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Bill Kelliher's 1977 Les Paul Custom with a Lace Sensor Nitro Hemi humbucker in the bridge position. © Joe Bosso

Have there been any changes to your live rigs since you last went out?

Kelliher: "I tend to try new things and go right back to the same old pedals that I used 20 years ago. But I am using something new for me, this TC Electronic G-System controller. It's pretty cool, because now I don't have to dance around on stage and try to hit two or three pedals at a time; I can preset the configurations into the G-System and I'm good to go. That's been the big change."

Hinds: "I still like my Marshall JMPs. I can try every amp in the world, but nothing will affect me like the JMPs. Same with distortion pedals. I've tried everything you can think of. I've had distortion pedals custom designed for me. And still, I always go back to the Ibanez Tube Screamers. Those are the best."

How does the road affect the band in the ways that you interact with one another? Are you different people on tour as opposed to at home?

Hinds: "At home, we don't see each other so much because we spend so much time together on the road. We go our own ways."

Kelliher: "We try to take breaks from one another. It's funny, though: For me, being on tour is like being on vacation. When I'm at home, I'm trying to play catch up. I'm trying to get back with my kids, my wife, my dogs, my house, whatever. It's like, 'Man, I can't wait to go on tour so I can get some sleep!'" [laughs]

What was with you and that picture of Barney? [laughs all around]

Kelliher: "Oh man, good ol' Barney! We played a show with Barney. Barney's Birthday Bash."

Hinds: "We showed up the other day in Indianapolis, Indiana, and on the marquee of this venue it said 'Barney's Birthday Bash' and below that it said 'Mastodon.'"

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