"hold" was song number 5 in our long list of non titled songs. We had not named any songs until song number 12 maybe? Big mistake. A song has no identity with a number. The only reason I would remember this song being song number 5 was because it was a big brother to song number 4. We wanted to write 2 songs that were very different in feel but carried over common themes. Song 4 is what became "lighters" on the record. In the end we completely changed the key and tuning of lighters and it no longer had the attachment to hold any longer. That is when this song changed completely.

The whole beginning to the song was very different than it is now. It was more upbeat and much more happy sounding. Lame. There were a lot of dark menacing sounding moments throughout this song. So we thought it would be better to start the song sounding like the end of the world. The sound that starts the song even though sounds like bass is actually guitar with a whammy wah octave down. I put a ton of fuzz and distortion until it sounded like my amp was going to explode. After we stumbled on this, it was over. The song rewrote itself. I love going from this really dark verse right into a bright huge chorus. This song was not even intended to go on the record at first. We recorded hold as a test to see how we were feeling with the direction of the new songs. Since it was in the first batch of new songs we wrote we were way more excited about the later songs. But in the studio this song came to life with each new layer. The drum sounds were great. The bass sound was so dirty and cool. The guitar sounds were so mean. Vocals turned out so nice. Next thing we knew, the song had turned into our first single.

Live the song has grown as well. During our video shoot for this song I decided to instead of my tele use a fender baritone. So throughout the day of shooting I would noodle around on the baritone and figured out how to play "hold" in that tuning. So now since then, we have an extra guitar Player for the nice bright chimey guitar parts and I am playing all the real low disgusting sounding parts. So with one baritone working the low end with the bass, another more bright sounding rhythm that leaves it wide open for all of hippy and his lead lines. Makes the song sound even bigger with all these layers to it.

It is funny how a song that we didn't even think would be on the record became one of our favorites. That's the thing, sometimes in the studio everything can change...this time for the better.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album - right here!

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