2008 Woodie Awards
Cobra Starship 'brings it' on current tour
Alexandra Capotorto
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Arts&Entertainment
Probably best known for the song "Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)," the theme to the movie "Snakes on a Plane," Cobra Starship has taken the world by storm. Their second album, "¡Viva La Cobra!" hit #80 on the Billboard 200, and they're currently headlining a tour of their own alongside The Cab, We the Kings and Metro Station, which has sold out more than half of the venues. The Chronicle had the chance to talk to Cobra guitarist Ryland Blackinton about pranks, MTV, and much more.
Chronicle - How's the "Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour" going so far?
Ryland Blackinton - It's going better than we ever could have expected. We're revisiting venues we have played in the past, and it's nice to come back to some of these places and sell them out. It's a true testament to how much work we've done over the last year and a half. It justified all of this touring.
Chronicle - Before you played the first stop of the tour, 27 out of the 40 shows had already sold out.
Blackinton - Yea, I know! And still counting. It's amazing.
Chronicle - Being that there's a lot of testosterone on this tour, are there an abundance of pranks pulled backstage?
Blackinton - [Laughs.] It's still early, so I'm sure that's gonna happen sooner or later. There is a lot of testosterone on this tour, unfortunately. But we have a significant amount of estrogen in Victoria [Cobra Starship's keytar player].
Chronicle - Is there any type of pre-show ritual you guys do?
Blackinton - Drink vodka. And I know this is cheesy, but you know how when you were younger and you played in Little League, and right before a show, or a game rather, the whole team would put their hands in the middle and say "one, two, three, Go Tigers or whatever," we do the same thing. We go "one, two, three Cobra!" We've done it before every show, always.
Chronicle - And what are some of the funniest on stage moments? At the first stop of the tour, at the School of Rock in Jersey, Gabe did the Soulja Boy dance. Would that qualify?
Chronicle - How's the "Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour" going so far?
Ryland Blackinton - It's going better than we ever could have expected. We're revisiting venues we have played in the past, and it's nice to come back to some of these places and sell them out. It's a true testament to how much work we've done over the last year and a half. It justified all of this touring.
Chronicle - Before you played the first stop of the tour, 27 out of the 40 shows had already sold out.
Blackinton - Yea, I know! And still counting. It's amazing.
Chronicle - Being that there's a lot of testosterone on this tour, are there an abundance of pranks pulled backstage?
Blackinton - [Laughs.] It's still early, so I'm sure that's gonna happen sooner or later. There is a lot of testosterone on this tour, unfortunately. But we have a significant amount of estrogen in Victoria [Cobra Starship's keytar player].
Chronicle - Is there any type of pre-show ritual you guys do?
Blackinton - Drink vodka. And I know this is cheesy, but you know how when you were younger and you played in Little League, and right before a show, or a game rather, the whole team would put their hands in the middle and say "one, two, three, Go Tigers or whatever," we do the same thing. We go "one, two, three Cobra!" We've done it before every show, always.
Chronicle - And what are some of the funniest on stage moments? At the first stop of the tour, at the School of Rock in Jersey, Gabe did the Soulja Boy dance. Would that qualify?
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