Shaun Cooper is confident, serene, and relentlessly hopeful. Twenty-four years into the odyssey with the band Taking Back Sunday, there is little left for Shaun and the other band members to prove… but that’s not the point.
The band’s 8th studio album, “152,” was released in October to critical and fan acclaim. This record is an enthusiastic celebration of the roots of the band and declaration of its remarkable journey in maturity. One of my favorite tracks on the new record is “Keep Going” and there is a lyric: You could forget about the devil / but the devil won’t forget about you / just because you’re winning / that don’t mean you got nothing to lose. There is a sense of urgency in the music and a refined sense of angst in the delivery. It captures everything that is right about this release.
This is exactly the point for the band.
Formed in 1999 and based in Long Island, NY, the band rose to prominence through a potent cocktail of touring, writing music, and never taking “no” for an answer. Their debut album “Tell All Your Friends” is regarded as a stand-out effort in the music class of 2002, and it enjoys a robust legacy to this day. The band has since endured through thick and thin to arrive in 2023 as elder statesmen on the music landscape. Their sound borrows from pop-punk, emo, alt-rock, and hard core. Make no mistake, they’ve incubated and grown a sonic profile all their own.
The line-up of Taking Back Sunday is:
John Nolan – Lead Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals
Adam Lazzara – Lead Vocals
Mark O’Connell – Drums, Percussion
Shaun Cooper – Bass Guitar
Their current music is a distillation of the angst and energy that helped them earn their way, with a fine finish of sophistication that comes from experience. When the opportunity arose to speak with Shaun about this, it was easy to take this on. He is an ardent fan of tequila and that makes for an even more interesting discussion. He’s a discerning enthusiast who has made his way well along his tequila journey. It’s admirable when you find like-minded people who understand what they like and enjoy it deeply. The connection between spirits and music is alive and well.
At Whiskey Network, we celebrate whiskey but are happy to engage with enthusiasts of different spirits. Read on to get the details of my interview with Shaun.
What are your first memories of tequila?
The earliest thing I can remember is being at a bar when I was pretty young, and someone wanted to do tequila shots. They were buying, so I wasn’t being picky. I thought it was the worst tasting thing in my life. I’m sure it was a well pour where you get 4 shots for $5… and I just remember thinking, “I’m never drinking this garbage again.”
There must have been a moment where you encountered something that made you change your mind. Do you recall that moment?
It had to be somewhere between 2000-2004. Our tour manager, Andy Tinsley, was drinking Patron Silver. At that time, Patron was just starting to get popular. He knew I hated tequila but offered me some to try. He said, “It’s a little pricier that what you’re used to but check it out.” So, we got shots with training wheels… lime, salt, and everything. I loved it and went through a huge Patron phase.
That is what broke me open to tequila. My tastes did evolve, though.
Your palate evolving is a crucial part of the journey. What was that process like?
Trial and error. I was drinking a lot of Casamigos and that started to get expensive. I wanted to see if there was something else to save some money and explore a little bit. More recently, I’ve started to branch out into additive free expressions. I found more authentic Mexican tequila without anything in it but natural agave. That really piqued my interest.
“What I do like tasting is the plant, that rich agave flavor without anything else getting in the way. I want to taste it in its purest form.”
Something that is conducive to going down the proverbial rabbit hole is visiting tequila distilleries. That experience raises your awareness and moves you along the journey. Have you done that yet?
Not yet, but I would absolutely love to! It’s only been in the last year that I’ve started to get into the smaller brands. I am definitely checking out places to visit and get that experience.
When you are tasting tequila, what flavors do you like?
I don’t think my palate is quite that astute yet, but I’m getting to know it better. What I do like tasting is the plant, that rich agave flavor without anything else getting in the way. I want to taste it in its purest form. I used to hate reposado expressions, and I like getting the whiskey-like flavor from the aged reposado. Whiskey doesn’t make me feel all that great, so it’s nice to be able to replicate that flavor in tequila.
What are the bottles currently on your shelf that you are enjoying?
Fortaleza is high on my list right now. I really love Siete Leguas, their Reposado is great. Tequila Ocho makes a Plata which I like, and it has a good price point. I just got into La Gritona, they have an awesome Reposado, and the bottle looks cool. It’s an all-female distillery, a great product, and very well priced. I just saw it on the shelf at my local spot and couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was.
Would the band ever consider working with a tequila distillery on a branded bottle?
Celebrity tequila is popular right now. I’ve had a lot of them and dislike most of them strongly. A buddy of mine brought over a popular celebrity brand so we could kill it. I took one sip, and it was all sugar, I couldn’t even drink it. It tasted like a mixed drink; it was overpowering like a popsicle.
If I were ever to get involved in anything like that, it would have to be right. I would need to believe in it before jumping in. Bottom line, if the right company wants to work with us, we will listen.
Tequila, whiskey, and spirits in general often lead to great stories and memorable life experiences. Can you share a story with our audience?
It was my 21st birthday and our first record had been out for six months. We were on the road and our guitar player, John Nolan, went out and bought me a giant bottle of Jägermeister. I got into it early and I think I finished it up on stage. I don’t really remember, but that was one of the worst shows of my life. Everybody remembers it but me! It’s one of those mortifying memories, but I will never forget what I remember of it.
