mercury rev Interview by Jesse Fahnestock Photos by Alexis Scherl Over the course of the 90s Mercury Rev have grown from noise-rock's wildest cards into the elder-statesmen of their own pan-generational future folk. Gone are the feedback wigouts and disastrous performances, and in their stead we find stately ballads and professional courtesy. Against all odds, they got old before they died. And you know what? We're proud of them. As his band launches into the longest tour of the Deserter's Songs era, keyboardist Adam Snyder tells Ink Blot all about growing up gracefully with America's most visionary rock band. So cozy up to the fire, get out the pipe and slippers, and enjoy the company of one of our generation's greatest bands. Maturity, like, rocks. ( psst! as you read, click on the links fer extry-special pop-up windows that'll give ye some extry-special and very fun comments and information and stuff that relates to the things you click on...if that makes any sense ) Where are you in the touring process? Adam -This is the second night of this leg. This is the longest tour we're going to do - three weeks here, then two or three in England, then Europe... You've already been to England to tour Deserter's Songs. Adam -A couple of times. How's the reaction been? Adam -Very good. Incomprehenisbly good. We've always had a pretty good following in England, and I guess it's just sort of building on that. Is it home away from home yet? Do you feel comfortable there? Adam -Yeah, personally, I do. I miss my family, but I feel fairly comfortable in Europe and very comfortable in England. What's your background with Mercury Rev? Adam -As you know, Mercury Rev was an existing band for, probably, four or five years before I joined. In 1994, I opened for the Harmony Rockets - I had my own little act - and just a few months after that, they were looking for someone to play keyboards, and my name came up in conversation. I started playing keyboards with them, went on tour for about a year, and at the end of the year they asked me and I decided to join full-time. So I've been with the band since '95. Other than the obvious personnel changes, how fundamentally different is the band now? Adam -Completely different. Having been a part of both bands - sort of in the middle - I can say there are a lot of differences. Do you see a common thread, musically? Adam -Yeah, definitely. The intention...the goals musically, haven't changed. It's just that the additions of new people, the addition of musical maturity on the part of the existing people, the addition of new technology has made us better able to express certain things that the band's been attempting to express for years. It's thematically a continuous build from the past, it's just that we have the means of getting down to it now. CONTINUE TO PAGE 2 OF 3>>>