I think the best post-breakup album is The Strokes' first album. It's just fun.

There's just a natural instinct to want to be great, I think.

The best way to catch my attention is to throw a Twinkie near my face.

So, deadpan I think just means not acknowledging for one second that you think that this is funny and clever.

I think I owe it to myself to put my best effort forward and prove how good I can be.

The Midwest breeds funny, eccentric people, to varying degrees. You play shows not because you're expecting to get a record deal, but to do something fun outside of mowing lawns. Everything else is just gravy... Or mustard.