Although it's hard to believe that a member of Sevendust is an easy-going Southern boy offstage, that's the type of person bassist Vince Hornsby is.
One and a half hours before the performance, Hornsby is relaxing on a couch, the official banquet table beside him filled with a healthy sampling of snacks and beverages.
"Its not very nutritional stuff up in here. We got wine, whiskey, and vodka, and coffee, and chocolate. You got to have the chocolate man, for the bus ride, you know what I mean?"
But taking it easy is something that Sevendust hasn't experienced in a while. The band was engaged in a rigorous touring schedule before and after the success of Home in 1999. Woodstock, OzzFest, the Warped Tour, and tours with artists including Creed and Staind exhausted Sevendust.
While the band has performed with many acts on the road, they were never before the definitive headliner. Hornsby is pleased with the change.
"You can do your own show. You play long enough for people to enjoy it - they paid good money. We just got off the road with Fuel, we've done a lot of stuff with Creed. But when you headline, it's a little more easier. You get the true fans."
It also helps them to support their new album, Animosity. The band hopes to make an even larger impact on the rock music industry than with their past two gold-certified albums, Home and Sevendust.
Animosity incorporates a lot of the nu-metal aggression of the past two albums. But if there is a significant different from the band's earlier works, it lies primarily in the infusion of more melodies. Tracks like "Xmas Day," and "Angel's Son" testify to the change.
"Angel's Son" has a gentle acoustic guitar background to accompany lead-singer Lajon Witherspoon's gospel-like voice. Sevendust originally wrote the song for a tribute record memory of Snot singer Lynn Strait, Strait Up.
Speaking of Strait's influence, Hornsby comments, "He was such a great friend of ours. It's a terrible tragedy, I kind of wish the song never was written."
But along with a somber tone is a sharp injection of rage. Although exploring this emotion is nothing new for Sevendust , a lot of bitterness was developed after touring so long. They also became soured on the music industry after returning home with little money, and firing ex-manager J.J. French. The band remains silent on the specifics of both issues.
"The business side of it sometimes sucks. It seems like when you get a little bit of success, there's a piece of pie, and there are a lot of dogs taking [a bite] out of the pie. Just like any other business, you just got to try to keep your head up and not get screwed around with."
During the creation of Animosity, producer Ben Grosse provided a partial antidote to the frustration the band accumulated while on tour by exercising less control over the music's creative aspects.
Sevendust also had the strange opportunity of working in Lou Pearlman's boy band studio in Orlando.
"It was a weird situation, and it was a very nice facility. We hung out with some of them guys. O-Town, Pink came through a couple of times. We told Lou we wanted to put together an old man band here. I don't think he went for that."
Although O-Town does not make an appearance on Animosity, Aaron Lewis, lead singer of Staind, lends his vocals to the Sevendust track, "Follow."
Hornsby recounts:
"We were doing the record in Florida, and him and his brother John came down to play golf. He walked in the [recording] room and he wanted to hear some stuff. Twenty minutes later, he was humming and wanted to put some harmony on it. I really dig what he did on it."
Sevendust has formed close associations with the countless bands they have toured with. Hornsby comments that the band has a very friendly vibe that allows them to connect with their fans and their musical friends. But fame occasionally has bewildering effects.
"We've met a lot of great friends, of course all of our friends are making multi-million dollars. I get a kick out of it. I mean when Staind was on the cover of Rolling Stone, and I walked into the store and saw it, I was like 'You've got to be kidding me!'"
Hornsby still sees himself as a simple southern boy, who still drives his old Chevy pick-up truck even though he now owns many other cars.
He asserts that Sevendust's down-to-earth values are primarily found in the connection with their fans. On their official Web site (http://www.sevendust.com) is a link to messages from a 14-year-old boy with cancer.
"He's a friend of Morgan's, actually. We just want to give him a little bit. They're having a tough time with money and situations like that. He's a great kid. It's just a situation where you can hope and pray."
Life at home almost reinforces a humbling effect. Hornsby, who is married, speaks about being a rock star in a small town.
"Sometimes it can get overwhelming. People will just show up in your house and hang out. But that's part of it. If you can't deal with the people who put you to where you are at, you know, what kind of a thing is that?"
Sevendust plans to wrap up their tour with Flaw and Gravity Kills on Feb. 26. After that, they plan to take a little time off so guitarist Clint Lowery can marry before embarking on their first tour of Australia.
