Last year I had the pleasure of interviewing with one of the most musically inspiring bands I’ve ever heard. That band was Nashville based Jars Of Clay; a truly underrated group of musicians who never cease to amaze me with their undying approach to art and ministry. Having believed I had covered everything I wanted to ask them the first time around I was a bit surprised when we decided to do a follow-up so soon. However, with the release of their latest CD Who We Are Instead and the fact that their most recent tour managed to land in my home town for a change, questions had begun to rise in my head and I couldn’t let such a divine opportunity pass me by. So in an effort to once again gain some insight into the lives and direction of the band I spoke with Jars Of Clay guitarist Stephen Mason regarding the new CD, their change of musical objectivity and the criticisms they have faced on this album as well as with their entire career.

OT: So how is everything going?

Steven: It’s goin’ good.

OT: Where are you guys today?

Steven: We are in Colorado Springs.

OT: Cool. I caught the show in Lancaster the other night and you were the only one I didn’t get to talk to but you may remember us from last year when we interviewed you at the House of Blues in Anaheim.

Steven: Oh right on, ok, absolutely.

OT: We’re kind of doing a follow-up so Ill try not to take too much of your time.

Steven: No problem.

OT: In my opinion, and I think others as well, The Eleventh Hour album in many ways was a return to your beginnings, but with the new CD that just came out, Who We Are Instead, it really takes things back to the basics. And although acoustic in nature it explores some styles of music most people wouldn’t expect from Jars Of Clay.

Steven: Sure, yeah I think that’s pretty accurate. We tried to kind of expand things again, musically, which I guess is what we’re known for most; just being consistently consistent in terms of our stylistic elements. But at the root, like you’re saying, is the acoustic nature of it. Really returning to that acoustic foundation kind of gave us the freedom we felt to make a record that’s a little bit more soulful on one level and maybe with a little bit more simplicity than previous efforts.

OT: Well it obviously works well for you, but some may be a bit skeptical at first.

Steven: We’ve gotten some feedback from people, a couple of reviews I read on Amazon said, “I listened to it the first time and I didn’t like it.” And it probably patterns the way we think the record will eventually become known, it’s really gonna be a growth process.

OT: So were there specific events that led to your decision to kind of tap the vein of the American heartland and incorporate elements of folk and even country and blues?

Steven: On many levels, it’s a product of what we’re listening to. Listening to the Jayhawks, being such a huge fan of them and Wilco, just watching them do - in a very roots oriented way - deconstruct their music and actually take what we call blues rock or heartland rootsy kind of non-depressing country, and stretch that definition on many levels. That inspired us, I think a little bit that we could take the elements of what’s really, really good about that style and try to adapt that to our own sound and to see what would come from that.

OT: In many circles you’re considered somewhat of an alternative band and I think that is something that really epitomizes what alternative is, i.e. the ability to incorporate different styles of music and do what most wouldn’t expect from you.

Steven: Yeah, I think that’s terribly accurate, actually. Even if you look at the radio market right now, what used to be alternative ten or fifteen years ago was REM doin’ “Jangling Pop” or 10,000 Maniacs. Well right now, on the same alternative stations, you won’t hear that anymore. you’ll hear Puddle Of Mudd and P.O.D., that’s considered alternative now, Alannis Morissette, she’s definitely pop now. It’s interesting, and I think what you’re saying is true, that’s the genre. So especially when our first record came out we got a lot of flack for that, people said, “Well, they’re not really an alternative band.” But even the terms from which we define that didn’t quite make a lot of sense.

OT: I never bought in to that vibe I’ve always felt that the first album was so far removed from anything I’d ever heard, how could it not fall into the alternative category?

Steven: Wow, cool.

OT: All the different instrumentation that was incorporated on that first CD was really over-the-top, I thought it was great. Now in a live setting, especially an acoustic tour like the one you’re currently involved in, much of the new material will obviously go over well but there might still be some people that are expecting a different set than what you’re playing. Are they embracing the new music or do you feel people might be a little disappointed that you’re not playing more from your back catalog?

Steven: I’m sure there’s some songs we’re not playing that some people would love to hear. For the last ten years we’ve kind of started with, “Here are the songs we have to play.” Or in the very beginning, “Here are the only songs we know.” (Laughter) Since we’ve started it’s always been, “Here are the songs we have to play because this is what we’re known for and these are the songs that have done well commercially.” And on top of that, “Here’s the songs we want to play and here are some new songs that we think will help make the set good.” As we are pushing the new record we’ve tried to put it in a light that will best display the new songs, in a light that best communicates where our art is these days and what’s moving us creatively.

