Collective Soul
Straight off the RockBoat, Collective Soul went back to the studio to work on the follow up to their 2004 release Youth , due out sometime this spring or early summer. Guitarist Joel Kosche recently took some time to talk about his time with the band, new guy hazing, life away from the road, and other topics.
Asif: Thanks for your time bro, I really appreciate it. How were your holidays?
Joel: Good!
Asif: How long were you associated with Collective Soul before performing on stage with the band?
Joel: I started working with them in 1996 as a guitar tech and started playing with them in 2001.
Asif: First time performing on stage with Collective Soul: how much of it was nervousness, how much of it was excitement?
Joel: It was nervousness for sure. The first show was in Brisbane Australia for the Good Will Games ceremony. It was at night and the stage was actually a barge floating on the Brisbane River. It was surreal playing that show, we couldn't even see the crowd. When we would finish a song you'd hear the applause way off in the distance. I remember looking over at Ed at one point and thinking "now this is not the usual thing I do."
Asif: You were a front man in your former band Steep. Did that help ease the transition at all?
Joel: In a way it did. I felt like I had my own thing going on with Steep and my confidence was there. What's weird is when I started playing with CS I almost felt like I was taking a step backwards by just being the guitar player. I sort of gave up on the whole guitar hero thing a long time ago so I could concentrate on songwriting and singing. Playing the CS stuff is making me have to practice again! All in all, the thing that made the transition easy was the fact that we were all good friends anyway.
Asif: How were you received by the CS fans while playing your first few shows and the tours since then with the band?
Joel: The fans have been cool. It's hard when your favorite band goes through a line-up change.
Asif: Alright, so I'm assuming your band mates have been great, but was there any "new guy" hazing you received that you can share?
Joel: Oh yeah. My favorite was always the "Excuse me, have we actually hired you yet?" thing. To my delight Ryan Hoyle our new drummer has gracefully accepted the duties of official whipping boy and low man on the totem pole now!
Asif: How long did it take you to learn the band's library – or are you still learning it?
Joel: I had about a week and a half to learn that set we played in Australia back in 2001. We've been adding songs ever since but I still haven't learned the whole catalog.
Asif: From a technical aspect, what is the hardest song for you to play night in and night out?
Joel: It changes all the time. I'd say the hardest ones are the really dynamic songs where I'm having to do a lot of effect changes and switch between the e-bow and stuff. We recently started playing "Maybe", that's a hard one to do smoothly.
Asif: Do you feel the need to be "man pretty" or the need to compete with the rest of the guys in the band who might be considered rock n' roll's "pretty boys"?
Joel: That's a silly question. Every one knows Dean Roland has no
completion in the "man-pretty" department!
Asif: Ha ha ha. Okay, so when you aren't on the road touring, what do you do to unwind or have fun?
Joel: I like to be at home watching the birds in my backyard. We're excited about the ruby-crowned kinglet that just showed up at the feeder.
Asif: Cool. Are you still writing songs?
Joel: Of course. I have a solo record coming out in the next few months.
Asif: Sweet! I can't wait to hear it! For your fans or fans of Steep, is there a planned musical outlet for you – either with Collective Soul by writing or singing on the next album?
Joel: Well hopefully I'll get a song on the new C.S. record and like I said I have solo record coming out soon.
Asif: Thanks again for your time bro. Are you feeling Better Now?
Joel: I'll be alright.
www.myspace.com/collectivesoul
