IE: Congrats on the new album “Die Knowing”.  I have been playing it inside out for a couple of weeks now. How long would you say it took to make this record from the time you started writing the songs up to the final production?

Andrew: It took about a year. The actual recording took about 3 months because we did it in chunks, and took a couple of breaks between shows, etc... We did the drums/ pre pro in California, the rest of the music and vocals in Winnipeg, Canada. And then I did some finishing up of vocals in Toronto and Europe while on tour. And it was mixed back in Hollywood.

IE: There is obviously a lot of hard work that goes into the making of an album like this.  Can you tell us about some of the things that might not be that much fun to do when you’re in a band that are necessities when you’re making a new album?

Andrew: I usually have a great time recording and being in the studio. As a vocalist though losing your voice suuuuucks. And writing lyrics under a time crunch is hard but we persevere and if you need to take a break from singing so be it. Like I said, I finished my vocals after the fact because we ran out of time at the studio. It all came together in the end though.

IE: What's that feeling like though when you finally hear the finished product?

Andrew: Very happy and stoked. But it takes some getting used to after picking the songs and the mix apart for months.

IE: Favorite song off the new album?

Andrew: I don’t have a fav. I love “Losing Sleep”, and “Wasted Arrows” though.

IE: You already made a video for “Should Know Better” and it looked like you all had a really good time making that. Where did you shoot that and how many people came down?

Andrew: I have some friends in my hometown Winnipeg who have this bike shop they like to party in and everytime I’m there it always ends in them breaking shit, getting reckless, having fun and its always no problem. I thought it would be the perfect place to shoot our video because the song is about reckless behavior. We just invited a bunch of people down  and everyone pretty much upped the ante and got wild. It was a great time. Maybe about 40 of us.

IE: Will there be any other videos made off of the new album?

Andrew: Yeah we just shot a video for “Wasted Arrows” when we were in the UK.

IE: Having started out well more than a decade ago and having multiple albums and tons of shows played under your belts what is it that gives you that drive to keep playing and writing hardcore music?

Andrew: I’m a musician first and foremost in my life for as long as I can remember I’ve been playing and writing songs. That’s just what I enjoy. I found punk rock and hardcore at an early age and I’ve been in love ever since. There are no shows like a hardcore show. It is really something special and I still take something away from it whether it’s playing crazy shows or hearing new awesome bands.

IE: For someone who has never been in a band... never been on tour... never been in the studio it may often look like everything that comes along with being in a band like yours is fun. What would you say are some of the less than fun things about being in Comeback Kid?

Andrew: Less than fun things? There are a lot of them. And there is a lot of work involved but I would not be one to complain because it’s a pretty awesome job! Distance can be hard. Not having a bed to sleep in every night can be hard. But the pros outweigh the cons 100%

IE: Your singer Scott left CBK a few years back and cited burnout as the main reason. It is understandable that being out on the road and constantly going full speed can take its toll on someone. Have you honestly ever gotten these kinds of feelings and what is it that brings you back around?

Andrew: Definitely I have. You have to take a step back once in a while. This touring life isn’t for everybody all the time. And I don’t know if Scott burned out… I think he just wanted to do something different which is understandable. I can’t expect every musician I play with to drop the rest of their lives for more than a decade and tour nonstop with me over and over again. It takes a special motivation.

IE: You recently played in South Africa.  How were you received there and was that your first time playing there? Have you played any other countries in Africa?

Andrew: It was eye opening going there, so glad we made it. Cape Town was my fav city maybe because that’s where I got to see a little more night life. Kind of reminded me of New Orleans or something in the city center area. We weren’t able to see as much of other cities as I would have liked to. The shows were all in pretty cool pubs and similar to other shows but you could feel how excited they were to have an international hardcore band come tour through. Everyone was so friendly. It was interesting to learn about the countries history and see some wildlife, go shark diving, etc. Yes it was substantially different to anywhere else we have been but they share many common threads as other shows. That is the only country in Africa that we have played thus far and yes it was our first time.

IE: What kind of activities and what not did you guys get to do when you weren’t playing shows in South Africa?

Andrew: Some safaris, Brais (South African bbq), drank, shark diving, horseback riding. It was cool.

IE: With the bands lengthy resume it seems like you have played almost everywhere.  What countries or areas of the world have you not played yet that you are dying to play?

Andrew: Cuba, Korea, The Philippines we haven’t played yet. Those would be cool.

IE: If you could play a show with any band past or present hardcore or punk or any genre who would it be? Why did you choose them?

Andrew: No Warning. 100%. They are one of my favorite hardcore bands so we stole their drummer Jesse recently and he has been touring with us. I just love that band so much and am stoked that they are doing some random shows coming up.

IE: Having been all around the world you must have some good stories from shows you have played. If you had to give a top 3 crazy moments at shows up until now what would they be?

Andrew: I got arrested for hash in Serbia once, military tanks and riot police outside our show in Santiago, Chile with Sick of It All, and some great show festival blow my mind memories are from Groezrock fest in Belgium or Resurection Fest in Spain.

IE: What are some of the things that you have done with Comeback Kid that make you proud to be a member of this band?

Andrew: We have stayed sustainable touring with this band for 11 years as a fulltime career. That is something I am very proud of. Aside from being able to tour and play with my fav bands… The longevity of success I am most proud of.

IE: In 2008 there was a Comeback Kid DVD which covered the bands history up until that point. Can you see making an updated version now that some time had passed?

Andrew: Possibly, but we haven’t put it in motion at all… maybe there is more story to tell before that happens…

IE: In 2007 you took over on vocals for this band moving over from guitar. Did you ever consider going out and trying to find someone else to be the front man or did you know right away that you wanted to be the singer?

Andrew: It was just natural. I wrote all the lyrics and vocal patterns with Scott. I understood the songs the most. It just made sense. I was motivated by the other band members to do it as well just because it wouldn’t be another face to front the band out of nowhere. It just made the most sense.

IE: How would you rate your performance as the singer from Comeback Kid then until now. If you had to give it a 1 to 10 with 10 being the best tell us what number you were at for the start and where you honestly think you’re at now and why?

Andrew: I’m not going to rate myself for an interview. People can judge for themselves.

IE: What's it like growing up in Winnipeg?  What kinds of things do you remember doing for fun as a kid and having been all over the world can you see yourself ever leaving there and calling someplace else your home?

Andrew: Growing up in Winnipeg was cold.. sooooo cold in the winter. The punk scene was mostly local bands because we are so far from every other major city. Most likely if you wanted to see a touring band you would have to go to Minneapolis which was 8 hours away. Shows were really diverse. I grew up going to shows where hardcore, punk, Oi, and metal bands would all play together. I had a great sense of community growing up in Winnipeg. I currently am in Toronto between tours. I’m sure I’ll move around more so in my lifetime as well.