OT: That makes sense. I know for me, and for some of my friends that attended the show, it was kind of nice to see it in a different setting with everything broken down to the acoustic level. And in some ways it adds a little flare to the songs, the new songs, and some of the covers that you were doing and just the overall arrangement. Because we’ve seen so many shows in the past where like you said, you played the songs that you felt you had to play, this one was just kind of nice to see; something a little bit different. I suppose for those who were experiencing the band live for the first time they may be a little disappointed, but anybody who’s seen previous tours I think, to me anyways, it felt like I was getting a more fulfilling experience.

Steven: Well sure. I think another thing that’s been interesting to us is we’ve found that there have been a lot of people that have come to know us through the last full-length album, The Eleventh Hour. So there are some people that basically know us through that first record that we did and The Eleventh Hour, which presents a really interesting scenario for different listeners at different times, because some people love the acoustic nature of what we do and there are those that would like it if we’d bring the amps back out. I think all that together, we just felt like the best thing we could do for ourselves was to continue to kind of develop our artistry and really follow where the album goes.

OT: Well I really enjoyed the cover of America’s “Lonely People”. I actually haven’t heard the whole album, I’ve only heard snippets so far, I guess there’s one on its way to me, but I really liked the America cover. Do you guys plan to add more covers to future releases?

Steven: Not necessarily, that was kind of a special thing. I don’t think it’s something that we’re gonna make a consistent thing on every record. That was actually just a suggestion by a friend who works with us - kind of in our camp - that told us this was a great song that a lot of people are vaguely familiar with and sometimes those are great ‘ins’. You saw how Sixpence did a cover song and that really kind of opened a door for them in the midst of what they do. So not to completely say no, but I think it’d have to be the right thing to do if we ended up doing it.

OT: I understand. Well if you do, I know personally I wouldn’t mind hearing you guys record “All I Want Is You” from U2 which you guys covered the other night.

Steven: Oh yeah, yeah yeah.

OT: And the funny thing about that is, every time I tell somebody that you guys covered “All I Want Is You” from U2, they’re like, “What song?” Nobody seems to know the song, and I know they would recognize it if they heard it, but just by the name nobody knows what it is.

Steven: Yeah, I don’t know how many records it sold it was maybe not one of the most appreciated U2 records, I’d say between that and Pop, I think those are kind of maybe towards the bottom of the barrel, but all great as far as I’m concerned because I’m a huge fan. Yeah we definitely know that a lot of people won’t ‘get’ that, but for some reason we’re ok with that, we think this is a good time in life to take some risks.

OT: I’ve seen a lot of shows by a lot of different bands over the years, but I have to be honest when I say that your music, it has to be one of the most emotional performances I’ve ever seen. A lot of people are actually moved to tears at the sound of your music, especially in a live setting. So is it your job to make your fans cry, or what?

Steven: Wow, yeah, well that’s great. I don’t think there’s any intention, when we go into it, that we’re going to try to move people to that degree. But I think when there’s a connection on a deep, deep level with something, which I’ve had, and can relate it to my own experience going to see this last U2 tour. I had a deep connection to a lot of that stuff and to just an impassioned performance and how all of that went down…. it moved me at a few points in the show. And I know people connect with our music like that and first of all, it’s an honor. Secondly, I think because there’s depth to what Dan talks about - it’s a very human struggle and understanding - that it maybe makes it all that more emotional for people; I can only guess.

OT: Yeah, I agree with that. It seems as though many of the themes in your music come across at times as kind of being rooted in depression, like the songs were born out of things that weren’t the happiest of moments. Even some of the more up-beat songs seem to lull the listener into an emotional frame of mind. And the best way that I could come up with explaining that, or giving you an idea of what I’m talking about is this: it can be described as maybe that sentimental feeling you get when you’re remembering the glory years gone by, things from your childhood or your past, but then realizing it can’t go on forever and you feel bad about it. I don’t know if that makes any sense to you or not.

Steven: Yeah. Well I think, at the end of the day, we feel that joy and suffering are tied together and that’s everyone’s story, and everyone has a story and it comes down to how that’s played out for each of us. But I think music has a way of getting inside of our hearts like nothing else and helping communicate that story in ways that we normally can’t; with feelings and emotions we can’t readily access.

OT: Very cool.

Steven: Sometimes that brings a melancholy.

OT: Yeah, it does. And I don’t think anybody’s complaining about it…,

Steven: Oh, no. Yeah.

OT: …but it’s just one of those things that happen. An interesting thing that I’ve noticed is in a live setting you seem to be able to kind of lighten the atmosphere a bit by cracking jokes.

Steven: Oh sure, I think we feel like a lot of people get from our records, just a one-dimensional idea of what the band’s like. I think if we were the same spirit and temperament as our music all the time, we’d be really depressing and boring to be around. And I think we just always try to give all sides to our music and our art, because we feel like that’s just an outward expression of who we are; but still, just only one element. I think in the live setting we have the opportunity to bring out some of the light-hearted elements of what it is we do.

