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Web extra: Checking in with Drowning Pool's C.J. Pierce

By JUSTIN HOOKS

jhooks@sunherald.com

The Sun Herald recently spoke with Drowning Pool guitarist and New Orleans native C.J. Pierce about the band's staunch support of the military and the band's rising profile. Drowning Pool will perform at Thunder's Tavern on Sunday with Egypt Central and Rev Theory. The following is a transcription of the interview.

Q: Looking at your tour dates, I'm seeing a lot of clubs, not necessarily big arenas. Was it a conscious decision to tour in some of the more intimate venues?

A"It's just what we wanted to do. With us, every album we keep getting a new singer. So you have to start over again. The best way to get in touch with your hard-core fan base is to do clubs. If you've got a thousand people, you can hang out with them afterwards. If you do the 10,000-seat arenas, there's a barricade and there's no way to hang out with that many people in one night. We chose to do all the clubs and most of these clubs are sold out. Last year, a lot of people didn't know we were back out. You've just got to get the word out the old fashioned way, knock on as many doors as you can."

Q: Egypt Central and Rev Theory have played this area a few times. Is this your first time out with those guys? What's your take on them?

A"It's our first time out with Egypt Central. They've been out on tour with us for the last few weeks. They've got some great stuff for a new and up and coming band. I'm happy they're on the tour with us. Rev Theory is coming on soon, but we did shows with them back in like, 2001-2002. I've not heard from them since then, but it's awesome to see they're back on it."

Q: It seemed that Drowning Pool was losing its way before you brought Ryan McCombs in on vocals. The sense of "we're all in this together" didn't seem to be there. Has that returned since Ryan came on?

A"Well, that's one of the reasons we called the new record 'Full Circle.' We had been friends with Ryan since we got started. We had known him for years. And he knew (deceased original Drowning Pool singer) Dave Williams. He was the first guy we wanted after Dave passed. We didn't want to break up anybody's band though, because he was still with his old band (SOiL). Ultimately, going on tour together, (former lead singer Jason Jones) was totally different. That time period, though, we were all in a state of depression. But you dive into your work like people do to get through it. He was just the wrong guy for the band. Now we're having fun again and we feel like a family again. Four brothers all on the same page."

Justin Hooks covers bars and bands along the Coast for the Sun Herald. He can be reached at jhooks@sunherald.com.