After gaining overnight stardom with their 1996 smash hit "Popular," Nada Surf faced the long hard battle to avoid being a one-hit wonder. By focusing on well-constructed songs with big hooks and lush harmonies, along with passionate live shows, this New York-based three-piece proved they were far more than just "Popular." Fast forward to 2008 and Nada Surf has just dropped their fifth album, Lucky (released February 5 on Barsuk). With a cast of guests including Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard, Long Winters vocalist John Roderick, Sean Nelson of Harvey Danger and members of Calexico, Lucky may be the band's most fully realized album yet. As Nada Surf embarks on a massive tour (dates available here) we catch up with drummer Ira Elliot for an inside look at life On The Road.

Name: Ira Elliot
Band(s): Nada Surf, Maplewood
Instrument(s): Drums (A+), Guitar (B), Bass (C-)
Nicknames: Slinky, Chief, Buddy, Hey You
Place You Call Home: New York City
Last album to flip your lid: Boris - Pink
Album you always take on tour: Physical Graffiti

What would someone always find in your van or tour bus? What supplies don't you leave home without?

You'd always find peace of mind. And a bottle of wine. And other things that rhyme. And a damn good time. Personally, if I don't have tweezers I go nuts.

What personal rituals do you have to help keep your sanity while on tour?

Besides the tweezing? I would tell you I talk to myself but that would just make me sound crazy. Who said that? I did. Shut up! You shut up! Ahh, I feel better already.

Speaking of rituals, does the band have a pre-show ritual to help prepare for the stage?

Yes.

Audiences come in all shapes and sizes. What's the screwiest fan encounter you've had?

Audiences also come in many volumes, by the way. Now, if by screwy you mean crawling 30 feet through the air duct from the bathroom to the backstage to then fall through the dropped ceiling into the beer cooler, then that might qualify.

What's a great, positive fan encounter you've had?

If by great and positive you mean love, then I feel we get plenty of that, too. We get both the screwy and the great.

What's the strangest thing you've seen from the stage while performing?

Germans.

What's the first thing you like to do after a show?

Cry into a beer.

Tell us about a great road food stop you've discovered in your travels.

The odds of finding great food while traveling in the U.S. is astronomically small. Unless your idea of great food is a fine Kentucky beef jerky, then I got a spot for ya. Of course if you travel in Spain it's very difficult to find bad food, so Spain is the answer. Anywhere, Spain.

If I weren't a musician I'd probably be a (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank).

If I weren't a musician I'd probably be a customer service rep for Direct TV because I'm a people person.

(Fill In the Blank) are the baddest mothas on the planet.

Mothas that put raisins in your lunchbox instead of a Twinkie for dessert. On this planet or any other. Oh wait, you mean in the '70s slang sense. OK. Uhm, singing drummers I guess.

Your band mates will often reveal strange things about themselves during a tour. What stuff have your fellow musicians shown you that took you aback or delighted you? Feel free to change the names to protect group unity!

Well, Ratthew takes really long showers (gasp!) and Staniel will throw his leg over you if you happen to share a bed with him (delightful!) which, haha, I've never experienced myself. I only heard that. Haha.

Name a few things we'd find on your rider.

I don't know if I should really give away this kind of insider information but, hey, you asked for it... hummus, coffee, Luna bars, bottled water, Stella Artois, b***jobs. Just kidding. We hate Luna bars.

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