I think its really cool, but Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms did it better than anyone. People dont realize just how awesome the Arizona history is, especially for alternative music. Growing up, thats all I ever wanted to be was those two bands. – Nate Ruess
We love a good, hyped sound, but when it starts to sound insincere, thats when I lose interest. I hope that our music, even if it sounds polished, doesnt sound insincere. – Nate Ruess
I was in a really crummy pop-punk band. I think we did a whole bunch of Blink-182 covers, and we were on the fringe of losers and jocks. So we invited all the cool kids to come watch us play in our bass players brothers bedroom. And it was terrible, but everyone thought we were so cool. – Nate Ruess
My dad dragged me to a Bruce Springsteen concert as a kid. It was my first concert, but I fell asleep in the middle. My second concert was Weezer on the Pinkerton tour, and Pinkerton is the reason why Im doing this. – Nate Ruess