It's a new day for Days of the New.
The modern rock outfit, which courted attention with its acoustic-based heavy music, dropped off the map a bit when its sophomore album was plowed under during the absorption of its record label, A&M, into the Universal Music Group conglomerate. But the quartet's profile is considerably higher these days, thanks to an opportune series of opening slots on the Creed tour and two songs on the new Doors tribute album, Stoned Immaculate — all of which helps set up its third album, which is due in March and is nicknamed for the color of its cover, Red.
Frontman and group leader Travis Meeks has kind things to say about Creed, though he pointedly avoids discussing the hot band's music. "I like them as people," Meeks says. "The drummer's [Scott Phillips] cool; he's really interested in music, and he's really good. The guitar player [Mark Tremonti], he's a cool guy, a muscular guy; he works out and shit. And [Scott] Stapp, he's just kind of laid back. He's not really into doing anything, so there wasn't much to do with them. We didn't jam or anything."
The Doors, however, offered a much more interactive experience, joining Days of the New for their two songs — "L.A. Woman" and the Oedipal epic "The End," the latter of which the Doors didn't expect to be part of the project until Meeks pushed the issue.
"That song is so dark, and the fact he wanted to do it was pretty amazing," says Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger. "He's a real Doors fan, real into Morrison and into the whole thing. He wasn't just wanting to do it for the hell of it."
Meeks says that "The End" has always been a special favorite of his. "I just feel it, man; I feel like I wrote the song, just in that I really relate to it. I was just so familiar with it, it was like cake to me." And if the Doors want to do it on the road, as has been rumored, Meeks says to count him in, any time and any place.
"I would love to go on tour with them," he says. "I'd do every song they wanted me to and pull them off good. I grew up with that music. I definitely feel very much a part of them — probably a little more than Jim did, because Jim didn't play any instruments, but I very much understand their style and their techniques." — Gary Graff
