Candid Scantlin Puddle of Mudd brings new album to HOB

By ERIC FINE For At The Shore, 609-272-7017

 

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008

Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin admits he is under the weather during an interview earlier this month. "I'm sorry if I feel all woozy and everything right now, man," he says by telephone from Calgary. "We're like all really sick from being in frickin' upstate Canada. It sucks. I'm on medication right now (and) I got to sing a show tonight."

Scantlin's candor sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. Other than this lament, Scantlin has little to complain about. He married his girlfriend of nearly five years last month, and the new edition of his band continues to tour behind "Famous" (Geffen Records), its first release since 2003's "Life on Display." Puddle of Mudd performs Saturday, Feb. 23, at Atlantic City's House of Blues.

Scantlin says juggling rock stardom with marriage represents quite a challenge.

"It's a pain in the ass, man," he says with a chuckle. "I miss my wife a lot and I talk to her every day. It's really hard out here (on the road). It's hard just to have a relationship in general with anybody, so fortunately I have a strong-minded girl and she understands the routine that we have to go through on a daily basis. And I'm blessed with that."

The couple currently lives in Los Angeles, although this could change.

"I'm thinking about bouncing around a little bit, maybe getting a house somewhere else," Scantlin says.

But he concedes there's a lot to like about life in sunny southern California.

"There's some fake people there," he says, "but there's also some real people there, too. And there's a lot of cool stuff that you can do. You can go to the beach, and then you can go snowboarding up at Big Bear (Lake). It's a diverse town, man. You just got to avoid the lurkers."

"Famous," released in October, features new members Ryan Yerdon on drums and guitarist Christian Stone, who Scantlin praises not only for their instrumental prowess, but also for their ability to sing and write songs. The album also marks the first time Scantlin & Co. have gone outside the band's core with regard to songwriting duties.

"We're taking a little bit of a different journey on this record," Scantlin says. "You can't write the same songs for the rest of your life."

He acknowledges that the recording sessions for this album were difficult.

"I definitely had to go through a lot of different situations that a lot of people probably would have a put a middle finger up in the air and said, 'F--k that.'"

But Scantlin says pushing himself (or being pushed) worked out for the best. The singles "Psycho" and the title song "Famous" have performed well on the pop charts, and he expects the song "We Don't Have to Look Back Now" to follow suit.

"It's a little different. It's not as raw," Scantlin says. "It's definitely got a smoother sound. To say the least, we worked really, really hard on this record, and I'm proud of the results. I sing my ass off. I really did. If you could have been with me every second of the day, man, you might have got (a little) teary-eyed."

Puddle of Mudd

WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

WHERE: Music Hall, House of Blues, Showboat, Atlantic City

HOW MUCH: Tickets, priced at $25.50 in advance and $27.50 at the door, are available at the House of Blues box office or Ticketmaster at 800-736-1420 or www.ticketmaster.com.

WEB SITE: www.puddleofmudd.com