I'm on hold, listening to the new T.I. single, waiting in anticipation for Nate Novarro, drummer of Cobra Starship, to answer his phone. After hearing snippets of three different rap songs, it turns out Novarro has yet to pick up, so I'm left to wait a little longer.
When he does answer a couple of minutes later, Novarro keeps the conversation light, referring to his die-hard fans as "the original gangsters" and later chatting about how bummed he was to have his car stolen.
The band, Cobra Starship, started in 2006 with front man Gabe Saporta, supposedly after being saved by a cobra from the future in the Arizona desert. This cobra, which had arrived on a light-up starship, then told Saporta of the world's inevitable end and of Saporta's life destiny, "to make sure mankind goes out in style."
Hence the creation of the lighthearted, infectious pop-punk band, the members of which clearly don't take themselves too seriously. The band signed to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's record label, Decaydance, after the success of their first single "Snakes on a Plane," which appeared on the soundtrack to the movie of the same name.
For the past couple years, Cobra Starship have toured with mostly their own label-mates, including Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is..., Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.
Currently, the band is on their SassyBack tour with Forever the Sickest Kids, Hit the Lights and Sing It Loud. This is one of the first times the band has gone out without any of their label-mates.
"All of our friends are doing their own tours, well not all of them, but Gym Class [Heroes] and [The] Academy [Is...] are," Novarro said. "I think it's good to break away from just the norm. It wasn't planned out but it is what it is."
Despite not currently being on tour with any of their label-mates, the band has retained a strong connection with them. "We ran into Panic [at the Disco] last night randomly and hung out with them all night. We had an awesome time. It was great," Novarro said, when asked what his favorite memory of the tour has been.
Novarro credits a lot of the band's success to this signing, and also the associated labels, Fueled by Ramen and Atlantic Records.
The band was able to gain exposure from their connection with Fall Out Boy and even had their record produced by singer Patrick Stump.
"I don't really know where we'd be if we were on a different label. I don't know how things would change. I know we wouldn't be where we are today, like, for a fact. We wouldn't be as popular as we are or have become," Novarro said.
Despite the band's rising fame, there have been hardships along the way, most recently with Saporta's voice.
"He went to the doctor, and they found that he had a cyst on his vocal cords ... They pretty much told him he needs to not do this tour straight up," Novarro explained. "And to get the surgery to get it removed and then [have time to] heal is probably two and a half to three months' worth of stuff. He was just like, 'Well, if I made it this far with it, I guess I can just do a little bit more.'"
Despite trying to play all their shows and avoid disappointing fans, the band did have to cancel two of their shows.
Saporta wrote an apologetic blog entry to fans who would be unable to see the band. "Talking about my vocal problems gives me douche chills, because I feel like one of those annoying divas who's always complaining, but I swear it's a real problem, and it sucks," he wrote.
The band plans to finish up this tour, which will run until the end of November. Currently, there is an online petition signed by 1,094 fans to have Cobra Starship either drop off or postpone the rest of the tour to avoid permanent damage to Saporta's vocal chords.
"If [Saporta's voice] ever got too bad, I think he would feel it, and then, ultimately, we would have to stop the tour. I don't think that will happen, but I don't know. I can't predict the future," Novarro said.
Old fans can expect to see the show at the same level that they always have despite Saporta's voice.
"We're kind of doing the same things we've always done. He's actually just watching himself much more now, being extremely cautious about yelling and too much talking. During meet-and-greets that we're having every day, he can't really attend them because he can't talk," Novarro said.
"He's on vocal rest every day until the show. He's taking care of himself big time. But as far as the show goes, it's the same, and nothing is different."
Saporta plans to finally go under the knife once the tour wraps up, and he can use the holidays to convalesce.
First, however, he plans to take a week off in order to rest his voice in preparation for entering the studio to record the vocals for the band's still-untitled full-length release - the band's third album - due out in 2009.
Cobra Starship will be playing at Sonar next Wednesday. For anybody who has been among the "original gangsters" or who is just looking for a band that is all about having a good time, this show should certainly be one to check out.
