2 of 3

What is it like for you, Cliff, to relive some of these old duets with Derek?

Young We did it for so long and so much it's just funny. The first time we sang together again was recently for our official [album] release show. It was fun—I kept looking at Derek and laughing. It was like same old, same old.

With Derek back, Andy, does it feel like he's invading your turf?

Osenga [Laughs] No, not at all! What's kind of fun is that most of the record has more than two guitar parts. I'm more of an electric player than an acoustic player, but this is an acoustic band. So it's freed me up to do more interesting things, which I actually love. It's just fun, and I love Derek's songs too. We've been talking about bringing the band back together for years and we finally did!

So from The Emancipation Tour you're going to The Reunion Tour!

Young [Laughs] I think we're a little too young for a reunion tour. Plus, there are so many people that aren't with the band anymore that if we were to have a reunion tour, there wouldn't be a stage big enough!

So is this new lineup with Derek a permanent thing, or a one-time deal?

Young Honestly, we don't even really know. We know there's going to be a tour. I'm sure after it's done we'll see what happens. Caedmon's has always been like that. It's never really been like, "This is what we're doing and this is what we're not."

Let's go back to artistic freedom: Who came up with the idea for that cheeky but subtle album cover?

Young The idea comes from a line in one of Derek's songs: "When I'm with you I feel so overdressed." It was one of those things where we were in the studio and our manager came in to talk about possible names for the record. So we started listening through the songs and I said, "Overdressed … Adam and Eve overdressed … fig leaves." So that's where the idea came from. I think it's my favorite cover.

Osenga I think it's mine as well.

Caedmon's Call has been making music for over a decade. How have things changed in that span?

Young We used to tour a lot more. We were all single—that's the biggest thing. Now we're home more and we have more responsibilities. But as far as logistics go, nothing's really different.

Because you're family men, do you travel with the wife and the kids?

Young It depends if we're really "touring touring," which we don't do very much any more, or if we're doing several shows straight. But for the most part we do one-offs or play three or four shows in a row and then go home.

Does that mean Caedmon's isn't necessarily your day job anymore?

Young If it were our day job, we would never see our families. We would not be able to be regular people at all. I work at my church here in Houston when I'm home. Andy produces and engineers and plays on people's records—he has his own solo deal. Derek does, too. For the most part, everyone is doing something in the music field and contributing to Caedmon's indirectly.

Does that explain why you're not as connected to the college crowd anymore? Have you lost touch with that segment of your fan base?

Osenga Caedmon's was always about being single and being in college. But then people got married, got real jobs, got kids, and all of a sudden the perspective changed.

next page... |  2 of 3