James meet up with Patent Pending’s frontman Joe Ragosta before their show at Birmingham Academy with Bowling For Soup. He’s a lovely chap and here’s what we talked about.

You have just released your new studio album ‘Brighter’ how has it gone down with your fans and the press so far?
It’s going great so far. We couldn’t be happier with the reception, it’s been such a great time our community which we call our second family.

How did you find working on ‘Brighter’ compared to your previous albums?
This one was more of a battle, actually no more of an epic battle. It was supposed to take 3 weeks and it ended up taking 8 months. We went through every high and low that a person can go through mentally and physically, it was bizarre but awesome.

What themes and stories do you covering within the songs of ‘Brighter’?
I think a lot of it is us coming to grips with the fact that this isn’t what we do but who we are. The song which starts the album is an a cappella song called “There was a time’’ and that song is about when I personally fell in love with music. It was exciting to get that out and then the song ‘’brighter’’ which is the title track picks up a story where the song ‘’one less heart to break’’ and the song ‘’second family’’ left off. ‘’One less heart to break’’ deals with depression and suicide and this song is about people who beat that depression and get to the other side.

You are currently on the road touring with Bowling For Soup in the UK how have the shows been so far?
The shows have been crazy beyond our wildest imagination. We did this tour last year with them and it was maybe half this size and it was insane but this one has this insane energy where it seems like everyone in the room want’s to have that last party with Bowling For Soup.

Have there been certain shows on the tour that you have been looking forward to play more than others?
You’re going to think I’m lying but tonight, I look forward to Birmingham so much. We look forward to places like Sheffield and Manchester as well but last year this place was just bonkers. After that we came back for a co headlining tour with Eric Chandler and Birmingham was sold out and it was nuts.

As you have now just released a new studio album how have you found picking a set list for the tour?
On this tour we had a song that we didn’t expect to do as well as it has called ‘’Hey Mario’’, we knew it was hilarious but we didn’t know if the rest of the world would get on board with it. So far I think it has already received about 500,000 which is exciting for us, so we’ll definitely be playing that. We also want to play ‘’One less heart to break’’ or ‘’Second family’’ so we can express that emotion which we believe in in this band. We also want to play ‘’Douchebag’’ because it’s hilarious (laughter).

Over the past 12 months you have hit the UK a lot to support Bowling For Soup, embark on your own headline tour and also to play the Download Festival, is it starting to feel like a second home now and what do you love most about touring the UK?
It’s definitely beginning to feel like a second home, the reception that we’ve received has been amazing. I’m starting to like the food which was a fight but I’m finally doing it. The key is just to not order something that I would order at home and then I can’t be upset (laughter). The thing I enjoy the most about coming over here is that people over here really, really enjoy music. In America it’s a little bit of a fashion show and about who knows who, whereas over here it’s just about is that song good, yes or no.

What would you say your biggest highs and lows as a band have been so far?
I think our band is too dumb to get frustrated and we’re too dumb to ever quit, so the things that would usually cause a band to break up, we’ve already been through. Instead of looking at things like oh my god this could be the end we look at things like shit this has happened again? Ok now let’s deal with this. There are definitely highs and lows, like for the most part we’re always broke but the highs like being able to tour and things like that definitely outweigh the lows.

What is the best thing about being in a band?
The best thing about being in a band is that you don’t not have to be in a band (laughter). I look at some of my friends who have gone on to get proper jobs and I would never be able to do that in a million years. It’s also fun to always be around your friends and be able to express yourself artistically and emotionally.

What do you have planned once your current tour comes to an end?
We have a video for our new single ‘’Let go’’ coming out on Monday and then after that we’ll return home and do some shows in America including our annual Christmas tour. In April we’ll be back in the UK playing some shows with Jared’s other band ‘’People on vacation’’.

Where do you hope to see Patent Pending in a year’s time?
One of the guys in the room: The moon
Joe: The moon? Yeah that sounds good, maybe we’ll be the first band on the moon, which is the name of The Cardigans record with ‘’Lovefool’’ on it, it’s a great album. Hopefully we’ll be here doing the same thing, just rocking and rolling and doing what we love doing.

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra or Giraffe which one would you be and why?
I’m not trying to rehash a kindergarten joke but I think I’d rather be a zebra because if you were a giraffe and you had a sore throat it’d be really painful (laughter). I’d probably be a giraffe because they can see everything.

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Hey thanks for reading this guys and check us out at www.patentpendingmusic.com and check out the new video that we’ll be releasing soon.

Interview by James Daly