I realized something when I sat down to write about Neverset. It occurred to me that the "standard" for most writers who interview and write about bands is to keep things general; to put their personal feelings aside when writing their article. Being someone who loves music I find that very hard to do. To say that Neverset fits perfectly into the type of rock music that I love to listen to would be a huge understatement. If I had to explain their music to anyone, I would probably describe it as tried and true rock and roll. For me, personally, it's just great rock music.

As a band, Neverset came out strong, had it's share of struggles and is now back stronger than ever; and their music is living proof of that. They possess what many of the great rock bands in history should; the ability to back up their album quality songs with a tight, ferocious stage performance that leaves their fans only wanting more. This band is on their way to adding their name to that list of great rock bands throughout history.

Lead vocalist Shawn Hamm spoke with me recently about Neverset's past, present and future. Here's what he had to say:

CHRISTINA AVINA: Hi Shawn. Can you give me a brief band history to start us out?

SHAWN HAMM: We started about three years, but in the last year we really took off with everything as far as touring, having a management deal and the record. It's been about three years in the works and we're based out of Dallas.

CA: I was noticing in your bio that you were voted one of the best new bands in Texas in 2004, right?

SH: Yeah, there was a local radio station that voted us the best new band in the Dallas area.

CA: That's very cool. After that, you kind of struggled a little bit until this year when you re-released your full length, 'Behind Every Door.'

SH: We went through a few different members and a lot of changes, just like any other band does, until we found the lineup that we have today. As far as the album, we weren't really happy with the artwork and we remastered it, released it again with an extra song to get the album as it is now.

CA: When did the re-release take place, in 2006?

SH: I think it was either the end of 2006 or the beginning of 2007.

CA: You mentioned the different things that you went through, member changes and what not. Do you think that helped you in the long run somehow to get where you are now? Maybe it inspired you in some way?

SH: Yeah, definitely it has. We've been through all the ups and downs and if we're still together after all that then we're not going anywhere.

CA: Sometimes people see a band that is new to them, but they don't realize everything you went through to get where you are.

SH: Exactly.

CA: Your sound is definitely unique and it seems like there are several different genres of rock that all melt together. How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you play?

SH: Basically, I would say that it's really energetic, hard rock. We write about everyday things that we go through. We don't have someone write our songs for us. We don't sit down and try to figure out what people want to hear. We just write about things we've been through and I'm sure there are always things people can relate to.

CA: It seems that lately, especially this past year, I've seen a lot of bands who are putting more of a traditional rock sound back out there, more than in the past few years. There's been a lot of alternative rock in the spotlight, but it seems like some bands are getting back to that traditional rock sound. Do you think there is a kind of resurgence in regular, straight rock music over the past couple of years?

SH: I definitely think some of the 80's style hard rock is coming back, even some 70's music is coming back around. For me I've always been told that everything comes back around. For the last few years, it was nothing but emo style, or bands like Fall Out Boy and they were really big. It's like someone just putting a boy band together with someone writing their songs for them. It works for one album and when it comes time to follow up it doesn't work because it's just not real. I think now those kind of bands are fading out and people are wanting to get back to the bands that are real and actually writing their stuff.

CA: I agree. Personally, I have the opportunity to interview a lot of people and I have been very lucky to interview people whose music I honestly enjoy. When I have opportunities to interview people with the similar style of Fall Out Boy or Panic At The Disco, it's just not exciting for me. I just don't see some of those bands sitting there, writing great songs and going out and paying their dues. It's like someone put them together out of what they thought the masses would like.

SH: If that's their deal and that's what they want, then good for them. If they're making money, they can enjoy it while it lasts. For me, I don't want to be a band that just puts out music videos. That's not rock to me at all.

CA: It's funny that you say that, because a lot of the bands that I like right now don't have a lot of music videos out on the "mainstream" music TV channels. That's just not what they're about. They seem to be more underground.

SH: Exactly. We go out every night. We don't have the huge stage props or lights, or Pro Tools that everyone is lip-syncing to, or playing the guitar when we're not even playing. We go out there every night and play and fans seem to be really latching onto it.

CA: I have a friend in Odessa, Texas who just saw you recently and she was blown away. She said you really kicked ass, so now I'm even more disappointed that I won't get to see you live.

SH: I hope so.

CA: You've shared the stage with some great bands this year. Which tour has been your favorite in 2007?

SH: We've done some shows with Seether and Three Days Grace. Three Days Grace are really good friends of ours so we love playing with those guys. They take care of us. But, probably the Candlebox tour just because I went through high school listening to those guys. They were a big influence on me wanting to do music. Actually being able to go on tour with them and hang out with them on off days, just talking one on one about the business. I took as much advice from them as I could. I couldn't ask for anything else. I learned a lot from those guys, I think we all did.

CA: That must be great to be able to hang out and play with guys that influenced you so much, and to be able to have that feeling that now you're in the same group with them.

SH: Exactly.

CA: Are you planning another album for 2008?

SH: Yeah, we're actually writing that right now. We're playing actually two of the songs from the new album on this tour to get the people's reactions to them. So far, everyone loves them so it's been encouraging. We're going to keep on writing. The first time around you just kind of write your first twelve songs and you record them. That's it, that's what we did. This time we want to write about 40 songs and pick the top ones from that. We'll be working with a producer this time in a lot better studio. This will actually define who the band is.

CA: That's what I was going to ask next. If you could describe the musical differences, if any, between your debut and this upcoming follow-up album, are there any changes you see coming?

