This installment of Ask The Band features drummer Roger Harbert.

Q: I was so impressed when I first saw your band because of how well you and the others sing backups and even some lead vocals on songs. It really separates your band from a lot of area bands because it adds so much to the songs. How are you able to play and sing at the same time ?

Roger: Well, drumming requires a good sense of timing, good physical fitness and extremely good coordination between both arms and legs. However, the mouth part of the face is not directly used in drumming at all. So, after awhile, I thought, maybe I could use it for singing as I was drumming. I mentioned the same thing to Jim and Al and they didn't use the mouths either so now they're singing too. So far, it's worked pretty well.

Q: Your drum kit seems like it is balanced between having enough drums to produce a well-rounded sound, but it's not so many drums that you take up the whole stage. Do you believe in getting more sound out of fewer drums or would you be a proponent of having a larger drum kit ?

Roger: I have round drums but I think they're all made that way. Is that what you're asking ? Wait, let me re-read this question...maybe you're saying I need a larger drum kit. You mention the stage size but that changes for each gig so that's not really up to me. You might be saying I need to get more sound. I'll mention that to our sound engineer, Doug, the next time we play. He can turn me up louder.

Q: Do you have any advice on what kind of shoes to wear when playing the drums ? I've tried several different kinds but each one seems to have a drawback - too slippery, too tight, hurt the soles of my feet etc. What do you recommend ?

Roger: Stay away from sandals. The whole idea of showing any part of your feet in public is absolutely repugnant. I'd like to go back an punch the Greek who invented sandals right in the face.

Q: Do you eat before you play ? If so, what do you eat ? Seems like you would need the energy but, at the same time, you wouldn't want to eat so much that you might feel bad.

Roger: I eat chicken. More specifically, I eat drumsticks. Oh man I've been waiting for years to use that one. Did somebody make this question up ?

In this installment of Ask The Band, lead guitarist Jim Doyle answers questions on a variety of topics.

Derrick S.: I really love the guitar sound you have onstage, especially during the rougher sounding songs like "Barracuda" by Heart and "Move Over" by Janis Joplin. It seems like you're really getting your EQ, distortion, chorus and delay effects pedals to work together. Can you tell me how you're setting them up to achieve this great sound ?

Jim: Well I have lots of pedals. There's the green pedal. And there's a black pedal, no wait there are two black pedals. One is kind of scratched up, though, so you can see some silver in there too. But it's mostly black. And there's also a blue one and a yellow one. I'm thinking about buying another blue one which is a darker blue than the one I already have. Anyway, all the pedals work together because I have them connected with little chords that go in one side and then out the other.

Andrew: I noticed you switched from using a Roland Jazz Chorus 120 amplifier to a Mesa Boogie a few months ago. I thought the Roland had a very light, almost acoustic sound quality to it while your new amp has a heavier sound to it. Did you switch to get that heavier sound ?

Jim: That Roland amp was definitely not light. I had to carry that thing up some stairs at one gig and I almost killed myself. The Mesa Boogie is not as heavy but it sure as hell isn't light either. We should get a roadie or something.

Kiegan: I'm always impressed with the professional way you and the band carry yourselves when you play your music. I was wondering if you have any advice to musicians just starting out about drinking onstage without compromising the music ?

Jim: I drink onstage when I am onstage, although I have to be careful because some stages have a 3 or 4 foot drop off. Mostly though I drink off-stage because that's where we are when we take a break between sets. I suppose I could go back onstage between sets but I think that would look kind of weird just drinking onstage by myself.

Alex: I love to play the guitar but I don't have a very easy time figuring out the songs I want to play. I guess I don't have a very good ear for hearing the notes and figuring them out so I can play them. Do you have any advice on how to improve ?

Jim: Q-tips are good. I use those. I get them at Kroger's but you could probably get them at other stores too. I've never looked at the other stores but they may be there.

Paul: I'm in a local band that's just getting ready to start playing out. The problem is I'm really afraid about having sound problems on stage and how to handle it if it happens. Have you ever had your amp or guitar stop working while you're playing ? If so, what do you recommend doing when it happens ?

Jim: I broke a string once when we were playing and it was bad because the song we were playing used that string a couple of different times. I started running and jumping back and forth across the stage trying to figure out what to do. Every time the song got to that string I just kind of yelled out, hoping to cover up the blank note. Eventually the song ended and I replaced the broken string with my shoelace.

Margaret: My oldest son just turned 18 and is getting involved in his first band with hopes of playing in clubs in the area. I'm worried because I suspect there will many different temptations for such a young person. Do you have any guidance on how to avoid these paths of ruin ?

Jim: Oh yeah, temptation. There's lots of that out there. All different kinds, all different shapes and sizes, any time of day or night you can find temptation. It's like rock-and-roll and temptation are the same thing. It's definitely there for the taking. Can I use "paths of ruin" for a song ?