As a master of the pop-rock anthem, Jimmy Eat World is no stranger to the music industry. Since its conception in 1993, the four-person rock band has released six studio albums and witnessed crucial changes in the industry first hand. It's an evolution AU fans will be able to be a part of, when the boys hit Bender Arena on Saturday for the second time in four years.
In an interview with The Eagle, Zach Lind, the band's drummer, said the band's goal is to remain who they are amidst the changes. The band believed from the start that if they made a solid record that music fans could connect to, "everything else would take care of itself," he said.
Their most recent album, 2007's "Chase This Light," was the most upbeat and fun record the band has made, Lind said.
Instead of going to a recording studio to create the record, Lind said they remained in their home state of Arizona to record in their rehearsal space.
"I don't think it's worlds apart from our other stuff," he said. "It's a weird record in that there's probably some of our most upbeat songs that we've ever done [coupled with some of the] most mellow, creepiest songs we've ever done."
The album translated into a sound that is fun to play live. Paramore will also perform Saturday.
"Right now [we're] all about being on the road," Lind said. "Everyone's cool and down to earth and having a good time."
They know how to have a good time and even brought their own ping-pong table on the tour, which they have been playing with their cohorts in Paramore. Touring keeps Lind's musical skills fresh, he said.
"Some of the perceptions of people is once you're in a band ... you kind of have it figured out," Lind said.
He said he would love to find time to take lessons to get out of the "monotony" of playing the same way.
Jimmy Eat World, favorites among the underground rock scene for years, found mainstream success in 2001 when they released their single "The Middle," which came off of their album "Bleed American." Singles from later albums, "Futures" and "Pain", only furthered their career, and catapulted their careers into superstardom and bringing their unique sound to the radio realm.
Lind said the band still enjoys playing "The Middle."
"I think it's one of our best songs," he said. "It's very much inspired by the guys we listen to a lot."
He said Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen are his favorite musical acts.
"It's sort of a tip of a hat to ... the classic American songwriters of rock 'n' roll," Lind said.
"The Middle," which Lind said has a "classic rock" feel, was released almost seven years ago - a time when the music industry was different than it is today.
"It was a totally different era," he said. "You might follow a friend to a show, stuff like that... that's kind of the era we started in."
Lind said the current industry is completely different because of social networking Web sites and the onslaught of digital downloads.
The members of Jimmy Eat World survived the industry shift, though they had more pressing battles to fight. After signing to Capitol Records in 1995 and releasing their second album, "Clarity," enthusiasm from the executives at the label waned and Capitol dropped them in 1999.
After the band released "Bleed American," though, they faced several eager labels, including Capitol. After a brief stint with DreamWorks, the band signed with Interscope, where they have been since 2003.
One thing that has stayed the same through the years, however, is the relationship between the band members. Lind said their secret to not getting on each other's nerves was simply developing patience.
"There's a lot of good times and bad times," he said.
The band members try to take everything in stride. Lind said he attributed their foundation to the fact they became friends before they became a band.
"Everyone in the band is real," Lind said. "Nothing's ever really bigger than the fact that we're friends"