SH: There definitely will be changes. It will still have the Neverset sound, but it will be a little bit different. We're taking it back a little bit more old school. It will have the same energy and the same writing that we had on the last album.

CA: Now, you're still doing some club touring and then you go out with Sevendust, right?

SH: Actually, we leave on Thursday to start the Sevendust tour.

CA: What comes up after that? Do you have any other tours in the works after Sevendust?

SH: Yeah, we actually have a couple things in the works. We're talking to some other bands like Three Days Grace and Papa Roach. We're hoping to do some stuff like that. If all else fails, our booking agent will put together another run of headlining stuff with local bands and we will just keep touring and writing.

CA: I'm hoping you come through here on whatever tour you end up doing next. I wanted to finish up by asking you a couple of fun questions if you still have time.

SH: Okay.

CA: You guys have a reputation for hanging out with your fans after shows and having a good time. What are some of the craziest things you've done to have a good time after a show?

SH: We could be here all day. That's basically what we do. When we get off stage, we hang out. Most bands don't do that. After they play a show they go right backstage, or sometimes before they might do a meet and greet with people who won on the radio. We try to meet everybody. We're not better than anybody. We're only on stage because the fans are there. Without them, there's no job for us.

CA: Right.

SH: We just try to hang out with everybody as much as we can. There are many times where they're like, "There's a party at my house." So we go party at a fan's house. There was one time that we all had a little too much to drink with Three Days Grace and we were on the second story of a hotel. The window was open because people were smoking. Someone dared me, after I had too much to drink; they dared me to jump out the window. Before they even finished their sentence I was already out the window, face first on the concrete below from the second story.

CA: Oh, wow.

SH: Luckily, I didn't break anything. I landed on the concrete and I was perfectly fine. There are many things like that that we do. Any tour we go on we are like the band where the older bands will give us a lot to drink to see what crazy things we'll do.

CA: Things with bottle rockets?

SH: Yeah, I guess you saw that video.

CA: Someone actually sent that my way because they knew I would be interviewing you. They thought it would be good for conversation. I think it's great though to see musicians hanging out with fans after shows. It has been happening a lot more lately and I think that's cool.

SH: That's the best way to get repeat fans, or to keep them coming back to see you. A lot bands these days, if they don't do that people aren't going to come back to see them because they're boring.

CA: I agree.

SH: We do it because we want to do it. A lot bands aren't doing it, and then they see us doing it and they're like, "Man, they're selling more CD's." The fans are going crazy and they all want to hang out with us. Then they think, "We should do that."

CA: Right. The fans like developing more of a personal relationship with the bands they love. Honestly, bands are going to be hanging out after the show and partying anyway right?

SH: Exactly, so why not do it with everybody so everyone can leave with a good feeling like, "I can't believe the band hung out with us!" Most of what I see with the pop rock bands out there, they think that they're too big to do that. There are times where you feel like you just want to go relax after a set. When I'm done I usually have to go dry off and just want to pass out, but I still go out there. Sometimes I feel like I don't have the energy or like it's physically impossible for me to go out there and hang out with people, but I still do it every single night. For the other bands that go out and think they're too big or too tired I'm just like, "Come on."

CA: Do you have anything that you could tell me about your band mates, any bad habits or deep dark secrets you could reveal that would piss them off?

SH: As far as bad habits, I would say our guitar player drinks a little too much and he gets too rowdy. He gets physical. Our drummer is a real big geek and sometimes we have to pull him off his laptop or his PSP to come set up his drums to get ready to play.

CA: I know someone like that.

SH: We end up threatening that we're not going to bring the PSP on tour, it was getting so bad.

CA: You may have said this already, but who is your all time favorite rock and roll front man?

SH: Bands that are still playing today?

CA: Of all time.

SH: The biggest one for me would have to be Elvis. Of bands that are still playing today, that would be the lead singer from Papa Roach. I actually talk to him now, we're friends. He is one of the biggest influences on me now. They have been one of the biggest influences on me in life and on stage.

CA: That's the first time I've ever had anyone say Elvis to that, which I think is very cool. I think people nowadays don't associate him as much with rock and roll as they used to.

SH: He definitely was the leader of rock and roll. I think most anyone who is a halfway decent front man got a little bit from him, whether it's his moves or attitude on stage where he could just walk out and not even have to say anything; just the way he looked people would react. You have to be born with that. You have to have the attitude.

CA: He had instant charisma when he hit the stage. I agree. The last thing I have for you is the chance to turn the tables and ask me anything you want to ask.

SH: I get to ask you anything I want to ask?

CA: Yeah. I'm sure you get asked a million stupid questions, so feel free to ask me anything.

SH: Okay, without getting too personal I'll just ask who is your favorite all time rock and roll band and why?

CA: Well, it's tough but I'd have to say....

SH: Aside from Neverset.

CA: Of course, aside from you guys, I would say probably Aerosmith. I like a lot of bands and specific things about certain bands. I will say that after seeing Aerosmith live many times they just put on a balls out show every single time they hit the stage. I love them, but I could probably list bands forever that I love.

SH: I know, I feel the same way.

CA: Do you want to send out a message to your fans?

SH: The only thing I can really say is that if you've never heard of Neverset before, at least check us out on Myspace. Whether you like the music or not at least come to a show. We've actually had a few people come up to us and say, "You know, it's really not my type of music but you guys are awesome to watch." So come and check out a show and judge for yourself.

CA: I appreciate the time Shawn.

SH: Thank you.

Be sure to check out Neverset on Myspace to hear some great music, and to see when they are coming to perform in your area.

Neverset on Myspace