OT: Totally. I really thought during the last tour for The Eleventh Hour, when I saw you at the Anaheim House of Blues, the cover of Cyndi Lauper’s, “Girls Just Wanta Have Fun”….

Steven: Oh yeah!

OT: ….that was just absolutely brilliant! The lead-in to it especially, making everybody think that this was going to be the ultimate song, the most important song of the night.

Steven: Well thanks. Yeah, well I think that’s just one more way we can parody our own expectations and those of the people that come, by showing that this is all just going to be one big heavy experience. I think that we find lightheartedness and simple expressions to be just as important. I think that’s reflective, even on this record, that we were allowed to explore that as well, even with the first track, “Sunny Days”.

OT: I hear what you’re saying. Not to stay hinged on one point, but I also thought the Bon Jovi cover that you guys did impromptu the other night was interesting, I didn’t expect that one. Did you guys expect that one? (Laughter)

Steven: No, no, that happens on occasion, our production manager’s a big fan so occasionally we whip that out.

OT: (Laughing) That was funny, it was very good. At the end of the show, when you guys brought Caedmon’s Call up and you did “I’ll fly Away”, it was kind of a little tribute to Johnny Cash.

Steven: Yeah. Sure.

OT: It really didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the people at the show that I attended, and obviously he’s much more respected and revered in the Midwest and the South, but do you ever feel bad at maybe the musical ignorance of some people?

Steven: Well we feel like it’s an opportunity to give some education and some perspective, but yeah, unfortunately not everybody knows about his genius. Even more than just kind of mentioning that that was the first spiritual song he had ever heard, we just think it’s a good idea to kind of blend the old with the new on a lot of levels, and that there’s a lot of quality music and quality art that was made many moons ago before all of us were born that still deserves an opportunity to communicate. That’s where we’ll do an “I’ll fly Away”, which was written in the 1930’s. And “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”, which we did with Caedmon’s, is something we think’s really neat because it taps into those elemental human needs and stories in a way that a lot of modern music doesn’t.

OT: Right, right. It’s interesting, just some of the people that I come across, at least here in California, I think more people were affected by John Ritter’s death than they were by Johnny Cash.

Steven: Oh I’m sure.

OT: And it to me it was just like, yeah ok, I understand both, but Johnny Cash, being a music fan myself, that was a little bit more important for me. But sometimes I get a little upset, so I’m glad you guys at least threw that in because it does give a little bit of education, and maybe it’ll open the door for people to know something that they maybe didn’t before. Now I don’t know if my information is accurate or not, but the word is that this new CD is actually selling better than any of your previous efforts.

Steven: Well… not completely. It’s hard to beat…, the first week of our second record, after coming off of our first record which sold 2 million. So I’m not sure actually, I don’t really know the numbers yet, should know those soon though.

OT: Well I know out of the reviews that I’ve read so far everybody’s raving about it. It’s probably got the most praise since the debut, as far as I’ve read.

Steven: We’ve definitely been encouraged by that, that’s for sure.

OT: Now have you guys ever found it difficult to stay humble with the success that you have experienced?

Steven: Well definitely that’s always something that you have to keep underfoot. I think it’s actually been a lot easier more recently because we have families and we’re doin’ a lot more beyond our music that we don’t let being Jars Of Clay and touring and making records completely define us, but we’ve rounded out our personalities a little bit and we’re doing a lot of other work as well.

OT: So have you ever been ridiculed for your success? There are always people that’ll say, “They’re just in it for the money and the fame”.

Steven: Oh well sure, but those are pretty much baseless comments, and I think you’d have to know somebody and really get to know their heart to make those sorts of judgments. Those are much easier to blow off these days.

OT: (Laughter) Right on. Well that’s good to hear. Now I’ve got one last question for you. Do you ever make predictions for the future of the band?

Steven: Man, well we haven’t to this point. It’s been an exciting season, I mean the only prediction I can make is: the next record we make will be hopefully just as fun as this one. Because it happened really quickly and it came together really fast and we had to actually stop the process to finish the album, because the songs were coming in such a quick manner, with such great writing from Dan lyrically, that we could have made a couple albums worth. But we shall see.

OT: That’s very cool. Well I personally hope you guys are around for many decades to come.

Steven: Oh, well thanks David. I would hope to be. We’re havin’ a lot of fun and it’s actually only gotten better.

OT: It seems that it’s a bit hard sometimes for Christian artists to maintain an extended tenure in the pop culture; I think Amy Grant might be the only one to have attained that position, so hopefully you guys will continue on for a long time. Looking forward to anything you guys have to dish out.

Steven: Cool, well thank you David, appreciate it.

OT: Say hi to the rest of the guys for us and we’ll see you next time you come through.

Steven: Excellent David thanks so much for your time.

OT: See ya later.

Steven: Alright see ya.