That is the best kind of story and memory (or lack thereof)! Let’s talk a bit about music. Who are the bass players that influenced you?
I started off early with Paul McCartney. The Beatles were my first influence, ever. Then, I learned he was influenced by James Jamerson and I got into Motown. Growing up, I was a big Guns N’ Roses fan and they were the band that made me want to be a rock star. I really like how Duff McKagen and Steven Adler played together. Later, I got into Nirvana and Krist Novoselic. I thought he was great and learned to play those songs immediately. That led me to punk rock. Green Day was getting huge at the time, and Mike Dirnt was a huge influence. I discovered Matt Freeman of Rancid. He’s one of the greatest bass players in rock music. Finally, there is John Deacon from Queen, who I think is just incredible and a major influence on me. I could go on and on!
It is a really inspired effort and we were shot out of a cannon.
I think that is evident on the record.
Can you tell us about the new Taking Back Sunday Record, “152?”
It shows a lot of growth. There is an evolution working with our producer Tushar Apte. He is such an incredibly talented person. We were writing a song with DJ Steve Aoki and Tushar was the engineer on that song. We had already started writing songs for the album but didn’t know who was going to produce it.
Tushar had told his manager at the beginning of the year that he wanted to work with a rock band. We went in the studio to try it out and he liked working with us, too. The four of us agreed that we wanted to work with him, and we knew we had to make it happen.
He got involved and our chemistry was immediate and strong. He really influenced our sound and guided us in a certain direction. It’s always going to sound like Taking Back Sunday, be we took it to another level. We’ve worked so hard to become better songwriters and get better with arrangements. It is a really inspired effort and we were shot out of a cannon. I think that is evident on the record.
What is the creative process for the band like?
We all work on ideas separately and then come together. Our drummer, Mark O’Connell, and I live on Long Island together. He lives a mile down the road… so we can get into a room and bounce ideas off each other and send it to the others. However, we all need to be in the same physical space for everything to click. Everyone brings their stuff and somehow it always ends up being greater than the sum of the parts.
Is there a song on the record that came together easier than expected?
Yes, the first song we put out there was “The One” was like that. It’s similar to the original demo form. We had the guitar part, Adam started singing along, and he had the melody in words. A lot of the first take stuff ended up in the actual recording. We edited down a few things, but it came together nicely.
The record was released on October 27th, 2023. What are your plans for the remainder of the year and into 2024?
We have some special and secret stuff planned around the release. It’s important to get out and celebrate this release. It’s still being talked about and will take shape soon.
For Thanksgiving we will be in Australia. I have family in Melbourne so we can’t wait for that!
In Mid-December, we will play the Starland Ballroom here on Long Island. Holiday shows at this venue have been a part of our band for the last decade. They are like a homecoming for us, after a long year of touring or working on a record. It’s very rewarding to get home, see our people, and celebrate the holidays.
2024 is going to be a big year for us and we are going to tour everywhere possible.
“In Mid-December, we will play the Starland Ballroom here on Long Island. Holiday shows at this venue have been a part of our band for the last decade. They are like a homecoming for us, after a long year of touring or working on a record. It’s very rewarding to get home, see our people, and celebrate the holidays.”
We could talk for a few more hours about music and tequila! I want to thank you for taking the time to answer all the questions so far. There is one last segment.
It is our tradition at the Whiskey Network to ask our guests the same final 5 questions, also known as the Mashbill: Whiskey Network Wants to Know Your Recipe.
Question 1: What was the last tequila in your glass?
Tequila Ocho Plata. I went to the closest store, and I needed tequila because I was going to a block party.
Question 2: Do you prefer to drink your tequila from a specific type of glass?
I have a couple of rocks glasses that are on the heavy side. It’s nothing special, but it fits my hand nicely. Good for sipping and nosing.
Question 3: Do you have a Unicorn bottle?
Cazcanes has a line of tequilas that I haven’t been able to get my hands on. They are more on the pricey side, but I haven’t seen them in my local stores.
Question 4: I’m looking for a gift for a friend. My budget is around $50 to $75. What would you recommend I buy?
My tequila for gift giving is Siete Leguas Reposado. It’s so nice for sipping, accessible, and totally reasonable in cost.
Question 5: What is your favorite toast?
It’s an old Irish one; “May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”
On behalf of Whiskey Network Magazine, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We look forward to hearing more about your music and ongoing tequila journey soon!
Thank you.
We are proud to welcome Shaun Cooper to the Whiskey Network Family. He is well along his spirits journey in the tequila world. His palate is evolving and he’s open to trying new things. That’s the best part of the journey. In terms of music, he is an elder statesman on the scene. Taking Back Sunday has crafted an incredible record with “152” and there’s much to celebrate about this release. Catch the band on the road in 2023 and beyond!
Cheers, Shaun!
“May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”
Want to explore the connection between sounds and spirits? Be sure to visit The Speakeasy at Whiskey Network. You’ll find a vault of interviews with talented enthusiasts that no other outlet offers.
