The Trick to a Good Gumbo is a Little Lifehouse
June 23 2010
Being in a band isn’t all about sex and drugs. It’s hard work! Lifehouse drummer, Rick Woolstenhulme, Jr. helped me see this when he called me for an interview while running from one flight that was delayed to make sure he didn’t miss the next. He told me about Lifehouse’s new album, their current tour with Daughtry (which I’m sure is also hard work despite describing it as a bunch of buddies barbecuing everyday), and how much he loves Gumbo.
TM: The new album, Smoke and Mirrors is finally out. How do you feel about it?
RW: Man we’ve put a lot of work in to this record. Normally we make records in four months [but] we’ve spent a year and a half to make [this record]. There’s been a lot of build up to actually get it out to the public so people can hear it. We’re all really excited.
TM: It got pushed back a bunch of times?
RW: It did, and a few times it was kind of our doing. We really wanted to make sure the single had enough time to saturate for a bit before we released the record. We needed to make sure all the ducks were in line and, sure enough, it worked out in our favor to wait a minute.
TM: So it wasn’t a matter of not being happy with the record?
RW: No. To be honest, we had the record done. It was one of those things where we had our little baby that we spent a year and a half making. The single came out and the original idea was to put it out right away, but you know what? Our little baby needed a little more time to learn how to swim.
TM: I’m glad to see some responsible parenting. Your more recent releases have been a little heavier than what the public image of Lifehouse may be. Is that in response to anything?
RW: It’s kind of funny. We’ve heard that a couple times but the real answer to that is we have always been a true rock band. It’s four guys: two guitars, bass, and drums. We’ve always taken a lot of pride in being a band that plays live and can rock. I think a lot of people that came out to shows even in the beginning were kind of shocked like ‘whoa they’re more of a harder-edged rock band than we thought.’ This record was the perfect kind of merge between the pop radio side and what we can do live, especially [in the song] “Halfway Gone.” It was one of the last tracks that we cut for the record. We had half the record kind of like our radio side and then we had the organic live recording side and at the end we almost needed something that was a merge between the two, so that’s where “Half-way Gone” came in.
TM: The success of your first single, “Hanging by a Moment,” definitely burned that radio image of Lifehouse in to people’s minds. It’s been almost 10 years since the release of that single. Do you feel like you’ve had to fight against the success of that one specific song?
RW: Not necessarily. I mean, like any band that comes out of the chute with a big hit, we were really young and that single came out and popped and we toured the world for almost three years on that record. When we went in to make our second record [Stanley Climbfall], we were almost expecting to have a hit right out of the box. We were over in Europe touring extensively to set up the record worldwide but when we got back in the States the songs hadn’t stuck to the wall as much as we planned. We ate humble pie right out of the chute. That taught us that you can have a really big hit but, to stay in the game, it takes hard work.
TM: So your second record was kind of a learning experience?
RW: Yeah I would say so. If you listen to that record it was one of our more hard-edge records. We still are proud about that but I guess it just didn’t hook up on the radio. It’s one of those records that for a lot of people they love it because it’s kind of indie. For a lot of people that’s their favorite record. So whatever the kids like, it’s all good. I think over the past ten years it’s just been an experience-building deal for us. Now we’re at the crossroads. Smoke and Mirrors just came out and we’re really excited about the material on it.
TM: Are you excited to be on the road with Daughtry?
RW: We’re very excited. He’s a great guy. We met him maybe two years ago. We did a show with him and someone knocked on our door and [when we opened it,] we were like whoa it’s Chris Daughtry. Sure enough he came on tour and was super down to earth. We ended up becoming friends with him. Jason [Wade] our singer co-wrote a song for his record and Chris, Jason and [singer-songwriter] Richard Marx co-wrote a song for our record. It was almost like a perfect thing that this tour was going to happen and be a bunch of buddies on the road together. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to display the new album. We’re pretty much playing the record front to back and a few other… jams, if you will.
TM: Well don’t be stingy with the old songs. The fans like those too.
RW: [laughs] No, we’re not going to. What’s tricky is now we’ve got such a big catalogue and it’s almost like the one song you don’t play is the one song everyone wants to hear. Our mainstay tracks aren’t going to leave the set. There’s a reason why they were hits in the first place and we’re never going to be one of those bands that doesn’t want to play the single.
TM: … And absolutely never play a medley of singles
RW: [more laughter] Yeah without a doubt.
TM: Alright, so I have one last question for you: How do you feel about the Now That’s What I Call Music series?
RW: Well, I mean, we’re down with it because whoever wants to put our music out for more ears, if it’s tapping in to a new demographic or different ages or whatever, we’re kind of ‘like go for it.’ However the music can get to the ears, we’re pro that.
TM: So you’re comfortable with the fact that Lifehouse appears on the same album as Drowning Pool or Dem Franchize boys?
RW: [laughs] Why not? It’s like a good gumbo. It’s got a bunch of different flavors in it and I love gumbo!
TM: And there’s the quote! Well thanks so much for taking the time to call. I can hear the luggage rolling behind you.
RW: Oh you can hear that? [laughs]
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