do, Sony has been really great to us, but I mean there are a lot of people just stealing music.  It's a different world, and it's a different world to what it was even five years ago.  So you have to figure out ways to get around it, and if you're going to make a living doing music, then there's a whole bunch of new steps that people will have to learn to take to be able to do that.

"...in a lot of ways people have been put on a pedestal for being musicians and entertainers, and lived like kings and queens, while other people had to completely struggle who were just as talented and just never had the chance.  And I guess in this you kind of learn that everybody is kinda cut down to size and we're all in it at the same rate.  I mean you take Radiohead and what they did, and they still sold a shit load of albums, so the fact is they had the ability to be able to take that chance.  Not to say it wasn't a great thing what they did, and in some ways I fully back it.  But in some ways it's tough to see somebody do that when you know they have the means to do it.  Because they already have the comfort of the albums they released before and the success they've had, so they're in a different situation."

The advances in online delivery of music also have their pros and cons for emerging musicians.  "It helps in the way that it gets their name out there, it hinders in the way where things are at everybody's fingertips now, so their attention span is so quick.  So you've got this one thing, now onto the next.  Oh I like this!  On to the next thing.  So it's helpful, but it's also tough to keep anybody's attention in this day and age and I think it's all about doing what you love and being yourself with it and as a band, and if it works, then you're lucky."

Travis went on to name bands such as Midlake, Minus the Bear, The Duke Spirit and My Morning Jacket as new bands that he is into at the moment, however when it came to appreciation of Australian music, he needed a little guidance.  "I would be open to knowing more...of course I love AC/DC but I don't know if that's what you mean.  Wolfmother, I admire what they did, they're pretty good, but not really my cup of tea."

Coheed and Cambria's latest album No World For Tomorrow is available now through Sony/BMG at all good music retailers.

The band will be performing live across Australia in March and April.  Tour dates are as follows:

Sunday, March 30th - The Tivoli, Brisbane (18+)
Tickets from Ticketek (www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849), Rockinghorse and Kill The Music.

Monday, March 31st - UNSW Roundhouse (Licensed All Ages)
Tickets from Ticketek (www.ticketek.com.au).

Tuesday, April 1st - Billboard The Venue, Melbourne (18+)
Tickets from Ticketek (www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849), Billboard (www.billboardthevenue.com.au) and Missing Link.

Thursday, April 3rd - Metro City, Perth (18+)
Tickets from BOCS (www.bocsticketing.com.au), 78 Records, Planet Beat Music and Moshtix (www.moshtix.com.au and all Moshtix outlets).