I never sit and fill a journal with lyrics. Most of the time I'm trying to write a feeling, not a story. I'm not necessarily trying to describe the d….

I focus on the words and then I have fun putting together the music after..

Maybe because I have spent too much of my life in rock clubs. I don't really go to parties anymore either. I'll usually be in the bus by 11:30 after ….

You gotta lean towards the things that make you like yourself. Forget everything else..

I think most people start rock bands in their early twenties or teens, but I was almost thirty at the time when the band started really doing anythin….

Not all the songs are real events, but I do write about stuff that is close to my heart and it comes out one way or another..

We were always in the shadows of the stuff that was getting more attention. So people learned to listen to us slowly over time. And, frankly, we lear….

A song is a song and, if I am emotionally connected to do it, whether it is sad or not sad, I am going to chase that song..

It takes us a long time to write a song that we all really like, so it makes sense that it would take a while for the listener to get there, too..

Music has got a community vibe to it that pulls people together, and those communities are different in different places..

I drink wine on stage to sort of loosen my grip on reality a little..

I've never quite felt totally comfortable up on stage. I've gotten more comfortable, but drinking wine is a crutch that gives me a little courage. It….

Weirdly, I was still trying to be the older brother, and trying to get him [Tom Berninger] to try to be more like me a little bit. Or not be more lik….

A person with grace is somebody who's socially graceful or is a classy person, but sometimes you just feel the opposite of that, and you just feel li….

When I have just sat down and tried to write the lyrics of a song, usually about half of it sounds like bullshit. I just have to go away from somethi….

Sadness is not always the worst feeling. Sometimes it's a really pleasurable thing to be overwhelmed with sadness..

Live on coffee and flowers. Try not to worry what the weather will be..

It is the melody and the rhythm that are by far the most important and then words and imagery and stuff, story bits will start to stick to a melody a….

Lyrics need to be good, but they don't need to be obvious right away..

I became at peace with the darkness or the personality that I have. I am usually pretty funny and happy..

I'm not saying I'm not a moody guy sometimes, but I think I have a pretty normal balance..